A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 343: Chapter 343 However She Lives

Unexpectedly, after one bite, she put it down, pouting unhappily, looking as if she was about to cry.

”What’s wrong?”

”Emperor, there’s no vinegar!”

Zhao Junyao was speechless. ”...”

Zi Yue came over, scooped a spoonful of thick vinegar into the bowl, and Xia Ruqing was finally satisfied.

The wonton skins were so thin they turned translucent after cooking, filled with a bit of chicken, tender green onions, and a few shrimp. The soup was a clear chicken broth, with every trace of oil meticulously skimmed off, leaving only pure, delicious flavor. After finishing a bowl of these small wontons, perspiration beaded on Xia Ruqing’s nose.

Zhao Junyao, seeing her eat with such relish, asked with a smile, ”Do you want more?”

Xia Ruqing waved her hands repeatedly. ”If I eat any more, I’ll get fat!”

”And if I get fat... the Emperor won’t like me anymore!”

Zhao Junyao was exasperated. ”You silly girl. You’re not fat, yet you have a big belly from pregnancy. And I still like you, don’t I?”

Xia Ruqing muttered, ”What you like is the child!”

Zhao Junyao gave her a light pat on the bottom. ”Nonsense again!”

They are both my children, so why is the other one... Zhao Junyao’s smile faded as he elegantly continued his late-night snack.

Xia Ruqing gazed at him, paused for a moment, and upon understanding his unspoken thoughts, quickly changed the subject. ”Emperor, the Mid-Autumn Festival is in just over ten days...”

Zhao Junyao merely hummed in distracted acknowledgment.

Xia Ruqing fell silent. After a few more sips of the ham and pork rib soup, she too put down her bowl.

「At night」

Xia Ruqing slept very soundly. Zhao Junyao held her, yet found himself somewhat unable to fall asleep.

The other child... Every time he thought of this child, his resentment toward the Empress Dowager deepened. But she was his mother, so there was nothing he could do. Zhao Junyao sighed quietly, held the sleeping Xia Ruqing closer, and closed his eyes. So what if even my own mother schemes against me? Fortunately, I still have her by my side. My silly girl, who becomes as happy as a child with just something tasty or fun.

Zhao Junyao caressed her face, the smooth softness beneath his fingertips filling his heart with fondness. ”Qingqing, I’d like you even if you got fat!”

He gently pinched her waist and her arm, then hugged her tightly before finally falling asleep.

「The next day, after the rain, the weather cleared up.」

Unknown birds TWITTERED AND CHIRPED in the courtyard, and the air was fresh with the sweet scent of damp earth.

After breakfast, Xia Ruqing sat in the courtyard, teasing the cat. ”Da Bai... how about I find you a little female cat, hmm?”

Da Bai sat primly on the stone table, continuously licking his fur. His fluffy tail was wrapped neatly around his little white paws as he sat perfectly upright. When Xia Ruqing petted him, he would lower his head and lick the spot she had touched. If she petted him again, he would repeat the action, clearly protesting.

Xia Ruqing was exasperated. ”Do you really dislike my touch that much?”

Da Bai merely glanced at her before turning his head away, pointedly ignoring her.

Zi Yue approached with a smile, carrying a small plate of raisins. ”My Lady, please try these. Xiao Zhu Zi has dried them quite well. I’m just not sure if they’re sweet enough!”

Xia Ruqing picked up a raisin and tasted it carefully. ”Xiao Zhu Zi is truly capable. He takes such good care of all the plants in the front and back courtyards; everything is so orderly!”

Zi Yue smiled. ”Indeed. The paths are a bit muddy today, but you can go take a look later. That pumpkin vine has indeed produced a huge pumpkin, about... this long,” Zi Yue gestured as she spoke, ”It’s almost ripe, with a hard, smooth skin. It looks like it will be very sweet!”

Xia Ruqing smiled faintly but said nothing.

Her mind drifted to her childhood, when her maternal grandmother also planted pumpkins by the entrance of their home. That small vegetable patch by the door, always so vibrant under her grandmother’s care, provided them with fresh vegetables all year round.

Seeing her mistress looking dazed, Zi Yue quickly asked, ”My Lady, what’s the matter?”

Xia Ruqing smiled. ”It’s nothing...”

