A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 262: Chapter 261: Working Hard to Plant Buns

Xia Ruqing had busied herself all morning and was genuinely tired.

She slept soundly that afternoon. But... she dreamed.

Was it the beggar’s chicken, or the wild vegetables she ate yesterday, that triggered her memories of the past?

As she slept, she dreamed of her grandmother. And then, she cried.

”Grandma, don’t leave me behind. Mom and Dad don’t want me, do you not want me either?”

”Grandma, please don’t go!”

Her parents had divorced and vanished without a trace. For many years, only her grandmother had stood by her side.

That year, when her grandmother passed away, she had felt utter despair. The kind that tears you apart, the kind that leaves you crying until your throat is hoarse and you’ve exhausted all your strength, came rushing back once again.

She cried again, her tears soaking a large part of the pillow.

Xia Ruqing’s heart throbbed with pain.

When Zhao Junyao entered, he heard a rustling from within the bed curtains.

He frowned slightly and hurriedly lifted them to look.

The girl was crying so hard her small body was shaking.

”What now?”

He asked, but received no answer. However, a few incoherent words slipped from her lips.

Zhao Junyao felt a twinge in his heart.

Is she... having a nightmare again?

With this thought, he sat down on the edge of the bed and gently woke Xia Ruqing.

”What’s wrong? What did you dream about?”

Xia Ruqing was crying bitterly. When she opened her tear-filled eyes, Zhao Junyao appeared blurry.

She couldn’t care less about anything else and threw herself into his arms, weeping sorrowfully.

Zhao Junyao was a bit anxious. ”What is it? Who has wronged you?”

He hadn’t left the South Garden all day. Who would dare bully her?

Xia Ruqing cried, her face a mess of snot and tears. ”No... no one has wronged me!”

Zhao Junyao haphazardly wiped her face. ”Then why are you crying?”

Xia Ruqing rubbed her eyes and wiped away her tears. ”I... I remembered my family!”

Saying this... it shouldn’t count as deceiving the Emperor, right? They were family, after all.

Seeing her like this, Zhao Junyao remembered that her mother had died young.

No doubt, she must be thinking of her mother. It was indeed pitiable, a girl who lost her mother at such a young age.

Sighing inwardly, Zhao Junyao patted her back. ”Alright, stop crying. Don’t think too much. Come and eat something!”

Xia Ruqing nodded and truly stopped crying.

What else was there to cry about? Dreams were false. Grandma was long gone. Even in that other world, she herself no longer existed. And here... this was ancient times, the ancient era she had transmigrated to.

The man before her, although he had a whole collection of lesser wives, cherished her deeply. She was living a good life. So, there was no need to cry anymore.

”Emperor, why have you come?” Xia Ruqing dried her tears and got off the bed.

Zhao Junyao let go of her, raising an eyebrow. ”What, may I not come?”

Xia Ruqing broke into a smile through her tears. ”Emperor, you’re teasing me again!”

How could he not come? I truly hope he comes more often, every day! That way, I could become his most Favored Consort! That would be wonderful! If that day really came, even if I wouldn’t strut arrogantly around the palace, at least I wouldn’t be trampled upon at others’ whims anymore. How splendid!

Zhao Junyao wasn’t thinking that deeply. Seeing her smile, he smiled too. ”Come on, let’s go eat!”

After eating, she still had to take her medicine. Only after taking the medicine could she bear a child for him!

Zhao Junyao walked ahead, and Xia Ruqing subconsciously followed.

It was only when they stepped out of the inner chamber into the small anteroom that Zi Yue’s face lit up with surprise. ”My Lady, is your leg healed?”

Truth be told, the injury had not been that serious to begin with!

Xia Ruqing herself only just realized this. ”Eh?”

When did I lose the crutch?

Saying so, she moved her leg again. ”It doesn’t hurt anymore, not one bit!”

Zhao Junyao’s smile instantly broadened. ”Really?”

