A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 294: Chapter 293: How about... the position of consort?

He knew that girl could eat and sleep, and wouldn’t wake up anytime soon.

So he took her hand.

And placed it on his... there!

Thirty minutes passed...

An hour passed...

His hand still enveloping hers, he continued to charge into the fray.

In the quiet inner chamber, behind the red gauze curtains.

The middle of the quilt bulged, moving up and down, occasionally changing positions.

The entire quilt, the whole bed, shook and trembled.

In the middle of the night, it was rather cool!

Xia Ruqing dreamt she was climbing a mountain.

Her hand kept grappling and grasping, why hadn’t she reached the summit yet!

Muttering and fidgeting, she tossed and turned, unable to get a good rest!

She didn’t know how much time had passed, but the sky was nearly light.

Zhao Junyao finally stopped.

He took a long, deep breath.

At last, he was released, his body covered in sweat, the bedclothes completely soaked.

Unable to bathe, Zhao Junyao could only call for someone to bring in water for him to wash.

Li Shengan felt like hitting his head against a wall. Xia Jieyu, four months pregnant, serving the Emperor? And they battled the whole night? Was it the Emperor’s frivolity? Or was it Xia Jieyu’s? If this got out, setting aside what would happen to the Emperor for the moment, for Xia Jieyu, the crime of enchanting the sovereign would be inescapable! Pregnant and still seducing the Emperor? No matter what the truth was, it would sound terrible once spread!

So, when Zhao Junyao stepped out brisk and buoyant to go to court, he directly ordered,

”If word of this gets out, bring your head to me!”

Li Shengan felt a chill down his spine and hurriedly agreed!

...

Xia Ruqing slept until she naturally awoke, and the sun was already high in the sky.

Ever since she announced her pregnancy, the Empress had excused her from paying respects.

It was she who felt it was inappropriate and insisted on going.

Going to bed early and rising early, going for walks, was good for her body too!

Of course, if the weather was bad or she wasn’t feeling well, she could excuse herself at any time.

Today, Xia Ruqing simply ordered,

”Not going!”

”I don’t know why, but I feel so tired!”

”Why are both my arms so sore!”

Xia Ruqing looked at her hands in disbelief.

”Could it be that I really was climbing a mountain in my dream? What does this signal?”

Zi Yue knew what had happened last night.

But as a young girl, she only knew that her mistress had served the Emperor.

As for how exactly she served him, she truly didn’t know.

So at this moment, she was somewhat hesitant to speak.

Xia Ruqing glanced at her and said,

”If you have something to say, just say it!”

Zi Yue steeled her nerves, her face blushing as she said,

”Mistress, you are with child, from now on... please don’t serve the Emperor!”

”You must be... tired!”

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing’s face reddened too.

”I...”

She had indeed served, no matter how you put it!

”The Imperial Doctor Zhang came yesterday, and the Emperor also asked...”

”I...”

Xia Ruqing couldn’t continue and decided not to say any more.

”Forget it, I just won’t serve anymore!”

In any case, she really didn’t want to serve. Last night, Zhao Junyao, for some reason, got worked up as soon as he arrived. He even called for the Imperial Physician and asked such questions, she was truly... So embarrassed!

Zi Yue said no more.

Just as Xiao Xizi brought in breakfast, Xia Ruqing washed up, got up, and started to eat breakfast.

...

「Jiaofang Hall」

The Empress learned that the Emperor had spent last night at Qingya Residence.

She didn’t think much of it. It’s just a pregnancy, she couldn’t do much, no need to fuss! In fact, there was nothing she could do. It’s not like she could tie the Emperor down and prevent him from going!

COUGH, COUGH!

The Empress quickly cast aside the matter of Xia Ruqing.

She now had too many other matters to attend to.

Among them, the biggest issue was... how to assign ranks to these ten Fine Ladies!

