A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 928: Exhaustion

Zhao Junyao did not react.

After a while, Xia Ruqing turned over again and looked over.

He was already asleep.

Looking closely.

His eyes were tightly shut, and despite the usual mightiness between his brows, there was a trace of fatigue.

On his chin and jaw, there were patches of bluish stubble.

He looked utterly exhausted.

"What could he be busy with? Did something happen up front?" Xia Ruqing wondered.

As she was pondering.

Suddenly, Zhao Junyao embraced her tightly even in his sleep, his brows relaxing.

He murmured softly, "Qingqing..."

Someone’s face flushed red, her heart fluttering wildly.

A hint of sweetness welled up from the depths of her heart, as if she were soaking in a jar of honey.

It’s been months since they’ve been close.

She thought he had long forgotten her.

Unexpectedly, he also missed her!

"Really defeated by you!"

She glared at him playfully, then clung to him like an octopus, found a comfortable position, and went to sleep as well.

The sun slowly inclined west.

Zhao Junyao slept from noon until dusk.

When he awoke, there was no one beside him.

He himself was somewhat bewildered.

Looking around carefully, he realized he was at Duanning Palace.

Shooting up abruptly, he hurriedly dressed.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside.

"Emperor?!"

Xia Ruqing pushed the door open.

"Emperor, you’ve awakened?" Her face was filled with a delightful smile.

Zhao Junyao, sleeping so late for the first time, nodded somewhat awkwardly.

"Ahem! What time is it now?"

"It’s still early, just the beginning of Shen Hour, the sky isn’t dark yet!"

Zhao Junyao was greatly startled.

"Already Shen Hour?!" Is that not late?

Xia Ruqing nodded.

"Emperor, I saw you were too tired, so I didn’t wake you!"

"If you still don’t want to get up, sleep a bit more!"

"Tonight I’ll have someone prepare some good dishes to reward the Emperor!"

Seeing him so thin, he must not have eaten well for a long time.

Holding him was uncomfortable, and truly a bit heart-wrenching.

Zhao Junyao, however, looked helpless.

"Qingqing, I still have important matters! Why didn’t you..." wake me up earlier.

A look of both wanting to complain and not bear to.

Xia Ruqing lowered her head, somewhat aggrieved.

"Emperor, I just wanted you to sleep a little longer!"

Zhao Junyao hurriedly softened his tone and patted her.

"Alright!"

"There are still documents in the Imperial Study Room, I’ll see you after I finish reviewing them!"

"You eat well first!"

After speaking, he took his clothes and hurriedly left.

Xia Ruqing watched his back, feeling a bit frustrated.

"This has passed the mourning period, and still hasn’t come to the harem; could it be... really busy?"

Zi Su quickly corrected.

"Mistress, the Emperor doesn’t have a mourning period anymore!"

"Oh, I forgot!" Xia Ruqing realized.

Zi Su continued.

"Mistress, according to this servant, the Emperor not coming to the harem might have nothing to do with The Late Empress!"

He might truly be busy.

Xia Ruqing also noticed, pondering and nodding.

"I didn’t believe before, but now it seems to be true!"

If not for significant national affairs, how could an emperor be so busy?

"But, what national matters? There’s no war!" Xia Ruqing was very puzzled.

Zi Yue and Zi Su pulled her.

"Mistress, the Emperor asked you to eat well!"

"Let’s not think about meaningless things and quickly decide what you want to eat tonight!"

"Alright!"

Xia Ruqing raised her eyebrows, putting aside the issue.

"If that’s the case, then I won’t be polite!"

Lovable chicken, duck, fish, and meat, delicious delicacies, long time no see~

Of all things in the world, only food should not be let down!

"What’s in the small kitchen?"

She sat on the soft couch, sipping tea and asked.

Zi Yue thought for a moment and listed over ten kinds of meat.

Pork chop, lamb chop, beef, and lamb meat, everything is there.

Listening to this made Xia Ruqing beam with joy.

Thinking, she ordered several more dishes before feeling satisfied.

Zi Yue laughed.

"This servant suggests adding lotus seed soup, eating like this can cause inflammation!"

Xia Ruqing waved her hand indifferently.

"You decide!"

She said, took another sip of tea, and went to the side palace to find Little Bun.

...

Back in Zhaochen Palace.

Zhao Junyao rushed back.

Without even stopping to drink tea, he called for Minister of Revenue Zhang Yan.

After over a year.

Minister Zhang’s belly seemed to have grown larger, and he arrived panting heavily.

After greeting, he seemed unable to rise.

Zhao Junyao glanced at him coldly.

"Minister Zhang, this year seems to be living well!"

Meaning, during the Empress’s mourning period, you still ate richly and became so fat!

Zhang Yan, perspiring heavily, responded.

"E...Emperor!"

"I deserve death! Truly... I am naturally fat and can’t lose weight!"

Zhao Junyao listened and almost couldn’t hold back his laughter.

"Naturally fat?"

"Then why don’t any of the poor people have such natural fatness?!" Isn’t it because you eat well.

Actually, despite the Ministry of Revenue being lucrative.

Zhang Yan, this elderly man, is a wise person.

Whether he embezzles or not, or how much, Zhao Junyao has a measure.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t keep him in the Ministry of Revenue for so long.

So, his question was more of a tease.

Seeing Zhang Yan sweating profusely and unable to answer, repeatedly saying ’I deserve utmost death’.

Zhao Junyao waved impatiently, suppressing a laugh.

"Enough, enough!"

"If I wanted to punish you, it wouldn’t have waited till now!" Haven’t you been fat for a long time?

"Thank you, Emperor!"

Zhang Yan thanked him, daring not to speak further.

Only then did Zhao Junyao begin discussing serious matters.

"Calling you here today is for one matter only!"

"The crops issue has been ongoing for over a year, I’ve invested too much energy into this!"

"Now, it’s harvest season!"

"I want you to personally go to the northwest, southwest, and northeast regions!"

"To see if the crops are truly as reported, really bringing sustenance to the people!"

Having listened, Zhang Yan pondered and knelt solemnly.

"The Emperor’s wisdom!"

"I also had this intention!"

Despite being overweight, he still considers the common people.

Zhao Junyao nodded with satisfaction.

"If so, then I await your good news!"

"If the people truly can eat well!"

"This year won’t have been in vain, there will be rewards!"

"If not..."

Zhao Junyao’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

"If you dare deceive me, and I find out, your black gauze cap along with your head will be forfeit!"

Zhang Yan felt a chill down his back, hastily bowed.

"Rest assured, Emperor! I will personally investigate and report truthfully!"

"Good!"

"I have no other matters, you may leave!"

"I take my leave!"

As Zhang Yan exited Zhaochen Palace.

He wiped sweat from his forehead, not daring to look back, quickly leaving the palace.