A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 562: Intentional, Isn’t It?

Xia Ruqing wept with sobs."It was just a fire, Consort Ning. This concubine apologizes on behalf of the Imperial Son!"

As she spoke, she signaled the eunuchs carrying the palanquin to stop. Xia Ruqing then got down from it, sobbing all the while. Her movements were so sluggish, even a fool could tell she wasn’t sincere!

Consort Ning was speechless. Burned? On purpose, right? This woman! This deceitful and cunning woman, she must have done it on purpose! And still she admits guilt! PAH! Such pretense!

But even though it was all an act, she couldn’t very well lash out. After all, the woman had come to apologize. It was just a few trinkets; to cling to them would bring her no advantage. So, inside, Consort Ning seethed with anger, but on the surface, she had to grit her teeth and offer consolation.

"No... it’s not important!" she said. "They were just some children’s toys. There’s no need for Consort Xian Pin to take it so to heart!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing thought, Aha, that’s the line I was waiting for.

Immediately, she stopped crying, quickly dried her tears, and hurriedly expressed her gratitude. "Consort Ning, you truly are magnanimous and kind-hearted..." She lavished whatever praise came to mind, piling on one accolade after another.

Consort Ning’s face was the epitome of awkwardness. What does the phrase "liver-colored" mean? This was it.

In the end, Consort Ning couldn’t take it anymore. She managed a forced laugh with a few mumbled words before hastily scrambling into her palanquin and fleeing in embarrassment.

Xia Ruqing watched Consort Ning’s palanquin depart hastily, a sly and triumphant glint flashing in her eyes. HEHE! Truly satisfying.

"Let’s go!"

After speaking, she too casually entered her own warm palanquin.

Zi Su and Zi Ning were stunned.

The master’s underhanded and cunning demeanor, how much does it resemble the Emperor’s! It’s like... learning and applying on the spot! TSK! TSK! Impressive!

「...」

Consort Ning returned to Yichun Palace in her warm palanquin. After alighting, she stormed back to her main hall in a huff. Upon entering, she immediately threw the handkerchief she was holding. Lan Xiang hurried to catch it, picking it up to find it almost crumpled to pieces.

"Your Highness!" Lan Xiang then hastily advised, "Why put yourself through this? Those things we sent over... not to mention Consort Xian Pin, anyone would have taken offense! Sending a pile of old things, wasn’t that just a slap in the face? Who does that?"

Only because Lan Xiang was a dowry maid did she dare to offer such advice; otherwise, who would dare?

Consort Ning was immediately displeased. She glared, her brows knitted. "What about those items? Weren’t they the Princess’s most cherished? I was giving her face by sending those things! Otherwise... I wouldn’t even have given that much!"

Lan Xiang wanted to say more, but Consort Ning raised her hand to stop her. "No need to say anything more. Let this matter be."

Though she hadn’t vented her anger, in the end, she was the one left fuming. But Consort Ning, ultimately, dared not stir up any further mischief. Going head-to-head with Consort Xian Pin was not guaranteed to end well for her. She was precisely the type to fear the strong and bully the weak.

「Inside Yichun Palace.」

Consort Ning’s quarters were in utter chaos. Meanwhile, the abode of Honored Lady Cheng was warm and peaceful. She did not need to pay her respects and rose at her leisure late in the morning. After washing up and getting dressed, breakfast was already served: a bowl of plain rice porridge with a few small side dishes. It wasn’t much, yet it looked appealing, evidently carefully prepared by the Imperial Kitchen.

Suppressing intense nausea, Honored Lady Cheng ate some vegetables and drank some porridge. Only then did she feel a little better.

She heard some commotion from the main hall ahead and asked a Palace Maid, "What’s the matter with Consort Ning?"

The Palace Maid didn’t quite understand either and simply shook her head. Just then, a Little Eunuch from Honored Lady Cheng’s retinue came in from outside. Upon hearing his mistress inquire, he explained, "Consort Ning encountered Consort Xian Pin on her way back!"

Understanding immediately dawned upon Honored Lady Cheng. Consort Xian Pin... A faint smile touched her lips. She thought to herself, To directly confront Consort Xian Pin, isn’t that just asking for trouble? Consort Ning is still a consort; how can she not see through this? The hardships suffered by the Noble Consort are right before our eyes! No wonder, despite her rank, her days are not as good as those of Consort Hui Pin! It seems that status isn’t important in the Harem; what’s important is whether one can see things clearly!

Honored Lady Cheng caressed her belly, her eyes filled with tranquility and peace. She had always been calm and steady, and her heart was at ease. She did not strive for favor that stretched throughout the Harem. All she wished was to live a peaceful and stable life, not to die early and grieve her family, nor to make foolish mistakes that would implicate them. In short, to live a simple and uneventful life.

This was the best, just as her mother had told her before she entered the palace: "Standing out too much is not good; if you don’t have the capability, don’t stick your neck out! Only by being unassuming can you last a long time!"

Now, it seemed the advice was extremely sound, and a faint smile lingered on Honored Lady Cheng’s lips.

"My lady, please eat a little more!" the Palace Maid Huan Cui encouraged her.

Honored Lady Cheng glanced at the porridge before her and frowned slightly. But after pausing for a moment, she still overcame her nausea and ate a bit more.

Only then did Huan Cui smile. "Your appetite is really good, my lady! Your complexion is also good. You will definitely be like Consort Xian Pin and give birth to a healthy Little Prince!"

Honored Lady Cheng smiled softly. "That would be wonderful indeed! But even if it’s a Little Princess, I won’t mind. I will cherish her, do her hair, dress her in pretty clothes, and watch her get married!" Her eyes were brimming with happiness.

Actually, there were still plenty of smart women in the Harem. Not everyone had ambitions to compete with the Empress for her position, nor did everyone harbor wild fantasies about the Emperor. Most women entered the palace hoping to live a quiet and good life. Of course, even if certain individuals were not content, they were dealt with by Zhao Junyao so that they had no choice but to become content.

「...」

After the winter month began, it snowed heavily on two occasions. Xia Ruqing’s hot pot meal came after these snowfalls. But before that, there was another event.

On the evening of the ninth day of the winter month, Zhao Junyao came to Qingya Residence as usual. Tomorrow was a day off, and he wanted to have a good rest tonight. In Zhao Junyao’s heart, a good rest meant going to Qingya Residence. Nowhere else would do; only her place was best. He felt content just being there, accompanying her, even if they did nothing at all.

Xia Ruqing, as usual, had prepared a table full of good food and wine to greet him.

During the meal, Xia Ruqing beckoned Xiao Xizi to bring over a small wine jar.

"Emperor..." Xia Ruqing smiled mysteriously. "Can you guess what’s inside this jar?"

Zhao Junyao, holding a teacup, fixed his gaze on her teasing, sparkling eyes, utterly captivated, his heart stirred.

"What is it?" he asked lazily.

"Try to guess, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao laughed. "Is it... the grape wine you brewed, am I right?"

His gaze held a unique confidence. In his eyes, illuminated by candlelight to a lustrous hue, there flickered an intense and undeniable affection.

Xia Ruqing couldn’t focus on admiring the handsome man in the candlelight; she nodded disappointingly. "How did you know, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao couldn’t help but laugh. "I’ve seen this jar before! The last time I drank your grape wine, it was from a similar one!"