novelraw Chapter 420: So much, too eye-catching.
Chapter 420: So much, too eye-catching.
On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Little Prince turned two months old.Xia Ruqing knew he loved fish soup, so she got up early and went to the small kitchen to stew fish soup for him.
Little Bun smelled the fragrant aroma from a distance, giggling incessantly.
After having carrot juice and fish soup last time, the Little Prince had no discomfort.
This time, Sister Liang didn’t say anything either and cheerfully fed the Little Prince.
A two-month-old baby can drink quite a bit.
With a spoon the size of a walnut, he drank a full eight small spoonfuls.
In the end, he burped contentedly and went to sleep.
Xia Ruqing affectionately tapped her son’s head and asked Sister Liang to take him down.
...
After the twenty-fourth, New Year’s Day approached day by day.
Because a Little Prince had been added to the family, Xia Ruqing’s New Year goods were much more abundant than in previous years.
Not only was there double the amount of everything, but it was also better quality than in previous years!
Peach Talismans, paper cutouts for window decorations, various colored lamp oil, paper, and candles were a given.
Winter clothing, cotton quilts, a whole set of small clothes and hats made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Little Prince, and silver taels—everything was available.
On the twenty-sixth, Xiao Xizi took people to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to collect their share, and in the end, brought it back in a small cart.
Once back, it filled up more than half the room.
Xia Ruqing was stunned.
"This... so much?"
Ever since the Emperor ascended to the throne, he had always advocated for frugality, and the allocations for the harem were all redefined.
The same rank received much less than during the time of the previous emperor.
But... since everyone was in the same situation, no one dared to complain.
Therefore, the goods she had received before were neither too many nor too few.
She was truly shocked to receive so much more now!
Xiao Xizi wiped his sweat and said, "The people at the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the Little Prince must not be wronged!"
Xia Ruqing did a quick check and then said, "Little Bun is still so young, what hardship can he know of? Moreover, we don’t need so much!"
Xiao Zhu Zi, standing to the side, touched her head.
"My lady, Eunuch Hai specially asked someone about it; the Prince’s share is indeed this much!"
Otherwise, Eunuch Hai wouldn’t dare to give it, right?
This much is too conspicuous.
Xia Ruqing fell silent.
Alright! As long as there was no mistake and it wasn’t a deliberate act by someone else, it was fine.
If the rules were set this way, then what should be hers was hers; there was nothing to get worked up about!
Before leaving, Xia Ruqing instructed, "Check the accounts carefully, and store what is not needed right now in the small storeroom!"
Zi Yue acknowledged and stayed to register everything in the storeroom along with Xiao Xizi.
...
「Ahead, Zhaoxiang Pavilion.」
Honored Lady Du, who lived with Consort Hui Pin, watched helplessly as an entire cart full of fine things went straight to Qingya Residence.
Back in her room and looking at her meager share, she felt very resentful.
With an acidic tone, she said, "Consort Xian Pin’s share is really dazzling to the eyes!"
It really made her envious!
All top-quality goods, and given in such large quantities.
Ding Xiang didn’t understand what she was getting at and simply responded, "It’s not only Consort Xian Pin’s, but also the Little Prince’s!"
Thinking about it, she emphasized again, "That is the Emperor’s Crown Prince, after all!"
Honored Lady Du thought for a while but still felt dissatisfied.
"Having a Prince is nothing to boast about! If the Emperor came to me every day, I could also give birth!"
"Perhaps I would have had more than one by now!"
Ding Xiang: "..."
Ah, my lady is an Honored Lady, after all. How can she say such things without feeling... embarrassed at all?
Having children, having children.
So many ladies have served the Emperor, but none of them have conceived.
After all, matters like these still depend on fate.
Ding Xiang didn’t dare say it out loud and didn’t respond.
Honored Lady Du was quiet for a while, then remembered something and said, "Come on, let’s go and see what Consort Hui Pin is up to!"
Lately, Honored Lady Du had been very active. Failing to get close to Consort Xian Pin, cozying up to Consort Hui Pin was just as good!
