A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1242: Investigating the Case

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With this guess in mind,

all the things he hadn’t been able to figure out for years now fell into place.

Everything that had defied explanation could now be explained.

It was just a pity that a guess was, in the end, only a guess.

Right now he had neither witnesses nor physical evidence; if he rushed out and declared that the Empress Dowager was not his birth mother,

forget the people of the realm not believing him—

even he himself might not be a full ten parts convinced!

So the most pressing task at the moment was to find evidence.

Zhao Junyao pondered for a long time, and an idea had already formed in his mind.

He glanced outside at the darkening sky.

He summoned Zhou Lin and passed his plan down to him.

"First, we must find this Lady Tian’s full title! Track down every woman with the surname Tian who entered the palace that year, one by one. I refuse to believe there’ll be no trace at all!"

"Second, find the people who once served in the Harem under my imperial father, especially those from thirty years ago!"

"If no one can be found in the Capital City, then go to my eldest and second brothers and the other brothers with their own fiefs! Each one counts; you must get the information thoroughly!"

"Third..."

Zhao Junyao thought for a moment and still ordered on.

"Go to Guangnan and see if there are any of Prince Yan’s old men still around. If you can find them, bring them back and I’ll interrogate them myself!"

When he finished, he took off the jade thumb ring he always carried and handed it to Zhou Lin.

"This is the token for secret orders. Seeing this is as good as seeing me in person. Wherever you go, no one will dare stop you!"

Zhou Lin knelt on the ground and solemnly received the token.

"Your servant obeys!"

Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Last time you sent out barely a dozen men to investigate. You found nothing, and I did not blame you."

"But this time... I want you to spare no cost to find the truth!"

"If you still can’t uncover it, then there’s no need to return to see me!"

Zhou Lin dropped to one knee and cupped his fists.

"Your Majesty, forgive me. Your servant will not fail in what Your Majesty has entrusted!!"

Zhao Junyao nodded in satisfaction and waved a hand.

"Get up first."

Zhou Lin rose and withdrew respectfully.

...

By the time all this was done, lamps were already being lit.

Zhao Junyao had more or less guessed the answer in his heart; all that was missing was a piece of evidence to prove his suspicion.

So he no longer tangled himself up in pain.

After all, in his heart, he had long since stopped taking the Empress Dowager as his mother.

Once he accepted this as fact,

all the Empress Dowager’s actions had a cause, and thus could no longer hurt him.

As for himself,

on some day in the future, once he had the evidence, he would be able to kill the Empress Dowager cleanly and decisively.

This feeling of no longer having to struggle or bear any psychological burden truly made him feel suddenly enlightened.

It was like the hemp ropes binding his body were being untied one by one, and he was regaining his freedom.

He actually felt somewhat cheerful.

He glanced outside; the sky was already dark.

Zhao Junyao called Li Shengan in.

"Prepare the carriage for Duanning Palace!"

Li Shengan answered and, as usual, went to have everything prepared.

...

In Duanning Palace,

Xia Ruqing was still wondering why the Emperor hadn’t come over at this hour today.

She was just thinking of sending someone to inquire,

when someone outside suddenly announced, "The Emperor is here!"

Xia Ruqing let out a breath and smiled.

"Then there’s no need now!"

"Zi Yue, hurry and have the meal laid out!"

"Yes!"

Zi Yue answered with a smile and walked out.

Wearing plain clothes, Zhao Junyao strode in with long steps.

Xia Ruqing froze for a moment.

"Your Majesty, why are you dressed like this? Could it be that you..."

There was little expression on Zhao Junyao’s face as he said blandly,

"I went out of the palace today."

Seeing that his expression wasn’t good, Xia Ruqing didn’t ask more; he was probably still vexed over the Empress Dowager.

Thinking of the Empress Dowager, Xia Ruqing felt a wave of resentment rise again.

"That old hag, instead of taking care of her health and chanting scriptures properly,"

"what does she think about all day long? Only how to stuff concubines into her son’s bed. Her brain must be diseased!"

But griping was one thing; she didn’t dare say it out loud.

When the dishes were set out, the two of them sat on one side and ate their dinner in silence.

After they finished eating, the Palace Attendants quickly tidied the room until it was spotless.

On ordinary days,

the two of them would certainly sit a while in front of the soft couch, reading, writing, or chatting.

But tonight, neither of them was in the mood.

Xia Ruqing saw that the moonlight outside was quite nice, and suggested,

"Why don’t we go outside for a look?"

Zhao Junyao nodded.

"Very well."

The two rose together and walked out hand in hand.

Li Shengan and Zi Yue did not dare slack off; once they finished tidying up, they followed respectfully behind.

They didn’t dare get too close, keeping a distance of about two zhang.

With her mind on the vegetables she’d planted, Xia Ruqing unconsciously walked to the back courtyard.

Zhao Junyao had nowhere particular to go either, so he simply followed her.

When they reached the back courtyard,

Xia Ruqing saw that everything she’d planted was growing wonderfully, and she smiled.

"These spring bamboo shoots are the best; they’ll be ready to eat soon. And the spinach—look how lush and green it is!"

Zhao Junyao gave her a faint glance.

"It seems you’re very gifted in this regard."

Xia Ruqing chuckled.

"So-so, really!"

"It’s not like I haven’t done this before!"

"Maybe it’s because I’m from a small place; whenever I see soil, it feels like I’ve run into my hometown. It just feels especially close!"

As she spoke, she took off her shoes and socks and sat down on a huge Taihu Stone by the edge of the Lotus Root Pond.

She often brought the children here to fish on this rock.

Now she sat on it at her ease, looking up at the moon in the sky.

"When I’m old, I’ll go back to my hometown in Jiangnan and find a place, buy a piece of land, build a courtyard, and live a carefree, secluded life!"

Zhao Junyao nodded.

"I think that would be very good, but..."

He furrowed his brows.

"If you leave, what will I do?"

Xia Ruqing couldn’t help laughing and looked at him.

"If I leave, you can just be a good Emperor!"

Zhao Junyao hurriedly shook his head.

"That won’t do!"

Although emperors through the ages only abdicated in death,

he felt that once you were old and no longer capable, you ought to step down and yield to the worthy.

Especially after witnessing how his wise and brilliant imperial father, in those last years, had grown paranoid day after day and issued one foolish decree after another.

It only made his own resolve firmer.

In the future, when he grew old himself, he would abdicate!

Though "abdicate" didn’t sound very pleasant; better to...

Zhao Junyao rubbed his head, a little amused at himself.

He was barely thirty and already thinking about things decades ahead—he must be mad.

A man should stand between heaven and earth, his ambition set on the four corners of the world.

Especially a man born into the Royal Family, who had no right to yearn for idle clouds and wild cranes.

Even if he truly could attain it, it would only be when he was old and no longer fit for duty.

Otherwise, if he went chasing idle clouds and wild cranes while still young, he’d be failing the realm, the people, and the ancestors of the dynasty.

"Better not to think so much."

Xia Ruqing pursed her lips in a smile and gently massaged his temples for him.

"It’s all my fault, luring your thoughts into restlessness too!"