A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 814: A Mind in Turmoil

At the banquet, the Empress Dowager had arranged performances.

Two plays and a few pieces of music, all newly rehearsed by the palace music bureau.

The people drank, feasted, and enjoyed the performances in a harmonious atmosphere.

The Third Princess, after napping for a while, was brought back.

This time, the little girl’s face looked much better.

Seeing Zhao Junyao, she was no longer afraid and knew to call him Father Emperor.

She looked much more endearing than her previously timid demeanor.

Everyone teased her and laughed for a while, then each brought out their gifts.

The little girl hadn’t been this happy for a long time.

Excitedly holding up and examining each gift.

Her big eyes twinkled, overwhelmed and dazzlingly cute.

When Xia Ruqing had someone bring a pair of pink and white cute little rabbits to her.

The little girl’s mouth gaped open in shock.

Her big eyes were full of surprise and joy, hugging them happily and giggling for a long time.

The Empress Dowager kindly taught her.

"Yijing, this is a gift from Consort Xian for you!"

"Quick, thank Consort Xian!"

Yijing reluctantly moved her gaze away and looked at Xia Ruqing.

The little girl walked up to Xia Ruqing and made a formal bow.

"Thank you, Consort Xian!"

Xia Ruqing’s heart melted completely.

"Good girl! Stand up!"

The Princess Yijing stood up, simply staring at her.

Xia Ruqing felt a little embarrassed under her gaze and smiled.

"Yijing, is there anything else?"

As a mother herself, she couldn’t bear such a look!

Yijing was slow to react, and after a moment, she shook her head.

"Nothing, Consort Xian!"

After speaking, she turned and ran away.

Then she returned to the side of the Empress Dowager and her Father Emperor, looking at her pair of little rabbits.

Xia Ruqing smiled and didn’t mind.

She lowered her head and had a few bites of food, then chatted leisurely with Consort Hui beside her.

The banquet went on until after noon before it finally dispersed.

After leaving Ningshou Palace, Xia Ruqing felt a little sleepy.

Zhao Junyao, however, seemed somewhat absent-minded.

All the way, he accompanied her back to Duanning Palace, watched her fall asleep, and then left.

Walking on the road, his mind was in turmoil.

Back at his residence, he had no interest in dealing with state affairs, so he decided not to return right away.

But... after thinking it over, he still didn’t know where he could go.

This only made him feel more lost, and a sarcastic smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

In such a vast Imperial Palace, he’s the master here, yet... has nowhere to go?

Ha ha!

Li Shengan followed him from not too far away.

As the Emperor walked and paused, so did he, like a tail that couldn’t be shaken off.

Finally, Zhao Junyao couldn’t take it anymore and turned around to shout at him.

"Get lost!"

Li Shengan trembled all over in fright.

"Your Majesty... your servant..."

"I said get lost!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Your servant will get lost, your servant is leaving immediately!"

With that, he scurried away, muttering inwardly:

Truly, serving the Emperor is like accompanying a tiger. Ever since leaving Ningshou Palace, he’s had that face. What happened?!

Watching the path behind him become clear.

Zhao Junyao’s mood indeed lightened a bit.

Turning around, almost without hesitation, he headed in one direction.

Li Shengan, who had been secretly watching from afar, was very puzzled.

"Fengxian Hall? What’s the Emperor doing going to Fengxian Hall?!"

...

Inside Fengxian Hall.

Zhao Junyao knelt before the Late Emperor’s shrine, his back lonely.

Some words, no one else could hear, only his Father Emperor.

He stared at his Father Emperor’s portrait, feeling heavy-hearted, his eyes red.

"Father Emperor..."

"What really happened back then?"

"Did Mother Empress truly betray you? What is her relationship with Uncle Prince Yan?!"

This matter might never leave his heart.

But he really wanted to know the truth; he couldn’t tolerate lies.

Ever since childhood.

Mother Empress loved him dearly, and so did Father Emperor.

But Father and Mother lived with the respect of mere acquaintances, truly like acquaintances.

The rumors and gossip in the palace were overwhelming, yet he never believed any of it.

But as time passed, if you hear three people say a tiger is in the market, you start to doubt.

Last year when Prince Yan was dying, Mother Empress risked everything to see him.

That desperation, that uncontrollable grief, far exceeded when Father Emperor passed,

Was it true betrayal or false compassion?

How many secrets does the Empress Dowager really hide?

Also, the identity of Junqi...

This is what he least wanted to confront.

But now, these have become his inner wounds, painful to touch, aching deep in his heart.

"Father Emperor, what should I do?"

"Should I forgive?"

"She is my biological mother, ultimately, I can’t ignore her!"

"Father Emperor, will you blame me?"

He uttered his innermost thoughts word by word.

But the response to him was only silence, a deathly silence.

He really wanted to cry his heart out.

He was just a human, but still...

"Father Emperor, you always taught me to be strong!"

"You always said, emperors don’t have the right to be weak! Bearing the kingdom is a heavy responsibility, and we have to learn many things, learn many skills!"

"Therefore, you had extremely strict requirements for me!"

"Winter training in the third nine-day period and summer training in the hottest period of summer, just these simple eight words, carried countless hardships!

"I hated you, why was it so easy for others, but it couldn’t be for me!"

"I hated you, why did you never show me any tenderness or affection?"

"I hated you, when I was hurt or sick, you never even asked once, just continually pushed me to study, to train..."

"Now, I finally understand!"

"The position of the emperor is so heavy! What I’ve learned is still far from enough..."

The Late Emperor wasn’t exceptionally talented either, his qualifications weren’t that profound, hardly a great emperor for the ages.

But he devoted his life diligently, guarding the kingdom, loving the people, maintaining peace in the harem...

He did justice to the ancestors above, and to the common people below.

He deserves all admiration and respect!

"Father Emperor! Your son finally understands now!"

Zhao Junyao deeply kowtowed three times.

Tears filled his eyes when he bowed his head, but his gaze was firm as he rose.

Yes, emperors have no right to be weak.

Back then, Father Emperor might have known everything, but he endured it.

If Father Emperor could endure, so can he!

...

After leaving Fengxian Hall, Zhao Junyao’s mind was completely clear.

Returning to Zhaochen Palace, he happened to see Xia Tingfeng finishing his duty.

He grabbed him.

"Let’s go, let’s drink!"

"Ah?"

Xia Tingfeng was stunned, and the next second he was pulled away.

Half an hour later, two shadows, one black and one white, rode fast horses out of the palace.

On the way, they ran into Yang Chenyi and Zhao Junyan who were returning from the Ministry of War.

They got pulled along as well.

The group, regardless of their ranks or status, gathered together — drinking without restraint!

...

In Ningshou Palace.

The Empress Dowager had a good nap, and her complexion was rosier upon waking.

She played with the Third Princess for a while, then leisurely drank some nourishing soup.

And chatted idly with Sister Qing.

"I heard, he didn’t go to Duanning Palace but went to Fengxian Hall?"

Sister Qing smiled and nodded.

"Indeed!"

"After leaving Fengxian Hall, he went out of the palace with Marquis Xiahou!"

The Empress Dowager’s face darkened, and she sighed as she put down her soup bowl.

"After all, he still values his Father Emperor more!"

Sister Qing consoled her.

"Madam, the Emperor was raised and guided single-handedly by the Late Emperor, so it’s natural for the father-son bond to be deep!"