A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 797: Chapter 797: Treating the Favored Consort Kindly For a Bit Longer

The stone path suddenly took a turn, leading around a corner.

A grand and majestic palace came into view.

Setting aside other aspects for the moment, the palace gate alone was in no way inferior to the Empress’s Jiaofang Hall.

Red tiles, white walls, carved beams, and painted rafters.

Looking up, the plaque above read ’Duanning Palace,’ its three large characters swirling like dragons and phoenixes, vigorous and powerful.

According to the Emperor, one of his great-great-grandfathers had inscribed these characters for a Favored Consort he adored.

Xia Ruqing felt a sense of awe.

Indeed, such a place could truly only be inhabited by the Favored Consorts of generations past!

It’s too grand, too majestic—I can hardly imagine that this will be where I live?

So I am his Favored Consort after all!

Xia Ruqing was a little moved and also felt an inexplicable twinge of sadness.

Flowers don’t bloom for a hundred days; how long can a Favored Consort last? Thinking about it too deeply is indeed worrisome, so it’s better not to dwell on it! I have a child, and besides, I will make an effort, striving to remain a Favored Consort for longer, not allowing myself to fall into decline! Yes, that’s the plan!

She pushed open the main door, and Zhao Junyao led her inside.

Inside the entrance was the main hall, equally grand and majestic, equally exquisite and elegant.

To the left of the hall was a garden, with a bamboo forest near the house.

To the right of the main hall was another garden, but the most eye-catching feature was a grape arbor.

The swing, adorned with flowering vines next to the grape arbor, was also quite interesting.

Looking back towards the entrance... Wait a minute! Something wasn’t right! These sceneries—why did they feel so familiar?

On closer inspection, Xia Ruqing was thoroughly stunned.

”Isn’t this... isn’t this exactly like my Qingya Residence?”

The garden, the swing, the grape arbor, the wicker chair, the flower-covered corridor...

”Even the layout is the same! What’s going on?!”

Xia Ruqing’s mind was momentarily in disarray.

Could it be that the lady of the previous dynasty, or the Favored Consort of that former great-great-grandfather, had the exact same tastes as me?! It can’t be such a coincidence, right? How spooky!

Zhao Junyao leisurely turned his head and tapped her on the head.

”Can’t you figure this out?”

Xia Ruqing winced, rubbing her head plaintively. ”Emperor! What if you knock me senseless?!”

Zhao Junyao was quite exasperated. ”You’re senseless even without my knocking!”

Xia Ruqing felt wronged again and was about to protest. Then she remembered something, and her eyes suddenly lit up.

”Emperor, could this be... your doing?”

Zhao Junyao finally felt some comfort. ”You finally figured it out! At least my efforts weren’t in vain!”

”Really?!”

Xia Ruqing grew even more excited, her eyes shining brightly.

Zhao Junyao, seeing her realize it, felt more satisfied and nodded. ”Indeed! I arranged this for you!”

”Qingqing, do you like it?”

Xia Ruqing’s heart and soul bubbled with excitement. ”I love it! I really do! Emperor, I truly love it!”

Having said that, she couldn’t contain herself any longer and ran ahead.

She checked this and looked at that; the more she saw, the happier she became, frolicking about like a young girl.

”There’s a vegetable garden in the backyard, much bigger than my old one!”

”That Lotus Root Pond is also much larger—bigger than my entire previous courtyard!”

This was a magnified Qingya Residence, only several times larger!

”The house is even nicer than before!”

”My previous one was single-story and smaller; now it’s a two-story pavilion!”

If Qingya Residence was like a delicate and elegant young maiden from a modest family, then Duanning Palace was like the dignified, majestic, tranquil, and graceful lady of a prominent household.

Everywhere was grand and majestic, yet not empty. The courtyard was fresh and graceful, while the rooms inside were cozy and elegant.

It lacked the vulgar extravagance of the nouveau riche, instead exuding a dignified grace and intriguing charm.

After surveying the entire place, Xia Ruqing was at a loss for words. She could only clap her hands excitedly in approval.

Seeing her so joyful, Zhao Junyao felt deeply satisfied. ”As long as you like it, that’s all that matters.”

Xia Ruqing looked around and then turned to ask, ”Emperor, when can I move in?”

Zhao Junyao, a smile on his lips, whispered in her ear, ”Anytime!”

Meanwhile, he was inwardly thinking, ”With such a large place here, those little rascals finally won’t have to squeeze into the west wing. Qingqing won’t have to worry about others overhearing and be unwilling to cooperate with me anymore. Then we... HEH HEH!”

Xia Ruqing had no idea what he was thinking. He had said she could move in anytime, so she was seriously considering when the best time would be.

After thinking it over, she smiled and said, ”How about after the Lantern Festival?”

”I’ll have Zi Yue and the others move the large, non-essential items first.”

”As for the rest, I’ll bring them when I move over!”

Zhao Junyao’s smile broadened. ”Good. As long as you like it, that’s all that matters.”

The tenderness in his eyes was almost cloying.

Xia Ruqing rubbed the goosebumps on her arms and asked blankly, ”Emperor, what’s the matter with you?”

Zhao Junyao quickly composed himself, clearing his throat to cover his embarrassment. ”AHEM! Nothing!”

Xia Ruqing didn’t think too much of it. After looking around for a while longer, they returned.

Qingya Residence was bursting with joy; everyone was organizing the things they would take with them.

Xia Ruqing was also very happy. She circled Qingya Residence several times, reminiscing about the good times she had there while eagerly anticipating the move to her new home.

It looks exactly the same! It seems the Emperor truly put his heart into this!

My heart isn’t made of stone!

Warmed by his affection, I feel so warm and fuzzy, completely overwhelmed!

HEH HEH!

「While Qingya Residence was filled with happiness, the situation in the Harem was not so relaxed.」

The news that Consort Xian had been promoted to First-Rank Noble Consort and granted residence in Duanning Palace had just been announced.

Noble Concubine Shih had thrown a massive tantrum on the spot.

It was said that she had smashed nearly half the items in her bedroom!

No one in the Harem dared to show their face or make a sound at this time. Everyone hid in their own palaces, afraid to step out.

Noble Concubine Shih, unable to find anyone to vent her frustration on, could only make her way to Ningshou Palace, wailing.

As soon as she entered, she threw herself, crying, into the Empress Dowager’s embrace. ”Aunt! Look at the Emperor! He’s clearly trying to disgrace me!”

The Empress Dowager’s expression was grim, and she felt helpless. ”There’s nothing that can be done about this.”

”Once he has issued an imperial edict, it’s irreversible.”

Noble Concubine Shih burst into angry tears. ”That bitch! What’s so good about her? What’s so damn good about her?!”

”Imperial Brother keeps slapping me in the face for her sake, over and over again!”

The Empress Dowager sighed. ”Wanxin, it’s too late to say anything now. The only thing we can do is cut our losses.” Her meaning was clear: stop making trouble, as it was useless.

Noble Concubine Shih, seeing the Empress Dowager’s composed demeanor, felt her suppressed anger flare even higher. She could no longer hold back and roared,

”That’s easy for you to say, Imperial Mother, ’cut our losses’! I haven’t done anything recently, but can these losses even be stopped?!”

”Imperial Mother! What should I do? What am I supposed to do?!”

Noble Concubine Shih collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably.

The Empress Dowager’s gaze flickered. She looked at Noble Concubine Shih dispassionately for a moment, then said coolly, ”What can I do?”

”You’ve seen it yourself. Since the incident at Prince Yan Mansion, he hasn’t come here again!”