A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 396: The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend?
Xia Ruqing gave the Empress a way out.
The atmosphere finally eased, no longer so awkward.
The Empress also composed herself considerably, and Noble Concubine Shih dared not say much either.
The entire Third Day Bathing Ceremony wasn’t so embarrassing after all.
When the midday meal was served, everyone ate a bit.
After the meal, they chatted and laughed for a while, and then everyone dispersed.
Zhao Junyao, being busy with government affairs, didn’t stay long either.
After instructing others to take good care of Xia Ruqing, he left.
Xiao Xizi was leading people outside, tidying up.
Xia Ruqing, holding her child, returned to the inner chamber.
Exhausted from the long hours, she sank back onto the bed with a deep sigh of relief.
"So tiring!"
Zi Yue brought over a bowl of soup noodles and placed it in front of her.
"My lady, you didn’t eat much just now. Please eat some more!"
Xia Ruqing looked at the soup noodles and then said, "Is it... without salt again?"
Zi Yue paused in surprise for a moment, then chuckled. "The Imperial Physician said you can’t eat too much salt... it’s for your health..."
Xia Ruqing quickly raised her hand to stop her. "Okay, okay... I’ll eat... I’ll eat, isn’t that enough?"
Zi Yue nodded. "That’s right!"
Xia Ruqing hadn’t been very hungry to begin with. After drinking the soup and eating the noodles, she was full.
The Little Prince was also full, so Sister Liang placed him next to Xia Ruqing.
Little Bun wasn’t sleepy at the moment.
He was fluttering his eyes, staring intently at Xia Ruqing.
Xia Ruqing’s heart melted into a puddle. Stroking her son’s tender cheeks, she smiled and said, "Son, you really are handsome!"
His eyes and brows strongly resembled Zhao Junyao’s; looking at him again and again, she found little of her own features in his face.
A pang of sourness pricked her heart.
"I nearly lost my life giving birth to you; it wasn’t your father, it was me, me!"
Zi Yue covered her mouth, stifling a laugh from the side. "Your Highness, the Little Prince of course should resemble the Emperor more!"
"In the future, if you give birth to a Little Princess, wouldn’t she more likely resemble you?"
Xia Ruqing thought about it, and that was true! So she didn’t dwell on it.
Little Bun seemed rather exasperated with his mother.
After waving his little limbs for a moment, he blew a spit bubble.
Of course, Xia Ruqing couldn’t hear him.
She patted her son’s little swaddled form and soothed him gently. "Be a good boy, my son, and sleep."
She patted and soothed him at the same time.
After half an incense stick’s worth of time.
Little Bun still hadn’t fallen asleep, while Xia Ruqing herself had dozed off first.
Little Bun gave her a glance, feeling somewhat speechless inside.
By the end of October, it had become very cold.
When the Empress returned to Jiaofang Hall, the sky was somewhat overcast.
The palace maids and eunuchs trailing behind her didn’t dare to breathe too loudly.
Yu Lan covertly handed a set of gold bracelets to the Little Eunuch in charge of the treasury.
"Put them away quickly, and don’t take them out again in the future!"
The Little Eunuch, being very astute, accepted them without daring to ask any questions.
Just as he was about to leave, he heard the Empress’s stern command.
"Come back!"
The Little Eunuch froze, not daring to move. He obediently turned back and knelt.
"Empress..."
The Empress took two steps forward, looking at the Little Eunuch with a cold gaze.
It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
After a moment, the Empress suddenly said, "This set of gold ornaments, I’m awarding it to you! Take it..."
The Little Eunuch kowtowed, "Thank you..."
Before he could finish his word of thanks, he realized his mistake.
He hurriedly knocked his head on the ground.
"Empress, your servant dares not..."
"Your servant dares not..."
The Empress’s eyes suddenly sharpened. "You don’t want it?"
Her voice was heavy with displeasure and threat.
The Little Eunuch’s legs felt like jelly.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, the Empress huffed coldly again and sneered.
"Since you dare not accept it, then go to the Punishment Department and take your beating with the plank—that you probably dare to accept!"
Having said her piece, the Empress shot him a contemptuous glance, then turned and walked away.
The Little Eunuch dared not beg for mercy. After kowtowing, he was led away.
「In Xifu Palace.」
Noble Concubine Shih lay down on the bed as soon as she entered. She claimed to be tired, but in truth... she desperately missed her child.
Lying in bed, facing the wall, tears streamed down Noble Concubine Shih’s face.
"Empress..."
Noble Concubine Shih clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles whitened.
Although Noble Concubine Shih also found Xia Ruqing an eyesore, the one she loathed most in her heart was still the Empress.
With this realization, Xia Ruqing no longer seemed quite so detestable.
Even though Noble Concubine Shih would not befriend Xia Ruqing, she wouldn’t go out of her way to cause her trouble.
After crying for some time and mulling things over repeatedly, Noble Concubine Shih found herself unable to sleep.
She rose and instructed Ying Yue to fetch nourishing soup from the Imperial Kitchen, then headed towards Honored Lady Shih’s chambers.
Honored Lady Shih was over four months pregnant; her belly was just beginning to show, though not yet very obviously.
Noble Concubine Shih wore a very cordial smile. "Sister, you must not have enjoyed your lunch today. This is a rib soup specially stewed by the Imperial Kitchen at my request! Drink more of it!"
Just as Honored Lady Shih was getting ready to sleep, seeing the Noble Concubine arrive, she quickly sat up.
"Noble Consort..."
Noble Concubine Shih pressed her down. "Don’t move. Zhaoer, come and serve the soup to your mistress."
Honored Lady Shih frowned.
Looking at her own increasingly plump face, Honored Lady Shih felt genuinely anxious.
"Noble Consort, you are so good to me... But..."
Noble Concubine Shih paid her concerns no mind. She mused...