A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 696: Homestyle

After getting up, washing, and freshening up, Xia Ruqing changed into her everyday clothes.

Just then, Xiao Xizi returned, carrying the meal. Zi Yue and the others went to set up the table.

Usually at this time, Xia Ruqing would be at Jiaofang Hall, as in previous years, accompanying the Empress and the various Ladies of Enjoin for the banquet. But this year was different. The Empress wasn’t present, and the Ladies of Enjoin had all gone to the Empress Dowager’s residence. Apart from a few consorts of Pin rank or higher who stayed to accompany them, the rest of the Honored Ladies had returned to their own quarters. Without the usual bustle, no one paid much attention to the ailing Xia Ruqing. Because of this, she was able to comfortably stay home and enjoy delicious food.

Lunch was a banquet meal provided by the Imperial Kitchen. It looked unappetizing, but it couldn’t be skipped; that was the rule. In reality, she was eating according to the medicinal diet prescribed by the Imperial Physician. Carrying twins, how could she not eat well? So, anything she liked that was on the prescribed diet, Zi Yue and Xiao Xizi would invariably find a way to procure for her. And indeed, all the foods she craved were laid out on the table.

There were pickled bamboo shoot and pork spine soup noodles, dumplings with various fillings, mutton soup, and small lamb ribs—these meat dishes were quite light in flavor. But they were still made savory and delicious by the Imperial Kitchen. There was an even greater variety of vegetarian dishes. The vegetable garden had everything, with the shepherd’s purse being the most tender, along with spinach, carrots, white radishes, and so on. Aside from these, there were the sweet potatoes, winter melons, and pumpkins that Xiao Zhu Zi had planted earlier. To store these vegetables, Xiao Zhu Zi had specially asked someone to dig a small cellar in the backyard. Even though it wasn’t large, items stored within could be preserved for over half a year without spoiling or sprouting; when taken out, they still seemed as fresh as new. Hence, Xia Ruqing’s table also featured millet pumpkin porridge and steamed sweet potatoes.

These items might seem unremarkable, and the Royal Family even considered them too rustic to eat. But Xia Ruqing, after all, came from the modern era; how could she pass up these natural, organic vitamins? For lunch, she started with a bowl of millet pumpkin porridge. Then she had a few pieces of steamed sweet potato, which was both sweet and glutinous. Finally, she picked out her favorite fillings and ate some dumplings. There were also small lamb ribs, pork bone noodles, spinach, stewed radishes, and so on; she tasted a few bites of each. It was a well-balanced meal with meat and vegetables, sweet and savory flavors.

By the end, her eyes were still greedy, but her stomach was full—she was reluctant to part with one dish and felt she hadn’t eaten enough of another.

Zi Yue chuckled. "My lady, that’s enough!"

It wouldn’t do to overeat!

After some thought, Xia Ruqing reluctantly put down her chopsticks. "Alright then!"

Zi Yue, feeling a little helpless, quickly had people clear the table.

Xia Ruqing got up and, somewhat dejectedly, sat back on the bed, patting her slightly rounded belly. she wondered.

Xia Ruqing lay there, eyes narrowed, gently rubbing her belly in circles. Before long, she drifted off to sleep again—she was so drowsy!

When Zi Yue returned after tidying up, she found her mistress asleep again and couldn’t help but sigh.

「● ● ●」

When Xia Ruqing woke up, it was already mid-afternoon. The Ladies of Enjoin in the palace had accompanied the Empress Dowager at the banquet and, after some laughter and conversation, had all departed. The palace had once again returned to tranquility.

The New Year celebrations were now considered over. From here on, it was up to each person’s own abilities. In any case, the Emperor would not hold court until after the Lantern Festival. Whether one could win his favor depended on individual fortune.

However, Xia Ruqing wasn’t worried about anything.

Several times, Xia Ruqing silently repeated to herself, Only then did she manage to suppress the rising tide of emotion.

"Zi Yue!"

"Go fetch me the Four Treasures of the Study—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. I want to paint!"

Zi Yue looked shocked. "Ah?"

Seeing her surprise, Xia Ruqing pretended to be calm. "What? Your mistress may come from a scholarly family, but I still know a thing or two about zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"

Zi Yue was speechless.

But Zi Yue didn’t dare voice this thought, so she called Zi Su, and together they went to find pigments and brushes.

Xia Ruqing, cradling her belly, got out of bed, muttering to herself,

With these thoughts, she glanced around the room. Then, thinking of her Emperor husband, she made a silent vow in her heart. Xia Ruqing lost herself in a blissful daydream.

「● ● ●」

The brush, ink, paper, and pigments were all ready. Xia Ruqing recalled her art classes from school in her previous life. She mixed the pigments with water until they were evenly blended. Then, she picked up a brush and began to paint.

Yet now, the way she held the brush actually managed to bluff Zi Yue and the others. Especially Zi Ning.

She gazed at her mistress with admiration and remarked, "Everyone says our Madam comes from a humble background, but why do I feel like she’s from a prominent family!"

Zi Su also chimed in, "Our Madam is indeed from a scholarly family!"

Xia Ruqing had to suppress a laugh.

「● ● ●」

She was painting a plum blossom—the kind she had seen in Ninghe Hall during the New Year’s Eve banquet the previous night. Xia Ruqing liked it very much.

However, her painting skills were truly nothing to boast about. While the branches of a plum blossom are winding and rugged, they possess a unique, expansive beauty. Adorned with blossoms, the entire tree should appear to sway gracefully, exuding immense beauty.

"So clumsy!"

A magnetic, yet disdainful voice sounded beside her ear.

Xia Ruqing finally snapped back to reality, startled. "Emperor? What brings you here?"

As she spoke, she tried to hide her hands behind her back, attempting to destroy the evidence. Unfortunately... it was too late!