Chapter 75: Six Transmigrants Gather as One

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The imperial palace of the Zhao Song dynasty was originally the residence of the Tang dynasty’s Xuanwu Military Governor, later converted into a palace city by the Later Liang, and expanded during the early Song.

The palace stood at the center, employing a central axis with symmetrical layout and a grid pattern, enclosing over seven li, forming a rectangle that was short from east to west and long from north to south.

The palace city had six gates on all four sides; three gates opened on the southern wall, with the main southern gate being Xuande Gate. Before Xuande Gate stretched a royal avenue more than two hundred steps wide, flanked by royal corridors, with forked poles lining the center path, a royal moat carved out, and peach, plum, lotus, and water lilies planted throughout.

Zhang Chun, Li Lin, Ye Shi Yun, and Yuan Qing Cheng each rode in a shoulder sedan, following Zhao Yu’s flat palanquin, traveling from Cide Palace through Xuande Gate all the way to Funing Palace.

This was the first time the four women had left Cide Palace since their arrival; they were nervous, excited, and tinged with unease.

Along the way, high palace walls rose in crimson and gold, each brick and tile whispering of imperial majesty and the weight of time. A spring breeze brushed past, carrying floral fragrance, yet also faint, imperceptible traces of court secrets.

After glancing around in her sedan, Zhang Chun shook her head: “The Northern Song imperial palace is indeed the smallest of all dynasties—no comparison to the Forbidden City.”

Li Lin had no interest in admiring the palace; her mind was fixed on one thought: “I’ve finally reached Zhao Yu’s side—how do I demonstrate my military talents to him?”

Ye Shi Yun wandered like a tourist, gazing left and right, clearly in good spirits.

Yuan Qing Cheng’s emotions were the most unsettled of all four women.

On one hand, she feared Zhao Yu, impatient and lustful, would bed her before she had time to adjust.

On the other, the other women’s skills yielded immediate results, while hers required luck and time—perhaps ten or twenty years before yielding any meaningful outcome. She worried: could Zhao Yu possess such patience to keep investing in her?

“Maybe I shouldn’t claim agriculture as my strength. If I say I’m a cook, I won’t have to fear Zhao Yu abandoning me for lack of results.”

“But I’ve crossed over just to become a cook? That’s too pitiful.”

“Besides, which cook has ever become famous through the ages? I originally started filming food videos because dreams can’t sustain a life…”

Arriving before Funing Palace, Zhao Yu stepped down from his palanquin first; the four women followed, descending from their sedan chairs.

Zhao Yu then led the four women to a side hall.

There, sumptuous tea and snacks were already prepared, and Ma Xiao Jiao had been waiting for them for some time.

Thus, the six transmigrants finally gathered together.

Seeing Ma Xiao Jiao again, the four women were deeply moved, as if “old hometown friends meeting, eyes brimming with tears.”

Zhang Chun, most sensitive to chest size, quickly noticed Ma Xiao Jiao’s bust had grown larger—now truly “Big Thunder Jiao.” She glanced at Ma Xiao Jiao’s abdomen and saw it had begun to swell.

Though Zhang Chun herself had made this happen, she still felt a pang of distaste. She truly envied—and even resented—Ma Xiao Jiao.

While Zhao Yu spoke with Liang Shicheng, Li Lin lowered her voice and asked: “Jiao Jiao, now that you’re in the palace, what about your research?”

“The Emperor has ordered all my belongings moved into Qin Can Palace, and all my researchers have been brought inside,” Ma Xiao Jiao smiled.

To demonstrate frugality, love for the people, and reverence for agriculture, the Zhao Song imperial palace included Guan Jia Palace and Qin Can Palace.

These two palaces were normally unused, only activated on special occasions; thus, Zhao Yu assigned Qin Can Palace to Ma Xiao Jiao, making it convenient for her to improve the loom.

“By the way, the Emperor gave you Guan Jia Palace—you’ll be my neighbor from now on,” Ma Xiao Jiao told Yuan Qing Cheng.

“?”

Yuan Qing Cheng didn’t understand what Ma Xiao Jiao meant.

“The Emperor has assigned Guan Jia Palace as your research lab, and he’s gathered agricultural talent nationwide, collecting seeds and seedlings of all kinds of grain, vegetables, and fruit. Everything’s nearly ready—you can begin your research,” Ma Xiao Jiao explained.

