A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 177: Chapter 176 Something is Off

Her cheeks were flushed red, and her eyes were hazy.

Clutching Zhao Junyao’s waist, she was kissed until she couldn’t tell north from south.

Suddenly, her body was torn open.

He barged in, and then...

Indescribable... Indescribable...

The next day, when Xia Ruqing woke up, the sun was already three poles high. The space beside her was already empty.

”Zi Yue, what time is it?”

”It’s already Si Hour. You can sleep a while longer before having lunch!”

Xia Ruqing frowned, rubbing her sore waist, and struggled to sit up.

Zi Yue hurried over to help. ”Master, are you okay...?”

Xia Ruqing waved her hand. ”I’m fine. Where is the Emperor?”

Zi Yue then said, ”The Emperor and Crown Prince Yan have gone to the military camp...”

Xia Ruqing responded with an ”Oh” and didn’t inquire further.

The defense of the borders was always a great concern to an emperor. Whether it was the frontiers in the Northwest or the coastal areas of Guangnan, they were crucial barriers against foreign invasions!

These Military Generals guarding the frontiers, even the emperor had to show them some respect. Of course, if these generals rebelled, the consequences would be unthinkable. Throughout history, most rebellions came from these men.

High above the reach of the emperor, with weak governance, they could even recruit troops openly and aboveboard. It was a perfect convergence of opportune timing, advantageous geographic conditions, and popular support. With even a tiny bit of ambition, just a slight temptation, they could fall into it and never come out.

And so... for such men, the emperor not only had to respect them but also guard against them. This complex and conflicted sentiment could only be understood by the emperor himself.

Prince Yan, disabled in his legs, did not come along. Now, all the affairs of Prince Yan Mansion were managed by the Princely Heir.

That morning, Zhao Junyao and Zhao Junqi went to the Navy Forces’ camp in Guangnan.

Standing on the command platform, thousands of troops below shouted and cheered to welcome the nation’s highest ruler.

”We greet the Emperor! Long may he live! Long live the Emperor! Ten thousand years to the Emperor!”

”Long may he live! Long live the Emperor! Ten thousand years to the Emperor!”

Their voices resonated across the sky, persisting for a long time. Even Zhao Junqi, standing by the side, was roused to passionate excitement!

Zhao Junyao, suppressing the excitement in his heart, spoke in a low and steady voice, ”Let the officers and soldiers rise!”

”Thank you, Emperor!”

Once everyone had prostrated, they slowly stood up.

Zhao Junqi turned and said, ”Emperor, the Guangnan Navy Forces have a total of fifty thousand men and sixty warships. These vessels were crafted by the most expert shipbuilders and possess unmatched power!”

Zhao Junyao nodded. ”Good!” Then he asked, ”Are they all here?”

Zhao Junqi was taken aback, then nodded. ”Yes! They are all here!”

Zhao Junyao asked again, ”What about the infantry and cavalry?”

Zhao Junqi hesitated for a moment and then replied respectfully, ”Emperor, your brother confesses his incompetence. I only have twenty thousand infantrymen under my command. However, Guangnan is by the sea and must defend against foreign invasions; for that, fifty thousand elite Navy Forces are already sufficient! For infantry and cavalry, your brother really hasn’t the capacity!”

Having said that, Zhao Junqi knelt on the ground. ”Please, Emperor, mete out your punishment!”

Zhao Junyao looked down at him, a fleeting, complex emotion in his eyes.

After a while, Zhao Junyao finally said, ”Rise!”

”Ah?” Zhao Junqi could hardly believe it!

Zhao Junyao then thumped him heavily on the shoulder. ”I said rise!”

”Oh!” It was then that Zhao Junqi snapped back to reality, quickly saying with emotion, ”Yes! Thank you, Emperor!”

After standing up, Zhao Junqi rubbed his sore shoulder and, brazenly, asked, ”Imperial Brother, you... you’re not blaming me anymore, are you? But... you know, sigh... Father doesn’t care, and it all falls on me alone! It’s already an achievement to have the Navy Forces in good shape. As for the infantry and cavalry...”

Zhao Junqi continued, ”We’re not fighting inland anyway, so... we don’t need that many, right? If we have more, we in Guangnan simply can’t afford it!” He muttered as he spoke.

Zhao Junyao was rendered a bit speechless and thumped him on the chest. ”Can’t afford it? How can you not afford it? Isn’t Guangnan rich enough?”

Zhao Junqi rubbed the back of his head, chuckling sheepishly. ”We can afford it, we can afford it!”

Suddenly, he leaned in to discuss with Zhao Junyao. ”Imperial Brother, if you really want to improve the infantry and cavalry, why not send us another Great General?”

Zhao Junyao glanced at him sidelong. ”Hmm?”

Zhao Junqi quickly added, ”I definitely can’t handle it on my own. If you dispatch another skilled Great General, perhaps we could get things organized. Then, with the infantry and the Navy Forces combined—a hundred thousand men! We in Guangnan would be invincible in the world!” As Zhao Junqi spoke, his eyes gleamed with excitement.

Zhao Junyao punched him again. ”Invincible in the world? You wish! Money is easy to get, but good generals are hard to find! Guangnan is separated by the sea. Who would bother to travel across the ocean just to pick fights? If you’re not going to battle, what do you need good generals for! Just focus on holding down your patch of land!”

Zhao Junqi, who had been excited, suddenly felt a chill, as if doused with cold water. ”Imperial Brother, I think I have the ability! Why can’t I be invincible in the world?!”

This guy’s nerve is just too thick, Zhao Junyao thought. Not having the heart to continue discouraging him, he simply ignored it.

Turning around, he took out his telescope and gazed intently into the distance. Far off, the water shimmered and stretched to the horizon; up close, rows of neat warships stood firm. Fifteen per row, a total of four rows! Fifty thousand Navy Forces were gathered at the camp, their shining armor creating a continuous gleam under the sunlight. They looked like a single, impregnable piece of battle armor.

But... As Zhao Junyao watched, he suddenly felt something amiss. Yet after scanning once and then again, he couldn’t spot anything wrong. He put down the telescope and pondered for a long while, but still couldn’t figure out the reason.

”Imperial Brother, what’s wrong?” Zhao Junqi asked with concern.

Zhao Junyao paused for a moment, then shook his head. ”Nothing!” With that, he put away the telescope.

Zhao Junqi looked into the distance, hesitated, and then said, ”The sun is scorching here. Imperial Brother, you might have gotten sunstroke!” He continued to explain, ”At noon by the seaside, the sun is extremely fierce, sharper than a knife. If you’re not careful, it could be fatal. Let’s go back quickly!”

Zhao Junyao tilted his head up, shielded his forehead with his hand, squinted at the sun, and then again into the distance. After a while, he resolutely turned around. ”Let’s go!”

Zhao Junqi watched the distance for a moment longer before turning to catch up with Zhao Junyao’s strides. ”Imperial Brother, wait for me!”

...

By the time they returned to Prince Yan Mansion, it was midday.

Zhao Junyao had his midday meal and then rested.

Dinner was also taken individually in their respective rooms.

After dinner, Xia Ruqing bathed. Feeling uncomfortable, she had no desire to do anything else. She instructed Zi Yue, ”Set up the ice basin. I’m sleepy and want to head to bed early!”

”Yes!” Zi Yue responded. After making the bed canopy fragrant and setting up the ice basin, she was about to leave.

Just then, Little Zhuzi suddenly arrived. ”Has Master Xia gone to sleep?”

Zi Yue nodded. ”What is it...?”

Little Zhuzi then said, ”Master is calling for you!”