"Here is the rest of the silver for you as an errand fee!"
Little Zhuzi’s eyes lit up immediately.
"Yes! Thank you, Xia Jieyu, this servant will go now!"
Little Zhuzi ran off like a whirlwind.
About three hours later, he came back carrying a big bag.
Xia Ruqing rummaged through it and saw that it contained everything she had requested.
And they were all so fresh and plump!
Little Zhuzi grinned.
"Xia Jieyu, there’s still more outside!"
More?
Xia Ruqing stealthily followed and went out to see.
Good heavens! There was a huge sack on a wheelbarrow!
It was filled with all kinds of seasonal vegetables.
Many were ones not found in the palace, the kinds that the Royal Family and nobility did not eat!
Winter melon, pumpkin, baby bottle gourds, and also eggplants, peas, and tender luffas!
There were a few kinds she didn’t even recognize.
Little Zhuzi craftily pulled out a CLUCKING farm chicken from behind the wheelbarrow.
"Xia Jieyu, the Emperor instructed this servant to buy this for you, to nourish your body!"
Xia Ruqing saw the farm chicken.
With its straw-yellow feathers, shiny and smooth, and the bright red comb of the little hen affixed to its head.
This chicken clearly has been well cared for. It’s still CLUCKING and looking around, fearless of humans, unaware of the peril it faces!
Xia Ruqing was very pleased.
"This farm chicken looks like it was free-range!"
Little Zhuzi didn’t quite understand. "Free-range?"
What was that?
Xia Ruqing suddenly realized. Ancient times didn’t have chicken farms! How else could they raise them if not free-range? The ancient times were truly wonderful—fresh air, no pollution; all these vegetables, these chickens. All were precious green vegetables, organic foods! Well, it seems like life isn’t too bad, after all!
But...
"Wait a minute, what did you just say?"
"The Emperor?"
Only then did Little Zhuzi smile.
"Xia Jieyu, your sneaky actions couldn’t be hidden from the Emperor!"
After saying that, he started unloading the contents of the wheelbarrow, then came closer and whispered, "After I received the silver from you, the Emperor specially had Eunuch Li come again to instruct this servant to buy more nourishing items! He also told this servant to buy according to your tastes!"
Little Zhuzi scratched his head.
"This servant is clumsy and didn’t know your tastes! So Eunuch Li scolded me! He said your tastes, Xia Jieyu, are unique; you like to eat what common people eat! So this servant just... brought over all these things that the common folk love!"
Looking at the two sacks of fresh vegetables and fruits at her feet—all delicious things!—Xia Ruqing felt a sudden warmth in her heart and didn’t know what to say.
It was indeed like that man’s style, treating her well in a way that was both amusing and exasperating, and hard to resist.
Zhao Junyao appeared behind her at some point and suddenly spoke up.
"Qingqing, do you not like them?"
Xia Ruqing was startled and quickly turned around.
"Emperor?"
Zhao Junyao stepped forward to look at these... rather unsightly items beneath their feet. He pondered for a moment and then said, "Qingqing, if you don’t like them, have them taken away! You can buy whatever else you like!"
Xia Ruqing hurriedly stopped him.
"No, no, no, I like them; I really do like them!"
These things are delicious!
"Your concubine thanks the Emperor!"
Zhao Junyao relaxed and smiled.
"As long as you’re happy!"
...
Xia Tingfeng took some men to patrol.
Xia Ruqing then followed Zhao Junyao back to their quarters.
In the late afternoon, Xia Ruqing began to ponder how to make these ingredients tasty.
She lay on the couch, feeling a bit restless.
"Emperor, may I go to the kitchen?"
Zhao Junyao glanced at her sideways, then returned his gaze to the book in his hands.
"Qingqing, isn’t it good to rest for a while?"
With such a big belly, doesn’t she feel how heavy it is? Isn’t she tired? She’s already walked enough today; she can’t continue to overexert herself.
Xia Ruqing felt a bit dejected.
"Emperor, your concubine is fine!"
"Emperor~"
This time, Zhao Junyao didn’t even bother to lift his eyelids.
"No!"
Xia Ruqing fell silent. She pouted and made a face at him. He’s so unromantic!
Zhao Junyao didn’t care about that. If he said no, it meant no.
He had seen she was unhappy during her meal earlier that afternoon. That’s why he had someone get these things to cheer her up.
If she were to get tired again, then getting all these things would have been pointless!
Xia Ruqing relented.
However, Zhao Junyao did have some consideration; all these dishes were made according to her instructions.
At dinner, the table was filled with simple, rustic dishes.
There were braised peanuts and edamame.
There were freshly stir-fried gourd strips, and that soup, fish ball and luffa soup, so fresh one could hardly resist swallowing their tongue!
And then there was that... winter melon stewed with free-range chicken.
At this time of year, the winter melon was still tender, soft and almost melting in the chicken broth.
The taste was unique and delightful.
She had not been pleased with the midday meal.
But at dinner, Xia Ruqing ate so happily she almost felt she could take flight.
"Emperor, these dishes taste just like the ones I had when I was a child! Braised peanuts and edamame, for instance, were what my grandmother loved to make. They were delicious, with that natural, refreshing fragrance that was truly soul-stirring!"