A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 289: Chapter 288 What to Eat

”Emperor?”

Zhao Junyao was a bit weary, embracing her.

”Go to sleep!”

His voice was a bit hoarse, still carrying endless exhaustion.

「Just one Shi Chen ago.」

The Minister of War had an audience in the Imperial Study Room. He reported all the results of the investigation in Guangnan to him.

”This humble official sent people to discreetly inquire in all directions, and found nothing improper about Prince Yan!”

He frowned. ”Nothing improper?”

Does that mean that all of this was merely a coincidence?

If there was nothing improper, why would a teenage girl enter the palace with such intense hatred? If there was nothing improper, how could there be so many spies implanted in the Harem?

「After a long period of purging.」

The Ministry of Internal Affairs cleared out dozens of people, the Imperial Forest Army cleared out dozens of people. Who then were these spies? All these people shared one characteristic. When caught, they would resort to all means to commit suicide! Leaving you with nowhere to investigate, no one to interrogate. Really, slippery as eels, without a single thread to grasp!

The Minister of War answered again, ”Emperor, although the Crown Prince Yan is somewhat profligate! Yet Prince Yan is known to be benevolent, approachable, and very much loved by the populace! As for... military strength, it’s just as the Emperor knows... Fifty thousand elite Navy Forces, twenty thousand infantry, plus sixty warships! Whether it’s weapons, horses, or headcount, all can be accounted for!”

Thus, there truly was nothing improper!

Zhao Junyao pondered for quite a while before finally waving his hand, bidding him to withdraw.

Left alone in the Imperial Study Room, pondering over and over, he still did not understand.

Is it that... the Imperial Uncle is hiding too deeply? Or is it really just a coincidence? Or could it be... Something done by Zhao Junqi? The Ninth Imperial Uncle unaware? Is it personal grudges or political conspiracy?

Zhao Junyao thought of many possibilities! But he ultimately found, no matter which possibility, all were hard to accept!

「In the end.」

Zhao Junyao finally decided, this matter still needed further deliberation.

Afterwards, without having his midday meal, he went to the Qingya Residence.

Li Shengan followed behind, his heart trembling a little.

Emperor, is it really a good idea to go to Qingya Residence at this time? Aren’t you afraid of startling Xia Jieyu?

It turned out, he was wrong.

Xia Ruqing nested in Zhao Junyao’s arms and had a rare good sleep!

Zhao Junyao could not sleep after half a Shi Chen. He wanted to talk with Xia Ruqing, but he found that no matter what, she just could not wake up and continued to be drowsy.

Zhao Junyao was somewhat speechless, yet ultimately did not wake her.

”You really are... leaving me with no recourse!”

Xia Ruqing seemed to understand and snuggled up to him.

Zhao Junyao continued, ”I know there’s a fox out there, but where the fox’s tail is, I really have no clue! Rather than saying I have no clue, it’s more like... lacking the courage to accept it!”

Xia Ruqing smacked her lips as if responding, murmuring unclearly, ”Stirring the grass to startle the snake isn’t fun! Emperor, now isn’t a good time to startle the snake!”

Zhao Junyao looked at her and smiled. ”You understand these things too?”

Xia Ruqing half opened her eyes groggily and smiled smugly. ”Of course I do!”

She was awake but her mind was still foggy.

Zhao Junyao laughed and asked her, ”Then what do you think should be done?”

Xia Ruqing turned over, pondered for a moment, and said as a matter of course, ”To strike a snake, you must strike the seven-inch spot! Such a simple truth, how do you not know this, Emperor?”

Zhao Junyao suddenly felt bewildered.

”Strike the snake at the seven-inch spot! Strike the snake at the seven-inch spot?”

It seems... it’s like that! Such a simple truth, and he hadn’t even thought of it! Still here, doubting this and suspecting that, he really was...

Xia Ruqing blinked. ”Emperor, have you had lunch?”

Before Zhao Junyao could answer, Xia Ruqing nuzzled up to him. ”Emperor, he’s hungry...” After speaking, she gestured to her stomach with a pitiful look on her face.

Uh...

”Now that you mention it, I’m hungry too! What did you have for lunch?”

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment. ”I had breakfast too late, so I wasn’t hungry for lunch, just had a small half-bowl of rice!”

Zhao Junyao gave her a pat and said gently, ”Well then, whatever you want to eat, have the Imperial Kitchen make it all!”

Xia Ruqing immediately perked up. ”Emperor, can I really have whatever I want?”

A pair of bright almond eyes full of little stars, just staring at him. Even a heart of stone might soften at this moment.

Zhao Junyao thought for a moment, but still said with a firm heart, ”If the Imperial Physician says it’s okay... then it’s okay!”

Xia Ruqing instantly deflated. ”We have to ask the Imperial Physician?”

Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow, ”Hmm!”

She might be willful, but he couldn’t afford to indulge her whims!

And so, Imperial Doctor Zhang was summoned again. After that, Xia Ruqing happily got her half-bowl of the much-desired dish.

Sour soup noodles!

Ever since she became pregnant, her love for sour food had been intense. If it weren’t for fear of eating too much and the Imperial Physician’s concern for the baby, she’d really want to hug a vinegar jug and drink from it like water.

The sour soup noodles were made with sweet potato noodles, no beef inside this time, but chicken soup instead. There were chunks of braised chicken, the size of thumbs, first fried then braised, quite chewy. There were also a handful of hot pepper rings and pickled mushrooms on top.

Xia Ruqing frowned. ”To be honest, I don’t really like spicy food, but sour soup noodles just don’t taste as good without a little spice! I used to love spicy food though!”

Such strange cravings!

Four dishes were placed in front of Zhao Junyao. A dish of stir-fried cucumber, and one of tender green beans. Freshly steamed bean-paste fish, and clear-brothed beef meatballs. The noodles came from the Small Imperial Kitchen; they were willow leaf noodles, pale and smooth, exuding a rich wheat aroma.

”Qingqing, you used to love all of these dishes!”

Xia Ruqing glanced at them, then shook her head. ”They don’t have any vinegar, I don’t want to eat them! If the child in my belly is a princess, then her future Prince Consort is really in for it!”

Zhao Junyao was a bit puzzled. ”Why? Whoever marries my daughter, it’s his good fortune from a past life!”

Xia Ruqing stated plainly, ”She’s a vinegar jar!”

Zhao Junyao fell silent.

He confidently said, ”The Prince Consort need not take concubines!”

Marrying My daughter and still daring to find a mistress? He must not want to live!

Xia Ruqing gave him a look and muttered softly, ”What about all your mistresses then...”

Zhao Junyao’s face turned a tad awkward. ”Qingqing...”

Xia Ruqing quickly backed down. ”Emperor, your consort admits her mistake!”

After a while, Zhao Junyao slowly said, ”Those women were not my intention!”

If he could, he certainly wouldn’t want so many women stirring up trouble in his Harem every day, not a moment’s peace. But an Emperor has no choice. The throne may seem supreme, but in truth, it comes with no freedom at all. Assuming this position means... one’s life is not one’s own! You can’t do whatever you want, you can’t just look after yourself. Even the choice of Empress is not up to him! Look around the Royal Family, whose Main Wife was chosen by themselves?