Chapter 1490 - 1488: All Right
Chapter 1490: Chapter 1488: All Right
The servant boy led Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing to the Xia Residence’s council hall.
From the front gate to the front yard, the two walked and observed along the way, seeing that the front yard of the Xia Residence remained as rustic and atmospheric as ever.
The yard wasn’t adorned with particularly lavish decorations, just a few towering trees that were truly magnificent.
Sunlight shone down from above, piercing through the dense layers of foliage, leaving only dapples on the ground.
Looking up through the gaps between the leaves, one could see the sun obscured by them, resembling the most beautiful and radiant multicolored gem, changing hues as the viewing angle shifted.
"So beautiful!"
Suddenly, Xia Ruqing remembered how, in her previous life in the countryside, her grandmother’s yard also had such a lush tree.
Every summer evening, her grandmother would sit under the tree with a palm fan to cool off.
Fanning her while shooing away the surrounding mosquitoes.
With laughter and playfulness, life was peaceful yet full of joy.
If there was a day with well water-cooled watermelon to eat, it was considered more of a celebration than having meat during New Year, and she would be happy for most of the day.
Thinking back now, the happiness then was truly simple.
Just having a slice of well water-cooled watermelon was the greatest joy.
Now, she had everything, yet the worries had also become more numerous.
Worrying about this, worrying about that, never ending concerns.
She let out a soft sigh, her eyes tinged with slight disappointment.
Zhao Junyao glanced at her.
"Are you reminiscing about your childhood again?"
Xia Ruqing nodded honestly.
"Yes!"
"Although my childhood was tough and poor, the memories of the bitter interspersed with sweet moments are still worth cherishing!"
Zhao Junyao twitched his mouth.
Anyway... he couldn’t fathom why anyone would want to reminisce about being hungry and cold, so he said nothing.
...
In a blink of an eye, they arrived at the council hall.
The room was neither too large nor too small, sufficient to match Xia Jingfeng’s status without being too shabby.
However, don’t expect it to be too luxurious; the entire room was decorated with simplicity and elegance, exuding a calm and grand atmosphere.
Aside from seeming a bit outdated, there were no other flaws.
Xia Ruqing surveyed the room, commenting.
"Jingfeng has always been mature-minded since childhood, speaking and acting like a little adult at a young age!"
Like Chenchen, he had also been suppressing his nature since young.
While his peers enjoyed the protection of their parents and family, living either in luxury and spoiled, or busily conversing late into the night with their maids and concubines.
He had to become self-reliant, finding ways to care for his ’eldest sister’ and ensure ’she’ was not wronged.
He was busy striving to make a name for himself, to win honor for his mother and elder sister, letting them have reliance, not being bullied, not being looked down upon.
He understood everything and saw everything clearly at a young age.
Yet at that time, he was so little!
Xia Ruqing showed an expression of distress.
She drank a cup of tea, feeling the refreshing sensation glide down her throat.
Suddenly, she realized she did not belong to this era!
Why would she feel sorry for a ’stranger’?
One must know that the respected and cherished eldest sister of Xia Jingfeng wasn’t her but someone else!
What shocked her the most was.
In the moment of realization, she felt a tinge of jealousy and disbelief in her heart.
The jealousy came from feeling a bit envious.
Yes, indeed a bit envious, she was clearly the sister, how could there be someone else? It felt like someone had stolen her brother.
The disbelief was that she couldn’t fathom how Xia Jingfeng wasn’t her biological brother.
Ha? Impossible.
Jingfeng was clearly her own brother, she thought possessively.
...
When Xia Jingfeng pushed the door in.
Zhao Junyao was looking at a painting on the wall, while Xia Ruqing was daydreaming, her expression colorful and shifting.
After inspecting the plainly dressed couple for quite a while, Xia Jingfeng finally recognized the persons before him.
Excitedly, he wanted to immediately rush forward and kneel.
"Emp..."
Zhao Junyao hastily waved his hand.
"Emp what Emp, why don’t you hurry and get up?"
Xia Jingfeng realized his lapse and promptly got up.
Rubbing his hands nervously, unsure what to do next.
It was Xia Ruqing who stepped forward to dismiss the servants, pulling him to sit beside her.
Considering the ’terrifying’ thoughts earlier in her mind, she felt even more strongly that her brother was indeed her biological brother, and must not be taken away by anyone.
Thus, just like when they were younger, she looked him over thoroughly, front and back, left and right, before finally smiling and saying.
"Not bad, haven’t lost weight, seems to have gained a bit!"
Xia Jingfeng blushed and scratched his head awkwardly.
"Elder sister!"
Then he bowed respectfully to Zhao Junyao.
"Taishang Huang!"
"No need for formalities!"
Zhao Junyao waved his hand indifferently, giving Xia Ruqing a glance inadvertently.
His heart chilled slightly in dissatisfaction as he murmured: Ha, woman!
...
"Elder sister, why did you come?"
"Why didn’t you notify us?"
Usually, the governor general, who always maintained a stern and unsmiling demeanor, revealed a rare smile of warmth and concern upon seeing his elder sister.
Xia Ruqing glanced at Zhao Junyao, chuckling.
"You know the two of us, wandering around sightseeing now!"
"Isn’t there some issue down in Guangnan?"
"My husband wanted to see if he could offer any help, and here we are passing through Jiangnan!"
Xia Ruqing paused for a moment and continued.
"Originally, we didn’t plan to bother you!"
"But thinking about it, I realized I haven’t met my sister-in-law yet!"
"So... here we are!"
In truth, it was mainly to freeload for food, drink, and accommodation.
After all, the Jiangnan palace was axed by Chenchen under the guise of reducing excess and promoting simplicity.
Henceforth, from the Emperor to officials, all travels necessitate lodging at inns (Of course, wanting a better stay still was possible, by paying out of pocket).
Since they’d only spend a few days in Jiangnan, there wasn’t time to set up household belongings.
Moreover, they couldn’t stay at an inn (as it required papers from the Government Office to prove identity, which was inconvenient for them to disclose).
They also didn’t want to stay at a hotel (having mild obsessive cleanliness, unwilling to use items others have).
After weighing options, Xia Jingfeng’s place clearly seemed the best fit.
Xia Jingfeng didn’t know his elder sister’s thoughts and believed her words.
His face showed some unease.
"Since elder sister said so, I’ll have someone bring Xunxun out now!"
Xunxun? Bringing her out? Ah, remarkable!
It seems her brother isn’t as oblivious to women as she envisioned him to be.
She thought he’d be the kind of straightforward man who wouldn’t bend.
Feeling a bit pleased, but with a smile she waved her hand.
"Better not, I’ll go sit in the inner courtyard later, no need to bring her out!"
Clearly, this occasion wasn’t suitable for a woman to join and converse.
Seeing her response, Xia Jingfeng didn’t persist, but simply smiled and said.
"Then I’ll have someone send a message, letting Xunxun know to come later to meet elder sister!"
Xia Ruqing laughed heartily.
"Great!"