A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 1109: Perilous Journey Ahead

After the court session concluded.Zhao Junyao summoned Xia Tingfeng in the Imperial Study Room.

The two discussed the matter in the Northwest.

"This journey is dangerous; is taking twenty thousand men enough?"

Xia Tingfeng pondered for a moment and answered respectfully.

"Your Majesty, too many men would draw attention; ten thousand should suffice!"

Zhao Junyao nodded and handed last night’s document to Xia Tingfeng.

"Take a look!"

Xia Tingfeng took it, quickly scanned through, his eyes filled with shock.

"The range is so vast; burning, killing, looting—Your Majesty, this isn’t like the bandits at all!"

"Oh?"

Zhao Junyao seemed puzzled.

Honestly, he was well-read, and governing came naturally to him, but understanding the habits of bandits was not his forte.

Xia Tingfeng then explained in detail.

"Firstly, bandits usually only seek wealth, not lives. They typically rob travelers on the roads, not blatantly raid villages and towns."

"Secondly, bandits rob only in familiar territories; no one crosses into another’s domain!"

"Thirdly, the extent of burning, killing, looting, rampant and widespread must mean there’s someone organizing this secretly!"

"Your Majesty, surely someone is posing as bandits with the intent to rebel..."

Zhao Junyao nodded in agreement.

"No wonder things felt off!"

Previously, he always felt this group of bandits was a bit too rampant.

But he hadn’t thought they might not be bandits at all, but rather an organized rebellion.

"A rebellion requires substantial funds, mustering troops, stockpiling provisions..."

Xia Tingfeng continued.

"No wonder they’re looting both silver and money, not even sparing the poor folk!"

Even these tiny bits of profit are being grabbed, they must be desperately short on silver!

And who else but rebels would need so much silver? Is there another option?

Zhao Junyao pondered.

"Then I won’t openly issue an edict; I’ll just give you a secret decree!"

"Publicly, you’re a merchant transporting goods to the Northwest!"

"Load up a cart with grain and draw out the snake!"

"Yes!"

Xia Tingfeng clasped his hands!

"Your servant will fulfill Your Majesty’s expectations!"

Zhao Junyao nodded.

"Go and prepare, depart as soon as possible!"

"Your servant accepts the order!"

Xia Tingfeng clasped his hands and withdrew!

Just then.

Li Shengan hurriedly came in, holding a letter.

"Your Majesty, this is a secret letter just received!"

Zhao Junyao took the letter tube, noting its strange shape, furrowing his brows.

"Where did this secret letter come from?"

Li Shengan quickly shook his head.

"Servants don’t know. It was found outside the Imperial Study Room by the Hidden Guard!"

Zhao Junyao observed the patterns closely; it seemed to be... a form of Western Xia script.

He suddenly thought of something and immediately opened the envelope.

"Emperor of Great Chu, long live Your Majesty! Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person; it’s been many years since our last meeting, and I miss you very much!"

"I send this letter in distress; I couldn’t help but disturb you! The Western Xia, King Jin, has ambitions, seizing power amidst my father’s peril!"

"Now he has completely controlled the administration and seized military power!"

"My father is elderly, my crown prince brother is weak, and I am trapped like a beast with no escape!"

"Our lives are insignificant, but the Western Xia people are innocent..."

The thin letter was filled with hundreds of hurried and careless words, signed by Western Xia, Hai Tang.

Zhao Junyao read the letter twice, front to back.

After carefully recognizing every character and understanding their meanings entirely.

His expression suddenly changed, eyes turning cold.

"Western Xia King is in danger, King Jin has seized the throne and is recruiting troops, preparing to invade the wild Northwest territory of Great Chu!"

In an instant, Zhao Junyao comprehended everything.

"No wonder!"

"No wonder the Northwestern brigands are rampant; turns out someone is masquerading as bandits with ulterior motives!"

He suddenly stood up and slowly walked to the candles, setting the letter paper alight gradually.

Then he clenched his fists tightly, his gaze icy.

"Still too careless!"

"A year ago, Northwestern brigands already existed; it’s a pity nothing was found; then I simply let it go!"

Now he deeply regrets it.

Great Chu had enjoyed prosperity for many years, with brigands and bandits occasionally surfacing.

The local government office could arrest them, or failing that, there’s always the local garrison to clear them out.

They seldom caused trouble at the capital or burdened the King.

So, he was careless!

After suppressing them, he stopped paying attention.

He should have considered it earlier!

Zhao Junyao gazed fiercely, eyes full of regret and hatred.

"If I’d been more diligent, more attentive, would those common people not have to die?!"

Thinking about this, he couldn’t continue reviewing the documents.

Putting down the pen, he donned his formal robes and headed to the Royal Family’s ancestral shrine behind Taihe Hall.

In the shrine for ancestral worship, portraits of the lineage of the Royal Family were enshrined all year round.

Zhao Junyao offered incense to his ancestors, then knelt in the shrine, closed his eyes, and repented.

The dim shrine’s candles flickered.

Portraits of ancestor after ancestor hung neatly on the walls, some benevolent and dignified, others martial and imposing, or deeply reserved, or bright and open.

They uniformly ’looked at’ the prince’s straight-kneeling figure.

The atmosphere was solemn and heavy.

If they were still around, what would they think, would they blame him?

They probably wouldn’t; after all, he tried his best!

...

Duanning Palace.

The small kitchen had already prepared the evening meal.

Just waiting for Xia Ruqing to give the order, it could be served immediately.

However, Zhao Junyao hadn’t arrived yet, should wait a bit longer for dinner.

Xia Ruqing was teaching her daughter to read, reciting the "Book of Thousand Poems".

This little girl was quite clever; while other girls her age were still reading "Three Character Classic", she had already started reading "Book of Thousand Poems".

"Mother, why hasn’t Father Emperor come yet!"

The little girl grew tired of reading and tossed the book aside, asking.

Xia Ruqing thought about it.

"Your Father is probably not done with his work yet!"

"Your Father has been very busy lately, Yue Er, don’t be unreasonable!"

"Oh!"

Yue Er nodded and continued flipping through the dull book.

She didn’t quite understand.

Why do her parents insist she read such simple and boring books?

Why can’t she just not read them?!

Xia Ruqing picked up the book and handed it back to her.

"No way!"

"Girls must read books!"

"I don’t expect you to become a female scholar in the future, but at least... don’t embarrass your mother!" Xia Ruqing said seriously.

Yue Er pouted.

"Alright, alright!"

...

A quarter of an hour later, Zhao Junyao arrived like the wind.

As soon as he entered the door, the cold wind outside followed him inside.

Xia Ruqing and Yue Er shivered.

"So cold!"

After Xia Ruqing rose to her feet in greeting, she hurried to arrange the evening meal.

Yue Er, on seeing him, rushed over.

"Father Emperor!!"

Zhao Junyao bent down to pick up his daughter, kissing her cheek a couple of times.

Yue Er was delighted, dancing with joy, and called out again.

"Father Emperor!"

Zhao Junyao smiled and asked his daughter.

"What were you doing?"

Yue Er proudly held up the book.

"Daughter has been reciting poems, Father Emperor; do you want to hear me recite them?"

Zhao Junyao glanced at "Book of Thousand Poems".

Surprised aside, he was accustomed to his daughter’s cleverness.

"Sure! Recite them!"

Yue Er nodded her head and tilted it, starting to recite enthusiastically.