A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 714: Who Is It?

Zi Yue hurried forward. "Your Highness, it was sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They said someone from outside the palace wishes to present it to you!"

"Outside the palace?" Xia Ruqing felt somewhat suspicious. "That set of fine Yellow Jade Hairpins also seemed to come from outside the palace! Brother’s salary isn’t much; he certainly can’t afford such fine things!"

Zi Yue added, "What if... it was given to the Marquis by someone else?"

Xia Ruqing smiled faintly. "Why would Brother give me something given to him by someone else? If he were to give something, it must be something he acquired himself! Besides, Brother is a smart man, wholly loyal to the Emperor. How could he accept such a valuable gift from someone else? "

Zi Yue thought about it and agreed. "Then... who could it be?"

Xia Ruqing carefully scrutinized the painting once more.

Zi Yue also felt that the scene in the painting seemed familiar, as if she had seen it somewhere. However, because the clothes were altered and the face wasn’t visible, relying only on a silhouette made it hard to say who it was.

Xia Ruqing looked at it for a while and then tossed it aside. "Keep it for now, and don’t take it out unless necessary!"

After washing up, she lay down in bed. Through the window, Xia Ruqing gazed outside.

Counting on her fingers, she realized the Emperor had been gone for more than half a month.

She lay there for a while, unable to sleep. She wanted to turn over, but her belly was too big. When she moved, the children kicked her.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed. "These two little rascals, they only know how to kick me!"

Xia Ruqing thought indignantly while rubbing her belly.

Lost in these thoughts, she soon fell asleep.

「The next day, she slept until broad daylight.」

It was late May, the height of summer had officially begun, and the weather suddenly grew intensely hot. She woke up drenched in sweat. After washing up and finishing breakfast, she was sweating again.

After bathing and changing her clothes, Xia Ruqing lay in her room, not wanting to go anywhere. There was an ice basin in the room, so she didn’t need to worry about the summer heat.

Zi Yue brought over a few plates of sliced seasonal fruits and vegetables. Xia Ruqing saw that the melon looked good and ate two slices with a small silver fork.

She laughed and said, "This is delicious! It would be nice if the Emperor were here! I wonder if the Emperor can get to eat this where he is!"

Zi Yue chuckled. "Your Highness must be joking. The south surely has them, but the Emperor is away at war! He probably... isn’t focused on eating, right?"

Having served by their master’s side for so long, these servants all knew that the Emperor never indulged his palate. Whether such delicacies were available or not, the Emperor didn’t fuss over food.

Xia Ruqing thought that made sense too. "He is at war, after all! We’ll just have to make it up to him when he returns!" she said, nodding thoughtfully.

A good while passed as she was lost in these thoughts. Lying on the soft couch, Xia Ruqing leisurely began to ponder what to have for lunch.

she decided.

「When lunchtime arrived,」 the Imperial Kitchen had indeed prepared the rice noodles. The rest of the meal still followed the Imperial Physician’s advice. There were meat and vegetable dishes, along with eggs, ensuring a nutritionally balanced meal.

After all, being pregnant, Xia Ruqing wasn’t willful and ate a little of everything.

When lunch was over and the dishes were being cleared, Zi Yue was very happy. "Her Highness ate an extra egg today! This is good news!"

Xia Ruqing, stroking her rounded belly, nodded with satisfaction. "I also think it’s a good thing!"

After lunch, it was time for her midday nap. Xia Ruqing yawned and went to lie down on her bed. She was very sleepy; as soon as she lay down and closed her eyes, she fell asleep and slept until evening.

When she opened her eyes again, Xia Ruqing looked outside. "The sunset colors are about to appear!"

Zi Su came in with new clothes and chuckled. "Your Highness, you’re mistaken. There are no sunset colors outside. It’s a rainbow!"

Xia Ruqing was a bit startled. "A rainbow? Did it rain?"

"Her Highness was asleep and didn’t know. About half a Shi Chen ago, it suddenly started to pour with rain! But it didn’t last long, only about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn before it stopped. And look, after the rain stopped, a rainbow appeared!"

It had also cooled down outside, and having spent the entire day indoors, Xia Ruqing felt like taking a walk.

"The ground is slippery outside. If Your Highness really wants to go out, you must wear wooden clogs!" Zi Su advised.

Xia Ruqing did not hesitate. "Then I’ll wear them. It’s not like I haven’t worn them before!"

Zi Yue stopped worrying then and quickly instructed people to prepare the necessary items.

The Palace Attendants swiftly gathered everything needed. After putting a finely woven cotton cloak on Xia Ruqing, they accompanied their mistress outside.

Xia Ruqing thought.

The rainbow was beautiful. The flagstone paths of the Imperial Garden were already slip-resistant, and Xia Ruqing walked slowly and steadily.

Soon, she reached a small pavilion. Xia Ruqing noted, looking around with satisfaction.

"Let’s sit here for a while!"

"Alright!" Zi Yue replied, pleased.

Zi Yue, Zi Su, and the others then began laying a tablecloth on the table. They also placed thick cotton cushions on the chairs. After bustling about for quite some time, they finally got everything settled.

Xia Ruqing sat on a stool, gazing at a small, nearby pond where lotus buds were on the verge of blooming.

On a whim, she declared, "I want to paint!"

Zi Yue glanced at Zi Su and said to Xia Ruqing, "Your servant will go fetch your supplies. Zi Su will stay here with you, Your Highness."

"Okay," Xia Ruqing nodded, and Zi Yue left.

Feeling bored as she waited, Xia Ruqing picked up her teacup. Just as she was about to take a sip, a figure suddenly entered her line of sight.

"Who’s there?!"