Chapter 761 - 538: Date

Chapter 761: Chapter 538: Date

From a bird’s-eye view, her Hua E Building, Baihua Pavilion, and the Empress Dowager’s Yixin Palace all formed a straight line.

However, the Dragon Pool lay between them.

The Dragon Pool was shorter from north to south and longer from east to west. As the crow flies, it wasn’t too far from her residence to Baihua Pavilion.

She pointed toward Yixin Palace and said to Feng Yi, "The Empress Dowager lives there."

Feng Yi nodded. "It’s cooler there since it’s right by the Dragon Pool. Leaping Dragon Palace also serves as a perfect dividing line, separating the Empress Dowager from the other concubines so that everyone can have some peace and quiet."

Song Yunzhao glanced at Feng Yi. ’He was clearly prepared for this.’ She then pointed toward Baihua Pavilion. "The Empress Dowager placed An Pin and Lady Zhao there."

Feng Yi glanced at Baihua Pavilion’s location and said nonchalantly, "That’s a good spot. It saves you from having to run into them."

"It’s not far if you take a boat across," Yun Zhao said with a smile.

"If you don’t like them living there, we’ll just move them somewhere else. I’ll handle it." Feng Yi placed some food on Yun Zhao’s plate. "Weren’t we going horseback riding? Don’t waste time on unimportant people. I’ll be busy again in a few days, and I won’t have time to be with you then."

Yun Zhao realized he was right. The time they had to themselves was always so fragmented. It was rare to get a few good days like this, and she couldn’t afford to waste them on other people.

She had Xiangxue put the map away, then said to Feng Yi, "There’s no need to move them. I just didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to be so protective of Lady Zhao."

Feng Yi placed a small red bean bun, one of Yun Zhao’s favorites, into her bowl. "Her protection is useless."

Song Yunzhao’s spirits lifted at his words.

After breakfast, the two of them left Zhang Maoquan and Anshun to look after the Second Prince and departed the traveling palace, heading straight for the grasslands.

The northern grasslands were nothing like those in the Capital City. What passed for a grassland in the Capital was more like a large lawn. Standing here, she couldn’t see the horizon; as far as the eye could see, there was only a vast expanse of emerald green.

Feng Yi’s horse was a magnificent, jet-black steed with eyes like jewels. He lifted her onto its back, then vaulted up behind her. With a flick of the whip, they were off, galloping across the grassland.

Held securely in Feng Yi’s arms with the wind roaring past her ears, Song Yunzhao felt a thrill course through her as the horse galloped.

Seeing how excited Yun Zhao was, Feng Yi led the horse in a wide circle before gradually slowing its pace, letting it meander across the grassland. He helped her down, and they sat together casually in the grass.

Feng Yi took out a leather waterskin and handed it to Yun Zhao. She took it, tilted her head back for a drink, and thought that even the water tasted sweet.

Feng Yi took it back and drank a mouthful himself before pulling Yun Zhao down to lie with him on the grass. As the sunlight fell on them, he raised his arm to shield her face.

Yun Zhao leaned against his chest, hearing his powerful heartbeat through the thin fabric of his robes. "Feng Yi, I wish we could live here, free like this, for the rest of our lives."

Feng Yi laughed, then said with a hint of regret, "That’s impossible for now."

’If only Feng Ze could grow up faster and gradually take over the affairs of the court,’ he thought, ’perhaps I could lay down this burden sooner and travel the world with Yun Zhao.’

"Does that mean it might be possible in the future?" Yun Zhao asked with a smile.

"That depends on Feng Ze."

Stunned, Yun Zhao rolled over and propped herself up on his chest. "Are you serious?"

"Isn’t that what you want?"

"I want lots of things. Does that mean they’ll all come true?"

"It’s not entirely impossible."

Song Yunzhao thought they must both be crazy at that moment. She hugged Feng Yi and laughed.

Even if he was just saying it to please her, she was still overjoyed.

’Who could ever truly give up the power of an Emperor?’

’History was filled with tales of fathers, sons, and brothers turning on one another for it.’

Feng Yi held Yun Zhao, saying nothing more. It was pointless to talk about it now. Feng Ze still needed time to grow, and Feng Yi hoped that when he finally passed the empire to his son, Great Chu would be in an era of peace and prosperity.

’He still had much to do.’

He knew what Yun Zhao was worried about, what she feared.

He had already resolved to never hold another concubine selection. That would surely put her mind at ease.

As for whether the Empress Dowager and the courtiers would agree, that would depend on his ability to root out the leeches in his court over the next few years.

When Yun Zhao remained quiet for a while, Feng Yi was the one to speak. "What are your plans for tomorrow?"

Yun Zhao gazed up at the sky, thought for a moment, and said, "We’ve rested today. Do you plan to host a banquet tomorrow?"

’Quite a few courtiers came with the imperial procession this time,’ she thought. ’The Emperor still needs to keep up appearances.’

Feng Yi turned his head to look at her. "It’s just a banquet at the traveling palace. If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to. It’s not a big deal."

Yun Zhao smiled. "No, don’t say that. I want to see my Eldest Aunt and Princess Fuke. It’s a rare opportunity."

Ji Yunting had come with the imperial procession this time, and he’d brought Xie Linlang along. Yun Zhao hadn’t seen her in a long time and really missed her.

He Lan Yun was pregnant, so she couldn’t make it, but Yue Shao was part of the imperial escort, and Song Yexi had come as well.

Yun Zhao was overjoyed. She would have her friends by her side again.

Feng Yi watched as Yun Zhao counted on her fingers, one by one, all the people she wanted to see. He mentally checked his own list. Yun Zhao was only close to a handful of people, and he had made sure to bring along nearly everyone who could possibly come.

And just as he’d expected, she was delighted.

Feng Yi watched her, thinking she was like a little child. Her eyes seemed to hold the entire cosmos.

He suddenly remarked with a sigh, "You made quite an impression on me the first time we met."

Song Yunzhao thought for a moment. "I’m afraid it was the chair that left an impression on you, right?"

Feng Yi roared with laughter. She probably had a point.

"I remember you were completely unenthusiastic during the selection."

"Back then, I just wanted to be eliminated as quickly as possible so I could leave the palace and get married."

Hearing her mention this, Feng Yi suddenly felt a pang of unease. "If I had been a little more soft-hearted back then..."

’...then I wouldn’t have my beloved Zhaozhao with me now. The harem would still be filled with concubines I despise, and I, the Emperor, would be stuck navigating their endless schemes.’

"It’s a good thing you weren’t soft-hearted."

Feng Yi froze, turning his head to look at her.

Song Yunzhao sat up and looked down at him. "If you had been soft-hearted, where else would I ever find someone like Your Majesty, someone so perfectly suited to me, to spend the rest of my life with? I fear I could never have been this happy. The very thought is heartbreaking.

Thank goodness you kept me. Feng Yi, I think the luckiest moment of my entire life was when you authoritatively insisted on keeping me in the palace.

However angry I was that you kept me then is how grateful I am that you kept me now.

Tell me, how did I get so lucky?"

The last trace of unease in Feng Yi’s heart vanished at her words.

He was right. He, too, was incredibly grateful that he had selfishly kept her back then.

It was the very reason for the happiness he felt today.

No one else could have put him so at ease.

Only Zhaozhao had shown him that there was a kind of life that could soothe all his pain, a life that made him feel an immense sense of happiness from the moment he opened his eyes each morning.