Chapter 1500 - 1498: Then Hurry Up and Go
Chapter 1500: Chapter 1498: Then Hurry Up and Go
Chapter 1498
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
During this month, under Xia Ruqing’s careful care, Zhao Junyao’s health indeed improved significantly.
The previously pale complexion became more rosy, his appetite increased, and the coughing reduced.
The whole person seemed full of vitality.
Once his health improved, Zhao Junyao couldn’t sit still, often carrying a bow and arrows to the mountains, sometimes staying the whole day.
Xia Ruqing felt a vague concern in her heart, so she called the Imperial Physician to inquire.
The Imperial Physician told her,
"The Emperor has a strong foundation, plus the climate in Guangnan is good, and now is the perfect moderate season!"
"Going to the mountains often can nurture and soothe the lungs, and also strengthen the body and increase appetite."
"As long as he can still eat well, the illness will naturally reduce a lot!"
Xia Ruqing secretly sighed in relief upon hearing this and no longer stops him, just indulging in teasing Zhao Junyao when he returns daily with his bow and arrows.
"My husband!"
"You’ve been gone all day again, how come you didn’t bring back any pheasants or wild rabbits?"
"We’ve been here for a while, and I haven’t had the chance to taste Guangnan’s wild delicacies yet!"
Zhao Junyao dismounted, stretched his tired old arms and legs, and answered without raising his brows.
"There are disaster victims everywhere here, where would there be any wild game in the mountains?"
"I just go out to see how the mountain conditions are around here."
"To check if there’s a possibility of more landslides, rock slides or other dangers!"
Xia Ruqing leaned in and embraced his arm, asking.
"Really? You’re not lying to me?"
Zhao Junyao helplessly laughed.
"Why would I lie to you?"
"You know what the situation outside is!"
From every direction in Guangnan, waves of disaster victims are fleeing into the city, while waves of affluent families are fleeing out.
The former seeks a way to survive, the latter wants to protect their wealth.
Once the disaster victims flood into the city, epidemics, famine, murder, and robbery will follow.
The situation in Guangnan City will become increasingly complex, like water and fire.
He’s checking the terrain to do his best to provide a path into the city for these disaster victims.
We can’t have them die on the way before even reaching the city.
Xia Ruqing thought for a moment and understood, then she let go of his arm and laughed.
"Alright alright!"
"I won’t say anything then!"
"Come inside quickly, I’ve already ordered the meal to be set!"
"It’s your fault for being late, I’m already famished!"
Zhao Junyao rubbed her hair and nodded.
"Alright!"
The two entered the room one after the other.
...
The supper was very sumptuous.
Xia Ruqing is someone who never allows herself to suffer.
If there has to be suffering, she can endure it personally, but her stomach cannot.
So even in hardship, Zhao Junyao never dares to let her stomach suffer.
The ingredients can be simple, but they must be fresh.
There can’t be too few varieties; there must be meat and vegetables.
Kitchen maids may be few, but their cooking must be exquisite and flavorful.
Actually, these requirements aren’t excessive.
Zhao Junyao doesn’t like self-abuse, nor would he abuse her.
Experiencing hardships with the people is necessary, but not to an excessive degree.
On the finely crafted elm round table, a plain tablecloth was spread.
A variety of delicious dishes were arranged on the table.
The portions were not large, but the variety was ample.
A few vegetarian dishes, a few meat dishes, with no lavish ingredients, but all were fresh and tasty home-cooked meals.
Although it couldn’t compare with the imperial cuisine, Xia Ruqing still found joy in it.
Perhaps because in her previous life, she had been hungry, slept by the roadside, squatted under bridges, and gnawed on buns.
She always had a mysterious attachment to food.
No matter the grievance, a good meal could console her.
Even now, as she endured hardships in the outskirts of Guangnan, as long as she had good food, she still found great pleasure.
"Hurry, hurry, I’m starving!"
Xia Ruqing eagerly pulled Zhao Junyao to sit by the dining table.
Zhao Junyao was both amused and helpless.
"Next time, just eat by yourself; no need to wait for me!"
Xia Ruqing firmly refused.
"How can that be? I would feel embarrassed eating alone!"
"I can’t very well leave you my leftovers, and besides, I might not leave anything!"
To avoid waste, she controlled the portions very small.
After a meal, there was indeed nothing left on the table.
Zhao Junyao glanced at her stomach and couldn’t help but tease.
"I wonder where you put all that food you eat?"
"Few years ago, when Yue Er was young, you were more plump; now you’ve become slender!"
Xia Ruqing protested while devouring rice.
"Do I have to gain weight just because I eat a lot? Being slender looks good!"
"See, with a veil now when I go out, I can pass for a young girl!"
Zhao Junyao chuckled, unable to hold back, then reluctantly picked up his bowl of rice.
...
No speaking while eating.
After the meal, Xia Ruqing’s stomach was comfortably full.
She squinted slightly, stretched lazily, and her face radiated the glow of satisfaction with the food.
"I’m so full!"
"I need to go out and walk it off!"
Zhao Junyao took her outside.
The two strolled for half a Shi Chen before returning to the small courtyard.
The courtyard was simple, a two-entry layout, with only a portal at the entrance.
Beyond the portal were five rooms facing them, divided into the main hall, side hall, and wing rooms.
They currently lived in one of the wing rooms, with only a wooden pavilion outside, containing a few stone stools.
With no other place to go, Xia Ruqing sat on the stone stool to watch the sunset.
She lazily supported her chin with her hand, squinted her eyes, and watched as the blood-red sunset gradually stained the sky red.
In the distance, the green hills were veiled in a thin mist, while the nearby forest shimmered with a golden sheen.
A refreshing, cool breeze blew gently from not far away, lightly swaying her clothes and long hair.
Xia Ruqing simply closed her eyes, peacefully enjoying everything.
She thought.
If only time could forever stay at this moment, how wonderful it would be!
...
Of course, that was impossible.
Night gradually fell.
They prepared to rest after bathing.
Suddenly, a Little Eunuch came knocking, sounding anxious.
Xia Ruqing frowned.
"What’s so urgent that it can’t wait until tomorrow?"
Zhao Junyao hesitated briefly, patted her shoulder reassuringly and got up to dress.
"Qingqing, maybe it’s Chenchen who needs help!"
"I’ll go check, you should sleep first!"
Xia Ruqing nodded, yet she couldn’t help but worry.
"Then go quickly!"
Zhao Junyao nodded and turned to dress and leave.
The whole movement was smooth and unhesitating, as if he had anticipated it.
Xia Ruqing didn’t give it much thought.
But after Zhao Junyao left, she couldn’t sleep anymore.
Nesting in bed, she tossed and turned, drifting in and out of sleep until dawn.
Zi Yue, keeping watch in the outer room, occasionally came in to tuck her in.
Seeing the dark circles beneath her eyes, Zi Yue worriedly urged.
"Mistress, you should sleep soon; dawn is approaching, and you’ll have to get up soon!"
Xia Ruqing, unable to think much more, hurriedly pulled her in to ask.