A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 813: Not a Jerk
The birthday banquet was held at Ningshou Palace.
When Xia Ruqing accompanied Zhao Junyao over, most of the people had already arrived. ๐๐ซ๐๐ฒ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ฏ๐๐น.๐๐จ๐บ
Everyone of the Sixth Rank and above was present.
Actually, Zhao Junyao, as an emperor who has been on the throne for seven or eight years,
does not have many consorts.
There is one Empress, who is currently outside the palace.
There are two Noble Consorts: Noble Consort Xian of the Xia Family, and Noble Consort Shih.
There are two Consorts: Consort Ning, Lady Dou and Consort Hui of the Bai Family.
There are three Yun Pin: Consort Yun Pin, Lady Liang, Consort Zheng, and Consort Cheng.
Beneath them are the Honored Ladies: Noble Lady Song, Honored Lady Chen, Honored Lady Li, and Honored Lady Liang, among others, totaling six.
All these women together amount to only fourteen.
The rest are of the Lady rank, which may count or not.
After all, they are half-slave, half-master.
If they are not favored, they are nothing in the harem, with a status not much higher than Palace Maids.
(This is why the female protagonist initially refers to herself as a servant!)
Whatโs more, he hasnโt glanced at the thirteen above for a long time, let alone the little Ladies below.
Probably lost track of which country theyโve been left in.
Zhao Junyao entered the grand door of Ningshou Palace with Xia Ruqing.
A Little Eunuch announced loudly.
"The Emperor has arrived, Noble Consort Xian has arrived!"
Upon hearing the announcement, everyone stood up in unison.
"Greetings to the Emperor, greetings to Noble Consort Xian!"
Zhao Junyao and Xia Ruqing, hand in hand, slowly walked towards the high seat and knelt before the Empress Dowager.
"Your son/concubine greets the Empress Dowager!" After speaking, they both kowtowed.
The Empress Dowager remained calm, her lips carrying a graceful and magnanimous smile.
"Rise, my child, all of you get up!"
"Thanks to the Empress Dowager!"
The two rose, and Zhao Junyao turned to those behind him.
"You all may rise too!"
The concubines thanked him and took their seats.
The Empress Dowager, upon seeing the Emperor, blossomed into a warm smile.
"My son, come sit by Mother!"
Zhao Junyaoโs expression faltered slightly, but his heart moved a little.
This smile was so familiar, exactly as he remembered from his childhood.
A warmth spreading in his heart, he subconsciously walked over.
"Mother!"
The Empress Dowager beamed.
"Come quickly and sit!"
She reached out her hand to pull him closer.
Drawing near, Zhao Junyao glanced up and noticed the frosted white of the Empress Dowagerโs temples, his heart wrenching slightly.
He also saw the wrinkles and fatigue on her face.
No matter how he felt, he couldnโt help but soften at this moment.
After all, she gave birth to him and raised him.
Zhao Junyao faintly curved his lips, nodded, and sat beside the Empress Dowager.
The smile on the Empress Dowagerโs face grew more benevolent.
"My son, youโve lost weight..."
Noble Concubine Shih couldnโt help but secretly praise.
โAfter all, the Empress Dowager is skilled!โ
โLooks like I was truly foolish before!โ
โOften, being aggressive is useless, retreating to advance is the superior strategy!โ
โIโve learned my lesson!โ
...
Xia Ruqing sat down opposite Noble Concubine Shih.
The two inadvertently exchanged glances, and Noble Concubine Shih smiled and nodded in greeting.
Her smile was sincere, her gaze clear.
Xia Ruqing even doubted if she was seeing things.
โIs this really Noble Concubine Shih? How come she seems different from before?!โ
In the past, Noble Concubine Shih looked at her as if she wanted to swallow her whole.
Was it really not wrong to see her like this now?
Rubbed her eyes again, Noble Concubine Shih was still smiling warmly.
Strange, very strange.
While lost in thought, the Third Princess was brought up by the Sister.
Her thoughts immediately shifted, and she put the matter aside.
The Third Princess was three years old this year.
She looked like a chubby little baby, just with a slightly pale complexion.
She seemed a bit anemic.
The little girl hadnโt seen such grand occasions.
Suddenly seeing so many people, she was frightened to tears and hid in the Sisterโs arms, not daring to come out.
The Empress Dowager teased her.
"Yijing, look at your father the Emperor!"
"Today is your birthday, and your father has come to see you!"
She spoke, turning the child towards Zhao Junyao.
Yijing opened her eyes and peeked, still scared, turning her head away deeper.
Zhao Junyao: "..."
He felt an inexplicable pain inside.
How could a good daughter be raised to be this timid?
What exactly were those Sisters teaching!?
The Empress Dowager smiled a bit awkwardly, explaining.
"Itโs usually quiet here at the mourning house, without so many people. Yijing is afraid of strangers and dares not recognize!"
A simple โafraid of strangers!โ had left Zhao Junyao speechless.
The implication being:
โItโs not my fault sheโs timid, who told you not to come and see her more often?โ
Zhao Junyao mused for a moment; it indeed had been a long time since he had come to see the Third Princess.
Since the matter of Prince Yan last year, he hadnโt set foot in Ningshou Palace once, and by now, it had been half a year.
Reflecting on this.
He felt a sense of regret.
Half a year, she was only three years old, and he missed half a year in her life.
The way he performed his role as her father was indeed somewhat lacking.
No matter what mistakes adults make, children are ultimately innocent.
At that moment, Zhao Junyaoโs expression softened considerably.
He asked someone to bring some toys up and personally accompanied Yijing to play.
Yijing resembled her mother quite a bit.
A fair, tender egg-shaped face, with delicate features, large eyes, and long eyelashes.
She was sure to be a beauty in the future, the same as her mother, a peerlessly enchanting beauty.
At the moment, Zhao Junyao amused her with toys.
At first, she was still afraid and dared not approach.
Soon, she gradually loosened up.
The little girl flitted around like a butterfly, calling her father the Emperor tenderly.
The voice clear and pleasant.
Not far away, Xia Ruqing was also excited.
โIf only she also had such a daughter, it would be so wonderful. Her heart would melt!โ
โThis little figure is like a small celestial being descended to the mortal world!โ
The father and daughter amused each other for a while, then Yijing was running and sweating.
The Empress Dowager laughed.
"The child is still young, not used to running like this regularly. Let her rest and beware of aching legs!"
"Mother is right, take the Princess to rest well!" Zhao Junyao laughed.
Speaking, he personally picked up his daughter and handed her to the Sisterโs arms.
Instructing further.
"Take good care of her, if thereโs any slip, you neednโt bother living!"
"Yes!"
The Sisters shivered and responded quickly.
After, the Third Princess was taken away.
The banquet returned to normalcy.
Xia Ruqing, however, returned to feeling bored.
โEarlier, there was still something to enjoy watching, now, thereโs not even a sight to appreciate!โ
Although the Emperor was holding a daughter with someone else.
But... it really is a feast for the eyes, isnโt it?
Besides, if he, as an Emperor, couldnโt even accommodate his own daughter with a narrow heart, how disgraceful would he be?!
The three palaces and six courtyards and ungratefulness are two different concepts, right?!
Anyway, so far, she doesnโt feel he is ungrateful.
Even if he has three palaces and six courtyards, he is not an ungrateful man!
On the contrary, she thinks heโs a true gentleman, a real hero.
Thinking and thinking, her gaze unintentionally glued to him.
Couldnโt move away.
Oh dear, canโt think like that anymore, why does my face feel a bit hot?
Eat, eat!
