A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 338 What Do You Want?

Just as she settled down in the familiar rattan chair, Imperial Doctor Zhang arrived.After feeling her pulse, he pondered for a moment before finally asking, "Xia Jieyu, did you get a bit frightened and sleep poorly last night?"

Xia Ruqing inhaled sharply. "Imperial Physician, how do you know that?"

Immediately after, she hurriedly asked, "Is it serious? Is the child alright?"

As she spoke, she quickly placed her hand on her stomach.

Imperial Doctor Zhang smiled. "I was just asking. It’s a normal occurrence, nothing to worry about! There’s no need for medication; however, you should rest well for the next couple of days and maintain a calm mindset!"

Xia Ruqing was still somewhat anxious. "Is the child really alright?"

Imperial Doctor Zhang nodded with a smile. "Rest assured, Xia Jieyu, the child is doing well! As long as emotional fluctuations aren’t frequent, there’s no problem!"

No one could possibly go through an entire pregnancy without any emotional ups and downs.

Hearing what Imperial Doctor Zhang said, Xia Ruqing felt relieved.

Zi Yue respectfully saw Imperial Doctor Zhang out, and then Xia Ruqing lay down on the bed to sleep for a while. "Wake me up when it’s time for lunch!"

Zi Yue pulled the summer quilt over her. "Alright!"

Xia Ruqing slowly closed her eyes; pregnant women tend to be drowsy and fall asleep as soon as they touch the pillow.

Xia Ruqing was asleep, but this made things difficult for Zi Yue and the others.

While their mistress was still resting, they saw Honored Lady Du, carrying a pile of items, walking towards Qingya Residence.

After being notified by the little palace maid, Zi Yue greeted her with a smile and came forward to pay respects. "Greetings, Honored Lady Du!"

Honored Lady Du was dressed in a plain-colored gown, which somewhat resembled Xia Ruqing’s usual attire. Xia Ruqing preferred plain colors and disliked brightly patterned garments.

Honored Lady Du came forward with a smile, immediately pulling Zi Yue up. "Lady Zi Yue, there’s no need for such formalities!"

After saying this, she handed the basket in her arms to Zi Yue. "It’s been a few days since I last saw your mistress. I wonder if she’s well?"

Xia Ruqing’s departure from the palace was naturally secretive. Being pregnant, she had no need to pay respects to the Empress, and if she wished for solitude, no one would be so tactless as to intrude at this time. Especially since the Emperor had been out of the palace for the past couple of days; anyone hoping to encounter him would have been disappointed.

But now, the Emperor had returned to the palace.

So, was that why Honored Lady Du had come? Zi Yue sneered inwardly. How opportune her timing is! And with that attire, her intentions are as clear as daylight for all to see!

Zi Yue looked at the basket before her, which contained nothing more than ordinary pastries and sachets, and said with a smile, "We appreciate Honored Lady Du bringing these from so far, but our mistress has them too!"

She neither accepted nor declined outright.

Honored Lady Du hadn’t actually expected to give these items away. She had just come to bide her time.

As expected, Honored Lady Du then said with a smile, "I was just feeling a bit bored. The weather is hot, and staying in my room, doing some needlework helps to calm the mind!"

With that, she pulled Zi Yue closer. "Lady Zi Yue, it’s so hot today. May I sit in your courtyard? I heard you have a grapevine there!"

Zi Yue smiled, shaking her head. "I’m afraid that won’t be possible. Our mistress is still sleeping. The Imperial Physician said she shouldn’t be disturbed and needs to rest quietly!"

Honored Lady Du continued to plead, "I... I won’t enter the room. I’ll just sit outside and enjoy the cool air..."

Zi Yue still clenched her jaw, refusing to yield.

Lady Du’s expression quickly changed from her initial docile and graceful demeanor to one that was now slightly malicious and haughty. After internally cursing Zi Yue a thousand times, she realized that staying here wouldn’t allow her to meet the Emperor. Nor could she get in.

