Because of this, I can't pay my respects. I've lost face across two lifetimes!
The news reached the Empress; while everyone openly laughed, they were secretly dying of jealousy.
Wanting to find fault but having no way to do so, Xia Ruqing continued to feign illness for the following days, holing up in Zhaohua Pavilion and refusing to step out.
After all, they couldn't just march over to her residence to pick a fight.
「That day, after court adjourned, Zhao Junyao was reviewing petitions in the Imperial Study Room when he suddenly asked.」
"Is Lady Xia still sick?"
This little minx, is she angry? Zhao Junyao mused.
Li Shengan bowed his head. Does His Majesty truly not realize? That night, it wasn't until the fourth Shi Chen that the Emperor had the lights extinguished. When the fifth Shi Chen arrived, the Emperor went to court full of vigor, while Lady Xia remained 'bedridden with illness.' Having followed the Emperor for so many years, he had never seen His Majesty lose his composure like this. It seemed Lady Xia was truly different.
"This servant has not heard Zhaohua Pavilion call for the Imperial Physician!" Li Shengan replied honestly.
"Hmm!" Zhao Junyao buried his head, continuing to review the petitions.
After the midday meal and reviewing more petitions, Zhao Junyao went to the Imperial Garden. However, after wandering for a while, he found it dull.
"Go see what Lady Xia is doing!"
"Aye!"
Li Shengan thought, His Majesty truly favors Lady Xia. Going directly would be too conspicuous; it's much better to 'just happen to stop by.'
Seeing the Emperor approaching, Xiao Xizi was scared out of her wits and stood frozen, at a complete loss.
Just as she finally realized she should announce his arrival loudly, she was stopped by the Emperor.
Zhao Junyao pushed open the door and walked in quietly.
He saw Xia Ruqing hunched over the table, writing something with an expression of profound suffering.
Getting closer, Zhao Junyao was taken aback, and his mouth twitched violently.
"Did you write these characters?"
Xia Ruqing was startled. Her hand trembled, and a large drop of ink fell onto the paper. She was about to flare up but looked up to see the Emperor and forcibly suppressed her anger.
She quickly put down the brush and knelt.
"This servant pays respects to Your Majesty! This servant was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival and failed to greet you. Please forgive this servant's offense!"
"Rise!" Zhao Junyao waved grandly.
Seeing her struggling to contain herself, Zhao Junyao's mood greatly improved.
He turned and took a seat, and a Palace Attendant served tea.
Picking up another piece of her writing, Zhao Junyao asked with interest, "What have you written?"
""Women Precepts"!" Xia Ruqing replied through gritted teeth.
She had ruined several pages. It wasn't easy to produce one decent-looking sheet, and now it was ruined!
Feeling both angry and wronged, she dared not show it, her face turning red with the effort.
Looking at her terrible scrawl and then at her small, flushed face, Zhao Junyao suddenly burst out laughing.
Li Shengan was inwardly shocked. Since reaching adulthood, the Emperor had never been so joyous. Lady Xia was truly remarkable!
Xia Ruqing was so angry she wanted to stomp her feet. She couldn't be blamed. In her previous life, her handwriting was quite good. But she just couldn't hold this brush steady, so it ended up like this.
After laughing for a while, Zhao Junyao asked her, "Your family seems to come from a scholarly background; can you not write?"
Xia Ruqing hurriedly dredged up memories from the original owner of her body.
Her expression turned somber, and she said in a low voice, "My mother passed away early, and my father was always busy, with no time to look after my education..."
Daughters were usually taught by their mothers. A girl whose mother died young would be at a disadvantage even in marriage arrangements, often criticized for having a poor upbringing.
Seeing her melancholic expression, Zhao Junyao's smile faded. He didn't pursue the topic and asked instead, "Who told you to write this?"
""Noble... Noble Concubine Shih," Xia Ruqing answered, her head bowed, face red with a mixture of embarrassment and grievance.
Being laughed at like this is so humiliating! But... it wasn't as if she tattled. The Emperor asked, and she couldn't deceive His Majesty.
