Chapter 72 - 71 Feast of Wild Vegetables 2

Zhao Junyao only glanced once and felt his visit was not in vain.A realization had already formed in his mind: if he didn’t know where to sleep, go to Zhaohua Pavilion. If he didn’t know what to eat, go to Zhaohua Pavilion. Having grown accustomed to contrived manners, seeing Lady Xia’s sincerity made his heart feel much more at ease. The Noble Consort was with child, and he was happy about it. Firstly, he felt a sense of relief, as if he finally had an account to give. Secondly, he could now come and go as he pleased without always worrying that someone might be jealous of her or bully her. True, he hadn’t let her suffer any major grievances, but he was, after all, the ruler of the nation. It wasn’t possible to protect her at every moment; that just wasn’t realistic. Now, things were fine as they were. A Noble Consort, cherished throughout The Six Palaces, being pregnant was indeed far more eye-catching than a mere Honored Lady receiving favor. Thinking so much, Zhao Junyao suddenly wondered, when had he become so fussy? He decided to let it go and stop thinking about it. "Emperor, are you... displeased?" Regaining his composure, he saw Xia Ruqing looking at him with unease. "You have fresh vegetables here. Where did they come from?" Zhao Junyao’s expression remained unchanged as he asked indifferently. This table of dishes, so vibrant and tender in the early spring when greenery was scarce, was indeed appealing and tantalizing. Outside, wealthy families would spend fortunes just for a taste of fresh vegetables. After all, where there was profit, shops would find a way to procure them. But Zhao Junyao, disliking extravagance, ensured the palace abided by strict rules; no one dared to invite trouble over such matters. Lady Xia, Xia Ruqing... She... she’s still young, perhaps she doesn’t understand. She’ll remember next time. Zhao Junyao’s expression was serious, but in his heart, he had already found an excuse for her. Xia Ruqing, however, was frightened. Could the Emperor have recognized these as wild greens and deemed them too lowly for the palace? Have I broken the rules again? She dared not speak, but the Emperor had asked, and speak she must. So, she knelt, suppressed the turmoil in her heart, and said weakly, "This servant deserves death for presenting such unrefined wild greens. Please forgive me, Emperor..." In fact, she felt a mix of disdain and resentment. He was clearly impressed at first glance, so why refuse to eat just to save face? Aren’t wild greens still vegetables? Nutritious, natural, organic—what’s so lowly about them? I just can’t understand these ancient people! Seeing her admit her fault, Zhao Junyao’s heart immediately softened. How could he bear to chastise her? He was about to tell her to rise and instruct her not to be so extravagant in the future when... a thought suddenly struck him. "Wild greens?" Xia Ruqing remained kneeling, not daring to rise or lift her head. "Qingqing, you’re saying these are wild greens?" Xia Ruqing looked bewildered. "Yes..." Her mind went blank. What’s wrong with the Emperor? Before she could ponder further, he abruptly pulled her to her feet. "I thought you had spent a fortune buying these from outside. It seems I’ve wronged you..." Xia Ruqing thought for a moment, then nodded in confusion. "It did cost quite a bit. Including the errand fee, it was more than twenty taels of silver..." This was indeed expensive, considering that in ancient times, wild greens were ubiquitous and not valuable. Since it was her first time requesting them, she felt she should reward the effort generously. She didn’t expect to curry favor with the Imperial Kitchen attendants; establishing a cordial relationship so they wouldn’t cause trouble for her later was enough. As soon as she spoke, Zhao Junyao’s expression darkened again. "Vegetables costing a hundred gold are extravagant, but would I begrudge you wild greens costing twenty taels of silver?" he ’scolded,’ enduring the sharp pain in his throat. Xia Ruqing’s heart fluttered under his rebuke, leaving her speechless. She merely lowered her head and mumbled, "Wild greens costing twenty taels of silver are still extravagant. Xiao Weizi said if you buy in bulk, one tael of silver can get you about ten catties..." Zhao Junyao felt a tightness in his chest, as if something was stuck there, unable to go up or down. He was an emperor who knew how to live frugally. Upon ascending the throne, he had cut many unnecessary expenses in the palace. Yet, he discovered his little consort was even more adept at thriftiness than he was. For a moment, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Xia Ruqing, however, kept her head down, her expression earnest. What I said isn’t wrong at all... Extravagance is wrong, so is being thrifty and economical also wrong? Forget it, I won’t dwell on it! "Emperor, you seem a bit heated. Please have some lotus seed soup to soothe your throat first." His Majesty’s health is paramount! Zhao Junyao looked at her innocent face, sighed, and decided to drop the matter. After a bowl of soup, the burning sensation in his throat finally eased somewhat. Looking at the tender little dishes before him, his appetite surged. "What’s that?" Xia Ruqing saw he was pointing to the steamed dish and quickly explained, "Emperor, this is steamed ’noodle vegetable,’ a type of wild green. At this time of year, it grows abundantly in the countryside and is delicious." Zhao Junyao had never heard of it. He glanced at her and remarked, "You seem to know quite a lot..." Xia Ruqing couldn’t resist a little praise and began to show off. "This servant comes from a humble background. As a child, I lived with my maternal grandmother in the countryside, so I know many such things..." Zhao Junyao watched her boast with lively expressions. This girl, give her an inch and she’ll take a mile. Still, I like her this way... "Let’s eat." Xia Ruqing smiled and quickly served him. As long as the Emperor approves, I’ll have delicious things to eat from now on, hehe... She mixed a small bowl of dipping sauce with garlic paste, fine salt, rice vinegar, and sesame oil, placing it before Zhao Junyao. "Emperor, it’s delicious with this dipping sauce." Zhao Junyao said nothing, but after taking a bite, he couldn’t help but nod. "Indeed, not bad." The flavor of wild greens was naturally different from ordinary vegetables, possessing a unique charm. "Emperor, if you eat this, you don’t even need rice. There are also toon sprouts stir-fried with eggs, a dish of lightly sautéed wild mugwort and shepherd’s purse, and the bitter sow thistle is delicious served cold." Not only are they tasty, but they also help reduce internal heat... Zhao Junyao was quite satisfied with the meal. The small dishes on the table were all empty, and Xia Ruqing, patting her stomach, showed she had thoroughly enjoyed it too. After eating so much rich food, this lighter fare tastes exceptionally good! "Emperor, I believe that all vegetables are equal; there’s no distinction between high and low. These greens are inexpensive and easy to find. When commoners sell the wild greens they gather, it can help supplement their household income..." After a moment’s thought, Zhao Junyao nodded. "When it comes to money, your mind is certainly sharp." Xia Ruqing beamed. "But of course!" Zhao Junyao gave her a playful pat on the backside and said in a deep voice, "You cheeky thing." ... After lunch, Xia Ruqing nestled in Zhao Junyao’s arms for a nap. She was still asleep when he rose to leave. 「In the afternoon, around the You Hour」 Zhao Junyao returned. The food this little girl makes... I just can’t stop thinking about it. Even though I’m not one to indulge my palate, it’s always on my mind. Besides, fresh wild greens truly are more delicious than dried ones...