[{"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-1181":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},411358,676,"Chapter 1181: Laying a Trap","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-1181",1181,"\u003Cp>If people knew I got this frightened by my own husband, it would be me who’s embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After taking a few sips of tea to calm down, I finally felt much better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing couldn’t help but ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Emperor, what were you thinking just now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao hesitated for a moment, then told her exactly what was on his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Xia Ruqing didn’t know much about economics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She did know that when a place swindles money like this, it’s bound to encounter problems sooner or later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small fry in Jinling City would be devoured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The biggest fish would fatten up rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By that time, countless wealth would be in the hands of a few.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention the cronyism and collusion between officials and merchants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what she understood now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t think of anything besides a rebellion that would require such enormous amounts of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So... are there people planning to rebel?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao’s eyes were sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You and I are thinking the same thing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even something Qingqing, who hadn’t read much, could understand, how could he not know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao clenched his fists and turned to stand by the window with his hands behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He frowned deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brain worked quickly, going over the complex relationships among the ministers in the court again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking carefully about who in the court might be most likely to rebel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Xia Ruqing spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you ask me, you should just start by dealing with those big fish!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although it might alert them, the common people are almost being crushed, and we don’t have much time to waste!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao turned to look at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you think we should do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing squinted her almond-shaped eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ll tie them up and interrogate them harshly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ask them where all the swindled silver went?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If they won’t confess, then keep beating them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao was totally baffled by her train of thought, almost laughing and crying at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qingqing, that’s...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to argue, to tell her they couldn’t arrest people without evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he thought, she might actually be right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, what use is talking about evidence?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, that group had secretly amassed countless wealth and committed many evil deeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They brought such suffering to the people, they deserved a good beating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking it over, he began to feel it was a good idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded there and then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your idea is not bad! But it’s not thorough enough!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need at least a pretext to arrest people!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing strongly agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir, it’s easy to find a pretext when ’if you want to condemn someone, there’s no shortage of pretexts’!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying that, she gave a mischievous smile, her eyes filled with cunning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao found the expression very familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like it was... from his own face?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He touched his nose and decided not to say more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao personally wrote a secret decree to the Imperial Censor Zhou beside him, appointing him as the officially recognized imperial envoy by the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Imperial Censor Zhou, in his capacity as imperial envoy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Invited the heads of Jiangnan’s three major families, Master Lian Long, Old Master Song, and Old Master Rong, to a banquet at the most luxurious restaurant in Jinling City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three old foxes were smooth operators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though they had never heard of the so-called Master Zhou Yu, they came diligently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they met, they addressed him warmly as Master Zhou this, Master Zhou that, like long-lost brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, some were newly promoted by the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had to keep up with the Emperor’s pace and keep up with the times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If nothing else, just his invitation stamped with the official seal of the court was worth currying favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lavish private room was in the Sky Room No.1, the highest floor of the restaurant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exquisitely carved windows, the grand nanmu wine table, a whole table of exquisite and luxurious precious dishes, and a group of female singers performing, along with the female dancers dancing with their graceful movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All this indicated that this imperial envoy was generous and extravagant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plus, Zhou Yu appeared to be naturally congenial, dragging them to drink and eat meat, making merry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In no time, he was drunk, carousing with women on either side, revealing his playboy nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three old foxes exchanged indescribable smiles with each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So extravagant? More than we enjoy, could he be a playboy from a prominent family in the Capital City?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’A fellow traveler indeed!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I think so too, seeing this guy with such a playboy look, he must be easy to deceive!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Yes, yes! Let’s cozy up to him, maybe we can use him!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having made up their minds, they began a new round of forcing drinks on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They flattered and buttered him up while pouring wine into Zhou Yu’s mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zhou Yu was drunkenly confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They probed every detail of Zhou Yu’s supposed origins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact... it was all a carefully crafted background story by Imperial Censor Zhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My father is an Imperial Guards Commander beside the Emperor, trusted by him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My father said, once he has the chance to make a battle merit, he would surely be rewarded with a title!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By then, I’ll be that prestigious Master Prince!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Master Song was a bit puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn’t the commander by the Emperor’s side surnamed Xu and Xia? I haven’t heard of anyone named Zhou?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imperial Censor Zhou, slightly confused, slapped a hand over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nonsense!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn’t a Deputy Commander also a Commander?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three realized, \"True, that’s also correct!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could someone by the Emperor’s side be so easily investigated by them? They vaguely remembered an official surname Zhou in the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Zhou Yu’s complete embodiment of the playboy aura was too genuine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without years of licentious living, no one could mimic that so convincingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add to that his genuine official seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three pondered carefully and were convinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They dared to drink, dared to eat, and soon enough, everyone was calling each other brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In these times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Officials loved mingling with wealthy people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rich people loved currying favor with officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You have power; I have money, we gather together for mutual benefit—isn’t it just wonderful?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the normal course of things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they weren’t even surprised when this imperial envoy took the initiative to approach them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, they felt rather proud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>See, even when officials from the capital enter Jinling City, they have to check in with them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At current prices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This table’s spread and the services of the female dancers and singers, altogether cost no less than three thousand taels of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spending three thousand taels of silver on one meal without a blink—what else could he be if not a playboy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gentleman indeed was a fellow traveler!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having figured this out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They drank heartily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, everyone was tipsy, holding onto their favorite girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something’s not right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why so sleepy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girls’ faces became blurry, and the hand groping the girl’s chest lost its strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they knew it, they had all passed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female singer let out a sharp scream!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imperial Censor Zhou, in the quickest motion, drew his sword and pointed it at their throats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone was icy, a stark contrast to his earlier behavior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you want to live, keep your mouths shut and get out of here quickly!\" Imperial Censor Zhou said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, yes, sir, we’ll leave right away!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, they all ran faster than rabbits!\u003C\u002Fp>",1280,"2026-05-30T07:41:36.139Z","2026-06-01T04:30:40.316Z",1,"novelbin.me","4d949ee238106e114c6831359329db577d8a1b9f42d91d2d0e48bf656e98bbf4","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-1043","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-1042",1204,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-cover.jpg"]