At that moment, Zhao Yu walked over and said: “The Guan Jia Palace is too small for you to fully demonstrate your abilities. Set up here for now. In a few days, I will designate the area east of Jinglong Gate, west of Fengqiu Gate, north of Donghua Gate, and south of Jinglong River for your use…”

Yuan Qing Cheng had no concept of the land Zhao Yu offered; nearby, Zhang Chun’s eyes nearly popped out.

Seeing Zhang Chun’s reaction, Li Lin whispered: “What’s wrong?”

Zhang Chun, unable to hold back, turned to Li Lin’s ear and said: “Zhao Yu gave Qing Cheng Genyue Your Majesty Mountain.”

“What’s Genyue Your Majesty Mountain?” Li Lin didn’t understand.

Zhang Chun rolled her eyes inwardly: “Sister, if you don’t know history, at least have common sense.”

She shook her head silently and whispered again into Li Lin’s ear: “The flower-rock convoy Yang Zhi lost in Water Margin—the one that provoked Fang La and the southern populace—was built to construct this garden.”

Li Lin finally understood. She quickly whispered back: “You mean Zhao Yu gave Qing Cheng the very land where Zhao Ji built Genyue Your Majesty Mountain—for an agricultural research base?”

Zhang Chun nodded.

Upon confirmation, Li Lin looked at Zhao Yu: “Zhao Ji built gardens; you build agricultural research bases. You two are worlds apart. We chose you to replace Zhao Ji as emperor—absolutely the right decision. You’ll help us realize our dreams.”

Over there, seeing Zhao Yu’s support, Yuan Qing Cheng felt both relief and crushing pressure: “Zhao Yu supports me this much—if I fail to deliver results, how can I possibly justify it?”

Soon after, a young eunuch brought in a large copper pot, and palace maids arrived with mounds of lamb, seafood, and vegetables.

“Hot pot!!!”

Li Lin, Ye Shi Yun, and Yuan Qing Cheng were astonished.

Soon, Ye Shi Yun seized the moment Zhao Yu stepped away and asked Ma Xiao Jiao: “Did you teach him this?”

Zhang Chun said: “This era already had a similar dish called Gu Dong Geng. Jiao Jiao merely improved it.”

Ma Xiao Jiao nodded: “Pure Sister is right. Gu Dong Geng resembled hot pot. When I first ate it, I told the Emperor that cooking it in a copper pot would be far better, and that slicing lamb paper-thin would help. I simply brought over the hot pot method. The next day, he ordered this copper pot made, and I finally got a decent hot pot.”

Hearing Ma Xiao Jiao boast, the four women realized Ma Xiao Jiao’s life beside Zhao Yu was far from ordinary.

They thought back to their own days in Cide Palace.

The four women felt a pang of envy.

If they’d known life beside Zhao Yu would be this comfortable, they’d have fought for the position of palace instructor. After all, they’d all be bedded by Zhao Yu eventually—what difference did a few months make?

Ma Xiao Jiao urged the women to sit and complained: “Too bad we have no chili peppers, and the seasonings are scarce. Make do.”

Ma Xiao Jiao turned to Yuan Qing Cheng: “Qing Cheng, you must work hard. Whether we ever eat authentic hot pot depends entirely on you.”

Zhang Chun rolled her eyes: “Chili peppers come from Latin America. Without seedlings, how can you cultivate them?”

Just then, Zhao Yu returned and asked deliberately: “Where is Latin America? I’ll send men to find these chili peppers.”

Li Lin evaded: “Latin America lies ten thousand li away, beyond mountains and seas—ordinary ships and carts cannot reach it. Only treasure ships and giant vessels can make the journey.”

Zhao Yu dismissed it: “Then build treasure ships and giant vessels.”

The five women found nothing odd in Zhao Yu’s words. They were transmigrants; he was emperor. What could they not accomplish together?

Ye Shi Yun urged: “The meat’s getting tough.”

Zhao Yu said: “Eat.”

The five women eagerly ate the hot pot lamb, when Zhao Yu said: “You five are extraordinary talents. What can you teach me to help me govern the realm?”

…

(End of Chapter)