A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 10: Chapter 9 Mid-Autumn Night Banquet

Xia Ruqing was also very excited; in her two lifetimes, she had never witnessed such a scene.

In her previous life, she was poor. Her parents divorced when she was two, and she lived with her maternal grandmother. After her grandmother passed away, no one looked after her. She struggled on her own, so poor it was alarming.

In this life, she had transmigrated to become the Emperor’s minor wife. She was of low status, with ancestors who had been farmers for eight generations. By her grandfather’s time, the family’s fortunes finally began to change when he became a Scholar.

Under the guidance of her Scholar grandfather, her father poured all his efforts into passing the Graduate exam and was subsequently appointed as a County Magistrate in Jiangnan. From then on, the Xia Family was considered a respectable scholarly family.

How could the daughter of a scholarly family have ever witnessed such scenes of song, dance, and prosperity?

Xia Ruqing stared intently at the dancers, their water sleeves fluttering and their waists swaying gracefully, all while she sipped fine wine and nibbled on delicacies.

She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. It felt wonderful to be well-fed and catered to without needing to work, and to occasionally enjoy nightlife with the most esteemed and handsome man in the world. Not bad, not bad at all.

Some of the other concubines rose to offer toasts; some secretly cast seductive glances at the Emperor; others, seeing rivals more beautiful than themselves, privately tore at their handkerchiefs in jealousy.

Only Xia Ruqing, lost in her own little thoughts, leisurely savored her wine and admired the beautiful dancers, feeling utterly carefree and joyful.

When Zhao Junyao’s gaze fell upon her for the eighteenth time, she was still enthusiastically admiring the dancers. This displeased Zhao Junyao.

He had been appointed Crown Prince at ten and ascended to the throne at nineteen. In both the imperial court and the harem, he had always been the center of attention. Never before had he been so thoroughly ignored.

When he looked again, Zhao Junyao’s gaze was chilling.

Xia Ruqing remained oblivious. Her seat was in a remote corner, so she couldn’t clearly hear what was being said at the front. Besides, she felt too lazy to try and catch the Emperor’s eye.

She simply enjoyed the singing and dancing to pass the time, savoring the delicious food and sipping fine wine, momentarily lost in the moment.

Suddenly, she felt someone staring at her. Following the gaze, her eyes met Zhao Junyao’s cool stare.

Only then did she remember the Emperor was still present! Hastily, she composed her expression and, shyly holding her wine cup, minced her way over to him.

”The moonlight is exceptionally beautiful tonight. Your servant respectfully offers a toast to Your Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress!” she said, kneeling with a reverent attitude.

The Empress, seeing her act so appropriately, was quite satisfied. ”Lady Xia is thoughtful,” she said with a smile, taking a sip of her honeyed wine.

Zhao Junyao glanced at her. Bathed in the luminous moonlight, her moon-colored gown seemed to meld with the light, making it difficult for one to look away.

With suppressed annoyance, Zhao Junyao drained his cup and then waved his hand.

”Rise!”

”Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Believing she had completed her task, Xia Ruqing happily skipped back to her seat and resumed watching the performances.

Zhao Junyao watched her go, speechless.

From time to time, others came to offer toasts. Zhao Junyao gloomily drank a few more cups before dismissing the matter from his mind. As an emperor who governed all under heaven, he naturally wouldn’t stoop to bickering with a woman.

The banquet continued, filled with song, dance, and the merry clinking of cups.

No matter how fiercely they usually competed, on the surface, at least, everyone appeared harmonious.

However, Noble Concubine Shih, seated beside Zhao Junyao, wore a very unpleasant expression.

”What’s wrong with the Emperor tonight? Why does he keep staring at Lady Xia?” Noble Concubine Shih’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint appearing within them.

The Senior Palace Maid Ying Yue smiled faintly. ”She certainly knows how to be clever and dress for the occasion. That gown of hers is quite fitting!”

Noble Concubine Shih scrutinized her carefully from head to toe, then snorted coldly. ”Indeed, it is!”

She then added mockingly, ”So what if she racks her brains to dress up? The Emperor isn’t going to favor her tonight!”

