A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1193: The Little Fishing Village on the Hillside

Reality bites, and her helplessness was palpable.

That night, Zhao Junyao still did not escort her out. She dined in solitude.

Xia Ruqing, huffing and puffing, retreated to her bed and sulked herself to sleep.

Guangnan’s September nights remained warm, the Crimson-Purple Patterned Canopy enclosing her bed, draped in fine silk. Through the delicate fabric, she gazed at the radiant moon outside her window. Her heart ached for her distant children and for Zhao Junyao, who was away.

Suddenly, Xia Ruqing felt akin to a mother hen guarding her nest, an overwhelming sense of crisis washing over her.

Years of indulgence had led to everyone’s desire to shield her whenever danger loomed, preventing her from encountering even the slightest harm.

Unfortunately, her own pride often interfered, always yearning to stir up some excitement beyond her confines. Such melancholy!

Xia Ruqing lamented, heartbroken: One truly cannot live as a mere decorative pest!

If you wish to venture forth, you must possess some knowledge!

Xia Ruqing pondered deeply but could not identify any skills she possessed beyond her culinary talents. A wave of depression washed over her, and she sighed involuntarily.

'Indeed, time travel is a sophisticated art; do not attempt it without a golden finger!'

'Eh? But I haven't even tried to attempt it?!'

If she hadn’t fallen gravely ill, unable to afford treatment, she wouldn’t have journeyed back to this ancient era. It was entirely possible she would still be toiling away in modern times, mired in poverty.

Once her grandmother passed, she was not only poor but also utterly alone, with no one to look after her. A bittersweet reality, so intensely bittersweet!

With her thoughts in disarray, she gradually succumbed to sleep.

She awoke the next morning to find the sun already high in the sky, signaling late morning.

Upon waking.

Zhao Junyao had returned, appearing quite dispressed. The cause was his fruitless search.

Xia Ruqing felt a pang of worry. "Your Majesty, could you have been mistaken from the very beginning? Such profound peace makes rebellion a difficult endeavor!"

Zhao Junyao’s eyes narrowed coldly. "Impossible! My intuition dictates otherwise!"

He was convinced Zhao Junqi was somewhere in Guangnan, lying low and awaiting an opportune moment.

"Then... could he perhaps not be within the city?" Xia Ruqing’s question arose inadvertently.

Zhao Junyao contemplated her suggestion, finding it remarkably plausible. The following day, he departed with a few trusted aides to scour the areas outside the city.

After extensive searching that spanned half a month, their efforts yielded nothing. Even Zhao Junyao began to harbor doubts.

Xia Ruqing’s skepticism grew even stronger. "I simply have a feeling you might be incorrect! Perhaps... the serpent is hesitant to emerge from its lair?"

She then began to advise the Emperor to relax, to cease his constant state of tension. Maybe a shift in perspective could lead to unexpected discoveries?

"What sort of discoveries?" Zhao Junyao inquired, puzzled.

Xia Ruqing offered a mischievous smile. "Like... taking me out for a leisurely walk!"

"Your Majesty, it has been half a month; I feel as though I am suffocating! Why not indulge me with a breath of fresh air?"

Her plea had two underlying motives: firstly, her genuine desire to go out; secondly, her hope to perhaps lure the elusive serpent out.

Zhao Junyao, seeing her evident distress, felt a surge of helplessness but ultimately agreed. He reasoned that if she was so eager to explore, a simple outing might be arranged. Continued inaction was not a viable solution.

Xia Ruqing clapped her hands with delight. "Wonderful, simply wonderful! I wish to visit the seashore! I haven't properly experienced it in many years; I long for a stroll by the sea!"

Zhao Junyao found her preference peculiar. "What is so appealing about the seaside? Aside from the water, it's merely an expanse of barren sand!"

However, Xia Ruqing's perspective differed. "The seaside offers endless delights! I adore watching the fishermen cast their lines! Imagine how marvelous it would be if we could purchase some of their catch and prepare a feast of seafood!"

Zhao Junyao was left speechless, still preoccupied with thoughts of food.

