A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1417 - 1415: The Age of No Doubt

"Why is that?"

Xia Ruqing pushed the chilled honeydew melon in front of her.

Yue Er ate a piece, stayed silent for a long while, and then shook her head.

"Mother, it’s nothing!"

"Maybe it’s too hot today, I might have a heatstroke!"

Xia Ruqing twitched her lips.

Thinking, my daughter! With you having a heatstroke? You’ve been training tirelessly under the sun for years, how could you get a heatstroke?

As they say, no one knows a daughter better than her mother; Yue Er must’ve encountered something.

But... what could she have come across?

Curiosity, speculation, confusion, bewilderment.

...

Yue Er sat for a while, ate some snacks, and then left.

The evening meal was shared between Zhao Junyao and her.

After dinner, Xia Ruqing recounted Yue Er’s situation for the day.

Zhao Junyao stroked his half-inch-long beard and said lightly.

"Girls get older, having these thoughts is normal!"

"Counting the years, she’s already sixteen. It’s time to arrange a marriage!"

Xia Ruqing was a bit surprised.

"Weren’t you planning to keep her a couple more years? You said you wanted Yue Er to find someone she likes?"

Zhao Junyao nodded nonchalantly.

"Yes!"

"I do want to keep my daughter a couple more years, but you should also pay attention to these changes!"

"The way she’s acting now, I think she has someone in mind!"

Xia Ruqing rubbed her forehead and looked up.

"Alright!"

"My fault!"

For him to care about such matters of the heart shows how much Yue Er means to him.

Then Zhao Junyao continued.

"A grown girl shouldn’t linger at home, if she truly likes someone, you must inform me first!"

"If her feelings are genuine, that’s fine, but if someone dares to deceive my daughter’s feelings, I will bury their entire family!"

Xia Ruqing: "..."

Are you muddled?

For over a decade, who in the entire Great Chu doesn’t know you’ve pampered Yi Zhao to the sky?

If she wasn’t your daughter, I’d be jealous too, wouldn’t I?

Deceiving feelings.

No one dares to deceive Yue Er, that would be utterly foolish!

Could someone so foolish capture Yue Er’s heart?

"Emperor, you shouldn’t worry about such little things!"

"You’re busy governing every day, you should rest!"

Zhao Junyao nodded, suddenly smiled, and said.

"Qingqing, you’ve worked hard too!"

"Next, you’ll need to handle these children!"

He suddenly looked worried.

"Why are they all so inactive?"

"It’s one thing for a daughter; but what’s with these sons?"

"Hurry up; I’m over forty and still want to hold grandchildren!"

Xia Ruqing couldn’t help but laugh and cry.

"Didn’t Princess Consort Hong just give birth to a son? Consort Cheng just brought him to you the other day!"

Zhao Junyao shook his head.

"That’s different; I want a legitimate grandson!"

Xia Ruqing: "..." You do have high standards!

"Okay, I understand!"

"It’s late; let’s rest early!"

Now over forty, Zhao Junyao’s energy wasn’t quite the same, and he was admittedly a bit tired.

After ordering the removal of two ice basins, the two washed up and retired.

...

Since Zhao Junyao mentioned this.

Xia Ruqing began to arrange matters.

She first gathered her three sons, and after subtly probing them.

She started inquiring within the capital about the various noble, marriageable young women, their character, appearance, family background, and education.

She also paid more attention to Yue Er.

After half a year of relentless effort.

She finally arranged everything for her children properly.

Of course, whether these brats accept or not is another matter.

...

For Chenchen, she considered the girl from the Qin Family, where the Grand Scholar of the Cabinet resides.

That girl passed Xia Ruqing’s evaluation personally: elegant and dignified, noble character, well-read, gracious and composed, very befitting of a Crown Princess Consort.

She was quite satisfied, so she called Chenchen over, handed him a portrait, and said.

"What do you think of this girl?"

Though Crown Prince Chen is diligent and hardworking in his career, his romantic life remains blank.

He stared at the beautiful woman in the portrait for a few moments, yet his gaze remained undisturbed.

He shook his head.

"Mother’s kindness is appreciated!"

"But I don’t want to marry yet!"

"If you’re really anxious, perhaps send a few concubines for company first!"

Xia Ruqing twitched her lips.

Why is her son’s perspective identical to his father’s?

Sleeping with women and marrying are two different matters; concubines are just bed warmers without any moral consciousness.

But thinking from the other angle, he is the Crown Prince in this ancient feudal society, the future ruler of the world.

Chastity? It doesn’t exist?

Not just him; no man possesses chastity.

She resisted the urge to beat him up and nodded.

"Later I’ll have someone send you some beautiful ones!"

Crown Prince Chen curved his lips and added.

"Thank you, Mother. And make sure they aren’t troublesome! I dislike them fighting!"

Xia Ruqing twitched her lips again.

"Understood!"

...

Sending off Chenchen.

She called Henger and Yeye next, both even less reliable.

Henger was somewhat better; he politely declined her request and solemnly declared.

"Mother, marrying naturally requires a mutual understanding; I have yet to meet someone with whom my heart resonates, hence I cannot marry!"

Yeye was more straightforwardly thick-faced.

"Mother, my backyard is already full of women; it’s plenty, I don’t need more!"

Xia Ruqing rubbed her forehead, holding back her helplessness, and shooed them all out.

Reflecting afterward.

"It’s all my fault for spoiling them too much!"

"Look at Consort Cheng, she’s already holding a grandson; aren’t Hong Wang and Princess Consort Hong enough in harmony? Aren’t they compatible enough? Aren’t people happy?"

She thought angrily.

"No, I must continue searching!"

Zi Yue laughed and advised.

"Mistress, you should rest!"

"Be careful of back pain from sitting too long!"

Xia Ruqing instinctively rubbed her lower back.

"It’s fine; I’m alright; still have Yue Er!"

"Have you confirmed? Did she go horseback riding with that little general from the Shi Family again?"

"In this cold weather; be careful!"

Faced with her nagging, Zi Yue seemed speechless.

"Understood, Mistress; you’ve instructed several times already!"

Xia Ruqing then put down her things and relaxed, lying down.

"Ah! I’m really..."

"I think I’m getting old!"

She felt slightly disappointed.

"Mistress, you aren’t old! You look great!"

Zi Yue said this as she tucked the quilts around her.

Xia Ruqing chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"I’ve realized... I suddenly started reminiscing about the past!"

"I even occasionally think about retirement!"

"That’s just you overthinking!" Zi Yue consoled her.

"Alright, have a rest!"

"The princess will visit you tonight!"

"Hmm!"

Xia Ruqing smiled and closed her eyes to sleep.

...

Like most women entering middle age.

Xia Ruqing began to develop wrinkles, gray hair, and started to nag, worrying about her children.

Her three sons were opinionated, and seemed in no rush to continue the family line, leaving her to constantly fret.

At least her daughter found someone she fancied.

At least Xia Ruqing felt somewhat comforted in her heart.