A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 751: Chapter 751: Slapping the Noble Consort’s Face

”Emperor, your consort dares not even step outside...”

”SOB SOB SOB...”

She cried noisily, tears and snot pouring out at the same time, soiling Zhao Junyao’s Dragon Robe.

Yet he didn’t mind at all, hurriedly fumbling for a handkerchief. Unable to find one, he clumsily used his sleeve to wipe her tears away.

”Stop crying, I know everything! I know!”

Zhao Junyao’s heart was breaking. Actually, he too was suffering.

At the Noble Consort’s place, he could indeed mete out some punishment. But the Empress Dowager... what was he to do?!

The usually formidable and decisive Emperor found himself in a difficult position when it came to matters involving women. Three women, one drama. With so many women, what was he to do?

In his anxiety, he suddenly thought of Zhao Junqi.

Right, Prince Yan!

With solid evidence of collusion and treason, Zhao Junqi was not going to survive. By then, Prince Yan would also be implicated. And the Empress Dowager...

At the thought, a hint of satisfaction crossed Zhao Junyao’s mind.

The affairs between the Empress Dowager and Prince Yan, though extremely covert, had long ago been eradicated, with those in the palace and beyond who knew of it either dead or scattered. But what had happened had happened. Even if the truth was buried deep, it didn’t mean it didn’t exist.

Therefore, there was always a seed of hatred in his heart. He was disgusted, repulsed, and felt it was unworthy of his father the Emperor!

His father might not have been a legendary emperor, but he led an upright and honorable life, with a clear conscience!

In the court, he diligently honored virtuous ministers, distanced himself from the wicked, sought capable and virtuous people, and strictly punished corrupt officials. In the Harem, he valued rules, respected the Empress Dowager, and tried to be fair to all the Concubines. Although he didn’t have many children, the number was not few either. With his children, the Emperor cared about what he should care about, and he tried to treat them all impartially. Towards his brothers, although a rift had already formed between the Emperor and Prince Yan when he ascended the throne, he still went against public opinion and granted him the fertile land of Guangnan as his fief. Guangnan had a humid climate and fertile lands. Prince Yan would surely live a carefree life there.

One could say, his father the Emperor, was fair to everyone.

But what did the Empress Dowager do?

If possible, Zhao Junyao didn’t even want to acknowledge her as his mother! Unfortunately... there was no ’if.’

”Qingqing!”

He embraced her.

”It will be alright, everything will soon be alright!”

Once Prince Yan was dealt with, everything would be fine. The Empress Dowager, Zhao Junqi, and the rest... all those who harbored intentions of betraying the nation. He would thoroughly investigate; anyone involved in this affair would not be spared.

It must be said, Zhao Junyao was truly ruthless. Once his heart hardened, it became incomparably tougher than stone.

Show mercy under the knife? Sorry, there was no mercy! Those who dared to bully his woman had to pay the price!

”Mhm!”

Xia Ruqing nodded blankly. Although she didn’t understand what Zhao Junyao was saying, crying her heart out and releasing her pent-up grievances felt incredibly relieving!

”Don’t cry, it’ll hurt your eyes!”

”Mhm!”

Xia Ruqing wiped away her tears and felt much more clear-headed, able to breathe more easily.

Zhao Junyao laid her down flat, tucked her in, and then asked, ”What did you eat this morning, are you hungry?”

”Millet porridge, I only had a bowl of millet porridge!”

”Hm... I wasn’t hungry before, but now that I’ve cried, I feel hungry. Are you going to eat something, Emperor?”

Upon reflection, Zhao Junyao realized he hadn’t eaten yet either, so he nodded.

”Let’s have a meal together!”

”Mhm!”

Someone shamefully cheered up.

Really... With both delicious food and you in front of me, I fear nothing!

The meal was quickly brought in.

Xia Ruqing had just given birth, and her diet was extremely bland: a bowl of brown sugar poached eggs, and a bowl of soft, sticky noodles—unimpressive to look at but smelling quite fragrant. She couldn’t eat anything else.