As she was deep in contemplation, Yu Lan came in and said,

”Empress, the Empress Dowager invites you!”

The Empress frowned.

”The Empress Dowager?” For her to look for her at this time, there could be no other reason. It was nothing other than that matter... concerning Shih Wanying! The Empress Dowager likely wanted to use her to seek a high position for her own niece! But...

The Empress sneered coldly.

Did they really think she was a soft persimmon, one that could be squeezed at will?

Immediately, the Empress tossed aside the roster in her hands.

”Dress me!”

...

「In Ningshou Palace」

The Empress bowed respectfully.

”Greetings to Mother Empress!”

Kneeling beside the Empress Dowager was a young girl dressed in lavish attire, beautiful in appearance and bearing some resemblance to Noble Concubine Shih.

Without guessing, it was undoubtedly Shih Wanying.

As the Empress paid her respects, Shih Wanying stepped aside.

After the Empress had paid her respects, Shih Wanying stepped forward and bowed gracefully,

”This concubine pays respect to the Empress!”

The Empress looked at her coldly and laughed,

”According to the rules, you cannot call yourself ’this concubine’ until the Emperor has conferred a title upon you!”

”Better to call yourself... ’this subject’!”

Shih Wanying’s face turned pale, and she quickly bowed again.

”This subject thanks the Empress for her instruction!”

The Empress did not hurry to let her rise, instead, she started to examine her closely.

This woman, if judged solely on her appearance, was no less attractive than the Noble Consort, and on closer inspection, truly possessed a stunning and lasting beauty! Though her temperament was not yet evident. But with such a fine visage, she was bound to fare exceptionally well in the harem. Even potentially gaining favor later on.

After a good while, the Empress Dowager grew gradually impatient, and it was only then, with Yu Lan’s reminder, that the Empress asked her to rise.

”This subject thanks the Empress!”

Suppressing her displeasure, the Empress Dowager smiled kindly.

”Wanying, come over here!”

Shih Wanying continued to kneel beside the Empress Dowager, attending to her.

Looking at this scene, the Empress truly felt something was amiss. Palace Consorts were brought into the palace to attend to the Emperor. This one hadn’t even been ennobled yet, and the Empress Dowager had already... Commanded her services? That seemed somewhat improper. No matter how exceptional the circumstances, they could not be so exceptional as this! Did the Empress Dowager not understand this principle, or was she truly looking out for the Shih Family’s best interests?

After pondering for quite some time without reaching a conclusion, the Empress simply let it go.

She only asked,

”Mother Empress, for what reason have you summoned your daughter-in-law here?”

The Empress Dowager chuckled,

”There’s nothing much, just...”

”Empress, tell me... what rank would be suitable for this niece of mine?”

Having heard this, the Empress breathed a sigh of relief.

Indeed, as expected, they had come to discuss ranks!

Without hesitation, she laughed and said,

”To reply to Mother Empress, your daughter-in-law hasn’t yet decided, moreover, this matter is not within my authority to decide alone, everything is subject to the Emperor’s decree!”

The Emperor favored whomever he pleased, granting higher ranks accordingly, and the reverse was also true. This had always been the way with the selection of Fine Ladies. Even the Empress could only promote someone within the ranks allowed by the Emperor, or at most, offer a suggestion.

Of course, the Empress Dowager was quite unimpressed with this.

HMPH! Her son? Her son was so averse to Wanying, why bother asking him? That would be futile. The Empress was different; pressuring her might result in an appeal to the Emperor for favor. As for herself, making an appeal would only harm the mother-son relationship.

After thinking it over, the Empress Dowager said,

”The Emperor is occupied with endless affairs, how could he possibly have the time to confer titles one by one?”

”You are the Empress, naturally, you oversee the matters of the harem!”

Having said that, she added,

”According to my wishes, since Wanxin is a Noble Consort, and Wanying is her cousin, her rank naturally cannot be too low. Why not... grant her the position of a Consort?”