A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 270: Chapter 269 Are You Sure You Want to Eat This?

”Again?” Xia Ruqing pondered for a moment. ”Then just keep turning them away!”

If she didn’t want to see someone, she simply wouldn’t. She never wanted to force herself.

Having received the order, Zi Su grew much bolder.

”Master! With your assurance, this servant now has the confidence!”

Xia Ruqing just laughed at her. ”You silly girl!”

Zi Su giggled and said no more.

In truth, Xia Ruqing felt an indescribable warmth in her heart. Ever since she became pregnant, not one of the servants in her quarters had disappointed her. Both publicly and privately, they protected her in every conceivable way. They all kept their lips sealed, never uttering an unnecessary word. It went without saying for Xiao Xizi and Zi Yue. Zi Su and Zi Ning, though they had arrived later, were no less dedicated. Zi Su was straightforward and feisty, fiercely protective of her. Zi Ning was sincere and unassuming, diligently working without seeking recognition. Xiao Zhu Zi was also sharp, acting with discretion, sometimes even proving more resourceful than Xiao Xizi!

So, what more was there to say? When someone is truly loyal to you from the bottom of their heart and treats you well, you can definitely feel it! Xia Ruqing felt it, and therefore, she trusted.

「...」

Honored Lady Lan wasn’t able to visit Xia Jieyu, and she felt somewhat disappointed.

Perhaps I shouldn’t go after all, she thought. She’s in favor now; why should I go and shamelessly try to associate with her?

Lianlian was insistent. ”Master, Xia Jieyu didn’t mean that. Didn’t you hear the palace maid say she was ill?”

”She’s ill. She took her medicine and went to sleep!”

”You can go once she wakes up!”

Molli, standing to the side, frowned slightly. ”I also think it’s better not to go. Master and Xia Jieyu weren’t that close to begin with!”

Lianlian was a bit surprised. ”How could they not be close?! In the South Garden, Master and Xia Jieyu had a very good relationship. Couldn’t you tell? Besides, Master, you know Xia Jieyu is ill. If you don’t visit, what will she think?”

Lianlian urged fervently. The true master she served had given her a task: to infiltrate Qingya Residence and ascertain Xia Jieyu’s exact situation. She had to complete it, no matter what!

Molli looked at Lianlian, somewhat perplexed. ”Why do I get the feeling that you’re the one who wants to go?”

Was I discovered? Had I been too eager? Lianlian’s heart skipped a beat.

”COUGH, COUGH!” Lianlian coughed twice. She lowered her head, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. When she looked up again, her expression had changed. ”Master... this servant... was just momentarily anxious. This servant deserves to die!”

Saying this, Lianlian knelt.

Honored Lady Lan glanced at her and quickly bade her rise. ”What are you doing? There are only a few of us in this courtyard. Is there anyone here we can’t trust?”

Lianlian stood up, looking aggrieved. ”Master, it’s good that you understand!”

As she spoke, she cast a seemingly casual glance at Molli. A fleeting look of triumph flashed in her eyes!

Honored Lady Lan didn’t see it, but Molli did. Molli’s heart lurched. She blinked. Gone?! Was it a trick of my eyes?

Lianlian had a vivacious nature and was always diligent, hardworking, and able to endure hardship. She didn’t seem like the type of person who would have such an expression!

I must have seen it wrong. I definitely saw it wrong, Molli thought.

「...」

Honored Lady Lan indeed did not go again. With nothing to do that afternoon, she lay in bed for a while. The Calming Incense was lit again, and she soon fell asleep once more. She slept so soundly, she didn’t even dream.

Molli went to fetch her evening meal, while Lianlian was in the backyard helping the Little Eunuch with manual labor. This Little Eunuch had originally been an errand boy. After he came to serve the Honored Lady, the heavy chores naturally fell to him.

To be honest, this Little Eunuch used to intensely dislike Lianlian. He felt her methods of trying to climb the ranks were too unsightly, that she would do anything to advance. But later, whenever Lianlian had a spare moment, she would help him, working diligently without complaint and turning a deaf ear to his cold remarks. Thus, the Little Eunuch’s attitude gradually changed. Over time, the two even began to chat and laugh together, becoming quite close and sharing everything!

”Brother Qingzi, do you know other people in the Harem?” Lianlian asked, an innocent expression on her face.

That crisp and tender ”Brother” made the Little Eunuch feel a pleasant warmth spread through him. ”N-no... I’m just a menial servant. Even if I wanted to curry favor, I wouldn’t be able to reach anyone important!”

Lianlian then smiled slyly. ”Brother Qingzi, you’re lying. I’ve heard that you and Eunuch Xiao Xizi, who serves Xia Jieyu, are from the same hometown! Don’t you know each other?”

Xiao Qingzi gave a bitter laugh, thinking, Aiya, how does this girl manage to unearth everything?!

He immediately forced a bitter smile. ”Lianlian, you’re mistaken. Eunuch Xiao Xizi is such an important figure. I might know him, but he certainly wouldn’t know me!”

Eunuch Xiao Xizi was the Chief Eunuch of Qingya Residence. His master was an Honored Lady, while he himself was just a menial servant. Clearly, they were worlds apart!

What was worse, they had both entered the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the same time. He (Xiao Qingzi) had certainly bullied Xiao Xizi a lot back then! To try and curry favor with him now, he really couldn’t bring himself to do it due to shame. Even if he could swallow his pride, Eunuch Xiao Xizi wouldn’t pay him any mind!

”Lianlian, why are you asking about these things?”

Lianlian’s eyes darted about, and she just smiled. ”It’s nothing. I was just asking casually because I was bored!”

With that, she quickly changed the subject. ”But speaking of which, Brother Qingzi, I truly envy you for having such a good fellow townsman! Unlike me, I’m all alone, desolate, with no relatives to turn to!”

As she spoke, she looked as if she were about to cry.

Xiao Qingzi quickly tried to console her. ”Hey, hey, don’t cry! What do you mean, ’all alone’? Our master has the three of us by her side!”

A flicker of disdain flashed through Lianlian’s eyes, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. ”You’re right, Brother Qingzi! There are indeed three of us!”

Very soon, only I will be left. The master must listen to me. She must!

「...」

News of Xia Ruqing’s pregnancy was kept under tight wraps by Zhao Junyao. The Imperial Medical Bureau knew, the Ministry of Internal Affairs knew, the Imperial Kitchen knew, and Zhaochen Palace knew. Only the Harem was kept in the dark. The Empress, the Empress Dowager, the Noble Consort—all the women of the Harem—were unaware.

Zhao Junyao possessed such means and authority. Inquire all you like. If anyone dares to speak of it, consider it my loss!

No one wished for a shorter life, nor would they deliberately spoil their good days. Thus, the secret remained hidden within the Harem.

February passed quickly. Until mid-March, Qingya Residence remained peaceful, as did the Harem. The Empress was preoccupied with the Silkworm Ceremony and had no time to concern herself with Harem affairs. She even dispensed with the morning greetings ceremony. This made things even easier for Xia Ruqing; she didn’t even need to feign illness to request leave. Therefore, without much effort needed to conceal it, others simply remained unaware of her pregnancy.

「Qingya Residence」

That day, Xia Ruqing gently touched her belly, almost two months along, feeling somewhat melancholic. ”Oh, child! Why must you torment me so!”

She had started experiencing morning sickness. She threw up everything she ate; she vomited whether she consumed anything or not. In less than half a month, she had lost a noticeable amount of weight.

”Master, these are freshly picked apricots. They’re still tiny, quite green, and very sour. Are you sure you want to eat them?” Zi Yue asked, looking hesitant.