Chapter 75: Six Transmigrants Gather Together

…

The imperial palace of the Zhao-Song dynasty was originally the administrative office of the Tang dynasty's Xuanwu Military Commission, later converted into a palace city by the Later Liang, and expanded further in the early Song.

The palace stood at the center, employing a central-axis symmetrical layout with a checkerboard pattern, enclosing more than seven li, forming a rectangle that was short east-west and long north-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 lay a royal avenue over two hundred paces wide, flanked by royal corridors, with forked poles lined along 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 behind 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 transmigration; they were nervous, excited, and tinged with unease.

Along the way, high palace walls rose, crimson and gold gleaming in alternating brilliance, every brick and tile whispering of imperial majesty and the weight of time. A spring breeze brushed gently, carrying floral scents, yet also seeming to carry faint, imperceptible secrets of the inner court.

After glancing around in her sedan, Zhang Chun shook her head: "The Northern Song imperial palace is indeed the smallest among all dynasties—nothing compared to the Forbidden City."

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

Ye Shi Yun wandered like a tourist, glancing here and there, clearly in good spirits.

Yuan Qing Cheng's mood was the most uneasy of all the women.

On one hand, she feared Zhao Yu was lustful and would not give her time to adjust before taking her to bed.

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

"Maybe I shouldn't mention my agricultural expertise. If I claim culinary skill, I won't have to fear Zhao Yu abandoning me for lack of results."

"But I've transmigrated once—just to become a cook somewhere else? Isn't that too pathetic?"

"Besides, which cook has ever become famous through the ages? I originally started filming food videos because dreams couldn't sustain my life…"

Upon reaching Funing Palace, Zhao Yu stepped down from his palanquin first; the four women followed, alighting from their sedan chairs.

Then Zhao Yu 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 a long time.

Thus, the six transmigrants finally gathered in one place.

Upon seeing Ma Xiao Jiao again, the four women were deeply moved, feeling much like "old hometown friends meeting, eyes brimming with tears."

Zhang Chun, most sensitive to chest size, quickly noticed Ma Xiao Jiao's chest had grown even larger—now bordering on "Big Thunder Jiao"—and when she looked at Ma Xiao Jiao's abdomen, she saw it had already begun to swell.

Though Zhang Chun herself had orchestrated this, she still felt a twinge of disgust inside—she truly envied, even resented, Ma Xiao Jiao.

While Zhao Yu went to speak 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 the Qin Can Palace, and all my researchers have been brought inside as well," Ma Xiao Jiao replied with a smile.

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

These two halls were normally unused, only occasionally employed 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 Hall—now we're neighbors," Ma Xiao Jiao said to Yuan Qing Cheng.

"?"

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

"The Emperor has assigned Guan Jia Hall as your research lab, and he's gathered agricultural talent nationwide and collected seeds and seedlings of all kinds of grains, vegetables, and fruits. Everything's nearly ready—you can begin your research now," Ma Xiao Jiao explained.

At that moment, Zhao Yu walked over and volunteered: "Guan Jia Hall is too small for you to fully display your talents. Prepare here for now. In a few days, I'll 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 nearly bulged her eyes.

Seeing Zhang Chun's reaction, Li Lin whispered: "What's wrong?"

Zhang Chun, unable to hold it in, 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: "Sis, if you don't know history, at least have some common sense."

Silently shaking her head, Zhang Chun whispered again into Li Lin's ear: "The flower-rock convoy that Yang Zhi lost in Water Margin—the one that provoked Fang La and the southeastern 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 Emperor Zhao Ji once built Genyue Your Majesty Mountain—for an agricultural research base?"

Zhang Chun nodded.

Upon Zhang Chun's confirmation, Li Lin looked at Zhao Yu: "Zhao Ji built a garden—you're building an agricultural research base. You two are truly worlds apart. We chose you to replace Zhao Ji as emperor—absolutely the right decision. You'll surely help us realize our dreams."

Over there, seeing Zhao Yu's strong support, Yuan Qing Cheng felt both relieved and immense 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 after, while Zhao Yu was away, Ye Shi Yun asked Ma Xiao Jiao: "Did you teach this?"

Zhang Chun interjected: "A similar dish called Gu Dong Geng already existed in this era—Jiao Jiao merely improved it."

Ma Xiao Jiao nodded: "Pure Sister is right. Gu Dong Geng was very much like hot pot. When I first ate it, I told the Emperor that cooking it in a copper pot would taste far better, and that slicing the lamb paper-thin would help—basically, I just brought over the hot pot method. The next day, the Emperor 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.

Thinking 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—even if they'd eventually been taken to bed by Zhao Yu, what difference did a few months make?

Ma Xiao Jiao urged the women to sit down while complaining: "Too bad there's no chili pepper, and the seasonings are scarce—make do."

Ma Xiao Jiao turned to Yuan Qing Cheng: "Qing Cheng, you must work hard—whether we ever get authentic hot pot depends entirely on you."

Zhang Chun rolled her eyes: "Chili peppers come from Meizhou. Without seedlings, how can you cultivate them?"

Just then, Zhao Yu returned and deliberately asked: "Where is Meizhou? I'll send men to find these chili peppers."

Li Lin evaded: "Meizhou lies ten thousand li away, beyond mountains and seas—ordinary boats and carts cannot reach it; only treasure ships and giant vessels can make the journey."

Zhao Yu dismissed it casually: "Then build treasure ships and giant vessels."

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

Ye Shi Yun urged from the side: "The meat's getting tough."

Zhao Yu said, "Let us eat."

The five women ate hot-pot lamb with great gusto for a while, and Zhao Yu spoke up: "You five are all extraordinary talents. What does the Heke Sect have to teach me, to help me take the reins of the empire?"

……

(End of Chapter)