A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1167: A True Foodie

A variety show, featuring some common magic tricks, had just concluded.

Xia Ruqing found herself less impressed by the performance and more intrigued by the reactions of the onlookers.

Some commoners were visibly frightened, others cheered with excitement, and a few were left utterly speechless.

A slight bewilderment settled upon her.

She mused, 'Is it just simple magic? Could it be that such illusions are unheard of in this ancient era?'

Her gaze shifted to Zhao Junyao, whose expression remained remarkably neutral, almost impassive.

"Husband, aren't you surprised by this?" Xia Ruqing inquired.

Zhao Junyao simply raised an eyebrow.

"What is there to be surprised about?"

Xia Ruqing was slightly taken aback by his response.

"But these are performers from outside, and they mentioned that people here have never witnessed such acts before!"

Zhao Junyao's face remained unreadable.

"Likewise, I have never witnessed performances from the Great Chu Dynasty before..."

Xia Ruqing: " ... "

His logic was so sound that she found herself unable to offer a counterargument.

However, upon further consideration, the Emperor Husband's words did hold a certain truth.

If an emperor were to constantly concern himself with such trivial matters instead of focusing on governance,

it's unlikely the common people would even have the leisure to enjoy performances.

The two continued their leisurely conversation as they ambled along the street, occasionally pushing through the crowds to sample various snacks.

Xia Ruqing, clutching a bowl of steaming hot lotus root powder dumplings, laughed heartily, her joy as radiant as the moon and flowers despite the chilly wind.

Without a doubt.

She was undeniably a true gourmand.

While wandering the streets and watching the performances earlier, she had seemed somewhat discontented.

But now, her spirits were exceptionally high.

After finishing her first bowl of dumplings, she indulged in another of sweet balls. Xia Ruqing patted her contented stomach with a smile.

"Are you full yet?" someone asked her indulgently.

"It feels like there might still be a tiny bit of space..." she replied cheekily.

"Then continue eating!"

"Alright!"

And so...

With uninhibited delight, Xia Ruqing continued her feast.

She devoured half a bowl of hot soup noodles, savored two skewers of candied hawthorns, enjoyed a crispy flatbread, and finished one piping hot roasted sweet potato.

On their way back, they passed a stall selling steamed buns, and Xia Ruqing was immediately captivated.

Her eyes locked onto the intricately crafted and adorable steamed buns, her feet seemingly rooted to the spot, unable to move forward.

'The buns contained fillings of brown sugar, red dates, red bean paste, and white sugar.'

'Shaped like tiny monkeys, little rabbits, lucky piggies, small tigers, and so on, all twelve creatures of the zodiac, each one rendered so vividly it seemed alive!'

It wasn't simply about wanting to eat more.

The sight of them instantly brought back memories of her grandmother.

During New Year celebrations in her childhood, her grandmother would prepare a large batch of these buns.

She would craft them in shapes corresponding to the zodiac animal of that particular year, never repeating a design, and offering various flavor combinations.

It had been a considerable time since she had encountered such treats.

Before she had children, she often thought of her grandmother.

Now, with four children demanding her attention, memories of her grandmother had faded even further.

Suddenly, all those recollections surged back, and her grandmother's kind and benevolent face seemed to materialize right beside her.

Xia Ruqing stood lost in thought, her gaze distant and unfocused, momentarily spaced out.

"Qingqing?"

"Qingqing?"

She failed to respond to his two calls.

Zhao Junyao immediately gestured for an attendant, instructing them to purchase all the steamed buns from the vendor's stall, and even... bought the bamboo steamer as well.

Since there was no way to know which specific shape Qingqing preferred, he decided to acquire every single one.

When she finally snapped back to reality.

Xia Ruqing looked at the substantial collection of assorted steamed buns, her expression a mixture of speechlessness and disbelief.

"Emperor, you..."

Zhao Junyao beamed with satisfaction.

"If you like these so much, I shall arrange for a cook to be assigned to you, someone who can specialize in making them, how does that sound?!"

Qingqing has lost weight; it must be attributed to the cook's inadequacy, yes, that's certainly it!

