A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1097: Enormous Pressure
Previously on A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace...
Zhao Junyao stayed quiet.
He grabbed a pen and paper, swiftly jotting down on the rice paper.
Before half a Shi Chen passed, all eighty-one grids brimmed with numbers.
Xia Ruqing's eyes shifted from malicious joy to doubt, ending in utter shock, all in the blink of less than a Shi Chen.
"This..."
With disbelief etched on her face, Xia Ruqing seized the paper.
She scrutinized it line by line and column by column.
Even so, belief still eluded her.
"Emperor!"
"You solved it so fast! Have you encountered it previously?"
Zhao Junyao flung the pen away with a smug grin, rising to his feet.
"Merely a minor trick, nothing noteworthy!"
"Wow, that pen toss looked incredibly suave!"
Admiration flooded Xia Ruqing's heart; this man's smarts were terrifying!
Whoever claimed ancient gentlemen only dabbled in poems and art, shunning math? Total nonsense, right?!
How could an emperor rule without math skills?!
"Emperor, you must feel weary!"
Overflowing with awe, Xia Ruqing hurried over to tend to him.
No way to resist.
Facing such a dashing, brilliant, and rich man, surrender was inevitable!
Zhao Junyao appeared mildly taken aback.
"Qingqing... what's gotten into you?"
Hadn't she been smirking in delight just moments ago?
"Hehe, Emperor, you're incredible, leaving me in total admiration!"
"Incredible?" Zhao Junyao looked a touch confused.
"Back in my youth, Tai Fu instructed me in calculations; I've picked up a bit!"
"That's still impressive!" Xia Ruqing kept up her fawning praise.
"This Sudoku puzzle baffles countless folks among the masses; I've heard it trips up loads!"
"Challenging?"
A contemplative expression crossed Zhao Junyao's features.
Evidently, the concept rang unfamiliar.
Of course!
For a being of his caliber, hardship likely meant nothing!
Xia Ruqing massaged her chest, which throbbed faintly.
"Emperor, night has fallen deep; shall we... retire to bed!!"
Dragging this chat further might make her question her own wits.
Time to hit the sack soon!
"Mm!"
Zhao Junyao nodded his assent.
Together, they freshened up and slipped under the covers.
Gauzy curtains fell, candles danced with light, and the pair cuddled into a serene slumber.
…
In a flash, the twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month arrived—Little New Year.
This year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs buzzed with extra frenzy.
They handled palace affairs inside and out, plus hosting Prince Jin's over hundred-strong retinue.
We couldn't revel in festivities alone while ignoring visitors.
That would scream poor manners.
Hence.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs managed every detail, as stewards, maids, and eunuchs scurried about.
Xia Ruqing matched their hustle.
Besides New Year prep in the palace, she orchestrated Seventh Master's betrothal.
This duty belonged to the Empress Dowager.
Yet with her 'indisposed' and too frail for effort, it landed squarely on Xia Ruqing.
Thus...
After delegating Ministry tasks to the four consorts, Xia Ruqing poured all focus into selecting Seventh Master's bride.
Zhao Junyao's directive rang clear.
"Betrothal by year's end, wedding post-New Year, wrap it up seamlessly without loose ends!"
Xia Ruqing felt: the stress mounted hugely.
The rush tied to old traditions.
Post-betrothal.
Families often hesitated to send daughters off right away, delaying a full year.
It flaunted their girls' value while gaining favor from the groom's kin.
Rushing the wedding straight after betrothal.
Invited neighbor mockery and groom-side disdain.
Therefore...
Betrothal pre-New Year, wedding after, neatly sidestepped the snag.
Post-New Year marked a fresh year!
In short: Betrothal must precede New Year!
From over a hundred folded slips and Zhao Junyao's list, Xia Ruqing sifted a dozen fitting candidates.
These girls hailed from solid families, neither poor nor overly rich.
After all, Seventh Master, a skilled prince lacking kin backing.
Prestige houses in the capital shunned him.
At best, some girls fancied him secretly, but that offered zilch real gain!
Seventh Princess Consort title gleamed nobly.
Yet its perks paled against capital clans' power unions.
Thus...
True noble daughters proved scarce.
Plenty of alluring, low-key misses appeared via folded notes.
Zhao Junyao quickly scanned the names of these dozen young ladies and gave a nod of approval.
"Not bad!"
"Little Seventh tends to be solitary; he requires a compassionate and gentle companion at his side, valuing kindness over noble birth!"
Xia Ruqing nodded as well.
"Emperor, how about arranging a banquet to personally assess them?"
Xia Ruqing held no objections to the Seventh Prince.
Besides, arranging a match was a kind act, so she threw herself into it wholeheartedly.
"As you wish!"
"Once chosen, allow me to inspect them!"
Little Seventh avoids palace intrigues, thus his future in-laws must not be... overly entangled!
"Okay!"
Xia Ruqing nodded her assent.
…
On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month.
Red plums stand boldly against the snow across the palace grounds, forming a magnificent crimson display in the Imperial Garden.
Viewed from a distance, they resemble stacked clouds or splendid brocade, paired with the palace's crimson walls and verdant tiles, crafting a stunning classical charm.
Qinfang Pavilion lies a bit southwest and away from the Red Plum Grove, ranking among the most magnificent of the over a hundred pavilions in the Imperial Garden.
It boasts three stories.
The ground level forms an open pavilion, encircled by eight pillars carved and lacquered red with gold threads from Phoebe Nanmu wood.
These nanmu pillars stand rock-solid, defying rot for hundreds of years.
Up close, they emit a fresh scent of natural timber.
The second story spans the widest area, fitting fifteen to twenty guests comfortably.
Beyond the pillars, it includes intricately carved redwood lattice walls.
During winter, with heavy drapes drawn and braziers glowing, it transforms into a cozy space as warm as springtime.
Parting the drapes offers a broad vista, catching a far-off blaze from the Red Plum Grove.
Truly a perfect vantage point.
The top level shrinks a touch compared to the second, lacking enclosing walls—just eight soaring columns and redwood lacquered railings rising to waist height.
Should the second floor feel confining, climb up to the third.
There, a sweeping panorama unfolds, fresh breezes flow, and the entire imperial palace sprawls into view.
Xia Ruqing finalized her choices.
At last, she opted to hold the banquet right here.
Dubbing it the Plum Blossom Banquet!
She summoned the listed ladies plus several Empress Dowagers and Taipin consorts to accompany them.
Regardless of rank, elder presences ensured propriety.
Beyond any sparks of romance, picking a mild-mannered, virtuous woman would prove straightforward!
…
The feast unfolded on the second level.
Thick warm curtains draped the space, braziers warmed the air, and each seat had its own dainty little stove nearby.
Not a hint of chill lingered in the room.
Xia Ruqing took the seat of honor.
Empress Dowager Zhen, Empress Dowager Jing, Consort Zhou Taipin, and Consort An Taipin occupied positions flanking her.
The other ladies arranged themselves by their fathers' official positions and ranks, seated lower down.
Seventeen in all, neither too packed nor too empty, with plenty of open space.
Xia Ruqing had plenty of experience arranging such gatherings.
She handled the opening remarks with ease.
The essence boiled down to:
Palace plum blossoms are in full bloom; my mood is elated, so I've gathered you all for tea amid the beauties of nature.
No strangers here—relax and savor the festive vibe!