A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 1026: Thankless Task

As soon as he entered, he saw Xia Ruqing lounging on the kang, grinning foolishly at the falling leaves outside the window.

Her expression was enough to make him both laugh and cry.

"Qingqing, you..."

Hearing the footsteps, Xia Ruqing quickly turned her head, exclaiming in surprise.

"Emperor, you’re here!"

"I have good news to tell you!"

Saying this, she got off the kang without performing a courtesy and pulled him to sit properly on it.

Zhao Junyao was a bit curious.

"What good news, I haven’t even had breakfast yet!"

"Oh, listen first and then eat!"

With that, she recounted how she gathered all the concubines in the morning to discuss donations for the disaster victims.

After speaking, she looked at him with an expression seeking praise.

Zhao Junyao was stunned, incredulous.

"They’re willing to donate?"

"Why wouldn’t they!" Xia Ruqing was puzzled.

Zhao Junyao paused in disbelief, then couldn’t help but laugh.

"Aren’t you afraid they’ll talk about you behind your back?"

"Doing thankless tasks like this, only you would dare!"

Xia Ruqing raised an eyebrow.

"I’m not afraid of anything!"

"I repeatedly emphasized it’s not mandatory; they donated voluntarily!"

Zhao Junyao pinched her cheek.

"You yourself donated five thousand taels first; who wouldn’t dare donate?"

Xia Ruqing chuckled.

Indeed, nobody could not donate!

Xia Ruqing then told him how much everyone had donated, one by one.

After listening, Zhao Junyao pondered for a moment and said.

"Consort Hui and Consort Cheng don’t have much at home, and a thousand taels is basically all their savings!"

"Those at the concubine level who donated five hundred taels probably found it a bit tough!"

"As for those Honored Ladies below, giving even one or two hundred taels is probably their best effort!"

Zhao Junyao knew the petty matters in the palace better than anyone.

The lower they were, the harder life was.

Xia Ruqing could relate deeply.

"That’s true indeed!"

"Back when I was a favored Honored Lady, I couldn’t save much silver myself!"

There was also a group of Palace Attendants to support.

If the rewards were too few, people would gossip.

The Imperial Kitchen needed to be greased, or you wouldn’t get decent meals.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs needed greasing, or next time, you’d get a pile of old unusable items.

The tailoring department especially needed greasing, or you wouldn’t even have decent clothes to wear, only old and ugly garments made for you.

Clearly calculated, at the end of the month, there wouldn’t be much left.

A few hundred taels were really asking for too much...

Xia Ruqing fell into thought.

However...

Whatever she thought of, she suddenly looked up at Zhao Junyao with a gaze full of jealousy.

"Emperor, are you feeling sorry for them?"

"I also donated all my savings!"

Five thousand taels, she had saved for a long, long time, okay?

And yet...

He already felt sorry for his little wives before anything even happened?

Zhao Junyao was amused by her about-to-explode look. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"How could I be feeling sorry for them!"

"I’m thinking about you!"

If those women below were unhappy, they’d likely cause trouble.

It’d be better to provide them with good food and drinks, it’s not like I can’t afford it.

As long as they live well and behave, the harem will remain peaceful.

Xia Ruqing gave it a thought.

"It does make sense, I didn’t consider it thoroughly!"

Speaking so, she lowered her head, looking guilty.

In truth, upon reflection.

She had a generous allowance, didn’t need to curry favor with anyone, and no one dared to shortchange her.

Even without savings, it didn’t affect her life.

But those women were different.

There were so many expenses in the harem, and much greasing needed.

This is why Zhao Junyao was always generous with them, providing ample allowances and ensuring their sustenance was good.

Rules were strict; the Ministry of Internal Affairs didn’t dare to shortchange anyone lightly.

Hence.

Even the women in the harem, though not favored, didn’t cause trouble over the years.

With good food and drinks, everyone managed to get by.

But now she had drained their savings.

This... was indeed not good!

Thinking on this, she said.

"What if... we return their donations!"

Zhao Junyao looked at her with a half-smile.

"Enough!"

"It’s just some silver; our Great Chu Dynasty isn’t that impoverished!"

"Everything will be fine with me here!"

With him as Emperor, there was no need for Qingqing to worry.

"It’s been years since anyone was promoted!"

"After this flood disaster is over, let’s promote them one by one at the end of the year as a reward!"

"Just to ensure they live well!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing was no longer jealous and tugged on his sleeve, giggling.

"Emperor, you’re wonderful!"

Though he had many concubines, she didn’t consider him unfaithful.

Rather, she thought he was responsible and caring.

If he were to be harsh to the other women just for her.

It would make him appear narrow-minded.

Such a person, placed in the 21st century, would surely be considered a perfect man.

Thinking of this made her heart itch.

’I really want to bring him to modern times!’

She truly wanted to see what life, as an ancient emperor, he would have in today’s world!

Would he, like her, need to work because he lacked skills?

Haha, what an anticipation!

After discussing serious matters, breakfast was served.

Since it had been getting colder lately, it was time to put on some autumn weight.

Zhao Junyao had been busy for half a year and had lost quite a bit of weight.

So she prepared a ginseng chicken soup, a red date pork rib dish, and stewed venison. All were health-enhancing delicacies.

Additionally, there were light vegetable dishes of stir-fried baby cabbage, crispy salted peanuts, and shrimp with winter melon.

Porridge choices included slow-cooked millet porridge and red bean and mixed fruit porridge.

Main dishes featured egg yolk buns, vegetarian pan-fried buns, and fresh meat dumplings.

The last dish was Xia Ruqing’s favorite shrimp dumplings.

The shrimp in them were whole and burst with flavor in each bite.

As Xia Ruqing looked at the dishes on the table, her fingers itched to start.

"Emperor, these soups are all stewed for you!"

Xia Ruqing, with her mouth watering, served Zhao Junyao some soup.

Zhao Junyao couldn’t help but smile.

"Your drool is almost in the bowl!"

"I am not?!"

Xia Ruqing, annoyed, turned red and raised her spoon to hit him.

Zhao Junyao instinctively dodged a little.

The two then looked at each other.

"Emperor, your concubine is guilty!"

"Qingqing..."

Zhao Junyao’s voice shook slightly, a hint of joy in his eyes.

They had just been playfully bickering, like a common couple.

The scene was heartwarming.

Zhao Junyao leaned in to embrace her, and their eyes locked.

The distance closed, just as they were about to kiss.

A small, childish voice suddenly sounded from outside.

"Father! Mother!"

The two hastily pulled apart.

At the entrance, Yue Er was already running over on her little feet.

"Father, Mother, Yue Er is hungry too!"

Xia Ruqing, amused and exasperated, bent down to pick up her daughter.

"You little thing, you’ve learned to time your meals like your father?"

"The food Wetnurse Nanny makes isn’t good enough? Do you have to come and mooch off your mother’s?"

Yue Er, eyes sparkling, looked at the table and said in a babyish voice.

"Mother’s food smells so nice!"

Zhao Junyao couldn’t help but chuckle.

’Look, even our daughter knows you’re a glutton!’