The autumn hunt was an age-old tradition.
Unless there was a significant event, it occurred every year.
They had not gone for the first few years because the late Emperor had passed away, he was still in mourning, and the Imperial Court was not yet well-organized.
Everything was unprepared, making it inappropriate to travel.
But now things were different; the country was flourishing, and there was no reason not to go.
Taking one more person or one less person hardly constituted a significant matter.
It did not count as breaking the rules.
Xia Ruqing had carefully considered this before she dared to speak; otherwise, she wouldn't have dreamt of voicing it.
Zhao Junyao was not the kind of foolish Emperor who would disregard everything for a favored woman.
He had a limit in his heart: anything below was coquettishness, but beyond that was spoiled petulance.
Xia Ruqing gauged that limit just right.
