A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1372 - 1370: Times Have Changed

The three young girls laughed and played for a while and then felt tired. Moreover, it was getting late, so they each dispersed.

Before leaving, Yilan deliberately reminded the other two.

"Don’t let my mother know about this. You must keep it a secret for me!"

Yue Er and Chen Weiyu patted their chests to assure.

"Don’t worry, we’re trustworthy!"

...

From then on.

The County Princess Yilan indeed behaved herself and never mentioned meeting Nan Yunze again.

Every day she read, wrote, and did needlework. When she was bored, she would find Yue Er and Chen Weiyu to chat and drink tea. She even rarely rode horses.

Seeing her daughter becoming more virtuous and gentle, the Imperial Concubine finally sighed with satisfaction.

"Lanlan has indeed grown up!"

Yilan gave a faint smile.

"I’ve made mother worry in the past, which was wrong of me. From now on, I’ll listen to you and won’t run around anymore!"

The Imperial Concubine excitedly took her daughter’s hand.

"Exactly!"

"It didn’t matter if you were willful before, but now you’re in discussions for marriage, so you must not mess around!"

"If any rumors spread, it wouldn’t be good. In these times, gossip can kill people!"

Yilan deeply agreed and nodded solemnly.

"Yes, I will remember!"

The Imperial Concubine looked at her daughter, who seemed to have grown up overnight, quite unaccustomed.

She felt a bit of heartache but ultimately said nothing more.

She just quietly sent two Teaching Sisters to teach her rules, principles, and how to handle matters.

Since she was marrying the Princely Heir, she’d have to manage the whole Pingan Marquis Mansion, so she couldn’t be ignorant.

Yilan felt quite troubled, but she couldn’t avoid learning. Luckily, she inherited her father and brother’s cleverness.

During her time at The Summer Resort, she learned everything she needed.

She even mastered two or three skills in the challenging female crafts.

Although not as proficient as the skilled embroideresses with years of practice, it was already quite good.

These skills are fine to know a bit, but who really expected her to do needlework?

...

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was early August.

The Indian summer finally passed. The weather in the Capital City wasn’t so hot anymore, and it was even a bit cool in the mornings and evenings.

In the mountains, it was even cooler than in the Capital City; it was slightly cold in the mornings and evenings.

Zhao Junyao felt that the summer retreat was enough, so he led the large group back to the Capital City.

It was another journey.

However, this time was much more comfortable than the last, at least there was no suffering on the road.

...

When they returned to Duanning Palace.

Xia Ruqing looked at the familiar courtyard and instantly felt at ease.

For some reason, whether it was because of her age or something else, she suddenly felt particularly attached to home.

Of course, this home referred to Duanning Palace.

The place she had wanted to escape countless times in the past, she now actually called it home.

She sighed deeply.

"Truly, the environment can change a person!"

"Madam, where should I put these things?" Zi Yue asked, holding a large package.

Xia Ruqing turned to look and saw it contained dried wild mountain fungi, wood ear mushrooms, and the like, and instructed.

"Distribute these things. Send some to the Emperor, and also to Chenchen, Henger, Yeye, and Yue Er! Give everyone some!"

She had taught Zi Yue to identify wild mountain fungi firsthand.

The senior palace maids beside Consort Cheng and Consort Hui had also learned from Zi Yue and picked quite a lot themselves, so there was no need to give them any.

The concubines who didn’t go didn’t need any either, as there wouldn’t be enough to go around even if given.

In fact, these weren’t precious items; it’s just for trying them fresh.

"Alright!"

Zi Yue responded and went out to instruct Xiao Zhu Zi to deliver the items.

Xia Ruqing then directed Zi Ning to organize all the luggage brought from outside the palace, ensuring she personally saw it tidied up before feeling at ease.

Only then did she go to bathe, change clothes, and groom herself.

She had a good night’s sleep.

The next day, people from the harem came to pay respects, and Xia Ruqing received them personally.

Everyone chatted and laughed together for a while before dispersing.

Xia Ruqing sighed: The harem is becoming more and more harmonious now.

Moreover, she had actually gotten used to their presence.

She could never get used to it before, after all, they were the Emperor’s other wives!

"Hehe!"

She chuckled bitterly, accepting the place as home and the presence of other wives. So what was next?

Having lived a lifetime in ancient times, she was truly becoming an ancient person!

There was no time for lamenting or enjoying a few days of leisure.

Mid-Autumn was approaching.

Although the four concubines helped, she still had to oversee everything and couldn’t completely stand aside.

So, she couldn’t find much leisure.

Besides, since returning from The Summer Resort, she felt much more energetic and didn’t mind these affairs.

As she carefully learned to manage them, she found it quite interesting.

So she decided to take charge.

Realizing that being too idle wasn’t good either, Xia Ruqing enthusiastically busied herself with the Mid-Autumn banquet.

...

Yue Er was truly idle.

After returning from The Summer Resort, Prince He Mansion and Pingan Marquis Mansion had fixed the engagement, and even the bride price had been given.

They were just waiting for the County Princess Yilan’s coming-of-age ceremony before the marriage.

With Yilan’s precedent set.

The Chen family also began to strictly discipline Chen Weiyu.

She wasn’t allowed to go out freely; she had to stay home to learn rules, etiquette, and how to be a distinguished lady.

Chen Weiyu was a carefree girl.

She didn’t care whether she could marry into a good family or who she would marry in the future.

She just wanted to live freely and happily like Yue Er.

To do what she wanted, eat what she craved, laugh when happy, and cry when sad.

She didn’t like to fuss over things, having a straightforward personality, very much like Yue Er.

It’s just that...

Mother Chen didn’t think the same.

She led several Teaching Sisters to indoctrinate Chen Weiyu day and night.

"Yuyu, you must not think this way!"

"The Fourth Princess has a noble status, in the future, she’ll have the Princess’s Mansion and the Emperor’s support; no one dares to give her a hard time!"

"You, however, have nothing like that."

"Though our family is affluent, once you’re married, you’ll belong to someone else!"

"If you know nothing and understand nothing, you’ll be bullied for sure!"

Chen Weiyu protested.

"Then I just won’t get married!"

Mother Chen was exasperated.

"How can you think like that!"

"If you don’t get married, what will you do? Are you planning to become a nun?"

Chen Weiyu replied calmly.

"That’s not impossible either!"

Mother Chen clutched her chest, her face turning pale.

"You..."

"I’ve raised you for nothing!"

"You’re thinking about becoming a nun, how has the Chen family wronged you?"

"Do you realize doing so would bring shame to our family?"

"Child, you’re truly going to drive your mother mad!"

Mother Chen’s over-the-top reaction led Chen Weiyu to surrender.

"Alright, Mother!"

"I was just joking!"

"I’ll get married, okay? I’ll study, I’ll really study!"

"In the future, I’ll listen to you!"

Mother Chen’s complexion finally returned to normal.

"That’s more like it!"

She took her daughter’s hand again and said.

"That’s my good daughter!"

"Your good friend County Princess Yilan is all set to marry; how can you avoid it?"