A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 396: Chapter 396: The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend?

Xia Ruqing gave the Empress a way out.

The atmosphere finally eased, no longer so awkward.

The Empress also composed herself considerably, and Noble Concubine Shih dared not say much either.

The entire Third Day Bathing Ceremony wasn’t so embarrassing after all.

When the midday meal was served, everyone ate a bit.

After the meal, they chatted and laughed for a while, and then everyone dispersed.

Zhao Junyao, being busy with government affairs, didn’t stay long either.

After instructing others to take good care of Xia Ruqing, he left.

Xiao Xizi was leading people outside, tidying up.

Xia Ruqing, holding her child, returned to the inner chamber.

Exhausted from the long hours, she sank back onto the bed with a deep sigh of relief.

”So tiring!”

Zi Yue brought over a bowl of soup noodles and placed it in front of her.

”My lady, you didn’t eat much just now. Please eat some more!”

Xia Ruqing looked at the soup noodles and then said, ”Is it... without salt again?”

Zi Yue paused in surprise for a moment, then chuckled. ”The Imperial Physician said you can’t eat too much salt... it’s for your health...”

Xia Ruqing quickly raised her hand to stop her. ”Okay, okay... I’ll eat... I’ll eat, isn’t that enough?”

Zi Yue nodded. ”That’s right!”

Xia Ruqing hadn’t been very hungry to begin with. After drinking the soup and eating the noodles, she was full.

The Little Prince was also full, so Sister Liang placed him next to Xia Ruqing.

Little Bun wasn’t sleepy at the moment.

He was fluttering his eyes, staring intently at Xia Ruqing.

Xia Ruqing’s heart melted into a puddle. Stroking her son’s tender cheeks, she smiled and said, ”Son, you really are handsome!”

His eyes and brows strongly resembled Zhao Junyao’s; looking at him again and again, she found little of her own features in his face.

A pang of sourness pricked her heart.

”I nearly lost my life giving birth to you; it wasn’t your father, it was me, me!”

Zi Yue covered her mouth, stifling a laugh from the side. ”Your Highness, the Little Prince of course should resemble the Emperor more!”

”In the future, if you give birth to a Little Princess, wouldn’t she more likely resemble you?”

Xia Ruqing thought about it, and that was true! So she didn’t dwell on it.

Little Bun seemed rather exasperated with his mother.

After waving his little limbs for a moment, he blew a spit bubble.

Mother, how can you even be jealous over this!

Of course, Xia Ruqing couldn’t hear him.

She patted her son’s little swaddled form and soothed him gently. ”Be a good boy, my son, and sleep.”

She patted and soothed him at the same time.

After half an incense stick’s worth of time.

Little Bun still hadn’t fallen asleep, while Xia Ruqing herself had dozed off first.

Little Bun gave her a glance, feeling somewhat speechless inside.

Mother... you really can sleep...

By the end of October, it had become very cold.

When the Empress returned to Jiaofang Hall, the sky was somewhat overcast.

The palace maids and eunuchs trailing behind her didn’t dare to breathe too loudly.

Yu Lan covertly handed a set of gold bracelets to the Little Eunuch in charge of the treasury.

”Put them away quickly, and don’t take them out again in the future!”

The Little Eunuch, being very astute, accepted them without daring to ask any questions.

Just as he was about to leave, he heard the Empress’s stern command.

”Come back!”

The Little Eunuch froze, not daring to move. He obediently turned back and knelt.

”Empress...”

The Empress took two steps forward, looking at the Little Eunuch with a cold gaze.

It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

After a moment, the Empress suddenly said, ”This set of gold ornaments, I’m awarding it to you! Take it...”

The Little Eunuch kowtowed, ”Thank you...”

Before he could finish his word of thanks, he realized his mistake.

He hurriedly knocked his head on the ground.

”Empress, your servant dares not...”

”Your servant dares not...”

These gold necklaces and bracelets are made of pure gold... In the palace, servants are awarded silver. Gold items are against the rules. Even if they were awarded to me, I wouldn’t dare to accept!

