A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Gently caressing the little garments.

”Imperial Son... my child!”

”My child, where are you?”

”If you were still here, you would be two years old now!”

”If you were still here, you would be able to walk, run, jump, and call me mother, wouldn’t you!”

”Imperial Son! My Imperial Son!”

Noble Concubine Shih wept bitterly.

Ying Qiu couldn’t help but cry too, weeping while trying to comfort her. In the end, she couldn’t console her, and both mistress and servant embraced, crying their hearts out!

Anyway, there was no one left in Xifu Palace, only the Noble Consort by herself. She wasn’t afraid of anyone finding out! Of course, no one knew.

Once done crying, Noble Concubine Shih turned her grief into anger, throwing things around as she yelled furiously, ”That cheap wench Lady Xia! How dare she be so pleased with herself!”

”It’s all her fault! She stole my Imperial Son!”

”Ever since she entered the palace, she stole my cousin, the affection, and even my Imperial Son! That wench!”

”This palace and she are irreconcilable!”

If it weren’t for that arrogant hussy Lady Xia, how could she possibly have lost the Princess too? Now, even the Emperor wouldn’t cast a glance her way! It was all because of that cheap wench Lady Xia! She deserved to die, to die!

...

「Qingya Residence」

Xia Ruqing woke up; it was already dusk. Her back felt a little chilly. After getting up, she sneezed twice. She was a bit surprised.

”I haven’t caught a cold, so someone must be cursing me behind my back!”

Zi Yue just laughed. ”Your Highness, you believe that too?”

Xia Ruqing laughed. ”Believe it, why not?”

Initially, she didn’t believe it, but now, having transmigrated, what was there not to believe?! Thinking about it, she had been here for over three years. After the initial struggle for survival, she had gradually started to thrive. Compared to her poverty-stricken, unloved life in the twenty-first century, she couldn’t believe how fortunate she was. She had status, affection, delicious food, people who cared for her, and even children! She was ordinary, with no grand aspirations, but she was simply very content! She chuckled to herself.

”Alright, enough talk!”

”Where’s Little Bun? Where did he go?”

Xia Ruqing looked outside. ”It’s raining, huh!”

Zi Yue laughed. ”It’s not heavy, just misty and really cold!”

This soggy chill was worse than a snowy day, bone-piercing and unbearable!

”The Little Prince is already up and playing in the side room!” Zi Yue continued, ”All three Sisters are there, Your Highness, you need not worry!”

Xia Ruqing picked up the comb, quickly tidied her hair, then stood up. ”Let’s go take a look!” she said, rising to her feet.

Indeed, Little Bun was engrossed in play in the side room. Today, a large red deerskin blanket had been spread on the ground for his first birthday grab. Little Bun was currently sitting on it, playing with the objects he had grabbed earlier.

Xia Ruqing watched with a mix of amusement and exasperation. ”There are Zhen Zhu and gems, Ginseng and Lingzhi, and... even armor and treasured swords, as well as antique paintings... it’s quite the assortment...”

”Son, do you really like all of these?” Xia Ruqing looked at him with an exasperated smile.

Little Bun was a bit puzzled. Mother, why do you have that expression? Didn’t you say I could take whatever I liked? So I got rid of everything I didn’t like; aren’t the remaining things what I like? Now all of these are mine!

Xia Ruqing saw the pride and mischief on her son’s face. She felt utterly helpless for a moment.

”Zi Yue, what did he throw out? Do you all remember?”

Zi Yue quickly said, ”I can’t remember everything, but I know there was rouge, fabric, and prayer beads, among other things!”

After hearing this, Xia Ruqing breathed a sigh of relief. ”Does this mean that my son doesn’t believe in Buddha? Or rather... does my son not like women?”

”No, no, it’s women’s things!” Xia Ruqing quickly corrected herself. Wouldn’t it be terrible if my son didn’t like women?

Zi Yue couldn’t help but chuckle. ”What are you saying, Your Highness?”

Sister Liang laughed from the side as well. ”Your Highness, the Little Prince is clever indeed! To be able to grab so many things shows he will be talented in both literature and martial arts in the future!”

Xia Ruqing listened, her heart brimming with happiness, looking very much gratified. Yet she still feigned modesty. ”Don’t praise him too much. For all we know, he might just be fickle, loving one thing and then another, picking something up only to discard it soon after!”

Sister Liang and Zi Yue both laughed. ”Your Highness, you shouldn’t say such things!”

Xia Ruqing smiled and didn’t continue the topic. She bent down to rub Little Bun’s hair and then left.

Xiao Xizi came back carrying the meal, and Zi Yue busied herself with serving it. After washing her hands, Xia Ruqing saw the evening meal on the table.

”Is there soup? It’s strangely cold today; I feel like having some soup!”

Zi Yue smiled and lifted the lid of the soup tureen. ”Knowing how much you love soup, how could we not have it!”

Xia Ruqing saw that within the tureen was a black chicken soup that had already been stewed. The creamy white broth, topped with goji berries, also had bits of Xiao Huang ginger and slices of Little White ginseng visible beneath. Upon lifting the lid, the rich aroma of the chicken soup wafted out.

”Wow! It looks so delicious!” Xia Ruqing’s appetite was piqued.

Zi Yue hurried to serve her a bowl.

Xia Ruqing didn’t bother with rice and instead drank a small bowl of chicken soup alongside thin scallion pancakes. She also had two pieces of young lamb ribs and half of a roasted pig trotter glistening with oil.

Apparently, pig trotters contain collagen, and how can the women in the palace not take care of themselves? Xia Ruqing ate with a clear conscience.

In the end, after having a bit of everything, she felt stuffed. While lying in bed reading a book, Xia Ruqing touched her belly, feeling quite emotional.

”When winter comes, I crave good food; otherwise, it’s like a disservice to this bitterly cold weather!”

As soon as she mentioned the cold, she thought of hotpot again. She really was an insatiable foodie.

Zi Yue chuckled while sewing by her side. ”Mistress, Xiao Zhu Zi mentioned that the vegetables in the back garden are ready! Especially the lotus roots this year, they’ve grown particularly well! Xiao Zhu Zi said he secretly dug up a young shoot to taste, and it was crunchy and sweet! The spinach is good too! So green and vibrant!”

Xia Ruqing’s eyes immediately lit up. ”I remember telling him to leave a patch of land specifically for growing wild vegetables!”

Zi Yue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ”Your Highness, there are no wild vegetables yet; our own vegetables have just come to harvest! Wild vegetables are only available at the end of winter and the beginning of spring!”

Xia Ruqing was somewhat disheartened, but it didn’t dampen her spirits. ”Well, then, let’s prepare, and when it snows, I must have hotpot!”

Heaven knows how long it’s been since she had it! Last year at this time, she had just given birth to Little Bun. Throughout the entire winter, forget hotpot; she could barely even find a dish with any flavor. So this year, she absolutely had to savor it!

”Yes, yes, yes!” Zi Yue was quite speechless. ”Once it starts snowing, without waiting for your command, I’ll get it ready for you! That should suffice, right?”

Xia Ruqing was triumphantly pleased. ”That’s more like it!”