A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1096: Minor Tricks

Store it in your mind, not your heart!

Ma Liyi behaves just like that too.

Newcomers in the palace wouldn't dare to be bold; they stick to saying nice words.

The group buzzed with energy, filled with chatter and laughter, creating a lively vibe.

Xia Ruqing felt quite pleased.

"Good job! They're all sharp, just like I was at the start!"

Back when she first transmigrated.

She made tons of concessions simply to get by.

Always living in terror, super careful, all to preserve her life.

She hid every thought deep inside, never voicing them out.

Thinking back on those days still hurts the heart!

Xia Ruqing gripped her fist in secret.

"Fortunately, those times are gone!"

"Nobody torments me or threatens my life anymore!"

This sensation feels amazing!

Xia Ruqing smiled slyly.

…

The feast wrapped up in under two Shi Chen.

Xia Ruqing told Xiao Zhu Zi to list and organize the presents from every palace.

Afterward, she headed back to her chamber.

After hustling half the day, time to relax properly.

Zi Yue and Zi Su assisted in taking out her hair ornaments.

Xia Ruqing flopped onto her plush, cozy bed.

She hugged the quilt, let out a satisfied breath, and drifted off to sleep in moments.

Upon waking, dusk had already fallen.

She rolled over leisurely, spotting the bare tree limbs outside the window dancing in the breeze.

The glazed panes clinked softly.

The dim, foggy evening appeared ominous, hinting at more snow.

Xia Ruqing shuddered on reflex.

"Way too chilly out there!" Even glancing at it chills me.

Zi Su fetched a newly heated fox fur robe.

"Such strong winds this year, so bitterly cold!"

She remarked while rubbing her own arms.

"I’ve got two layers of rabbit fur, plus silk jacket and skirt, yet the cold still bites!"

Zi Yue carried in steaming water, chiming in with a grin.

"It’s peak winter chill—how could it not freeze?"

"You’re right!"

Zi Su arranged the fox fur robe and aided the lady in dressing before helping her rise.

Xia Ruqing freshened up, slipped into a warm yellow collared dress and skirt, added a goose down vest on top, and finally felt no chill.

She loosely gathered her hair into a simple bun, then rose to head to the outer chamber.

"Where’s Yue Er? Did she step out today?"

In this kind of weather, the kid shouldn’t be that foolish!

Zi Yue chuckled.

"The Princess was good today, stayed indoors the whole time!"

"She’s tossing a ball with Snow Ball!"

Xia Ruqing breathed easy.

"Good thing this kid knows how to have fun!"

If she’d insisted on venturing out in such weather,

I’d truly wonder if I had a dim-witted daughter!

As she spoke,

Footsteps echoed from outside, then came the call.

"The Emperor arrives!"

Due to the cold, the little eunuch’s voice quivered a bit.

With that hoarse proclaiming voice,

Zhao Junyao, clad in a pitch-black brocade dragon fox fur coat with a fierce look, strode in bringing the icy air.

After the salutations,

He lifted Xia Ruqing up as always.

"Didn’t I tell you no need for ceremonies?"

"Your hand’s icy— are you that cold?!"

Xia Ruqing laughed softly and whispered back.

"Servants are present!"

"I’m fine; just got up and washed my hands!"

While talking,

The Emperor and Empress moved into the inner chamber.

Lately, Zhao Junyao had been swamped.

First off, Prince Jin lingered at the guesthouse, requiring constant surveillance.

Second, this year’s extreme cold brought snow disasters up north; crops and animals froze to death, thousands of homes crumbled.

Tens of thousands suffered; getting through winter is tough, and next year’s poor yields loom large!

On top of that,

He needed to watch the Portland Country’s envoys closely.

Though Little Seventh handled monitoring, he couldn’t fully delegate.

Also, nomadic tribes on the southwest and northwest frontiers.

Great Chu’s tough terrain is bad enough; theirs is worse.

In desperation, they might invade outright—must stay vigilant.

Zhao Junyao was overwhelmed, longing for extra heads and arms.

He often held all-night sessions with ministers on state matters!

His visit today came because he’d skipped here for days.

He set aside minor issues to take a brief break.

The pair settled on the heated kang in the inner room.

Zhao Junyao reclined against the plush cushion, eyes shutting in bliss.

"Nothing beats this place!"

Every visit let him forget all the turmoil.

His whole body unwound completely.

Xia Ruqing found it a bit amusing.

"What makes it different from elsewhere? It’s just rest all the same!"

With eyes shut, Zhao Junyao mused inwardly: Naturally, it’s not the same.

She noticed his deep fatigue.

Sympathy welled up in her heart right away.

"Being Emperor is truly grueling!"

Her thoughts turned to her son, now the Crown Prince, who would face such trials ahead.

It might prove even harder for him!

Distress gripped her tightly.

No surprise history had more dim Emperors than sharp ones.

Fooling around as Emperor feels blissful, wise ruling... ahem!

The dinner arrived, filled with simple home-cooked fare.

Accounting for Zhao Junyao’s lately weariness,

Nothing oily in sight; all light, low-fat, protein-rich picks.

Steamed bass, shrimp ball soup, tender little bok choy, crunchy white lotus root, red date ribs, clear stew venison, and snow frog jelly in wine.

Zhao Junyao relished his dinner thoroughly.

After eating, they lounged on the kang.

No desire to read, so...

"Let’s play chess!"

"I don’t know how..."

Xia Ruqing had once struggled to pick up Go, but the sight of those packed stones nearly sparked her dread of crowded patterns.

She simply had no interest in learning.

"Shall I teach you?" Zhao Junyao gazed at her softly, urging her patiently.

Xia Ruqing turned him down flat.

"Emperor, I... don’t want to learn!"

She couldn’t grasp why ancient folks loved this game!

It’s confusing and dragging, downright dull.

"Emperor, let’s try this one!"

She hurried out and soon returned clutching a booklet.

"I came across this nine-square grid in an old folk book and puzzled over it forever—have a look?"

The nine-square grid is a numeric puzzle born from ancient commoner traditions.

A large nine-square grid holds nine smaller ones nested inside.

Eighty-one empty cells make up the whole.

Some numbers are already placed in those cells.

Players must apply logic and rules to insert 1 through 9 into the empties.

Guaranteeing unique 1-9 in every row, column, and small grid.

Tedious as it is, it beats Go for fun.

Regrettably, her wits weren’t enough; long hours of filling yielded just a few numbers, their rightness in doubt...

Zhao Junyao juggled countless duties.

From boyhood, elite imperial schooling had been his lot, leaving folk games unknown to him.

He grasped the booklet and dove in focused.

Beside him, Xia Ruqing smugly laid out every rule.

Her voice hinted, ’Haha, stumped you too!’