A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 406: Chapter 406 Really Good-looking

Xia Ruqing had just risen to her feet when Xiao Xizi hurriedly entered the room, an exquisitely carved redwood box in her hand. Setting aside its contents, the box alone was exquisite enough to dazzle the eyes. Xia Ruqing spotted it while her hair was still being combed.

”What is this?”

Xiao Xizi approached with the box and said with a smile, ”Little Zhuzi, from Eunuch Li’s side, brought it over first thing this morning. He said it’s... a congratulatory gift from Commander Xia to you, Mistress!”

At the mention of Commander Xia, Xia Ruqing’s eyes lit up. ”Elder Brother?” she exclaimed. ”Quick, let me take a look!”

Xiao Xizi hurriedly opened the box and handed it over.

The redwood box was quite heavy, feeling substantial in her hands. The patterns carved on its surface were extremely intricate. The designs of auspicious clouds and birds were breathtakingly skillful.

Xia Ruqing marveled with admiration. In her heart, she guessed that this box alone would be a national treasure kept in a museum in modern times. Not to mention the item inside.

Xia Ruqing quickly looked further.

Inside lay a layer of jade-green silk fabric. The material was lustrous and translucent, reflecting a jade-like sheen in the light from the window. It was clearly fine Heavenly Silkworm Silk.

Gently lifting the silk wrap revealed a Jade Hairpin nestled within the jade-green fabric. Its design was simple yet not simplistic.

Though it was only a single hairpin, the quality of the jade was extremely fine. It was carved from one large piece of jadeite, not pieced together or joined.

The hairpin was a vibrant, lush green throughout. It was transparent, lustrous, exquisitely delicate, and without a single impurity.

Xia Ruqing was accustomed to seeing various tributes and treasures, yet she was still deeply captivated by this hairpin. She liked it at first sight.

She gently picked it up and held it against her hair, a joyful smile spreading across her face.

”It’s so beautiful!” Simple and small as it was, its design wasn’t overly complicated or flamboyant. Yet, this single hairpin, when worn, would ensure no one dared call it plain! A piece of jade this large and flawless—even the Empress might not possess many. Others certainly had no grounds to scoff.

So, the hairpin perfectly matched Xia Ruqing’s aesthetic. Simple, precious!

”Zi Yue, since I’m having my hair done, let’s use this hairpin!”

With that, she placed the box aside, took out the hairpin, and handed it to Zi Yue.

Zi Yue acknowledged and quickly undid part of the coiffure she had just arranged. Then, she styled Xia Ruqing’s hair into a different coiffure and securely placed the Jade Hairpin in her hair.

The jade’s color was indeed beautiful, complementing her fair and delicate skin. Zi Yue then chose a set of jade-colored clothes for her.

The complete ensemble created an image of refreshing elegance; a simple, understated, and graceful woman gazed back from the mirror.

Xia Ruqing looked at herself from different angles, very satisfied, and said with a laugh, ”I wonder which young lady gave Elder Brother the idea. I certainly don’t believe Elder Brother himself would choose such a hairpin for me!”

In the eyes of a straight man, the more ornate the jewelry gifted to a woman, the better. If her elder brother had chosen it himself, he probably would have brought a piece beset with many gemstones, something of extremely exquisite and ornate craftsmanship. If not paired carefully, it could easily make one look like a parvenu. This kind of understated elegance wouldn’t typically appeal to a man. Who spends their days studying women’s jewelry, anyway? So, Xia Ruqing concluded, someone definitely made the choice for him.

Zi Yue smiled and shook her head. ”You shouldn’t think that way. What if Commander Xia really did choose it himself?”

Xia Ruqing glanced at her lightly. ”You said it yourself: what if!”

Xia Ruqing took the redwood box in her hands and said with a smile, ”Probably... Elder Brother chose this box. As for the hairpin...” She absolutely refused to believe that her elder brother would choose something that seemed so unremarkable at first glance.

Zi Yue pondered for a moment. She figured that was probably the case, so she said no more.

「...」

The New Year was drawing near. It was truly cold, with snow falling outside, making the roads difficult to traverse. However, she still had to go pay her respects as required.

Xia Ruqing glanced at Little Bun, who was still asleep, and instructed Sister Liang to take good care of him. She then wrapped herself in a thick goose-down cape and, accompanied by Zi Su and Zi Ning, headed to Jiaofang Hall.

She arrived neither early nor late. The Honored Ladies had all arrived, and Consort Hui Pin was among them.

Xia Ruqing saw her, and Consort Hui Pin looked back. Their eyes met for a moment.

Xia Ruqing smiled and then took a seat to the side. She was now Consort Xian Pin, head of the nine consorts, her rank placing her above Consort Hui Pin. Therefore, her seat was ahead of Consort Hui Pin’s.

Directly opposite her sat Consort Ning, and further ahead was the Noble Consort. Even now, Xia Ruqing found sitting so close to the front somewhat unsettling.

The great hall was silent. Xia Ruqing leisurely sipped her tea.

After about a quarter of an hour, everyone else had arrived. Noble Concubine Shih’s seat was adjacent to hers, just in front.

As soon as she entered, Noble Concubine Shih noticed the Jade Hairpin on Xia Ruqing’s head. Jade—the women in the palace certainly knew its value. A hairpin with such lustrous quality and no flaws was exceedingly rare. Could it be... a gift from her cousin, the Emperor? Even I don’t have one yet!

Thinking this, she couldn’t help but say with a hint of acidity, ”Consort Xian Pin, that hairpin of yours is quite fine!”

Consort Ning, who had also arrived, glanced over and noticed the rather large Jade Hairpin. Envy filled her eyes.

Xia Ruqing was just about to say something when the Empress arrived.

All rose to offer their greetings.

The Empress smiled and gestured with her hand. ”You may rise.”

They thanked her and took their seats.

The Empress also noticed the Jade Hairpin on Xia Ruqing’s head at a glance.

She paused, thinking... where did this come from? All gifts and rewards within the palace were recorded, and she couldn’t recall such a precious Jade Hairpin ever being listed among the tributes.

Xia Ruqing noticed the Empress’s doubt. She adjusted the hairpin slightly, smiling as she explained, ”This is a congratulatory gift from my elder brother!”

Upon hearing the words ”elder brother,” the Empress’s expression immediately darkened. Noble Concubine Shih’s eyes instantly lit up.

Elder brother? Noble Concubine Shih mused. The Empress’s own elder brother had been executed just this past September. And now... someone else’s elder brother was thriving. Not only was he deeply favored by the Emperor, but he also shared such a close bond with his sister. This must truly be a bitter pill for the Empress to swallow. Even though my own elder brother is good-for-nothing, he’s still better than the Empress’s late brother, isn’t he?

Noble Concubine Shih smiled with smug satisfaction. ”Consort Xian Pin and her elder brother share such deep affection. It truly makes one envious!”

”Your Highness the Noble Consort jests,” Xia Ruqing replied with a faint smile. ”I have endured hardship since childhood; my brothers and I have always relied on each other. My elder brother sent this gift only because I recently gave birth. It is but a humble offering, I hope Your Majesty the Empress and Your Highness the Noble Consort will not laugh at its simplicity.”

Noble Concubine Shih waved her hand, continuing to twist the knife in the Empress’s heart. ”I hear... Consort Xian Pin’s elder brother is now heavily relied upon by the Emperor! I hear that whether he’s sent out of the palace on errands or accompanying His Majesty on hunts, the Emperor always keeps him by his side. It seems his future is boundless!”

Xia Ruqing felt a pang of embarrassment, unsure how to respond. Noble Concubine Shih is using me to provoke the Empress!