A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 302: Chapter 301: Really... Annoying

Zhao Junyao distinctly felt a kick against the palm of his hand.

He gently lifted his hand, looking at his palm.

A genuine feeling, the impending sense of fatherhood, welled up from the bottom of his heart.

He couldn’t quite describe his emotions.

It was just that his heart was so excited, the veins on his forehead were bulging out.

”Qingqing, I’m going to be a father!”

He felt as if he had endless strength, picking her up and spinning her around several times.

Xia Ruqing’s legs turned to jelly in fright.

”Your Majesty, please be gentle...”

Zi Yue turned pale with fear as well.

”Your Majesty...”

Li Shengan also felt a bit weak in the calves. Oh, Emperor! Xia Jieyu is pregnant!

Zhao Junyao, belatedly realizing, stopped spinning around hastily and carefully set Xia Ruqing down.

After sitting down, it took a good while for Xia Ruqing to finally catch her breath.

”Your Majesty, you really scared me to death just now!”

Zhao Junyao didn’t say much; he just coughed lightly twice, disguising his embarrassment.

Xia Ruqing tactfully didn’t say anything more.

They continued to cool off, watching Da Bai not far away struggling to fight with the fish.

...

Not far away, Honored Lady Du meandered over to this spot.

She caught sight of the Emperor and Xia Jieyu, the two sitting close, by the pavilion’s edge.

The mid-afternoon sunlight shone on the sparkling surface of the lake.

The two figures leaned on each other, like a pair of perfect matches, one in the heavens, another on earth.

Jealousy soured Honored Lady Du’s heart.

”Is that Xia Jieyu?”

Ding Xiang looked over.

”It is Xia Jieyu!”

”My lady, shall we go over?”

Thinking of the teachings from the sisters, Honored Lady Du knew it wasn’t proper to go over at this time. But... seeing the Emperor with Xia Jieyu, even more tender than with her, her heart ached with jealousy! Should she just leave? She felt so reluctant! The Emperor was so kind, so gentle with her, and so magnanimous. He... probably wouldn’t mind, right? After all, among this group of Fine Ladies, he favored her the most!

After much indecision, Honored Lady Du finally made up her mind. We’ve already come across each other; it would seem improper not to pay my respects!

Having decided, she adjusted her headdress, straightened her clothes, and confidently walked over.

Ding Xiang did not advise against it. The lady was indeed highly favored! Besides, it would be improper not to greet the Emperor upon meeting him!

...

Xia Ruqing was watching Da Bai play when she suddenly heard footsteps not far away. Upon looking, it was Honored Lady Du.

She was dressed in a light green palace outfit, her hair intricately coiffed, adorned with extravagant silk flower accessories.

She was walking over with graceful steps.

However, the one thing that annoyed Xia Ruqing was how Honored Lady Du’s eyes were fixed directly on the Emperor. That little temptress! What she does behind my back is none of my business, but how dare she flirt with my man right in front of me?

Xia Ruqing smiled coldly without saying a word.

She continued to snuggle into Zhao Junyao’s embrace.

She yawned.

”Your Majesty, I suddenly feel a bit tired. Perhaps... it’s time for me to retire?”

She said so, but her body didn’t move.

Zhao Junyao looked down at her.

”Tired?”

Xia Ruqing nodded. ”Mhm!”

Zhao Junyao glanced at Honored Lady Du approaching not far away and then asked, ”Are you really tired or just pretending?”

Xia Ruqing, seeing his expression, felt a little aggrieved. ”Your Majesty, whether I’m truly tired or just pretending, I must leave! Your beloved, Honored Lady Du, has arrived!”

Zhao Junyao glared at her. ”Silly girl, stop spouting nonsense!”

Xia Ruqing pouted, protesting unhappily, ”How am I spouting nonsense!”

Their voices were quiet, and from afar, they looked like a couple deeply in love.

The more Honored Lady Du couldn’t make out what they were saying, the more the scene stung her eyes. Her heart soured with jealousy!

Yet, she still endured and stepped forward to greet them. ”This servant pays respect to the Emperor and to Xia Jieyu!”

Zhao Junyao looked at her, his gaze calm and undisturbed. ”Oh, it’s you! Rise!” he said indifferently.

Delighted, Honored Lady Du quickly responded, ”Thank you, Your Majesty!”

As soon as she stood up straight, before anyone else could speak, Honored Lady Du hurriedly said, ”It was truly too hot inside. This servant heard Taiye Pool was cool, so I rushed over for a stroll and unexpectedly encountered Your Majesty!”

After speaking, she lowered her head, her face full of shy modesty.

Xia Ruqing was almost sick to her stomach and wanted to slap her. But she held back, smiling on the surface.

”Honored Lady Du knows Taiye Pool is cool too? How coincidental!” she said. ”Ah! My Qingya Residence is also terribly hot, Your Majesty!”

Zhao Junyao almost couldn’t keep a straight face. This girl! Hadn’t he already sent ice to her in May? She was jealous and looking to tease someone. However, Honored Lady Du indeed lacked manners. So, he would condescend and play along!

Zhao Junyao glanced at Honored Lady Du and then said warmly, ”If you truly feel hot, my Zhaochen Palace is cool. Why don’t you... move over there to live? How about that?”

His voice was velvety, with just the right magnetism. Paired with the Emperor’s youthful good looks, probably few women could resist such temptation.

Honored Lady Du’s face instantly flushed red. ”Your Majesty... This... This doesn’t seem proper!”

Xia Ruqing also snickered silently. ”Yes, Your Majesty, it’s not proper!”

Zhao Junyao then laughed. ”Rules are dead, people are alive; as long as I like it, why not!”

After finishing his words, he looked at Honored Lady Du with a gaze so tender it could suffocate someone.

Honored Lady Du almost lost her soul, seeing stars, unsure if she was dreaming or if this was all real! They say the Harem is hard to navigate, but looking at it now, it doesn’t seem so, does it?

Thinking this, she quickly bowed in gratitude. ”Thank you, Your Majesty! This servant... this servant is willing!”

Xia Ruqing, on the side, was so amused she was practically blooming. ”Your Majesty, this consort is not willing!”

Honored Lady Du suddenly looked up, her dislike for Xia Jieyu intense. ”Xia Jieyu, the Emperor wasn’t addressing you, was he? The Emperor’s affection is clearly for me!”

Xia Ruqing was taken aback, then put on a look of aggrievement. ”Your Majesty... you weren’t really speaking to this consort, were you?”

Her big, watery eyes looked as if they were about to spill tears.

Zhao Junyao suddenly embraced her. ”Of course, it’s you. If not you, who else would I be speaking to?”

He said this and then pulled Xia Ruqing into his embrace, treating Honored Lady Du as if she were just air.

Xia Ruqing nestled in Zhao Junyao’s arms, casting a triumphant glance back at Honored Lady Du before quietly enjoying the firmness of the handsome man’s chest.

Meanwhile, Honored Lady Du was dying of embarrassment. Her face was red enough to bleed.

This was... competing for the Emperor’s affections against Xia Jieyu. Rumor had it that Xia Jieyu, by some unknown means, had monopolized the Emperor’s time for quite a while. She had never believed it, but now she did. So in the future, could she defeat Xia Jieyu to become the Emperor’s Favored Consort? Today’s events seemed to indicate she’d been played by Xia Jieyu. It was utterly loathsome!