A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 320: Chapter 320: The Noble Consort Explodes with Anger!

Ying Yue was scared out of her wits.

Alas, at such a time, one already in dire straits shouldn’t court further trouble, she thought, and promptly hastened to offer advice.

”Your Ladyship, you can’t keep dwelling on these thoughts!”

”The Emperor is sentimental; otherwise, he wouldn’t have...”

The moment Noble Concubine Shih heard this, she bristled with anger.

”Sentimental? If the Emperor were truly sentimental, how could he not visit me for so long, after all this time! Has his anger still not subsided?”

Having said that, she clutched her stomach again. ”Could he still be holding a grudge against me over the child’s matter? Yet, have I not suffered as well?”

After saying this, her eyes reddened again. ”If my child were still here, things wouldn’t have come to this...”

Ying Yue was also very upset. ”Your Ladyship, don’t be sad. You are still young!”

Noble Concubine Shih shook her head. ”Young? HEH, what’s the use if the Emperor doesn’t visit!”

The Empress had it better. Even if she were out of favor, the Emperor would visit her on the first and fifteenth of the month. At least she would get to see him.

But what about her? Out of favor, she was completely unable to catch a glimpse of him—not even a glimpse!

Noble Concubine Shih was in despair. When had I sunk to such a plight!

Brooding over this, she clenched her teeth. ”That Xia Jieyu managed to conceive a child and is likely basking in triumph now! Look how she and the Empress are in the same boat! I just can’t understand it. The Empress is so bent on bearing the Crown Prince, so how can she tolerate Lady Xia bearing a child now?”

Ying Yue pursed her lips. ”What can she do about it if she can’t tolerate it? Xia Jieyu is favored now! Her Ladyship the Empress has always been like this. Don’t you know that, Your Ladyship?”

Whoever is favored, she cozies up to, Ying Yue thought.

”Besides,” Ying Yue continued, ”Her Ladyship the Empress has recently taken in a group of new Honored Ladies, nine in total. If even one has a child, then she’ll have a child too! By then... Lady Xia’s child will simply be one born of a concubine!”

Thus, the Empress remains unmoved, Ying Yue concluded silently.

Noble Concubine Shih gave a cold laugh. ”None of them are any good; they all deserve to die!”

Ying Yue hurriedly tried to console her. ”Your Ladyship, don’t be anxious. We have Lady Shih! And the Empress Dowager to support us!”

Noble Concubine Shih laughed coldly. ”The Empress Dowager? Her Majesty the Empress Dowager now cares for nothing else but to devoutly worship Buddha!”

Ying Yue then fell silent. She too had heard a whisper of this matter.

Well then, no matter what, Ying Yue thought. Her Ladyship Noble Concubine Shih is currently out of favor; creating a stir would definitely lead nowhere. It would be best for her to keep a low profile! The only hope lies in Lady Shih bearing a child to be raised by Noble Concubine Shih. Only then might there be a true chance for a comeback here.

In July, autumn was declared. An old saying goes, ”After autumn comes one more round of intense heat.” So the weather was still very hot.

Thankfully, this heat would only last a few more days. The air was so muggy and sticky, it felt as if the heavens were holding back a downpour, ready to unleash it once its quota of heat was filled, drenching the summer warmth and bringing a wave of cool relief.

Zhao Junyao had long arranged for the military examination. It was the first of its kind and naturally caused quite a stir, with various Commanders, admirals, Generals, and the like from Capital City all present. The court had been exceedingly lively for several days.

General Xiao had been eager for action. ”Emperor, the civil service exams have been around for many years, but this is the first year for the military examination! Your servant is truly excited!”

He was the leading defender of the Capital and had considerable clout in court. The military generals, who were usually overshadowed by civil officials, were all in high spirits, heatedly discussing among themselves.

The gist of their discussion was: HMPH! We’ll have imperial examinations too, and we can also select talent, just like you! We’re not inferior to you! So, don’t you dare call us brutes anymore!

Zhao Junyao was also very pleased. He successively issued three imperial decrees to the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Personnel.

The Ministry of Rites was fully responsible for the venue setup, as well as some of the ceremonial arrangements. After all, whatever was done in the imperial court always required a sense of ceremony.

As for the Ministry of War, its main task was the assessment, similar to the civil service examinations handled by the scholars of the Hanlin Academy.

As for the Ministry of Personnel, their duty was naturally to oversee and assign official positions to the Martial Champion and the Second Place Martial Scholar.

Regardless, this was the first session, and it had to start off on the right foot.

The matter of the inaugural military examination was discussed fervently in the imperial court for several days. Finally, The Astronomical Bureau picked the auspicious date of July 22nd, and the examination was set for this day.

When the day comes, the suburban training grounds will witness the final showdown!

”Emperor, is July 22nd too rushed? Some candidates from farther away might not be able to make it in time!” one minister voiced.

Zhao Junyao waved his hand dismissively. ”It doesn’t matter. We don’t need many participants for the first session; what’s important is to ensure it happens! After all, this first time is like crossing a river by feeling for stones—an opportunity to become familiar with the process. Otherwise, if all the candidates in the realm were summoned and the scene got out of control or other incidents occurred, its reputation would be instantly tarnished.”

Where would my dignity as Emperor go then?

he thought.Clearly, Zhao Junyao had considered everything thoroughly, and his subordinates admired him for it. All the ministers flattered him incessantly, and Zhao Junyao was content.

「Court adjourned!」

He returned to the Imperial Study Room. Zhao Junyao noticed that the number of recent memorials had decreased significantly, putting him in a very good mood. Then, thinking about how Qingqing’s child was already six months along made him even happier.

He promptly headed to the Qingya Residence.

Xia Ruqing was standing in the courtyard, watching Xiao Zhu Zi and the others picking grapes. When she saw the Emperor arrive, Xia Ruqing came forward to greet him, her belly prominent.

Zhao Junyao wrapped his arm around her shoulder, supporting her with great care. ”Why aren’t you resting inside? What brings you out here?”

Xia Ruqing chuckled, pulling on his arm. ”Emperor, it’s finally cooler outside; I was almost suffocating in there! Imperial Doctor Zhang told me just yesterday that I should walk more when I’m free, claiming it’s good for childbirth!”

When Zhao Junyao heard the word ”childbirth,” his heart sank.

The Imperial Physician had said that for women, childbirth is like walking through the gates of hell.

Looking at Qingqing’s slender figure, which hadn’t gained much weight, he felt a pang of worry.

For a moment, he even thought it might be better not to let her give birth. Even without children, he would always adore her! But then he reconsidered. It was better for her to have one; when she grew old, there would be someone to look after her.

As they walked, lost in thought, the two arrived before the grape trellis.

Xia Ruqing, not burdened by such worries, simply gestured happily towards the grape trellis. ”I wonder where the Ministry of Internal Affairs found such good grapevines! Look how abundantly they’ve grown!”

Each bunch of grapes was over a foot long, the individual grapes like black pearls, shining with a lustrous gleam. A layer of white bloom clung to the dark grape skins. Paired with the large, fresh green leaves, they looked incredibly appealing.

Zhao Junyao smiled. ”Not bad!”

Xia Ruqing started to fret. ”Emperor, who should I give these to? I can’t finish them all myself!”

Zhao Junyao asked, ”Don’t you like making wine?”

Xia Ruqing shook her head. ”I haven’t even finished what I made last year! I won’t make any this year!”

Zhao Junyao thought for a moment. ”You mean... you want Me to give them away for you?!”

Xia Ruqing looked at the baskets overflowing with fresh grapes; they were indeed the fruit of Xiao Zhu Zi’s painstaking efforts.