A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

He secretly shot a glance at Xia Ruqing.

”Stop messing around!”

Xia Ruqing giggled and continued to tease.

”Emperor, are you unhappy?”

”Yesterday I also contributed. Won’t you reward me with something so I can share in the joy?”

Zhao Junyao poked her forehead and laughed teasingly.

”I wish I could give you the whole treasury!”

”Is there anything you still lack?”

Xia Ruqing tilted her head and thought for a moment.

”How about... you reward me with some plum blossoms?”

”The wintersweet in the courtyard has already wilted. I love plum blossoms. Please reward me with a few that bloom in spring... spring plums or apricot plums!”

”Those red and white ones, the flowers are beautiful!”

Zhao Junyao raised his eyebrows.

”That’s no trouble. If you like them, I’ll have some moved here for you later!”

Xia Ruqing shook her head.

”Wouldn’t it be better for us to plant them ourselves?”

Zhao Junyao twitched his lips, a bit incredulous.

”Now?”

Xia Ruqing nodded.

”Why not?!”

”No way!”

Zhao Junyao flatly refused.

Why do this now? To celebrate some other woman’s daughter having a son?

This tangled web of relations and strange reasons really failed to excite him.

”Let’s talk about it later!”

Xia Ruqing didn’t know what he was thinking.

Seeing him refuse, she felt a bit unhappy.

”Really? You wouldn’t even agree to this?” she muttered.

Zhao Junyao ignored her; he was a bit annoyed too.

While the two were sulking, Yue Er arrived.

The little girl was dressed in a crimson silk riding outfit embroidered with dark cloud patterns, topped with a petite, exquisite, snow-white Fox Fur Cape, and black and gold brocade deer antler boots on her feet. She also wore her little Jade Pendant and Golden Whip around her waist.

From a distance, she radiated brilliance and vigor, like a fiery red flamingo or a tree full of lively red plum blossoms.

Radiant, vibrant, and captivating.

Examining her attire more closely.

Her hair was braided into countless tiny plaits gathered into a bun at the back, adorned with a single Green Jade and Gold Hairpin.

Her features were strikingly beautiful, almost matching the Third Princess Yijing in allure.

However, the two had no comparison.

The Third Princess Yijing possessed a classic beauty that captivated the nation, unforgettable upon sight.

Meanwhile, Yue Er’s beauty was bold, spirited, with sparkling eyes and gleaming teeth, breathtakingly fierce.

One soft as water, the other fiery as flame.

They weren’t of the same type, so how could they be compared?

Upon entering, Yue Er saw both her father and mother present.

She was about to cheerfully greet them when she noticed the atmosphere wasn’t quite right.

”Oh!”

”Father, Mother, what’s going on with you?”

Seeing their daughter arrive, both felt instant joy, forgetting any awkwardness, and quickly said.

”Nothing much!”

”Yes, yes! It’s nothing, we were just... having tea!”

Zhao Junyao finished and took a gulp of tea, his warm smile eager to envelop his daughter.

Xia Ruqing also couldn’t resist picking up her tea and draining it, completing with a challenging glance at Zhao Junyao.

The two were clearly still at odds.

But Yue Er, being carefree, didn’t notice anything amiss.

Seeing both parents well, she felt relieved.

She sat prominently between them, smiling.

”I heard that eldest sister gave birth to another baby last night, Father and Mother, I’d like to go out of the palace to visit!”

Xia Ruqing seemed puzzled.

”You?”

”You’re going to visit?”

Zhao Junyao was also a bit incredulous.

”When did you learn to care for others?”

If he remembered correctly, the sisters had their fair share of disputes before!

Yue Er was quite self-assured.

”Father, I’ve always been good at caring for others, okay!”

She continued confidently.

”Though I didn’t understand before, I can be very thoughtful now!”

”Don’t mention the past things!”

”Father and Mother, you’re okay with this, right?”

Zhao Junyao nodded.

”Agreed!”

But Xia Ruqing hesitated.

”Will it be proper for you to go there...”

Yue Er was slightly frantic.

”What’s improper about it!”

”Don’t worry, I’m just going to look around, and my second sister will be there too, no problem!”

Xia Ruqing said no more.

...

After sending off Yue Er, Li Shengan entered from outside.

”Reporting to the Emperor, the information you wanted checked has results!”

Zhao Junyao waved him forward.

”Speak!”

He didn’t shy away from Xia Ruqing.

Li Shengan asked no questions, straightforwardly recounting the situation at The Eldest Princess’ side to Zhao Junyao.

Including the concubine named Tao Hong overrunning The Eldest Princess.

Including Old Madam Tao exploiting filial piety to bully, humiliate, and ostracize The Eldest Princess.

Including Old Master Tao’s indifference, even tacit approval of all this.

And the latest news, during The Eldest Princess’ childbirth, the Prince Consort’s family kept their distance, not a single person showed up.

After hearing this, Zhao Junyao’s expression turned grim.

Xia Ruqing stood by silently.

After an indeterminate span, Zhao Junyao declared the outcome.

”Issue my decree!”

”Tao Shuhai of the Hanlin Academy is revoked from the Grand Scholar position, demoted to commoner!”

”Lady Zhang of third rank Enjoin, improper conduct and lack of virtue, stripped of enjoin status, demoted to commoner!”

”Prince Consort Tao Yanzhen, disregarding Royal Family dignity, first abusing, then deceiving the Princess, extremely irresponsible, from today onwards, marriage with the Princess is annulled, demoted to commoner!”

”Additionally, seize all properties of Tao Residence, including wealth, reassign a regular residence for them, thus pronounced!”

Li Shengan accepted the decree and withdrew.

Xia Ruqing was stunned, frozen in place.

”Emperor, this...”

Could a Princess’ marriage really be annulled like this.

Although the divorce of The Eldest Princess had little to do with her, she was genuinely curious.

After all, it was her first time witnessing a woman divorce in ancient times, even if involuntarily.

Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow.

”This matter need not be mentioned again!”

Xia Ruqing nodded quickly.

”I’ve remembered!”

Zhao Junyao contentedly tussled her hair.

The prior sulking had long been forgotten.

...

In the palace, everything was calm, outside waves surged.

After receiving the imperial decree, the Tao family lamented loudly, the Capital citizens chattered endlessly.

Of course, most cheered.

”The Emperor is wise, such a family doesn’t deserve the Princess!”

”Rightly so, being a Prince Consort, yet insisting on taking a concubine!”

”As things turn out, the Princess can have children, it’s the Prince Consort who’s inadequate!”

”Isn’t that so? Clearly, the Prince Consort doesn’t match the Princess! It’s truly satisfying!”

”I wonder how that Prince Consort will boast from now on!”

”Being divorced by the Princess, he probably won’t marry again in this lifetime!”

The public opinion was unanimous, life at Tao Residence became tough!