Chapter 129: Chapter 128: Can’t Always Be Thinking About Eating
’His horseback archery skills were praised by everyone, from the Late Emperor to the civil and military officials!’
’Although now busy with government affairs, the Emperor seizes every opportunity to ride horses at the drill grounds or go hunting with his brothers!’
Now, it’s just the lack of ice; the Lord can naturally withstand it!
As for the several Honored Ladies below, their backgrounds were not particularly distinguished. They weren’t necessarily favored in their own homes either.
It was unknown if they had ever used ice in the summer, so they could naturally endure it.
So, that leaves only her.
Consort Yun felt so aggrieved.
They had followed them here to foster a relationship with the Emperor.
Why did she come? To suffer?
Not once had she been summoned to serve the Emperor’s bed; she had come here only to endure hardship.
She had slept two nights in a shabby tent, bitten all over by mosquitoes.
Now, in a small inn, there were no mosquitoes, but it was suffocatingly hot. She felt as if she was about to break down.
She had never suffered like this growing up!
How she missed her Yaoyue Palace.
It was big and spacious, with ice mountains, and specially prepared iced melons and fruits for her.
What used to be taken for granted now seemed like such a luxury!
Only now did she realize that accompanying the Emperor might not have been such a good thing.
...
Just as she was thinking about it, a knock suddenly came from outside.
’Elder Sister Yun, are you asleep?’
Her eyes suddenly opened. Cai Die said, ’It’s Honored Lady Xi’s voice!’
Consort Yun frowned and waved her hand irritably. ’Tell her to go back; say that I’m asleep!’
She was frustrated to death. Hmph! Putting up with those two idiots during the day was enough; why couldn’t they grant her some peace at night!
Cai Die nodded and was about to go out when she heard Honored Lady Xi again.
’Elder Sister Yun, I have iced watermelon here, which I asked the innkeeper for. I specially brought one for you to taste!’
Cai Die looked back at Consort Yun.
Consort Yun, feeling hot and bothered, naturally couldn’t resist the temptation of iced watermelon and ordered the door to be opened.
After forcing a smile and exchanging pleasantries, Consort Yun ate the iced watermelon and finally felt a bit better.
She then asked with a smile, ’How did you know there was iced watermelon?’
’I was too hot to sleep and was about to go out to see when I saw Eunuch Little Zhuzi carrying one. I asked and found out the innkeeper had iced many!’ Honored Lady Xi replied with a smile.
After saying that, she sighed. ’Alas, I wanted to send one to Elder Sister Xia as well, but I knocked for a long time, and there was no answer from inside!’
’The Lord is already asleep there!’
’So, I brought one for Elder Sister Yun instead! There’s one left; Eldest Sister Lan and I will share it!’
Consort Yun’s expression changed after hearing the first two sentences.
’You mean... the Lord and Lady Xia are both asleep?’
Honored Lady Xi nodded in confusion. ’Yes, what’s wrong, Elder Sister Yun?’
’Ah... oh... nothing, nothing!’ Consort Yun managed a smile.
Honored Lady Xi chatted a bit longer with Consort Yun before leaving.
「Meanwhile,」
Consort Yun smashed the half-eaten watermelon.
She was so furious she started to laugh.
’Lady Xia is indeed a ruthless character!’
In this weather, under these circumstances, she could still lure the Lord over; impressive!
...
「The next day,」
When Zhao Junyao got up, Xia Ruqing was still sound asleep.
With no morning court to attend, he couldn’t sleep either, so he took Li Shengan for a walk on the main street.
Upon returning, Xia Ruqing had just woken up, her eyes still groggy.
Zhao Junyao stood right in front of her.
’Look, what has your Lord brought you?’
Xia Ruqing followed his gaze to the oil-paper package in his hand.
’What is it?’
Her eyes suddenly brightened.
She quickly scrambled up from the bed.
When Zhao Junyao bought it, he knew she would like it.
Her surprised delight was just as he had expected.
"I’ve never seen it before, but I saw many people buying it, so I sent Li Shengan to buy some!"
Xia Ruqing glanced at Li Shengan.
She immediately caught the extremely aggrieved look in Steward Li’s eyes.
Li Shengan felt very wronged.
I was wondering why the Emperor would suddenly become interested in a street vendor’s stall.
So it turns out...
It was for Lady Xia!
Imagine, he, a dignified Chief Steward serving the Emperor, had to queue for so long among a crowd of old people, women, and children!
So wronged, truly wronged!
Xia Ruqing was not unappreciative.
Seeing Eunuch Li’s expression, what wasn’t there to understand?
She immediately rose and graciously thanked Eunuch Li.
’Many thanks to Chief Steward Li!’
As she spoke, she performed a half-curtsy.
With that, Li Shengan had been given a way to save face.
He was overjoyed and gladly accepted it with a laugh.
’Miss Xia is too polite; this servant was merely doing his duty!’
Xia Ruqing smiled and said no more, instead opening the oil-paper package.
’Sesame cakes?’
Zhao Junyao: ’???’
Li Shengan: ’Oh, so this is called a sesame cake!’
Neither of them had ever seen it before.
Xia Ruqing saw ten of them lined up neatly inside the paper package.
Eunuch Li, you really came through! We won’t have to worry about food on the road now! she thought.
Then she said, ’My Lord, Chief Steward Li, this kind of sesame cake is a popular snack among the common folk.’
’It’s fragrant and crispy. In winter, it pairs well with a bowl of hot mutton soup...’
Zhao Junyao nodded.
Even Li Shengan looked expectant.
Oh, Emperor, your servant understands your profound intentions now. You wanted to eat it yourself, didn’t you! Li Shengan mused.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard Xia Ruqing say, ’It’s too hot in summer, and the summer heat is oppressive. Mutton soup will make us overheat, so let’s have chicken soup instead...’
Xia Ruqing said this, then had Zi Yue help her freshen up.
She rolled up her sleeves and went to find the innkeeper.
「Half a Shi Chen later,」
A delicious and appetizing chicken soup was ready.
There were sesame cakes, chicken soup, and a few additional side dishes of pickles.
Zhao Junyao ate to his heart’s content, and even Li Shengan had the good fortune to indulge a little.
By noon, as the main party was about to depart, Xia Ruqing was still burping contentedly.
...
The procession traveled at a leisurely pace.
「Seven or eight days later,」
They finally reached the borders of Jiangnan.
Sitting in the carriage, Xia Ruqing could feel the air becoming increasingly humid.
’It’s hot and humid, truly uncomfortable!’
Zhao Junyao, however, felt no discomfort. He leaned back in the carriage, resting with his eyes closed.
I guess even if the sky fell, this gentleman wouldn’t be in a hurry, Xia Ruqing thought.
With that thought, she too closed her eyes and gradually fell asleep.
「As twilight fell that evening,」
The carriage procession entered the city.
The noisy crowd quickly awakened Xia Ruqing.
’My Lord, where are we?’
Zhao Junyao, his eyes still closed, replied in a steady voice, ’This is Jinling City, located in Jiangnan.’
’We arrived so soon?’ Xia Ruqing was somewhat excited.
She was very much looking forward to seeing ancient Jiangnan.
So many famous scholars and romantic talents had visited and found it hard to leave.
This spoke volumes about the beauty of its scenery.
Of course, Xia Ruqing’s keen interest also had an undisclosed purpose.
They say that since ancient times, Jiangnan has been famed for its many beauties, and she wanted to feast her eyes.
Although she couldn’t do much, broadening her horizons and delighting her eyes wouldn’t be bad.
It wasn’t easy coming all this way; one shouldn’t always be thinking about eating, right?