A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 402: Chapter 402: The Empress Dowager’s Approval?

Zhao Junyao suddenly became as stiff as a wooden post.

From the moment he took Little Bun into his arms, he dared not move a muscle!

His entire expression was rigid, and his movements were awkward.

”I...” Zhao Junyao stammered, ”He was too small when he was born; I didn’t dare to hold him! He was too little during the bathing ceremony; I didn’t dare to hold him either! Now... I still don’t dare to hold him, actually. For such a small child, I’m truly afraid that a mere flick of my finger could hurt him. Thus, I don’t dare to move at all.”

But, while he might have been too scared to move, Little Bun didn’t care about that at all.

His little feet kicked vigorously, and his mouth opened and closed.

His gleaming black eyes were fixed intently on the ’yellow’ person so close in front of him!

Children all like brightly colored things. Little Bun was no exception. Therefore, the more he looked, the happier he became.

He looked up, then he looked down.

His hands quickly latched firmly onto Zhao Junyao’s sleeve.

His kicking feet flung open his little wrap, revealing the red bellyband underneath. Legs as tender as lotus root sections kicked about with strength.

Zhao Junyao was almost unable to hold on, mainly because he didn’t dare to move.

”Qingqing...” Zhao Junyao felt quite helpless with the little milk ball in his arms.

This little guy is happy indeed, but it’s tough luck for his dad!

Xia Ruqing watched Zhao Junyao’s frazzled expression. She couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time, hurriedly taking the little milk ball from him.

She wrapped Little Bun up well again.

”Emperor, even you have moments when you’re powerless, huh!”

Zhao Junyao, looking at his wrinkled sleeve that had been grabbed, felt surprisingly a bit proud and remarked, ”My son has great strength! Not bad! Just like me!”

Xia Ruqing was speechless.

”Emperor, I thought you preferred daughters over sons!”

Zhao Junyao cleared his throat slightly. ”Who said that? Nonsense!”

Yet his gaze inevitably drifted towards a certain little milk ball still sucking on its hand!

Little Bun’s black eyes also looked at him.

The doughy sensation of the baby on his arms lingered, and something stirred in Zhao Junyao’s heart.

Little Bun is my mini-version, my eldest son after all! In the future, he will become an outstanding prince of the Royal Family, just like me. He will ride horses and hunt with youthful vigor and handsome grace, just like me. And then he will marry some wives and have a bunch of children! Everything that I have, he will inherit. He is the continuation of my life, the legacy of my bloodline.

As he thought this, a strange, inexplicable feeling welled up in Zhao Junyao’s heart.

It’s a kind of fatherly love, different from the love for a daughter.

He had grown used to being a father to daughters; this was his first time being a father to a son. The feeling really is different!

This mysterious sensation bubbled up inside him like an unceasing warm spring. Finally, it melted away all the hard edges in his heart, leaving it completely soft, like water!

A full month after Little Bun’s arrival, Zhao Junyao truly realized that he now had a son. His fatherly love was fully and completely awakened.

That day, Zhao Junyao was taking an afternoon nap with Xia Ruqing.

After Little Bun was taken away by the Wetnurse Nanny, Xia Ruqing became overwhelmingly sleepy. She fell asleep as soon as she touched the bed.

By the time Zhao Junyao removed his outer robe and lay down on the bed, she was already sound asleep. He slipped under the quilt, lying down along the edge of the bed.

Before he could settle in, Xia Ruqing felt a bit chilled. She frowned and snuggled towards the source of warmth.

Zhao Junyao hadn’t held her for a long time. First, it was because she was pregnant. She couldn’t even sleep comfortably on a bed by herself, so he hadn’t wanted to intrude. Even when he stayed over, he would sleep on the couch, letting her have the whole bed to herself for a comfortable sleep. Later, after Little Bun was born and she was in her postpartum confinement, Zhao Junyao couldn’t stay overnight. He only came to visit her and didn’t sleep there at night.

Now... he thought. He had waited through her pregnancy and postpartum period, eagerly looking forward to this for more than half a year. Finally! She has completed her postpartum period. Does that mean...

Zhao Junyao’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

How I miss Qingqing. This past half-year or so, while she was pregnant and in postpartum confinement, it wasn’t that I didn’t visit other women. But they were all the same as before. Either coy and shy, or lying there like a dead fish. Even worse, some were so frightened it seemed as if I would devour them. Over time, I lost interest as well. They are clearly my own women, yet I feel like a villain forcing himself on virtuous maidens. This feeling is truly something else. So in the end, I could only finish hurriedly, hastily dealing with my physiological needs. Because of this, I’ve grown increasingly reluctant to visit the Harem! It’s just like eating a meal. Normally, I resist hunger and endure. When it becomes truly unbearable, I just find a few pieces of coarse bread to fill my stomach, not caring what it is. Because I know there’s a full Manchu-Han banquet waiting for me! In the prime of my youth, goodness knows how I’ve managed through this past half-year.

Xia Ruqing found the most comfortable position, nestled in his arms.

Zhao Junyao immediately wrapped his arms tightly around her.

Hmm, I’ll wait a little longer, just a bit more! It’s only her first day out of postpartum confinement; I’m afraid she hasn’t fully recovered and might get hurt again. In any case, she should focus on recuperating properly.

Zhao Junyao held her tightly. The two slept in each other’s arms, drifting hazily into dreamland.

In the afternoon, when Zhao Junyao left, Xia Ruqing was still asleep. Her strength had not yet returned, and besides, the weather was cold and the bed was warm.

If she loves to sleep, let her sleep, he thought.

As he was leaving, Zhao Junyao also reminded Zi Yue, ”Don’t wake her; let her sleep well!”

Zi Yue smiled in agreement. Together with Xiao Xizi and the others, they respectfully saw off the Emperor!

Consort Xian Pin had given birth to the Crown Prince. This not only caused a commotion in the Harem, but also created a considerable stir in Ningshou Palace. Even if the Empress Dowager rarely involved herself in worldly matters, she couldn’t possibly show no reaction at all.

On the evening of the full moon feast, Ningshou Palace finally sent their belated rewards. Sister Qing personally delivered them; Xia Ruqing was both surprised and delighted. She insisted Sister Qing stay for tea, not letting her leave easily. Sister Qing had no choice but to drink a bowl of tea.

After sending Sister Qing off, Xia Ruqing opened the Sandalwood Box.

Inside, A set of little clothes, they look handmade! A Jade Ruyi, it appears to be old jade, quite aged! And two longevity locks, one Jade Pendant! Judging by their appearance and quality, these are all treasures fit to be heirlooms.

Xia Ruqing was very pleased that the Empress Dowager had bestowed such valuable gifts.

Does this mean she acknowledges the Imperial Son? In truth, whether the Empress Dowager acknowledged him or not, it would be enough as long as the Emperor did! But... having the Empress Dowager’s personal recognition is still better. After all, Honored Lady Shih is also pregnant! If the Empress Dowager truly chose to ignore him and not care, there isn’t much I could do about it. So, things are turning out quite well, Xia Ruqing thought, and after pondering a bit, she let the matter go.

Zi Yue didn’t know what to say, so she just stood silently.

Xia Ruqing closed the box. ”Alright, record these items and store them in the treasury,” she instructed.

Zi Yue didn’t ask further questions, nodding before she went to carry out the task.

If even the Empress Dowager recognizes him, that means... this child might win the Empress Dowager’s favor? A grandson even the Empress Dowager likes – who in the palace or outside would dare not to value him in the future?