Zhao Junyao’s meals were much more lavish. The Emperor’s imperial dishes, dozens of them, filled the large round table in the inner chamber. They were tantalizing in color, aroma, and taste, featuring everything from large dishes to small, chicken soup stewed fish, bird’s nest soup, and shark’s fin, sweet and spicy—just the smell was delicious.

Xia Ruqing, with a poor appetite, wasn’t even interested. She held a bowl of brown sugar poached eggs and ate with relish.

Zhao Junyao found it quite amusing and teased her.

”Qingqing, I’ve only been away for two months, and you’ve changed your ways?”

Previously, she wasn’t this obedient! The more she couldn’t eat something, the more she wanted to try it, and nothing could stop her once she got a craving. This time, she didn’t need any persuading, which was truly surprising!

Xia Ruqing nibbled on her poached egg and muttered, ”Even if I want to eat, I can’t!”

After giving birth to two ”buns,” she couldn’t just consider her own desires, could she?

Zhao Junyao chuckled after listening.

”Alright, alright, you won’t eat, then I’ll join you in eating lightly!”

”Someone, take away those rich dishes. I’ll have noodles too!”

”Yes!”

The Servant agreed and removed them all.

In the inner chamber, only the Empress Consort and he remained, each holding a bowl, eating with gusto.

Zhao Junyao suddenly felt that even these noodles, which seemed to have barely any salt, tasted good!

Indeed, it really depended on the company!

After the meal, Xia Ruqing grew tired.

He tucked her under the blankets again and said with a smile, ”Having eaten your fill, get some good sleep. I’ll come to see you tonight!”

Xia Ruqing initially nodded vigorously in agreement, but when she heard the end, she quickly shook her head.

”That’s not appropriate, Your Majesty!”

”Your first visit to the Harem after all this time... shouldn’t you go see the Noble Consort?”

Zhao Junyao gently tapped her forehead.

”I won’t go there, I’m coming to your place. Is that alright?”

After some thought, Xia Ruqing happily nodded.

”Alright!”

She thought to herself, this wasn’t her seducing him at all! He chose not to go on his own. But to join the Emperor in snubbing Noble Concubine Shih felt truly delightful! She was somewhat looking forward to Noble Concubine Shih’s reaction. HA HA! It’s not that she relied on a man for revenge; it’s just that she had no power of her own. So what about men? Men can be power too!

Xia Ruqing snuggled into the blankets and slept contentedly.

Zhao Junyao waited until she was asleep before leaving.

「...」

During the days he was away from the palace, a great stack of memorials had accumulated in court. Aside from visiting Xia Ruqing, Zhao Junyao spent his days reviewing memorials in the Imperial Study Room. He didn’t exchange even a word with Noble Concubine Shih.

Beyond her annoyance, Noble Concubine Shih began to feel restless. Using the pretense of discussing the details for a celebratory banquet, she tried to see the Emperor in the Imperial Study Room. To her dismay, Zhao Junyao refused to meet her.

Subsequently, other Concubines attempted to visit him. They were uniformly denied as well.

Eventually, Zhao Junyao considered that this might provoke enmity for Qingqing. So from then on, aside from Noble Concubine Shih’s people, he met with everyone in the Imperial Study Room.

One day, Consort Ning brought a box of pastries. The next, Consort Yun Pin brought a jar of nourishing soup. Then the day after, Consort Hui was summoned to report the happenings in the Harem during this period. Following that, he called for Consort Cheng Pin, under the pretense of not seeing the Second Prince for a long time.

The Second Prince hadn’t been named yet, and Zhao Junyao spent two days bestowing the name Kihong upon him.

Consort Cheng Pin was thrilled. Holding the Second Prince, she thanked Zhao Junyao repeatedly, her excitement palpable.

”Honghong, you have a name now!”

”Honghong? Quickly thank Father Emperor?!”