A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 160: Chapter 159: Big brother?

His eyes were full of intense stubbornness and anger. He couldn’t lose; he absolutely couldn’t lose!

Zhao Junyao’s expression was cold and stern as he thought, That’s enough. Since he’s a rascal who doesn’t know whether he’s alive or dead! Then I can’t blame him! What an emperor least needs is to be soft-hearted and lenient! This time, it will certainly be ’End it As Soon As Possible,’ and the outcome, fatal or not, will not be my concern.

He turned around, gathered his energy, and prepared to unleash his power, intending to fight him again.

The rascal was clearly also ready. Like an arrow nocked on a bowstring, ready to be loosed at any moment!

The other petty ruffians, unable to just watch, called out, ”Big Brother!” wanting to come and help him.

He furiously shouted them all back. ”I’ll fight him one-on-one! I haven’t lost! All of you, get lost!”

What a man! Zhao Junyao inwardly sighed with great force. It’s just a pity you’re going to die!

Thinking this, he clenched his fists, his gaze fixed, and gradually began to exert his strength.

Just as he had mustered all his strength and was about to charge forward, a sharp cry suddenly pierced the air.

”Wait!”

Zhao Junyao turned to look.

”Qingqing!”

Xia Ruqing desperately squeezed through the crowd and then ran quickly to the front. She bypassed Zhao Junyao, running straight to the petty ruffian. Staring blankly at him, she circled him a full three times.

The ruffian was so stunned that his mouth hung open and his eyes bulged.

The air fell silent.

”Qingqing, what are you doing? Come back here!” Zhao Junyao didn’t think much and quickly reached out to pull her back.

But to his surprise, she suddenly turned around. ”My lord, I feel like I’ve seen this man before. I’m sure of it!”

”Hmm?”

Zhao Junyao felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his face a picture of shock. ”Qingqing, you’ve always...”

You’ve always been in the palace, how could you have seen other people, especially a man! But then again, he thought, this is Zhuoshui County. Perhaps Qingqing really does recognize him...

Xia Ruqing did not respond. She turned to look at the petty ruffian again, carefully scrutinizing his facial features. Finally, a blurry face gradually emerged in her mind.

”Big... Big Brother?”

Xia Ruqing was so shocked her jaw dropped. She had never lived in that so-called ’natal home.’ Therefore, for a moment, she genuinely couldn’t recognize the person in front of her. Moreover, when the original owner of her body was with the Xia Family, she had always lived in the back courtyard, and this Xia Tingfeng did not often return to the estate. Thus, the memory in her mind was very blurry.

Xia Tingfeng’s expression changed from towering rage to shock. ”You are...”

He was also very surprised; obviously, he did not recognize her either. After all, when they were at home, the siblings had indeed seen very little of each other. Moreover, at that time, she had been a sallow and thin girl, her hair as dry as dead grass. How could she compare to her current... delicate and spirited appearance!

”You are... Little Sister?” The gaunt young man’s lips trembled slightly, his eyes filled with incredible shock.

She didn’t know why, but when he uttered the word ’sister,’ her heart clenched painfully several times. Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes.

Xia Ruqing was deeply shocked. She felt no kinship towards the young man before her. So why the tears? Why the pain?!

She closed her eyes and desperately clutched her chest.

Is it you? Is it really you?

Don’t worry! I will take good care of your family for you!

Definitely!

After a moment, Xia Ruqing’s heart indeed stopped aching, and her tears also ceased. It was as if nothing had happened.

”Qingqing, what’s wrong?” Zhao Junyao noticed her unusual state and quickly came over to support her.

Xia Ruqing’s face was somewhat pale. ”My lord, I’m fine!”

”You... all of you... please stop fighting! He... he is my brother!”

”Ah?” Zhao Junyao was a bit stunned.

This... this is really awkward! But... even if he’s Qingqing’s brother, bullying the weak on the street is still not right! However, fighting is definitely no longer appropriate. It would be best to first ask for the reason.

Just as he was thinking this, the young man, who had been beaten to the point of barely being able to stand, suddenly walked towards them. He looked at Zhao Junyao with a wary expression and asked rudely, ”Who are you? Why is my sister with you?”

After speaking, he suddenly took out a rope and tried to strangle Zhao Junyao by the neck with all his might! Caught off guard, Zhao Junyao was indeed choked by the neck. His face changed color instantly. With a forceful jab of his elbow, he struck upward.

”UGH...!”

The young man let out a muffled groan and collapsed, unconscious.

Xia Ruqing was so frightened her soul nearly flew out of her body; she didn’t even have a thought for her own brother. She asked with a pale face, ”My lord! Are you alright?”

Zhao Junyao’s expression was very grim, but for Qingqing’s sake, he still said, ”I’m fine!”

After speaking, he gave an order. ”Take them all away! Send them to the physician’s clinic for treatment. Rescue that father and daughter as well, and send them to the clinic together!”

With that, he turned and walked towards the carriage.

Xia Ruqing glanced back and saw that Xia Tingfeng had already been helped up. Only then did she follow Zhao Junyao with a relieved heart.

The old man who had been beaten, dark and thin, kowtowed repeatedly towards Zhao Junyao’s retreating figure. ”Thank you, great sir, for rescuing us...”

「 」

The day was drawing to a close when the group settled into an inn. Just after dinner, Xia Ruqing was feeling restless.

Li Shengan came in to report. ”My lord, that father and daughter, and those street ruffians... some are severely injured. They have been settled in the physician’s clinic.”

Zhao Junyao closed the book with a SWISH, his gaze sharp. ”Good. Watch them closely. Not a single one is to be missing!”

”Yes!” Li Shengan affirmed and went out.

Xia Ruqing felt a little awkward, somewhat guilty, and also rather restless. She opened her mouth several times but didn’t know what to say. Finally, she tentatively said, ”My lord... I’m sorry.”

Zhao Junyao, realizing his expression might have been frightening, softened his demeanor. ”What does this have to do with you?”

”But that man is my brother!” As she spoke, she stepped forward and gently fanned Zhao Junyao, while searching through her memories. ”Ever since I can remember, Father greatly disliked this brother, born of a concubine. Father is a Graduate, so he hoped that all the sons in the family would study hard and achieve official careers. Yet, this brother of mine was the most rebellious, always enjoying practicing with staves and clubs since he was young! He even said he wanted to be a great hero, a knight-errant! This infuriated Father to no end. He himself would also get angry, and every time he came home, it would lead to terrible quarrels. Eventually, he simply stopped coming home altogether. I don’t know what he has been through all these years for him to... end up like this!”

Xia Ruqing really wished to ask the Emperor to be lenient, but she dared not speak. Even as a favored Honored Lady, she was still only an Honored Lady. She couldn’t sway the Emperor’s decisions. The Emperor was not the kind of person who would disregard everything for a Favored Consort. She knew he was an enlightened monarch, and everything had to be done according to the rules. But no matter what, she wanted to try her best to help.