novelraw Chapter 423: That’s Quite a Ruthless Move
Chapter 423: That’s Quite a Ruthless Move
The New Year’s Eve banquet ended according to the same old custom at the Hai Hour (9-11 pm). Then it was time for everyone to stay up late and eat dumplings together!The Old Princess Consorts, advanced in age, had less need for sleep. They gathered together, chatting and laughing intermittently. This also resolved many of the rivalries from years past. Of course, whether it was just an act, no one knew!
The Consorts were also doing well. After all, they were still young, so staying up occasionally wasn’t too much for them, and it wasn’t as if they were staying up all night. Xia Ruqing, though drowsy, had become accustomed to it. Little Bun would wake up in the middle of the night for a feed every day, with Sister Liang, Sister Huang, and Sister Jiang all attending to him. She wasn’t dead to the world; waking was a common occurrence! So, she just dozed off from time to time!
But... among the Honored Ladies, Honored Lady Shih couldn’t stay awake. She looked pale and extremely exhausted. Her once plump body now seemed genuinely frail.
Noble Concubine Shih looked back frequently, and seeing things were amiss, quickly stepped forward to inform the Empress Dowager. "’Mother, Sister Shih...’"
The Empress Dowager had just looked over when she got a fright. "’Why has her face turned so pale!’"
Before Noble Concubine Shih could answer, she spoke again. "’Staying up for the New Year is important, but the child is no trivial matter! Quickly have someone send her back to rest!’"
Sister Qing by her side hastily acknowledged the order. Noble Concubine Shih, somewhat frightened and anxious, found it hard to sit still and thus left with them.
The Empress looked on disdainfully but didn’t utter a word the whole time. As for the Empress Dowager, her gaze, following the retreating figures of Noble Concubine Shih and the others, flickered with a cold glint. Still, the Empress Dowager ultimately said nothing. And as for the others, they said even less. Those in the Harem understood the situation all too well!
Xia Ruqing sipped her sweet soup, hiding a faint smile behind her cup. Noble Concubine Shih is clearly determined to ensure Honored Lady Shih meets her end! But... the methods were rather ruthless. The woman was only six months pregnant and already so swollen. If it reached eight or nine months... it’s frightening to even imagine. COUGH, COUGH, she herself ran around every day and was still swollen at eight or nine months! Not to mention...
As she was thinking, suddenly there was a sound of footsteps from outside. Yu Lan led the way, accompanying the Palace Attendants from the Ministry of Internal Affairs as they entered.
The trays held an assortment of small and exquisite dumplings. There were meat-filled, shrimp-filled, and fish-filled ones, as well as those with three-delicacy and vegetarian fillings. Besides the savory ones, there were also sour, spicy, and sweet varieties. All sorts of dumplings, with different shapes and colors, were available, showcasing the Imperial Kitchen’s dedication.
Xia Ruqing tried a few sweet almond ones, some shrimp dumplings, some with pickled vegetables, and some with pork and Da Bai cabbage. After a few bites, she was full.
The Empress Dowager and those Old Princess Consorts chatted and laughed, eating quite a lot. The Empress was already tired, so after eating two dumplings just for the sake of it, she put down her chopsticks. She was hanging on by sheer determination up to this point. Otherwise... she might have actually collapsed!
Only after eating dumplings could the New Year’s vigil be considered complete. About half an hour later, everyone finally dispersed to their own quarters!
As soon as they dispersed, Xia Ruqing couldn’t wait to get into her warm sedan chair and head back. Going to sleep was secondary; her main concern was to check on Little Bun. Without her there tonight, he was likely to cry and fuss again. Just thinking about it made her anxious.
"’Hurry, hurry!’" Xia Ruqing urged the eunuchs carrying the sedan chair, wishing she could fly back!
「Meanwhile, in Jiaofang Hall.」
The Empress maintained a brave face as she sent off the last Old Princess Consort. Only then did she return to her inner chamber and lie down. She didn’t even wash her face or remove her clothes, simply letting Yu Lan wipe her face with a damp towel. By then, the Empress had already fallen into a deep, exhausted slumber!
