A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 778: Having a Meal

Xia Ruqing was a bit bewildered, but she simply ignored him and just let him hold her.

It wasn’t long before Zhao Junyao released her. "Emperor, have you finished your meal?"

"No!"

Xia Ruqing then stared at him, her eyes brimming with hope. "Then I’m hungry!" Having slept all afternoon, how could she not be?

Zhao Junyao didn’t wait for her to finish speaking, as he already understood her meaning. He glanced outside and seemed a bit hesitant. "I originally wanted to take you out for a stroll. But it’s snowing heavily, and it’s getting late, so we’ll have to make do with a meal here!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing’s face filled with disappointment. "Really?"

Zhao Junyao nodded decisively again.

Xia Ruqing really had nothing more to say. "Then... I don’t fancy anything else. I’ll just have some porridge!"

"Mm! I’ve already ordered them to prepare it!"

Xia Ruqing hung her head, concealing the disappointment in her eyes. And because she was looking down, she missed the mischievous smile in Zhao Junyao’s.

A short while later, dinner was served. However, unlike usual, the dishes were all covered with large, jade-white porcelain bowls, turned upside down. One could faintly smell an unusual aroma but couldn’t see what was actually inside.

Xia Ruqing perked up at the sight. "Eh? What’s this?" She was like a completely different person from the disheartened girl she’d been moments before!

Zhao Junyao inwardly sighed. She’s a foodie, alright! "Why don’t you uncover them and see for yourself?" he said, his eyes brimming with indulgence.

Xia Ruqing’s smile grew even brighter. Her instincts told her that there must be something extraordinary inside, surely a surprise. Her heart practically bloomed with anticipation. "Now? Can I open them now, Emperor?"

Zhao Junyao nodded.

With an excited heart, Xia Ruqing stepped forward and lifted the cover from the first bowl. "Sesame cakes?" These were street snacks. In the past, whenever she left the palace and wandered through the night markets, these were her absolute favorite.

"Fried sweet potato balls?" These balls were made with a sweet potato filling, flour, and powdered sugar, then deep-fried. Soft, sweet, and tender, she could eat several at a time. If she remembered correctly, it wasn’t the right season for them, so she hadn’t eaten this dessert in a long time.

The Emperor actually remembered.

Upon opening the third covered bowl, Xia Ruqing’s eyes lit up completely. "Stinky tofu!" So that was where the strange smell from before had come from.

Under the flickering candlelight, the tofu was fried to a perfect golden brown. It was topped with sauce, crushed peanuts, and cilantro. It felt so authentic, so wonderfully unpretentious. Perhaps because she had been an ordinary commoner in her previous life, these kinds of food always evoked a strong sense of nostalgic familiarity.

After seeing the first three items, she couldn’t wait to uncover all the bowls. The entire table was indeed laden with her favorite foods, most of which were things one couldn’t normally find in the palace. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

So... he always remembered. How touching... "Emperor!"

Zhao Junyao glanced at her, his tone somewhat disdainful. "These things, I do not eat! But since you like them, Qingqing, I had no choice but to have them specially made!"

Xia Ruqing was a bit astonished. "You mean these weren’t bought? Someone... made them?"

"Of course. With this kind of weather, if they were bought outside, wouldn’t they be stone-cold by the time they arrived?"

Xia Ruqing glanced at the heavy snow outside. That makes sense! Then she looked back at the table laden with snacks. She estimated... it must have taken a dozen or so people to prepare all this. An image instantly formed in her mind: Eunuch Li leading a troop of people, scouring the city, asking everywhere, searching high and low.

She felt very moved. Even though he didn’t go himself, it’s still so heartwarming. I feel like crying, what should I do!

"Emperor, how do you remember everything! I haven’t had some of these things for so long! You actually remember them all!"

Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow. When it comes to pampering my wife, I am indeed serious!

"Hurry up and eat! If you like them, when the weather improves, I’ll take you out again!"

"Mm!" She nodded vigorously, shamelessly surrendering to the delicious food.

After dinner, Xia Ruqing felt somewhat listless. She flipped open a storybook she used to enjoy, but after two pages, she tossed it aside. She picked up her embroidery needle, made two stitches, and tossed it aside as well. Then, she picked up a brush, intending to write a few characters, but they never looked right, so she gave up on that too. In the end, she simply tossed the brush aside and sprawled on the daybed, beginning to doze off.

Zhao Junyao, who had been reading, looked up to find her nearly asleep. He smiled. "Qingqing..."

Xia Ruqing quickly sat up. "Ah? Emperor, have you... finished your book?"

"Go to bed and sleep properly!"

"Oh..." Xia Ruqing got up in a daze. Just as she was about to get off the daybed, her legs suddenly felt weak, and she stumbled forward. Predictably, Zhao Junyao caught her, pulling her into his embrace. He looked down; she had already found a comfortable position in his arms and was drifting off to sleep.

He smiled helplessly. What would you do... if I weren’t here for you? Would those women in the harem devour you alive?! It seems her rank is still too low. Furthermore, Noble Concubine Shih’s recent actions are truly infuriating.

Zhao Junyao paused, a plan quickly forming in his mind.

After the Emperor and the Empress Consort had bathed and changed, they lay on the bed. Since she had just bathed, Xia Ruqing was still somewhat alert. She snuggled in his arms, shivering a little. "Emperor, I always used to think Qingya Residence was too noisy with so many people! Our three boys are always such a handful! I never thought that after just one day away, I’d miss them so much!"

Zhao Junyao stroked her hair, remarking with a hint of pride, "They’re just three mischievous brats. What’s there to miss? Princes cannot be overly coddled! But if it were a daughter..." He gently reached out, caressing her smooth, jade-like cheek. "If it were a daughter, I would give her the noblest title, the highest rank, and all my affection!"

After saying that, he kissed her. "Qingqing, give me a daughter!"

Xia Ruqing quickly shrank to one side. "Emperor, the Imperial Physician has instructed that I am not to serve Your Majesty! If Your Majesty truly cannot endure it, how about I have Eunuch Li select a few women from the palace for you?"

Zhao Junyao’s heated body pulled her tightly against him. "If you dare speak such nonsense again, I’ll deal with you right here and now!"

Xia Ruqing was baffled. "I haven’t said anything nonsensical!"

Isn’t it perfectly normal for an Emperor to have three thousand consorts in his harem? Although she also longed for a monogamous relationship... that’s just wishful thinking, isn’t it?

Even now, she had no idea that Zhao Junyao had been keeping himself chaste for her sake.

After all, he had summoned many other women before, hadn’t he? So what if he supposedly lost interest after just a glance once they disrobed? That still counted as being summoned to his bed, didn’t it? Outsiders wouldn’t know what actually happened—or didn’t happen—anyway.

Seeing her like this, Zhao Junyao felt an inexplicable surge of anger. He grabbed her fiercely by the front of her nightgown and snarled, "I never knew My Beloved Consort was so magnanimous! Daring to push your husband—*Me*—toward other women, Qingqing! You truly are the first! Qingqing, is there anything you *won’t* do?"

In other words, who else in the entire harem would ever pull a stunt like this?

The answer was: no one!