A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

So...

After a series of tedious yet solemn ceremonies, only serenity remained within the palace.

This New Year passed almost identical to previous ones, nothing more than that.

...

However, here at the Hot Spring Villa, it was much livelier.

On New Year’s Eve.

Xia Ruqing asked someone to dig up some fresh winter wild vegetables, mixed them with pork to make stuffing, and made dumplings together with Zhao Junyao.

Zhao Junyao was completely bewildered, his expression stiff.

”Qingqing, are you sure this stuff is edible?”

Xia Ruqing rolled her eyes at him.

”It’s not the first time you’ve eaten this, why say things like that?”

”Didn’t you enjoy eating it quite a lot before?”

Zhao Junyao still shook his head.

”No way!”

”I don’t remember ever eating this kind of thing!”

He only remembers that many years ago, when Qingqing was still cooking, she tinkered with some odd things.

The taste was quite good, but he had long forgotten what it was.

Could it be... it was these right in front of him?

Zhao Junyao was somewhat surprised.

Xia Ruqing nodded with a smile.

”It’s these, indeed!”

”Emperor, are you surprised? You didn’t know winter wild vegetables looked this ugly, did you?”

Zhao Junyao gave a dumbfounded smile.

”I didn’t know!”

”But... as long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters!”

Xia Ruqing smiled and didn’t say anything.

...

After half a Shi Chen, the dumplings were ready.

Someone took a bite, then couldn’t stop eating.

”Delicious!”

”I’ve never eaten anything so delicious before!”

The aroma, infused with the freshness of nature, truly captivated him.

He devoured one dumpling after another with enjoyment, and soon the bowl was empty.

Xia Ruqing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

”Your memory is really poor; you’ve eaten these many times, have you forgotten?”

Zhao Junyao shook his head.

”No, I haven’t!”

Xia Ruqing nodded.

”You have!”

...

On New Year’s Eve, the two ate and bantered back and forth.

Then they stayed up late together, and as Zi Hour approached, they wrapped themselves up warmly and ran to the nearby hot spring pool to set off fireworks.

The clear breeze and bright moon, the air moist.

A thin mist hovered over the hot spring pool, looking extremely enchanting from afar.

Exquisitely stacked stones lined the pool.

Xia Ruqing took off her shoes and socks, chose a large stone, and sat down, dipping her slender feet into the pool water.

Holding a sparkler in her hand, as thick as chopsticks, she set it off with great enthusiasm.

The dazzling sparks from the exquisite fireworks shone like stars in the sky, illuminating her face with a rosy glow.

The mist from the hot spring rose continuously, brushing against her face.

Her hair gradually became a bit damp, but her cheeks flushed even more.

”Emperor!”

”It’s really comfortable here!”

Zhao Junyao sat calmly beside her, smiling.

”Of course!”

”Why else would I bring you here!”

”I wish we could stay here forever,” Xia Ruqing continued.

”Okay!”

”Then we won’t go back anymore!”

”Not even in the summer?”

Xia Ruqing was stumped by the question.

Oh right, it’s so hot in the summer.

”Forget it!”

She laughed heartily, waving her hand.

”We’ll spend winters here from now on!”

”As for summer, I’ll find a summer resort!”

”I just don’t want to stay in the palace!”

”Alright!”

He ruffled Xia Ruqing’s hair as if he’d made a solemn decision.

”Qingqing!”

”Hmm?”

Xia Ruqing tossed aside the used fireworks in her hand, instinctively moving her feet in the comfortable hot spring water.

”I want to abdicate!”

”Ah???”

Xia Ruqing nearly lost her balance and almost toppled into the pool.

”Did you just say abdicate?”

”That’s a big deal, not to mention... you’re not even fifty yet, how can you abdicate?”

Zhao Junyao squinted and leaned against a giant rock, lazily saying.

”Why can’t I abdicate?”

”Chenchen can handle everything, and I’m... tired and want to rest!”

Xia Ruqing mumbled.

”Aren’t you already resting!”

”You’re still young, I don’t want to be the Empress Dowager so soon!”

Abdicating would make him Taishang Huang, and wouldn’t that make her Empress Dowager?!

Moreover, Consort Cheng, Consort Hui, and all the other consorts would automatically become Imperial Noble Consorts!

Everyone would suddenly age a generation overnight, how terrifying!

She was still a bit unwilling.

Zhao Junyao coughed lightly, covering his chest, and said softly.

”What’s wrong with being Empress Dowager?”

”Sooner or later, it’s the same!”

”It’s precisely because I’m young that I want to abdicate now!”

Does he want to be worn out like father until death? He certainly doesn’t!

It’s enough, he’s contributed enough to the Great Chu Dynasty, with a clear conscience, so...

It’s time.

”Chenchen should ascend the throne; he’s far older now than when I first ascended!”

”He can do it!”

Xia Ruqing was silent for a long time, her head lowered.

Zhao Junyao sighed and did not continue the topic.

...

On New Year’s Day.

Xia Ruqing enjoyed a rare lazy morning.

With nothing to do, she simply stayed in her room and did whatever made her comfortable.

After spending several days like this,

the Lantern Festival was approaching fast.

Xia Ruqing couldn’t sit still any longer.

”Emperor, let’s go to the countryside for a visit!”

”Emperor, I heard there’s a small town nearby, let’s go check it out!”

”Emperor, I want to go out...”

Zhao Junyao: ”...”

”I’m the Emperor, I can’t just wander around; what if I encounter an assassin?”

”I’m the Emperor, how can I go to such places, lowering my status, degrading myself!”

”I’m the Emperor...”

Xia Ruqing tiptoed and kissed his lips, sealing them shut.

”If you don’t take me out after abdicating, I’ll toss you into the pool outside!”

”Yes, Madam!”

He hooked the corner of his lips into a satisfied smile.

...

Winter passed and spring came.

In the spring of the Twenty Eighth Year of Jiayuan, Emperor Jiayuan fell seriously ill, announced to the world, and decreed that Crown Prince Chen ascend the throne as the new Emperor, while he himself retired to the position of Taishang Huang for recuperation outside the palace.

Empress Dowager Xia followed him, while the other consorts either rose to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort and moved to places like Ningshou Palace and Ninghe Palace, or left the palace to the Imperial Monastery to become nuns, their destinations varied.

In short, the harem, which had already been deserted for years, became even more desolate after the Emperor’s abdication and the concubines’ departure.

The new Emperor took the reign name Jiachun.

After ascending the throne, he continued to live in the Eastern Palace.

The Taishang Huang specifically vacated Zhaochen Palace for him, but he still declined.

”Father Emperor!”

”As long as you’re here, this place will always be your residence, you’ll always be my role model, a lifelong goal for me to learn from!”

The Taishang Huang was deeply moved, but still left Zhaochen Palace vacant, moving with the Empress Dowager outside the palace.

From then on, their destinations varied.

They might stay at some summer resort, a small courtyard in the Capital City, or by the Hot Spring Mountain.

Like swallows under the eaves, they chased the most suitable climate, choosing the most comfortable places to reside.

The couple, complementing each other perfectly, seemed to be the happiest and most carefree companions on earth.

...

Xia Ruqing was immensely satisfied with such a life, sighing.

”Once Yue Er’s marriage is settled, let’s travel far away!”

Zhao Junyao nodded.

”Where do you want to go?”

”Jiangnan!”

”Alright!”