A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1479 - 1477: Time Flies

There might never be a return.

Zhao Junyao didn’t say it out loud, so Yue Er pretended not to understand.

She suppressed the bitter feeling in her heart and acted casually.

"Alright, alright, it’s enough that you two abandon me!"

"As a daughter, I can’t abandon you too!"

"Don’t worry, Jiangnan isn’t that far, my uncle is there too, isn’t he?"

"When the child grows older, I’ll come visit you!"

She said it cheerfully, with the same animation as before, but only she knew her heart was in agony.

She knew her father was not in good health.

Years of hardship had brought on ailments, not noticeable in youth, but impossible to hide now past fifty.

Mother’s health was worse; enduring multiple hardships in childhood, and a severe illness after entering the palace.

The Imperial Physician once mentioned, that when mother gave birth to third brother and fourth brother, she was already weakened, then she bore herself.

The many births consumed too much of her energy.

And physically, she was left frostbitten.

Now...

One had spent a lifetime working tirelessly for the Great Chu Dynasty as the Taishang Huang, the other had worried over children as the Empress Dowager.

Their lives burdened by various identities, missions, duties, and obligations, they finally reached old age and found freedom.

What reason did she have to not let them go, to pursue their own happiness?

Yet, who knew the bitterness in her heart?

The atmosphere fell into an inexplicable silence.

After who knows how long, Xia Ruqing suddenly took a breath and laughed lightly.

"Alright!"

"When you come, your father and I will entertain you well!"

Yue Er immediately chuckled.

"It’s a promise!"

"Good!"

...

The two supported each other as they left, neither looking back.

It wasn’t out of heartlessness, but fear.

How could their precious daughter not be loved? How could they bear to leave?

But reality stood here.

They were like old eagles guarding the nest, while she was a grown eaglet.

She could fly, she could run, she had found her own happiness.

No matter how much they loved her, they had to let go.

The same went for themselves.

Old eagles, though aged, must have their own lives.

Reality was like a rock rolling down the mountain, unstoppable, only moving forward.

And apart from moving forward, you have no other choice.

...

The departure was not instant, nor at that stage yet.

They stayed with Yue Er for about twenty more days, until she finished postpartum recovery, ensured the newborn grandson grew fatter and safely.

Only then did Zhao Junyao take Xia Ruqing away.

Zhao Qichen drove a carriage to bring them to the palace, wanted them to stay a few days, but Xia Ruqing refused.

"I’ve spent a lifetime in the palace, I don’t want to return!"

"Besides, there’s no one familiar in the palace anymore!"

The elders of the harem had long dispersed.

Those with children lived with them, those without were properly settled.

Those who wished to worship at the Imperial Monastery could go, those preferring the serene Imperial resort could go, and those wanting to leave the palace to find a monastery could do so too.

Zhao Junyao fulfilled all their requests.

No matter where they went, their monthly stipend remained unchanged, even increased by twenty percent.

Status remained, those titled Imperial Noble Consort remained so, those titled Imperial Concubine remained so.

Such status and identity assured their second half of life’s comfort.

As emperor, as their collective husband.

Unable to give them the ordinary husband-wife life, he provided them with affluent material life.

This was all he could try his best to do.

After he abdicated.

All places in the harem were vacated, other palace halls sealed up.

Only Duanning Palace retained its original appearance, every blade of grass, every tree, unchanged.

To preserve it, Zhao Qichen dispatched dozens of palace attendants, rotating shifts to maintain it.

Letting it appear lively, as if still inhabited.

So that mother, upon return, would feel like leaving was just yesterday, not too disheartened.

Seeing mother’s aversion, guessing she felt the harem desolate, he smiled.

"Mother’s Duanning Palace is well-kept, won’t you go see it?"

At the mention of Duanning Palace, Xia Ruqing was indeed moved.

Yet, she was hesitant.

"Things change with people, what’s there to see?"

Zhao Qichen insisted.

"You’ll know when you visit!"

Zhao Junyao encouraged her too.

"Go if you want, I’ll accompany you!"

Only then did Xia Ruqing board the carriage.

...

As Duanning Palace’s gates slowly opened, Xia Ruqing was utterly stunned.

The deeper she ventured, the more astonished she became.

It was far from desolate; clean and orderly instead.

Four Palace Maids awaited at the door.

Two Little Eunuchs hurriedly swept the ground, as if expecting masters to pass by any moment.

The others, upon hearing the master’s arrival, laid down their tasks, performing regular curtsy.

"Greetings to the master!"

The term was "master," not any individual titles.

It was Zhao Qichen’s prior instructions, ensuring mother wouldn’t be saddened by changes in status.

Retracing the familiar path, Xia Ruqing recalled everything from before.

Seeing the familiar faces, surroundings, courtyard, plants, and trees.

It’s as if the two years outside the palace were blank.

As if she remained in the palace, acting as Empress.

As if beside her stood the young and capable, determined, thunderous emperor.

She suddenly teared up.

’How fast it is!’

’Time truly flies!’

She always viewed it as a cage, dreaming of escape.

But realizing upon venturing, the strongest sense of belonging was to Duanning Palace.

She cried and laughed along the way, finally returning to the familiar room, the main hall of Duanning Palace.

The main entrance led to the main hall, further inside to the side hall, and deeper to the bedroom.

She walked over.

Finding Zi Yue tidying the bed.

Clad in familiar Palace Maid attire, a smile she knew well, hands repeating familiar gestures.

Seeing her approach, Zi Yue adeptly greeted.

"Mistress is back?"

"What would you like for lunch today?"

Tears flowed uncontrollably.

...

Zhao Qichen silently left, taking the palace attendants with him, leaving space for the father and mother.

In the room, observing everything again sparked reluctance in Xia Ruqing.

"Emperor, I don’t want to leave!"

Zhao Junyao, posture no longer upright by the window, turned shocked at her words.

"What... did you say?"

"I said I don’t want to leave!"

Zhao Junyao shook his head.

"No, the previous sentence!"

Xia Ruqing froze, lips trembling.

"Emperor?"

They were both stunned.

Returning to familiar surroundings blurred past and present.

In her eyes, what once seemed unpleasant was ingrained in her bones.

Reflecting now, it feels unreachable.