A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Among the four sons and four daughters of Zhao Junyao,

the ones he valued most, apart from his legitimate eldest son Zhao Qichen, were his most beloved youngest daughter, Zhao Yizhao.

These two were both taught personally by him.

Zhao Qichen was the most like him, conscientious and diligent.

Just like he himself in those years, willing to sacrifice everything for the Great Chu Dynasty.

He understood the way of being an emperor very well; without needing special instruction, he consciously and thoroughly suppressed his youthful nature.

For example, young men all love beauties, all harbor a strong curiosity toward the outside world, all dislike being constrained, and only want to do what they like.

But Zhao Qichen knew how to suppress all that.

He understood that once he set foot on the path of the Crown Prince, he had to become utterly estranged from the word ”like.”

He could not harbor any private thoughts, could not leave himself the slightest chance to slack off, could not relax; he had to study and improve himself day in, day out for years on end.

In childhood he had to study like mad—classics and histories, masters and commentaries, military strategy and tactics, literary skills and martial arts—he had to learn them all, leaving no weakness or soft spot.

As he grew older, he could enter court to listen to government affairs; at that time what he needed to learn was the way of being an official, the art of balance.

He had to understand all those twists and turns in the court; he had to learn them all and master them proficiently.

He had to be like a shepherd, knowing how to use skill to guide the Imperial Court Officials, understanding the art of employing people, so that they could exert their greatest effect in the court.

All of this, he had to learn.

For more than ten years, ever since he could remember, he had not slacked off for even a single day.

As a child, in order to practice martial arts, he trained in the bitter cold of the ninth month of winter and in the scorching heat of the third period of summer; now, for the sake of study, for fear of falling behind in anything, he devoted himself even more wholeheartedly.

In the twelve Shi Chen of a day, he often rose early, yet still had to work until deep into the night.

Sometimes even Zhao Junyao felt unbearable heartache for him and wanted him to rest.

Zhao Qichen always replied,

”I’m not tired! I can keep going!”

Whenever it came to this, Zhao Junyao knew that he was exactly the same as his younger self—no, he simply was his younger self.

Entrusting the Great Chu Dynasty to him would definitely bring it to an even higher level; he was very much at ease, yet also very distressed.

...

As for Yizhao.

Although she was his most cherished Little Princess,

he had never raised her as a daughter, but had always raised her together with his sons.

The more he spoiled her, the greater freedom he gave her, the stricter his demands on her were.

On the surface it looked as if he did not care about anything, but that was only because Yue Er had never poked a big hole in the sky.

If she caused trouble, he would correct her at the first moment and punish her severely.

What comforted him was that Yue Er had known her limits since she was small; she knew where the bottom line was for herself and for Qingqing.

Sometimes she would even skirt along that bottom line over and over again, yet never step over it—showing just how unusually clever she was.

She lived more clear-sightedly than most of the Concubines in the Harem, knowing whom she could offend and whom she must never offend.

This was his pride.

Among his four sons and four daughters, having two who satisfied him so deeply made Zhao Junyao very gratified.

...

As for the others, it was not that he did not love them, just that... there was a tiny bit of difference, that was all.

Take The Eldest Princess, for example: her birth mother was truly displeasing; he simply could not bring himself to like her.

The Second Princess was all right; he was very fond of her, and after she was married off he still missed her from time to time.

The Third Princess need not be mentioned; a child of the Shih Family, neither meritorious nor faulty, he did not feel much about her.

The Fourth Princess, Yue Er, his Little Princess whom he held in the palm of his hand, went without saying.

As for the Princes.

The Second Prince, Zhao Qihong—his birth mother, Consort Cheng, was sensible, courteous, and knew her place; she was exceedingly clever and never made trouble in the Harem, living with great clarity—he was very satisfied with her.

So he still held great hopes for the Second Prince and had carefully instructed him as well.

That child, although somewhat average in talent, was gentle by nature, worked hard to improve himself, and had little ambition.

Out of full affection, he gave him a post in the Ministry of Revenue so he could go and temper himself.

A few years ago he was enfeoffed as a Prince and took a consort; now he also had children, and thus a small household was established. Very good!

Further down were Henger and Yeye.

These two children were twins, the apples of Qingqing’s eye, and he could not bear to let them suffer even the slightest grievance.

So he simply followed Qingqing’s wishes and let them do as they pleased.

Even if they became idle Princes in the future, Qichen would never treat his own younger brothers harshly; a life free from worry—this was also very good.

Zhao Junyao pondered over and over.

He realized that in this first half of his life he essentially had no regrets left.

From now on, he only needed to prepare well and live out the latter half of his life properly.

He still held great expectations for his old age.

...

The first month of the year hurried by, and in the blink of an eye it was the second month.

Spring had begun, the ice and snow melted, swallows returned, the Imperial Garden teemed with vitality, and even the air was gradually growing warmer.

The Imperial Palace, which had been gnawed by bitter cold for an entire winter, was gradually regaining its former liveliness.

One day, after he left court, there were not many memorials.

Zhao Junyao quickly finished approving them and went straight to Duanning Palace.

After chatting idly with Xia Ruqing for a bit, he asked about the children.

”Have they come to see you lately?”

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment and said,

”Yue Er comes the most; as for the other three... they’re about the same!”

”Although Qichen comes quite frequently, he has many things to do. Every time he only stays for a cup of tea before leaving!”

At this she could not help feeling a stab of heartache.

Her poor Chenchen had not even married yet, and the last time she saw him he already seemed tinged with vicissitudes—just thinking of it made her heart ache.

”Henger and Yeye usually come together!”

”Once they’re here, they sit for half a day, keeping me company, chatting and drinking tea!”

”Henger likes poetry, calligraphy, and painting; every time he comes he brings me some interesting books—it’s quite fun!”

”As for that child Yeye, he’s a bit unreliable. I don’t even know what he likes; anyway, he never brings the same thing twice! His temperament is odd—I don’t know who he takes after!”

Xia Ruqing complained with a faint smile.

After listening, Zhao Junyao laughed.

”Could it be that he takes after me?”

Xia Ruqing nodded.

”Exactly—his thoughts are impossible to read!”

”Really? How come I don’t know that?” Zhao Junyao chuckled.

Xia Ruqing waved her hand.

”Let’s not talk about this!”

”Spring has come; I want to go check on my vegetable garden!”

As she spoke, she was about to walk out.

Zhao Junyao hurriedly followed behind her.

”You like planting those things, but you don’t even eat them! What do you plant them for?”

Xia Ruqing retorted,

”Who says you have to eat what you plant? Can’t I like passing the time this way?”

”I like watching them grow from small seedlings into full plants, then blossom and bear fruit, with vines full of produce!”

”I like that process!”

Spring flowers and autumn fruits—how wonderful!

Hearing this, Zhao Junyao said nothing more.

He even felt a flicker of agreement in his heart: indeed, put like that, it did sound quite interesting.

From then on... a ”farmer emperor” appeared in the back garden of Duanning Palace.

He carried water and watered the garden, while she only stood by watching.

Watching his clumsy appearance, she would be made to giggle every time.

”You’re doing it wrong; you’ll have to practice more from now on!”

Zhao Junyao felt a bit embarrassed, but with Qingqing present he could only study hard and practice diligently.

In his idle moments, he would also feel puzzled.

Why would he, a dignified emperor, be doing such things?

The answer that usually surfaced in his heart was: only to see her smile.