A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 130: Chapter 129 Jinling City 1

Jinling City must be the most bustling place in Jiangnan.

Unable to help herself, Xia Ruqing exclaimed, ”Mmm, my lord, the place you’ve chosen is truly wonderful.”

Zhao Junyao stood in the room on the top floor of Jinling City’s largest and most luxurious restaurant. With hands clasped behind his back, he overlooked the entire Jinling City. Xia Ruqing followed behind him, excited beyond words. Gazing into the distance, she saw that the place where the lights shone the brightest was none other than the famed Qinhuai River. Standing here, Xia Ruqing felt as if she could already hear the busy and lively sounds of string and woodwind instruments.

The nearby areas weren’t as boisterous, yet the streets and alleys bustled with people. Their cries and noisy chatter, mixed with accents from all directions, wove into the fabric of Jinling’s prosperity.

Suddenly, Zhao Junyao spoke. ”Indeed, it is a land of wealth and abundance in Jiangnan, so different from the liveliness of the Capital City!”

Xia Ruqing turned her head to look up at him. She noticed that his eyes were shining. He was the emperor, the sovereign ruler of this country, supreme above all. Like a deity, he surveyed everything that prospered below him, no doubt feeling gratified inside.

In fact, Zhao Junyao was very satisfied. But he staunchly maintained his rationality. It wasn’t enough, still not enough. The more prosperous a place, the more pests it harbored. What he had to do was to root them out one by one!

Xia Ruqing didn’t join the conversation, instead continuing to focus her gaze into the distance. Her eyes quickly took in the scenery near and far. In her heart, she felt a touch of pride and a smidgen of self-satisfaction.

Following the emperor, my husband, I get to eat the best food, stay in the most comfortable places, and I don’t have to worry about being bullied. Isn’t this just like hacking the game?

In her mind, she was endlessly pondering what to eat next. She even thought about how to sneak more glances at the pretty young things and handsome young men on the streets without the emperor, her husband, noticing!

Ahem! These thoughts must never be detected by the emperor, my husband!

For a moment, her eyes, her heart, and her brain were all bustling with activity. A sly smile still hung on the corner of her mouth!

Unfortunately, Zhao Junyao happened to catch this expression... As the emperor, Zhao Junyao had experienced all the beauties of the world. Such a basic look in her eyes! He could understand it!

”BANG!”

A fan struck her forehead, disrupting Xia Ruqing’s sleazy daydreams.

”What are you thinking about?”

Xia Ruqing felt a bit guilty but, giggling coquettishly, sweetly called out, ”My lord, I wasn’t thinking about anything, just enjoying how beautiful this place is!”

Zhao Junyao glanced at her and decided not to fuss over it.

「Meanwhile, outside the room.」

Consort Yun had also bathed and changed, arranging her attire carefully, before coming to knock on His Lordship’s door. She had been silent throughout the journey, allowing that wench Lady Xia to trample all over her. Now that they had finally reached their destination, she was determined not to sit idly by any longer! So, she dolled herself up beautifully, spending over twenty pieces of silver. She had someone gather all the local snacks, the grand dishes from restaurants, and the fine wines from every corner of the streets.

Determined to succeed, she thought, Hmph, Lady Xia, do you think only you can win His Lordship’s heart with those tricks of yours? You’ve got them, I’ve got them too. Let’s see what else you can use to compete with me!

Right as Consort Yun reached the door to knock, she was stopped by Li Shengan.

”Consort Yun!” he said, using his body to block the door.

Consort Yun sneered at him. ”Steward Li, is His Lordship inside?”

Li Shengan smiled. ”His Lordship is inside!” After a pause, he added, ”Miss Xia is also inside serving His Lordship. Consort Yun, you should go back first.”

Consort Yun scoffed again, her gaze sharpening significantly. ”Miss Xia is Miss Xia, and I... I am myself. Is there any conflict?”

Li Shengan’s smile faded slightly, but he still stood in her way. ”Consort Yun, do you think it’s appropriate for you to enter like this?”

Consort Yun let out a laugh. ”HAHAHA! What’s inappropriate about it? Steward Li, step aside!”

She was determined to get her way today. She couldn’t believe that she, a consort, would be afraid of an Honored Lady.

Since Consort Yun was so insistent on barging in, Li Shengan found it difficult to stop her. However, his feelings on the matter were rather delicate.

Although I am a servant, everyone in the palace respects me. Even the Empress speaks to me with courtesy! And now Consort Yun dares to act like she’s my master? Thinking about it, Miss Xia is truly capable! Liked by the Master, and liked by me too! How attentively she serves our Master; no need to mention that. And to me, she is utterly courteous. Remember that time I bought a pancake and she thanked me with a half bow? What an honor that was! It made me step down with a smile! Impressive! Miss Xia sure knows how to handle things! Just ask around in the palace, which servant doesn’t like her? None, right! No wonder the Master favors her so much. Now even I am almost won over by her! My heart, unknowingly, has started leaning towards Lady Xia.

Seeing Consort Yun acting so aggressively, Li Shengan sneered inside. But outwardly, he remained respectful. ”Since Consort Yun insists on entering, let this servant inform His Lordship!”

Having said that, he went inside.

After a short while, Li Shengan came out and said, ”Consort Yun, the Master calls for you!”

At the news, Consort Yun’s heart bloomed with joy. ”Cai Die, let’s go...”

With that, she glanced disdainfully at Li Shengan and walked in haughtily with her servant.

Li Shengan smiled, saying nothing.

Xia Ruqing was playing chess with Zhao Junyao when she saw Consort Yun approaching, and she stood up to perform a courtesy. ”Consort Yun!”

Consort Yun ignored her, walked straight up, and greeted the Emperor. ”My Lord.”

Her voice was so soft and mellow it put people at ease.

Zhao Junyao, however, didn’t even lift his head. After placing a piece on the chessboard with his slender fingers, he just hooked the corner of his lips. ”Qingqing, you’ve lost again!”

Xia Ruqing, still half-curtseying to Consort Yun, didn’t dare to speak. Her legs were already sore. How much longer until she could stand up? Consort Yun was doing this on purpose, wasn’t she?

Consort Yun paid her no mind. Seeing that the Emperor did not respond, she repeated herself, ”My Lord.” Even softer this time.

Xia Ruqing’s legs felt weak, and she struggled to stand still. She was cursing Consort Yun’s ancestors in her heart eighteen times over.

Zhao Junyao spoke up this time, with just one word. ”HMM!” Then he was silent again.

This time, it was Consort Yun’s turn to feel distressed. She was bowing too, and her legs were also aching! What on earth does His Lordship mean by this? Why isn’t he telling me to rise?

After a moment, just as Xia Ruqing felt like she could no longer hold on, Zhao Junyao suddenly stood up. He walked over to her and, smiling, whispered in her ear. With his lips curled, he said softly, ”Qingqing, go practice your chess. If you haven’t learned by next time, I will punish you!”

With that, he helped her to her feet with his arm. His warm breath, heavy with suggestion, brushed her neck, and Xia Ruqing instantly turned crimson.

She stamped her foot in frustration. ”My Lord!”

”Hurry back!”

Zhao Junyao, inwardly a lewd and scheming Big Grey Wolf, outwardly maintained the calm and refined demeanor of a true gentleman.

Xia Ruqing had no choice but to flee with her face burning red.

Consort Yun, still maintaining her bowing position, felt completely numb. She suffered a ten-thousand-point critical hit inside! What... what does this mean?