Chapter 1203: Chapter 1203: He’s Dead! I Am the Emperor!

Behind the beaded curtain.

The man’s face gradually emerged.

Xia Ruqing stared at that face, so familiar it could not be more familiar, and she was stunned.

"Emper..."

"Emperor?"

She hesitated, afraid to recognize.

Ignoring the sharp pain in her hands, she rubbed her eyes fiercely.

Looking up again, it was still him.

"Emperor, is it really you?"

Overwhelmed with joy, she cried, using all her strength to get up and rushed out barefoot.

"It’s really you!"

"I thought you were dead, you bastard!"

Xia Ruqing, with tears in her eyes, threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

But at this moment, ’Zhao Junyao’ showed no joy.

He even looked surprised, his hands and feet at a loss, not knowing where to place them.

The palace maids around were scared, their faces ashen, trembling as they knelt down.

They wondered what on earth was the background of this young lady?!

Why did she keep calling Master the Emperor?

Master hates the current Emperor so much, yet this young lady still says that in front of him; she is probably beyond saving.

The maids were all calculating in their hearts how to blend into the background, hoping not to be implicated when Master gets angry later.

But... they waited and waited and saw no anger from Master.

They were a bit puzzled, what’s going on?

The subsequent events were even stranger; not only did Master not get angry, but he even picked up the young lady and walked towards the bed.

The maids were all shocked.

’Oh my, I’ve never seen Master treat anyone so well!’

’Right, since when did Master have such a good temper?!’

’Turns out to be someone favored by Master, really fortunate!’

’Hmph, lucky indeed!’

...

Xia Ruqing obediently let ’Zhao Junyao’ hold her as he gently placed her on the bed.

She was crying tears of joy.

"Why aren’t you speaking?"

"How did you escape?"

"Emperor, how could you be so foolish!"

"You are the Emperor, you can’t die, you should have gotten out first!"

’Zhao Junyao’ seemed somewhat displeased, his tone detached.

"What are you talking about?"

With just this sentence, Xia Ruqing fell into immense shock.

Strange!

Why did she feel so strange?!

This person clearly was Zhao Junyao? Clearly, it was him!

But why did she not feel any sense of familiarity?

They had lived together for so many years.

His words, his laughter, his joys and sorrows, his gestures, his every move.

She was familiar with them all; it was impossible for them to feel this unfamiliar.

Xia Ruqing unconsciously shrank back, her tone firm, her eyes full of wariness and vigilance.

"You’re not Zhao Junyao!"

"Who are you really?"

’Zhao Junyao’ narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone icy.

"How could I be Zhao Junyao?"

"Qingqing, you’ve mistaken me for someone else!"

"Zhao Junyao is already dead, I am... Zhao Junqi!"

Xia Ruqing was thunderstruck.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing, let alone the news coming from his mouth.

She shook her head violently, her body retreating continuously.

"No!"

"Impossible!"

"You’re talking nonsense, he wouldn’t die!"

"You... you... Zhao Junqi?"

Her inner world was struck hard.

Xia Ruqing’s mind went blank, and she coughed violently twice, spitting out several mouthfuls of dark blood, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted again.

Zhao Junqi was not flustered, he lifted his robe and sat at the bedside, then ordered someone.

"Go find a doctor!"

"Yes!"

The maids received the order and retreated orderly.

The remaining maids were responsible for cleaning up the bloodstains on the bed.

Before long, the doctor arrived.

He was an old man about fifty years old, with white hair and beard, reputed to be the best doctor in Guangnan City.

He skillfully turned Xia Ruqing’s eyelids, checked her tongue, then touched her earlobes, and finally felt her pulse.

After feeling the pulse and asking questions for a while, he finally reached a conclusion:

Reporting to Master, this Madam has suffered a severe shock, her mind is somewhat unclear, at best she may talk nonsense, at worst she could have hallucinations!

If this continues, it might endanger her life. Proper care and avoiding further shocks are advised.

Zhao Junqi squinted his eyes.

So... she had hallucinations, mistaking him for Zhao Junyao.

Heh heh!

Zhao Junyao, that bastard, had a harem full of women, he was heartless, ruthless, cold and cruel.

What was so good about him, that everyone remembered him, even in their hallucinations!

Zhao Junqi’s expression became increasingly unsightly, the atmosphere around him growing colder.

The maids knelt on the ground without a word, even the doctor, sensing the tension, didn’t dare say more.

The room fell into extreme silence.

Unknown how much time passed, Zhao Junqi finally waved his hand. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Brew the medicine according to the prescription!"

"You all may leave now!"

"Yes!"

The maids and the doctor exited together.

As they were leaving, they thoughtfully closed the door securely.

Each of them couldn’t help but sigh in their hearts.

’Master truly cares about this young lady!’

’Indeed!’

’Our Master’s brilliant like a jade tree, except for being a bit thin, he’s handsome in every way, this young lady is truly fortunate!’

Some even felt a bit jealous.

"I don’t think this young lady is all that beautiful?"

"I’ve never seen her before, when did she catch Master’s attention?"

"Oh? You’re feeling jealous now?" another maid mocked.

"Spit! You’re the one who’s jealous!"

"Hurry up and get the medicine brewed, otherwise Master will lose his temper again!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

They indeed dared not say more, hurrying to the pharmacy.

...

Inside the room.

Zhao Junqi looked at the unconscious Xia Ruqing on the bed, a complex smile on his face.

"He’s dead! I am the Emperor now!"

"Rest assured, you will continue being the Empress, I won’t treat you poorly!"

"Oh, right, and your children!"

"Rest assured, I surely won’t neglect them either!"

"See, isn’t this great!!"

"By then, everything in the Great Chu Dynasty will be ours!"

Zhao Junqi spoke while anticipating, his face full of expectation.

The unconscious Xia Ruqing saw and heard nothing.

Half a Shi Chen later.

The palace maid brought the brewed medicine over.

Zhao Junqi took it, gestured for the maid to help her sit up, and personally fed her.

But.

Xia Ruqing’s face was ashen, she clenched her teeth tightly, refusing to open her mouth.

Zhao Junqi became somewhat impatient.

The maid was also too frightened to raise her head.

During this awkward moment, Xia Ruqing suddenly murmured.

"Don’t go!"

"Zhao Junyao, don’t go!"

Zhao Junqi instantly became enraged, but he hid it well, not showing his anger in his eyes.

But the atmosphere around him grew colder.

Just as no one knew what to do next.

Xia Ruqing suddenly woke up, still shocked.

Her eyes fierce, like a little wolf cub provoked, or a mother wolf protecting her cubs.

"You..."

"Zhao Junqi, what do you want?"

Zhao Junqi smiled faintly.

"I’m not doing anything?!"

"Why be so wary? If I wanted to harm you, why would I save you?"

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment, that made sense!

But she remained vigilant.

"Then why did you save me?"

Zhao Junqi’s eyes contained a smile, his tone gentle.

"Because... you are the Empress!"