A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1100

"The Empress is absolutely correct; it was my own lack of foresight!"

Consort Zheng offered a faint smile.

She set aside the hand warmer and took a sip from the teacup beside her.

All at once, something came to mind, and she swiftly directed Hong Yun.

"Head over to Honored Lady Dou’s quarters and see if there’s any way you can assist?"

"Make sure to act with true sincerity! No showing off your status!"

"If not, I’ll punish you upon your return once I learn of it!"

Consort Zheng’s final command rang with authority.

Hong Yun promptly replied.

"I’ll follow the Empress’s guidance!"

"Go at once!"

Consort Zheng flicked her hand, sending Hong Yun off immediately.

...

Thirty minutes later.

Hong Yun dashed back inside, eyes red and swollen.

"Empress, a disaster has occurred—Honored Lady Dou... "

"What’s wrong? Take your time speaking!" Consort Zheng responded calmly.

What was there to fuss over? The worst was simply death.

She’d suffered endlessly for ages; perhaps dying would bring her release!

"Honored Lady Dou... she has passed on!" Hong Yun’s voice shook faintly.

Consort Zheng kept her face impassive, merely quiet for a brief instant.

"How is The Eldest Princess?!"

"The Eldest Princess wails uncontrollably; Wetnurse Sister and the rest console her."

"The Emperor and Empress dispatched servants too; the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrived as well!"

Consort Zheng nodded steadily, a wry smile curling her lips.

’Look, that’s the stark divide between mothers of daughters and the barren!"

’Without a child, would the Emperor and Empress give Honored Lady Dou a thought?"

’New Year looms with all this year’s chaos! Sending anyone for her funeral would suffice!"

’Yet now, envoys come, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs intervenes!"

"What word from the Emperor?" Consort Zheng pressed.

"The Emperor declared..."

Hong Yun faltered.

"The Emperor ordered rites befitting a Jieyu!"

Consort Zheng’s eyes shadowed faintly, bitterness swelling within.

In the end, bearing a child or two truly pays off!

Honored Lady Dou, so wretched, still draws the Emperor’s regard!

If not for mothering The Eldest Princess.

No Jieyu honors—likely the Emperor wouldn’t even hear of her death!

Thinking it over, envy and resentment boil up!

"Empress, she’s gone regardless—you should rejoice!"

Hong Yun rushed to soothe, noting her tangled look.

Consort Zheng fixed her with a piercing stare.

"Speak no such thing again!"

Hong Yun stopped short.

"Understood, Empress!"

...

Honored Lady Dou’s passing piled more chaos on the overburdened Ministry of Internal Affairs.

They had no option but to comply, under the Emperor’s personal decree.

Starting from her death that day.

Ministry palace maids and eunuchs labored ceaselessly.

New Year preparations loomed, alongside quarters for the Prince Jin envoys.

The Seventh Prince’s wedding followed, then Honored Lady Dou’s burial.

Every task demanded urgency.

Xia Ruqing and the four consorts plunged into lists and ledgers, toiling away.

Days raced by; suddenly, New Year’s Eve dawned.

Honored Lady Dou’s rites wrapped up swiftly.

The Seventh Prince’s union stood perfectly set.

Zhao Junyan picked elegant, scholarly, virtuous Miss Xu as chief consort from the slate.

Miss Xu, second lawful daughter of Imperial Guard Commander Xu, had turned eighteen.

Poor health kept Lady Xu abed, so Miss Xu matured under her grandmother’s wing from the start.

Old Madam Xu, of scholarly stock, brimmed with integrity and cherished this granddaughter dearly, raised at her knee.

Miss Xu mastered poetry, melody, art, Go, script, and ink under Old Madam’s own tutelage.

During that snow-gazing feast.

Miss Xu said little, yet her eyes shone soft and steadfast, poise graceful and calm, essence lily-pure, invigorating onlookers.

Xia Ruqing and fellow Imperial Noble Consorts spotted her rarity instantly.

After talks, they forwarded Miss Xu’s profile with other elite maidens.

Portraits, identities, houses, ranks, traits, beauties—all included.

To their surprise, Seventh Prince, scanning the files, chose Miss Xu too.

Maybe her lineage suited; Commander Xu echoed his own refined air.

They steered clear of court intrigues, avoided forging ties with officials, and never joined factional battles.

Thus.

Even with Miss Xu's background falling short of the others.

She distinguished herself amid the crowd of women and won the Seventh Prince's attention.

On the twenty-eighth of the twelfth month, both families exchanged birth charts smoothly and finalized the marriage pact.

On New Year’s Eve.

At midday, Zhao Junyao held a grand banquet in Taihe Hall for civil and military officials plus the Prince Jin's group.

That evening, Xia Ruqing arranged a feast in Ninghe Hall to host the imperial relatives and harem ladies.

Following the banquet, all kept vigil until midnight.

Firecrackers burst and New Year bells tolled, then everyone savored dumplings while sharing blessings.

They lingered joyfully for half an hour more before scattering.

Xia Ruqing hauled her weary form back to Duanning Palace.

Not even pausing to cleanse her makeup, she dropped into slumber the moment her head met the pillow.

While Zi Yue and Zi Su meticulously removed Xia Ruqing’s headdress.

Zhao Junyao entered quietly.

He gestured with his hand, dismissing any need for ceremony.

Seated at the bedside, he gazed upon her tired sleeping countenance, his heart twisting in pain.

She had to be completely spent.

Zhao Junyao lay down without a sound, grasping her hand, a twinge of guilt stirring within.

"You love wide open spaces, mountains, and flowing streams!"

"But I have imprisoned you here!"

"I promised to take you to Jiangnan, but haven’t fulfilled it all these years!"

"You’ve worked hard for me, raising four children, and I’ve done nothing for you!"

A heavy ache gripped Zhao Junyao's heart.

He couldn't grasp why such feelings assailed him.

Before, he'd shown cold indifference and iron resolve toward women.

So long as they dwelled in harmony and attended him faithfully, he bestowed favor and honor lavishly.

Trickery met his unyielding wrath.

Jealous spats and petty quarrels he could abide.

Yet poisoning Imperial Concubines or royal heirs warranted death—that marked his absolute limit.

For harem women hazarding life to birth and rear children, even The Late Empress who solely oversaw The Six Palaces' matters.

He regarded it as their due.

To bear the crown demands enduring its weight.

Savoring the Empress's splendor entailed dutifully shouldering her obligations.

Lacking that, what justified claiming the seat?

And now.

Beholding her utter exhaustion—why this pang of heartache? This guilt?

He faulted himself, convinced his multitude of wives and endless duties had fatigued Qingqing so.

Absent so many consorts, her burdens would lighten greatly.

Zhao Junyao heaved a deep sigh, rolling sideways.

Abruptly shocked by his own musings.

"Too many women in the harem?"

"No, as Emperor, prior emperors like father and grandfather followed suit, didn’t they?"

"For the Royal Family's prosperity, a harem filled with beauties is standard, right?"

Pondering it further rang false.

"What drivel about flourishing lineage!"

"Plainly, it's amassing palace beauties behind procreation's veil!"

"Father commanded a vast harem yet sired only seven Princes and four Princesses!"

"No surplus to mine!"

Zhao Junyao resolved.

'A dozen women suffice; no call for more!'