novelraw Chapter 554: One Year Old
Chapter 554: One Year Old
"I think we should just eat with Consort Xian Pin!"After all, Consort Xian Pin loves the same things the Emperor does. Besides, the Emperor doesn’t seem to be particularly fond of the meals from Zhaochen Palace’s small kitchen. They’d just get cold with all the fuss. Better to forget it!
Xiao Xizi didn’t dare to ask further. Once Consort Xian Pin agreed, she quickly departed.
Li Shengan watched, filled with admiration. She’s a good one! Diligent and clever! Orıginal content can be found at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
「...」
Dinner was served.
It was as simple as usual, but not as bland as before.
After all, it was cold, and one needed to eat well to build up some reserves for winter.
One dish was lotus root and pork rib soup. The ribs were stewed until tender and flavorful, while the lotus root slices remained crisp. Glass noodles and soft tofu had also been added to the soup. A hot, steaming bowl of it left one feeling utterly content.
The other dishes included salt-and-pepper lamb chops, steamed pork with rice flour, braised pork, and tender, delicious stewed venison. These were all meat dishes, visually appealing and delicious.
The side dishes were freshly picked from the back garden: tender baby bok choy and spinach, simply stir-fried with minimal seasoning.
With both meat and vegetable dishes, the meal looked truly appetizing.
Xia Ruqing was already famished. Dinner was served more than an hour later than usual. And it was winter—how could she not be hungry?
She even skipped the rice, opting instead for freshly baked flatbread from the Imperial Kitchen, with which she ate several pieces of braised pork!
The salt-and-pepper lamb chops were also delicious. The lamb was tender; it was said that the animals were fed forage from beyond the borders, so the meat was completely free of any gamey taste. It was succulent and juicy, yet not greasy.
She also had a small bowl of the lotus root and pork rib soup, and the venison was delectable too.
Although the stir-fried spinach was a simple vegetable dish, winter spinach, having weathered frost and harsh cold, had a natural sweetness.
It was just... so delicious!
By the end of the meal, Xia Ruqing, clutching her rounded belly, was still reluctant to put down her chopsticks.
"That was so good!"
Zhao Junyao reached out to pat her belly and said with a laugh, "Good. You’re too thin. You need to build up some reserves!"
In ancient winters, without central heating or air conditioning, overly thin people couldn’t withstand the severe cold. So, everyone liked to put on a little fat to comfortably make it through winter and, as a bonus, look better. Especially for women, being appropriately plump was considered much more attractive than being skin and bones.
Xia Ruqing felt a bit embarrassed. "Your Majesty, all I do is eat and sleep, then sleep and eat. I wouldn’t dare try to put on fat on purpose!" She had a ground dragon; she wasn’t cold.
Zhao Junyao glanced at her disdainfully. "Not trying to put on fat on purpose?" he scoffed. "Then what about that hot pot and barbecue? Are you still eating those?"
Xia Ruqing’s eyes instantly lit up. "Ah, Your Majesty, those are best eaten when it snows! It’s not yet the eleventh month; I have to wait a bit longer!"
Zhao Junyao pinched her belly again. "Nonsense!"
"HEH HEH..."
That night, the Emperor stayed in Qingya Residence.
「...」
On the twenty-fourth day of the tenth month, Little Bun finally turned one year old.
Early that day, as the Emperor was getting up and preparing for the morning court session, he ordered while dressing, "Have someone take the things over first! I’ll come by after court!"
"Yes!" Li Shengan quickly responded.
Assisted by Palace Attendants with his morning ablutions and dressing, Zhao Junyao departed. Li Shengan swiftly made the arrangements and hurried after him.
「At Qingya Residence.」
Preparations had been completed early that morning. Zi Yue and the others had risen while it was still dark, bustling about to move and arrange things. As Zi Yue couldn’t walk much, she stood by, watching and supervising, ensuring things were put in their proper places and dusted off.
