A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1110: Emotional Breakdown

"That’s right!"

Once Yue Er completed reciting her lessons, Zhao Junyao promptly praised her.

Filled with joy, the little girl clung tightly to her father’s neck and refused to let go.

"Father loves me the most!"

From nearby, Xia Ruqing let out a gentle sigh.

"Do I not love you?"

Yue Er blinked her eyes.

"Mother also loves me!"

"That’s more like it!" Xia Ruqing felt pleased.

Someone quietly wiped away their sweat:

Appeasing both father and mother is truly tiring for this little one!

Dinner arrived.

As spring ended and summer began, with lingering spring chills and scarce resources, times were tough.

Meals in Xia Ruqing’s residence remained as simple as ever.

Wild greens dish, Eight Treasure Duck, Mandarin Fish soup, and Spicy Chicken.

The other cold dishes came straight from Chef Jiang’s homeland, straightforward yet tasty.

Though easy to prepare, they tasted wonderful, and Xia Ruqing adored them greatly.

Burdened by Northwest troubles, Zhao Junyao gazed at the dishes but lacked much appetite.

Yet a sense of relief washed over him.

After all,

As his subjects endured hardships, his Empress avoided extravagance and excess.

Every meal featured plain home-style fare, light and unpretentious.

Excellent!

Zhao Junyao mused inwardly.

Maybe after reaching thirty, he could no longer tolerate the people’s suffering.

Unlike his impulsive youth, he had grown calmer and steadier.

This applied even to governing the nation.

He avoided bold reforms.

The court’s factions stood like massive ancient trees.

They looked thriving above ground but had roots entangled deeply below; one slight disturbance could shake everything.

Hidden dealings persisted through all eras.

No emperor, however sage, could guarantee incorruptible officials across the board.

Provided it stayed within limits,

Zhao Junyao chose to overlook it.

Now he grasped his father’s old advice.

’The governance of the realm is valued for its clarity, the management of subordinates is valued for its balance!’

’Balance, balance, where there’s power, balance must follow!’

Occasionally, a minor vermin shouldn’t upset the equilibrium or the big picture!

In court, the key principle was: ’The overall situation comes first!’

...

Dinner concluded.

The wet nurse and her sister carried Yue Er off to bed.

Xia Ruqing settled on the kang with a book in hand.

Zhao Junyao felt somewhat confused.

"Why have you begun reading books? Didn’t you dislike them before?"

It seemed unbelievable that someone who hated novels would now relish books!

Xia Ruqing felt a bit resigned.

"What choice do I have but to read?"

"Otherwise, even Yue Er might start despising me!"

That child was incredibly sharp.

Regardless of comprehension, with guidance, she memorized the texts swiftly.

Such smarts—whose did she get them from!

Xia Ruqing shot a wry look at Zhao Junyao.

’This man’s bloodline is overwhelmingly potent; every one of these kids is exceptionally gifted!’

’Could these truly be the children I bore?’

’Back when I studied, I always ranked near the bottom!’

Zhao Junyao let out a few chuckles.

He picked up a book himself and began to read.

Half a shichen elapsed.

They set aside their books, washed up, and got ready for sleep.

Embracing her, Zhao Junyao murmured softly into her ear.

"Qingqing..."

"Hmm?"

"I want to send Chenchen to the battlefield!"

Xia Ruqing: "..."

"No!"

Xia Ruqing bolted upright, rejecting it on impulse.

Zhao Junyao soothed her by patting her back.

"Your brother will go as well!"

Xia Ruqing paused briefly.

"Still no!"

"He’s already ten!" Zhao Junyao pressed on.

Xia Ruqing’s heart clenched.

"He’s only ten years old! Emperor, just ten!"

In the modern era, a ten-year-old would still attend primary school!

Sending a primary school kid to battle—ha-ha, how absurd!

Xia Ruqing objected fiercely.

Zhao Junyao felt utterly helpless.

"Qingqing, please agree; he won’t lead as commander-in-chief!"

"As Crown Prince, training is essential!"

A nation’s Crown Prince can’t just study court intrigues in the palace!

He must witness the vast outside world.

Seeing his grave face and firm voice, Xia Ruqing sensed resistance was futile.

Her heart pounded as dread surged within.

’It’s done for; no changing this anymore!’

What now?

What now?

The battlefield! Off to the battlefield!

A ten-year-old on the battlefield—she simply couldn’t bear it!

Aren’t folks from ancient times mad? Isn’t this outright child mistreatment?

Couldn’t they wait longer? Thirteen or fifteen would make sense!

Chenchen is only ten years old—isn’t that far too young!!

She only realized this after she herself became a mother.

Motherhood turned her heart incredibly tender.

Like a protective hen yearning to enfold her chicks beneath wide wings, she felt secure only by keeping them forever in her sight.

Forget sending him to battle.

Even a trip away from the Capital City would leave her in utter panic.

Should Chenchen truly head to war,

it would feel like hurling her very heart into a vat of boiling oil.

No!

The mere idea was already too agonizing to endure.

Xia Ruqing fixed her piercing stare on Zhao Junyao, eyes bloodshot like a fierce she-wolf guarding her young.

"No!"

"You’re the Emperor—I know reason won’t prevail against you!"

"But I carried Chenchen for ten long months!"

"Because he’s the eldest son, he’s been away from me since he turned three!"

"Forced to study and drill in martial arts—a little boy who could hardly grip his chopsticks!"

"In the freezing winter snow, practicing horse stances outdoors until he was numb, chilblains blistering his hands and feet!"

"Under the scorching summer blaze, still doing horse stances as his skin flaked away in layers!"

"I couldn’t bear to watch; it fell to the wet nurse and Sister to rub on the ointments!"

"Whenever they left Chenchen’s room, their eyes were always red and swollen!"

"Emperor, even the servants shed tears—didn’t you pity him?"

"All these years without him by my side, I bore it!"

"All these years watching him toil through pain and hardship, his young hands already rough and calloused, I bore it!"

"All these years seeing him turn from a pale boy into a tanned, gaunt youth, I bore it too!"

"Emperor, I’ve put up with all of it!"

"But this time, I won’t stand for it—I absolutely won’t!"

Her voice grew raw and frantic, tears cascading down her cheeks.

She appeared utterly hollowed out, as though her soul had fled, hovering on the edge of shattering.

Zhao Junyao stayed silent, his expression as calm and profound as still water.

His brows creased as he stepped forward slowly, wrapping her delicate frame in his powerful, unyielding arms.

"Qingqing..."

"No!"

Xia Ruqing shoved him away with savage force.

In that instant, a sudden loathing surged for the man facing her!

Why did he grasp the power to decide the fates of all?

Why could he dispatch her child straight to the battlefield?

A realm brimming with blades and hidden perils everywhere.

If disaster struck, then what? How could she keep on living?!

Without her child, what point was there in life!

No! She would never permit it to happen!

"Qingqing, calm down!"