A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 154: Chapter 153: Look What Grandpa Brought You?

Xia Ruqing instantly leaped up in fright. For a moment, her face turned pale. However, as she clearly saw the clump of dark objects, her face lit up with both shock and joy.

”It’s a school of black fish!”

No wonder that spot had felt off.

Without giving it much thought, Xia Ruqing grabbed the fish spear and went for it. In no time, she skewered a fat, large black fish and brought it back.

That fish weighed at least two to three pounds. Flipping and flopping on the fish spear, it even bent the branch that formed its shaft.

”Zi Yue, go find a clean basin!”

Zi Yue was still in shock. Snapped out of it by her mistress’s command, she hurriedly acknowledged, ”Yes...”

Xia Ruqing took out a dagger and deftly began to scale the fish, slicing it open. In less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a fresh black fish was neatly prepared.

”Mistress, how do you know how to do everything?” Zi Yue was both admiring and curious.

Xia Ruqing didn’t want to go into detail and simply said, ”I was used to hardship when I was young.”

Upon hearing this, Zi Yue realized this was a sore subject for her mistress and decided not to pursue it further.

”Let’s go! To the kitchen!”

Xia Ruqing carried the basin to the tent designated for food preparation. Even if the Emperor’s trip was meant to be simple and with few attendants, the basics of clothing, food, shelter, and transportation were still ensured. The kitchen was set up temporarily in a tent, but fortunately, it was well-equipped.

She looked around and found a clay pot specially used for stewing soup. She had someone start a fire on the stony beach outside the tent. She chopped the fish meat into chunks, seasoned it, and added fresh mountain spring water. All of these went into the clay pot, which was hung over the fire, and the fish soup began to simmer with a GURGLE GURGLE sound.

Having done all this, Xia Ruqing laid out a blanket on the pebbled shallows, enjoying the summer night breeze. It was extremely comfortable.

She couldn’t help but sigh to herself: Being the Emperor’s concubine really has countless benefits. Going out means being waited on by a crowd; doing chores? Just move your lips, and it’s done. If you occasionally want to do something yourself, it’s not called work; it’s called experiencing life.

The more Xia Ruqing thought about it, the more she felt grateful for this life she had stumbled upon. The evening breeze cooled her, and every pore on her body oozed relaxation.

Zhao Junyao appeared beside her at some unknown time. He twitched the corner of his mouth.

”Qingqing...”

This girl, why did she always know how to enjoy herself? In front of her, why did he feel so invisible? He had been away for so long; shouldn’t she be anxious? At the very least, a bit of worry would be appropriate, right? But there she was, sleeping!

Zhao Junyao’s inner turmoil was simply...

But no matter how much he disapproved, men still favored such women. Zhao Junyao found he couldn’t get angry, so he stopped struggling internally. Then, unashamedly, he lay down beside Xia Ruqing.

Well, she was his concubine after all. Why bother with decorum, right?!

Xia Ruqing had slept all day, so of course, she wasn’t actually asleep. At best, she was just dozing off a bit. When she sensed someone beside her, she immediately jumped up.

Upon looking, it was the Emperor. Xia Ruqing let out a sigh of relief again.

”Your Majesty, you scared me to death!”

Zhao Junyao was puzzled. ”What are you afraid of when I’m here?”

Xia Ruqing suppressed the eye roll bubbling up inside her and muttered softly, ”What if it had been some wild man?”

Zhao Junyao’s gaze suddenly sharpened, his voice low and cold. ”Who would dare? I would personally kill him!”

Xia Ruqing was startled and hurriedly explained, ”Your Majesty, I... I was just saying!”

Zhao Junyao’s expression softened a bit, but he still said heavily, ”Even just saying is not okay!”

”Oh...” Xia Ruqing bowed her head, displaying an ’I know I was wrong’ demeanor.

Seeing this, Zhao Junyao could not bear to blame her further. He said, ”Come on, get up and see what I’ve brought you.”

As soon as Xia Ruqing heard this, her spirits lifted, and she asked, ”Your Majesty, where have you been? Why has it taken you so long to return?” Saying this, she quickly stood up.

Zhao Junyao smiled and said, ”You’ll know once you see it!”

Xia Ruqing had to suppress her curiosity and followed him. The two made their way back to the front of the tent. Xia Ruqing saw several wild chickens on the ground, their legs tied, fluttering about chaotically.

Xia Ruqing was astonished. ”Your Majesty, did you go hunting?”

Zhao Junyao did not speak but just nodded slightly.

He thought that Qingqing loved to fuss over these things, so bringing them to her would surely make her very happy.

With that thought, Zhao Junyao looked at her and asked, ”Qingqing, aren’t you happy?”

Xia Ruqing was almost dazed. Snapped out of it by his question, she replied, ”Happy... very happy!”

She was indeed happy. It’s just that she happened to be thinking about how to prepare these wild chickens and was momentarily lost in thought.

Zhao Junyao breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, and said, ”That’s good to hear!”

After all, it was the first time he had ever made such an effort to please a woman, and the pressure was quite substantial. Seeing Qingqing happy put his mind at ease.

Zhao Junyao’s smile was filled with abundant confidence and a hint of pride.

As for Xia Ruqing... her thoughts had completely flown to those wild chickens.

Hmm, this young chicken is tender enough for soup. That one, although leaner, has firm meat—perfect for fried chicken pieces! This one is the fattest; it would be too greasy for soup. Roasting it would be best!

This was how Xia Ruqing, without a word, decided the fate of each bird.

If Zhao Junyao knew this at the moment, he would probably be furious enough to spit blood. I went hunting especially for you, and you aren’t blooming with bashful joy like the other women. That would be fine, but you actually got distracted, thinking about how to eat them!

Unfortunately, Zhao Junyao was at that moment basking in an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. He did not notice Xia Ruqing’s expression. Xia Ruqing, preoccupied with her own thoughts, was not paying him any attention either.

And so... each was happy in their own way!

Oddly enough, when the two stood there together, the scene seemed quite lovely.

Li Shengan stood not far away, somewhat perplexed. But he held a high professional standard: not to speculate about his masters’ affairs.

Little Zhuzi obviously did not possess such high ideals. He could not help but exclaim, ”Speaking of which, the Emperor and Lady Xia really are a perfect match!”

Li Shengan knocked him on the head. ”You little rascal, what do you know about a perfect match! Daring to gossip about your masters!”

Little Zhuzi covered his head, looking wronged. ”Master, your apprentice knows his mistake!”

Li Shengan waved his hand. ”Get back to work!”

”Ah?”

”Dolt! Lady Xia will surely need the kitchen; haven’t you gone to inform them yet?!”

”Oh!” Little Zhuzi ran off.

Li Shengan put his hands behind his back, contemplating.

No wonder I didn’t understand; so this is what they call a perfect match, huh! After all, he had never seen the Emperor and any other mistress... ”Perfect match! HEH HEH, not bad, Lady Xia has a promising future indeed!”

After muttering to himself, he also hurriedly left.

Dinner was eaten separately. Everyone took their meal and ate in their own tent!

Out of all the tents, the largest and most comfortable belonged to Zhao Junyao. The smallest and most cramped ones were Honored Lady Lan’s and Honored Lady Xi’s.