[{"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-303":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},410284,676,"Chapter 303 - 302: Precious Gold","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-303",303,"\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing glanced at Honored Lady Du with a hint of surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, Honored Lady Du, what happened to your face?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is it so red? Did you get heatstroke?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honored Lady Du, unwilling to speak with her, kept her gaze fixed on the Emperor. She just hoped the kind and gentle Emperor would help her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Junyao, however, seemed not to have heard and remained unmoved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honored Lady Du hesitated for quite a while. Seeing that the Emperor might really not help her, she had to leave reluctantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao said indifferently, \"You may leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honored Lady Du, on the verge of tears, could only walk away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao then spent a good while with Xia Ruqing before sending her back to Qingya Residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, Xia Ruqing tactfully refrained from mentioning Honored Lady Du.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jealousy, after all, isn’t conducive to surviving in the harem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the Emperor had finally put Honored Lady Du out of his mind. If I brought her up now, wouldn’t that just remind him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would be such a miscalculation!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, she chose only pleasant things to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, it’s rare for you to visit! I have newly planted watermelons here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao smiled faintly. \"Oh? When did you plant watermelons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing looked quite proud. \"Not just watermelons, but pumpkins too! However, we’ll have to wait a bit longer for the pumpkins.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao asked, \"We’ll wait for the pumpkins, but what about the watermelons?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now isn’t the season for ripe watermelons!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you want to eat them fresh, you’ll have to wait a bit longer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing gave a mischievous smile. \"Actually, there’s a different way to eat the watermelons we have now! I’m sure you don’t know about it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said that, she proudly pulled Zhao Junyao along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they arrived at Qingya Residence, Xia Ruqing gave Xiao Zhu Zi some instructions, then followed the Emperor into the inner chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, will you be dining here later?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao spread his hands. \"Naturally!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing was delighted. \"Wonderful! Then you really will get to try something new!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao was looking forward to it, but seeing her practically dancing with excitement, he felt a flicker of apprehension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop fidgeting. Come here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he sat down on the kang bed and stretched out his hand toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing hesitated for a moment, then went over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao held her in his arms and casually touched her belly. \"Be careful. Don’t hurt my prince!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing was speechless. \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, how do you know it’s a prince?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao thought for a moment and then said, \"I already have two daughters, so this time I want a prince.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing was somewhat displeased. \"Then... what if it’s a princess?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao considered. \"A princess is fine too. If she looks like you, that wouldn’t be bad either!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing finally breathed a sigh of relief. \"That’s more like it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao glanced at her. \"Hmm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing immediately backed down. \"Your Majesty, I won’t dare to be so presumptuous again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying ’that’s more like it’ to the Emperor was far too disrespectful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao glared at her and then said, \"If you want a daughter so much, from today onward, practice your calligraphy properly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Otherwise, what if you give birth to a foolish daughter?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing protested, \"My daughter wouldn’t be foolish! My daughter will be the smartest!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao looked at her, suddenly feeling a deep sense of helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dinner was soon served.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial meal, supplemented by her Jieyu allowance, amounted to dozens of dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Xia Ruqing who, after much deliberation, managed to pare the menu down to only twenty dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s so hot, yet they’re still serving so many greasy dishes! It’s just... excessive!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao didn’t really care; even if a hundred dishes were served, he would only eat the few he liked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However... He looked around. \"Qingqing, where’s the watermelon you mentioned?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing slapped her forehead. \"Oh dear! I almost forgot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, she started searching among the dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, in a short while, she brought out a plate of what looked like stir-fried cucumber, presenting it to Zhao Junyao with an eager smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty,\" she clarified, \"this is... stir-fried watermelon. Would you like to try some?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao’s brow furrowed. \"Stir-fried... watermelon?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing nodded. \"When I was a child, I lived at my maternal grandmother’s house!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Back then, she was still farming. Every year, when she grew watermelons, she would pick the smaller, immature fruits off the vines!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She would leave only one fruit on each vine so that it could grow large!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But she couldn’t bear to throw away the small fruits she picked!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, she peeled them and stir-fried them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They taste just like cucumber!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying this, she looked at the Emperor with hopeful eyes. \"Would you like to try? It’s quite good!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao indeed picked up a piece with his chopsticks to try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immature watermelons have particularly thick rinds and very little flesh. After peeling and scooping out the seeds and minimal pulp, only the thick rind remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sautéed with a bit of sesame oil, the white rind turned semi-translucent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coupled with the Imperial Kitchen chefs’ skill, they were all cut into decorative floral shapes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, under the candlelight, the translucent, jade-green stir-fried watermelon gleamed with a moist sheen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked quite appealing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao tasted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long moment, he finally nodded. \"Not bad!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it didn’t have a particularly distinct flavor, the texture was excellent—refreshing and crisp to the bite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one bite, you couldn’t help but want more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not much had been prepared, so by the time the meal was cleared, the plate of stir-fried watermelon was nearly empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, in such hot weather, who wouldn’t crave something refreshing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meal was cleared away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao read for a while, and Xia Ruqing, in a rare display of diligence, practiced writing a page of large characters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, I’m truly scared of giving birth to a foolish daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night gradually deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing could hardly keep her eyes open any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Zhao Junyao set his book aside. After they bathed and changed, they went to bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The next day」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao left early in the morning for the court session.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the session concluded, Zhao Junyao instructed Li Shengan, \"Aren’t there some new silk gauze fabrics in the storeroom? Send a few bolts to Lady Xia!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pregnant women really suffer in the heat. She slept poorly, tossing and turning all night. This morning when I left, her undergarments were soaked through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shengan quickly acknowledged the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the Emperor was reviewing documents in the Imperial Study Room, Li Shengan promptly assigned this task to Little Zhuzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「At the Ministry of Internal Affairs.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Dasheng received the news and dared not delay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly had someone unlock the storeroom, selected a few bolts of fine silk gauze, and gave them to Little Zhuzi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Little Zhuzi hurry away with the bolts of silk gauze on his shoulder, Hai Dasheng thought to himself,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who said Xia Jieyu was falling out of favor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heh! She’s carrying a royal child; she’s precious. Not only did the Emperor stay over last night, but first thing this morning, he sent her gifts. How is that anything like falling out of favor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heh, Honored Lady Du? She still has a long way to go!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this heat, the Emperor hadn’t even ordered ice for *her*!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Honored Lady’s allowance included ice, but it could only be used during the dog days, the hottest month or so of summer!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At other times, it was forbidden!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It couldn’t be helped; after all, one is merely Sixth Rank!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, rules are rigid. But if the Emperor favored you, with just a word, you could have ice too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But... he hadn’t, had he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without an order, the Ministry of Internal Affairs couldn’t provide it.\u003C\u002Fp>",1336,"2026-05-30T07:40:59.353Z","2026-06-01T04:30:39.363Z",1,"novelbin.me","911f4e1b910354ff8959627ada69d896a1627e4ed0c5a47dd9d3084665a59eaf","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-304","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-302",1204,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-cover.jpg"]