A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Aside from opening up special examinations and broadening recommendations.

Zhao Junyao also introduced a series of talent selection examination systems.

The imperial court may desperately need talent, but not just anyone will do; it’s better to have a few excellent ones than many mediocre ones.

Xia Ruqing pondered.

This is quite similar to the strict entry and loose exit approach of modern Western education—accepting all, yet with high requirements.

Overall, the conditions are quite enticing.

After all, the Great Chu Dynasty harbors far more than just a few hundred talented individuals.

...

With the new policies and systems coming out, it meant solutions to existing problems were now available.

Zhao Junyao issued an edict for the Ministry of Rites, Hanlin Academy, and the Ministry of Personnel to rigorously implement this, with no room for error.

Meanwhile, he sneaked some leisure time for himself, taking a well-deserved break and replenishing the energy he hadn’t properly restored in recent days.

Every day after the morning court meeting.

He would finish reviewing memorials in the morning, have lunch and take a midday rest at Duanning Palace.

In the afternoon, he would either visit the Imperial Garden to appreciate flowers and scenery, or stay at Duanning Palace to watch Xia Ruqing bustling around.

She actually didn’t have much to busy herself with.

The children were busy either studying or practicing martial arts.

She herself was so idle, almost growing stagnant, incapable of learning the elegant poems and paintings of noble ladies.

So she had Xiao Zhu Zi clear the wasteland in the rear garden and planted fruits and vegetables again.

Also, she ordered the water in the Lotus Pond to be cleaned and raised a few golden fish.

Zhao Junyao stood under the corridor with his hands behind his back.

Xia Ruqing, however, wore a moon-white everyday cloth dress, her hair in the simplest of bun styles, eschewing all golden and silver phoenix hairpins, donning only a wooden hairpin polished from peachwood vine, with a honey-colored ancient jade the size of a fingernail dangling from the end.

Her face was unadorned and natural, holding scoops of yellow earth in her hands, simulating planting and watering.

Her delicate, petite figure swaying like a tender willow, roamed among the plots of land like a free-floating catkin in the sunny March breeze.

The tranquility and calmness exuding from her, the aura of indifference to fame and fortune.

Made him, an emperor who had lived in the palace since childhood, accustomed to various women of extravagant beauty and licentious elegance, find himself momentarily captivated.

The sunlight was beautiful, the soil fragrant, the cat plump, and she was very beautiful!

Zhao Junyao indulged in the picturesque scene before him, unwilling to blink.

After a long time.

Breathless, with sweat starting on the tip of her nose, Xia Ruqing paused amid the sunset, standing before him.

”Finally finished planting, soon the Emperor can taste the vegetables I personally grew!”

Zhao Junyao picked up a handkerchief, gently wiping away the soil on the tip of her nose and the sweat on her forehead.

With eyes full of affection, he tidied the stray hair on her forehead, smiling softly.

”Do you enjoy this?”

Xia Ruqing nodded.

”I love it! I enjoy such lively vibes of life!”

”As they say, it’s lonely at the top!”

”But who likes living in the clouds? I prefer living in the soil!”

”And you, Emperor?”

Xia Ruqing suddenly realized she was growing less mindful of rank and status, often casually addressing each other as ’you’ and ’I.’

At times, she felt as though Zhao Junyao were an old acquaintance she had known for a long time, someone she could talk and connect with sincerely.

Though separated by a millennium, he understood what she talked about.

Sure enough, Zhao Junyao smiled lightly.

”So do I.”

Then he pulled her hand up.

”Come! Let’s wash our hands, then I’ll take you painting!”

Xia Ruqing, slightly embarrassed, withdrew her black, muddy hands.

”Emperor, my hands are dirty!”

”What’s dirty? You just said you enjoy the soil!”

With that, he clasped her hand tightly, irresistibly leading her to the washroom.

...

In the evening, the palace was lit with the first lights.

After the Emperor and Empress had their dinner, they cleared the table on the warm kang bed in the inner room.

Spread out painting paper, set out paints.

Zhao Junyao pondered for a moment, squinting, then began sketching.

Xia Ruqing knew nothing about poetry, calligraphy, and painting.

Watching him paint while chatting idly.

”Emperor!”

”When will Jingfeng depart?”

Zhao Junyao thought for a moment.

”Next month!”

Xia Ruqing nodded, sighing somewhat.

”Once he leaves, he probably won’t return.”

Zhao Junyao shrugged.

”What does it matter if he comes back or not? If he’s serving as an official in Jiangnan, why would I mistreat him?”

Xia Ruqing thought about it too.

”Definitely not!”

”He probably doesn’t need anyone’s protection!”

In ancient times, men were expected to have ambitions across the world, epitomizing masculinity.

If a dignified seven-foot man lived under a woman’s protection all the time, that would be the real shame.

Realizing she was worrying excessively, she stopped asking.

Zhao Junyao stayed silent too.

He was focused, meticulously sketching the scene from the courtyard that afternoon onto the paper.

After about half a Shi Chen, Xia Ruqing realized what the painting was, beaming with a smile.

”So you’re painting me!”

Zhao Junyao started coloring.

”Well? Does it look like you?”

Xia Ruqing examined the beauty’s eyebrows on the painting closely, feeling rather bashful.

”Somewhat, but I’m not this pretty!”

Zhao Junyao ruffled her hair.

”I think you’re prettier than in the painting!”

Xia Ruqing looked at the painting again, feeling her cheeks quietly flushing.

”Mother!”

”Mother!”

”I want to leave the palace tomorrow!”

Yue Er came running in like a gust of wind from outside, with a shout.

About to speak, she opened the door to the inner room to see her father and mother facing each other with mother’s cheeks all blush.

Hmm... um...

She might as well leave!

Just about to turn away, Xia Ruqing called her from behind.

”Stop!”

”What did you just say?”

Yue Er hurriedly stepped back, gathering a cheerful expression, approached her.

”Mother, I said I want to leave the palace tomorrow!”

Then she looked at her father.

”Father, help me with this!”

”Yilan and Wei Yu planned an outing outside the palace!”

”All my friends can go, why can’t I?”

Xia Ruqing looked puzzled.

”Who is Wei Yu?”

Yue Er replied.

”She’s the granddaughter of the Princess of Nanan! She’s the same age as me!”

”Mother, let me go!”

Seeing the little girl’s pitiful look, Xia Ruqing couldn’t help but chuckle.

”Fine, I’ll let you go, but you need to tell me where you’re heading!”

Yue Er thought momentarily, reluctantly said.

”Going on an outing to the outskirts south of the city!”

”And?”

Knowing her daughter too well, just by the look on Yue Er’s face, there must be more than just going on an outing.

Yue Er sulked and finally mumbled.

”Also... playing polo!”

Xia Ruqing spread her hands.

”I knew you weren’t being honest!”

Yue Er quickly ran over to hug Zhao Junyao’s arm.

”Father, you speak for me!”

Xia Ruqing chuckled.

”Alright, alright, seeing your pitiful look, anyone would think I’ve done horrible things to you!”

”Go on, but bring more people!”

”If you get hurt, don’t come crying to me!”

”Yes! Thank you, mother!”