By the time Xia Ruqing arose, almost everything was ready. Tables, chairs, and stools were all arranged. The event was to be held in the main hall, the same location as last time.
However, unlike the Empress’s Thousand Autumns Festival, there were no acting troupes today. For the Little Prince’s first birthday feast, their own son was the star of the show—what need was there for acting troupes? After the fortune-grabbing ceremony, the meal, and accepting gifts, everyone could go their separate ways! She had no desire for them to linger, and she guessed that the guests wouldn’t want to stay long either.
There was no need for morning greetings today either.
Xia Ruqing got up, washed, and dressed in the outfit Zi Yue had specially chosen for her: a set of rose-colored patterned brocade, embroidered with peacocks in gold thread. On her head, she wore a complete headdress set made of pomegranate-red agate. Zi Yue had styled her hair into an especially imposing chignon, which, combined with this headdress, made her look both noble and beautiful!
She wore no necklace, but on her hand was a chicken-blood stone ring. On her wrists, she wore a pair of twisted-wire bracelets inlaid with rubies. Her earrings were also red, a pair of tassels made of red agate beads!
Dressed in this entire ensemble, she looked utterly radiant and captivating!
Zi Yue was stunned. "Mistress, your features are delicate yet striking. These clothes suit you perfectly! You really shouldn’t always wear such plain colors!"
It wasn’t that plain colors looked bad on her—it was just... they made her seem somewhat too demure. Ultimately, such attire lacked a certain commanding presence. The Mistress was, after all, a consort of pin rank, and moreover... the mother of the Crown Prince. Enjoying such immense favor, it was time for her to project some authority.
Xia Ruqing, however, waved it off. "Never mind! Do you think we aren’t conspicuous enough as it is?" I wonder how many of them curse me in their midnight dreams! Cursing me is one thing, but if they curse Little Bun... Ugh, the thought alone sends shivers down my spine! I won’t think about it!
She then stood up. "If it weren’t for Little Bun’s first birthday today, I certainly wouldn’t be wearing this. It’s not even as comfortable as my old clothes!"
Sometimes, new clothes aren’t as pleasant to wear as old ones, which are soft and conform to the body. Xia Ruqing was precisely that kind of practical person. She would never make herself suffer just to live up to others’ expectations. It wasn’t worth it! They were all her love rivals; why should she bother?
「...」
Just as she finished dressing, Xiao Xizi came in, beaming. "Mistress!"
"Eunuch Little Zhuzi and others from the Emperor’s entourage have brought over many chests. Mistress, please take a look..."
Where should they be put? Xia Ruqing was a little puzzled. "Chests? What chests?"
Xiao Xizi shook her head. "I don’t know!"
As they spoke, the mistress and her servants went to the main hall.
Little Zhuzi and the others entered the courtyard, set down the chests, and then came inside to pay their respects. "Your servants greet Consort Xian Pin!"
Looking at the several chests outside in the courtyard, Xia Ruqing grew curious. "What are all these?"
Little Zhuzi immediately knelt. "These are birthday gifts from the Emperor to the Little Prince. There are also two chests with items His Majesty specially selected for the Little Prince’s fortune-grabbing ceremony!"
"Fortune-grabbing ceremony?" Xia Ruqing was a bit surprised. "The Ministry of Internal Affairs already prepared those items!"
Little Zhuzi quickly replied, "What the Ministry of Internal Affairs prepared are the standard items according to regulations. These, however, are bestowed by the Emperor himself!"
"Oh..." Xia Ruqing now understood. So, these things are a sign of the Emperor’s special favor?
Liking the sound of that, Xia Ruqing smiled and stood up. She faced the direction of Zhaochen Palace and curtsied deeply. "Many thanks for the Emperor’s generosity!"
"You’ve all worked hard. Zi Yue..."
Smiling, Zi Yue handed out the purses. Little Zhuzi’s was larger than the others, containing three taels of silver; the rest received two taels each. This was a considerable sum, especially considering their monthly stipends!
The servants kowtowed to express their gratitude!