A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 832: Despair

Xia Ruqing finally snapped back to reality.

She hurriedly nodded and went forward to greet him.

"Greetings, Emperor!"

He didn’t help her up as he usually did, only saying indifferently:

"Rise."

His voice was weary, weak, tinged with a trace of despair.

Xia Ruqing felt a little frightened, proceeding cautiously.

"Yes!"

After standing up, she instinctively stepped back a pace.

Zhao Junyao suddenly locked his bloodshot eyes, red with streaks, onto her, smirking coldly.

"Even you are avoiding me?"

He had just passed through the Imperial Garden.

All the palace attendants seeing him acted as if they’d encountered the plague.

Even several Palace Consorts seeing him desperately tried to avoid him.

Those who couldn’t dodge knelt trembling at his feet, begging for mercy!

Heh heh!

Whenever they saw me before, weren’t they eager to cling to me?!

Since when did I become a plague to them?! What a mockery!

Xia Ruqing was a bit flustered.

"Emperor?"

Avoiding him? What did he mean?

Her gaze was pure, marked by suspicion, the earlier caution still there, just not the fear.

As it turned out, she wasn’t afraid of him.

He was just too sensitive!

Zhao Junyao let out a sigh of relief, shaking his head weakly.

"It’s nothing!"

After speaking, he carried on inside without sparing her a glance.

Xia Ruqing found.

His expression wasn’t too frightening, it’s just... His face looked pale, eyes weary, utterly worn out.

Xia Ruqing quietly exhaled a breath of relief.

’Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like he’s coming to vent on me, that’s good!’

"Emperor, are you tired? Please sit down!"

Xia Ruqing cautiously supported him to the soft couch to sit.

She asked again.

"Emperor, are you hungry?"

Faced with such matters, likely he hasn’t slept well nor eaten, just looking at his complexion tells it all.

In fact.

Her guess was right.

Since last night, Zhao Junyao hadn’t closed his eyes and neither had a morsel!

He couldn’t eat, as Empress Dowager was his own mother.

Now in this situation, hurting the enemy a thousand meant self-harm of eight hundred!

His mother was heartbroken, was he not hurting too?!

She was his own mother, his dearest person!

For the so-called Shih Family, she drugged her own son.

How could she be so heartless!

In her heart, why was he so worthless?!

Zhao Junyao closed his eyes, not daring to think further.

Whenever he recalled, his heart ached to the point of suffocation.

He was a person too!

Xia Ruqing was beside him, watching him the entire time.

Seeing him suddenly close his eyes, she thought he was falling asleep.

She picked up a blanket to cover him.

Unexpectedly, just as she turned around.

Zhao Junyao suddenly opened his eyes, pulling her into his embrace.

His head deeply buried into her chest, silently.

Like... an ostrich seeking refuge.

Xia Ruqing truly felt his pain.

’As a young emperor, who once was so spirited and gallant, full of vigor and vitality!!’ 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

’But now?’

Who could have imagined.

That the fragile "child" before her and the cold, calculating emperor on the court are the same person?

What kind of sorrow, what kind of heart-rending pain...

Could wear down such a heroic emperor into this state?!

She simply couldn’t imagine!

Since young, he was different from others.

He couldn’t exhibit joy or sorrow and had to learn to hide.

He had to study, train in martial arts, be the strongest, most outstanding among all the princes.

He couldn’t let the former emperor down, nor disappoint the court, and even more so the people.

So, he forced himself to grow strong, mercilessly!

From the age of three, Zhao Junyao as a person "died."

What lived was the identity.

Starting as Crown Prince Zhao Junyao, then Crown Prince Zhao Junyao, and later, Emperor Zhao Junyao.

He was The King, the backbone of faith to all civil and military officials, the stabilizing force of the Great Chu Dynasty.

No matter what issues ministers faced, or troubles the people encountered.

He couldn’t panic, couldn’t show fragility, nor retreat.

He had to confront everything with the posture of ’With me here, the sky won’t fall!’

Otherwise, if he falls first, what will happen to the ministers?!

With time, everyone forgot.

He was also a person, he felt pain.

He could be afraid, fragile, disappointed, sad...

The more Xia Ruqing pondered, the more her heart ached.

She gradually reached out, gently patting his back, staying quietly by his side.

Zi Su and Zi Yue brought tea.

Seeing them like this, they silently retreated.

Li Shengan also tiptoed away.

A few stood under the corridor, staring at each other, emotions quite complicated.

Ultimately, Li Shengan muttered:

"Only Noble Consort Xian knows how to handle this!"

Emotional ailments need remedies of the heart.

Now, for the Emperor, only Noble Consort Xian’s remedy could work.

Additionally, he hoped in his heart.

"May Noble Consort Xian put some effort into coaxing the Emperor to eat something!"

"So long without food, the Emperor’s health is crucial."

Zi Yue and Zi Su exchanged worried glances.

’Can our mistress handle it?’

Zi Yue pondered for a while, suddenly briskly heading towards the little kitchen.

Now, Duanning Palace had expanded.

The little kitchen now was much larger than before.

Everything newly built, kitchen maids, Eunuch Supervisor of the Imperial Kitchen, each played their role efficiently, appearing to be in order.

Seeing Zi Yue come, several eunuchs approached.

"What does Aunt need?"

"Did Noble Consort issue any instructions?"

"Aunt, please have a seat!"

Zi Yue looked tired, waved her hand.

"No need to sit, I’m just here to give an order!"

"Prepare more strong-flavored dishes today, the Emperor’s mood is bad, serve well!"

The Eunuch Supervisor of the Imperial Kitchen couldn’t understand.

Ultimately, a few kitchen maids came out, understanding the message.

Only then did Zi Yue feel assured to leave.

...

Inside here.

Zhao Junyao remained silent, Xia Ruqing dared not move.

After some unknown time, he suddenly spoke.

"Qingqing, thankfully I still have you!" And, only you now.

In this harem, it seemed only she sincerely cared for him.

Cold or not, hungry or not, tired or not?!

The rest... Heh, what are they?!

Xia Ruqing gently tidied his hair and obediently said.

"Emperor, I know you are heartbroken!"

"But you should know, those who dislike you prefer to see you sad, those who love you want to see you happy!"

"So, Emperor, you must quickly adjust your emotions, hurry to happiness!"

"Don’t let those unworthy cause your sorrow!"

Zhao Junyao listened as she spoke softly, gently delivering the simplest truth, bit by bit.

His mood unexpectedly eased a lot.

Perhaps at this time.

Having someone sincerely accompany him, speaking, indeed healed.

Zhao Junyao gently released her, ruffling her hair, then lifted her onto the bed.

"Emperor?" Xia Ruqing looked startled.

Thinking to herself: No way, is he interested in that now?

Zhao Junyao speechless, shot her a cool glance.

"What are you thinking?!"

"Just accompany me for a nap, I’m dead tired!"

Xia Ruqing finally exhaled in relief.

Accompany for a nap, no problem, no problem, my specialty, hehe!

The bed was very soft, on top lay a mat woven from grass presented by commoners.

This mat made from unknown grass, thin yet soft.

Emitting a faint fresh grass scent, claimed to bring sleep, who knows if true or not.

Nonetheless, lying on it felt quite comfortable.

The pillow was also cozy.

Xia Ruqing specially called for high-quality buckwheat hulls, mixed with lavender seeds and flower oils to craft.

Lavender also aids sleep.