A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1101: Mischievous

The following day marked the start of the month.

Honored Lady Dou's passing stirred no waves within the palace walls.

Worship of heaven and forebears, three bows and nine prostrations, imperial feasts bestowed, tributes accepted, salutes exchanged...

All proceeded with intense vigor, lively and magnificent.

Xia Ruqing toiled throughout the day, collapsing into slumber the moment she returned to her chambers and hit the pillow.

The month's second day allowed palace concubines to welcome family visitors.

Family from each of the four consorts entered the palace grounds.

In truth, Ni Manxue and Xia Caiying had both received marriage bestowals, so they ought to have paid respects to the Empress.

Yet Xia Ruqing felt utterly drained, dispatching a servant to convey that without urgent matters, they should hold off for now.

They could always meet during ordinary times, easing into it gradually later on!

Ni Manxue and Xia Caiying accepted the gracious edict and skipped the visit.

They merely forwarded family gifts to the Empress via palace servants, postponing everything else!

That second day.

Xia Ruqing slumbered away the whole day in her palace, recovering her strength only by the subsequent morning.

She had originally believed.

With a fortnight before the Lantern Festival, true rest was at last possible.

Little did she expect Yue Er, that naughty girl, to act up,

sneaking off to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and compelling the Chief Eunuch to procure ice skates for her, complete with sharp blades.

Once she obtained the skates.

Yue Er seized the moment when Wetnurse Sister looked away and slipped out stealthily.

She dashed to the Taiye Pool for some skating.

Wetnurse Sister panicked wildly, hunting high and low.

At last, they located Yue Er, sprawled on the ice after a tumble, her ankle sprained and immobile.

The palace servants trembled in fear.

They rushed together to transport the princess back.

Then came the summoning of healers, prescriptions sought, examinations performed—Duanning Palace erupted in frenzy.

From the Imperial Physician's assessment.

The tumble and twist posed no grave threat, yet a cold had set in.

The princess suffered deep chills, burning with fever, her temperature raging without relief.

Yue Er's plump cheeks glowed crimson from the heat.

The Imperial Physician himself dripped sweat in distress.

Beneath him, crowds of wetnurses, sisters, maids, and eunuchs quaked in terror, prostrate and silent on the floor.

Xia Ruqing grew somewhat desperate too.

Back in ancient eras, subpar medical care rendered child fevers perilous.

No potent antipyretics or cooling pads existed.

All relied on gradual herbal remedies and natural immunity.

Affluent households fared better, summoning doctors for fine drugs and meticulous nursing.

For destitute ones without medicine money.

Enduring might mean life; faltering could bring mild impairment or outright demise.

Life proved brutally harsh.

Xia Ruqing inwardly thanked her transmigration into imperial lineage once more.

Against her daughter's wellbeing,

Side consorts mattered little, fidelity little, affection little.

As a mother, vast wealth, lofty rank, absolute authority were essential!

Thus could the realm's top Imperial Physicians bow bedside, feeling her child's pulse.

Thus could squads of skilled wetnurses and sisters kneel bedside, atoning for their lapse!

…

"What precisely occurred?"

As Imperial Physician Zhang focused on needling and pulse-taking,

Xia Ruqing whirled to interrogate the palace staff severely.

"To the Empress, this morning post-breakfast, the princess headed to the rear garden with Snow Ball!"

"We servants fretted over the princess, remaining nearby!"

"The princess frolicked in the rear garden awhile, nearing the Lotus Root Pond!"

"Ice covered the water; the princess found it amusing and clambered in to tread upon it!"

"We servants panicked and coaxed her out with great difficulty!"

"Thereafter, the princess stayed away!"

"After midday meal, the princess claimed sleepiness! Most unusually, she climbed into bed meekly!"

"We servants... took it at face value, attending as she supposedly napped!"

"Who would have thought..."

Sister Qing uttered with a trace of remorse.

"We servants bear guilt; our failure to guard the princess properly betrayed the Empress’s faith!"

Xia Ruqing absorbed the disjointed account of happenings.

Her face stayed grave.

The sisters held blame, no doubt, yet Yue Er proved devilishly playful too.

So tender in years, already mastering trickery...!!

Xia Ruqing massaged her aching temples, brimming with frustration.

"Where is the promised little cotton-padded jacket?"

"How has she become a little bandit instead?!"

Her face stayed stern, with piercing eyes scanning the group below.

"Regardless, the princess lies unconscious—you cannot evade responsibility!"

"Sister Qing, as managing sister, you neglected to guard the princess; half a year’s salary deducted, no exceptions!"

"Wetnurses face three months’ salary deduction."

"Palace maids and eunuchs each get ten lashes and a month’s pay docked!"

"If it happens again, no need to remain in Duanning Palace!"

Xia Ruqing’s expression was stern, her voice commanding respect.

"Yes! We servants humbly accept the Empress’s reprimand!"

Xia Ruqing rose slowly, letting out a sigh.

"Dismissed, everyone—Sister Qing, you stay; the rest withdraw!"

"Yes!"

The palace servants departed one by one.

Xia Ruqing remained seated with Sister Qing, watching over Yue Er.

Sister Qing had been handpicked by Zhao Junyao soon after Yue Er’s birth.

She proved diligent and dutiful, kind yet resilient.

Her loyalty ran deep.

Once devoted to a master, her heart held only them, excluding all else.

This trait shone brightest, earning Xia Ruqing’s highest regard.

She brimmed with deep emotions and attachments.

Her bond with Yue Er transcended mere servant and master.

She cherished Yue Er like her own flesh and blood.

When the child beamed with joy, her eyes sparkled.

If the little one got hurt, worry kept her awake, her face etched with anguish.

Unlike typical servants,

Who fret only over punishment when masters suffer, ignoring their well-being.

Such devotion might be feigned for a day or two.

Or even eight or ten days.

But for years—one, two, three, or five—could it endure as pretense?

Xia Ruqing glanced aside.

Right then, she caught Sister Qing secretly brushing away tears.

She softly patted her shoulder.

"Sister, no need for that!"

Sister Qing shook her head firmly.

"It’s all my fault, my carelessness!" Regret and self-blame filled her features.

No acting could mimic such heartfelt emotion.

Xia Ruqing saw persuasion was futile and let it go.

Imperial Physician Zhang completed the pulse diagnosis, administered acupuncture, and fed the princess the rare tonic.

Finally, he dabbed sweat from his brow.

"Empress, worry not!"

"The princess boasts strong health; it’s just a minor cold, nothing grave!"

"With acupuncture and medicine done, she’ll wake by morning without issue!"

Relief washed over Xia Ruqing and Sister Qing.

"Wonderful!"

…

That very night.

Sister Qing insisted on tending the princess, aided by several wetnurses.

Xia Ruqing and Zhao Junyao slept lightly, terrified of mishaps with Yue Er.

Not a soul rested properly.

Thankfully, all turned out well.

Come morning, Yue Er’s fever broke, and she stirred awake.

The child seemed oblivious to the ordeal, rousing only famished.

Xia Ruqing drew near with a grave expression.

"Feeling hungry now, are you?"

Yue Er blinked in confusion at her mother’s severity.

Her wide eyes turned cutely toward the Emperor father.

"Why is Mother upset? Did something go wrong?"

That innocent childish tone.

Melted away every bit of Zhao Junyao’s hard-gathered fury in an instant.