A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1093: Seventh Master’s Worries

Hearing the resounding cheers echoing from outside.

Bao Tong and a few young eunuchs beamed with joy, their grins stretching nearly to their ears.

"This is fantastic now!"

"Our master has finally succeeded!"

"Isn’t that the truth?"

"As the saying goes, gold always gleams eventually!" Bao Tong boasted proudly.

"Yes, yes!"

"Master Bao speaks wisely!" one young eunuch praised flatteringly.

"With this achievement, all those noble ladies in the capital will surely set their sights on our master!"

"Absolutely!" Bao Tong declared with pride.

"After all, our master is a true prince!"

"He excels in both scholarly pursuits and martial skills, and enjoys the Emperor’s deep trust and favor!"

"His future is boundless!"

"Moreover!" one young eunuch chimed in excitedly.

"Our master shows no interest in women, not even keeping a single maid in the rear courtyard!"

"Once the Seventh Princess Consort arrives, she’ll be the sole recipient of his affection!"

"They’ll treat each other with utmost respect like honored guests, exchanging tender glances in perfect harmony—it’s destined to be a beautiful story!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

The young eunuchs chattered noisily.

Each acted like a fretful old mother hen.

All of them anxiously hoped to quickly secure a stunning, cultured, noble-born wife for the Seventh Master.

...

The Seventh Master remained completely oblivious to all this.

Day after day, he stuck to his routine at the training grounds.

Until... December arrived, and the wild rumors swirling in the capital at last drew the Emperor’s notice.

With idle time on his hands, Zhao Junyao mulled it over.

"That’s right!"

"Seventh younger brother turns twenty after the New Year—it’s high time to discuss his marriage!"

Li Shengan quickly advanced and remarked.

"Your Majesty, hasn’t the Seventh Master kept refusing all along?"

"Could it be that..." he has someone in his heart? Or maybe some hidden trouble!

Why else would a fine young man go without personal attendants?

After all, countless princes, the Emperor included, had attendants starting at fifteen.

The Emperor himself had wed before taking the throne, complete with a crown princess, side consorts, and concubines!

Li Shengan couldn’t puzzle it out.

Zhao Junyao couldn’t either.

He furrowed his brow.

"Regardless, we can’t allow this to continue!"

As royalty, one must not act recklessly. Producing heirs and extending the bloodline is a vital duty that cannot be postponed.

Having pondered deeply.

He reached a firm decision without delay.

"Summon Zhao Junyan to the palace!"

Li Shengan bowed in assent and hurried off to dispatch a messenger.

Half a shi chen later, Zhao Junyan arrived at the palace, still covered in dust from the training grounds beyond the capital.

In the Imperial Study.

Zhao Junyao had fine tea brewed, and the two brothers faced each other across the table.

He poured a cup for his Seventh Brother himself, then asked casually.

"How have things been for you lately?"

Zhao Junyan took the teacup, appearing somewhat bewildered.

After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded.

"Thanks for your care, Imperial Brother. Your younger brother is doing fine!"

Zhao Junyao gave him a casual glance, saying nothing.

After slowly drinking half his tea, he inquired once more.

"Have the capital’s rumors reached your ears?"

Zhao Junyan’s heart jolted, sensing the main topic approaching at last.

He pondered briefly, then nodded anyway.

"I’ve caught wind of some!"

Zhao Junyao felt somewhat exasperated.

‘Why is this brat just like me, so sparing with words?!’

If a look could settle it, he’d never speak.

If one word suffices, he’d never utter two.

It’s truly...

Never mind, never mind—down to business.

He cleared his throat lightly, composed himself, and spoke sincerely.

"You’re no longer a child; marriage talks are overdue!"

"This should’ve been handled by Mother originally, but the Empress Dowager’s health is poor—best not to trouble her!"

"They say an elder brother stands in for a father..."

"If there’s anyone you fancy, or particular tastes, just tell your Imperial Brother!"

Zhao Junyan’s expression turned uneasy at once.

He gazed out the window, pausing long before responding.

"I’ve troubled you, Imperial Brother—it’s... my fault!"

Zhao Junyao laughed, landing a solid punch on his shoulder.

"What’s with the bashfulness!"

"This isn’t like you at all—where’s that bold spirit of yours?"

Zhao Junyan grew even more awkward.

"Imperial Brother..."

Zhao Junyao sipped his tea again.

"What is it? You unwilling to wed?"

"I've heard there isn't even a single chamber maid in your rear courtyard. Could it be..." some private trouble?

Zhao Junyao eyed him with intense scrutiny.

Zhao Junyan: "..."

Tired of enduring it, he refused to hold back any longer.

With a light cough, he finally broke his silence.

"Imperial Brother!"

"Truth is... your humble brother has no such private trouble, but dreads dragging any lady into it!"

"Dragging into what?"

Zhao Junyao showed profound astonishment.

His thoughts twisted through countless turns in an attempt to comprehend, yet he couldn't grasp the reason behind those words.

So, he fixed him with a probing gaze.

"Dragging her into what exactly?"

Zhao Junyan gave a bitter smile.

"Your humble brother was sidelined since young and faced countless brushes with death in the palace. Without Imperial Brother's mercy, I fear I wouldn't have survived until now!"

"The same holds true even as an adult!"

"Your humble brother wields no authority and stays away from court intrigues!"

"My sole aim is to master martial arts, defend our realm and kin, and return Imperial Brother's favor!"

Once done speaking, he placed the teacup down and rose to his feet, positioning himself by the window with hands clasped behind.

The armor still clinging to him caught a subtle sheen from the snow's glow outside.

It lent his whole form a towering stature, his back shining like a precious gem.

"Imperial Brother!"

Abruptly, he thrust his hand up, pointing straight toward the west.

"Our mighty Great Chu Dynasty stands prosperous and thriving, abundant and bountiful! Its people enjoy fine garments and dwell in tranquility!"

"That's truly splendid!"

"Yet to outsiders, we appear as tempting prey!"

"The stronger we grow, the more we draw their greedy eyes!"

"Beyond lies a horde of grassland tribes and wandering nomads!"

"They scrape by on livestock alone!"

"Year-round they battle starvation and frost; even their nobles gnaw on tree bark and grass roots for much of the time, plagued by famines that starve the whole nation!"

"While we..."

Zhao Junyan's gaze dimmed all of a sudden.

"Imperial Brother!"

"Though our Great Chu Dynasty has savored peace for ages, a spirit of laziness and extravagance festers within the army!"

"They assume our mighty nation makes us untouchable! Full of arrogance, they belittle all foes!"

"Such a mindset poses grave peril!"

"Your humble brother frets deeply but stands powerless alone to reform it, so he toils tirelessly for the smallest gains!"

Zhao Junyao's expression turned gravely solemn, his heart surging with deep emotion.

He approached the window and clapped his shoulder.

"Little Seventh, all these years later, you remain utterly unchanged!"

Zhao Junyan's eyes lit up instantly: "Imperial Brother!"

Zhao Junyao chuckled and remarked: "I never imagined you'd still be so unyieldingly steadfast!"

Back in those days.

He reigned as the exalted, radiant Crown Prince, revered by everyone.

Little Seventh lingered in isolation, shunned and chilled within the palace walls.

He still recalled their initial encounter vividly.

The boy resembled a frail but savage wolf pup on the brink of death.

Though his frame was feeble, his stare burned with ferocity.

Brimming with wariness and defiance against all that was strange.

That piercing look etched itself indelibly in his memory.

With time and his protection, the bullying finally ceased.

Little Seventh came to realize the aid being offered.

Slowly, his eyes shifted from defiance to warmth, and eventually to loyalty and faith.