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A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 1189: You Seriously Underestimate the Empress Dowager · Oct 18, 2026

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Chapter List (1612)

Page number / 33

1151 Chapter 1151: The Cold-Faced Execution 2026-10-18
1152 Chapter 1152: If There Is a Next Life, Let’s Be Brothers Again! 2026-10-18
1153 Chapter 1153: Triumphant Return of the Soldiers 2026-10-18
1154 Chapter 1154: That Is... Witchcraft and Gu... 2026-10-18
1155 Chapter 1155: Indulging in Witchcraft and Gu 2026-10-18
1156 Chapter 1156: May the Believer of the Shih Family... Have Her Wish Fulfilled! 2026-10-18
1157 Chapter 1157: I Left No Trace 2026-10-18
1158 Chapter 1158: Tiger Is Finally Getting Married 2026-10-18
1159 Chapter 1159: Honey, You’re So Beautiful! 2026-10-18
1160 Chapter 1160: The Bride Really Had a Hard Time 2026-10-18
1161 Chapter 1161: The Conditions Are Too Tempting 2026-10-18
1162 Chapter 1162: After All, She Is His Own Sister 2026-10-18
1163 Chapter 1163: Brother Loves Yue Er the Most in the World 2026-10-18
1164 Chapter 1164 - 1064: The Pitiful Are Always Detestable 2026-10-18
1165 Chapter 1165: Three Sons Can’t Compare to a Daughter’s Mischief 2026-10-18
1166 Chapter 1166: Husband, Aren’t You Tired? 2026-10-18
1167 Chapter 1167: A True Foodie 2026-10-18
1168 Chapter 1168: Only Room for Qingqing 2026-10-18
1169 Chapter 1169: Pushing Their Luck 2026-10-18
1170 Chapter 1170: You’re Always Used to Carrying Difficulties Alone 2026-10-18
1171 Chapter 1171: He Is No Longer Alone 2026-10-18
1172 Chapter 1172: Truly Seasoned and Ruthlessly Decisive 2026-10-18
1173 Chapter 1173: The Tsundere Little Princess 2026-10-18
1174 Chapter 1174: I Want to Dress as a Man 2026-10-18
1175 Chapter 1175: Jinling City 2026-10-18
1176 Chapter 1176 - 1076: How Could We Possibly Break Up Now? 2026-10-18
1177 Chapter 1177 - 1077: Don’t Say Such Nonsense! 2026-10-18
1178 Chapter 1178 - 1078: Bizarre Prices 2026-10-18
1179 Chapter 1179: You Still Short on Silver? 2026-10-18
1180 Chapter 1180: There Must Be a Huge Conspiracy Behind This 2026-10-18
1181 Chapter 1181: Laying a Trap 2026-10-18
1182 Chapter 1182: Shackled and Imprisoned 2026-10-18
1183 Chapter 1183: Flogged and Branded! 2026-10-18
1184 Chapter 1184: I Will Make You Believe Soon! 2026-10-18
1185 Chapter 1185: Sealed 2026-10-18
1186 Chapter 1186: Some Things Must Be Sacrificed 2026-10-18
1187 Chapter 1187: At Least She’s the Real Mother, Right? 2026-10-18
1188 Chapter 1188: An Unusual Mother-Son Relationship 2026-10-18
1189 Chapter 1189: You Seriously Underestimate the Empress Dowager 2026-10-18
1190 Chapter 1190: Big Brother Is So Awesome! 2026-10-18
1191 Chapter 1191: Arrival in Guangnan 2026-10-18
1192 Chapter 1192: You’re Not Allowed to Go Anywhere Tonight 2026-10-18
1193 Chapter 1193: The Little Fishing Village on the Hillside 2026-10-18
1194 Chapter 1194: Assassin Alert! 2026-10-18
1195 Chapter 1195: Assassin Attack 2026-10-18
1196 Chapter 1196: I Would Fall in Love with You Without Hesitation 2026-10-18
1197 Chapter 1197: Caught in a Stalemate 2026-10-18
1198 Chapter 1198: Bygone Events 2026-10-18
1199 Chapter 1199: War Breaks Out 2026-10-18
1200 Chapter 1200: The Beauty Is Ultimately Not by My Side 2026-10-18

After a long silence.

Zhao Junyao barely managed a smile:

”It’s nothing!”

”How could it be nothing?” Xia Ruqing’s eyes suddenly welled with tears.

”You’ve been acting strange since last night, and now you look so unwell!”

”Are you hiding something from me?”

She suddenly remembered.

Ever since she mentioned the phrase ’how could a mother not worry about her child’ last night.

He had been acting off!

”Did I say something wrong?”

”Emperor, I... I didn’t mean to!”

Everyone knows that he has a poor relationship with the Empress Dowager.

Saying such things must have made him recall the sad memories of his childhood.

”Emperor, I...”

Just as Xia Ruqing was at a loss, Zhao Junyao grasped her cold hand.

”Stop overthinking, it’s not your fault!”

Xia Ruqing looked at her hand held by him, then at his gradually warming face.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief.

”You must be hungry, let’s eat!”

She smiled awkwardly, not daring to bring up anything else, saying as much.

Zhao Junyao reached out to touch her face.

Outside the window, the fresh scent after the rain came rushing in, the emerald green sycamore canopy spread grandly, a flower a tree, each blade and leaf, displaying unparalleled beauty.

But none of this compared to this face before him.

