A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 784: Chapter 784 This looks a bit ugly to eat

The next day was New Year’s Eve.

As usual, the Harem Concubines were to accompany the Empress to Ningshou Palace to pay their respects.

However, the Empress was not in the palace at the moment.

Therefore, the Empress Dowager personally decreed that Noble Concubine Shih should undertake this task.

When the news reached the Harem, everyone was taken aback.

”Noble Concubine Shih?”

”Yes, Your Grace, it was the Empress Dowager herself who issued the oral decree!”

Xia Ruqing nodded thoughtfully.

She then turned to Sister Huang.

”It seems that there is no such precedent in the palace, is there?”

Sister Huang had been in the Harem for many years and knew the palace rules like the back of her hand.

But after furrowing her brow in thought, she bowed her head and said, ”The ladies of the Harem only need to pay respects to the Empress and the Empress Dowager; there is no reason for them to pay respects to Noble Concubine Shih!”

Indeed, even if Noble Concubine Shih temporarily acted in place of the Empress to manage the Harem, in the end, she was still just a Noble Consort. The Empress was of such high status that she could not be replaced by anyone on a whim.

Xia Ruqing smiled faintly. ”The ambition of Sima Zhao is known to all; their behavior is also quite unseemly!”

Sister Huang frowned. ”Your Grace, then shall we...”

Xia Ruqing smiled. ”I am just a Consort, and she is a Noble Consort, naturally ranking lower than her. If I must pay respects, then so be it; after all... justice resides in the hearts of the people!”

Noble Concubine Shih and the Empress Dowager might be shameless, but Xia Ruqing valued her own dignity.

”You may all go and prepare; don’t miss the Shi Chen!”

”Yes!”

Zi Yue and the others curtsied and then left to prepare.

On New Year’s Eve, in addition to paying respects, there was also the offering to Heaven. Previously, the Emperor would take the Harem to the South Garden to stay for a few days, and they would return after the sacrifice. Now... Was Zhao Junyao going alone, no longer willing to take the Harem with him?

Xia Ruqing looked at the sky and calculated the time. The Emperor should be back by mid-afternoon. Then, there would be the New Year’s Eve banquet and the New Year’s vigil! This meant it would be a day without rest. She’d better go pay respects quickly and catch up on sleep later.

”Don’t forget to tell the little kitchen to prepare the dumpling filling; we have many people here, so we cannot run short of dumplings!”

Zi Su chuckled. ”Thank you for your grace, Your Grace!”

Xia Ruqing also smiled. ”What grace is this? You girl, are you perhaps reminding me that I have yet to grant you a reward?”

Zi Su hurriedly knelt. ”Your Grace jests, how would I dare!”

Xia Ruqing laughed even more, waving her hand. ”Alright, alright, rise. It was just a joke!”

”Go and get me something to eat first; I need something to fill my stomach. It’s so cold outside, it’s not good to be on an empty stomach!”

”Yes! What would Your Grace like to eat?”

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment, not craving anything in particular, and replied, ”Anything will do, just not too sweet. It should be something that could stave off hunger!”

”Very well!”

Zi Su turned and left with a smile.

Meanwhile, Zi Yue brought in some clothes to help her mistress dress.

”Your Grace, it’s terribly cold today; this swan-down undershirt is the best at withstanding the cold. It would be perfect for you to wear!”

”Swan-down? When did I get this piece of clothing?”

Xia Ruqing examined the garment. It was delicate and snow-white, soft and thick to the touch, and exceedingly smooth. When held up to the light, its surface revealed a very fine layer of fluff emitting a soft halo; it was truly a superior piece.

Zi Yue appeared a little astonished. ”This is what the Emperor sent to Your Grace a few days ago, remember? It’s a tribute from the south, made from the finest down feathers of a swan—the layer closest to the skin—spun into yarn and woven into fabric. There is only this single piece!”

