A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 1011: Empress Dowager Zhen

The days in the harem were peaceful and serene.

Because there was no need to manage palace affairs.

So Xia Ruqing’s life didn’t change much.

Every day was still leisurely and comfortable.

Either reading and writing, learning to paint, or tending to the flowers and plants in the front and back yards.

In any case, she didn’t have to worry about palace matters.

Even the daily greetings were waived by Zhao Junyao.

The reason was:

The Empress’s health was not good, she didn’t need to come daily, just on the 1st and 15th to pay her respects!

The Emperor had spoken? Who in the harem would dare say a word more?

No matter how dissatisfied, they could only comply.

However, as a result, the people in the harem had fewer opportunities to see the Emperor.

Of course.

Zhao Junyao didn’t entirely devote himself solely to Qingqing and abandon the harem completely.

After all, he was the Emperor, and doing so wouldn’t be advantageous, even for Qingqing he couldn’t.

Moreover, he was still good to the children.

He didn’t neglect the concubines raising the children, visiting them every few days, and having meals with the children.

Or gifting some jewelry, fabrics, silver taels, all did not affect anything.

But there was one thing: he never spent the night.

Even though Xia Ruqing never showed any sign, he didn’t spend the night.

Indeed, it was his own unwillingness.

Before he met Qingqing, it didn’t matter with whom he was.

As long as the woman was smart and behaved, he would take care of her, help her have children and let her live well.

After all, children were necessary, who to have them with didn’t matter?

Those who didn’t stir up trouble, with children, they would behave and be trouble-free, saving him worry.

But ever since meeting Qingqing.

He found this woman not only behaved but was also naive, without him protecting her she wouldn’t have survived until now.

He watched her grow from a thin, frail, pale little girl into a graceful beauty, tender and fair.

From a weed battered by wind and frost to a blooming Yu Lan of Jiangnan.

Whenever he thought of these, he felt a sense of pride, a great sense of achievement surged in his chest.

The thing that delighted him most was.

This little woman seemed to still not understand what the harem was about.

Consort Hui and Consort Cheng were smart people who understood and followed the rules.

She was truly naive, often making him laugh and cry with her words and actions.

Her heart and eyes remained so clean and pure.

This instead made her extremely precious, making him want to protect her under his wings, carefully nurturing her.

Let her always be carefree.

Let her eyes shine when she smiles.

Let her mind be free of gloom, filled with sunshine.

Therefore.

He would clear all obstacles for her, shield her from all darkness, letting her live steadily and happily.

...

Ever since Xia Ruqing became Empress.

The somewhat unstable harem had fully settled down.

The consorts weren’t foolish, in such circumstances what else could they hope for? Best to hurry up and curry favor.

Then one by one, they utilized the vital survival skill of ’adapting to circumstances’ with great proficiency.

From Consort Hui and Consort Cheng down to every little Lady.

All looked up to the New Empress.

Even the few Imperial Noble Consorts in the palace, the Princess’s Mansion outside the palace, and even various branches of the royal family, sent congratulatory gifts to curry favor one after another.

After all, establishing good relations with the New Empress concerned their future glory and riches, naturally they had to pay attention and treat this earnestly.

Thus...

In the half-month after the conferring ceremony.

Almost every day there were gifts from the Imperial Noble Consorts, Imperial Concubines, Princess Consorts from outside the palace, and even the Princess Consorts who had already gone to the fiefdom.

Until the beginning of April, Duanning Palace was still receiving gifts.

...

On a day in mid-April.

Xia Ruqing was trimming branches with Yue Er.

Busy at work, she saw Zi Su come in to report.

"Empress, there’s a congratulatory gift from Ninghe Palace!"

Xia Ruqing was immune to the words ’congratulatory gift’, hearing this, she didn’t even look up but instructed.

"Have Xiao Xizi register it and store it in the treasury!"

The child was still young, no matter how nice the gifts were, she didn’t want to use them.

However, Zi Su didn’t move.

"Empress!"

"The congratulatory gift is from Empress Dowager Zhen of Ninghe Palace!" She emphasized heavily.

Xia Ruqing was stunned for a moment: "Ninghe Palace?"

After a while she reacted.

"Empress Dowager Zhen?!"

Zi Su nodded.

"Empress, this is the gift list, please have a look!"

Xia Ruqing sighed in relief.

"I was wondering what it could be, it’s just a congratulatory gift from Empress Dowager Zhen!"

"Didn’t she often send gifts? Like for Yue Er’s birthday, she also sent one!"

The gifts were not heavy, quite light actually, not seeming sincere.

The intention, she could guess most of it.

It was just about Cai Yang’s matter, she really didn’t want to deal with it!

However, Zi Su shook her head, looking serious.

"Empress, it’s different this time, please take a look?"

Xia Ruqing was stunned, suddenly taking the gift list, casually flipping through two pages and closing it.

Her expression shocked, murmuring.

"So much?"

"This time it seems genuine!"

Zi Su nodded vigorously, advising.

"Empress, perhaps we should return it!"

"Empress Dowager Zhen probably wants to please you, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch!"

"Seeing us well off, they come running, humph!"

Zi Su’s words were sharp as blades.

Making Xia Ruqing amused.

Meanwhile, she instructed the wetnurse to take Yue Er away, while she entered the inner room with the gift list.

Sitting on the kang, she pondered over the gift list for a long while, feeling that Zi Su made some valid points.

Yet...

"Even if she wants to reconcile, it’s not necessary to send such heavy gifts!"

"It seems more like... she wants something!"

Zi Su chuckled coldly.

"Hmph!"

"Wants something?"

"I think there’s something to gain! A weasel paying respects to a hen, with malicious intent!"

"Empress, let’s return it, don’t get involved in their business!"

Xia Ruqing thought for a while, calmly said.

"Returning it is necessary, but... I’m also curious about what Empress Dowager Zhen is up to!"

"The fish has been raised long enough, should be fat enough to catch now!"

"Instead, she comes to me to create a presence, really curious!"

Empress Dowager Zhen and Hai Feng, that mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair, truly full of schemes!

It’s one thing to trap Xia Ruyi.

But trying to drag me in too!

Simply vile!

"So... Empress, what do we do now?" Zi Su asked puzzled.

Xia Ruqing handed over the gift list.

"Let’s not return it yet, have Xiao Xizi put it aside, we’ll play along and see what they want!"

Zi Su thought for a moment, took the gift list.

"Yes, Empress!"

Then went out.

...

A few days later.

Seeing the gift hadn’t been returned, Empress Dowager Zhen visited.

As Xia Ruqing heard the announcement, her heart sank.

’She really came!’

"Lead her to the hall, I’ll change my clothes!"

"Yes!" Zi Su responded and went out.

Zi Yue stayed behind to assist her in changing clothes and doing her hair.

Although Empress Dowager Zhen was the Late Emperor’s concubine, a senior.

Ultimately Xia Ruqing was the Empress, master of the Six Palaces.

Thus, their status was naturally different.

Letting Empress Dowager Zhen wait outside was perfectly proper.