A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 151: Chapter 150 Jinling City 22

”I saw you running, so I ran too, terrified of being drowned if I fell behind.”

”The city streets were congested, with torrential rain turning everything into a mess.”

”The water on the ground was getting deeper and deeper, as if the rain was pouring down directly from the sky.”

”Everyone was frantically running to higher ground.”

”Soon, there were no people left on the main street.”

”Even the road was invisible, completely submerged!”

One Shi Chen later, the heavy rain still hadn’t stopped, not even showing a trend of diminishing.

The relentless downpour was driving people to despair!

Outside, there were no people left; everyone had fled to places where the land was higher.

Even the number of patrons in the tavern had dwindled, leaving the corridors serene and empty.

”It’s flooded, it’s flooded! The water is already up to the legs of the tables downstairs!”

A strange servant boy ran past the corridor, disappearing into one of the rooms.

Shortly after, the room filled with frantic noises.

They packed their belongings and fled for their lives.

Over the next quarter of an hour, more people escaped in succession.

Consort Yun stood on the corridor, watching people running for their lives in a panic. Her heart was pounding furiously.

”No! Cai Die! Pack up quickly. We can’t stay here any longer, let’s hurry and go!”

But Cai Die seemed somewhat uneasy.

”My lady, where can we run to?! It’s dangerous outside as well!”

”Besides, we don’t know the way!”

In an instant, Consort Yun was furious, slapping Cai Die across the face! ”Damned wretched maid, if we don’t escape now, what are we waiting for? Junyao is occupied with important matters and can’t look after us. Are we supposed to wait here for death?” Panicked and afraid, she was losing control of her emotions.

Having said that, she slapped Cai Die again. ”You wretched maid! I’m not even doing anything yet, and you’re already disobedient! What? Are you waiting for my demise so you can climb onto higher branches?” She was so angry she could barely breathe.

With this left and right battering, Cai Die was stunned. As she came to her senses, she knelt down with a THUD.

”My lady, you misunderstand...”

”I wouldn’t dare!”

”My lady, I have served you for so long, how could I ever harm you!” she cried while kowtowing.

Consort Yun’s mind cleared a bit. Cai Die is part of my dowry; she’s not likely to harm me. I was just being overly sensitive, she thought.

Then, with a wave of her hand, she said, ”Get up, pack our things. Forget them, let’s go!”

Cai Die dared not say anything more and silently went to pack.

Xia Ruqing had already heard the commotion.

Zi Yue asked, ”My lady, shall we...”

”We are not leaving!” Xia Ruqing said definitively. Zi Yue didn’t ask anymore.

Both Honored Lady Xi and Honored Lady Lan were terribly frightened. Seeing that Consort Yun was preparing to leave, they began to feel conflicted.

However, seeing that Elder Sister Xia had no intention of leaving, they didn’t dare to leave either.

”Consort Yun is a person of high status; if she gets lost, the Emperor will surely send people to look for her!”

”We are different...”

”Yes, perhaps, if we get lost, we may never be able to return...” After all, it was so chaotic outside!

The two of them, shivering with fear, went to Elder Sister Xia’s room, saying little. Everyone was quite scared.

Xia Ruqing saw the water level rising higher. Given that ancient times had no drainage systems, she realized the water coming in might never drain out again!

”Xia... Elder Sister Xia, is this just rain, or is it water from the river? We’re not going to die, are we?” Honored Lady Xi asked while crying.

”How should I know!” Xia Ruqing was also in a bad mood. If crying were useful, everyone would just sit and cry. Honored Lady Xi didn’t say anything more.

Xia Ruqing, leaning by the window, saw Consort Yun leaving the tavern and stepping into a carriage through the water. The water had already risen past the knees.

Xia Ruqing’s heart hammered with anxiety. Her palms clenched tight, then released, clenched again, and released! It’s not river water; it must be rain, it has to be rain! If the river breaches its banks, it’s still about ten miles from Jinling City. Even if it floods, no one will die. It isn’t that terrifying, right! Don’t panic! Just don’t panic yet!

Xia Ruqing settled herself by the window.

The room was silent, with only the sound of everyone’s hearts pounding.

In truth, she too had no idea what would happen.

They could still leave now, but once the water rose higher, they’d be trapped. It would mean certain death.

She didn’t want to die; probably no one did!

Having not enjoyed enough good food or slept with enough handsome men, dying like this would be a great loss. Her husband was the Emperor.

Putting a green hat on the Emperor was out of the question; she could probably only sleep with this one handsome man for her entire life. But still, a few more times would be good!

The more she thought about it, the stronger her will to live became! This life is one I picked up by chance; if I die, I will really be gone for good. My grandmother is gone, I have no family left; I don’t want to go back to that world! I must live! she prayed in her heart. Perhaps... the Heavens are kind to me, or maybe, I just have dumb luck.

About half a Shi Chen later, on the flooded main road facing Jingtai Tower—more accurately, a waterway—a horse galloped through. The muddy water clung to the horse’s hooves, splashing up behind it.

Atop the black steed, a figure held an umbrella, one hand on the reins, legs gripping the horse’s sides firmly, urging the horse to speed ahead. His clothes were so drenched that their color was indistinguishable. The figure rushed towards Jingtai Tower.

”It’s the Emperor!” Honored Lady Xi’s eyes shone as she pointed and exclaimed.

Xia Ruqing quickly looked up! Indeed, it was a familiar silhouette!

With just one glance, she bolted down the stairs, not even bothering to put on the shoes she had flung off!

”My lady, my lady!!” Zi Yue cried, trying to stop her but failing to do so!

Xia Ruqing, THUD THUD THUD, barefoot on the wooden stairs. She quickly made it down.

The first floor was indeed flooded. What had reached her knees before now was up to her thighs! The murky water splashed all over her!

Xia Ruqing couldn’t care about anything else as she dashed into the thigh-deep water.

Zhao Junyao had already arrived at the entrance of Jingtai Tower. The umbrella in his hand was useless; he was soaked through!

Just as he dismounted and was about to head inside, a drenched woman covered in mud suddenly leapt into his arms. Zhao Junyao was caught off guard and stumbled back two steps. The familiar tenderness, the familiar scent, the familiar person!

He curled the corners of his mouth into a smile, holding her even tighter.

”Lady Xia, you almost knocked me down!” His reprimand laced with indulgence, he gently patted her back as he spoke.

Xia Ruqing wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her head in his damp chest, unwilling to look up.

She spoke in a muffled voice, ”Emperor, I thought I was going to die here and never see you again!”

Zhao Junyao laughed softly. ”Fool! How could I let you die!”

With that, he carried her towards Jingtai Tower!

...

Honored Lady Xi and Honored Lady Lan also came out to meet them.

Seeing the Emperor holding Lady Xia, both lowered their heads, not daring to speak, and silently followed Zhao Junyao inside.