A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 4 - 3: Attending Bed Again

"Thank you for your grace and generosity, Empress!" With utmost respect, Xia Ruqing kowtowed once more and received the bestowed rewards.

"Thank you, Sister Yu Lan!"

"Lady Xia is too courteous!" Yu Lan replied, smiling warmly.

Xia Ruqing quietly passed her a purse, gathered her rewards, said her goodbyes, and departed. Once back, she enjoyed a soothing hot bath, ate a satisfying meal, and slumbered through a whole day until her energy fully returned. No need to dwell on those details now.

Meanwhile, the Empress sent away the Palace Consorts who had come for morning respects and retreated to her inner quarters, where Yu Lan presented her with fresh tea.

Lounging in her reclining chair, the Empress took the tea and inquired, "What are your thoughts on her?"

Yu Lan pondered briefly before responding honestly, "She appears sincere and upright, with quite pleasing features as well!"

The Empress chuckled. "The Emperor took a liking to her right after one encounter in the Imperial Garden; naturally, her appearance is striking!"

"Your Majesty..." Yu Lan showed a trace of concern.

But the Empress dismissed it with a wave and a grin, "I came to the palace at fifteen and wed the Emperor. From Crown Princess Consort to Empress, four years flew by. Without tolerance for others, how could I hold this seat?"

While speaking, the Empress stood and approached the window. Freshly placed chrysanthemums by the Palace Attendants bloomed outside. Autumn had arrived, the ideal time to admire them.

"This Harem resembles a garden of countless flowers. Chrysanthemums shine in autumn, wintersweet in winter, and spring brings yet other beauties. Blooms never cease, nor do the petals that fade and drop!"

The Empress let out a laugh with those words.

Regardless of the favor they gained, upon seeing her, they must still bow deeply and call her "Empress" with respect?

Be it ancestral temple rituals or the royal Jade Butterfly rites, solely she stood beside the Emperor. Even after a century, she alone would share his eternal tomb.

Over the next days, no consorts were called by the Emperor. The Empress and the whole Harem at last breathed easy.

In those daily greeting sessions, talk of her often sparked a mocking tone.

"I thought she was a lucky one!"

"Hmph! If truly blessed, she wouldn't have been ignored for a year. This marked her debut favor, after all."

"That's right. Looks like it was just fleeting fortune!"

With her absent from the chat, they gossiped briefly, grew bored, and let it go.

"Half a month from now comes the Mid-Autumn Festival," the Empress said smilingly. "Return and make thorough preparations. Request supplies from the Ministry of Internal Affairs if needed."

"Yes, Empress!" In unison, they rose and curtsied.

Nodding contentedly with her smile, the Empress let them leave.

Holding low rank and keeping a modest presence, Xia Ruqing caused no waves in the Harem despite one night of favor. Many others had enjoyed a single summons, then vanished from the Emperor's sight forever.

Yet, as memories of her faded from minds, the Emperor yielded to temptation and called her back to his chambers.

Without a guiding Sister this round, she handled all preparations alone.

Crowned Crown Prince at ten, the Emperor shone in academics and combat, masterful at bow and steed. His myriad skills gave him a polished, far-from-crude demeanor.

"My lady, how about this outfit?" Qiu Tong presented her full wardrobe for selection.

Her eyes opened to vivid reds and gaudy greens, all too flashy. Xia Ruqing furrowed her brow. "Fetch me simpler, plain garments."

In the end, Xia Ruqing picked sky-blue palace robes. She removed most of the Empress's gifted Jade Ornaments, keeping just two hairpins and earrings. Qiu Hong styled a neat updo, added subtle makeup, and applied vivid red lipstick.

This attire lent her the refined charm of a gentlewoman from humble origins.

"My lady looks utterly stunning!"

"Naturally! Why else would the Emperor remember her?" Qiu Hong and Qiu Tong praised lavishly.

A single chilly look from Xia Ruqing silenced them, with Qiu Hong especially cowed.

「Come evening, Xia Ruqing rode the Chunen Cart once more to Zichen Hall.」

The familiar little chamber returned, yet tension replaced her prior comfort, as her purpose was now to attend the Emperor.

Clad in rich treasure-blue leisure robes, Zhao Junyao lounged on the heated brick bed. Tea steamed beside him amid his book, as fragrant incense drifted lazily from the bronze burner.

Surprisingly, Xia Ruqing noted his refined, scholarly appeal. But memories of his nighttime ferocity stirred her silent grumble inwardly,

After curtsying and greeting him, as she moved to pour tea, Zhao Junyao glanced up abruptly.

"No need. Sit down too!" Service like this wasn't his preference.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xia Ruqing cautiously settled across the low table from him, inwardly sighing,

"What's your name?" Zhao Junyao questioned offhandedly.

"Replying to Your Majesty, this servant... is Xia Ruqing!" her mind fumed darkly.

"Can you read?" he pressed.

"Only a handful of characters!" she admitted frankly.

Without further words, Zhao Junyao grabbed a brush and inscribed a few strokes on paper. Xia Ruqing peeked and flushed—it spelled her name.

"Are these the right characters?" he queried, indicating the sheet.

"Yes!" she whispered, averting her gaze, strangely moved by her name in his forceful script.

Laying aside the brush, Zhao Junyao grinned. "A fine name indeed!"

With that, he rose and commanded dinner. Xia Ruqing hastened to assist, rinsing his hands, serving tea, and more.

「Night fell, ushering in yet another draining encounter.」

Xia Ruqing endured unbearable torment.

At first, she strove to comply, but soon... awareness slipped away entirely.

For Zhao Junyao, it echoed the prior night: still not fully gratifying.

Under faint moonlight, he eyed the distinct bite trail on his shoulder and chuckled.

"Such a fierce little demon!"

Should Xia Ruqing hear his mind, she'd surely scoff in exasperation.

Skipping ahead, 「As dawn broke the next day, Xia Ruqing departed with the lightening sky.」