Her face remains radiant as ever, her eyes as clear as back then, her heart as always pure and transparent.

She remains untainted.

Like the bright winter sun, illuminating and warming his iceberg-like heart.

After all these years, she remains as wonderful.

Zhao Junyao affectionately embraced her.

”Qingqing, it’s a blessing to have you!”

Xia Ruqing felt a bit disoriented, unaware of what he had experienced during childhood.

Even the always invincible Zhao Junyao has become like this, showing how unqualified the Empress Dowager is as a mother.

She hesitated for a moment, then slowly reached out to hold him back.

”Emperor...”

”Don’t speak, let me hold you for a moment!”

Xia Ruqing obediently remained still.

The warm autumn sun shone upon the lush green sycamore canopy outside the window, making the view outside even more ethereal and clear.

Glittering dew hung upon the green sycamore leaves, reflecting rainbow lights in the sunlight.

The air carried the earthy scent of post-rain freshness, soothing to, as you inhaled it deeply.

Uncertain how much time had passed.

Zhao Junyao finally gently released her.

His expression at last returned to tranquility, his gaze regained its usual depth and wisdom, and the chill around him gradually dissipated with the sunny warmth outside.

Xia Ruqing finally relaxed a bit.

”Emperor! Are you... hungry?”

She dared not mention anything about the mother and son, not even asking a single word.

Zhao Junyao taciturnly refrained from speaking of it.

”You’re hungry, right! Let’s go eat!”

Saying so, he took her along.

Xia Ruqing sighed secretly: Finally, things seem better!

She followed him to dine without saying a word.

...

Since they had not yet gotten the expected information.

Zhao Junyao briefly found nothing to do.

On the first day, he patrolled the Wei River area.

The Wei River, in flood season, had risen considerably, repair workers had ceased work entirely.

But neither craftsmen nor Ministry of Works officials dared abandon their posts.

They steadfastly inspected the river embankment daily.

Ensuring they could swiftly detect danger, find ways to fix them immediately, minimizing Jiangnan’s flood impacts.

Zhao Junyao took a long stroll along the river embankment.

Watching the turbulent waves and rolling vortices and the occasional large cracks on the embankment, he felt a lingering unease.

’This year’s flood season seems more intense than ever!’

’Luckily, I sent people in advance for repairs, otherwise... the river might not hold up by now!!’

’Such severe flooding, if the riverbank burst...’

Zhao Junyao dared not imagine the outcomes.

He felt thankful, at least half had already been repaired, though cracked, it wasn’t critical.

This summer might... pass peacefully.

In the following days.

He stayed at the inn, not going anywhere.

Now and then, meeting with Imperial Censors and Secret Investigators for news updates.

Occasionally, accompanying Xia Ruqing on outings, catering to her curiosity.

The rest of the time was spent quietly reading.

Reading royal family secrets, studying Chu Dynasty history, even looking at neighboring nations’ visiting envoys.

Thus went by half a month.

The Capital City has entered autumn, and Jiangnan’s summer heat began dissipating gradually.

Zhao Junyao suddenly received a piece of news from the Secret Investigator.

”Zhao Junqi’s whereabouts have been found in Guangnan!”

Zhao Junyao felt shock in his heart.

Indeed, Guangnan is Prince Yan’s stronghold.

They had cultivated ties for decades there, people and foundations all tied in.

With such resources, how could Zhao Junqi possibly abandon them?

What shocked him, however, was despite Zhao Junqi’s exile to the harsh regions outside, how did he escape to Guangnan?

Xia Ruqing guessed.

”Someone probably helped him secretly!”

Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes coldly.

”Help is certain, but... what baffles me is, on the inside, Zhao Junqi has an accomplice!”

”Ah?”

Xia Ruqing felt incredulous.

”Impossible, isn’t it?”

Treason carries the death penalty, who would risk such danger, helping a chicken hit the stone!

The odds clearly unfavorable, it’s surely futile.

Zhao Junyao laughed coldly.

”Zhao Junqi’s roots in the court are shallow, but do not forget!”

”Inside the court... there are still people loyal to the Empress Dowager!”

Xia Ruqing widened her eyes in shock.

”But, Emperor, how could it be, the Empress Dowager now ignores palace affairs, even dismissing her consorts’ bi-monthly audiences...”

Zhao Junyao shook his head.

”You underestimate the Empress Dowager!”

Xia Ruqing wanted to speak up, but opening her mouth found nothing appropriate to say, then decided to remain silent.

Zhao Junyao’s chill intensified, fist tightening, gaze as piercing as a torch.

”Mother, is it truly you?”

He couldn’t understand aside from the Empress Dowager, who else within the court had such networking, willing to exert force transferring Zhao Junqi from the North Frontier to Guangnan.

Who else possesses such veil-shrouding skill to conceal everything!

Who amongst ministers?

Even those under one person’s command within the Cabinet lack such prowess!

Besides the Empress Dowager, who else?!

Xia Ruqing hesitantly.

”Emperor, is escaping convict difficult?!”

Zhao Junyao sneered.

”What do you think?”

”They cannot use official roads, nor enter any city, if wishing escape, must travel small paths!”

”Encountering land routes fine, yet water routes demand detours!”

”Such hardships...”

”In Great Chu’s hundred-plus years of founding, convict escapes hardly occur!”

”Either dying at the frontier, or perishing on way from it!”

There, terrain perilous, beasts plentiful, alone, unaided!

Escaping alive virtually unheard of.

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