A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 497: Chapter 497 Along the Mountains and Waters

Xia Ruqing was exhausted, so she took another nap.

The sun was high in the sky, perhaps around noon, when she finally woke up. It must be said that the coolness of the mountains made for good quality sleep. When she got up, she was full of energy, except for a certain part that was a bit sore.

Zhao Junyao also woke up. He seemed much more alert than he was early in the morning.

After they freshened up, they had their meal, although it was hard to say whether it was breakfast or lunch. In any case, it was quite delicious, with wild game from the mountains. There were several dishes that even Xia Ruqing, who had lived in the countryside, had never seen before.

「 」

The temporary palace was vast, with courtyards built according to the terrain, nestled against the mountains and by the water. Even when it was unoccupied, there were always people guarding the place, cleaning and tidying it. When the Emperor planned to come to escape the summer heat, the news reached here well in advance. Preparations had started days earlier, covering all aspects of living, clothing, food, and transportation.

As for the allocation of courtyards, when they were initially built, it was considered that the Emperor might bring Ministers along with him. Thus, in addition to the Emperor’s own temporary palace, several other courtyards were constructed. They weren’t large, but they were exquisite enough. These quaint little courtyards were located in unobtrusive but picturesque corners, looking very elegant. Those who could come with the Emperor were by no means from fallen households. For members of grand mansions who were accustomed to luxury, these small and unique places had a different kind of charm.

Even more so, there were a few cottages by the water built to resemble the thatched huts of common folk: several wooden thatched cottages, with tiny fenced-in yards. In the yard, they had even made a small vegetable garden, along with a chicken coop and a doghouse. The chicken coop really did have a few hens clucking and laying eggs, and the doghouse housed a small, gentle, yellow-furred dog.

These ’farmstead yards’ were particularly beloved by the Civil Officials and Ministers. They all wanted to experience the carefree pleasure described in poems like ’Picking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, leisurely one beholds the southern mountains.’ They wished to play the role of a fisherman, or perhaps a farming old man. Even two speech officials got into a heated argument over it, turning their faces red.

Fortunately, there were enough courtyards, so there really wasn’t a shortage of accommodation. The Summer Resort was vast, with mountains and waters everywhere in the area. Even if twice as many people came, there would be more than enough places to stay.

The Emperor’s temporary palace and the Ministers’ residences were naturally separate and closely guarded by the Imperial Forest Army. There were guards in other places, too, just not as many.

This hunting trip was completely different from the last one. Last time, at the Royal Hunting Grounds, the prey were semi-wild. By autumn, the animals were fattened up, just waiting to be killed—it was merely for the Emperor and the nobles to enjoy horseback archery. But at The Summer Resort, the animals were all truly wild. No animals were being raised, so no one knew what was inside, and whether one could hunt anything was all down to luck. Gone were the herds of wild rabbits, sika deer, and antelopes. Some of the less skilled could go out and come back without having hunted anything!

「 」

On the first day at the temporary palace, the Emperor and the Ministers didn’t go anywhere. After traveling for three days, they needed to rest and recuperate properly.

Once Zhao Junyao had sobered up, he had his meal with Xia Ruqing, then went to the front courtyard to join Xia Tingfeng and others for archery practice.

In the back courtyard, only a group of women remained.

Xia Ruqing had slept for a very long time and wasn’t sleepy anymore. The mountain air was fresh, with plenty of trees and the sun not too harsh, so she took Little Bun out to the yard.

Once outside, she realized that her courtyard not only had a beautiful view but also, most importantly, was extremely close to the front courtyard. The courtyard wall was not high, only about half a person’s height and made of wooden fences. Standing in the yard, she could see the Emperor’s courtyard not far ahead.

TSK! TSK! This location is really good!

Xia Ruqing smiled and then turned her head back, carefully examining her own courtyard and house.

After surveying her surroundings, Xia Ruqing noted that her courtyard had a fisherman’s vibe. In the yard was a stream with running water, and in the small wooden pavilion beside it were various types of fishing gear.

”Ah... This is good!” Xia Ruqing ran over with great interest.

Little Bun fidgeted restlessly in the Wetnurse Nanny’s arms, prompting her to quickly follow suit.

Xia Ruqing picked up a fishing rod and a spear, and with delight, she said, ”Our dinner is settled!”

After saying that, she picked up the fishing basket, excited to start fishing.

Xiao Zhu Zi hurried to catch up, while Zi Yue asked, somewhat puzzled, ”Mistress, in such a small stream, are there even any fish?”

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment, then shook her head and replied, ”I don’t know either, but if there are, I will make grilled fish for you tonight.”

Zi Yue and Xiao Zhu Zi exchanged glances and said in unison,

”We wouldn’t dare!”

”We wouldn’t dare!”

Xia Ruqing waved her hand dismissively. ”This isn’t the Imperial Palace; you don’t need to be so rigid with the rules here. It’s just for over half a month.”

Zi Yue and Xiao Zhu Zi then refrained from saying more.

With the fishing basket prepared and the fishing gear ready, Xiao Zhu Zi specifically went to get a bag of bait. Everything was ready to go.

Xia Ruqing put the bait on the hook and started fishing.

Little Bun was very restless, almost too much for the Wetnurse Nanny to handle.

Xia Ruqing then took him with a smile, saying, ”Good son, Mommy is fishing!”

”Once Mommy catches some fish, I’ll make you fish soup!” Xia Ruqing murmured.

Little Bun seemed to understand and watched the long fishing rod with a curious face. Then... he began to giggle.

Mommy! I like fish! I like fish soup!

Mother and son were on the same page, weren’t they?!

Zi Yue said, covering her mouth and laughing at the side, ”Mistress, you haven’t even caught a fish yet, but you’ve already taken on the evening meal for our Qingya Residence! All of us are looking forward to eating the fish you catch!”

Xia Ruqing patted her chest and declared, ”No problem!”

If all else fails, I can just ask the Imperial Kitchen. Tonight, I’m determined to eat fish.After all, I’m living in a ’fisherman’s home,’ aren’t I?

Thinking this, Xia Ruqing focused on her fishing, while at her side, Little Bun became restless.

By the end of the month, he would be a full ten months old. He ate plenty of solid foods and grew well, with strong little hands and feet. He could crawl and sit, and apart from not being able to walk, nothing much was a hurdle for him.

Right now, a child like him couldn’t stay still and started to crawl everywhere. The little rug originally laid out could hardly contain him.

A maidservant offered, ”Mistress, I’ll go get a couple more rugs!” We couldn’t, after all, let the Little Prince be uncomfortable!

Xia Ruqing frowned and said, ”No need to go. Let him crawl on the ground. Just make sure he doesn’t eat anything strange, and that’ll be fine!”

Sister Liang immediately disagreed. ”The ground is too dirty! Sharp stones and bits could hurt him; it’s not a trivial matter!”

Xia Ruqing glanced at the soft, grassy ground under her feet, visibly annoyed. ”Stones and bits?” I’m not blind!

Sister Liang, perhaps also sensing the impossibility of her claim, added, ”The ground is dirty. If the Little Prince touches dirty things, he could get sick!”

Xia Ruqing responded calmly, ”That’s why I’m telling you to watch him and not let him eat anything strange!”