Sister Ji couldn’t help but shed tears. "’My Empress, you don’t have to push yourself so hard every time! Why must you always end up like this!’"
Yu Lan sighed and said no more.
「Early the next day was the Royal Family’s ancestral worship ceremony.」
The Empress got up early to dress in grand attire. A bright red Phoenix Crown and Phoenix Robe adorned her, and her face was meticulously made up. With such careful preparation, she remained that dignified and imposing figure, the Empress, a maternal model for the nation! Only... beneath the thick layer of makeup lay a face so pale, perhaps only she knew its true color!
Standing below the Empress were the Noble Consort and Consort Ning. The Noble Consort wore a rose-red formal dress, very similar in style to the Empress’s, differing only in color and pattern. On formal occasions, the Noble Consort was not allowed to use phoenix embroidery, only peacock, to maintain the distinction between the primary wife and concubines! Although the Noble Consort still felt resentful, she had grown accustomed to it over the years!
Consort Ning stood half a step behind the Noble Consort. Her attire was a lighter color—Tao Hong—and embroidered not with a peacock, but with a red-crowned crane.
Further back stood several Consorts of Pin rank. Their formal wear was pink, embroidered with magpies, and their Phoenix Crowns were the simplest in style. Compared to those in front, they even looked somewhat shabby!
However... Xia Ruqing wasn’t much concerned with these clothes. Since her promotion to the rank of Pin, it was her first time wearing a Phoenix Crown, and her neck already felt the strain after standing for just a short while. So heavy! How could the slender Empress bear the weight? And more importantly, how did she always manage to look so dignified, whether standing or sitting? TSK, TSK... It really must be the result of practice!
In the front, the ancestral worship was taking place; at the back, nobody could hear anything. They simply followed the actions of those in front of them: rising when it was time to rise, kowtowing when it was time to kowtow.
Xia Ruqing kowtowed respectfully, but her mind wandered freely. Honored Lady Shih didn’t come today. She must have gone through another ordeal last night. How foolish of Honored Lady Shih, to continue listening to Noble Concubine Shih despite her circumstances?
But in the end, she sighed helplessly.
What could she do if she didn’t listen? Rebel? Not to mention whether it was possible, she probably didn’t have the courage!
Putting that aside, Xia Ruqing’s thoughts drifted to Little Bun. Hmm, what could Little Bun be doing now?
After a while, her attention shifted to her brother, who was about to take a wife. In ancient times, marital fate couldn’t escape parental arrangement. Although the Emperor had granted the marriage, the parents still had a definitive say. So, would the wedding be held in the Capital City or Jiangnan? Would her future sister-in-law agree to marry her temporarily impoverished elder brother? Some families cared deeply about face; they might not agree!
She pondered for a while, her thoughts drifting, when suddenly there was a commotion at the front. Xia Ruqing breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, it’s over!
At noon, she followed the Enjoins from outside the palace to Jiaofang Hall for a banquet. Each person had a small table, and everyone chattered lively among themselves.
Xia Ruqing admired these Madams. They were truly skilled at initiating conversations, sharing jokes, and enlivening the atmosphere! However... she didn’t particularly like it. It was mostly mutual flattery with no real substance.
During the meal, several people deliberately came over to curry favor with her. Their underlying message was clear: they wanted to see Little Bun. After all, he was the Emperor’s first child, and they all... wanted to take a look!
"’Consort Xian Pin, it’s a rare occasion for us to enter the palace. Please let us have a glimpse!’"
"’Indeed, it is!’" ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novelFɪre.net
"’Just bring him out for us to see!’"
If it were someone else, they would have agreed by now, bringing him out to show off, or at the very least, to provoke the others! But Xia Ruqing... she sternly refused.
"’It’s cold outside. The Little Prince just recovered from a cold and is resting in Qingya Residence. The Imperial Physician said... he absolutely must not catch another cold!’"