Chapter 263: Chapter 262: Return to the Palace
The group had stayed in the South Garden for three or four days. They only returned to the palace on the sixth day of the month.
On the way back, Xia Ruqing sat in the carriage and, amidst the rocking, fell asleep again. Zi Yue brought over a thick blanket to cover her.
Zi Su, with a hint of curiosity, asked, "Why has Master been sleeping so much lately?"
It wasn’t like this before.
Zi Yue’s smile was a bit unnatural. "Perhaps... Master is just too tired!"
The nights before, and the night before that, she had been attending to the Emperor till well after midnight. How could she not be tired?
Alas, after so many tis of service, one could only hope that Master would quickly recuperate and give birth to a Little Prince soon.
She used to not dare to bear a child, but now, Master had been promoted to a Fourth Rank Jieyu. If she bore a prince, with the Emperor’s affection, at the very least, a position as a concubine of Pin rank would be assured. By then, with a child, no one in the palace would dare to bully her anymore.
"Alas..."
"Sister Zi Yue, why are you sighing?"
Zi Yue shook her head and gave a forced laugh. "It’s nothing!"
「...」
By the ti they returned to the palace, it was already afternoon. Xia Ruqing had slept the entire journey and was still groggy when she alighted from the carriage.
Up ahead, the Empress also alighted from her carriage, and all the concubines went over to attend to her.
The Empress said with a pleasant smile, "The journey has been tiring. You may all return to your respective places; no need to attend any further!"
"Yes! Thank you, Empress," they replied in unison.
Xia Ruqing then hazily made her way back. The walk from the palace gate to Qingya Residence was not short either. Sitting in the warm sedan chair, rocking gently, Xia Ruqing felt sleepy again.
By the ti she arrived at Qingya Residence, she could hardly keep her eyes open. Zi Yue shook her head, feeling quite helpless.
The Emperor, this ti, seems to have been a little excessive! she thought. Perhaps, after holding back for so long, he couldn’t help himself anymore?
Thinking this, Zi Yue blushed. For a young woman to have such thoughts was truly shaful.
Zi Yue quickly shook her head, trying to rid herself of these notions.
After returning to Qingya Residence, Xia Ruqing slept for a while longer. In a state between dreaming and waking, she felt a bit hungry, so she got up to wash her face, finally feeling sowhat refreshed.
"Zi Yue, how long did I sleep?"
Zi Yue thought for a mont. "About... two to three Shi Chens," she estimated.
Xia Ruqing nodded. "That’s not too bad!"
「...」
For the evening al, the Imperial Kitchen sent over dishes she liked. Xia Ruqing had Xiao Xizi recreate the wild chicken dish they made the other day. Wild pigeon soup was also prepared.
Slling the delicious aroma of the food, Xia Ruqing’s spirits were imdiately lifted. Da Bai owed by her legs.
In good spirits, Xia Ruqing picked him up. "Da Bai, you’re craving it too, huh!"
"OW!" The cat looked at her with an air of arrogance.
Xia Ruqing’s heart softened, and she quickly surrendered. She took off both chicken claws from the roast chicken and gave them to Da Bai.
"AOW!" Da Bai grabbed the chicken claws and scampered away with his tail held high.
Xia Ruqing was exasperated. "You little ingrate!"
Zi Yue and Zi Su both laughed.
「Ningshou Palace.」
Zhao Junyao was dining with the Empress and Noble Concubine Shih, accompanying the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager, putting on the image of a loving mother, said with a warm smile, "In the blink of an eye, my Imperial Son has been on the throne for three years. Though the first few years were tough, things are gradually getting better!"
Zhao Junyao also smiled. "That’s also thanks to Mother Empress holding the reins of the Harem, allowing your son to concentrate on court affairs!"
The Empress Dowager shook her head with a smile. "No matter what, if one treats everyone in the Harem equally, one will not go wrong! The only thing that worries
is that you, my Imperial Son, have yet to produce a prince! I’m already getting on in years, my Imperial Son...!"
