A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1187: At Least She’s the Real Mother, Right?

For all these years, Prince Yan had been plotting his moves in Guangnan while I was barely getting by in Jiangnan. Though on the surface we seemed to be on separate paths, in truth, our fates were intricately linked. If Prince Yan had no intention of rebelling, then so be it. However, if he truly harbored thoughts of rebellion, the Lien Family would undoubtedly be the very first to lend their support. The most crucial element for any rebellion is wealth; without substantial silver, raising an army or achieving success would be utterly impossible. Could this, then, be the cunning plan devised by the Lien Family? Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes, a thoughtful expression on his face. Xia Ruqing appeared quite perplexed. "Your Majesty, didn't Prince Yan already pass away? Back when Prince Yan attempted his rebellion, why did the Lien Family not step forward to offer their aid?" To her innocent query, Zhao Junyao felt a mixture of amusement and helplessness. "Prince Yan may be gone, but Zhao Junqi is still alive." "As for the Lien Family, it's highly probable they were providing covert support all along." What kind of merchant would dare to openly declare their allegiance in such a sensitive matter without seeking a death wish for themselves! "Their strategy was to conserve their strength and continuously, steadfastly support the cause!" As he spoke of this, Zhao Junyao's mind suddenly drifted back to the months preceding Zhao Junqi's act of treason and betrayal. The three prominent families of Jiangnan had begun to act in clandestine ways, artificially inflating grain prices, sowing chaos, and accumulating vast fortunes. At the time, he couldn't discern any connection between these seemingly disparate events. But now, looking back... weren't these merchants actually engaged in a massive fundraising effort for the rebels? Everything suddenly clicked into place, fitting together perfectly. Zhao Junyao finally grasped the full picture. It was during those very years that the seemingly peaceful family life of Prince Yan, coupled with the profligate behavior of Zhao Junqi, were all merely a grand deception. From their tender youth, their intentions were nothing but calculated pretense. From the very beginning to the bitter end, they harbored deep-seated resentment, never once letting go of their bitterness. Terror, apprehension, and a whirlwind of complex emotions swirled within Zhao Junyao, leaving him unable to articulate his feelings. Truthfully, the transgressions of his father's generation were not his to judge as right or wrong. Yet, he couldn't help but wish he could stand in his father's stead and look down upon Prince Yan with disdain. The conflicts between men should not devolve into the sort of underhanded scheming typically associated with women hiding in the shadows. If there is to be a contest, it should be fought openly and honorably! Amassing troops to threaten the palace, forming alliances with ministers to orchestrate a coup, or recruiting soldiers to launch a full-scale rebellion – these are all acceptable avenues. They should have had the boldness to come forward openly. The victor takes all; in such a swift and decisive scenario, Zhao Junyao would have felt no fear. But engaging in these shadowy dealings behind the scenes was something he was utterly unskilled at, nor did he hold any respect for such methods. ... Xia Ruqing contemplated the situation for a considerable time before a flicker of understanding finally dawned in her eyes. "So, this Lien Family was loyal to Prince Yan!" "And after Prince Yan's demise, they shifted their allegiance to support Zhao Junqi!" Zhao Junyao nodded, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. 'You've finally understood it, Qingqing!' Xia Ruqing's eyes widened in alarm. "Then..." "Then the Lien Family accumulated their wealth to finance Zhao Junqi's rebellion?" Zhao Junyao nodded once more. "That should be the case!" All the evidence he had meticulously gathered pointed unequivocally towards Zhao Junqi. Apart from him, Zhao Junyao couldn't conceive of anyone else harboring such profound resentment against the Royal Family. Xia Ruqing was left speechless. 'Your Majesty, someone intends to rebel, and yet you remain so calm! Truly magnanimous!' "Then now... the Lien Family members are all deceased, what is our next course of action?" Zhao Junyao offered a faint smile. "There's no need to rush!" "The next step is... to coax the snake out!" Xia Ruqing finally grasped the implication of his words. Coaxing the snake out, then catching the turtle in a jar – capturing them all in one decisive move. With this carefully orchestrated sequence, it was estimated that the opposition would have absolutely no chance to salvage the situation. Xia Ruqing subtly stole a glance at him, thinking, 'Truly devious!' Zhao Junyao let out a deep sigh. "It's getting late; let's have dinner and get some rest early. Tomorrow... will be a busy day!" Xia Ruqing nodded in agreement. "Alright!" The two then proceeded to have their dinner, hand in hand. Following their meal, darkness had already descended. The rain outside had considerably subsided, yet the persistent dripping against the windowpane was still audible. Unable to fall asleep, the couple casually selected two books lying near the candlestick. They began reading, occasionally engaging in conversation. "I wonder how Yue Er and the others are doing!" "Now that autumn has arrived, the Capital must surely be cooler than here!" "Yue Er has a habit of kicking off her quilt while sleeping, and she dislikes wearing thick clothes. I do hope she doesn't catch a cold!" The young girl found heavy clothing to be a nuisance. She would absolutely refuse to wear thick garments until the weather became genuinely frigid. If her sister dressed her in warmer attire, she would immediately remove it. When her sister was present, she could manage it somewhat. But when she was absent... Xia Ruqing rubbed her temples, finding it almost unfathomable! Zhao Junyao, however, remained remarkably composed.

