A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1090: A Wolf’s Ambition
Previously on A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace...
They displayed their profound father-daughter bond for much of the day.
Only as evening fell did they see Prince Jin off in a carriage.
Back within the main courtyard.
Princess Hai Feng rubbed her sore cheeks, stiff from endless smiling, and heaved a deep sigh at last.
"At last..." She had gotten word from her father.
She immersed herself in the bathtub, gripping the letter from her father tightly.
Her eyes narrowed as she scanned every single word.
Once finished, she shredded the letter into bits, poured in water, and mashed it into a pulp.
A bright smile spread across her face, filling her heart with certainty and joy.
'All these years...'
'I've schemed in the shadows all these years, all to support my father.'
'Father hasn't disappointed me—his influence in Western Xia swells day by day. When the moment comes, that throne... will belong to Father!'
'Then I'll truly be a princess!'
'And mighty Western Xia will back me entirely!'
The more Princess Hai Feng mulled it over, the greater her contentment grew.
'Backed by Father, combined with my own cunning plans, even the Great Chu Dynasty...'
"Hahaha..."
Hai Feng couldn't hold back her loud laughter.
Yingge, waiting at her side, saw the commandery princess's delight and giggled along.
"Master, did the prince..."
Princess Hai Feng nodded with a beaming grin, hushed her tone, and whispered,
"It's about time!"
Yingge, a servant girl from Western Xia, served as her most trusted ally.
Accomplished in both scholarly pursuits and martial skills, she had remained by her side unwaveringly loyal.
Tasks too delicate for Hai Feng herself fell to Yingge, who managed them flawlessly, so Hai Feng trusted her immensely.
"That's fantastic news—congratulations to the commandery princess, and to the prince!" Yingge cried out happily.
Princess Hai Feng laughed heartily too.
"You've gotten so much sweeter with your words these years. Back in Western Xia, you weren't nearly this chatty!"
Yingge chuckled and replied,
"The commandery princess has changed too!"
"Back in Western Xia, when did the commandery princess ever yield to anyone?"
Those days, Hai Feng stood as the royal family's sole daughter, and with the King of Western Xia yearning for a girl, he poured all his love onto her.
She reveled in nonstop spoiling.
No need for her to utter a word against anyone who irked her—others handled it promptly.
Whatever caught her fancy, even stars from the heavens, hordes stood ready to seize them for her!
She always claimed exactly what she desired.
But now...
The commandery princess contends with the Emperor and Imperial Noble Consort above, maneuvers around the Fifth Prince and little prince amidships, and oversees the full household of consorts and concubines below.
Outwardly grand and exalted, yet privately she toils in utter weariness.
Yingge's heart twinged deeper with every thought.
Princess Hai Feng quieted as well.
After some time, a wry smile tugged at her lips.
"Yes! I've changed too!"
"How I long for those old days!"
"Sadly, no matter how splendid, those times won't come back!"
Back then, her Imperial Uncle cherished her most, granting the finest foods and amusements, shoving the Crown Prince aside.
That pure, soul-deep affection outshone even her father's.
But now...
Her Imperial Uncle discovered his real daughter and stopped doting on her.
Since entering Great Chu in marriage, not a single letter had arrived from her Imperial Uncle.
Her father alone cared for her the deepest.
Haha... so she was nothing but a replacement!
Imperial Uncle, cherish those fond memories of your kindness!
The tub's water chilled bit by bit.
Yingge urged her,
"Commandery princess, the water's cold now—quick, dress and step out!"
Princess Hai Feng jolted back to the present, her wry smile still on her face.
"Hmm!"
She stood, cloaked herself in plush cotton fabric, and departed the bath.
…
Deep winter gripped the land.
Heavy snow blanketed the capital several times, turning the air piercingly frigid.
Taiye Pool in the Imperial Garden even wore a fragile crust of cracked ice.
Fearful of the frost, the palace consorts shunned stepping beyond their doors.
They huddled in clusters, savoring tea, battling at chess, plucking zithers, or crafting poems, all acting impeccably.
The newcomers comported themselves properly too.
All proved shrewd, mastering palace protocols in just months.
Ma Liyi sparked a few incidents.
She won no favors, earning only the Emperor's cold shoulder and Consort Zheng's punishments of endless copying and confinement.
Observing the other consorts' conduct.
The Emperor and Empress shared an unbreakable loving tie; none dared meddle.
Everyone conducted themselves appropriately, allowing their days to flow smoothly.
Folks slowly came to understand.
Obeying rules and maintaining peace proved essential for preserving tranquility.
Stirring up trouble merely brought about...
Ahem, time to cease all that restlessness!
Tranquility enveloped the harem.
New Year preparations could wait, with plenty of time remaining.
Xia Ruqing's routine turned far more relaxed.
Mornings began with deep, satisfying sleep, followed by a delightful breakfast.
Then, accompanied by Yue Er, she strolled through the Imperial Garden to admire the red plum blossoms amid the snow, heading back at noon for a meal with Zhao Junyao.
Post-lunch, a refreshing nap ensued.
Awake she rose in the late afternoon.
Lazily preparing herself, she might peruse a talebook or tutor Yue Er in writing and reading.
Alternatively, idleness prevailed as she frolicked with cats and dogs, delighting in Snow Ball and Little White.
As dusk descended.
Yue Er ate an early supper and retired with the wet nurse nanny.
Xia Ruqing then accompanied Zhao Junyao, savoring fine cuisine or sipping wine lightly, before drifting into satisfied slumber.
So concluded yet another blissful, leisurely day.
Often, Xia Ruqing would sigh deeply.
’I truly possess no ambitions whatsoever!’
’Transmigrators elsewhere unlock golden fingers to rescue the world, yet here I am, merely a rice worm...’
’It feels somewhat deficient, doesn’t it?!’
Yet gazing upon her four children, she decided... it made no difference!
Lacking both scholarly achievements and unique talents,
World-saving lay far beyond her capabilities.
Moreover, this realm appeared in no need of rescue!
Survival had been achieved successfully.
Herself rescued, thriving in such comfort.
True victory that was!
Satisfaction filled Xia Ruqing's thoughts.
…
Smooth waters defined the harem.
The imperial court flowed serene like a still pond.
Prince Jin's arrival failed to ripple the surface.
Civil and military officials gathered for court routinely, while provinces dispatched memorials to the capital without delay.
Zhao Junyao stayed occupied, poring over numerous memorials daily.
Should any shift have occurred,
it concerned... those ten beauties.
With the beauties settling into the three princes’ estates,
the capital's elite and nobles fixed their gaze upon the trio of princes.
Three entered the Fifth Prince’s mansion, elevated straight to concubine status.
Noblewomen buzzed with chatter over Princess Hai Feng’s response.
’Gifts indirectly from her own father—how uncomfortable that must feel!’
’Haha, even the lofty Princess Hai Feng faces this reckoning?’
’Outwardly splendid, yet likely weeping through the nights!’
Still, as spectators anticipated drama,
Princess Hai Feng displayed utter indifference.
Through the years, ties with the Fifth Master hovered neutral.
Courtesy defined their bond—he oversaw outer matters, she the inner domain, respecting each other coldly.
You seek your little consorts, I stay out of it.
Provoke me though, and expect no quarter.
The Fifth Master fully endorsed this stance.
He held that bedding whomever suited him was his right, with the principal wife not interfering excessively.
Yet courtyard hierarchy demanded clarity.
No surpassing the main wife’s position, not even by favored concubines.
Rules upheld the vital order!
Thus...
Their union thrived on mutual accord, a ’blissful’ match.