novelraw Chapter 364: Not Worried
Chapter 364: Not Worried
Noon had just passed when, with a command, the executioner raised his sword.In the blink of an eye, the execution ground turned into a river of blood.
On the sixth day of the ninth month of the fourth year of Jiayuan, Fan Changsheng, the Second Young Master of the Fan Family, was beheaded at the execution ground.
Inside the Fan Residence, Lady Fan had fainted long ago.
Several days later, when Old Master Fan, stationed far away at the border, received the news, he trembled all over with anger.
The entire Fan Family was overwhelmed by sorrow and indignation, but we shall not dwell on that for now.
「In the palace」
The Empress was very distressed.
She had finally gained the Emperor’s favor and was seen in a different light by him, but now... How did it come to this!
"How could I have been so foolish!"
Sister Ji felt a headache coming on when she saw the Empress like this.
Deep down, she couldn’t help but feel frustrated that the Empress was not living up to expectations.
But the Empress was her mistress after all, and she dared not speak too harshly.
She said carefully, "Your Majesty, you are usually so perceptive. How could you have misjudged at a time like this!"
The Empress’s eyes brimmed with tears.
"Sister, am I useless? I don’t even know what dishes the Emperor likes, I truly am..."
She wanted to know so badly!
"Lady Xia manages to capture the Emperor’s heart simply because she caters to his tastes!"
"Why can’t I?"
Sister Ji sighed. "Your Majesty, you’re mistaken, how could that be possible! Whom the Emperor favors depends on fate; it’s not as simple as you make it out to be!"
If that were true, the Emperor would favor whoever cooked the best food. Wouldn’t that mean... he would prefer a kitchen maid!
The Empress thought it over from all angles and also felt it was unlikely. But she felt even more dejected.
"So, what exactly does the Emperor like about Lady Xia? Her family background isn’t the most distinguished, her appearance isn’t the most beautiful, and even her temperament isn’t the gentlest!"
"What exactly does he like about her!"
Sister Ji fell silent. The Empress was, after all, fixating on something obsessively.
Yu Lan, who was also present, dared not say much either.
After thinking for a while, Sister Ji finally said seriously, "Your Majesty, you are the Empress and preside over the Central Palace. You mustn’t be blinded by these matters!"
"Think about it, why was the Emperor willing to come to you before?"
"Wasn’t it because you were tolerant and willing to be kind to the concubines below you!"
"Jealousy and vying for favor are strictly forbidden!"
That one sentence fell like a mighty stone. With it set in place, the Empress dared not entertain any more fanciful thoughts!
After pondering for a long time, the Empress gradually began to understand.
"That’s right, I am the Empress. I should not stoop to their level. Position, yes! I must first secure my position!"
The Empress seemed to rediscover her direction in life, with a clear gaze and a resolute expression.
She had been bewitched by the favor she had briefly enjoyed!
...
Looking at the rain outside, Xia Ruqing felt a bit worried.
"In two or three days it will be the Double Ninth Festival; it seems we won’t be able to enjoy the flower viewing properly this year!"
Zi Yue, while draping a cloak over her mistress, smiled and said, "That’s not necessarily so. Maybe the weather will clear up by tomorrow!"
"Then the weather will be perfect for flower viewing—not too cold and not too hot!"
Xia Ruqing thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
Zi Su and Zi Ning were winding threads in the hallway. These were all new spools from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, meant for embroidery and needlework.
They were in such a mess that they couldn’t be used without winding.
Zi Su, looking at the tangled mess in her hands, frowned and said, "This is too outrageous. The spools of thread we used to get were never like this!"
"Why is this batch all like this!"
Zi Ning shook her head. "I don’t know. Yesterday, even the candles our mistress used in her room were substandard; they smoked terribly when lit!"
Zi Su became a bit angry. "These scoundrels! They’re truly blind!"
Having said that, she abruptly stood up. "Mistress, this servant will go find them!"
Xia Ruqing, leaning on the lounge chair, lazily said, "No need to go. Someone will come looking soon enough, rest assured!" Having said that, she continued to play with the cat.
Zi Yue was somewhat puzzled. "Mistress, why do you say that?"
Xia Ruqing stroked the purring Little White in her arms and then laughed, "Last night, the Emperor stormed out of Jiaofang Hall, have you forgotten?"
"Those little lackeys from the Ministry of Internal Affairs are only so arrogant because they rely on the Empress, right?"
"But don’t forget, Hai Dasheng is the Emperor’s man!"
I wonder what end these little lackeys will meet at the hands of Hai Dasheng!
"I’m really looking forward to it!" Xia Ruqing smiled coolly.
The pitiful often have detestable aspects. Besides, she didn’t feel the slightest pity for these people. They bullied a pregnant woman, not even giving her food to eat. If it weren’t for Xiao Weizi managing to get me some food, and if I didn’t have everything I needed here to cook for myself, I probably would have starved. Or, like those Honored Ladies, I would have received just a few bowls of rice and a couple of dishes from the communal pot! What a joke! There’s really no need to act like an innocent, saintly white lotus. Some people need to be dealt with when they deserve it. Otherwise, it would seem like I’m easy to bully, and who knows what they’d try next time! So, I must never be soft-hearted!
Zi Su and Zi Ning exchanged glances and said no more.
Suddenly, Xiao Xizi came over.
"Mistress, Xiao Zhangzi from the Imperial Kitchen is here. He says he’s brought some pastries for you!"
Xia Ruqing’s hand that was holding Little White suddenly paused, then she laughed, "Xiao Zhangzi? That name... I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before!"
Having said that, she looked at Xiao Xizi and instructed, "Just say... I’m just a Jieyu. It’s not worth him making such a long trip in the rain to bring pastries. Tell him to go back!"
Having said that, Xia Ruqing got up, put down Little White, and stretched languidly. "Let’s go! I want to see how my milk bird’s nest soup is coming along!" Then, she wrapped herself in a cloak and headed to the small kitchen.
Xiao Xizi exited Qingya Residence, relayed the message, and left.
Xiao Zhangzi, carrying the food container, knelt on the ground, completely flabbergasted.
But... Didn’t she ask for pastries just a few days ago? I came all this way with good intentions, so why doesn’t she want them now!
Having said that, he looked inside the food container at the pastries.
Yam cake, jujube cake... these are all Mistress Xia’s favorites! That’s right!
Thinking this, he knocked on the door again.
The only response was the sound of the rain, and still more rain.
Xiao Zhangzi waited for a quarter of an hour and finally left.
All the way, he muttered complaints under his breath, careful not to let others hear.
On Xia Ruqing’s side, she was already enjoying her milk bird’s nest soup.
In addition to the milk bird’s nest soup, she also had a pot of chicken soup, a bowl of steamed old rice, and a yellow wheat pancake cooked on the side.
For vegetables, she chose the freshest available—cabbage—and stir-fried it into a delicious sour dish.
After eating her fill, Xia Ruqing didn’t dare go straight to sleep, so she led Da Bai and Xiao Bai on a walk under the gallery.
Zi Yue looked like she had something to say, hesitating to speak.
"What’s wrong?"
Zi Yue looked at her, thought for a moment, and then, biting her lip, she said, "Mistress, the Emperor hasn’t visited in several days. Aren’t you worried?"
Xia Ruqing had long expected she would ask this and just laughed. "Why should I worry? When the new Fine Ladies first entered the palace, the Emperor didn’t visit me for half a month, and I managed just fine, didn’t I?"
Zi Yue seemed anxious. "But..."