A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1174: I Want to Dress as a Man

Yue Er’s shocking declaration left the Emperor and Empress in stunned silence for quite some time.

Xia Ruqing took it with relative ease, though Zhao Junyao felt a chill grip his heart. This was his cherished Little Princess, whom he adored with all his being. And now, she was so eager to… bid them farewell?

She was akin to a fledgling eagle, nurtured within the nest. One day, with wings strengthened and feathers fully grown, she would unfurl them to embrace the vast sky and soar into an expansive world. This would leave the two old eagles guarding the nest far behind, never to return.

The more Zhao Junyao contemplated this, the colder his heart grew, rendering him speechless for a protracted period. His sole thought was: This ungrateful little thing!

Xia Ruqing observed Zhao Junyao’s face undergo a spectrum of colors, from green to purple, purple to black, black to white, and finally back to green. A faint, albeit malicious, chuckle escaped her. "Emperor!"

"Well… let us eat. Hurry and eat!" Zhao Junyao glanced at Yue Er with a slight frown. "It’s alright! You can go now. Go eat with your Sister, with your entourage of servants, and those few cats and dogs!"

Yue Er, merely four years old, perceived no hidden meaning in her father’s words. She promptly nodded obediently. "Yes, Father Emperor!" With that, she skipped away gleefully.

Zhao Junyao’s countenance darkened further. Xia Ruqing could no longer restrain herself and hastily offered justifications! "Emperor, she is still young! She doesn’t understand things yet?! It must be that I’ve been too strict with her normally! When she heard we were going out, with no one to manage her finally, that’s why she’s happy!"

As she spoke, Xia Ruqing found herself unable to continue. The more she thought, the more her heart ached. *Is Yue Er experiencing a rebellious phase before the age of five? What kind of little padded jacket is this; it’s clearly… a little debt collector!*

Zhao Junyao remained utterly silent. After the evening meal, he sulkily perused a book while seated on the kang. Xia Ruqing inwardly sighed. *A man whose heart is broken by his little beloved is not to be trifled with!*

...The matter of journeying to Jiangnan was thus settled.

The subsequent morning, Zhao Junyao, his face grim, personally promulgated the imperial decree in court. "Regarding the Jiangnan River Dike issue, I shall personally oversee it! During my absence from the Capital City, the Crown Prince will preside over governmental affairs! The Cabinet and all ministers are to render their full assistance!"

All the assembled ministers received the decree and knelt in unison. "We accept the order!"

"Rise, then!" Zhao Junyao waved his hand dismissively, his expression still disturbingly dark. The ministers hurriedly offered their thanks, yet their hearts couldn't cease their anxious thrumming. *Why is the Emperor’s expression… so displeased?! Did something occur again? Could it be that someone in Jiangnan angered the Emperor? No! Jiangnan has not experienced any major floods this year? But there’s nothing else either. Yesterday, the Emperor seemed perfectly fine in court?!*

Everyone speculated, but to no avail. Zhao Junyao paid them no mind. Seeing that there was nothing further, he simply waved his hand. "Court is adjourned!"

At this juncture, even those with matters to discuss dared not voice them, choosing instead to return and deliberate further on their own! Without hesitation, they all knelt once more. "Farewell to the Emperor!" When they looked up again, the Emperor had already departed, not even his silhouette was visible.

...In the Fifteenth Year of Jiayuan, during the late days of May. The Emperor and Empress embarked on an incognito excursion to Jiangnan.

Early in the morning, just as the sky began to lighten. A few nondescript carriages departed from a corner gate of the Imperial Palace, proceeding directly towards the city gates along the Capital City's thoroughfares. This journey was orchestrated to be as unpretentious as possible. Whether it was the accompanying Palace Attendants or the sheer volume of luggage, every aspect was minimized, ensuring no unnecessary encumbrance before their departure.

