Chapter 1506 - 1504: I Want to Stay With You
Chapter 1506: Chapter 1504: I Want to Stay With You
Chapter 1504
Xia Ruqing was completely satisfied.
Zhao Junyao, however, was full of bitterness.
The matter of Chenchen’s disappearance still left him without a clue, and Qingqing was also unaware.
Before, he could investigate openly.
Now, he had to do everything behind her back.
This courtyard was not as large as the ones they used to live in, with separate front and back yards.
It was just this small, and all the daily activities, coming and going, happened here.
While it was low-key, it was inevitably inconvenient.
Zhao Junyao pondered for a moment, then tentatively said,
"Qingqing, this courtyard is too cramped. With Chenchen, there are three of us living here, which is inconvenient!"
"How about... we find another small courtyard to live in?"
Xia Ruqing was puzzled.
"What’s so inconvenient about this!"
"It’s a rare chance for us to live with Chenchen, and you want to move out!"
"Such opportunities were not there before, and won’t be many in the future. Why separate..."
Zhao Junyao was a bit troubled.
"Qingqing! That’s true, but... think about it!"
"Guangnan City is so chaotic, and Chenchen is busy all day long, overwhelmed!"
"Ministers, the Imperial Forest Army guards, Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau, and all those servants are coming and going all day!!"
"Living here is not only bothersome, but also inconvenient!"
"Besides, it’s noisy!"
After Zhao Junyao finished speaking, he looked at her expectantly.
Xia Ruqing was now at a loss as well.
"What you say makes sense!"
"This courtyard... it is indeed small!"
"Yes, yes, it’s small and noisy. We emperors are tough-skinned and can bear hardships, but Madam, you shouldn’t have to endure here!"
Zhao Junyao quickly added, the once dignified Taishang Huang didn’t even care about his dignity now.
Xia Ruqing couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him and teased.
"At your age, still so smooth-talking!"
Zhao Junyao: "..."
He was also at a loss, he couldn’t help it, nor did he want to!
...
Given Zhao Junyao’s shameless behavior, Xia Ruqing eventually compromised.
She wasn’t unreasonable, and of course she knew it was inappropriate to live here.
Mostly, Zhao Junyao was considerate of her, and she found that sweet.
Hehe, even though they were an old couple, one couldn’t resist their affection!
Seeing her agreement.
Zhao Junyao felt an unprecedented surge of excitement and immediately called for people to pack up the courtyard.
Li Deming was quite efficient in his work.
Three Shi Chen later, another courtyard half a street away was ready.
Compared to the one Chenchen was living in, this courtyard was much larger.
But due to time constraints, the facilities in the courtyard were very inadequate, and the furnishings inside the rooms were simple and clean, sourced from nearby.
There was no choice; in these chaotic times, these were hard to come by.
Zhao Junyao accompanied Xia Ruqing in moving there.
Amidst the escort of a group of servants, they couldn’t help but look around as they stepped through the gate.
The sight of the courtyard’s bleakness and shabbiness made Zhao Junyao’s face darken immediately.
He glared at Li Deming fiercely.
’It’s one thing to find a simple place, but not this simple!’ he thought.
Xia Ruqing was just as surprised.
This courtyard... was just the most ordinary common residence, not even comfortable, let alone elegant.
Honestly, apart from the days of the original owner’s dark childhood, she had never lived in such a poor house.
Yes, even in the worst times in the palace, she never lived like this; the palace never allowed such ’ordinary’ houses to exist.
Li Deming was terrified.
His knees went soft, and he knelt down cautiously to report.
"Please calm your anger, Taishang Huang! This servant really tried my best."
"You know the situation in Guangnan City; there have been many deaths and injuries during this period!"
"Besides, the place originally chosen by the Emperor was a gathering area for ordinary people, not the posh areas in the southern city!"
"The houses around here are all like this!"
"This house..."
He hesitated for a moment but eventually told the truth.
"This house is the best and most comfortable among the ones where no one has died nearby!"
Xia Ruqing: "..."
Zhao Junyao: "..."
Alright, the ideals are rich, but reality is harsh.
Xia Ruqing cleared her throat, turned to Zhao Junyao, and whispered.
"Actually, it’s not bad at all, look, there’s even a chicken coop, a well, and a row of vegetable and melon racks!..."
"With a little attention, it could be a lively farm stay! Hehe, the ancient version of a farm stay."
Hearing her words, Zhao Junyao’s face finally softened a bit.
Although he didn’t know what a farm stay was.
But as things stood, this was the reality.
Living in such a common residence was a hundred times better than those luxurious but haunted houses.
They were too taboo, so it’s better to live here!
Zhao Junyao cleared his throat and told Li Deming to stand up.
He also instructed the servants behind him to take the luggage and belongings into the house and organize everything properly.
...
These servants were trained and efficient, having served in the palace.
In less than half a Shi Chen, the small courtyard and all the rooms were in neat order.
Um... actually, to be precise, they were empty.
There was nothing there, and the weeds and clutter were cleared away, so how could it not be empty?
The servants took the organized clutter and retreated.
In the courtyard, only the two of them remained, along with Zi Yue, Zi Ning, and a few trusted little eunuchs.
Xia Ruqing walked around the courtyard, giggling.
"We haven’t even started our secluded life, and we’re about to embrace this life of growing beans and melons!"
"This chicken coop is nice, oh, it seems there’s a vegetable garden in the backyard, that’s great!"
Xia Ruqing praised as she looked around.
Zhao Junyao looked around but was not very satisfied, even more dissatisfied the more he looked.
In the past, such houses were deliberately designed, with many places beautified, and the environment was surrounded by mountains, rivers, and streams, creating a beautiful ambience.
But now it was the real world.
In the homes of ordinary folk, there was no aesthetic appeal, it was either simple or shabby.
He could let it go for himself, but it wouldn’t be right to let Qingqing suffer.
Especially, he was afraid she might recall childhood memories.
"Qingqing..."
Zhao Junyao hesitated to speak.
"If you don’t like it, you don’t have to force yourself! I’ll take you to live in the southern city..."
Xia Ruqing turned and looked at him, puzzled.
"What’s wrong? Are you not satisfied?"
"I am not unsatisfied!"
"I, this person, what hardships haven’t I experienced? As long as you’re here, and there’s shelter from the wind and rain, I’m not afraid of anything!"
She chuckled, quietly recalling her past struggles.
She didn’t boast; it was truly because her past life’s experiences were too grim to bear.
With a father who didn’t care and a mother who didn’t love, during the time after her grandmother passed away, she was truly alone in the world.
What could she do?
She had slept under bridges and in basements, handed out flyers in scorching weather until her skin peeled, and donned giant mascots to attract customers, almost passing out from heatstroke.