A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

After having breakfast, Xia Ruqing saw that the scenery outside was really good, so she took Zi Yue to the courtyard.

Sitting on the swing, Xia Ruqing carefully sorted through the events that had occurred during this period.

The cause was the Empress Dowager mentioning the selection of consorts, and subsequently directing her ire at me.

Zhao Junyao refused the selection, or rather refused the Empress Dowager’s attempt to push people into his inner circle, resulting in a conflict with her.

Mother and son ended up in a big argument over it.

Following that, Zhao Junyao started reminiscing about past events, doubting whether he was the Empress Dowager’s biological son.

In a hurry, he left the palace to seek validation from Empress Dowager Zhen, only to find out that she had died.

He hurried back to Ningshou Palace, unsure of what was said, but his mood was terrible upon his return.

Although Xia Ruqing knew some facts, she lacked complete information.

Her guesswork and imagination pieced together a rough idea, but she was unaware of the specifics!

In summary, two words: heartache!

Zhao Junyao, as a ruler and Emperor, has so many frustrations.

He was actually tormented into this state by the Empress Dowager, an old witch.

Xia Ruqing thought coldly.

’It’s a blessing for the Empress Dowager to have been born in the Imperial Family; these things happen in the unfathomable depths that outsiders can’t spy inside the deep palace.’

’The Emperor has many ancestors and countless hats weighing him down, so he can’t deal with the Empress Dowager!’

’If it were an ordinary household, faced with someone like Zhao Junyao, the Empress Dowager probably wouldn’t be alive anymore!’

She grew more concerned for Zhao Junyao the more she thought about it.

Just hoping he’d quickly find evidence to deal with that old witch properly.

Lost in thought on the swing, Xiao Xizi suddenly came to report.

”Reporting to the Empress, the Princess followed the Crown Prince to the training field for horseback riding!”

Xia Ruqing was taken aback.

”Horseback riding? Wasn’t she supposed to be studying with the Imperial Son? How did she end up horseback riding?!”

She quickly got off the swing upon saying that.

Xiao Xizi respectfully said.

”The Princes have horseback archery lessons, General Shi is teaching them, and the Princess heard they were going to the training field, so she ran off there too. The servants couldn’t stop her. Will the Empress go have a look?”

Xia Ruqing was somewhat amused and exasperated.

”This girl!”

Granted her horseback riding lessons, granted her study sessions, granted her going out of the palace.

And now, she insisted on formally practising martial arts with the Princes! Does she really want to become a Prince?

”Let’s go, let’s have a look!”

Xia Ruqing went inside to change clothes, and with a line of palace maids, eunuchs, wetnurse sisters, she leisurely walked along the palace path to the training field to find her daughter.

...

The time quickly passed to late March.

During this period, the voices urging the selection of consorts have softened in Capital City.

Rumors like dirty water took a turn, pouring onto the Xia Family and their relatives.

Not only has the Hou Mansion been greatly affected, keeping doors closed all day long, afraid to open them.

Even Minister Yang’s Mansion was affected, once the torment on the Xia Family was finished, they started attacking the Yang Family.

The words spoken are extremely unpleasant.

Things like ’Yang Family, to please the Emperor by currying favor with the Empress, married a concubine-born daughter as the principal wife.’

’Yang Family, a dignified Martial Family, actually acting servilely, maintaining status through nepotism, truly disgracing the Imperial Court Officials.’

Among the people there was quite a stir, many saying all sorts of things.

Initially, the Xia Family and the Yang Family just stayed indoors, ignored it,

Later on, seeing that neither family reacted,

Members of the public became restless, and they blatantly began to take action.

First, throwing rotten eggs on the walls of the mansions, then pouring swill, etc.

Until both mansions couldn’t withstand it, came forward to arrest a few people, only then were these absurd behaviors stopped.

But within two or three days.

Another rumor arose, saying both mansions were relying on the Imperial Court Officials to randomly arrest people, abusing their power, etc.

Honestly...

Acting was wrong, not acting was wrong.

Lying there was wrong, anything was wrong.

Ni Manxue gritted her teeth in anger.

”These people are truly absurd! Who gave them the guts?!”

Xia Tingfeng squinted his eyes advising her.

”Just endure it for now. The root of the problem lies in the palace, I believe it will be resolved soon!”

Ni Manxue was a bit surprised.

”The palace? What does this gossip have to do with the palace? It’s just a bunch of troublesome commoners!”

Xia Tingfeng smiled calmly.

”Ordinary people only follow trends and gossip, merely quick talk after meals, without any substantial action!”

”They wouldn’t dare to do something so openly rebellious, confront officials!”

”So... this situation clearly has someone fanning the flames behind the scenes!”

After some thought, Ni Manxue clapped her forehead.

”Indeed it is!”

”Look at me, I’m so muddled with anger!”

”No wonder Cai Yang hasn’t taken any action! I thought they were remarkably composed!”

Ordinary people are most interested in this royal gossip and have the least judgment.

With just a little coaxing, saying it vividly and emotionally.

The next day it spreads from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and it’s exaggerated with embellishments, even having a nose and an eye, it’s hard not to believe!

So, those behind the scenes used this fact to stir up the Capital City into a frenzy.

Ni Manxue rubbed her temples worriedly.

”There’s not much for our family, just staying indoors!”

”But over at Jingfeng’s place... he’s about to take up his post, hopefully, it won’t be affected!”

Xia Tingfeng, fiddling with a new fancy dagger from who knows where, spoke carelessly.

”Rest assured! I’ve got it!”

Ni Manxue felt somewhat helpless.

”With you like this, I’m even more uneasy!”

Xia Tingfeng finally set aside his trinket, embraced her shoulder.

”What do you mean I’m like this? Could I let my own younger brother be in trouble?”

”I may not handle much, but can this small matter really not be handled?”

A slight rogue smile appeared at the corner of his lips again.

Ni Manxue blushed, hurriedly pushing his hand away.

”Enough, you’re so unserious!”

She straightened her skirt, slowly walked to the window, opened it.

Until the warm breeze of early summer blew in, did the blush on her cheeks gradually fade away.

”Since that’s the case!”

”Today I’ll have someone prepare luggage, horses and carriages, I won’t concern myself with other things!”

Though being the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother, all she could do was this.

Xia Tingfeng nodded.

”Alright!”

Ni Manxue enjoyed the spring scenery outside the pavilion for a while, her mood improved somewhat.

Involuntarily lamenting.

”Spring departing and arriving again, flowers bloom and wither in another season, when will Jingfeng’s spring come?”

”The child, why doesn’t he think about marriage?”

”He’s already over twenty! Long past the age to marry!”

”Husband, when you have time, just speak to him, after all, ...”

After all, he is the Xia family’s eldest legitimate son, the legitimate lineage cannot end!

Xia Tingfeng seemed indifferent, smiling.

”Why are you worrying about these things?”

”What does it mean to be of age?”

”If he hasn’t found the right person, how can I urge him? Let him choose for himself!”

”Maybe he’ll meet someone suitable in Jiangnan this time!”

Ni Manxue’s eyes lit up.

”That’s right!”

”Jiangnan is full of beauties, Jingfeng is a talented scholar, by then a scholar matched with a beauty... could be quite a story!”