”For the Mid-Autumn Festival this year, I want to eat... mooncakes with a five-nut filling!”

Zi Yue looked a bit stunned. ”That... What kind of filling is that called?”

Xia Ruqing, too, felt a flicker of doubt. Could it be that they didn’t have this filling in ancient times? A smile touched her lips as she explained, ”It’s a mooncake filling made with peanuts, walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds, assorted dried fruits, and rock sugar. It’s very delicious...”

Although five-nut mooncakes often got a bad rap in modern times, the ones her maternal grandmother made by hand were always wonderfully sweet. Her grandmother would personally select the nuts and dried fruits, peel them, grind sesame seeds with their home’s stone mill, and crush sugar into powder. Finally, she would use homemade oil to make the dough and wrap the fillings. The dough, enriched with free-range eggs and fresh, hand-squeezed milk, was fragrant and delightful. Both the pastry and the filling were sweet. A single mooncake weighed over a catty, and she could eat more than half of one by herself. She could never get enough of that kind of traditional mooncake.

As these memories surfaced, Xia Ruqing’s eyes grew moist. If only I could have another taste, how wonderful that would be!

Zi Yue thought for a moment. ”That should be easy. The chefs in the Imperial Kitchen are incredibly skilled and knowledgeable; someone there ought to know how to make it!” With that, she was about to call Xiao Zhu Zi to relay the message.

Xia Ruqing let out a long breath and waved her hand. ”Forget it. It’s almost the Mid-Autumn Festival, and they’re very busy. Why cause them more trouble? I don’t necessarily crave it that badly.”

If I can’t have that exact taste, I’d rather not eat it at all!

Zi Yue had no choice but to drop the matter.

「At noon」

Zhao Junyao didn’t visit but had two dishes sent over. Xia Ruqing looked at them and saw nothing particularly special. She picked at them, taking only a couple of bites.

Meanwhile, the Empress was quite pleased. She had received a full eight dishes from the Emperor. Yu Lan, smiling warmly, gave Little Zhuzi a purse before seeing him off. Upon re-entering, Yu Lan asked with a grin, ”Could it be... there’s some joyous news from the Emperor’s side? His Majesty seems so delighted.”

The Empress mused for a moment, then smiled. ”The Harem must not meddle in state affairs. Whatever the reason, if the Emperor bestows rewards, we should simply accept them gratefully.”

Sister Ji also smiled. ”No matter what, there’s no one in the Harem who can surpass Your Majesty. It’s not like that other one... so what if she gives birth to a Prince? Besides, this servant has found out that Lady Shih... loves spicy food!”

The Empress continued her midday meal, a contented smile on her face. ”Loving spicy food is good!”

To ensure the birth of an heir, the Empress Dowager truly wounded the Emperor’s heart deeply. This time, whether she has a Prince or a Princess, it will likely be the end of the line for her prospects. Favor is out of the question. Since she became pregnant, the Emperor hasn’t even formally acknowledged it, acting as if he’s completely unaware. Doesn’t that make things clear enough? The Empress was inwardly gleeful.

”For a child conceived under such circumstances, it’s a wonder they’re still protecting it so fiercely,” the Empress said aloud. ”Forget about me meddling; I, too, want to see this child protected!”

It’s much better for the child to be alive. That way, every time the Emperor sees the child, he’ll feel a fresh wave of aversion, and by extension, the Shih Family won’t gain any favor either.

”If it turns out to be another Princess, that would be even better!” The more the Empress thought about it, the more triumphant she felt.

Yu Lan and Sister Ji chuckled along with her.

Sister Ji then said, ”The Noble Consort is also eager to have a child... In the future, this Lady Shih... might not be able to keep her child!”

Removing the mother to keep the child—such were the old tricks of the Royal Family.

The Empress’s brow furrowed. ”Not keep her child? That won’t do. A child should be raised by its own mother! As long as Lady Shih is still around and has some status, if she firmly insists on not giving up the child, then no one can take her child away! The crucial point is, she’s merely a Lady. Only concubines of Pin rank or higher are permitted to raise their own children. For the Emperor to promote her to Pin rank is almost out of the question.”

Thinking it over, the Empress had to settle for the next best thing. ”Then... no matter what, we must ensure she stays alive!”