A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 129 - 128: Can’t Always Be Thinking About Eating
’His horseback archery skills were praised by everyone, from the Late Emperor to the civil and military officials!’
’Although now busy with government affairs, the Emperor seizes every opportunity to ride horses at the drill grounds or go hunting with his brothers!’
She had slept two nights in a shabby tent, bitten all over by mosquitoes.
Now, in a small inn, there were no mosquitoes, but it was suffocatingly hot. She felt as if she was about to break down.
...
’Elder Sister Yun, are you asleep?’
Her eyes suddenly opened. Cai Die said, ’It’s Honored Lady Xi’s voice!’
Consort Yun frowned and waved her hand irritably. ’Tell her to go back; say that I’m asleep!’
Cai Die nodded and was about to go out when she heard Honored Lady Xi again.
’Elder Sister Yun, I have iced watermelon here, which I asked the innkeeper for. I specially brought one for you to taste!’
Cai Die looked back at Consort Yun.
Consort Yun, feeling hot and bothered, naturally couldn’t resist the temptation of iced watermelon and ordered the door to be opened.
After forcing a smile and exchanging pleasantries, Consort Yun ate the iced watermelon and finally felt a bit better.
She then asked with a smile, ’How did you know there was iced watermelon?’
’I was too hot to sleep and was about to go out to see when I saw Eunuch Little Zhuzi carrying one. I asked and found out the innkeeper had iced many!’ Honored Lady Xi replied with a smile.
After saying that, she sighed. ’Alas, I wanted to send one to Elder Sister Xia as well, but I knocked for a long time, and there was no answer from inside!’
’The Lord is already asleep there!’
’So, I brought one for Elder Sister Yun instead! There’s one left; Eldest Sister Lan and I will share it!’
Consort Yun’s expression changed after hearing the first two sentences.
’You mean... the Lord and Lady Xia are both asleep?’
Honored Lady Xi nodded in confusion. ’Yes, what’s wrong, Elder Sister Yun?’
’Ah... oh... nothing, nothing!’ Consort Yun managed a smile.
Honored Lady Xi chatted a bit longer with Consort Yun before leaving.
「Meanwhile,」
Consort Yun smashed the half-eaten watermelon.
She was so furious she started to laugh.
’Lady Xia is indeed a ruthless character!’
...
「The next day,」
When Zhao Junyao got up, Xia Ruqing was still sound asleep.
With no morning court to attend, he couldn’t sleep either, so he took Li Shengan for a walk on the main street.
Upon returning, Xia Ruqing had just woken up, her eyes still groggy.
Zhao Junyao stood right in front of her.
’Look, what has your Lord brought you?’
Xia Ruqing followed his gaze to the oil-paper package in his hand.
’What is it?’
Her eyes suddenly brightened.
She quickly scrambled up from the bed.
When Zhao Junyao bought it, he knew she would like it.
"I’ve never seen it before, but I saw many people buying it, so I sent Li Shengan to buy some!"
Xia Ruqing glanced at Li Shengan.
She immediately caught the extremely aggrieved look in Steward Li’s eyes.
Xia Ruqing was not unappreciative.
She immediately rose and graciously thanked Eunuch Li.
’Many thanks to Chief Steward Li!’
As she spoke, she performed a half-curtsy.
’Miss Xia is too polite; this servant was merely doing his duty!’
Xia Ruqing smiled and said no more, instead opening the oil-paper package.
’Sesame cakes?’
Zhao Junyao: ’???’
Li Shengan: ’Oh, so this is called a sesame cake!’
Xia Ruqing saw ten of them lined up neatly inside the paper package.
she thought.
Then she said, ’My Lord, Chief Steward Li, this kind of sesame cake is a popular snack among the common folk.’
’It’s fragrant and crispy. In winter, it pairs well with a bowl of hot mutton soup...’
Zhao Junyao nodded.
Li Shengan mused.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard Xia Ruqing say, ’It’s too hot in summer, and the summer heat is oppressive. Mutton soup will make us overheat, so let’s have chicken soup instead...’
Xia Ruqing said this, then had Zi Yue help her freshen up.
She rolled up her sleeves and went to find the innkeeper.
「Half a Shi Chen later,」
A delicious and appetizing chicken soup was ready.
There were sesame cakes, chicken soup, and a few additional side dishes of pickles.
Zhao Junyao ate to his heart’s content, and even Li Shengan had the good fortune to indulge a little.
By noon, as the main party was about to depart, Xia Ruqing was still burping contentedly.
...
The procession traveled at a leisurely pace.
「Seven or eight days later,」
They finally reached the borders of Jiangnan.
Sitting in the carriage, Xia Ruqing could feel the air becoming increasingly humid.
’It’s hot and humid, truly uncomfortable!’
Zhao Junyao, however, felt no discomfort. He leaned back in the carriage, resting with his eyes closed.
Xia Ruqing thought.
With that thought, she too closed her eyes and gradually fell asleep.
「As twilight fell that evening,」
The carriage procession entered the city.
The noisy crowd quickly awakened Xia Ruqing.
’My Lord, where are we?’
Zhao Junyao, his eyes still closed, replied in a steady voice, ’This is Jinling City, located in Jiangnan.’
’We arrived so soon?’ Xia Ruqing was somewhat excited.