"With so many people attending to them, surely nothing will go wrong!"

"They are so far away, you needn’t fret about it!"

Xia Ruqing felt a touch of helplessness about the situation.

"That’s true, yet how could a mother not worry about her own child?"

"After all, they are her flesh and blood, are they not?"

Zhao Junyao’s gaze suddenly flickered, his body tensing almost imperceptibly as if a long-healed wound had been struck.

‘How could a mother not worry about her own child?’

‘How could a mother not care about her child?!’

Indeed, a mother’s heart cannot remain indifferent to her offspring.

However, he had grown up.

His mother, the current Empress Dowager, had never once shown concern for him.

From his earliest childhood right through to adulthood.

When he fell ill, it was his Sister and Wet Nurse who kept vigil through the night to tend to him.

When he suffered injuries, it was the Imperial Physician who meticulously treated his wounds.

When he felt weary, his occasional indulgence in drinks with his ministers and brothers typically meant him leaning on his own strength.

The women within the Harem were merely instruments for pleasure, for fulfilling physical needs, and for continuing the royal bloodline; he had never harbored significant expectations from any of them.

Consequently, a profound sense of loneliness had been his constant companion since childhood.

No one ever perceived his inner pain and exhaustion, not even his own mother.

In the past, he had consistently deceived himself:

The bonds of family affection within the Royal Family were inherently frigid, and as a Prince, he should not be languishing in the Harem, but rather receiving direct tutelage from his father.

Possessing his father's affection and guidance was sufficient; he neither craved nor cared to contemplate anything beyond that.

And so...

When his elder brother, Prince Jing, fell gravely ill, and Consort An Taipin offered fervent prayers for him throughout the night, Zhao Junyao remained indifferent.

When his second brother, Prince Zhuang, accidentally took a tumble from his horse during an autumn hunt, Consort Zhou Taipin wept inconsolably and stayed by his brother's side all night, yet he did not even bat an eye.

When his fourth brother, Prince Wu, concluded his daily martial arts training and studies, Empress Dowager Jing personally presented him with his favorite snacks, an act that only fueled his disdain.

To say nothing of Little Fifth and Little Sixth, who were still quite young during those times.

But Empress Dowager Zhen, with her fiercely protective nature, frequently caused disturbances over trivial matters throughout the Imperial Palace, an exhibition he deemed unworthy, always dismissing it with a chuckle.

Oh, how high and mighty he had been back then!

He was the prince personally instructed by his father.

His father had declared that in the future, he would ascend the throne, and naturally, he could not be seen hiding within the Harem amidst his mother's doting affection; instead, he must strive harder than all the others.

Therefore, he never once considered yearning for his mother's affection, actively fabricating various justifications to rationalize his stance.

For example...

His elder brother, born out of wedlock, had no claim to the throne, so Consort An Taipin's excessive doting was understandable.

His second brother was evidently too careless, his fall from the horse a clear sign of inadequate practice.

His fourth brother required no special mention; a man surely did not need to be so delicate, and Empress Dowager Jing was simply being overly indulgent.

During those times.

Although he often allowed himself to imagine a future where his mother might also dote on him, akin to how those Imperial Concubines and Consorts cherished their own children.

Alas...

He spent all those years waiting, yet not a single moment did she ever attend to him!