Watched a variety show (just some basic magic performances!).

Xia Ruqing was not amazed by the performance, but rather surprised by the expressions of the surrounding common people.

Some were quite scared, some shouted excitedly, and some were even speechless.

She was a bit puzzled.

’Isn’t it just magic? Could it be... there’s no magic in ancient times?’

Looking at Zhao Junyao again, he was not very surprised; instead, he had a wooden expression.

"Husband, aren’t you surprised?" Xia Ruqing asked.

Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow.

"What’s there to be surprised about?"

Xia Ruqing was somewhat taken aback.

"This is an outsider’s performance; they said they’d never seen it before!"

Zhao Junyao was expressionless.

"I’ve never seen performances from the Great Chu Dynasty either..."

Xia Ruqing:" ... "

His reasoning was so good she couldn’t refute it.

But speaking of it, the Emperor husband’s words made sense.

If an emperor doesn’t focus on governance every day but instead worries about these trivial things.

The common people likely wouldn’t have the heart to watch performances.

The two continued to chat leisurely.

They strolled along the street and squeezed into the crowd to eat some snacks.

Xia Ruqing held a bowl of piping hot lotus root powder dumplings, laughing in the cold wind like spring flowers and autumn moons.

Undoubtedly.

She’s definitely a true foodie.

When wandering the streets watching performances, she felt as if wronged.

But now, she’s incredibly cheerful.

After eating a bowl of dumplings, she ate another bowl of sweet balls, Xia Ruqing patted her belly with a smile.

"Full yet?" Someone asked indulgently.

"Seems like there’s still a little room..." Someone replied shamelessly.

"Then keep eating!"

"Alright!"

And then...

Shamelessly, Xia Ruqing ate with abandon.

She ate half a bowl of hot soup noodles, two skewers of sugar-coated haws, a crispy round hot pancake, and one steaming hot roasted sweet potato.

On the way back, she passed a stall selling steamed buns, and she was instantly attracted.

Her eyes were fixed on the exquisite and cute steamed buns, her legs felt glued to the ground, unable to move.

’The buns have fillings of brown sugar, red dates, red bean paste, and white sugar’

’Shaped like little monkeys, little rabbits, fortune pig babies, little tigers, etc., all twelve zodiac signs, every single one vivid and lifelike!’

It wasn’t even that she wanted to eat more.

Just seeing them reminded her of her grandmother.

During New Year’s when she was little, her grandmother would make a whole pot of them.

Whatever the year was, she’d make corresponding shapes, never repeating, with various flavored buns.

It’s been a long time since she’s seen these things.

Before having children, she often thought of her grandmother.

Now with four kids around, memories of grandmother have faded even more.

All the memories surged instantly, the kind and benevolent visage seemed just beside her.

Xia Ruqing stood dazedly, her gaze lost, somewhat spaced out.

"Qingqing?"

"Qingqing?"

She didn’t respond to two calls.

Zhao Junyao directly waved his hand, having someone pack up everything on that vendor’s stall, even... bought the bamboo steamer.

Considering there wasn’t a repeat, he didn’t know which Qingqing liked, so he bought them all.

When she came back to her senses.

Xia Ruqing looked at the large stack of various steamed buns, a face full of speechless lines.

"Emperor, you..."

Zhao Junyao was very happy.

"If you like these, I’ll have someone find a cook for you, specially making it, how’s that?!"

Qingqing has slimmed down, it must be the cook’s fault, yes, definitely!

Xia Ruqing:" ... "

"Alright!"

"That’s a good girl!!"

Zhao Junyao spread his cloak and wrapped her into his arms.

"Tired? Rest a bit, we’re almost there!"

"Okay!"

Xia Ruqing leaned into his embrace, utterly confused throughout.

What’s wrong with Zhao Junyao!

Could he have a fever?

Where are these strange ideas coming from?

According to Zhao Junyao:

I just felt like I’ve neglected my wife for so long and wanted to make up for it.

The emotion-challenged emperor really doesn’t understand how to please a woman.

But... he’s genuinely trying his best.

Xia Ruqing nodded.

’Emperor, I see you’re doing your best...’

’Even I’m embarrassed for you!’

However.

Zhao Junyao was oblivious to his own awkwardness.

His mood throughout was exceptionally good.

’Spent all last year busy, neglected Qingqing, now everything is rectified!’

’See, I’m unparalleled as an emperor, equally unparalleled as a husband’

’I’m simply a genius!’

Xia Ruqing:" ... "

...

The Lantern Festival passed.

The weather in the Capital City not only didn’t improve but also had two episodes of peach blossom snow.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too cold, all melted within two days.

The weather was moist for a while.

It cleared up again as it became February.

February in the Capital City has two happy events.

Firstly: The Eldest Princess got married.

Secondly: Seventh Prince took a consort.

These two are major events, especially Seventh Prince taking a consort.

Not only does the Ministry of Internal Affairs have to arrange things inside and out, even Xia Ruqing had no time to breathe.

Seventh Prince doesn’t have a mother consort, she’s the elder sister-in-law.

As they say, an elder sister-in-law is like a mother, her responsibility is bigger, she cannot neglect it.

But the Eldest Princess couldn’t be without someone, although Consort Zheng is the nominal foster mother, in a common family she would just be a concubine, not a respectable rank.

For a royal wedding, the legitimate mother cannot sit it out.

So... Xia Ruqing was busy on both ends, her originally slim figure got thinner, and she ran her legs slender.

Fortunately, Consort Zheng was there diligently helping, otherwise, she really wouldn’t know how exhausted she’d be.

One day.

Xia Ruqing sat on the heated bed, holding the dowry list handed over by Consort Zheng and carefully looked through it.

Consort Zheng was smilingly explaining at the side:

"The dowry for Yiming includes rewards from the Empress Dowager, yours, and presents from Consort Cheng, Consort Hui, Consort Yun, as well as gifts from younger sisters below!"

"I have checked, everything is in compliance with customs."

Xia Ruqing looked from top to bottom, indeed no mistakes, she nodded.

"You’ve worked hard!"

Consort Zheng quickly smiled humbly.

"It’s still Your Majesty who’s worked hard!"

"In such cold weather, Your Majesty’s even slimmed down!"

Xia Ruqing faintly smiled, said nothing, and changed the topic.

"You’ve been very diligent in helping the Eldest Princess find a husband, choosing the Tao Family, a scholarly family, it’s your kind effort!"

"In the future, she will surely be filial to you!"

Consort Zheng suddenly smiled with her head down.

"If I say I don’t want anything in return, Your Majesty won’t believe me!"

"But I think that child is truly pitiable, helping her and doing my part is only right!"

"The Tao Family might not be a wealthy or noble family, but they’ve been honorable for generations!"

"The legitimate eldest son of the Tao family was meticulously nurtured!"

"Gained fame early, a well-educated man, and is very handsome, has an upright character!"

"No matter how imperfect the Eldest Princess is, in the Capital City under the Emperor’s watch, they wouldn’t dare ill-treat!"

"As long as the Eldest Princess lives steadily, she’s sure to have a smooth lifetime!"