The foremost carriage, slightly larger, accommodated both the Emperor and Empress. While not as capacious as previous imperial conveyances, it was by no means cramped. Xia Ruqing, dressed as a common woman, adorned with simple silver attire and jewelry, presented an image of utmost ordinariness. Zhao Junyao, clad in a sky-blue long shirt and holding a folding fan, exuded the air of a refined scholar. Their choice of attire effectively transformed them from potential traveling merchants into a seemingly ordinary young couple.

The second carriage, smaller in size, was designed to seat only two individuals: Zi Su and Li Shengan. Zi Yue’s placid disposition made leaving her at Duanning Palace a comforting decision. Zi Su, possessing a bold and expressive nature, was better suited to articulate and enact actions that others might hesitate to undertake. As for Li Shengan, he served as Zhao Junyao’s personal steward, an indispensable aide.

These two also adopted the guise of a young couple for the duration of this journey.

They presented themselves as companions and servants of a typical household.

In essence, they resembled nothing more than an ordinary family.

The third carriage was designated for their luggage; it contained neither a large quantity nor items of significant value, just common household possessions.

How ordinary, you might wonder?

Should they have encountered brigands while traversing the mountains, there would have been little incentive for a robbery.

Risking their lives for a capital offense, only to gain minimal profit.

Such an unrewarding endeavor was hardly worth the trouble!

Of course, all of this was merely for show.

Behind the scenes, however.

The Imperial Forest Army, the Hidden Guards, accompanying Scouts, Imperial Censors, officials from the Ministry of Works, and more were all in attendance.

In fact, their entourage was even more substantial than during any prior excursion!

After all, the safety of the Emperor and Empress was paramount!

...

The Capital City.

Once the Emperor and Empress had departed the palace.

The management of state affairs was delegated to the Crown Prince and the Cabinet ministers, who would oversee it jointly.

The administration of the harem was completely entrusted to the four concubines.

In any case, no major disruptions were anticipated.

If everything proceeded as planned, this interim period would naturally be marked by stability and tranquility.

Although the concubines harbored a degree of envy towards the Empress.

Fortunately, not everyone had accompanied them.

The Emperor had only taken the Empress with him.

This brought them a sense of relief, allowing them to continue their daily routines without concern.

The harem operates in such a manner.

As long as all parties remain on equal footing, peace of mind can be found, and disturbances can be avoided.

If one falls out of favor, they all experience it together.

If a reward is bestowed, it is shared amongst everyone.

If they remain within the palace, they all remain within its walls together.

Nothing fosters greater harmony within the harem than the principle of treating everyone equally.

...

Outside the palace.

Given that the Ministry of Works had already dispatched personnel with mortar to undertake repairs on the river dike, the Emperor and Empress were not compelled to hasten their journey.

They were at liberty to proceed at a leisurely pace, savoring the sights along the way.

However, under the sweltering heat, there was little inclination for leisurely enjoyment.

Their only recourse was to travel while seeking relief from the heat.

A month elapsed.

The Emperor and Empress finally arrived in the territory of Jiangnan.

Inside the carriage, Xia Ruqing felt somewhat listless.

"Emperor, Jiangnan is even hotter than the Capital City!"

Her lips were parched, and she felt drowsy, being someone who easily succumbs to sleepiness in the heat.

Zhao Junyao offered her a drink from a canteen, his voice soft as he reassured her.

"Endure it for just a little longer!"

"In two or three days, we shall reach the city!"

"Then, we can locate the most prominent inn by the Qinhuai River and recuperate for a few days, what do you say?"

A few sips of water later, Xia Ruqing's spirits lifted.

"That sounds wonderful!"

"When the time comes, I intend to don male attire and listen to the latest melodies on the river barges!"

Zhao Junyao found her request amusing but ultimately conceded.

"Very well!"

Xia Ruqing giggled with delight.

She envisioned a scene where a multitude of beauties would surround her.

Even though they would all be women.

Yet, who could resist the allure of beautiful things?

The mere visual pleasure would make it worthwhile!