”Precisely. She’s merely an Honored Lady. Your Highness has no need to worry,” Ying Yue said with an appeasing smile.

Noble Concubine Shih sneered again and picked up the cup of hot tea beside her.

The banquet lasted until Hai Hour (9-11 pm) before concluding. The Emperor stayed the night in Jiaofang Hall, as was palace custom.

The Empress was overjoyed. She personally attended to the supper, his bathing, and his preparations for bed. Unfortunately, Zhao Junyao was still not in high spirits.

The Empress brought a bowl to him. ”Your Majesty drank a fair amount tonight. Please have a bowl of this sobering soup.”

Her voice was gentle, her tone virtuous and wifely.

Zhao Junyao leaned against the couch, squinting at the Empress in the dim light. The flickering candlelight softened her features, diminishing some of her usual dignified solemnity.

”You’ve gone to trouble, Empress,” he said, taking the soup and drinking it in one go.

”It is what Your servant ought to do.”

After these few words, silence descended once more.

Everything proceeded according to routine. Half a Shi Chen (one hour) later, servants were called in to prepare water for his bath.

While he bathed, the Empress secretly drank a bowl of medicine.

At Chen Hour (7-9 am), after seeing the Emperor off to the morning court, she returned to sleep for a while. This time, her sleep was exceptionally sweet. She dreamt of a plump, fair-skinned little baby running towards her, waving.

「That night」

Aside from Xia Ruqing, who had eaten and drunk her fill and slept soundly, few in the harem rested peacefully. Especially Noble Concubine Shih.

She tossed and turned. Her old ailment of heartache invariably flared up on the first and fifteenth of each month.

”The Empress is the Empress. Without resorting to any schemes, no one can surpass her!” she fumed, full of resentment.

”The Emperor values tradition. He only visits Jiaofang Hall twice a month. How can that compare to His Majesty’s favor for you, Your Highness?” Ying Yue cajoled with a smile.

Noble Concubine Shih snorted, still disgruntled.

Then, a thought of Xia Ruqing crossed her mind, and her brow suddenly smoothed.

I can’t topple the tiger, but I can certainly clip its claws!

「The next day」

Xia Ruqing paid her respects to the Empress early and then hurried back.

”Zi Yue, do we still have any of that flower-petal-infused filling for mooncakes? Let’s make some more snow-skin ones,” she said.

”That’s a wonderful idea! So, Master, you enjoy eating mooncakes?” Zi Yue asked with a smile.

”Whether I enjoy them or not, it’s not like there’s anything else to eat around here!” Xia Ruqing sighed in resignation.

A Seventh-Rank Lady didn’t receive any pastries. A Sixth-Rank Honored Lady did, and could claim two plates a day.

But by the time those pastries, picked over by others, reached her quarters, they were usually a sorry sight. Xia Ruqing was a foodie and would never subject her stomach to such fare.

If it wasn’t delicious, she’d rather go hungry. But how could she possibly let herself starve? Making her own snacks was far better! It was at this moment that she finally felt a stirring of ambition to strive for something more.

「The Mid-Autumn Festival passed just like that.」

In the following half-month, after Zhao Junyao had made his rounds with several of his more important concubines, he once again summoned Lady Xia to his bedchambers.

He was like a cheetah that had patiently stalked its prey. Having cleared away all obstacles, the time, place, and circumstances were finally perfect.

Being ignored that night had dealt a significant blow to an emperor as proud as Zhao Junyao. He wouldn’t feel comfortable until he had turned the tables!

As a result, the next morning, Xia Ruqing was practically carried out, while a certain someone was thoroughly satisfied.

”Damn it! Would it kill him to show a little tenderness?” Xia Ruqing groaned, her entire body aching, unable to move in bed.

All night long! How could he be so vigorous, tossing her about until she nearly fainted? So frustrating!

”Master, there’s only half a Shi Chen (one hour) until it’s time to pay respects,” Zi Yue reminded, her face etched with worry.

”I’m not going! Just say I’m ill and have Qiu Tong go to Jiaofang Hall to kowtow on my behalf!” Xia Ruqing seethed through gritted teeth.

Palace rules were hardly as important as her own well-being. Even if she wanted to pay her respects, she doubted she could even climb out of bed.