A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 545: Chapter 545: Second Princess’s Birthday

Xiao Xizi said, ”The Master said this is called Nine Clear Jade Dew. It’s a tribute from outside, specifically for treating external injuries!”

Zi Su exclaimed happily, ”Thank you, Master!”

Xiao Xizi also smiled. ”Go quickly!” he said, then turned and left.

Zi Su took the ointment and returned.

Several people worked together. First, they cleaned the wound, then disinfected it by wiping it with strong liquor.

Finally, once the wound was dry, they applied the Nine Clear Jade Dew.

When they wiped the wound with strong liquor, Zi Yue’s eyes brimmed with tears from the pain, and she bit her bedside pillow until it was nearly shredded.

Then, when they applied the Nine Clear Jade Dew, her complexion returned to normal in an instant.

Zi Yue smiled weakly, tears still glistening in her eyes. ”This medicine is truly wonderful! The pain vanished as soon as it was applied.”

Indeed, it was much better than herbal remedies! How truly fortunate to have a Master who always thinks of her servants!

Seeing the color return to Zi Yue’s face, Zi Su and Zi Ning felt relieved.

”Qiu Ye, stay here and look after her for a while longer. We’re going to the front,” Zi Su said.

”Yes!” Qiu Ye responded, watching as Zi Su and Zi Ning left.

Thanks to Qiu Ye’s careful nursing and the Nine Clear Jade Dew treatment, it took a full twenty days before Zi Yue could get out of bed. By the time she reemerged, it was already October.

October twelfth was the Second Princess’s fourth birthday. October sixteenth was the Empress’s Thousand Autumn Festival. October twenty-fourth was Crown Prince Zhao Qichen’s first birthday celebration, which included the traditional ’object-grabbing’ ritual!

So busy!

The Second Princess’s birthday, though nominally not celebrated, wasn’t truly ignored. It was just deemed unsuitable for a lavish celebration. On that day, Consort Hui still set a few tables, invited two troupes of actors from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and sent out invitations for guests to attend. The Empress, however, wouldn’t be troubled with it. This arrangement was also more convenient. Consort Hui quite liked this approach!

「On October tenth」

Notices were delivered to various parts of the Harem.

Xia Ruqing read the invitation and smiled. Time really flies... She remembered when she first transmigrated, the Second Princess had just turned one. Now, that little girl was already four. Did that mean she had been in this world for three years already? So much had changed. In three years, she had risen from Lady to Consort. What would the next three years bring? The Emperor’s Harem held a grand selection every three years. She wondered if, after another three years, with new women entering the palace, he would still... dote on her like this. Fortunately... she had already borne a child, so she had nothing to fear. Falling out of favor wouldn’t matter; raising the Crown Prince would secure a good life for her, wouldn’t it?

”Master, Sister Zi Yue has come!”

The words pulled Xia Ruqing back to the present.

”Zi Yue... she can get out of bed now?”

Zi Su was overjoyed. ”The scabs on her wounds fell off a few days ago! She’s been walking around her room every day since. She said she wants to recover quickly so she can come back to serve you, Master!”

”That girl, what’s she rushing for?” Xia Ruqing grumbled, though she was secretly delighted.

Haha, her Senior Palace Maid was finally making a comeback!

Just as she was thinking this, a familiar figure entered. However, her movements were unfamiliar, even stiff.

”This servant greets you, Master!” Zi Yue knelt, tears streaming down her face as she kowtowed three times. ”Master! You saved this servant’s life!”

Xia Ruqing stared at her, stunned, then glanced at the others. Her heart ached with a bittersweet mix of emotions, wanting to both cry and laugh.

”Oh... just look at her...” Xia Ruqing said, suddenly emotional, tears welling in her own eyes. ”Get up quickly, you silly girl! Hurry, help her up!”

Her tears began to fall. ”Honestly, why be so dramatic? Get up! Look, you’ve made me cry!” she complained, even as she wept.

The master and her servants were all happy and moved.

Zi Yue, embarrassed, wiped her tears and laughed. ”It’s all this servant’s fault! From now on, this servant will follow you, Master. You can punish me as much as you like!”

Xia Ruqing wiped her tears, feigning impatience. ”Punish you? Yes, I’ll punish you severely! Your punishment right now is to go and rest!” she declared. ”Honestly, what am I going to do with you troublesome Servants!”

Zi Yue insisted, ”I can still stand! Master, please let this servant serve you. It’s been twenty days; this servant has been cooped up for too long!”

Xia Ruqing rolled her eyes at her. ”Serve what? I have Zi Su and Zi Ning. I don’t need you. Go back and rest! Qiu Ye, help her out!”

”Yes, Master!” Qiu Ye responded and began to gently persuade Zi Yue to leave.

Zi Yue had no choice but to slowly make her way out. She looked at Qiu Ye and smiled. ”These past twenty days, I wouldn’t have recovered so quickly without you. Later... I will properly thank you!”

Qiu Ye’s face turned red, and she said shyly, ”Sister Zi Yue, please don’t say that! This servant just does menial tasks. It’s my blessing to be of use to the Master and to you, Sister Zi Yue!”

Zi Yue looked at her with genuine sincerity. ”I remember last time, the Master said that although you’re a third-rank maid, you are loyal and honest. The Master even praised you!”

Qiu Ye laughed, a little embarrassed. ”This servant is clumsy; the Master is too kind with her praise!”

Zi Yue patted her hand and said no more.

In fact, she was considering whether to discuss raising Qiu Ye’s rank with the Master. But... this girl Qiu Ye, while exceedingly loyal, lacked the quick-wittedness needed to serve directly by the Master’s side. However, managing a storeroom or something similar in the future should be fine for her!

As they spoke, the two returned to the servants’ quarters in the back courtyard.

「 」

Meanwhile, Xia Ruqing was excitedly pondering what gift to prepare for the Second Princess. She couldn’t just send another gold bracelet or gold necklace. Consort Hui likely had a pile of them already. But... what should she send then? Xia Ruqing racked her brain.

Zi Su offered a suggestion. ”How about we quickly make an outfit as a gift?”

Xia Ruqing shook her head. ”Absolutely not! I never dare to let Little Bun wear clothes gifted by others. Consort Hui surely wouldn’t appreciate it either!”

”Then... Master, why not send some other novel item? Perhaps something children would like?”

Xia Ruqing frowned. ”Let me think about it some more.”

After much deliberation, Xia Ruqing decided to send a few stuffed animal toys. She would have them filled only with pure cotton, no fragrant spices. That way, they would be scentless, preventing anyone with malicious intent from adding something harmful to frame her.

Hearing this, Zi Su’s eyes lit up. ”That’s a wonderful idea!”

Xia Ruqing happily drew the patterns. ”Just follow these designs when you cut and sew. That should be about right. And don’t make them too small!”

”Yes, Master!” Zi Su and Zi Ning agreed, then left, smiling.

With only two days left, it was a simple task: just cutting a few pieces of cloth and sewing them together, perhaps adding a little embroidery. They wouldn’t even need to embroider eyes or noses; they could simply attach ready-made ones. It was incredibly easy and wouldn’t take much time at all. Forget two days; one day would be more than enough!

Sure enough, by the next afternoon, Zi Su and Zi Ning brought over the finished toys.