Xia Ruqing was momentarily stunned by her own unguarded words. Heavens, her mind had been blank just moments ago! How could such a statement about food have escaped her lips? It seemed her only known skill truly was eating!

Feeling both embarrassed and awkward...

Zhao Junyao gazed at her with profound helplessness. "Very well!" Without another word, he made the necessary arrangements.

Over the subsequent two days.

Zhao Junyao continued his pattern of early departures and late returns. Though curious, Xia Ruqing refrained from asking too many questions, patiently awaiting developments.

On the third day.

As Xia Ruqing opened her eyes early that morning, she observed Zi Su diligently packing.

Xia Ruqing rose from her bed and inquired with evident curiosity. "What is all this...?"

Zi Su replied with a smile. "This is according to Eunuch Li’s instructions! He bid me to pack some of your personal belongings; we shall be residing in a small fishing village south of the city for a few nights!"

Xia Ruqing's eyes sparkled with elation. "Excellent, truly excellent! Pack generously; the air there is quite humid, and clothes may not dry easily!"

"Rest assured, my lady!" Zi Su responded with a smile.

After their packing, personal ablutions, and breakfast were completed.

Precisely at that moment, Li Shengan dispatched the Young Eunuch to escort her.

After a thorough inspection of the room to ensure nothing was left behind, Xia Ruqing and Zi Su, laden with their belongings, exited.

Inside the departing carriage, leaving the city behind.

Xia Ruqing would occasionally draw back the curtains, gazing at the scenery unfolding outside.

From a sky of azure to hues of green, her spirits soared.

The very air, imbued with the essence of liberty, felt exquisitely fresh and sweet.

Leaning against the window frame, Xia Ruqing allowed the gentle, salty sea breeze to playfully dance with her bangs.

This particular vista, this tranquil setting.

Suddenly brought to mind the melody of the song "The Snail".

She felt akin to the song's protagonist, that unskillful snail.

Despite lacking in intellect or arriving with naught but her bare hands, her ambition was to soar into the vast blue on a leaf.

After all... true freedom was what her heart craved.

It's a curious thing, how humans are never quite content.

When impoverished, one longs for riches.

When blessed with wealth, the desire for freedom emerges.

A wry smile touched Xia Ruqing's lips.

Perhaps, once liberated, she would find herself yearning for the lofty status and resplendent glory she once held.

Indeed, humanity is fundamentally contradictory, perpetually gazing at a taller mountain beyond the one they stand upon.

Therefore... the wisest course is to cherish and live fully in the present moment.

The carriage rumbled past a quaint fishing hamlet.

Then, it gradually came to a halt before a humble farmhouse nestled in the hillside, just beyond the village limits.

Both Xia Ruqing and Zi Su alighted from the carriage, taking in their new surroundings.

This small hill was neither imposing nor particularly treacherous; the path leading into the mountain was remarkably level.

Standing at the entrance to the yard, one could discern the distant, shimmering blue of the sea, miles away, its salty fragrance carried on the breeze.

A closer perspective revealed the small fishing village in sharp relief – a settlement situated less than five miles from the coast, comprising a mere twenty families sustained by the bounty of the sea.

She closed her eyes, the scene painting itself vividly in her mind.

In the boundless blue expanse above, several clouds drifted like wisps of spun sugar.

Beneath them, in the humble fishing village, life unfurled with everyday sounds: the crowing of roosters, the barking of dogs, the comings and goings of fishermen, the gentle rocking of small boats, and the joyful cries of children at play.

Young maidens and housewives gathered in small groups by the pond, their laughter mingling as they washed clothes.

In shaded corners, two indolent cats slumbered, while a litter of fluffy puppies tumbled and playfully wrestled by the roadside.

Within the confines of the chicken coop, a brood of chicks trailed their mother hen, diligently learning the art of pecking for grain, and in the pond, a mother duck proudly guided her brood, splashing and frolicking in the water.

All was imbued with an profound sense of peace and tranquility.

Like the crystal-clear flow of a spring creek, it was a beauty so breathtaking it stole one's breath away.

Xia Ruqing remained lost in this idyllic scene, utterly captivated.

Until Zi Su's gentle tug on her sleeve broke the spell.

"Mistress, let us head inside!"