Chapter 576: Chapter 576: Let’s See How Much Longer She Can Jump Around
A gust of wind blew, and goosebumps covered her entire body.
She was so cold she couldn’t stand it anymore!
But she was not willing to leave just yet.
So, she had no choice but to chat awkwardly, braving it out.
"Honored Lady Cheng, I didn’t co here today for anything special, just that it’s snowing and I was bored alone, so I thought to co over for tea and snacks with you!"
Honored Lady Cheng gazed at her quietly.
A cold smirk played on the corners of her lips.
"Sister?"
"Honored Lady Du, who exactly are you calling ’sister’?"
In the Harem, the terms ’sister’ are not only based on age but also on status. Has anyone seen soone daring to call the Empress ’sister’? No! That would be too audacious, wouldn’t it?!
Therefore, what Honored Lady Du did was a great disrespect!
Now, reminded by Honored Lady Cheng, Lady Du felt even more embarrassed.
"I’m sorry... Honored Sister Cheng!"
Honored Lady Cheng was more favored and had entered the palace earlier than her. Whether in seniority or age, she was above her! Thus, she had to call her ’sister’ respectfully!
Honored Lady Du continued the awkward conversation.
"I..."
"Honored Sister Cheng, I brought so boxes of pastries, specially made by the Imperial Kitchen, just for you to try!" Honored Lady Du stamred.
Honored Lady Cheng was so amused that she laughed.
Do I have the word ’fool’ written on my face? Or do you think... we are close? Special creations from the Imperial Kitchen, my foot! As if they would cater to soone like you! Those few plates of dry pastries, who would want them? I can have any delicacy I desire here, can’t I? Ha!
"I won’t have the pastries. The Imperial Physician instructed
not to eat indiscriminately. Please forgive , Honored Lady Du!"
Honored Lady Cheng’s words were distant and cold.
Honored Lady Du’s heart chilled by half in an instant—was this... rejection?
She was contemplating with her head down, wondering what to do.
And then, Honored Lady Cheng’s palace maid, Huan Cui, suddenly spoke up.
"My lady, in a quarter of an hour, it will be ti for your Peaceful Pulse check!"
"The Imperial Physician will be arriving anyti now!"
Honored Lady Cheng gave a faint smile and nodded.
"In that case, please go back first, Honored Lady Du!"
"We’ll talk about tea and snacks another ti!"
"Huan Cui, see our guest out!"
"Yes!"
Huan Cui lowered her head and concealed a smile, then quickly stepped forward.
"Honored Lady Du, this way, please!"
A string of words left her with no chance to even catch her breath.
The sense of loss in Honored Lady Du’s heart was imnse! She had approached so many factions, but not one was willing to take her in! Rejected by Consort Xian Pin, by the Empress, and now this—rejected again? Not even willing to share a cup of tea, was she that disliked? Yet... she dared not linger around!
So, carrying her things, she hesitantly led her people away.
...
「Qingya Residence」
Xiao Xizi received the news at once.
Before the midday al, while making small talk, Xiao Xizi recounted all of Honored Lady Du’s recent actions, not forgetting to add his own comntary at the end:
"’My lady, that Honored Lady Du, is really too...’ shaless!"
Xia Ruqing sipped her tea and sneered.
"She’s desperate! She so wants to be favored! Honestly, with her level of emotional intelligence, even if she were favored, she wouldn’t last long before being brought down! Why bother with all this!"
"In the palace, it’s fine to live a modest life; it’s fine if the Emperor doesn’t think of you. As long as you don’t offend anyone and manage well, life won’t be too bad. But... for soone like Honored Lady Du, who willingly allows herself to be used as a pawn, that’s a different story. It’s quite possible that angering so noble might cost her life."
So... Xia Ruqing just smiled calmly.
"Ignore her, let’s see how long she dares to jump around!"
...
「The end of the year was drawing closer by the day.」
Xia Ruqing knew that her elder brother had married and that her younger brother had co to the Capital City. However, several days had passed, and she still hadn’t been able to see her younger brother. But the thought that her sister-in-law would be able to enter the palace on the second day of the new year made her excited.
"This year I finally have sothing to look forward to!"
"In the past, I’d only see other people’s mothers or family from their maternal hos entering the palace!"
"My place here has always been so cold and deserted! It’s also quite disappointing."
"Now... I will also have a sister-in-law, and I’m really happy for my elder brother!"
In the future, with her brother in the Capital City, she would finally have significant support. In the future, their Xia family would rely on her brother and younger brother to uphold the family’s honor!
Zi Yue then said with a laugh, "That’s right! On the second day of the new year, Lady Hou will be able to enter the palace. By then, My Lady, you should treat her well!"
"Of course! She is my dear sister-in-law after all!"
Though that’s what she said, Xia Tingfeng wasn’t actually of legitimate descent. So, by convention, Lady Ni should not be addressed as elder sister-in-law by her. But Xia Ruqing didn’t care about that.
A sister-in-law is a sister-in-law, who dares to object?
...
「A couple of days later, on the twenty-third of the twelfth month.」
The day of the Little New Year, Zhao Junyao finally finished his work.
Previously, the snow disaster in the north had kept him extrely busy. Now... the situation there was finally under control. The Imperial Court had dispatched silver and food supplies, and he had also sent Imperial Physicians to prevent any epidemic. But in the depths of winter, it wasn’t so easy to contract infectious diseases. So, this matter only required compensating the common people for their losses sowhat, to ensure not too many died.
In the end, Zhao Junyao also ordered that the local taxes for the coming year be halved. The common folks shouldn’t bear even a slight burden!
Civil and military officials at court were thoroughly impressed upon hearing the Emperor’s decision!
The Emperor is wise!
Zhao Junyao was very satisfied.
「In the Imperial Study Room.」
Zhao Junyao, holding the vermillion cinnabar brush, was approving morials. The bright red of the cinnabar brush, moving fluidly like a dragon, inscribed a series of governance strategies or techniques for managing affairs on the petitions!
These were the last batch of petitions before the new year. Once they were sent out, unless there was sothing of special importance, Zhao Junyao would not receive any more petitions. Day-to-day governing affairs were to be decided by the officials from The Six Ministries on their own. These end-of-year trivialities needn’t be managed personally by an emperor.
...
「After approving the petitions, twilight had settled in.」
The Empress had sent soone to invite him to dine with her.
Zhao Junyao thought for a mont, and in the end, nodded in agreent.
"It’s been a while since I’ve been there; tonight I will dine with the Empress."
Li Shengan hurriedly accepted the order, then hurried to make the arrangents!
Zhao Junyao stood up and stretched, then went over to the window to look at the sky.
"There’s still ti, I’ll make a trip to Qingya Residence first!"
Li Shengan’s heart skipped a beat.
"Yes!"
Having spoken, he quickly made preparations for the journey!
「anwhile, at Qingya Residence.」
Xia Ruqing was guiding Little Bun to write.
He was over a year old now and could hold a brush, scribbling so bewildering patterns with gurgling sounds. Xia Ruqing didn’t scold him, just accompanied him in his drawing. The works produced by the mother and son were each more incredible than the last!
Zi Yue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
"My Lady, what are you drawing?"
Xia Ruqing looked at the paper in her hand and laughed.
"This is one of the ’Four Gentlen’ among flowers, the plum blossom!"
"My branch... isn’t very well drawn, but it has blossoms, so that’s good enough. You go get
so red pignt, and once I dye the color on, it will look beautiful!"
Zi Yue smiled helplessly, but still did as she was told.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
That announcent sent everyone in the room into a flurry of activity.
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