That smile made Xia Ruqing a little nervous. ”Um... It might... be fake!”

She sensed a whiff of danger.

Zhao Junyao was so excited his heart felt like it would overflow. ”We’ll know if it’s true or false when the Imperial Physician checks it later!”

”Ah?” Xia Ruqing wanted to cry but had no tears.

During the meal, one person ate with great relish, while the other was too worried to eat at all.

After the meal, the Imperial Physician came to check Xia Ruqing’s foot. After feeling the bone and moving her foot a few times, the Imperial Physician’s face beamed with a smile.

”Congratulations, Xia Jieyu, your leg is completely healed! However... you must still be careful. Don’t exert too much force, and walk slowly!”

Xia Ruqing listened intently, taking note of every instruction.

Zhao Junyao was getting a little annoyed. Why isn’t he done talking yet?

Finally... unable to bear it any longer, he shooed the Imperial Physician out. ”So long-winded!”

Xia Ruqing was exasperated. ”Emperor, the Imperial Physician only meant well for Your Concubine!”

Zhao Junyao grinned wickedly. ”Qingqing, rest assured, I won’t let you come to any harm!”

With that, he scooped her up in his arms and walked toward the bed. He wouldn’t even let her feet touch the ground.

”Emperor... Emperor...”

Xia Ruqing was utterly shocked, but unfortunately, it was too late. By the time she came to her senses, she was already lying on the bed in the inner chamber.

”Emperor...” Her voice trembled on the verge of tears, terrified by the man who seemed like a hungry wolf.

His little brother was already standing at attention. His throat was dry, and he was panting heavily.

”Qingqing, you have no idea how long I’ve been holding back!” If he held back any longer, he felt he might break.

Xia Ruqing was a little confused. ”Then why don’t you go... to someone else?”

Hearing this, Zhao Junyao felt a twinge of displeasure. She wants me to go?

Thinking this, he kissed her punitively. The kiss was overwhelming, leaving Xia Ruqing gasping for breath. Her mind went blank from lack of oxygen, her face flushed crimson, and her chest heaved.

”Emperor...”

”Emperor!”

Zhao Junyao kissed her, murmuring indistinctly, ”None of them are as good as you. I only want you!”

Although an emperor was expected to distribute his favor evenly, Zhao Junyao had little interest in the Empress or the Noble Consort. At most, he found some of the Honored Ladies beneath them tolerable in bed. He didn’t dislike Honored Lady Cheng, Noble Lady Song, Honored Lady Lan, and the others. But likewise, they offered him no surprises.

Honored Lady Cheng and Noble Lady Song were slightly better. They were gentle and compliant, but to put it bluntly, they were like dead fish in bed. As for Honored Lady Lan, he couldn’t muster much interest in her either. She was too timid, trembling with fear before he even touched her. It was no fun. After two visits, he no longer felt like going.

So, Qingqing was still the best. Sometimes he’d rather endure it than go to anyone else!

Xia Ruqing wanted to cry but had no tears.

What was this called? The way to a man’s heart is through his... little brother? Why does that sound so odd!

”Ah!” Xia Ruqing cried out as a coolness spread across her shoulder. She opened her eyes to find her clothes gone.

RRRIP!

Another RRRIP! Her bodice was torn.

Xia Ruqing looked at Zhao Junyao, who resembled a starved wolf, and thought, It’s over. Resistance is futile.

Indeed. A quarter of an hour later, Zhao Junyao was fully inflamed with passion.

The candlelight flickered. Waves of bedsheets billowed with their forceful thrusts and heavy panting, weaving together into a tapestry of sounds that would make anyone blush to hear.

”Emperor... Emperor... my foot...”

It kind of hurts!

Zhao Junyao was energetically planting his seed. He glanced over; her foot was pinned beneath them. With a swift movement, he freed her foot and lifted it onto his shoulder.

”Ah!”