Zi Su quickly advised.

"Yes, Your Majesty, it’s too cold outside. Please return and rest, I will personally go!"

"No!"

Xia Ruqing resolutely stated.

"I want to personally bring her back!"

...

In the training ground.

A figure clad in a dark fox fur cape, with shoes of purple gold and black boots, stood on a vast snowy field.

His features were austere, lips tightly pressed, with finely sculpted features. His every move exuded power and stability, with eyes steadfast like rock, and an aura both gentle and noble.

Usually icy-faced, with cold brown eyes, he was now gazing tenderly at a lively little girl beside him, hopping playfully like a white mink.

The little girl wore a spotless white fox fur cape, with the finest white lambskin boots on her feet.

The luxurious fox fur was incredibly long, gently brushing against her fair face with every breeze. Her boots’ lambskin was soft and pristine, exuding elegance.

Her features seemed sculpted by the heavens, with eyes like clear green lake waters, a delicate nose, and cherry lips adorably flushed. When she smiled, dimples peeked out adorably on her cheeks.

Standing in the snow, the snowy little girl resembled a playful and adorable white mink.

"Brother! Did you really agree to teach me how to ride a horse?"

The little girl’s eyes sparkled, like the brightest stars in the night sky.

Zhao Qichen smiled indulgently, giving a gentle nod.

"Yes!"

Excitedly, the little girl hopped around him, cheering.

"Hooray! Brother agreed to teach me to ride!"

"Brother, you love Yue Er the most in the world, even more than Father and Mother!"

The icy look in Zhao Qichen’s eyes melted entirely, warm as the softest spring breeze.

"But... Brother has a condition!"

"What condition?" Yue Er asked eagerly.

Zhao Qichen gently lifted his gaze, whispering softly.

"When Yue Er can climb onto the horse’s back by herself, Brother will teach you to ride!"

His tone was firm and unquestionable.

Yue Er’s little face scrunched up in distress.

"Ah? Climb onto the horse’s back by myself?"

Zhao Qichen slightly raised his gaze.

"Hmm? If Yue Er can’t even climb onto the horse’s back, how can you say you can ride a horse?"

Yue Er tilted her little head, thinking, it made sense.

She reached out, measuring her height, realizing she only reached her brother’s waist, looking dejected.

"Brother!"

"I’m only this tall, when will I be able to climb onto the horse’s back?"

Zhao Qichen laughed, his glaze-like eyes sparkling like the brilliant stars, like spring awakening.

"If Yue Er eats well, it’ll happen soon enough!"

Yue Er pouted her cherry lips.

"Well... alright then!"

Saying this, she looked quite aggrieved.

"Then can Brother hold me while riding? Yue Er really wants to ride a horse!"

Zhao Qichen raised an eyebrow.

"I can hold you, but you must promise Brother that before you learn to ride, don’t run around the training ground by yourself!"

Yue Er was a bit tempted, quickly hugging her brother’s leg, acting coquettishly.

"Then will Brother come with me from now on, okay!?"

"Okay!"

Zhao Qichen nodded in agreement.

"Yay! Brother is the best!" Yue Er cheered.

The little girl in a white fox fur cape hopped in the snow, like a little white rabbit, or a lively, adorable white mink.

Suddenly.

The little white rabbit seemed to have spotted something dangerous.

In the blink of an eye, she hid behind her brother, showing only her large, frightened eyes.

"Oh no, oh no, Brother, Mother is here!"

Zhao Qichen had clearly spotted Mother as well.

However, his sister’s antics made him both helpless and amused.

Turning, he held the little white rabbit in his arms, softly soothing her.

"Don’t be afraid, Brother is here!"

The frightened little white rabbit finally settled down in his arms.

...

When Xia Ruqing arrived with her entourage.

She saw Chenchen holding Yue Er in his arms, Yue Er behaving well, not mischief at all.

She finally exhaled in relief.

"As long as she’s not making trouble!"

Yue Er pouted, feeling wronged.

"Mother! I’ve been very good, not making trouble at all!"

Xia Ruqing looked at her reproachfully.

"You call running so far not making trouble? Hurry and come back!"

Yue Er obediently lowered her head.

"Okay!"

The furry little girl lay in her brother’s arms, like a small, subdued kitten.

"No need to worry, Mother! Yue Er wasn’t causing any trouble!"

Chenchen chuckled, holding his sister.

Xia Ruqing sighed in relief.

Seeing the expressions on the two children, avoiding her as if she were some fierce monster, she couldn’t say much more.

"Hurry and go back!"

"It’s cold outside, don’t catch a chill again!"

Saying this, she turned and led her people away, relieved they hadn’t snuck a ride on horses.

Zhao Qichen held Yue Er.

"How about it? Shall we head back too?"

Yue Er tilted her head, full of anticipation.

"Will there be stories when we return?"

"Yes!" Zhao Qichen replied helplessly.

"Okay, Brother!"

...

The New Year’s Eve banquet that evening was held in Ninghe Hall.

Zhao Junyao brought Xia Ruqing to personally serve the Empress Dowager, joining the gathering.

The gathering was a lively assembly of females, both harmonious on the surface, secretly contesting one another’s splendor.

Xia Ruqing sat at a high position, secretly calculating:

The upcoming year would be the fifteenth year of Jiayuan.

In the blink of an eye, she had spent thirteen years in the palace.

Initially, she didn’t even have the qualification to sit here and attend banquets.

Now, she could sit in high places and oversee everything.

Initially, she just wanted to have a full meal, to survive.

Now, she held the power over others’ lives and deaths.

From the outset, she never intended anything with that high and mighty man, currying favor was merely to survive.

Now, they had four children, and for ten years, he had cherished her wholeheartedly.

Even though...

He had so many concubines, he had children with others.

But what did it matter?

In his heart, that small space was reserved only for her, and wasn’t that enough?

This was ancient times, he was the Emperor.

He had given her the very best he could.

What more could she ask? How else could she expect him to behave?

Too much calculation, too much greed, what meaning was there if it all came to naught?

Of course, this was limited to ancient times.

Xia Ruqing sat there, lost in thought, dazed, contemplating.

’How wonderful it would be if she met him in modern times!’

’No others, just the two of them!!’

’He would be just like any ordinary man, with work, with responsibilities.’

’They would live an ordinary life together, raise children, watch sunrises, enjoy weekends...’

’They would be a pair for life, just the two of them, how wonderful it would be...’

"Qingqing, what are you thinking about?" Zhao Junyao asked with a smile.

His words snapped her back to reality.

Xia Ruqing suddenly turned around.

In sight was Zhao Junyao, draped in bright yellow, looking at her with doting eyes, a smile on his lips.

"What are you thinking about? So lost in thought?"

Xia Ruqing smiled brightly.

"Thinking about home!"

He gently raised an eyebrow.

"Do you want to go home?"

But that didn’t seem right, what was there to miss about her home?

Miss that father? Or that stepmother? Oh right, there seemed to be a concubine who treated her well.

Considering this, Zhao Junyao thought for a moment before answering.

"Then next year, I will take you to visit, how about that?"