"You are a wise ruler, Your Majesty. That's why I dared to say so!" Xia Ruqing whispered, though her words were direct.
But this flattery… it was simply… too satisfying, Zhao Junyao thought, a little amused.
"How do you know I would definitely protect you?"
In his Harem, no one had dared such a thing before, nor would they likely in the future. Having grown up in Zhaochen Palace since childhood, he had seen it all over the years. Women, when they had nothing better to do, liked to scheme and fight amongst themselves; he was used to it. He simply didn't want to get involved. As long as it didn't concern the imperial court, he would feign ignorance.
After some thought, Xia Ruqing spoke earnestly. "Your Majesty, if you can protect the vast lands of our kingdom, surely protecting one more person like me wouldn't be too much to ask?" she ventured cautiously.
