A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 94 - 93 A Strange Incident 1
At night, Zhao Junyao indeed went.
This time, Xia Ruqing wasn’t asleep; she was cuddling a cat in one hand and holding a game piece in the other, bent over the gameboard, deep in thought.
Seeing this, Zhao Junyao felt a bit angry.
"MEOW."
Da Bai saw him and darted out from Xia Ruqing’s arms. It stood at his feet, tilting its little cat face, just staring at him.
Zhao Junyao looked at the cat.
"Your Majesty?" Xia Ruqing finally realized what was happening. She hurriedly threw down her game piece and went to greet him.
Da Bai glanced at her, gave her a disdainful look, and trotted away with its light, cat-like steps.
Da Bai thought.
Yet Xia Ruqing was smiling carefreely. "Your Majesty, why are you here?"
Although she thought this, she dared not say a word.
Zhao Junyao saw her smile—the kind that just begged to be ’disciplined’—and his lips curled.
Thinking this, he walked a few steps forward and sat down on the large kang bed.
"You’re playing chess?" he asked with a smile upon seeing the game board.
He felt a fleeting moment of paternal contentment.
"Your Majesty, this is Gomoku, would you like to give it a try?" Xia Ruqing asked excitedly.
She genuinely couldn’t play Go, but she was an expert at Gomoku. Having no money for toys when she was young, this was what she played. Back then, none of the children in her village could beat her. She had been quite proud of that for a while. If she hadn’t accidentally found a game board while tidying up today, she might not even have remembered it.
"Oh? What is Gomoku?" Zhao Junyao, also an expert in chess, was somewhat curious upon hearing such a strange name.
Xia Ruqing immediately explained the rules to him. "Two players alternate placing pieces. Whether horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, the first to connect five pieces wins!"
"That simple?" Zhao Junyao was somewhat surprised.
"Simple?" Xia Ruqing was dumbfounded.
"Let’s play a game!"
"Alright!" Zhao Junyao nodded.
The two started playing, making do with the Go board.
You place a piece, I place a piece.
Xia Ruqing launched a series of attacks; Zhao Junyao made risky moves, countering each one.
Soon, the outcome was clear.
"No way, let’s go again!" Xia Ruqing was very annoyed.
Zhao Junyao also found it quite interesting, so he played another round with her.
The result was the same as the first game!
Xia Ruqing was somewhat disbelieving. "Your Majesty, have you truly never seen this before? Nor heard of it?"
Zhao Junyao suppressed a laugh, his expression serious. "Do you think I would lie?"
Xia Ruqing immediately backed down. "This servant wouldn’t dare!"
However, she pouted, unhappy about losing.
Zhao Junyao felt somewhat helpless and had no choice but to continue playing with her.
Ten games, ten wins for him.
Xia Ruqing had actually lost them all.
"I’m not playing anymore!" After the last game, she tossed her pieces aside and went to play with the cat.
she fumed internally.
Her temper, once it flared, was like a miniature cosmos erupting.
Seeing her riled up again, Zhao Junyao decided not to tease her anymore. He picked up both her and Da Bai, settled them on his lap, and asked with a smile, "Where did you learn these trivial little games? I’ve been studying chess with my master since I was young. Even if I’ve never seen this before, I understood it as soon as you explained. What’s there for you to be angry about?"
Xia Ruqing was still unhappy. "Your Majesty, why can’t you just let me win? If I’m not good at anything, I’ll feel inferior!" She pouted, looking every bit the sore loser.
Zhao Junyao chuckled. "Chess is about competition. If we just let each other win, it’s better not to play at all!"
He paused, then added, "But if you like, I can play just to lose to you every time. How about that?"
Zhao Junyao was so intent on placating her that he completely forgot he had just been thinking about teaching her a proper lesson.
Li Shengan stood not far away, as still as a wooden post. He was somewhat speechless.
Noticing Li Shengan’s odd gaze, Zhao Junyao shot him a sharp look.
Li Shengan immediately bowed his head.
Meanwhile, Xia Ruqing’s mood had shifted from cloudy to sunny. "Your Majesty is right. This servant was being petulant!"
Zhao Junyao gave her a look that said, ’As long as you understand,’ then stood up. "I’m hungry. Let’s have a meal!"
With that, he glanced at Xia Ruqing, his meaning clear: I want to eat your cooking; you handle it.
How could Xia Ruqing not understand the Emperor’s wishes?
The meal was simple to prepare, refreshing and delicious, leaving Zhao Junyao thoroughly satisfied from the inside out.
Feeling content after eating, what was to come next...
...
That night, nobody knew when the lights in Zhaohua Pavilion were finally extinguished.
Li Shengan said, "At any rate, I don’t know."
Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing had three indescribable encounters.
The first time, Zhao Junyao felt that before it had even really begun, Xia Ruqing was already overwhelmed, trembling with excitement. He was startled and didn’t dare to be too aggressive.
Soon came the second time. Xia Ruqing was ready to surrender before it even truly began.
But Zhao Junyao smirked mischievously.
Xia Ruqing felt like crying but had no tears. With every rise and fall, every rhythmic press and pull, she couldn’t tell if it was discomfort or pleasure; whenever she grew excited, she would bite his shoulder.
The more she did this, the more aroused Zhao Junyao became.
By the third time, Xia Ruqing was so exhausted that she fainted.
Seeing her like this, Zhao Junyao didn’t continue.
The next day was a day of rest, so neither of them woke up too early.
However, before they even got out of bed, something curious happened in Zhaohua Pavilion.
"Your Majesty, why is our bed crooked?" Xia Ruqing asked, her eyes open as she lay on his shoulder.
Zhao Junyao, still half-asleep, squinted and replied without concern, "You’re just lying crookedly... Sleep a bit longer!" He patted her.
Lately, there hadn’t been many major issues at court. After a busy year, this was his most relaxed time.