A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Time flies, spring comes and autumn goes, and before you know it, another year has passed.

The Capital City seems unchanged, yet in truth, it transforms every day.

For instance...

The street vendors are different from those twenty years ago, and the big pagoda tree not far from the East City Gate is more lush than before.

The row of shops at the East Street Market still stands, but the shopkeepers have been replaced by young people.

The bustling in the West Market remains, but the pedestrians coming and going on the street are from a new generation.

Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing left the palace in civilian clothes.

The two sat in a simple green pagoda tree oil carriage, strolling from the West Market to East Street, from the north of the city to the south, indulging in a whole day’s wanderlust.

As the sun set and twilight enveloped.

They got off the carriage hand in hand, walking the bustling streets of the Capital City.

It was The Sunny March.

Xia Ruqing wore a moon-white thin silk jacket, with a lotus pink skirt below, her hair, flecked with strands of white, was completely bound at the back of her head, adorned only with a few old jade hairpins.

Her whole demeanor was fresh and graceful, yet dignified, even though she was nearing forty, she showed no signs of vulgarity.

Zhao Junyao, being a martial artist, had a body full of muscles and didn’t age easily, so even past forty, he remained robust and suave.

Compared to his younger days, the icy demeanor had softened considerably, replaced by wisdom and a mature grandeur cultivated over the years.

At a sudden glance, he seemed both a cultured and refined scholar and a seasoned veteran of battle.

These apparently contradictory qualities merged on him so fittingly, so suitably.

Xia Ruqing held his hand, noticed the occasional glances from those passing by, and laughed.

”I feel so uneasy with how I’m being looked at!”

Zhao Junyao was puzzled.

Xia Ruqing signaled with her eyes to the young wives around them.

”Look, no matter how the Capital City Street changes, your allure remains unchanged!”

”I bet even twenty years later, there’ll be loads of young wives secretly admiring you!”

Her words were subtle.

With a touch of reproach, a bit of grievance, and a slight hint of jealousy.

This mixed sentiment was expressed perfectly, hitting Zhao Junyao’s heart.

Feeling softened, he embraced her, laughing as he replied.

”Qingqing, having you is enough for me!”

”After all these years, haven’t you seen through my intentions?”

Xia Ruqing covered her mouth, laughing.

”I may not be old yet, but when I do age and lose my charms, who knows who you might fancy then!”

Zhao Junyao tapped her on the nose.

”Oh, you! Even giving up on the selection process, you still speak so mockingly. Watch me give you a good scolding today!”

Saying this, he feigned sternness and reached out to catch her.

Xia Ruqing, startled, quickly dashed away.

The two laughed and playfully chased each other down the street uninhibited.

Passersby occasionally looked at them with eyes that seemed to say ’idiots’.

But... who cares? Even if they return to their youthful folly as they age, what does it matter?

...

That night, as they returned from outside the palace.

They happened to encounter Yue Er heading back from outside the palace.

She rode a horse, her expression somewhat angry, eyes slightly swollen and red, with Ying Luo and two other palace maids following behind.

A group of them slowly made their way back to the palace.

”Yue Er?”

Xia Ruqing called out to her from afar.

Yue Er suddenly realized, hastily wiping away the tears from her face with her sleeve before adjusting the reins to approach.

”Father, Mother? Why are you returning so late?”

Zhao Junyao lightly coughed, speaking blandly.

”Why? You’re coming back early?”

Yue Er felt a bit awkward.

Xia Ruqing quickly nudged him aside.

”How are you speaking to our daughter?”

She pushed Zhao Junyao aside, making room for Yue Er.

”Come over, let’s sit together!”

Yue Er hesitated for a moment but eventually dismounted to join them in the carriage, sitting next to her mother.

Xia Ruqing didn’t notice anything wrong with Yue Er’s mood, intending to ask where she went today.

Zhao Junyao suddenly asked.

”Who bullied you?”

He looked directly at Yue Er’s slightly red eyes, asking firmly.

He had said before, if anyone dared bully his daughter, he would ensure the entire family paid the price.

Yue Er knew this well.

She hurriedly shook her head.

”Father, what are you talking about? Daughter doesn’t understand! What bullying?”

Zhao Junyao asked again.

”Who bullied you?”

Yue Er felt uncertain but stuck to her guns.

”No one!”

”Who dares bully me!”

”Look at the whip my brother gave me, who in the whole court would dare retaliate?”

Zhao Junyao seemed to see through it all, saying.

”Indeed, no one dares, but first, you must be willing to strike!”

”So, tell us!”

Yue Er lowered her head, silent.

Xia Ruqing felt utterly perplexed.

She looked at one and then the other, it seemed like father and daughter were speaking in riddles.

After a while, she gradually realized Yue Er seemed to be bullied.

She immediately sided with Zhao Junyao.

The two of them cornered Yue Er, employing both gentle persuasion and firm insistence to interrogate their daughter.

’Who bullied you? What is the name, where is the residence, etc....’

Yue Er initially stubbornly held her tongue.

But eventually, she reached her limit and simply confessed.

”It’s... Shih Shaoling!”

The couple exchanged glances, almost speaking in unison.

”We suspected it all along!”

Yue Er felt a lump of frustration in her chest.

”Father, Mother, you knew and still asked!”

Zhao Junyao rubbed his nose, uncertain how to respond.

Xia Ruqing continued questioning.

”Yue Er, how did he bully you? Aren’t things going smoothly between you two?”

”I’ve even started preparing your dowry, just waiting for your father to grant the marriage this year!”

Yue Er frowned, her little temper flaring instantly.

”No! Father, I don’t want an arranged marriage!”

Zhao Junyao was surprised.

”You like him, he likes you, why shouldn’t I grant the marriage?”

It’s so dignified, many people wish for it without success!

Xia Ruqing was also puzzled.

The two practically worried themselves sick over Yue Er.

”I said no and I mean it!”

Upon reaching the palace, Yue Er restrained her anger and grievance, uttering the words before dismounting the carriage.

Left behind were two bewildered individuals, their minds filled with questions.

...

Zhao Junyao naturally wouldn’t spend much time on such trivial matters, so... the task fell to Xia Ruqing.

She took three days to finally uncover the truth.

Shih Shaoling had a cousin who recently came to the Capital City with her family!

That young lady was also from a scholarly family, knowledgeable and courteous from a young age, well-read, and reportedly quite beautiful.

Officially, they claimed they came to the Capital City to find a good match for this young lady, but anyone with eyes could see they were targeting the Shi Family.

Although Shih Shaoling and the Princess had a good relationship, nearly everyone in the palace knew.

But they lived far from the Capital City and couldn’t possibly know this and, most importantly, Yue Er and they... hadn’t gone public.

Not going public meant nothing was official.

Marriage matters rely on mutual consent, so... forcing the issue wouldn’t mean much.

If they truly proceeded to arrange a marriage with the cousin first.

Even the Royal Family wouldn’t have a recourse.

Unless prepared to ruin their reputation.