A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 503 Grilled Rabbit Meat?

TSK TSK!The only one the Emperor remembers in such a way must be Consort Xian Pin alone.

As for the dishes for the Empress, the Emperor hadn’t said a word—just that they should serve whatever they saw fit!

Zi Yue understood perfectly well, but she just asked out of courtesy. Taking the food box, she pulled out a purse from her sleeve and stuffed it into Little Zhuzi’s hands.

"Buy yourself some tea!"

Little Zhuzi happily accepted. "Many thanks to Consort Xian Pin!"

Weighing it, there must be two or three taels. That was already a lot. In the street, you couldn’t even spend that much on many things!

Little Zhuzi left with a smile.

Zi Yue then opened the food box, arranging the dishes one by one. In total, there were eight dishes. Besides those, there was also a hand-shredded roast rabbit and a bowl of pheasant stewed with mushrooms. These two, specifically instructed by the Emperor, were not considered part of the regular dishes.

Xia Ruqing soothed Little Bun to sleep and changed her clothes before coming out. As she walked in, she was greeted by the rich aroma.

"Roast rabbit meat?"

Zi Su was laying out chopsticks nearby. "Mistress, your nose is truly keen!"

Xia Ruqing replied cheerfully, "That’s right!" She considered herself quite the veteran foodie, hadn’t she?

「The courtyard of the Empress.」

In the Imperial Traveling Palace, the Empress’s courtyard was the largest and most lavish in the inner area. The house was grandiose and luxurious, with many rooms. Its only downside was that it wasn’t the closest to the front courtyard, not being as near as Consort Xian Pin’s residence. However, it wasn’t far either, ranking second or third closest. The Empress was very satisfied.

Ever since she moved into this courtyard, the Empress had hardly set foot outside, nor had she summoned anyone to pay respects. Every day, she focused wholeheartedly on looking after the Little Princess, sparing no effort in her care.

Her thoughts were: This was an opportunity given by the Emperor. She had to seize it. She was determined to raise the Little Princess well and, ideally, have her credited to her own name, to completely extricate her from Noble Concubine Shih’s side. Furthermore, she also understood: today the Emperor asked her to look after the Little Princess, but tomorrow, who knows, he might allow her to bear her own children. With the Princess around, the Emperor would come. One visit after another, it was possible she might be allowed to conceive. This was an opportunity, a great chance to reclaim the Emperor’s affections.

The Empress, naturally, spared no effort.

Shih Jieyu came to see the Princess on the second day after arriving at the Imperial Traveling Palace. She was worried that the rough journey would affect the fragile Princess’s health. But in fact, it had not. The Empress had meticulously cared for her throughout the journey, preventing the Little Princess from being jostled even a bit.

The Empress, holding Shih Jieyu’s hand, said earnestly, "She is too young. I initially didn’t plan on bringing her. However, we’ve been away from the palace for so long. With only Noble Concubine Shih there and no one capable in charge, I simply couldn’t rest easy!"

Essentially, this implied she feared Noble Concubine Shih would retaliate against the Little Princess. After all, with Noble Concubine Shih holding such a grudge, it wasn’t impossible she might take it out on the Little Princess.

Shih Jieyu felt like crying and nodded slightly. "I understand! As long as the Little Princess is safe and sound, I can rest assured!"

Her urge to cry was not out of being moved, but of sadness. Her cousin, whom she served wholeheartedly, had almost caused the Little Princess’s demise with her care. On the contrary, the Empress, whom she had always been cautious of, regarded the Little Princess as her own and took meticulous care of her. No matter the motive, the Little Princess was better now. She didn’t care about the reasons, only the outcome. If the Little Princess was well and had survived, she would be grateful.

Knowing that the Little Princess’s health was gradually improving, Shih Jieyu did not come again.

"Your Majesty, the food rewarded from the front has been arranged; it is time for your evening meal!" Sister Ji entered, urging.

The Empress was personally holding the Little Princess, watching her play with bubbles after having just finished her milk.

"Your Majesty, it is time to dine!" Sister Ji urged again.

The Empress reluctantly placed the Princess into the cradle, her face bearing a smile tinged with a mother’s deep tenderness. "She’s truly adorable!" she exclaimed softly.

Shih Jieyu, with her beauty that could topple cities and nations, had naturally given birth to an extremely adorable princess.

Sister Ji then hastened to advise, "It is her good fortune that Your Majesty takes care of her so meticulously, but... Your Majesty, you must also take care of your own health! Constant vigil by her side must be draining for you!"

The Empress washed her hands in the copper basin brought by Yu Lan and dried them with a towel. She smiled. "I can’t help it!" So this is how wonderful it feels to be a mother! she thought.

Sister Ji then said, "Your Majesty is still young. As long as you capture the Emperor’s heart, there will always be a chance for you to have your own child!"

The Empress subconsciously stroked her own belly. "Is there really still hope?"

"Yes, yes, of course there is!"

The Empress shook her head and smiled, not taking it seriously. She glanced at the dishes on the table, picked the ones the Emperor had sent, ate a bowl of rice with them, and then went back to see the Little Princess.

At this point, even Yu Lan couldn’t bear to watch. "Your Majesty! You’ve watched over her all day; you should rest properly!"

Without looking up, the Empress answered, "I am not tired!"

Sister Ji didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. "You’re not made of iron. How can you not be tired after watching over her all day! Your Majesty, please listen to this old servant’s advice and rest now! You have to wake up two or three times in the night; how can your body withstand it if you don’t sleep early?"

Yu Lan also advised, "There will be plenty of opportunities to watch over her in the future; it isn’t just about this moment. Your Majesty, please go to sleep!"

The Empress, being nagged from left to right, grew quite impatient but had no choice but to get up and prepare for bed.

Upon entering the inner chamber, she lay down on the bed, with Yu Lan and Sister Ji standing guard.

Sister Ji then said, "Your Majesty, your devotion to raising the Little Princess is commendable, but you must also think ahead for yourself!"

The Empress didn’t understand. "Think ahead?"

Sister Ji nodded. "After all, the Little Princess has a birth mother! Even if she is registered under your name when she turns one, she ultimately is Shih Jieyu’s child. In the future..."

She was truly speaking from the heart, for the Empress’s sake.

The Empress waved her hand, interrupting her. "What future does a princess have? Birth mother or not, if I raise her, she cannot fail to recognize me!" Besides, she didn’t need the princess’s future. What she needed was the Princess’s present. Raising her well was an achievement in itself. By taking care of her, the Emperor would come. She would have plenty of time to mend her relationship with the Emperor. She would prove herself a virtuous wife by raising the Princess, not a jealous one. The Emperor would eventually see it and, one day, surely grant her a child!

Sister Ji thought it over; it didn’t seem incorrect, so she decided not to say any more. But she still said, "This servant will ask the Imperial Kitchen to prepare nourishing soup for Your Majesty, to strengthen your health daily! We can’t always be praying for last-minute miracles!"

The Empress approved of this suggestion. "Thank you, Sister!"

Sister Ji then smiled. "Your Majesty need not say such things!"

Yu Lan, standing by, also smiled. After a few more idle remarks, they both retired.

In the inner chamber, only a dim lamp remained. The Empress, by its light, stared at the pomegranate blossoms adorning the top of the bed canopy, lost in thought. She loved pomegranate flowers because pomegranates bear many seeds.

But when would she ever have a child of her own!