A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

”What’s the good news? Hurry up and tell me!”

Xia Ruqing jumped up and shook his arm.

Zhao Junyao held back a laugh and raised an eyebrow.

”I can tell you, but...”

He patted his stomach.

”But I’m still hungry!”

Xia Ruqing glared at him playfully.

”You!”

”You are taking advantage of the situation!”

After speaking, she got out of bed and stomped out to order someone to prepare the meal.

Zhao Junyao followed behind her laughing and said.

”I’ve been busy all morning, I’m really starving!”

”What delicious food do you have? Hurry up and bring it up for me to eat!”

Xia Ruqing rolled her eyes at him.

”What delicious food could there be? It’s still the same few dishes.”

Her tone was like ’eat it if you want, but that’s all there is.’

Zhao Junyao thought for a moment.

”I remember eating a kind of wild vegetable at your place before. The most primitive freshness from the earth, I still remember it vividly!”

”Do you still have it?”

Xia Ruqing felt a bit helpless.

”I do, but it’s not easy to find. You definitely won’t be able to eat it today!”

Zhao Junyao shrugged.

”Alright then!”

”Let’s just eat whatever there is!”

Xia Ruqing didn’t respond, washed up, dressed properly, and went to the small kitchen.

Even though he said to eat whatever, the Emperor’s meals were always regulated, so they couldn’t really be random.

She looked at the dishes prepared by the kitchen maids, carefully selected several that Zhao Junyao liked, and then returned.

The meal was set.

All of Zhao Junyao’s favorite dishes covered the entire table abundantly.

”Are you satisfied now?”

”Hurry up and eat, then quickly tell me the good news!”

Zhao Junyao saw her eagerness and didn’t want to delay any longer. He casually picked a few bites of the dishes and then smiled.

”Younger brother Seven came into the palace this morning with a letter!”

”From... Jiangnan!”

As he spoke, he took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Xia Ruqing.

Xia Ruqing’s eyes lit up instantly.

”A letter from Jiangnan? From Jingfeng?”

She reached out and took it. Seeing that the seal was still sealed with wax, she felt a bit strange.

”You didn’t open it? How do you know it’s good news then?”

Zhao Junyao, smiling but not saying anything, took another bite of his dish.

”Of course I know!”

”What could be hidden from me? Quickly have a look!”

Xia Ruqing didn’t hesitate any longer, and impatiently opened the envelope, ignoring her meal.

The letter paper was just a few thin pages, and upon reading it, there was nothing particularly important.

Just one thing made her eyes light up.

”Jingfeng... has found a woman he likes?”

Zhao Junyao said nothing, just smiled while continuing to eat.

Xia Ruqing put down the letter, her face full of joy and disbelief.

”I... I never would have dreamed it!”

”My brother, he...”

She was so overjoyed, she didn’t even know where to put her hands.

Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow.

”Is it necessary to be so dramatic? How old is he now? If we wait another couple of years, your elder brother’s eldest son will already be coming of age and getting married!”

Xia Ruqing was exasperated.

”Uh... you have a point!”

”That’s why this is such great news!”

”Jingfeng will be almost thirty after the New Year. If he doesn’t settle down, I thought he was going to become a monk!”

Even though being unmarried at twenty-eight or twenty-nine is quite common in modern times, but in ancient times... cough cough!

Almost thirty and unmarried is indeed too much; after all, people can be grandfathers at thirty or forty.

Zhao Junyao said nothing, after eating a few small buns and a bowl of congee, he left the dining table.

Xia Ruqing had completely lost the mood to eat as well, and instructed someone to remove the entire table of dishes.

The two of them moved to the inner room by the heater, discussing while drinking tea.

”I wonder what kind of woman she is. Jingfeng didn’t reveal anything in the letter!”

Zhao Junyao said.

”He’s not a child anymore, his taste isn’t bad, and there’s no need for a political marriage!”

”The one he likes must naturally be the woman he loves most!”

Xia Ruqing let out a breath.

”You’re right!”

She thought for a moment and then said.

”Since that’s the case, there’s no time to waste. I’ll send someone over right away to check on the situation!”

”If there are no surprises, let’s engage them soon. Jingfeng shouldn’t delay any longer!”

Zhao Junyao found her eagerness amusing.

”Yes! My Empress!”

”Whatever you want to do, I’ll do as you wish, satisfied?”

Xia Ruqing gently pushed him.

”Why are you being so awkward!!”

”I didn’t force you!”

Zhao Junyao clutched his chest, where she had pushed him, with an expression of enjoyment.

”Yes, Madam! Your husband obeys!”

Xia Ruqing was speechless and glared at him.

”Getting older and more mischievous!”

”That rebellious nature of Yeye, it’s obviously from you!”

Zhao Junyao didn’t care about Yeye at all.

He quickly stood up, picked up a small bronze mirror from the dressing table, and looked at his face intently.

”Am I old?”

”How is that possible?”

”A man at forty is like a flower. Madam, congratulations on having a husband more handsome than a flower!”

Xia Ruqing pressed her forehead and looked to the sky.

”No saving you!”

The two of them bickered for a while longer.

In the afternoon, Zhao Junyao went to Zhaochen Palace, while Xia Ruqing took another nap in the bedroom.

It was too cold outside.

She was no longer a young girl of one or two, her energy no longer as plentiful as before.

Moreover, this body had suffered much abuse in childhood, increasingly showing signs over the years, making her particularly afraid of the cold.

In mid-January, with ice and snow outside, she refused to go out if she could help it.

She would rather burrow in bed than get out.

Sometimes, even Zi Yue and Zi Ning would shake their heads at her.

But the Empress had always been afraid of the cold, and there was nothing they could do.

All they could do was pile more quilts on her and turn up the ground dragon’s heat a bit to make her more comfortable.

...

Regarding Xia Jingfeng’s matter.

Zhao Junyao didn’t send his own people but gave Xia Tingfeng an extended holiday.

Allowing him to take his family to visit their hometown in Jiangnan.

Firstly, it was a family matter of the Xia Family, not something he would or should interfere with.

Secondly, Xia Tingfeng had served by his side for years without break. Now... his seniority and merit were both substantial, and after this trip, his position would need reconsideration.

Thirdly, as the saying goes, when parents are alive, children should not wander far. The Xia family might be chaotic, but he’s still the eldest son. Rumor has it he has a mother he hasn’t seen in years, so he should go back for a visit.

It’s undeniable that Zhao Junyao’s considerations were all-encompassing.

Xia Tingfeng gratefully accepted the imperial decree with his entire family kneeling.

”Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!”

Li Shengan urged him to rise quickly.

”Marquis, there’s no need for such courtesy! Please rise!”

Xia Tingfeng hastily stood up and said.

”Grand Eunuch, would you like to come inside for a cup of tea?!”

Li Shengan was about to refuse when he saw Xia Tingfeng winking.

He hesitated for a moment but eventually followed Xia Tingfeng into the study.

”Marquis, is there anything unclear?”

Xia Tingfeng respectfully said.

”That’s exactly it. Please instruct me, Grand Eunuch!”

He expressed worry.

”I’ve always served by His Majesty’s side. If I leave, by His Majesty’s side...”