A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 790 New Year’s Eve Banquet

In past years, the New Year’s Eve banquet was always held in Ninghe Hall.

That place was spacious, yet this year, for some reason, the Empress Dowager insisted on having it in her own Ningshou Palace.

Lost in thought, she arrived at Ningshou Palace.

Neither early nor late, those who were supposed to come had arrived, all except for Noble Concubine Shih.

Xia Ruqing bypassed Consort Ning and took her own seat.

All rose to greet her, and she received them one by one with an amiable attitude and cautious words.

Consort Ning wore an expression of deep displeasure, clearly looking down on Xia Ruqing.

Xia Ruqing merely smiled faintly, unconcerned.

After sipping some tea, she began to chat and laugh with Consort Hui beside her.

Consort Ning was fuming with anger, glaring vehemently at Consort Hui.

Consort Hui wasn’t foolish; she noticed Consort Ning staring intently at her seat.

She simply kept her gaze low, uninterested in engaging.

Consort Hui took a sip of tea, hiding the hint of irony at the corner of her mouth.

The seating arrangement at the banquet was not complicated.

The Empress Dowager and the Noble Consort sat at the upper end.

Directly below them, to the right were the concubines, and to the left were the imperial kinswomen and Ladies of Enjoin from outside the palace.

It was impossible for everyone to sit in a single row, so they were seated in staggered rows.

Xia Ruqing naturally occupied the first seat on the right.

Behind her were Consort Ning and Consort Hui, followed by several concubines of the Pin rank, with the Honored Ladies further back.

Those below the sixth rank had no right to attend.

Even so, the great hall was nearly overflowing.

No one paid any attention to Consort Ning; people whispered to each other over tea in small groups.

After surveying the room and not receiving even a scornful glance, Consort Ning sullenly gave up her intentions.

After waiting for about half an hour, the Empress Dowager finally appeared, with Noble Concubine Shih supporting her.

Everyone promptly stood up to pay their respects.

The Empress Dowager smiled amiably and said, "On such a fine day, there’s no need to bother with such tedious formalities! Everyone, please take your seats!"

"Thank you, Empress Dowager!"

Everyone rose and took their seats.

The Empress Dowager also sat down, with Noble Concubine Shih attending to her.

After surveying the room and seeing everyone had arrived, the Empress Dowager smiled contentedly.

"Today is New Year’s Eve. It’s good of you all to come and accompany an old woman like me for the New Year! I’ve troubled you all."

Noble Concubine Shih quickly said, "Mother, don’t say that. It’s a blessing and our duty for us, the younger generation, to accompany the Empress Dowager during the New Year!"

"Don’t you all agree?" she asked, turning to the other concubines.

"What the Noble Consort says is true! Being able to show our filial piety to the Empress Dowager is a fortune for us!"

Xia Ruqing looked up. Seeing it was Consort Ning who had spoken, she smiled.

Regardless, Xia Ruqing kept her head down and continued to drink her tea.

With so many people at the New Year’s Eve banquet, it was very lively, even without any specific entertainment arranged beforehand.

One by one, they rose to present their New Year’s gifts to the Empress Dowager, kowtowed, and offered greetings.

Then everyone relaxed a bit.

They sat in small groups, chit-chatting.

Above, the Empress Dowager also struck up a conversation with a few of the Imperial Noble Consorts seated on her left side.

Noble Concubine Shih attended to her, occasionally pouring tea.

The atmosphere was very harmonious.

After a while, when everyone had nearly finished eating, the Empress Dowager commanded that the banquet be cleared away and replaced with pastries.

She then had the Pear Garden troupe from the palace summoned to perform.

The Empress Dowager selected two plays, Noble Concubine Shih chose one.

Several Imperial Noble Consorts jointly picked two plays.

The Empress Dowager looked at the concubines and felt somewhat apologetic.

"Let’s start watching! If it’s not enough, you all can choose more later," she said.

The concubines all said they wouldn’t dare.

Actually, after these few plays were performed, it would almost be the Zi Hour, time to eat dumplings.

Besides, with the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Noble Consorts present, the plays chosen were naturally those favored by the elderly.

The younger ones didn’t fancy these plays at all!

Xia Ruqing didn’t much care for plays either.

The constant, drawn-out singing, where a single line could take an eternity, was frustratingly slow for her.

So, when the performers started singing, Xia Ruqing’s attention began to drift.

She had two pieces of pastry and drank two cups of hot tea.

Then she began to feel... restless.

"My lady, what’s wrong?" Zi Yue asked at once, upon noticing her unusual behavior.

Xia Ruqing frowned.

"It’s nothing! Let’s continue watching the play," she replied.

However...

Looking around, she realized everyone else was engaged in lively conversations, some even breaking out in sweat.

It was clear—it wasn’t cold at all!

Xia Ruqing subconsciously hugged her arms and rubbed them.

Zi Yue still sensed something wasn’t right.

"My lady, are you feeling cold?"

Xia Ruqing nodded.

"Yes, a little. But it doesn’t seem like anyone else is cold in here!"

Zi Yue found it strange as well.

She looked around and didn’t notice anything unusual.

Thinking her mistress might still be weak, she stepped forward to pour a cup of hot tea.

"Drink this, it will warm you up."

"Mm," Xia Ruqing agreed, reaching for the cup.

Just as their fingertips touched, Zi Yue unintentionally noticed that her mistress’s fingertips were very hot.

At first, she did not pay it much attention.

But then, the more she thought about it, the more something seemed off.

Then it struck her.

"My lady, my lady?" Zi Yue approached quietly.

"Hmm?" Xia Ruqing turned her head towards her.

"What’s the matter?"

Taking advantage of the moment, Zi Yue touched her mistress’s forehead with the back of her hand.

Indeed, it was burning hot.

She then noticed her mistress’s complexion, an abnormal mix of red and pale.

Zi Yue was greatly alarmed.

"My lady, you’ve developed a high fever. We can’t stay here any longer; we must go back and call the Imperial Physician!"

Xia Ruqing came to the same realization.

She glanced outside.

The snow-covered ground looked extremely cold; she had almost no courage to step out.

After considering, Xia Ruqing decisively left her seat.

She moved forward two steps and knelt in front of the Empress Dowager.

"Empress Dowager, this servant is feeling feverish and can no longer endure it. I humbly request Your Majesty’s grace to..."