She spoke, then paused, as if hesitant to continue. The Empress Dowager glanced at the Empress and Noble Concubine Shih, and said calmly, "One of you is the Empress, and the other is a Noble Concubine—at the end of the day, you both share so bla!"
The Empress and Noble Concubine Shih both rose to their feet. "Your teaching is correct, Mother Empress!"
The Empress looked even more remorseful. "It’s all my fault. Fortunately, the grand selection is this year. I will definitely choose several good sisters for the Emperor, striving to have them bear heirs for the Emperor soon!"
The Empress Dowager’s expression softened, and she waved her hand dismissively. "That’s enough; you may stand. I know you are virtuous!"
The Empress slowly stood up. anwhile, Noble Concubine Shih rolled her eyes disdainfully and snorted softly.
The Empress keeps talking about selecting beauties. Is she flaunting her status? Even if she falls out of favor, she’s still the Empress. If I fall out of favor, then I’ll be nothing! she complained to herself.
With this thought, Noble Concubine Shih dared not act arrogantly anymore. She had no choice but to suppress her displeasure and attend to the Empress Dowager properly. After all, that was her own aunt!
「...」
The affairs of won held no interest for Zhao Junyao. After listening to a few of their aningless sentences, he found an excuse to return to Zhaochen Palace.
Zichen Hall was very quiet, with no paperwork to attend to at the mont. So Zhao Junyao casually picked up a book and lay on the soft couch, asking without looking up, "Li Shengan, has Lady Xia had her evening al yet?"
As soon as he asked, Zhao Junyao regretted it a little. At this hour? She probably already ate.
Indeed, Li Shengan responded, "Replying to Your Majesty, Xia Jieyu has already had her evening al!"
Don’t ask how he knew without checking. How could he not keep a close watch on soone favored by the Emperor? Upon reflection, he cautiously inquired, "Your Majesty, shall I have soone bring Xia Jieyu over?"
Zhao Junyao waved his hand dismissively. "No need!"
She must have been exhausted these past few days. It had been my lack of restraint, and if I call for her now, I fear I would lose control again! It might be better to let her rest well.
Thinking this, Zhao Junyao gave another command, "Have Imperial Doctor Zhang check on her tomorrow. See how her recuperation is going and if the prescribed treatnts are effective!"
When would Qingqing bear him a child? Son or daughter, it didn’t matter—he would love either one.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Li Shengan acknowledged the command.
「...」
After leaving Ningshou Palace, Noble Concubine Shih perfunctorily perford a curtsy to the Empress and then swiftly returned to her own quarters.
The Empress watched her retreating figure and let out a cold laugh before departing herself. The two went their separate ways, east and west.
「Jiaofang Hall.」
The Empress let out a mocking smile. "What makes her think she can act so high and mighty? Does she think it’s like the old tis? If it weren’t for the Emperor still holding so affection for her, who knows what state she would be in now!"
Yu Lan also joined in with a sneer. "Isn’t that so?"
Sister Ji ca over to ask, "What’s happened now?"
Yu Lan recounted Noble Concubine Shih’s behavior, then scoffed again. "What do you think, Sister Ji? The Empress is always courteous, yet she repays it like this every ti!"
Sister Ji hurriedly advised, "Empress, Lady Yu Lan, you mustn’t be angry! Noble Concubine Shih is like this probably because she’s anxious and restless!"
She elaborated, "Think about it. She’s lost favor, and even the Empress Dowager doesn’t want to bother with her. Plus, new won will soon enter the Palace, so naturally, she can’t sit still!"
Drinking a cup of tea, the Empress smiled coldly. "Restless? She deserves it! This is all retribution. If Noble Concubine Shih had borne a son, that would have been disastrous! So, it’s a good thing that Noble Concubine Shih is restless!"
Sister Ji laughed in agreent. "Empress, you should also take it easy. There’s still plenty of ti!"
The Empress exhaled deeply. "You are right. There is still plenty of ti!"
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