A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 342: Bitter-Sweet

Noble Concubine Shih’s expression was complex, and it took her a while before she nodded."Have the Imperial Physician prescribe some fetus-preserving medicine. She can’t go on like this; it’s not a solution!"

The Imperial Physician originally thought it was unnecessary, but after glancing at the Noble Concubine’s expression, he put down his medicine chest. He wrote a prescription for a gentle, supportive formula that was harmless to both the pregnant woman and the fetus, and then left.

Noble Concubine Shih sat by the bed, looking at Lady Shih, whose face was slightly pale.

She hesitated before asking, "What... do you really want to eat?"

Lady Shih looked up at her and bit her lip.

"Noble Consort, I... I want to eat something spicy!"

Will I have a daughter? Will the Noble Concubine be disappointed? Lady Shih was still quite afraid. But then she had another thought. They say craving sour means a son, and spicy a daughter. If I have a daughter, could I raise her myself? Thinking this, Lady Shih felt that having a daughter might not be so bad after all.

Just as she was secretly feeling relieved, Noble Concubine Shih cut in impatiently, "Didn’t you want to eat sour food not so long ago? How can it be sour one moment and spicy the next? What exactly do you want?!"

Lady Shih was a bit baffled but bit her lip and dared not speak.

Actually, my morning sickness has only just begun. How could I have had any cravings before?

Seeing her timid look, Noble Concubine Shih didn’t want to say more and just waved her hand. "Attendants, bring her some spicy food, but remember to make it in moderation!"

Ying Yue quickly nodded in agreement.

Lady Shih felt a bit desperate.

Does the Noble Concubine really despise me that much in her heart?

Of course. She has been in the palace for many years, and the Emperor still has no sons. Naturally, she wants a prince more! But I’ve already said I crave spicy food. Why is the Noble Concubine still... What, she won’t even spare my daughter?!

Before she could think further, a bowl of hot soup, mildly spicy and with some added vinegar, was brought over.

Lady Shih, smelling the spiciness and the scent of vinegar, felt a craving tickle her.

Whether it includes vinegar doesn’t matter much; what’s important is that it’s spicy.

She held the bowl of hot and sour soup and drank until she was sweating profusely. Her stomach, which had constantly felt acidic, now seemed like drought-stricken land blessed with sweet rain, thoroughly nourished.

Noble Concubine Shih, seeing that she was feeling a little better, said lightly, "If you’re feeling all right, go to sleep. I will take my leave now!"

Lady Shih nodded and obediently closed her eyes.

Noble Concubine Shih returned to the main hall with her attendants. As soon as she entered, she frowned and sighed deeply.

It can’t be... that she’s carrying a daughter!

"I’ve heard that Lady Xia’s belly is so pointed. Those Old Sisters all say it’s almost certainly a prince! Yet she insists on eating spicy food. How cunning!"

Ying Yue felt a bit skeptical. "Your Highness, could that Lady Shih also be... deceiving us?"

Noble Concubine Shih thought for a moment before shaking her head. "No, the people serving her all say she truly does have a taste for spicy food!"

Ying Yue fell silent.

Noble Concubine Shih was also silent. She now almost wished Lady Shih were lying. That way, perhaps it might be a prince. But... why did she have to genuinely crave spicy food?

The more Noble Concubine Shih thought about it, the more upset she became.

Then Ying Yue asked again, "Then, Your Highness, if it really is a princess..."

Noble Concubine Shih’s eyes narrowed. "Even if it’s a princess, I will accept her. A princess is better than nothing!"

Ying Yue considered this and realized it made sense. Looking at Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin, they both had daughters, and the Emperor never neglected them. The Ministry of Internal Affairs Food Preparation Room always had to serve them respectfully. They would never fall out of favor. In the future, once the princess left the palace and established her Princess’s Mansion, she could bring her mother out of the palace. This was almost like having a son.

Well, it seems there’s no other choice but to think this way for now.

「Qingya Residence」

Xia Ruqing, nearly seven months pregnant, was taking a walk in the courtyard. She had eaten a bit too much for lunch and hadn’t slept well during her noon rest. So, she decided to get up and move around for a while before trying to sleep again.

In the courtyard, several large baskets were filled with raisins Xiao Zhu Zi had spread out to dry. They couldn’t be left under the scorching sun, so they were dried in the shade. Occasionally, they were taken inside to be steamed, allowing the moisture to evaporate naturally. Raisins prepared this way were softer and tastier.

On the grapevines, a few clusters of frost-kissed grapes still hung. Xia Ruqing looked at them, their surfaces covered with a layer of white frost, their skins already slightly wrinkled, and smiled.

"These are delicious!"

"Xiao Zhu Zi, first thing tomorrow morning, before the sun rises, cut two clusters of the frost-covered grapes and put them on ice. Bring them out when the Emperor arrives!"

Does this mean they’re for the Emperor? Xiao Zhu Zi chuckled. "Understood, my lady. Just you wait!"

Xia Ruqing smiled contentedly.

...

That evening, just after Xia Ruqing had dined, Zhao Junyao arrived.

Seeing she had already eaten dinner, he looked a little disappointed. "Qingqing..."

Xia Ruqing looked at him, astonished. "Emperor, you... haven’t had dinner yet?"

Zhao Junyao looked reproachful.

Xia Ruqing hurriedly said, "Emperor, it’s so late, and you haven’t had dinner yet?" She quickly ordered someone to fetch a late-night snack from the Imperial Kitchen.

Zhao Junyao lay down, looking somewhat dejected. "How could you not wait for me!"

Xia Ruqing was speechless. Emperor, how was I to know if you were coming? Besides, even if you were, should I starve myself waiting this long? I’m... heavily pregnant!

She gave him a plaintive look and said, "Emperor, I need to eat eight or ten meals a day these days. If you were to come for each one, you’d be running back and forth all day!"

With just one sentence, she dispelled any misunderstandings about not waiting for him while also cleverly conveying the hardships of her pregnancy.

Zhao Junyao’s slight displeasure vanished. He held her, pressing his face against her belly, listening to the various sounds inside. Most of the time, he couldn’t hear anything. Sometimes, though he still heard nothing, he would be kicked by the little one. Whenever that happened, Zhao Junyao would clumsily touch his kicked cheek, grinning from ear to ear.

Xia Ruqing felt a little helpless.

Sometimes, the Emperor can be so silly.

Zhao Junyao stroked her belly and said decisively, "Qingqing, there must be a son in there!"

Xia Ruqing rolled her eyes at him. "I want a daughter!"

Zhao Junyao was speechless. Qingqing, there’s something called ambition. Couldn’t you have just a tiny bit?

Touching her belly, Xia Ruqing radiated happiness. "Emperor, what do you think we should name our daughter?"

Zhao Junyao stroked her belly, thought for a moment, and then suggested, "How about Kichen?"

Xia Ruqing considered it, then her eyes lit up. "Zhao Kichen, that sounds lovely! But... it does sound a bit masculine, doesn’t it?"

Zhao Junyao patted her shoulder, consoling her. "Our daughter naturally can’t lose to boys. At the very least, her name must be superior!"

Xia Ruqing pondered for a moment, then nodded. "You have a point!"

She truly wanted a daughter.

Their wishes truly diverged.

Before long, the late-night snack was served. Xia Ruqing looked at the bowl of shrimp wontons and then felt hungry again.

Zhao Junyao could only shake his head with a wry smile and pass the bowl to her.