A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 329: Who is this guarding against?

"You don’t believe me? Go in and ask!"

Little Zhuzi felt a chill run down his spine and bolted!

Li Shengan watched his retreating figure and cursed, "That little rascal! So he’s not stupid after all!"

After calming down, Zhao Junyao ultimately couldn’t bring himself to give her a bowl of abortifacient soup.

As for Lady Shih’s situation, he decided to just let it be.

No rewards, no stated position, no involvement!

If Noble Concubine Shih wished to raise the child, then let her.

Having come to terms with it, he let the matter rest.

The Martial Examination was the day after tomorrow, and Zhao Junyao was in a foul mood.

That night, under the cover of darkness, he took Xia Ruqing to the travel palace, partly to check on how the preparations for the event were progressing.

「As for the Harem」

The Emperor’s attitude was so clear; who couldn’t discern it?

The unease in the Empress’s heart gradually dissipated.

Sister Ji also advised, "Indeed. Even if it’s a Prince, if the Emperor doesn’t like him, he still won’t like him!"

The Empress then grew worried. "But... even if unfavored, a Prince is still a Prince!"

Sister Ji added, "It might not even be a Prince! Besides, Your Majesty, you might have one of your own! There are so many Honored Ladies; if any one of them gives birth, you can simply take the child to raise. By then, yours would be the primary son!"

The Empress rubbed her belly in distress.

That night, the Empress also heard that the Emperor had left the palace, taking Xia Jieyu with him. She tossed and turned, finding it even harder to sleep.

The Empress was terribly distressed by this.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager and Noble Concubine Shih were so overjoyed they practically wanted to beat gongs and drums in celebration.

The Empress Dowager knelt before the Buddha, tears streaming down her face.

After speaking, she kowtowed reverently several times.

The stone that had weighed on her heart for many years finally lifted.

The Empress Dowager thought,

「At Noble Concubine Shih’s residence」

That very day, she hurriedly had Lady Shih moved to her quarters. From then on, Noble Concubine Shih took charge of Lady Shih’s daily life, from her meals and accommodation to her clothing and other expenses. As for Palace Attendants, she immediately assigned four, forming an iron-clad protection around Lady Shih. Noble Concubine Shih was terrified someone would snatch away her chance at this child.

As for whether the Emperor liked this child or not? She couldn’t care less.

Zhao Junyao’s private sentiment regarding this was that,

「Once Lady Shih had moved out」

Consort Yun Pin felt quite resentful.

Consort Yun Pin sneered inwardly.

It was the same with Consort Zheng Pin. Consort Zheng Pin had long felt the same way, but lacking any real power herself, she also dared not cause offense.

「That night」

Xia Ruqing had not been asleep for long when the Emperor sent someone to fetch her, stating that they were to leave the palace and would only return after the Martial Examination was over.

Xia Ruqing was, of course, delighted. She joyfully had her things packed and followed the Emperor out of the palace.

Throughout the journey, Zhao Junyao worried that the carriage might jostle her too much, so he sat inside with her, carefully holding her the entire way.

Xia Ruqing found a comfortable position in his arms and slept soundly, feeling perfectly at ease.

They arrived at the travel palace in the suburbs late in the night. Xia Ruqing was already fast asleep.

Zhao Junyao carried her out of the carriage, and the two of them rested at the travel palace for the night.

「The next day」

When they awoke, Xia Ruqing was refreshed and energetic, while Zhao Junyao had dark circles under his eyes. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was unshaven.

"Your Majesty, what’s wrong? Are you tired? Didn’t you rest well?"

Zhao Junyao looked at the woman standing before him, her complexion rosy, her eyes bright, a hint of gentle mischief in her smile. He felt a pang of disappointment.

"It’s nothing!"

"What do you mean, ’it’s nothing’?" Xia Ruqing blinked.

Zhao Junyao gently ruffled her hair and shifted his gaze out the window. "It’s getting late. We should have breakfast!"

With that, he walked outside.

Xia Ruqing turned and caught a glimpse of his rather forlorn back.

Confused for a moment and unable to figure it out, she shook her head and dismissed the thought.

In truth, Zhao Junyao did feel a touch of melancholy. But he couldn’t understand why.

He pondered this question all night but couldn’t find an answer.

In the end, Zhao Junyao came to a conclusion.

Zhao Junyao had never liked to waste effort on such tangled, trivial matters. Having reached this understanding, he dismissed the thought.

「And then」

After breakfast, the two of them, in high spirits, went to the martial practice field.

Xia Ruqing wasn’t afraid of walking. Imperial Doctor Zhang had told her that plenty of walking was beneficial for a smooth delivery. In ancient times, there were no caesarean sections; all births were natural. A successful birth meant both mother and child would be safe; failure meant death, often claiming two lives at once.

She cherished her life. Therefore, she diligently walked around every day.

Now, approaching her sixth month, apart from her growing belly, her arms and legs remained slender, and she was in good physical condition!

That day, she insisted on walking for a full kilometer. Zhao Junyao didn’t dare let her walk any further after that. He had her carried in a small sedan chair to the martial practice field.

As soon as Xia Ruqing stepped out of the sedan chair, her field of vision widened instantly. She took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Before her lay the vast martial practice field. In the center of the practice field stood a tall, wooden Martial Stage.