A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1102: He Doesn’t Understand

A blend of fury, distress, and irritation twisted across his features.

That whole look appeared utterly warped.

"Father, what’s wrong this time?"

The young girl inquired, still utterly confused.

Zhao Junyao: "..."

Alright! No way could he scold her.

She was his very own daughter, after all.

Just some ice skating and catching a cold—what was the huge fuss?

A bunch of useless servants had failed to keep an eye on her properly!

Blame lay squarely with them, not his treasured girl!

Far from it.

His daughter wasn’t at fault at all—in fact, she showed real courage by braving the risks!

Splendid, splendid, a true chip off the old block, the daughter of Zhao Junyao!

The more he dwelled on it, the greater his pride swelled.

Anger faded from his face, replaced by a complex mix, then blooming into pure delight and boastfulness.

He scooped his daughter into his arms himself, gently squeezing her plump little cheek.

"Nothing at all? Father’s just thrilled!"

"Does Yue Er enjoy ice skating?"

Yue Er’s eyes sparkled brightly.

"I love it!"

Her excited, crisp voice rang out, filling the entire hall.

Zhao Junyao trembled from head to toe at the sound.

"Wonderful!"

"I’ll get your brother to teach you soon!"

He dimly recalled Yeye’s skill at it, always frolicking on the ice with the young eunuchs.

Dressed in vivid red robes, he glided like a flamingo flaunting its plumes in pride.

Yue Er’s brow furrowed at those words.

"Father!"

"When exactly is this ’later’?"

Before, Father’s ’laters’ had often fallen through.

Now another one, and the little girl felt quite displeased.

Zhao Junyao paused briefly, then declared with resolve.

"Once you’ve recovered!"

"Sick?" Yue Er blinked in confusion.

Illness seldom struck her, so she barely grasped the concept!

Did that chilly unease from last night’s dream count as sickness? Yet she felt fine now!

Zhao Junyao gave a firm nod.

"You fell ill last night—Sister Qing tended to you the whole time!"

"Will you keep fibbing from now on?"

Hearing this, Yue Er ducked her head swiftly.

"Father, I..."

She peeked toward her mother, voice thick with remorse.

"I worried Mother wouldn’t let me!"

"She won’t mind!"

"Father’s approval means Mother will go along!"

"Recover fully, get cleared by Imperial Doctor Zhang to venture out, and your brother will escort you—sound good?"

Yue Er clapped her hands in glee.

"Thank you, Father!"

"Yue Er adores Father!"

If she was better, she could go—and she already was, so why not now?!

The delighted child planted a hearty smooch on Zhao Junyao’s cheek.

Caught off guard yet overjoyed, Zhao Junyao beamed widely.

Xia Ruqing stared in shock at the father-daughter duo, Zhao Junyao most of all.

This swift, complete, utterly brazen switch of sides left her speechless.

Was this the same aloof, ruthless emperor she knew?

Men doting on daughters proved downright ’frightening’!

Now what? Face them solo? Or flip and side with them? Tough choice!

Go it alone.

Her daughter already saw her as the strict enforcer!

No warm, affectionate mother vibe left.

Switch sides.

But she couldn’t match Zhao Junyao’s shameless flair.

What now?

Xia Ruqing shot Zhao Junyao a sharp glare.

...

Yue Er’s ailment dragged on intermittently until full recovery hit after the tenth.

Confined indoors for days by Imperial Doctor Zhang and Xia Ruqing.

Yue Er had grown restless ages ago.

Yet Mother stood firm, unbudging.

Cute pleas fell flat, no matter what.

Father wouldn’t back her up.

He just advised that quicker outings meant dutiful meds and meals; recovery would bring freedom naturally.

Yue Er had no recourse left.

Stuck at home, she dosed up and ate properly.

Good thing persistence won out—Yue Er’s sickness finally vanished.

The spirited girl bundled in a plush mink coat and tiny deerskin boots.

She dashed to Xia Ruqing’s bed at dawn, rousing her.

"Mother, sleeping in again!"

"Mother! Take me ice skating with third brother!"

Xia Ruqing, dead tired, half-lidded her eyes and shooed with a wave.

"Fine, go ahead!"

Defeat hung inevitable in her tone.

Permission secured, Yue Er whooped: "Thanks, Mother!"

Then scampered off without delay.

This round.

Backed by Father and Mother’s okay, shielded by Wetnurse Sister, coached by brother.

Yue Er fearlessly zipped across Taiye Pool’s ice.

By day’s close, exhilaration had her nearly feral.

...

Lantern Festival arrived in a flash.

To dazzle the Prince Jin Delegation with Great Chu’s bustling splendor.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs buzzed with activity anew.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites were dispatched by Zhao Junyao to escort them for the whole occasion.

They admired snow scenery today, scaled mountains tomorrow, and the following day wandered streets while tasting renowned local delicacies.

Prince Jin along with his followers brimmed with deep gratitude, so thrilled they wished never to depart.

The Lantern Festival day arrived.

Streets in the Capital brimmed with crowds, far from empty, pulsing with vibrant energy.

Far off, vibrant fireworks burst across the night sky, gleaming intensely for a flash before cascading like shooting stars or fine drizzle to the ground below.

Splendid and radiant, these displays mesmerized passersby, compelling them to pause and stare.

Festivities on the adjacent streets buzzed with even greater vigor.

The avenue glittered with myriad inventive lanterns: lotus lanterns, revolving lanterns, diamond-shaped lanterns, dragon-and-phoenix lanterns, water lanterns, fairy lanterns, rabbit lanterns, and others.

Tens of thousands illuminated the full length of the street, resembling a glowing lantern dragon coiled along the ten-mile stretch under the night sky.

Radiant like a moon dangling overhead, bright as noon, sparkling like stellar clusters, leaving onlookers bedazzled and enchanted.

The thoroughfare overflowed with clamor and thrill.

Acrobats tumbled, dragon and lion dancers pranced, stilt walkers towered, monkey performers capered, riddle guessers pondered, sugar figurine artisans sculpted, puppet troupes enacted dramas—boundless spectacles abounded.

Throngs packed every spot, with shouts of joy bursting forth repeatedly.

Hawkers enjoyed booming trade, even candy cane peddlers threading through the masses outsold their typical hauls today.

Qiu Daren of the Ministry of Rites strolled alongside the dozen-strong Prince Jin delegation amid the thronged avenue.

As they progressed.

Prince Jin beheld countless novelties unheard and unseen till now, gripped by profound astonishment.

He failed to comprehend.

How could Great Chu's people, seeming too frail for hardships, attain such dazzling prosperity?

How did they possess such surplus wealth, such refined pursuits for relishing life?

This sharply contrasted Western Xia.

Born hardy, they championed martial ethos without regard to sex.

Their men evoked eagles wheeling above, stallions charging across plains.

Their women mirrored swift woodland deer, poised cliffside gazelles.

They labored unceasingly.

From childhood, irrespective of gender, they drilled in combat, broke horses, fended off wolves, shepherded beasts.

They exerted utmost toil for bare survival.

Yet most endured lives ending in misery.

Calamity years claimed some through starvation.

Blizzards entombed others in icy graves.

Vast stores of pelts and flesh lay untouched, uneaten and unworn.

For trading them yielded needed silver or grain.

Preserving furs' freshness and suppleness boosted sale prices.

Often they flayed by hand the very deer or oxen they reared, while still breathing.

To folks who honored cattle, horses, sheep, deer as vital life-sustainers.

Such savagery rivaled butchering one's parents.

This torment defies grasp by any who haven't endured it!