The Empress’s eyes suddenly sharpened. ”You don’t want it?”

Her voice was heavy with displeasure and threat.

The Little Eunuch’s legs felt like jelly.

Heavens, what was all this about? While others yearn for rewards they can’t obtain, when it’s my turn, I actually dare not accept them... I even have to be forced by my master to take the reward! This is truly...

As these thoughts raced through his mind, the Empress huffed coldly again and sneered.

”Since you dare not accept it, then go to the Punishment Department and take your beating with the plank—that you probably dare to accept!”

Having said her piece, the Empress shot him a contemptuous glance, then turned and walked away.

The Little Eunuch dared not beg for mercy. After kowtowing, he was led away.

Taking a beating with the plank wouldn’t break any rules, but if I accepted a reward... who knows what might happen afterward? Besides, the Empress is clearly in a towering rage. She probably isn’t sincerely offering me a reward. So, it’s better to just take the beating honestly.

「In Xifu Palace.」

Noble Concubine Shih lay down on the bed as soon as she entered. She claimed to be tired, but in truth... she desperately missed her child.

Lying in bed, facing the wall, tears streamed down Noble Concubine Shih’s face.

Child! If my child were still alive, he would be a year old by now. He might have learned to walk by now, perhaps even babbling ’Mama’! No matter what, I wouldn’t have fallen into such a plight! And I wouldn’t have the Empress constantly reopening my wounds!

”Empress...”

In this lifetime, you took my place, married my cousin, and now you even want to break me? Hehe... wishful thinking!

Noble Concubine Shih clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles whitened.

Just wait and see! At least I bore a child. The Empress, on the other hand, is just a hen that can’t lay eggs. What’s the use of her being so formidable? She has no children! Sooner or later, I’ll see her dragged from the Empress’s throne. When that time comes... Hehe... Empress, we will have to settle our scores properly!

Although Noble Concubine Shih also found Xia Ruqing an eyesore, the one she loathed most in her heart was still the Empress.

With this realization, Xia Ruqing no longer seemed quite so detestable.

After all... the enemy of my enemy is my friend!

Even though Noble Concubine Shih would not befriend Xia Ruqing, she wouldn’t go out of her way to cause her trouble.

If I can’t destroy her and only end up making her more favored, what’s the use?

After crying for some time and mulling things over repeatedly, Noble Concubine Shih found herself unable to sleep.

She rose and instructed Ying Yue to fetch nourishing soup from the Imperial Kitchen, then headed towards Honored Lady Shih’s chambers.

Honored Lady Shih was over four months pregnant; her belly was just beginning to show, though not yet very obviously.

Noble Concubine Shih wore a very cordial smile. ”Sister, you must not have enjoyed your lunch today. This is a rib soup specially stewed by the Imperial Kitchen at my request! Drink more of it!”

Just as Honored Lady Shih was getting ready to sleep, seeing the Noble Concubine arrive, she quickly sat up.

”Noble Consort...”

Noble Concubine Shih pressed her down. ”Don’t move. Zhaoer, come and serve the soup to your mistress.”

Don’t move... drink the soup...

Honored Lady Shih frowned.

Hadn’t the Imperial Physician said to drink less nourishing soup? Too much nourishment isn’t good for childbirth.

Looking at her own increasingly plump face, Honored Lady Shih felt genuinely anxious.

”Noble Consort, you are so good to me... But...”

Noble Concubine Shih paid her concerns no mind. She mused...

I’ll ensure Honored Lady Shih is well-nourished, help her gain weight, and make sure the child grows large. When it’s time for childbirth, there will inevitably be complications... Even if she doesn’t die, her body will be harmed, preventing her from raising the Prince... By then, won’t it be perfectly natural for me to step in? Right now, I yearn for a child of my own. With a child, the Emperor, even if only for the child’s sake, wouldn’t neglect me too much. I could hold my head high in the palace. And I’d no longer have to fear the Empress! My actions... they must be more covert, much more subtle. Only by capturing the Emperor’s heart can I grasp everything!