After all, the Experienced Sisters in the Ministry of Internal Affairs were all selected by the Empress herself, through layers of scrutiny. To say there was no trickery would be utterly impossible. Planting a spy, for instance, would be all too convenient.
Therefore...
Xia Ruqing felt much more at ease without the Empress's involvement.
Zhao Junyao reached out his hand, just as he did when they were first together.
"Come here!"
Xia Ruqing watched him, her heart filled with sweetness. Only, with her big belly, she could no longer fit into his embrace. So she sat down beside him, snuggling close.
Zhao Junyao pulled her feet over, examined them, and smiled.
"Not swollen anymore?"
Xia Ruqing nodded.
Zhao Junyao then felt reassured.
He ordered a late-night snack: all his favorite dishes, along with a bowl of fragrant and richly stewed chicken with mushrooms. One sip was so delicious he felt he could almost swallow his tongue.
Xia Ruqing watched him eagerly.
