Chapter 60

These past few days, Jun Zechen stayed in Qianqing Palace, feeling increasingly irritated. That woman must have done this on purpose!

After he instructed Minister Su to have all the cities that might have Butterfly Carps search for them, it took five more days before they finally found signs of the Butterfly Carp in Yulong City.

Afterward, the people from Yulong City faced many issues while transporting the Butterfly Carps. They had originally brought five, but the Butterfly Carp is very particular about its living environment. Three of them died during the journey.

The people transporting them quickly searched for water sources similar to those in Yulong City, trying all methods to preserve the remaining two.

For the past few days, he hadn’t called her to Qianqing Palace. He had to watch, unable to enjoy, and it was unbearable.

As he sat in the imperial study dealing with state matters, his mood was heavy and gloomy.

Then, Anshun suddenly hurried in, his face full of excitement.

“Your Majesty, the Butterfly Carps are almost here!”

Anshun had figured it out. Now, the Pure and Virtuous Consort was surely the Emperor’s favorite. After all, he knew how much effort the Emperor had put into finding the Butterfly Carps for her.

Since they found the Butterfly Carps in Yulong and began transporting them, it had taken several days. The Emperor was growing more and more irritable, and the palace servants in Qianqing Palace were becoming more careful.

Now, the Butterfly Carps were finally arriving, so the Emperor’s mood should improve.

Jun Zechen looked up, his eyes flashing with surprise. “Really?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, the Butterfly Carps should arrive in about an hour,” Anshun said, smiling.

Jun Zechen quickly hid his smile. Today, he was going to “punish” the Pure and Virtuous Consort for her foolishness in setting a trap for him.

If he hadn’t kept his gentleman’s promise to her, he wouldn’t have had to endure such discomfort for nearly half a month.

Time passed slowly. During that hour, Jun Zechen had no interest in reviewing any memorials.

When the Butterfly Carps arrived, Jun Zechen walked out of the hall. The servants were gathered around a large water tank, and inside it were the Butterfly Carps.

No wonder she liked them—they were indeed beautiful.

“Why use such a huge water tank?”

And there were only two fish in the tank, but it required more than ten people to carry it.

“Your Majesty, the Butterfly Carps can’t survive in too small a space,” a servant replied.

Jun Zechen nodded slightly in agreement.

Then, he turned to head towards Zhaochun Palace. Anshun quickly instructed the servants to carefully carry the Butterfly Carps and follow the Emperor to Zhaochun Palace.

When Jun Zechen arrived at Zhaochun Palace, he looked around and immediately saw her, half-lying on a couch, looking lazy and relaxed.

In her arms, she was holding little Xingxing, with one hand flipping through a book.

Xingxing, a tiny child, was staring intently at the book with big, watery eyes.

She looked so adorable and well-behaved.

When Jun Zechen saw this, he couldn’t help but feel a bit puzzled. How could a three-month-old child be interested in books?

But Xingxing wasn’t crying or making noise. She seemed to be looking at the book very seriously.

As Su Jingyao held her child, she suddenly felt the light in the room dim. She slowly looked up, blinking her eyes in confusion.

How did he come in suddenly? Could it be that he found the Butterfly Carps?

“Your Majesty, I pay my respects,” she said.

She was about to stand up and bow, but Jun Zechen stopped her with a raised hand.

“What are you reading?”

Jun Zechen walked over and sat next to her, naturally putting his arm around her waist.

“Would Your Majesty like to take a look?”

Su Jingyao smiled slightly and slowly brought the book up to his face.

It was a picture book, one that Su Jingyao had specially drawn for Xingxing. The pages were filled with high-contrast colorful patterns.

Although Xingxing couldn’t understand it yet, she was staring at it intently.

The little one looked so focused as she gazed at the pictures, her big eyes full of concentration. It was truly the most adorable thing.

Jun Zechen glanced quickly at the book and asked softly, “Did you draw this, Yaoyao?”

Su Jingyao playfully replied, “It wasn’t me who drew it. Would Your Majesty have drawn it?”

“I was just asking,” Jun Zechen said casually.

He then carefully took Xingxing from Su Jingyao’s arms.

Jun Zechen gently held Xingxing under her arms and slowly brought her in front of him.

He slightly lowered his head, meeting Xingxing’s big, round, sparkling eyes up close.

“My son naturally looks like me, but why has Your Majesty come here today?”

Su Jingyao’s eyes sparkled as she smiled gently.

Jun Zechen had been in a bad mood lately, and she knew it was because of the promise she made.

After all, he had confidently thought that a mere fish wouldn’t be hard for him to find. But after spending so much time searching for it, it was only natural for him to be a bit upset.

