novelraw Chapter 368 Who Called You Really Stupid
Chapter 368 Who Called You Really Stupid
The leader sneered coldly. "It’s no use feeling resentful. Who told you to be so foolish? Xia Jieyu carries the dragon’s heir; the Emperor can hardly wait to hold her in the palm of his hand. Who do you think you are?"Another one of the leaders grew somewhat impatient. "Since the Emperor has decreed death by beating, why bother wasting words on him!" With that, he ordered his servants to fetch the rods. "Remember to get the small ones, don’t pick the wrong ones!"
The little eunuchs busily responded, "Yes!"
The wooden rods used for caning came in different sizes. Strikes with the larger ones were more painful, but the advantage was a swifter death. Small rods, on the other hand, were not only more painful but also prolonged death. It was like cutting flesh with a dull knife or rendering oil in bitter water. That wasn’t a beating to death; it was being tortured alive until he died! It was, by all accounts, the most ruthless of punishments.
Xiao Zhangzi was bound to the tiger bench. Initially, he screamed and struggled, but as his strength left him, he just stared with wide eyes, enduring it, waiting for death. It took a full two Shi Chen before he breathed his last.
「 」
Those little eunuchs sent to the Laundry Bureau weren’t much better off. Hai Dasheng personally took them there. Upon arrival, he specifically spoke to the Steward Sister in charge. "These few... have offended Xia Jieyu. Sister, please see to their assignments!"
The Steward Sister’s face practically bloomed with delight upon seeing Steward Hai. She promptly assured him, "Eunuch Hai, rest assured, I will definitely satisfy you!"
Hai Dasheng, relieved, made a casual departure. From then on, those little eunuchs began a life of ceaseless darkness. What could be done about it? Some people simply are not worthy of sympathy!
「 」
After Xia Ruqing returned, the Imperial Kitchen personally delivered her breakfast. All the dishes were fine foods, clearly prepared with great care. There were also pastries—her favorite yam cake, date paste cake, as well as egg custard and fish-filled pastries—a complete spread. There was an abundance of fruit as well. Grapes were thoroughly washed and arranged in an agate bowl. Honeydew melon was diced and arranged delightfully into a floral pattern. Several soup dishes were available, all her favorites.
Comparing her current treatment to that of a few days prior, Xia Ruqing’s lips curled into a mocking smile. "These servants!"
Zi Su’s expression wasn’t much better. "If I could, I’d really like to smash these things in their faces!"
Xia Ruqing looked at her and laughed. "You little girl, you have quite a temper! But... I feel the same way you do!" She held her belly and stood up, letting out a soft sigh. "We’re relatively well-off. Others have it even more outrageously, and yet isn’t it true that nothing is said or done? This is the deep palace; some things ultimately cannot be taken too far!"
The Emperor must know the Empress is the mastermind. His refusal to expose or deal with it must be for his own reasons. The Empress isn’t just any concubine who can be punished at will, sent to the Cold Palace on a whim. So, there’s no point in her dwelling on it too much. However, there was one thing she was sure of: the Empress would, from this point on, essentially be out of favor. And in the palace, life without favor was never easy!
With this thought, Xia Ruqing smiled contentedly. "Let’s eat! With so many fine dishes, why shouldn’t I partake?" She still needed to give birth to a healthy child and live a delightful life! Besides, the drama in the Harem was only getting more interesting, right? Living life and watching the drama unfold—just thinking about it was quite pleasant!
Zi Yue complied and set the tableware, arranging dishes for her mistress. Xia Ruqing picked at the foods she liked, tasting a bit of everything. Leisurely and with relish, she savored her meal.
The morning weather was quite lovely. After finishing her breakfast, Xia Ruqing planned to take her entourage to the Imperial Garden to admire the chrysanthemums.
Zi Yue hesitated somewhat. "My Lady, it just rained, and the paths are slippery. Perhaps we shouldn’t go!"
Xia Ruqing, cloak in hand, paused and thought for a moment before speaking. "I actually forgot about that!" She then patted her stomach. "What’s admiring chrysanthemums and flowers compared to the safety of my child!" With that thought, she took off the cloak again. "Forget it, I won’t go! Have someone lay out the paper; I’ll do some calligraphy." Being idle was just too boring.
Zi Yue, relieved, then said with a smile, "My Lady, have you not thought about making a few small clothes for the Little Prince?"
The mere thought of it gave Xia Ruqing a headache. "I’m afraid the clothes I sew will prick the child. Why don’t the three of you do it? One outfit each, that makes three!"
Zi Yue, Zi Su, and Zi Ning exchanged glances and then laughed. "You really underestimate us, My Lady... As if you needed to tell us!"
Xia Ruqing gave them a faint glance. "Then why do you still ask me to do it?"
Zi Yue: "..."
Could you possibly be any lazier, My Lady?
「 」
「Jiaofang Hall」
After the concubines came to pay their respects and dispersed, the Empress turned pale with anger. "What an act from Noble Concubine Shih! She’s certainly pleased with herself!" She then scoffed coldly. "What is there for her to be pleased about? If I’m out of favor, isn’t she the same?"
Yu Lan bowed her head silently by her side. In her heart, she contemplated a cruel reality. It wasn’t the same at all. Although Noble Concubine Shih had fallen from favor, she still had a child! No matter how much the Emperor disliked the Shih Family, he wouldn’t harm the child! He was, after all, a dragon’s heir.
If Yu Lan could think of this, surely the Empress could as well. She was on the verge of breaking down. "After fighting for so many years, have I still lost? No! I am the Empress, I am the Empress!"
Sister Ji hurriedly tried to console her. "Your Majesty, what... what’s wrong with you? Why are you so emotionally unstable all of a sudden? You weren’t like this before; you were quite well, weren’t you?"
The Empress seemed to awaken from a trance, rushing to the dressing table. She caressed her face. She was only in her twenties; was she already growing old like this? Why did her eyes look so harsh? Why did her skin look so unsightly? What was happening to her? What was truly going on?
Sister Ji expressed her concern. "Your Majesty, you should call for the Imperial Physician to prescribe something. You’re... you’re too exhausted!"
The Empress nodded blankly. Some recuperation would be good, or even just a good night’s sleep! Otherwise, she truly felt like she was about to break.
「 」
The Imperial Physician arrived quickly, left a prescription, gave some careful instructions, and then departed.
The Empress looked at the prescription. Thinking it might be best to feign illness and ride out this period.
Sister Ji also agreed. "Your Majesty, you really should rest properly!"
The Empress nodded with a bitter smile. From that day on, the Empress claimed illness and excused everyone from paying their respects. The Empress Dowager was occupied with her Buddhist prayers and did not inquire into the affairs of the Harem, so she didn’t intervene. And the Emperor, even more so, did not utter a single word, as if he knew nothing of the matter.
The Empress felt as bitter as if she had swallowed two catties of Coptis root. "Out of favor means out of favor; ultimately, nothing I do makes a difference!" She truly didn’t know what to do anymore.
Seeing the Empress’s sorrow, Yu Lan bit her lip and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor’s anger may not be entirely because of us! It could also be... because of Xia Jieyu!" The Empress had deliberately made things difficult for Xia Jieyu through the Imperial Kitchen and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Emperor surely knew about it.
The Empress smiled bitterly and waved her hand dismissively. "That matter is in the past; there’s no need to bring it up again! I just want this storm to pass quickly. As for the rest, let it be."