"Qingqing, you sleep first, I suddenly have an urgent matter and must leave!"
After saying this, he patted her shoulder and briskly walked out the door.
Xia Ruqing was left bewildered.
"Hey, hey!"
In the blink of an eye, the person had vanished from sight.
Xia Ruqing felt quite aggrieved!
"Left alone again!"
She got up, stomped back into the room.
At night.
With no one by her side, Xia Ruqing couldn’t fall asleep.
She kept tossing and turning, thinking about their conversation today for quite a while.
In her mind, she pondered.
’If Zhao Junqi is the Empress Dowager’s child, then who is his birth father?’
’If he is the Late Emperor’s, wouldn’t Zhao Junqi beco the legitimate eldest son?’
’So he mustn’t be the Late Emperor’s, but... Prince Yan’s!’
’That would explain everything clearly!’
But then, who are Zhao Junyao’s parents?
Presumably... he should be the child of the Late Emperor and another woman.
As for who that woman is, no one knows!
Lost in her thoughts, Xia Ruqing gradually fell asleep.
...
The Imperial Study Room was empty.
Zhao Junyao rushed back, Li Shengan hurriedly arranged for the little eunuch to light lamps and make tea, and even instructed the small kitchen to be ready just in case the Emperor felt hungry later and called for a midnight snack.
Once everything was prepared, Li Shengan ca to the Imperial Study Room.
He saw the Emperor intently writing sothing at the imperial desk.
He dared not disturb him, so he served the tea and adjusted the lamp brighter, then respectfully stood aside.
Zhao Junyao picked up the brush and wrote vigorously on the rice paper.
Listing the Empress Dowager, Prince Yan, the Late Emperor, himself, and the unknown Lady Tian all together.
In his mind, he recalled the events of these years over and over again.
Slowly sorting through all the relationships among these people.
Whenever he thought of sothing, he drew a line between the nas of the two related people.
For example.
The Empress Dowager cared for him more than Zhao Junqi from childhood, so he drew a line between the Empress Dowager and Zhao Junqi.
Another example.
The father loved him the most among several brothers, so he connected himself with the father.
He sat there quietly like this.
Thinking of sothing, he would add another stroke, then think again, and add more.
The night slowly deepened, tea was refilled five or six tis, candles trimd three or four tis.
Unknowingly, the outside sky brightened again.
Ti swiftly moved to the next morning.
Zhao Junyao stared intently at the paper in front of him, staying up all night.
"Emperor, it’s ti to attend court!"
Li Shengan cautiously ca forward to remind him!
Zhao Junyao waved his large hand.
"I’m not feeling well today, cancel the court session, and make up for the Resting day later!"
"Yes!"
Li Shengan, his mind now at ease, gently withdrew to pass on the ssage.
Zhao Junyao got up and walked to the window, looking at the sky outside.
Golden morning light filtered through thin mist, shining down on the palace’s flowers, trees, and pavilions.
Rendering the late spring and early sumr scene even more lush and thriving, birds gently singing atop towering ancient trees, everything appeared full of life.
Zhao Junyao admired the scenery, listened to the distant sounds of the forest, and his mood improved, the night’s weariness dissipated like smoke.
He took out the paper with various nas written on it from last night, examined it once more by the window and morning light.
His suspicions were boldly listed above.
’The Empress Dowager once had an affair with Prince Yan, resulting in pregnancy and giving birth to Zhao Junqi.’
’Father swallowed this matter whole to avoid royal disgrace, yet the royal bloodline must not be confused!’
’Father secretly sent Zhao Junqi to Prince Yan!’
’Then coincidentally, Lady Tian gave birth, so Father took her child and gave it to the Empress Dowager to raise as her own!’
’Actually, I am Father’s and Lady Tian’s child!’
Zhao Junyao could not help clenching his fists, his gaze turning icy once more.
He knew even if his guess wasn’t entirely right, it was very close to the truth.
His heart brimd with bitterness and lant.
’Father, oh Father!’
’No wonder you often told , the benevolent are invincible, and patience is even more so!’
’You exhausted every last drop of blood for the sake of this empire, but who comprehends your sacrifice!’
The world only knows the Emperor’s grandeur, wielding power, seated high in the deep palace, an embodint of the celestial True Dragon.
Owning a harem of countless beauties, officials at his beck and call, enjoying the most noble glory, the most luxurious splendor in the world.
It must be a life where everything goes smoothly and every wish is granted.
But who knows the other saying: High places are prone to heavy falls!
They don’t realize that beneath the Emperor’s dragon throne lies a terrifying abyss, countless swords poised, blazing fires.
Just a tiny misstep leads to an irrevocable downfall.
To maintain peace and support the empire.
Even if your teeth shatter, swallow it down, even if your arm breaks, hide it up your sleeve.
Thus exhausting a lifeti of effort.
To be worthy of ancestral spirits and all the citizens, to not be infamous through the ages.
How difficult is this?
Zhao Junyao’s gaze fell on the Empress Dowager’s na, gritting his teeth with hatred.
’Such a wicked woman, why did you tolerate her?’
’Had I known even a little back then, this shaless, foolish woman wouldn’t have lived to this day!’
He couldn’t help but feel heartache for his father.
His father wasn’t particularly wise or heroic, only diligence compensated for inadequacies.
In governnt affairs, he leaned toward steady, prudent approaches, adhering to the principle of less being more.
He worked diligently all his life, and while he didn’t significantly elevate the Great Chu Dynasty, he maintained peace and stability, which was extrely difficult.
Throughout his life, his achievents outweighed his failures, deserving the praise of later generations.
Yet the more Zhao Junyao thought, the more his heart ached.
"Father, rest assured!"
"I will uncover the truth of those years, settle all scores, and avenge you!"
After speaking, he went to the red candle with tear-like wax drippings, ignited that piece of paper, and watched it burn to ashes.
Then turned around to leave, changed into plain clothes, and went out with Little Seventh to relax.
...
In Duanning Palace.
Xia Ruqing slept late the previous night, so she woke up late the next day.
Fortunately, the concubines in the palace weren’t required to greet her daily.
So it didn’t matter whether she got up early or late.
Xia Ruqing lay in bed, holding a soft silk quilt, letting the late spring sunlight fall on her face.
After tumbling and rolling a few tis in bed, she lazily climbed out.
"Zi Yue!"
Zi Yue responded from outside the door, then ca in with water to assist her with washing up.
Xia Ruqing instructed again.
"Prepare more soups and porridge to clear heat and reduce inflammation lately!"
Zhao Junyao’s temper was intense today, he should dispel the fire.
"Yes!"
Zi Yue agreed with a smile.
After washing up, Xia Ruqing stepped into the early morning fog to take a walk in the back garden.
By the ti she returned, the mist had dissipated, and the sun had already risen high.
Checking the ti, she felt a bit puzzled.
"Usually around this ti, the Emperor cos for breakfast, why hasn’t he returned today?"
Zi Yue wasn’t inford about affairs outside the palace.
Unsure how to respond.
At that mont, a little eunuch ca to deliver a ssage.
"Empress, the Emperor has gone out of the palace to visit the Seventh Prince, instructed to tell you to eat without waiting!"
Xia Ruqing nodded.
As usual, she rewarded that little eunuch and went on to have breakfast herself.
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