Xia Ruqing carefully recalled and seemed to have a faint memory of it. ”It’s just a pity, I don’t remember it clearly!”

Zi Yue chuckled. ”We receive so many rewards here; it’s understandable that Your Grace can’t remember them all!”

Xia Ruqing shook her head self-mockingly. ”They say pregnancy saps a woman’s intelligence for three years. I’ve had three children; I fear I must be foolish for at least six years now!”

Zi Yue could hardly suppress a chuckle. ”Your Grace, if someone with your grace and intelligence is to be called foolish, then what does that make us?”

The mistress and servant talked and couldn’t help but laugh together.

Zi Yue quickly and adeptly finished helping her mistress dress and apply makeup.

At that moment, Zi Su also came in carrying a food box. The snacks were brought out: a bowl of rich and fragrant century egg and lean pork congee, a plate of golden-brown pan-fried buns, and several other dishes. The pan-fried buns had fillings of fish and pork, all made with the finest meats and fresh vegetables. The skins were thin and crispy, and the fillings delicious. Accompanied by the congee, Xia Ruqing ate five egg-sized pan-fried buns and drank a good amount of the congee.

After eating, she immediately felt a warmth spread through her stomach, and her whole body felt much warmer. Zi Yue then prepared a hand warmer for her. Having donned a violet Molli-colored, trimmed cloak, the mistress and her two servants set out.

「 」

Many people had already gathered in Xifu Palace. Xia Ruqing’s arrival was not too late. However, Consort Ning, with whom she had never gotten along, had already arrived.

Seeing Xia Ruqing arrive later than her, Consort Ning began to mock, ”Arriving so late, making all the sisters wait! You really have some audacity, Sister!”

Then, as if she had just remembered something, she added, ”Oh, I almost forgot. Sister Consort Xian must be exhausted after accompanying the Emperor for a few days! I’ve heard your health hasn’t been good since giving birth. You should be careful!”

Xia Ruqing frowned at these words. They were all consorts; Consort Ning’s use of ’sister’ was quite forced. And those sour words were plainly annoying.

Xia Ruqing smiled faintly. ”It is a bit tiring, indeed, but surely not as tiring as Consort Ning?”

”How could I be tired?” Consort Ning huffed, confused.

Xia Ruqing glanced towards the inner room and then said with a smile, ”Well, I wonder how the Empress is doing outside the palace? Consort Ning and the Empress have always been close. You must know, right? And now, seeing that Consort Ning also gets along so well with Noble Concubine Shih here, you must have put in a lot of effort. I truly admire you!”

The implication was clear: You flatter both sides; you must be exhausted!

Consort Ning was furious. ”Lady Xia, you—!”

”What about me?” Xia Ruqing retorted. ”I am a Second Rank Consort, personally conferred by the Emperor, just like you, Consort Ning!”

Although it was somewhat against etiquette for her to use ’this Consort’ when addressing Consort Ning, was it proper for Consort Ning to call her ’sister’? It was simply tit for tat.

Consort Ning was choked with anger but couldn’t articulate a response. Some of the other women present covered their mouths to hide their laughter, but Consort Ning shot them a fierce glare, and they immediately fell silent.

The atmosphere grew tense, and no one spoke further.

「 」

After an indefinite wait, they were called into the inner room, and everyone proceeded to enter in turn.

Noble Concubine Shih emulated the Empress. First, she cheerfully bade everyone rise. Then she assigned seats one by one and subsequently inquired after everyone’s well-being, exchanging small talk and chitchat.

Even though the atmosphere seemed harmonious, everyone found it awkward. Honestly, if you’re going to imitate, at least do it well. Your acting skills are terrible. Who smiles so fiercely? And those eyes are just brimming with ambition!

Xia Ruqing inwardly sighed. No matter how ambitious you are, no matter how good your imitation, you’re still not the Empress, are you? To carry on like this... if you actually become the Empress in the future, then so be it. But if you don’t succeed, won’t you just become a laughingstock?