A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 460: Doing Evil

"This place..." He looked around and, despite himself, felt a chill down his spine. After studying the map for a moment, he pointed to a mountain peak and said, "The back of this mountain is somewhat stable, but if we go around to the front, there are cliffs on three sides! The area above is dense forest; we can’t even find a path up! There’s only this one passageway—a single man could hold it against ten thousand. Advancing might mean certain death!"Truly cunning! Xia Tingfeng thought. He sneered coldly. "No wonder they have the guts to commit crimes right under the King’s nose!"

Rat’s face also tightened. The crafty fox in the deep mountains is not easy to deal with. Even he, the brain of the group, was stumped for the first time.

After thinking for a while, Rat still said, "Big brother, regardless, we should first find the bandits’ lair and then make a decision!"

Xia Tingfeng nodded gravely. He folded up the map, took out a flare from his sleeve, and launched the signal into the sky.

In less than half a Shi Chen, all of the Imperial Forest Army had gathered, not one more, not one less.

Xia Tingfeng then gave the order. "Surround this mountain peak and search thoroughly. Don’t let even a fly slip by!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers received the order and began a careful search, encircling the mountain from all sides.

...

The extermination of bandits outside the palace was in full swing.

Inside the palace, when Xia Ruqing heard that her brother had left to eliminate bandits—bandits whom even the generals outside the palace couldn’t defeat—she felt a bit worried.

Zi Yue then said, "If you’re truly worried, my lady, why not ask the Emperor?"

Xia Ruqing pondered. He’s already gone. What could I ask? After all, this is a matter for the royal court! Moreover, my brother is a military general. If he encountered danger and shrank back, that would be too incompetent. Am I being a bit... overly compassionate, perhaps like a woman?

Forget it; it was better not to ask. It was better not to dwell on these men’s affairs. Xia Ruqing shook her head. "The Dragon Boat Festival is in a few days. Don’t forget to prepare everything that’s needed!"

Ancient customs were quite rich and varied. Realgar wine, zongzi, mugwort, and sachets—each one was quite interesting. Actually, dragon boat racing was also a tradition among the common folk, but women of the Harem like them would never get to see it. So, they could only eat and drink to pass the time.

Zi Yue quickly responded with a smile. "Don’t worry, my lady. The Dragon Boat Festival is a major holiday, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs starts preparations early! And the Imperial Kitchen! I heard they have over a hundred varieties of zongzi fillings alone. Whatever kind you’d like, my lady, we servants can go and get it!"

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment. "Although they prepare many kinds of fillings, they taste the same every year. They’re not innovative enough! When the time comes, let’s make a few new kinds ourselves. If we wrap them ourselves, wouldn’t that be fresh and fun?"

Zi Yue thought it over and laughed. "Then I’ll go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and get more zongzi leaves later!"

Xia Ruqing smiled and nodded.

...

At dusk, Xiao Xizi returned with food and a piece of news. "The Emperor went to the Jiaofang Hall!"

Xia Ruqing was quite surprised. Wow, this is explosive news! How long has it been since he last went there? The Empress is quite something, isn’t she? To be able to make such a comeback. It probably has something to do with how amicably she’s been treating Shih Jieyu lately. After all, her reputation for virtue is firmly established!

Xia Ruqing just laughed. "Today is the first day of the lunar month, isn’t it!"

The first and fifteenth of the lunar month were the Empress’s days. The Emperor hadn’t visited for a long time. It wasn’t surprising that he would go once in a while to give the Empress some face.

After all, she wasn’t the most anxious one. As long as Noble Concubine Shih was there, the Empress’s fury would never reach her. Thinking like this, Xia Ruqing suddenly felt that surviving between the cracks was actually quite fortunate.

If someone truly held absolute power, then ’when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact.’ How could she have safely given birth to her child in that scenario? However, judging by Zhao Junyao’s slyness, whether in the imperial court or the Harem, he wouldn’t allow anyone to become dominant. He would always ensure there was someone to counterbalance them.

Xia Ruqing finally understood why, even though Noble Concubine Shih courted disaster so flagrantly, the Emperor still gave her face and even entrusted a Princess to her care. Truly worthy of being the Emperor—like a cunning old fox, both treacherous and sly! Luckily, she hadn’t dared to try any petty tricks on him, or she might not be where she was today.

Having thought this, Xia Ruqing waved her hand. "Why bother thinking about these things? Better to just eat well!"

The Empress is the Empress. She didn’t even have the right to be jealous! Therefore, she didn’t need to think too much.

Zi Yue acknowledged and quickly arranged for someone to bring the Little Prince. Several attendants served Xia Ruqing and the Little Prince as they had their dinner.

...

「Jiaofang Hall」

Zhao Junyao’s visit was actually just to discuss the arrangements for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival. Of course, it wasn’t a discussion but rather a notification. The gist was: he wasn’t in the mood this year, so there was no need for a grand celebration; something simple would do.

After all, the imperial court was not yet peaceful. The bandit troubles near the canal waterways had yet to be resolved. In Jiangnan, it was the plum rain season. Torrential rain had poured for half a month, and several major rivers were on the verge of overflowing their banks. At a time like this, Zhao Junyao was overwhelmed with anxiety. Who would have the heart to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival?

The Empress naturally didn’t dare to have any objections and kept agreeing repeatedly. Although the Emperor had come over merely to inform her about the arrangements, the Empress was still very pleased. While eagerly instructing people to set out the meal, she personally went to pour tea for Zhao Junyao.

"Your Majesty, you always find the tea I serve unsatisfactory. I specifically sought someone out to learn how to brew tea. Would you please try it?" With that, she presented a cup of tea she had brewed herself. This showed a great deal of thoughtfulness.

Although Zhao Junyao disliked the Empress, he wasn’t so petty as to constantly bicker with a woman over trivial matters. He accepted it at once, took a sip, and found the taste had indeed improved. He offered a faint smile and a word of praise. "Not bad at all!"

The Empress was overjoyed. The meal was served, and she introduced each item. "This is your favorite..."

"This, too, is something you like..."

Zhao Junyao couldn’t help frowning. He himself didn’t even know what he liked to eat, so how could the Empress? But upon closer inspection, the dishes did look somewhat familiar. Perhaps they were ones he had inadvertently taken a few extra helpings of during previous visits?

The Empress remembered even this? Zhao Junyao was somewhat touched. "You’ve been thoughtful, Empress!"

The Empress quickly adopted an expression of tearful gratitude. "Serving Your Majesty well is my duty!"

Her posture was so deferential, her attitude so virtuous, that Zhao Junyao felt... almost too embarrassed to simply turn and leave. Well then... I might as well stay for a meal, he thought.

The Empress was overjoyed. She didn’t even eat herself, rushing forward to serve the Emperor his meal. It had been so long since the Emperor had finally agreed to come; she had to seize this opportunity, didn’t she?

Zhao Junyao was very unaccustomed to being served like this. He wasn’t paralyzed. The Empress was so attentive she was practically feeding him, which he found utterly exasperating. So, Zhao Junyao finished his meal as quickly as possible.

After graciously praising the Empress once again, he hurried away.

Mainly, if he stayed any longer, he felt he might die of discomfort!