Su Jingyao didn’t get many chances to see him in such a humbled state, so she found it a little amusing, though her face showed no sign of it.

Jun Zechen detected the deeper meaning in her words and frowned slightly. He asked in a low voice, “If I can’t find the Butterfly Carps, will you ignore me?”

Su Jingyao’s eyes quickly flickered, and then her body softened as she gently leaned against his broad shoulder.

With her lips slightly parted, she whispered, “Of course not, I miss you too.”

Since he had come to Zhaochun Palace, she assumed he had found the fish. He liked hearing sweet words, so it was best not to provoke him today.

She figured he must have really put a lot of effort into finding the Butterfly Carps.

Jun Zechen smiled with satisfaction at her words.

She had a good heart, after all.

He then ordered, “Miaoyun, take the First Prince away.”

Miaoyun took the child from Jun Zechen’s hands, and Jun Zechen led Su Jingyao out of the hall by the hand.

“Where are we going, Your Majesty?”

Su Jingyao tilted her head slightly, her voice filled with confusion.

“Just come with me,” Jun Zechen said, pulling her hand and leading her outside.

Curious, Su Jingyao followed him. When they stepped outside, she saw a group of people gathered around a large water tank.

Her eyes immediately lit up with excitement.

From the slightly elevated position, she could clearly see the Butterfly Carps in the tank.

“It really is the Butterfly Carp!” she exclaimed, her face full of joy.

“I’ve only seen it in books before, but I didn’t expect the real Butterfly Carps to be even more beautiful than the pictures.”

She said this while still staring at the fish.

The sunlight reflected off the water, casting beautiful light on the Butterfly Carps’ long, flowing fins, making them look dreamlike and enchanting.

Jun Zechen watched her with a pleased expression. Suddenly, he felt that all the time and effort spent finding the Butterfly Carps was worth it.

He slowly said, “But the Butterfly Carps are very particular about their environment. They were found in a lake deep in the mountains of Yulong City. I left someone from Yulong City to take care of them for you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. You are so kind,” Su Jingyao said, her eyes shining with affection as she looked at him. Her gaze was filled with admiration, and her warm eyes seemed to melt his heart.

She knew how to give him emotional value, so he would keep sending her gifts.

Jun Zechen looked at her, his gaze deep. Her look was so intense that it felt like it could burn his heart.

No matter how beautiful the Butterfly Carp was, it couldn’t compare to her now.

Su Jingyao turned her attention back to the water tank. “Your Majesty, where will the Butterfly Carps be kept?”

“They’ll be kept in a pond for now, but the water in the pond will need to be changed. The water quality they need is similar to the Moonlight Lake in the capital. We will move the Moonlight Lake’s water to the pond in Zhaochun Palace.”

Jun Zechen thoughtfully replied, as he considered the best way to care for the fish.

“But the fish in your pond will need to be moved. I will have a new pond made for you. Fortunately, Zhaochun Palace is large enough.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. You are so thoughtful, I’m very touched.”

After they looked at the Butterfly Carps, Jun Zechen narrowed his eyes slightly, a look of deep thought in his gaze.

What he wanted wasn’t just gratitude.

He waved his hand, instructing someone to take the Butterfly Carps away.

Then, he held Su Jingyao’s delicate hand and led her back into the hall.

After entering the bedroom, Miaoyun and the others, being very perceptive, understood and discreetly stayed outside.

Jun Zechen immediately picked her up, his eyes filled with intense desire, burning like flames.

“Yaoyao, do you know how hard it is for me to hold back?” he deliberately lowered his voice, making it sound so seductive it would melt anyone.

His sudden embrace caught Su Jingyao by surprise. Her eyes widened in astonishment.

To avoid falling, she instinctively wrapped her legs around his slim waist and held onto his neck with both hands.

Hearing his obvious words, a blush spread across her face, as if it were the glowing colors of a sunset, beautiful and enchanting.

She murmured softly, “I don’t know.”

Jun Zechen carried her step by step to the edge of the bed and sat down. Su Jingyao ended up sitting on his lap, her legs bent as she knelt on the bed.

As they were facing each other, Jun Zechen could see her face, now blushing like a peach blossom, her trembling lashes giving her a delicate and innocent look.

His dark, deep eyes grew even darker, as if they could absorb all the light.

Unable to hold back any longer, Jun Zechen firmly gripped her head with one hand and kissed her urgently.

With his other hand, he removed the hairpin from her dark hair, and her long, flowing hair cascaded down like a waterfall.

The scene was truly beautiful.