novelraw Chapter 487: Silly Mom, I Want to Grow Up Fast!
Chapter 487: Silly Mom, I Want to Grow Up Fast!
In the evening, the Emperor didn’t come by, but he had someone send over a basket of lotus pods.They were fresh and dewy, even larger than the ones she had picked during the day.
On the large plate, plump lotus seeds lay densely packed.
They somewhat resembled bee pupae.
Xia Ruqing plucked one, peeled it, and tasted it.
It was fresh and sweet, more tender than peanuts, with a delicate sweetness.
When Little Bun saw them, he immediately crawled over.
Xia Ruqing didn’t dare give him the small lotus seeds, fearing he would choke if he stuffed them into his mouth.
So, she simply handed him the large lotus pod instead.
Little Bun giggled excitedly, hugged the lotus pod to his chest, and immediately started gnawing on it.
Xia Ruqing was quite speechless. "Son, if you keep eating like this, you’ll grow into a little fatty, won’t you?"
Little Bun cast her a nonchalant glance and continued gnawing.
Xia Ruqing then patted his bottom. "At such a young age, you’ve already learned to be aloof, just like your Father Emperor?"
Little Bun kept on nibbling as if nothing had happened, and Xia Ruqing simply left him to it.
For the evening meal, she had someone make a soup with fresh lotus seeds and white fungus.
Little Bun drank even more of it than she did.
Xia Ruqing was astonished.
"Son, you’re eating far too much..."
Sister Huang laughed.
"Empress, it’s a good thing the Little Prince has a hearty appetite. He’s growing, and these light soups won’t fill him up for long!"
Little Bun hurriedly nodded.
Silly mother, I want to grow up quickly!
...
Days passed one after another.
In the Harem, Consort Xian Pin’s favor still surpassed everyone else’s.
When the Emperor visited the Harem, eight out of ten times he would stay with Consort Xian Pin.
Jealousy was rife in the Harem.
Although resistance was futile, if they could stir up some trouble for others, that would be satisfying enough.
After all, only when others were unhappy could they themselves feel content.
Truly desire peace? Impossible!
One morning, the usually quiet Harem suddenly erupted into chaos.
Xiao Xizi rushed in, his steps hurried, to report.
"My lady, someone attempted to hang themselves..."
That single sentence instantly caused a huge stir.
Xia Ruqing was startled and quickly asked, "Who was it? What exactly happened?!"
Xiao Xizi shook his head.
"We don’t know yet, only that it was someone from one of the palaces to the west. They say the person has already been saved!"
Xia Ruqing breathed a sigh of relief but remained worried. She scoffed and said,
"They say three women can make a drama! It turns out to be true!"
"In this palace, one can’t even have a single day of peace!"
Zi Yue hurried to console her.
"In any case, it has nothing to do with us!"
"We’re far removed from it!"
Xia Ruqing said,
"That’s true, but I still feel uneasy..."
"I keep having a bad feeling!"
Now that she had Little Bun, she had become much more timid than before.
Gone was her former courage, the kind where those with nothing to lose fear nothing!
Fortunately, she had already established herself firmly. No one could easily harm her.
Slandered and framed? The Emperor would have to believe it first!
And the Emperor wasn’t foolish!
Zi Yue said,
"Empress, should I go and make more inquiries?"ake her away first!"
"Until the facts are clarified and the evidence is examined, this is abuse! This is the unlawful use of private punishment!"
"Noble Concubine Shih, I do not wish to see such things happen a second time!"
Noble Concubine Shih rolled her eyes, snorted coldly, and gave a cursory bow.
"Her Majesty the Empress is merciful and magnanimous. I have learned my lesson!"
"The Princess has just awoken, and I am worried, so I shall take my leave first!"
After speaking, she left directly without waiting for the Empress’s permission.
The Empress clenched her fists tightly but ultimately said nothing.
Inwardly, she scoffed, Hmph, she’s only putting on airs because of the Princess. What’s there to be so proud of?
...
「Lady Wang was taken by the Empress to Jiaofang Hall.」
Lady Wang was still unconscious, and Ah Ru wept the entire way.
The Empress could not interrogate her immediately, so she had someone summon the Imperial Physician.
They first applied some topical medicine to her neck and then prepared a medicinal brew for her to drink.
Half a Shi Chen later, Lady Wang finally regained consciousness.
"My lady, you’re finally awake!"
Ah Ru’s eyes were brimming with tears.
Lady Wang slowly opened her eyes. Upon seeing Ah Ru, her eyes filled with hatred.
"It was you... Ah Ru, who do you truly serve? Why did you harm me?"
Ah Ru cried uncontrollably.
"My lady, I didn’t do it on purpose! I didn’t know, I truly didn’t know!"
Lady Wang sneered.
"You didn’t know?"
"You are always in charge of my clothes. How could a man’s clothing suddenly appear in my wardrobe? If you didn’t know, then who else could it be?"
Ah Ru knelt on the ground, shaking her head.
"My lady, I really didn’t know!"
"I’ve been wronged!"
Listening to the exchange between the master and servant, the Empress gradually began to understand the situation.
She immediately spoke up.
"Enough arguing, both of you!"
Upon hearing this, Lady Wang quickly threw herself before the Empress.
"Your Majesty the Empress, I have already entered the palace. How could I possibly be involved with another man!"
"I cannot bear such an accusation, nor can my family. I beg Your Majesty the Empress for mercy and to clear my name!"
The Empress turned, sat down on a nearby stool, and looked at Lady Wang.
"Now that you are awake, tell me exactly what happened!"
Lady Wang knelt on the ground, her expression panic-stricken.
"Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress!"
"Early this morning, I asked Ah Ru to fetch a change of clothes from the wardrobe. But to our shock, she found a set of men’s clothing!"
"The Little Palace Maid who was present immediately reported the incident to the Noble Consort!"
"The Noble Consort came immediately with her attendants and took the man’s clothing found in my quarters!"