Xia Ruqing: " ... "

"Alright!"

"That's my good girl!!"

Zhao Junyao spread his cloak and drew her into his embrace.

"Are you tired? Rest for a moment, we are nearly there!"

"Okay!"

Xia Ruqing leaned into his arms, utterly bewildered throughout the entire interaction.

What was going on with Zhao Junyao!

Could he possibly have a fever?

Where were all these peculiar notions originating from?

According to Zhao Junyao's internal monologue:

I simply felt that I had neglected my wife for far too long and wished to compensate for it.

The emperor, who struggled with expressing emotions, truly did not grasp the nuances of pleasing a woman.

However... he was genuinely making his best effort.

Xia Ruqing gave a slight nod.

'Emperor, I can see you are indeed trying your best...'

'Even I feel a bit embarrassed for you!'

Nevertheless.

Zhao Junyao remained blissfully unaware of his own awkwardness.

His mood throughout the entire experience was exceptionally buoyant.

'After being so occupied all last year, I neglected Qingqing; now, everything is being set right!'

'Behold, I am an unparalleled emperor, and equally unparalleled as a husband!'

'I am quite simply a genius!'

Xia Ruqing: " ... "

...

The Lantern Festival eventually concluded.

The weather in the Imperial Capital did not show any signs of improvement; in fact, it experienced two instances of unexpected peach blossom snow.

Fortunately, the temperatures remained mild, and the snow melted within a couple of days.

The damp weather persisted for a time before the skies cleared as February arrived. February in the Capital City brings with it two joyous occasions: Firstly, the marriage of the Eldest Princess. Secondly, the Seventh Prince is to take a consort. These are significant events, particularly the Seventh Prince's new consort. The Ministry of Internal Affairs had to manage numerous arrangements, and even Xia Ruqing found herself overwhelmed with tasks. While the Seventh Prince's biological mother is absent, Xia Ruqing, as the elder sister-in-law, shoulders a considerable responsibility, akin to a mother figure, and cannot afford to be remiss. However, the Eldest Princess also required a suitable guardian; although Consort Zheng acted as the nominal foster mother, in a common family, she would merely be a concubine, lacking a respectable rank. For a royal wedding, the legitimate mother's presence is indispensable. Consequently, Xia Ruqing was swamped with duties on both fronts, her formerly slender frame diminishing further, and her legs growing weary from constant movement. Fortunately, Consort Zheng diligently lent her support, without which Xia Ruqing couldn't fathom how she would have managed the immense workload.

One day, Xia Ruqing was seated on a heated bed, meticulously perusing the dowry list presented by Consort Zheng. Consort Zheng, with a warm smile, explained from the side: "The dowry for Yiming encompasses the Empress Dowager's rewards, your contributions, gifts from Consort Cheng, Consort Hui, Consort Yun, and additional presents from the younger sisters! I have verified everything, and it all aligns with customary practices." Xia Ruqing examined the list thoroughly, finding no errors, and nodded in agreement. "You have worked hard!" Consort Zheng responded with a humble smile. "It is Your Majesty who has truly worked hard! Even in this cold weather, Your Majesty has become slimmer!" Xia Ruqing offered a faint smile, remained silent, and shifted the conversation. "Your diligent efforts in assisting the Eldest Princess to find a suitable husband, choosing the Tao family, a scholarly lineage, are greatly appreciated! In the future, she will undoubtedly be filial to you!" Consort Zheng lowered her head, a smile playing on her lips. "Your Majesty might not believe me if I said I expected nothing in return! However, I truly pity that child, and it is only right that I help her and do my part! The Tao family may not be a prominent or affluent clan, but they have upheld honor for generations! The eldest legitimate son of the Tao family has been meticulously raised! He gained early renown, is highly educated, exceptionally handsome, and possesses an upright character! Regardless of the Eldest Princess's imperfections, in the Capital City under the Emperor's watchful eye, they would not dare mistreat her! As long as the Eldest Princess lives a stable life, she is sure to have a peaceful and prosperous lifetime!"