Or perhaps... she could incite Consort Hui Pin to clash with Consort Xian Pin.
They both have children, they are both favored; let’s see who will outcompete the other!
Thinking this, Honored Lady Du happily set off. Before leaving, she did not forget to instruct Ding Xiang, "Bring two plates of fruit; say they are for the Little Princess to eat!"
Ding Xiang dared not advise otherwise and reluctantly agreed!
「In the main hall.」
Consort Hui Pin and the Second Princess had just finished their midday meal.
Mother and daughter were reclining on the bed, with Consort Hui Pin reading to the Little Princess, word by word.
Yi An listened with keen interest, her little eyelids slowly beginning to droop.
Normally, after the midday meal, the mother and daughter were accustomed to taking a nap.
But that day, before they had fallen asleep, Xiang Tan entered to report, "Your Highness, Honored Lady Du requests an audience!"
Consort Hui Pin’s reading voice suddenly stopped, then she asked in a calm and unhurried manner, "What does she want?"
While speaking, her eyes never left the book!
Xiang Tan hesitated for a moment, but still said, "She says she has brought two plates of pastries for the Little Princess!"
Consort Hui Pin’s eyebrows knitted slightly. "Pastries?"
Xiang Tan nodded in affirmation.
Consort Hui Pin thought about it and, somewhat wearily, patted her daughter’s back.
"Just say... the Princess and I are already asleep. We won’t see her!"
Without saying anything more, Xiang Tan acknowledged and went out.
Consort Hui Pin set the book down and, true to her word, embraced her daughter and fell asleep.
Outside, the cold wind howled fiercely, while inside it was warm and toasty. Mother and daughter lay on the bed, sleeping deeply and sweetly.
When Xiang Tan came out and saw Honored Lady Du still waiting in the corridor, she approached with a smile and said, "Reporting to Your Ladyship, my mistress and the Princess are already asleep. Perhaps you could come back later!"
Honored Lady Du was surprised. "Asleep?"
On such a cold day, they could sleep?
Suddenly, she remembered that Consort Hui Pin’s quarters were equipped with a Ground Dragon!
This... was truly embarrassing.
Honored Lady Du sheepishly agreed and dared not say anything more.
...
Perhaps others didn’t know, but she was all too aware.
Consort Hui Pin appeared to be gentle and frail, but she was also not to be trifled with.
Once, she had inadvertently said something that made the Princess cry, and Consort Hui Pin had immediately punished her by making her kneel!
That was in winter, a time of ice and snow, freezing cold!
TSK TSK!
Even now, thinking about it, my knees still ache!
Upon returning to the side hall, Honored Lady Du pondered for a long time.
Once certain that she had no other options left, she threw herself angrily onto the bed.
"Ding Xiang! Add more charcoal!"
It was too cold; the bed was ice cold.
Ding Xiang looked troubled.
"My lady, we have already used the maximum amount of charcoal. If we use more, we won’t have enough for the rest of the year!"
Others had their Ground Dragons burning warmly, yet her charcoal wasn’t even enough to fuel a brazier!
Honored Lady Du gnashed her teeth in hatred. Google seaʀᴄh novelhall.com
Curled up in the icy bed, she silently swore to herself.
If an opportunity ever arises, I must seize it! Otherwise, what’s the point of living like this, only to die old and alone?
"Alright, I understand. You may leave now!"
Ding Xiang dared not say more and exited after drawing the curtains.
...
The allowances for Honored Ladies were not generous; some even had theirs reduced.
After all, if you weren’t favored, you would be bullied!
Of course, among the eleven Honored Ladies, not all were mistreated.
Among them, Honored Lady Cheng still occasionally received favor. Honored Lady Jiang was protected by the Empress. And Honored Lady Shih, who was with the Noble Consort, was heavily pregnant.
They were all doing relatively well. At least, no one dared to bully them for the time being!
And so, Honored Lady Du became unsettled as she once again watched, wide-eyed, Honored Lady Jiang’s allowance—nearly half as much again as her own—being carried past the building next to Zhaoxiang Pavilion.