A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 304: Chapter 303: The Maid Really Can’t Take It Anymore

Xia Ruqing looked with satisfaction at the several bolts of silk gauze on the table. ”These are fine things, aren’t they!”

Little Zhuzi’s eyes immediately widened as he said, ”Xia Jieyu, you have a keen eye. This is tribute silk gauze from Jiangnan. It’s considered good if we receive fifty or sixty bolts a year!”

”There’s even less this year, only forty bolts. And the Emperor, with a single word, granted you several bolts!”

Such favor was truly unparalleled.

Xia Ruqing smiled and had Zi Yue give him a purse containing three taels of silver. ”Buy some herbal tea to drink in this scorching weather!”

Little Zhuzi quickly knelt. ”Xia Jieyu, you honor this servant too much! This servant merely brings things to you, and yet you offer mung bean soup and a purse of silver!”

”This is merely what this servant ought to do. How can I accept this!”

Xia Ruqing smiled and waved her hand dismissively. ”It’s nothing. I will be relying on you much more in the future!”

Little Zhuzi eagerly replied, ”As long as this servant is capable, Mistress Xia has only to command!”

Xia Ruqing was very pleased. ”Very well, hurry back and report. I won’t detain you.”

Little Zhuzi grinned, offered his thanks, and then scurried off.

Xia Ruqing watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.

There’s a saying: Yama, King of Hell, is easy to meet, but his underlings are hard to deal with.

Even a junior eunuch by the Emperor’s side must be handled with care.

Although they might not be completely loyal, it’s always good to cultivate favorable relations. A small favor is easy enough to grant. As long as someone is on your side, even if only slightly, that support should never be underestimated.

Zhao Junyao thought further and felt that giving the silk gauze only to Xia Ruqing might not be appropriate.

So he called for Li Shengan and instructed him to take out all the silk gauze sent from Jiangnan to the palace this year and distribute it.

Of course, it all went to the principal consorts; those below the Third Rank received none.

Lady Xia received some because her pregnancy was precious.

If you disagreed, why not try to emulate her?

Even the Empress had nothing to say on this matter.

「In mid-June, the new arrivals to the palace had all been settled in.」

The number of people coming to Jiaofang Hall to pay their morning respects had greatly increased. Many seats in Jiaofang Hall had been added temporarily.

There was no helping it; these were the Emperor’s wishes.

On this day, the concubines came to pay their respects.

Xia Ruqing also came. Having been woken early by the heat and feeling a little bored, she decided to come.

As soon as she entered, before the Empress had appeared, about ten Honored Ladies had already arrived.

Seeing her enter, they promptly stood and curtsied. ”Greetings, Xia Jieyu!”

Xia Ruqing was startled. To suddenly have so many people greet her was indeed... unfamiliar.

After all, previously it had only been Honored Lady Cheng and Noble Lady Song.

Xia Ruqing paused for a moment, then quickly said, ”Everyone, please rise!”

She then sat in her designated seat. Without touching the tea, she simply fanned herself, sitting there calmly.

The ten or so Honored Ladies couldn’t help but observe her. They had seldom seen her.

In their hearts, they were all curious: what abilities did Xia Jieyu, so cherished by the Emperor, truly possess?

After observing her for a while, during which she remained silent and they couldn’t discern anything particular about her, suddenly...

”The Empress has arrived!”

After a round of formal greetings, the Empress began her customary admonitions. ”You have all been in the palace for more than half a month now. You have served the Emperor in his bedchamber, and your positions are now legitimate!”

”From now on, we are all sisters in one family. You must be tolerant and helpful towards one another!”

”The Emperor manages countless state affairs daily. You must serve him well. Do not indulge in jealousy or pettiness, which might anger the Emperor!”

The assembled concubines rose. ”Your concubines respectfully obey Her Majesty the Empress’s teachings!”

The Empress nodded with satisfaction. ”Mm.”

