A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 1073 - 1074: Courting Death

Near noon.

Seventh Prince Zhao Junyan suddenly requested an audience.

Zhao Junyao had just finished his work and invited him in.

The two brothers hadn’t conversed for a long time. It was a good time to brew a pot of fine tea and indulge in it.

After exchanging pleasantries.

Zhao Junyan sat cross-legged at the couch table before the Emperor.

Zhao Junyao smiled and asked him.

"How is the mission going lately?"

Zhao Junyan replied with a smile.

"Everything is fine!"

"Half a month ago, a courier returned to the capital, saying it had already crossed the border of the Great Chu Dynasty. By now, it should have reached Western Xia!"

Portland Country is to the west of the Western Xia Kingdom, and from the Great Chu Dynasty, one must pass through Western Xia.

Zhao Junyao nodded.

"The Great Chu Dynasty has always had good relations with Western Xia, and the royal families of both countries are intermarried!"

"I suppose they won’t make things too difficult!"

Zhao Junyan nodded as well.

"Imperial Brother, you are right!"

Zhao Junyao poured him a cup of tea and praised.

"You’ve done well with this matter!"

Before the mission departed from the capital, Zhao Junyan came to see him.

He said he had been training at the Ministry of War for many years.

Now that he was grown up, he ought to contribute to the Imperial Court.

But in this peaceful era, there were no wars to fight.

So he frankly admitted, ’I want to lead troops to escort Portland Country’s mission abroad!’

He wanted to put his martial skills to good use.

At the time.

Zhao Junyao saw his hopeful expression and wished he could agree.

Unfortunately... he still refused.

Simply because Zhao Junyan’s status was unusual.

He was a Prince, representing the Royal Family of the Great Chu Dynasty.

If he were to go on a mission to a large country like Western Xia, it would be acceptable.

But to a smaller country like Portland, absolutely not, and escorting even more so.

The reason is straightforward.

’Foreign alliances also need to consider status.’

’Face must be maintained, and status must match!’

For missions to a country like Portland, a few ministers are enough.

If a Prince were to go, it would be too humiliating.

Other countries would mock the Great Chu Dynasty for lowering its status.

Thus... where in the world is there so much freedom?

There are rules to follow.

One link after another, even the most powerful figures must abide by them!

In the end.

Zhao Junyao saw he was extraordinarily bored.

Thus entrusted him with the task of managing the couriers and closely tracking the matter.

He also urged him to report immediately if there were any anomalies.

The task may have seemed simple.

But completing it splendidly was no easy feat.

Obviously, Zhao Junyan did very well.

This greatly comforted Zhao Junyao, who patted his shoulder and laughed.

"In the blink of an eye, Seventh Brother, you have grown so much and accomplished your task so well!"

When he ascended the throne, Zhao Junyan was just a six-year-old child!

Now...

Time flies indeed!

Zhao Junyan quickly cupped his fists and modestly replied.

"This humble brother has been cared for by the Imperial Brother since childhood, and now, as an adult, I ought to share his worries!"

Zhao Junyao laughed heartily.

"Good!"

"Imperial Brother trusts you!"

Zhao Junyan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Loyalty between royal siblings is exceptionally rare.

Hence, he never actively engaged in court politics, only wanting to fight for the Imperial Brother.

Of course, the Imperial Brother was never a suspicious person; on the contrary, he had always taken good care of him since childhood.

So he swore loyalty unto death to the Imperial Brother!

Zhao Junyao understood his intentions as well.

Compared with the Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother.

The Seventh Brother was much more trustworthy.

This brotherhood he valued greatly.

After discussing official matters.

The two brothers sipped fine tea, reminiscing about their childhood, enjoying a pleasant conversation.

While laughing and chatting.

There was suddenly a commotion from outside.

Zhao Junyao frowned and called Li Shengan in to inquire.

"What’s going on?"

Li Shengan, trembling, took a while to stutter out.

"Your Majesty, Ma Liyi is outside, holding a food box, insisting on personally delivering it to you!"

"Servants couldn’t stop her..."

Li Shengan’s voice grew smaller until he simply tucked his neck in.

This matter was his failure, and speaking about it, he felt a chill through his neck.

If the Emperor got angry.

Taking his life wouldn’t be impossible... Oh, that Ma Liyi!

Could the Emperor’s Imperial Study Room be barged into like this?

Zhao Junyan saw this and quickly stood up.

"Your Majesty has matters to attend to, so this humble brother will take his leave now!"

"Hmm!" Zhao Junyao nodded.

After Zhao Junyan departed.

Zhao Junyao’s expression darkened instantly.

His face turned as black as charcoal, and the atmosphere in the room cooled immediately.

Li Shengan was lying on the ground, not daring to kneel loudly.

Letting large sweat beads drip from his forehead, his whole body trembled.

No one knew how long it lasted.

Just as Li Shengan’s body stiffened and his limbs numbed.

Zhao Junyao finally spoke.

He hurled the teacup to the ground, coldly saying.

"Go tell her, if there is a next time, I won’t mind having one more person in the Cold Palace!"

The Cold Palace housed consorts who had been punished by emperors through the ages.

There were still a few consorts of the Late Emperor living there, living crazily.

Zhao Junyao was typically kind-hearted.

As long as a woman didn’t commit heinous crimes, he wouldn’t resort to such means.

Even Shih Wanxin, who touched the bottom line.

He only sent her to the Empress Dowager’s Ningshou Palace, not the Cold Palace. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

But this time.

Directly mentioning the Cold Palace showed he was truly angered.

Li Shengan hastily bowed.

"Yes!"

"Servant obeys!"

Zhao Junyao glanced at him sharply.

"And you too!"

"If there’s another time, forget about keeping your head!"

Li Shengan was terrified.

No jest with an emperor; serving a ruler is like serving a tiger.

If the Emperor declared capital punishment, it would be done with a single word!

"Em...Emperor!"

"This old servant deserves death, this old servant promises there won’t be a next time!"

With that, he crawled up from the ground and hurried outside.

...

Ma Liyi was personally sent back by Li Shengan.

Along the way, he kept an icy gaze fixed on Ma Liyi, his eyes full of disdain.

This type of woman, is she really from the official class, a daughter of a third-grade official?

How could she be crazier than a courtesan outside?

Even coming to the Imperial Study Room to cause trouble, looking for the Emperor! Why not heaven itself!

Caught off guard, he took the blame and endured a scolding!

Hmph! Who do you talk to about such bad luck?!

I’ve noted this, don’t let anything happen in my hands! Or else... hmph hmph!

Xihuai Palace.

Consort Zheng had already received the news and sent Hong Yun out early to welcome him.

Upon seeing Li Shengan.

Hong Yun immediately smiled.

"Hello, Grandpa Li! You’ve come, our master has waited a while!"

Steward Li was the Emperor’s chief steward and chief eunuch.

Even consorts treated him politely.

As servants, they naturally must call him Grandpa.

The black face Li Shengan wore along the way finally looked better.

"Sorry to keep Consort Zheng waiting; shall we go in?"

Hong Yun silently bowed to Ma Liyi.

Leading Li Shengan, she headed towards the main hall.

Consort Zheng was already seated at the main position, waiting.

(The master-servant distinction can’t be overly exaggerated even if respecting Li Shengan!)

After greetings, Li Shengan stated his purpose.

"The Emperor’s decree, Ma Liyi hasn’t learned the palace rules well. May Your Highness teach her properly!"

Consort Zheng quickly got up and bowed towards Zhaochen Palace’s direction.

"This humble consort obeys!"