A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 346: The Chubby Baby’s Painting

When the mooncakes were delivered, Zi Yue opened the box.Xia Ruqing was instantly captivated by the design on top. The design, painted with all sorts of colors, was sculpted into a plump, white baby doll. It resembled the lucky dolls she had seen in New Year pictures from her childhood. It was round and chubby, with bushy brows and big eyes, clutching a giant peach. It appeared as if it was gleefully about to take a bite.

Xia Ruqing’s heart melted at the sight, and she held the mooncake, unable to bear eating it.

It had to be said, the master chefs of the Imperial Kitchen are truly amazing, she thought. How did they know I wouldn’t bear to see this now?

Just then, the child in her belly moved.

Xia Ruqing quickly covered her stomach with her hand.

"Oh!"

Zi Yue was so frightened that she hurriedly took the mooncake.

"My lady, what’s wrong?"

Xia Ruqing quickly shook her head.

"It’s nothing!" she said, standing up. "It looks like this mooncake can’t be eaten. Put it away!"

Zi Yue saw the lucky doll on the mooncake and laughed.

"Why can’t it be eaten? Perhaps the Little Prince would like a playmate. If Your Ladyship eats the mooncake, the Little Prince will be happy!"

Xia Ruqing shook her head.

"I... how can I bear to eat it!"

Eating it meant breaking the mooncake and destroying that plump baby doll.

Xia Ruqing was really amazed by herself. Since when had she become so sentimental? Was the Virgin Mary possessing her? But... but she really couldn’t bear it!

"I’ll go and get a copy of the design for you later," Zi Yue comforted her. "The one in your hands is just a mooncake, after all!"

Zi Yue took the mooncake and asked Xiao Xizi to take it and wipe off the pattern on the surface.

After cutting the mooncake into pieces, Xia Ruqing finally forced herself to eat a piece.

In the afternoon, Zi Yue did indeed ask the artist who had painted the pattern to make a copy. Hearing that Xia Jieyu was fond of it, the artist painted the copy with even more care. Outlining, coloring, and shading—his movements were skilled, the lines smooth and fluid. In the end, the colored plump baby doll looked much better than the one on the mooncake.

Xia Ruqing held the painting, unable to bear letting it go, and asked Zi Yue to paste it on the wall above her bed. She looked from left to right, never tiring of it.

Zi Yue covered her mouth and laughed.

"My lady, the banquet is about to start. We should go now!"

Xia Ruqing looked at her nearly seven-month pregnant belly and began to worry.

"With my condition, what should I wear?"

Zi Yue had already picked out a Molli-colored dress for her. She disregarded the belt; since it was cold outside, a cloak would suffice. Wrapped up snugly, it was both attractive and warm.

Once Zi Yue had helped her mistress dress, Xia Ruqing left with Zi Yue and Zi Su. They left Xiao Xizi, Xiao Zhu Zi, and Zi Ning behind to mind the house.

Xia Ruqing wasn’t accustomed to being carried in a sedan chair. So, taking advantage of the early hour, she walked slowly toward her destination. Her belly was the only part of her that was large. Always careful of her health, she often walked around when she had nothing else to do. Consequently, she hadn’t put on much weight elsewhere, all in hopes of an easier delivery.

Qingya Residence wasn’t far from Jiaofang Hall. She left the residence, turned left, headed south, and then turned right to arrive. But it took Xia Ruqing almost half a Shi Chen to walk the distance. After all, she was pregnant.

By the time she reached Jiaofang Hall, a vast crowd of people seemed to have already taken their seats. They were all Honored Ladies. There were the original ones, like Honored Lady Cheng and Noble Lady Song, plus the nine new ladies who had recently entered the palace. This made... eleven Honored Ladies in total now. If Lady Zhou hadn’t died, there would have been twelve.

There are really quite a number of Honored Ladies, Xia Ruqing thought. Whenever anything becomes abundant, it loses its value. Just look at the clothes they’re wearing; the materials are mostly what the Ministry of Internal Affairs provided to me back when I was merely a Lady. And now, Honored Ladies are wearing these too?

Xia Ruqing remained silent, gently holding Zi Yue’s hand as she stepped forward.

The Honored Ladies rose to pay their respects and greet her.

Xia Ruqing smiled. "Ladies, please rise. There’s no need for such formality!"

After speaking, she took her own seat. She didn’t put on any airs. At such a time, neither the Emperor nor the Empress would put on airs, let alone her, a mere Jieyu.

The Honored Ladies expressed their thanks and resumed their seats. Some cast frequent glances toward her abdomen. Their looks varied: jealousy, envy, and also... resentment and hatred. In short, none of them were good.

Xia Ruqing subconsciously pulled her cloak tighter around her.

This batch of Honored Ladies has a strong survival instinct, she thought. Every one of them is desperately clawing their way up. When the original owner of this body entered the palace, a whole year passed, and she was still foolishly unaware of anything until she died an inexplicable death. What a loss indeed! Luckily, I’m here now. Whatever the original owner lost, I’ll help her win it back.

A short while later, several consorts of Pin rank arrived. Xia Ruqing was about to rise when Consort Hui Pin came over and gently pressed her down.

"You’re heavy with child now, there’s no need for you to stand!"

Nearby, the three-year-old Second Princess asked in her sweet, childlike voice, "Mother Consort, this lady’s belly is so big!" As she spoke, her tender little hand reached out as if to touch.

Consort Hui Pin quickly bent to pick up her daughter, soothing her gently.

"You mustn’t touch, dear. There’s a little baby brother inside, and you might scare him!"

The Second Princess looked puzzled, not fully understanding what her Mother Consort was saying.

"Why... would a baby brother live inside a belly?"

Xia Ruqing laughed; the Second Princess was like a little powder puff, utterly adorable. She stepped forward, gently pinched the girl’s little hand, and said warmly, "You used to live in your Mother Consort’s belly too. You were born because your Mother Consort worked very hard to bring you into the world!"

The Second Princess seemed to understand. She tilted her little head, thought for a moment, then bent down and touched Consort Hui Pin’s belly.

"Mother Consort, was your belly this big before? Then... Mother Consort, did it hurt much?" Then, like a little adult, she blew on her own small palms. "Yi An will blow on it to make it better for you."

Watching the Little Princess’s innocent and heartwarming gesture, Xia Ruqing sighed.

"She’s truly her mother’s sweet comfort!"

Consort Hui Pin smiled, her face radiant with happiness.

"Don’t be fooled by how well-behaved she seems now. When she gets mischievous, it’s quite something else!"

Though her words were a complaint, her eyes brimmed with happiness.

Consort Hui Pin is indeed wise, Xia Ruqing smiled to herself. In this tumultuous Harem, she has somehow managed to turn her days into poetry. Even as a rival in love, I really can’t bring myself to dislike her.

Consort Hui Pin took her seat with the Princess. Soon after, Consort Ning also arrived. Afterward, the Noble Consort arrived with Honored Lady Shih. Except for the Emperor and the Empress, almost everyone was present.

Previously, Noble Concubine Shih had always been arrogant, looking down on everyone. Now, she merely sat quietly drinking tea with Lady Shih. Her attire was much more conventional, no longer testing boundaries as she often used to. For instance, she would wear jewelry that was a dead ringer for the Phoenix Crown—seemingly a violation of protocol, but actually permissible.

The gazes these Honored Ladies directed at Noble Concubine Shih also held a mixture of awe and fear. They dared neither to stay too far nor get too close. And no one attempted to curry favor with her.