Noble Concubine Shih felt a pang of bitterness. Her cousin had consecutively favored so many other women, yet he hadn’t spared her a single visit.

How could such a thing have happened in the past!

Cousin! Cousin!

Why can they, but I cannot?

Will you not come to see me anymore?

Noble Concubine Shih’s expression was quite unsightly, but the Empress paid her no heed whatsoever.

She continued her lecture with equanimity. ”Henceforth, you are to adhere strictly to the rules. Do not stir up trouble. Your foremost duty is to bear an imperial heir for the Emperor as soon as possible!”

Everyone rose again to express their gratitude.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Empress concluded her lecture.

Then, she shifted to a more casual mode of conversation.

The gist was: What are you lacking? What do you need? Are you unaccustomed to palace life since your recent arrival? Don’t miss your former homes; from now on, this is your home.

And so on.

The Empress valued her reputation and wouldn’t engage in foul play regarding such matters. Indeed, the arrangements she made for the new Honored Ladies were quite good.

The new Honored Ladies, seeing the Empress so kind and affable, truly felt they had made the right decision in entering the palace.

Most importantly, the Emperor was so... handsome!

For a moment, everyone thought the Empress was a very good person.

Noble Concubine Shih was fierce, and Xia Jieyu was highly favored.

As for the Emperor, he was handsome and treated people gently.

Their only regret was wondering why the Emperor hadn’t called for them to attend his bedchamber.

However, there would be opportunities in the future. The Emperor couldn’t possibly ignore them indefinitely.

When their time came, they just needed to perform well!

Thinking this, their worries subsided.

Finally, as they departed Jiaofang Hall, everyone wore expressions of ambition and confidence.

A few bolder ones even stayed behind specifically to seek out the Empress for a private conversation.

Before leaving, Xia Ruqing glanced back at a few of the Honored Ladies.

A hint of a smile touched her lips.

These young girls truly don’t understand the immensity of heaven and earth!

There’s no kindness without reason, nor malice without cause!

Did they truly believe the Empress’s kindness was to be expected? Heh, how naive!

With that thought, Xia Ruqing took a deep breath.

Anyway, it has nothing to do with me. Let them fight it out amongst themselves!

Who didn’t know what schemes the Empress was harboring?

She wouldn’t care if the Empress tried to take someone else’s child, but if she dared to plot against her own child, Xia Ruqing would fight her to the death!

「After the selection, the Harem finally quieted down.」

Life continued peacefully.

Xia Ruqing still spent her days eating, drinking, and sleeping.

Her life was, to put it mildly, exceedingly comfortable.

”By the end of this month, I’ll be five months pregnant. My child, half the time has passed. In another four or five months, I’ll finally be able to meet you!”

The more Xia Ruqing thought about it, the more excited she became.

She stroked her belly, talking to her unborn child.

Inside Qingya Residence, peace and tranquility reigned.

「Meanwhile, things were not so quiet in Consort Yun Pin’s Yaoyue Palace.」

Yaoyue Palace had received many newcomers.

Two Honored Ladies and one Lady.

This was especially true for Lady Shih, the Empress Dowager’s ”niece.” Regardless, no one dared to bully her too severely.

Yet, even so, her days were not easy.

Her small attic room was remote and plagued by mosquitoes; she would wake up covered in bites.

There should have been a mosquito net for her bed, but despite requesting one from Consort Yun Pin several times, she hadn’t received it.

If this continued, her face would be ruined.

After much deliberation, one day, while Consort Yun Pin was at Jiaofang Hall paying her respects, Lady Shih seized the opportunity to sneak out.

「In Ningshou Palace.」

Lady Shih knelt on the floor, tears streaming down her face like rain on pear blossoms.

”Empress Dowager, this servant knows her status is lowly, but...”

”But this servant truly cannot endure it any longer!”

The sight of her face, covered in bites, was indeed shockingly pitiful.