Zhao Junyao saw her with her head lowered, clutching her handkerchief like an aggrieved little white rabbit—endearingly naive and cute. A surge of pity filled his heart.
Drawing her to his side, Zhao Junyao said warmly, "Shall I teach you how to write?"
Smelling the faint scent of ambergris on him, Xia Ruqing thought for a moment before nodding with delight.
Writing with a handsome man? She'd like that! After all, he was so good-looking!
His rough, calloused large hand encased her fair, soft little one, holding the brush as it left stroke after stroke on the pristine paper.
Soon, a few lines of characters appeared on the paper. The brushstrokes were vivid and dynamic, powerful and vigorous, possessing great character.
Xia Ruqing watched in fascination. Even the renowned calligraphy masters of history could hardly compare to this. He's so handsome, and his calligraphy is so good too...
Xia Ruqing felt a thrill, nervously gripping the brush, terrified of messing up the characters.
She strained with effort, her cheeks flushing red and beads of sweat forming on the tip of her nose.
Zhao Junyao looked down, the corners of his mouth curving up, his mood excellent. He tightened his grip on her tender hand.
He whispered, "Don't tremble. Your strokes must be firm."
As he spoke, the brush tip turned, and another character leapt onto the paper, its force seeming to pierce through it.
Just then, Li Shengan entered, trembling with trepidation.
"Your Majesty?" he called softly.
"What is it?" Zhao Junyao did not stop his brush, nor did he look up.
"Noble Concubine Shih has sent word. She says she has personally prepared soup for Your Majesty and invites you to join her for the evening meal!"
Zhao Junyao was silent for a moment, then said, "Noted."
Xia Ruqing's heart skipped a beat. This is a blatant interception! Noble Concubine Shih only dares to take it out on these small fry. Isn't she demeaning herself? Though the Empress is no saint, she's far better than Noble Concubine Shih. The difference between them is obvious!
Zhao Junyao put down the brush and gently patted her shoulder, speaking warmly, "Don't write this anymore. Tomorrow, I will find you some good copybooks. You must practice diligently!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xia Ruqing was thrilled and hastily expressed her gratitude.
This terrible handwriting is so embarrassing. It's a good thing I can practice to pass the time. Of course, the main reason is that I really don't want to copy "Women Precepts" anymore!
"Li Shengan, later, have someone send these to Noble Concubine Shih. Tell her I will join her for dinner this evening!" Zhao Junyao pointed to the stack of "Women Precepts" on the table that Xia Ruqing had copied, along with the few pages he himself had written that afternoon.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Li Shengan quickly replied.
「After seeing the Emperor off, the sky gradually darkened.」
Xia Ruqing was in a great mood, sipping her tea, with Zi Yue standing by, somewhat confused.
"My lady, Noble Concubine Shih is behaving like this, yet you still seem so happy?"
"If I'm not happy, should I cry instead?"
"But...?"
"No more 'buts'!" Xia Ruqing said, putting down her teacup. She pulled Zi Yue to her side and whispered, "Think about it, what does His Majesty hate the most?"
Zi Yue thought for a moment, then ventured, "Deceiving His Majesty, vying for favor, and jealousy?"
Xia Ruqing nodded. "Correct. But there's one more thing: being followed!"
"The Emperor had been here for no more than one Shi Chen, and the Noble Concubine was already eagerly trying to snatch him away. Isn't that blatant tracking? Spying on the Emperor's movements is no small crime."
"Noble Concubine Shih's conduct is truly unsightly," Xia Ruqing huffed softly.
Zi Yue suddenly realized, "This servant is foolish."
Xia Ruqing smiled. "You're still young. In a couple of years, you'll understand!"
Zi Yue was clever, just young and inexperienced. However, these weren't problems. As long as she was loyal, Xia Ruqing would train her well.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore!"
"Tonight, I want lamb soup, some scallion pancakes, and then some light side dishes! Also, a pear soup!"
"Yes, this servant will have Xiao Xizi fetch the meal immediately!" Zi Yue left with a smile.