[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace":3,"chapter-a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-1109":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},411244,676,"Chapter 1109: Perilous Journey Ahead","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-1109",1109,"\u003Cp>After the court session concluded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao summoned Xia Tingfeng in the Imperial Study Room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two discussed the matter in the Northwest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This journey is dangerous; is taking twenty thousand men enough?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tingfeng pondered for a moment and answered respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, too many men would draw attention; ten thousand should suffice!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao nodded and handed last night’s document to Xia Tingfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take a look!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tingfeng took it, quickly scanned through, his eyes filled with shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The range is so vast; burning, killing, looting—Your Majesty, this isn’t like the bandits at all!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao seemed puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, he was well-read, and governing came naturally to him, but understanding the habits of bandits was not his forte.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tingfeng then explained in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Firstly, bandits usually only seek wealth, not lives. They typically rob travelers on the roads, not blatantly raid villages and towns.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Secondly, bandits rob only in familiar territories; no one crosses into another’s domain!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thirdly, the extent of burning, killing, looting, rampant and widespread must mean there’s someone organizing this secretly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, surely someone is posing as bandits with the intent to rebel...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder things felt off!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, he always felt this group of bandits was a bit too rampant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t thought they might not be bandits at all, but rather an organized rebellion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A rebellion requires substantial funds, mustering troops, stockpiling provisions...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tingfeng continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder they’re looting both silver and money, not even sparing the poor folk!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even these tiny bits of profit are being grabbed, they must be desperately short on silver!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And who else but rebels would need so much silver? Is there another option?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then I won’t openly issue an edict; I’ll just give you a secret decree!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Publicly, you’re a merchant transporting goods to the Northwest!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Load up a cart with grain and draw out the snake!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tingfeng clasped his hands!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant will fulfill Your Majesty’s expectations!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go and prepare, depart as soon as possible!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant accepts the order!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tingfeng clasped his hands and withdrew!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shengan hurriedly came in, holding a letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, this is a secret letter just received!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao took the letter tube, noting its strange shape, furrowing his brows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where did this secret letter come from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shengan quickly shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Servants don’t know. It was found outside the Imperial Study Room by the Hidden Guard!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao observed the patterns closely; it seemed to be... a form of Western Xia script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly thought of something and immediately opened the envelope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Emperor of Great Chu, long live Your Majesty! Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person; it’s been many years since our last meeting, and I miss you very much!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I send this letter in distress; I couldn’t help but disturb you! The Western Xia, King Jin, has ambitions, seizing power amidst my father’s peril!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now he has completely controlled the administration and seized military power!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My father is elderly, my crown prince brother is weak, and I am trapped like a beast with no escape!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our lives are insignificant, but the Western Xia people are innocent...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thin letter was filled with hundreds of hurried and careless words, signed by Western Xia, Hai Tang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao read the letter twice, front to back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After carefully recognizing every character and understanding their meanings entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression suddenly changed, eyes turning cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Western Xia King is in danger, King Jin has seized the throne and is recruiting troops, preparing to invade the wild Northwest territory of Great Chu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, Zhao Junyao comprehended everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No wonder the Northwestern brigands are rampant; turns out someone is masquerading as bandits with ulterior motives!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly stood up and slowly walked to the candles, setting the letter paper alight gradually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he clenched his fists tightly, his gaze icy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Still too careless!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A year ago, Northwestern brigands already existed; it’s a pity nothing was found; then I simply let it go!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he deeply regrets it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great Chu had enjoyed prosperity for many years, with brigands and bandits occasionally surfacing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The local government office could arrest them, or failing that, there’s always the local garrison to clear them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seldom caused trouble at the capital or burdened the King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he was careless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After suppressing them, he stopped paying attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He should have considered it earlier!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao gazed fiercely, eyes full of regret and hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I’d been more diligent, more attentive, would those common people not have to die?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about this, he couldn’t continue reviewing the documents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Putting down the pen, he donned his formal robes and headed to the Royal Family’s ancestral shrine behind Taihe Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the shrine for ancestral worship, portraits of the lineage of the Royal Family were enshrined all year round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao offered incense to his ancestors, then knelt in the shrine, closed his eyes, and repented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dim shrine’s candles flickered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Portraits of ancestor after ancestor hung neatly on the walls, some benevolent and dignified, others martial and imposing, or deeply reserved, or bright and open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They uniformly ’looked at’ the prince’s straight-kneeling figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere was solemn and heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were still around, what would they think, would they blame him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They probably wouldn’t; after all, he tried his best!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Duanning Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small kitchen had already prepared the evening meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just waiting for Xia Ruqing to give the order, it could be served immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Zhao Junyao hadn’t arrived yet, should wait a bit longer for dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing was teaching her daughter to read, reciting the \"Book of Thousand Poems\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This little girl was quite clever; while other girls her age were still reading \"Three Character Classic\", she had already started reading \"Book of Thousand Poems\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mother, why hasn’t Father Emperor come yet!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little girl grew tired of reading and tossed the book aside, asking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing thought about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Father is probably not done with his work yet!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Father has been very busy lately, Yue Er, don’t be unreasonable!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Er nodded and continued flipping through the dull book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t quite understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why do her parents insist she read such simple and boring books?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why can’t she just not read them?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing picked up the book and handed it back to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No way!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Girls must read books!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t expect you to become a female scholar in the future, but at least... don’t embarrass your mother!\" Xia Ruqing said seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Er pouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, alright!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quarter of an hour later, Zhao Junyao arrived like the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he entered the door, the cold wind outside followed him inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing and Yue Er shivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So cold!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Xia Ruqing rose to her feet in greeting, she hurried to arrange the evening meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Er, on seeing him, rushed over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father Emperor!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao bent down to pick up his daughter, kissing her cheek a couple of times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Er was delighted, dancing with joy, and called out again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father Emperor!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao smiled and asked his daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What were you doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Er proudly held up the book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Daughter has been reciting poems, Father Emperor; do you want to hear me recite them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao glanced at \"Book of Thousand Poems\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprised aside, he was accustomed to his daughter’s cleverness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure! Recite them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yue Er nodded her head and tilted it, starting to recite enthusiastically.\u003C\u002Fp>",1268,"2026-05-30T07:41:33.780Z","2026-06-01T04:30:40.316Z",1,"novelbin.me","1c6fc88a312f6f6b607647b1d53943895fe182faa1ad6a1ffb7c7a282b35348d","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-1110","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-1108",1204,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-cover.jpg"]