A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1203: He’s Dead! I Am the Emperor!

Behind a partition of beads, a man's face slowly came into view.

Staring at the face that was impossibly familiar, Xia Ruqing froze.

"Emper..."

"Emperor?"

Her voice trembled, afraid to confirm her realization. She rubbed her eyes fiercely, ignoring the sharp sting in her hands. Glancing up again, he was still there.

"Emperor, is it truly you?"

Overcome with an intense wave of joy, she let out a cry. Mustering all her strength, she sprang up and rushed out barefoot.

"It really is you!"

"I thought you were dead, you scoundrel!"

Tears streaming down her face, Xia Ruqing threw herself into his embrace, sobbing uncontrollably. Yet, at this very moment, the man known as 'Zhao Junyao' showed no sign of happiness. He even appeared bewildered, his hands and feet unsure of where to rest.

The surrounding palace maids turned ashen, trembling as they knelt. They couldn't fathom the background of this young lady! Why did she address their master as 'Emperor'? Their master harbored such deep hatred for the current Emperor, yet she spoke those words directly to him. She was surely beyond saving.

The maids began calculating how to disappear into the background, hoping to avoid any repercussions when their master inevitably unleashed his fury. However, they waited, and waited, but no anger came from their master. A sense of confusion settled upon them. What was happening?

The events that followed were even more baffling. Not only did their master refrain from anger, but he actually picked up the young lady and carried her towards the bed. The maids were utterly stunned.

'Goodness, I've never witnessed Master treat anyone with such tenderness!'

'Indeed, since when did Master possess such a gentle disposition?!'

'So, she is someone favored by Master; truly fortunate!'

'Hmph, lucky indeed!'

Xia Ruqing allowed 'Zhao Junyao' to hold her as he gently set her down on the bed. Tears of pure joy streamed down her face.

"Why aren't you speaking?"

"How did you manage to escape?"

"Emperor, how could you be so reckless!"

"You are the Emperor; you cannot perish. You should have escaped first!"

'Zhao Junyao' seemed displeased, his tone distant.

"What are you talking about?"

This single sentence struck Xia Ruqing with immense shock.

Strange! Why did she feel so profoundly strange?! This person was undoubtedly Zhao Junyao! It had to be him! Yet, why did she feel absolutely no sense of recognition? They had been together for so many years. His words, his laughter, his joys and sorrows, his very mannerisms—every single aspect was deeply familiar. It was impossible for him to feel this foreign.

Xia Ruqing instinctively recoiled, her voice firm, her eyes filled with caution and apprehension.

"You are not Zhao Junyao!"

"Who are you, truly?"

'Zhao Junyao' narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone turning icy.

"How could I possibly be Zhao Junyao?"

"Qingqing, you have mistaken me for someone else!"

"Zhao Junyao is already dead. I am... Zhao Junqi!"

Xia Ruqing was utterly dumbfounded. She could not believe what she was seeing, nor the words that left his mouth. Shaking her head violently, her body retreated further and further.

"No!"

"Impossible!"

"You are speaking utter nonsense; he would not die!"

"You... you... Zhao Junqi?"

Her inner world was shattered. Xia Ruqing's mind went completely blank. She coughed violently twice, spitting out several mouthfuls of dark blood. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted once more.

Zhao Junqi remained unruffled. He lifted his robe, sat by the bedside, and then gave an order.

"Go find a physician!"

"Yes!"

The maids received the command and departed in an orderly fashion. The remaining maids were tasked with the duty of cleaning the bloodstains from the bed.

Before long, the physician arrived. He was an old man, around fifty years of age, with white hair and a matching beard, renowned as the finest doctor in Guangnan City. He skillfully lifted Xia Ruqing's eyelids, examined her tongue, gently touched her earlobes, and finally felt her pulse. After taking her pulse and asking several questions, he finally delivered his diagnosis:

"Reporting to Master, this Madam has experienced a severe shock. Her mind is somewhat clouded, and at best, she may speak nonsensically, or at worst, she could be hallucinating! If this condition persists, it could endanger her life. Proper care and the avoidance of further distress are strongly advised."

Zhao Junqi narrowed his eyes.

So... she was hallucinating, mistaking him for Zhao Junyao. Heh heh!

Zhao Junyao, that despicable wretch, had a harem teeming with women; he was heartless, ruthless, cold, and cruel. What was so admirable about him that everyone still remembered him, even in their delirious state!

Zhao Junqi's expression grew increasingly grim, and the atmosphere around him turned noticeably colder. The maids remained kneeling on the ground in silence, and even the physician, sensing the palpable tension, dared not utter another word. The room descended into an profound silence.

After an unmeasured amount of time, Zhao Junqi finally waved his hand.

"Prepare the medicine according to the prescription!"

"You all may leave now!"

"Yes!"

The maids and the doctor exited together.

As they were leaving, the door was securely closed behind them.

Each of them couldn't help but let out a sigh in their hearts.

’Master truly cares about this young lady!’

’Indeed!’

’Our Master’s brilliant like a jade tree, except for being a bit thin, he’s handsome in every way, this young lady is truly fortunate!’

Some even felt a pang of jealousy.

"I don’t think this young lady is all that beautiful?"

"I’ve never seen her before, when did she catch Master’s attention?"

"Oh? You’re feeling jealous now?" another maid cruelly mocked.

"Spit! You’re the one who's jealous!"

"Hurry up and get the medicine brewed, otherwise Master will lose his temper again!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

They indeed dared not say more, hurrying towards the pharmacy.

...

Inside the room.

Zhao Junqi looked at the unconscious Xia Ruqing on the bed, a complex smile gracing his face.

"He’s dead! I am the Emperor now!"

"Rest assured, you will continue being the Empress, I won’t treat you poorly!"

"Oh, right, and your children!"

"Rest assured, I surely won’t neglect them either!"

"See, isn’t this great!!"

"By then, everything in the Great Chu Dynasty will be ours!"

Zhao Junqi spoke while anticipating, his face full of expectation.

The unconscious Xia Ruqing saw and heard nothing.

Half a Shi Chen later.

A palace maid brought the brewed medicine over.

Zhao Junqi took it, gestured for the maid to help her sit up, and personally fed her.

But.

Xia Ruqing’s face was ashen, she clenched her teeth tightly, refusing to open her mouth.

Zhao Junqi became somewhat impatient.

The maid was also too terrified to raise her head.

During this awkward moment, Xia Ruqing suddenly murmured.

"Don’t go!"

"Zhao Junyao, don’t go!"

Zhao Junqi instantly became enraged, but he hid it well, not showing his anger in his eyes.

But the atmosphere around him grew colder.

Just as no one knew what to do next.

Xia Ruqing suddenly woke up, still in a state of shock.

Her eyes fierce, like a little wolf cub provoked, or a mother wolf protecting her cubs.

"You..."

"Zhao Junqi, what do you want?"

Zhao Junqi smiled faintly.

"I’m not doing anything?!"

"Why be so wary? If I wanted to harm you, why would I save you?"

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment; that made sense!

But she remained vigilant.

"Then why did you save me?"

Zhao Junqi’s eyes contained a smile, his tone gentle.

"Because... you are the Empress!"