She was planning to leave.

But just then, Zhao Junyao arrived.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Zi Yue and the others knelt.

Overjoyed, Honored Lady Du stepped forward, saying in her most delicate voice, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao frowned, not sparing her a glance, and strode past.

Honored Lady Du knelt on the ground, her heart racing as she watched those Golden Dragon Boots approach and then move further and further away.

...

Why... wasn’t I told to rise?

Honored Lady Du didn’t dare raise her head, just kneeling there for what felt like an eternity, until Zi Yue finally rose to her feet.

"Honored Lady Du, you should return now. I must go in and attend to my mistress!" Zi Yue said. After speaking, she curtsied and retreated.

Under the blazing sun, Honored Lady Du vacantly stared at the basket by her side. She was thoroughly bewildered.

What on earth was she doing? Kneeling at someone else’s doorstep on such a scorching day? Even the palace maid had risen, so why had no one told her to rise?

The more Honored Lady Du thought about it, the angrier she became. She glared fiercely at the palace maid beside her, then got up on her own and trudged back dejectedly.

「Qingya Residence」

Xia Ruqing hadn’t fully awakened yet.

Zhao Junyao had intended to join her for lunch.

Then he saw Li Shengan walk in with a grave expression and whisper something in his ear.

Zhao Junyao’s expression turned cold, and he hastily departed.

「Back at Zhaochen Palace」

He saw Empress Dowager Zhen kneeling on the ground, wailing to the heavens and earth, her cries piercing and desperate.

"My youngest son! How could your fate be so cruel!"

"Your Majesty, you must seek justice for my youngest son, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao was startled by the scene. He hurriedly approached to inquire, "Imperial Noble Consort, what has... happened?"

As soon as Empress Dowager Zhen saw the Emperor, she burst out, snot and tears streaming down her face, "Your Majesty, my youngest son, he... His... his leg..."

As she spoke and cried, Zhao Junyao couldn’t quite make out what she was saying.

At that moment, Fifth Master hurriedly arrived. He knelt to pay his respects, but before he could even speak, Zhao Junyao asked, "What happened to Little Sixth?"

Fifth Master glanced at his mother, his expression turning solemn, and then said, "Imperial Brother, Little Sixth... his leg... it’s crippled..."

Zhao Junyao’s heart sank. "How could this happen!"

He asked further, "What did the Imperial Physician say? Even injuries to bones and tendons can sometimes be healed!"

Fifth Master just shook his head. "Little Sixth’s left leg, from the knee down to the foot, has no sensation of pain at all! It’s probably hopeless. Even Lord Announcing Officer shook his head after examining him!"

Fifth Master had barely finished speaking when, before Zhao Junyao could say anything more, Empress Dowager Zhen leaped up and cursed loudly, "Little Fifth, you little scoundrel! Little Sixth is your brother! How could you curse him like that! How do you know there’s no feeling? How do you know there’s no hope? How do you know?"

After finishing her tirade, she continued to wail and lament. "Oh, my heavens! This is unbearable! I can’t go on living!"

Zhao Junyao knitted his brows tightly. He recalled that Empress Dowager Zhen was once the graceful beauty his Imperial Father had brought back from Jiangnan. Her bearing was distinguished, her gentleness and grace beyond compare. His Imperial Father had always doted on her. Fearing she wouldn’t be able to establish her position, he had even bent palace rules, allowing her to bear two princes within her first few years. When his Imperial Father grew old, she rose in status through her sons, ascending to the rank of Consort. Now... Zhao Junyao felt as if he no longer recognized the person before him. How awkward... He was already struggling to placate his own young consorts; was he now expected to placate his father’s?

Seeing the Emperor unmoved, Empress Dowager Zhen’s cries grew louder. "Your Majesty, Little Sixth, he..."

As her voice seemed on the verge of shattering, Zhao Junyao, unable to bear it any longer, asked, "What do you want?"