A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 259: Chapter 258: Not Even Looking in the Mirror

When the fish soup Xia Ruqing prepared was served, Zhao Junyao also shamelessly made his way over from the front courtyard.

”Qingqing, is this all you’re eating? What about the things I gave you?”

”I heard from Imperial Doctor Liu that pigeon soup is good for healing wounds!”

Xia Ruqing blinked and boasted as if presenting a treasure, ”Your Majesty, by the time you returned from hunting, my fish soup was nearly ready! It would be a waste to make too much and not eat it all!”

After saying that, she added, ”Your Majesty, I caught these fish myself. Won’t you try some?”

Zhao Junyao hadn’t eaten yet, and his stomach was completely empty, so he took a seat. Xiao Xizi hurriedly brought over another bowl of fish soup.

The fish were fresh and wild-caught, BUBBLING gently as they simmered for so long that the broth was pure white. Just a pinch of salt was added, but it was so fresh one felt they could swallow their own tongue. After a day of horse riding outdoors, sitting down and taking a sip, Zhao Junyao let out a long sigh of relief.

”Hmm!” Indeed, it was delicious!

Seeing him enjoy it, Xia Ruqing smiled and said, ”Your Majesty, I also instructed the kitchen to prepare several other dishes. Why not have your noon meal here?”

The subtext was: Hurry and let me keep your stomach hooked. If I can’t hook your heart, hooking your stomach isn’t bad either, right? If one wants to live well and not be bullied, isn’t it necessary to keep someone hooked in some way?

Seeing her hopeful face, Zhao Junyao nodded.

In fact, he had indeed come to freeload a meal. Eating alone was no fun, and at the Empress’s place... Seeing the dishes she prepared for the banquet, he didn’t feel like eating whether they were cold or hot. He wanted some light and refreshing dishes, and only Lady Xia could satisfy him.

Xia Ruqing seemed to have been well prepared. In less than half an hour, the small hall in Tingfeng Courtyard was filled with a table full of dishes. There was game, wild fish soup, stir-fried baby spinach, cabbage leaves with tofu, and pan-fried eggs with scapes.

Most impressively, she had sourced some wild greens from somewhere. The wild greens were rinsed with water, mixed with finely ground cornmeal, and steamed in a basket over water. Even before they were ready, one could smell the fragrance from afar. It was a unique aroma of nature, one that was deeply refreshing. When taken out of the pot, a drizzle of minced garlic and sesame oil was added.

With one bite, eyes closed, one felt as though they were sitting at the edge of a field, listening to the birds sing, to the shepherd boy’s flute, to the willow leaves rustling in the wind, to the swallows building their nests.

Zhao Junyao had eaten steamed wild greens before, but during this midday meal, he still unhesitatingly ate two large bowls full. There was no gentlemanly etiquette, no rules dictating every move. He and Xia Ruqing both held their bowls and heartily enjoyed their meal.

Thrilling! It was truly exhilarating!

Zhao Junyao discovered that with a different way of eating, he felt like a different person altogether. At this moment, he was not the Emperor, and she was not Xia Jieyu. They were just an ordinary couple in the field...

Zhao Junyao’s thoughts wandered wildly, his imagination vast enough to encompass the entire universe.

As for Xia Ruqing...

COUGH. COUGH.

She couldn’t be bothered to wonder what was going on behind Zhao Junyao’s frosty countenance. All she could think of was eating.

”Your Majesty, a whole plate of spinach, so much of it... and you’ve eaten it all!” she protested with a look of grievance. You’re freeloading a meal, and you’ve eaten all of mine too! She loved eating. So as soon as she arrived at South Garden, she had the Imperial Kitchen make her a variety of tasty foods. The Imperial Kitchen was happy to serve her and naturally did a good job. But as soon as Zhao Junyao arrived, he ate it all. How could she not feel aggrieved!

”Ah?” Zhao Junyao, his thoughts pulled back, looked at the empty plate in front of him with surprise. ”Did I... really eat all of this?”

Xia Ruqing nodded sorrowfully. ”Isn’t it so? Besides Your Majesty, who else could it be!”

Zhao Junyao touched his nose, feeling a little guilty. ”Qingqing...”

Xia Ruqing let her eyelids droop, shrugging helplessly. ”Forget it. You’re the Emperor, with a myriad of state affairs to handle. It’s my good fortune to be able to serve you! As your consort, I’m also contributing a little to the welfare of the common people! Right?”

Zhao Junyao was so bewitched that his thoughts were completely led by her. He nodded eagerly at once. ”You’re right, Qingqing!”

Xia Ruqing chuckled slyly to herself, but on the surface, she assumed the appearance of a virtuous and gentle young wife. She offered Zhao Junyao a piece of tofu that had been fried golden on both sides. ”Your Majesty, please eat a bit more!”

Zhao Junyao was quite pleased. He picked up the tofu and truly savored every bite.

Xia Ruqing felt very proud of herself. Look at this, what is ’the art of managing one’s husband’? She was simply too clever! She could practically be used as a textbook example.

In her triumphant joy, she, of course, did not notice the sly smile in Zhao Junyao’s eyes as he watched her. Qingqing, you really need to be taught a lesson!

...

By the time the luncheon ended, it was already mid-afternoon. Xia Ruqing, who had busied herself fishing for the better part of the morning, was now feeling a bit drowsy. As Zhao Junyao carried her to bed, she was so tired she could hardly keep her eyes open.

With nothing pressing to attend to, Zhao Junyao decided to rest in bed as well. The two of them remained there until the evening mealtime.

Having had a late lunch, neither of them had much of an appetite. After a hurried meal, he made Xia Ruqing take her medicine. Only then did Zhao Junyao return to the front courtyard. This was the first night; no matter how much he liked her, he couldn’t stay overnight at Lady Xia’s place.

Indeed, as soon as he got back to the front courtyard, the Empress sent for him, claiming she had matters to discuss with the Emperor.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Junyao frowned slightly. ”Matters?” He couldn’t think what matters the Empress could possibly have at this hour.

However, the Empress was still the Empress. Zhao Junyao went.

In the main courtyard, the Empress had been waiting to welcome him. She had been neglected for so long. Now, taking advantage of the busy draft-selection period, she was hoping for more opportunities to see the Emperor. Perhaps this way, their relationship might mend.

When Zhao Junyao arrived, the Empress stepped forward to greet him. ”Greetings, Your Majesty!”

Zhao Junyao gestured for her to rise. ”Get up!” he said, proceeding into the room.

In the entry hall, the Empress also had a table full of dishes prepared.

”It was my fault at noon, making Your Majesty and the sisters feel wronged!

”For the evening meal, I heard from the Imperial Kitchen that Your Majesty didn’t eat much, so I especially prepared a full table of dishes...”

If the Emperor likes it, he might eat a bit more, drink some wine. Perhaps then, her wishes might come true. The more the Empress thought, the brighter her smile became.

Zhao Junyao, on the other hand, understood everything with just a glance around. This wasn’t about discussing matters. She was plotting how to bed him. But, looking at the bright smile on the Empress’s face, he didn’t have the slightest interest. Even if he agreed, his little brother didn’t!

So... Zhao Junyao symbolically ate a bit and drank a little wine. He exchanged a load of nonsense with the Empress and then... left...

He left!

...

Noble Concubine Shih first heard that the Emperor had gone to the main courtyard. She was outraged. Later, she received news that the Emperor had returned to the front courtyard.

Immediately, Noble Concubine Shih burst into laughter, trembling like a blooming flower.

”This is killing me with laughter! HAHA...

”The Empress still hasn’t given up! She won’t even look in the mirror to see what she looks like!”