CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 101: THIS PALACE WANTS YOU DEAD!

Zhao Junyao reluctantly curved the corners of his mouth.

"As long as you like it..."

Only then did Xia Ruqing smile.

"Thank you, Emperor!"

It grew hotter outside, so after lunch, the Emperor stayed in Qingya Residence to rest. A slight breeze through the window made the bamboo rustle. A fresh fragrance wafted into the room, and they both soon fell into a deep sleep.

When Xia Ruqing woke again, it was already dusk, and the Emperor had long since left.

She stretched lazily and got up.

"Zi Yue..."

Zi Yue came in to attend to her.

After Zi Yue assisted her with her ablutions, Xia Ruqing prepared to take another stroll and enjoy the scenery of Qingya Residence.

"This place is indeed much better than Zhaohua Pavilion..."

The courtyard of Zhaohua Pavilion was very small; the house was right beyond the entrance gate. It had everything one would expect and nothing more.

Qingya Residence, however, was different. Xia Ruqing suddenly recalled something.

Why do I feel this place isn’t somewhere an Honored Lady of my rank should be living?

Zi Yue was somewhat puzzled.

"What do you mean by that, My Lady?"

"This courtyard is so large; it seems suitable even for those of the Fifth or Fourth Rank. For me, a Sixth Rank Honored Lady, to live in such a fine place..."

Zi Yue chuckled.

"Honored Lady Hu’s Lijing Pavilion is also lovely! My Lady, please don’t overthink it."

"Her place, though spacious, doesn’t even have a courtyard. It’s not the same as this."

Zi Yue was unsure what to say. After a moment’s thought, she advised, "This is the Emperor’s decree. We cannot defy it!"

Xia Ruqing considered this and decided to let the matter drop.

In truth, it wasn’t that the Empress had no opinion. However, her attention was currently focused on the Noble Consort, and as she had her own hands full, she naturally wouldn’t concern herself with Xia Ruqing’s affairs.

Wandering a bit longer, Xia Ruqing grew increasingly cheerful.

"This place is wonderful! It’s so spacious and beautiful!"

"Ah, Zi Yue, I have a feeling I’ll be living in Qingya Residence for many years!"

Zi Yue pondered for a moment and replied, "That might well be true. Moving residences within the palace isn’t easy at all! Unless one is suddenly promoted to Empress or demoted to the Cold Palace, one doesn’t simply change residences. Promotions like these, advancing rank by rank, usually don’t involve casually moving."

"Since that’s the case, tomorrow I’ll take a good look around and properly redecorate this large courtyard. If I’m to live here, it must be to my liking!"

"Yes, My Lady!" Zi Yue happily agreed.

After strolling a while longer, just as Xia Ruqing was about to head back, she caught sight of Da Bai walking in from outside. From a distance, she couldn’t see clearly, so she walked over with a smile.

"You little rascal, where have you been? Why are you covered in dust!"

Her perfectly white cat had turned grey, with leaves still clinging to its fur!

As she spoke and drew closer, Xia Ruqing bent down to pick up the cat.

Unexpectedly, Da Bai hissed, her fur bristling!

Upon closer inspection, Xia Ruqing gagged and nearly vomited.

It turned out Da Bai was carrying a mouse in her mouth!

Zi Yue was terrified, her legs nearly giving way.

Xia Ruqing wasn’t afraid, merely disgusted.

Xiao Xizi rushed over, removed the offending object from Da Bai’s mouth, and had someone take the cat away to be cleaned.

After being thoroughly washed from head to tail, Da Bai was wrapped in a towel and brought back in.

"You troublesome Da Bai!" Xia Ruqing was furious.

Da Bai, being a clever cat, was somewhat confused. As a cat, what’s wrong with catching mice?

So, she lifted her little feline face and looked innocently at Xia Ruqing.

The two of them, one large and one small, faced off.

Xia Ruqing wanted to scold the cat but couldn’t bring herself to do it. She could only threaten fiercely, "This time, I’ll spare your little life. But if there’s a next time, I’ll... I’ll just..."

Xia Ruqing couldn’t continue because Da Bai was meowing incessantly. She was still a young kitten, her voice incredibly tender, and as a Persian cat, she possessed both dignity and beauty.

Xia Ruqing caved and surrendered.

What a complete defeat! she thought, lying on the couch.

Da Bai climbed up and rubbed her chubby face against Xia Ruqing, who recoiled in disgust.

"Get down!"

She didn’t want to pet the cat; the mouse incident had left its mark.

Da Bai, feeling a bit aggrieved, frantically licked her paws, washed her face, and then tried to rub against Xia Ruqing again.

Xia Ruqing remained disgusted.

This little drama replayed itself endlessly between the woman and the cat on the couch.

Xia Ruqing felt a pang of pity, but every time she reached out to hold Da Bai, a wave of nausea hit her, so she stopped trying to force herself.

"Zi Yue, I’m going for a walk. Have Xiao Xizi take Da Bai away."

With that, she walked out.

It was almost dark. The sunset glow was quite lovely. I think I’ll go see the lotus leaves, she decided, heading towards Taiye Pool.

The days were a bit hot, but the evenings were pleasantly cool. A gentle breeze stirred, carrying the faint scent of lotus.

Walking along the pebble-strewn path, Xia Ruqing chatted and laughed with Zi Yue.

As they were talking, a sedan chair approached from ahead.

"It looks like the Noble Consort!" Zi Yue exclaimed softly.

Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing immediately turned to leave, but the Noble Consort, spotting her from afar, called out, "Lady Xia, don’t go!"

Noble Consort Shih’s sedan chair gently settled on the ground. Holding her belly, she approached with an air of grace.

What rotten luck, Xia Ruqing thought. Outwardly, however, she had to offer a respectful greeting.

"You may rise."

"Thank you, Noble Consort."

Noble Consort Shih slowly approached and studied Xia Ruqing for a moment before smiling.

"Lady Xia, you are certainly blessed with great fortune..."

Xia Ruqing was a little puzzled. "What does Your Highness mean by that?"

Sensing the Noble Consort’s animosity, Xia Ruqing didn’t dwell on it and instinctively kept some distance from her. Best to avoid any unnecessary trouble!

But Noble Consort Shih acted as if she hadn’t noticed, continuing to sneer coldly.

"How so? Hmph! If it weren’t for your luck, you’d be dead by now!"

These words were truly horrifying.

Xia Ruqing’s face turned pale. "Could it be..." Could this be related to the Noble Consort?

Noble Consort Shih smiled triumphantly.

"Haha, that’s right! Lady Xia, you are so clever. You guessed correctly! That beam... I was the one who ordered it to be tampered with. All that talk of insect bites—how naive!"

It was obviously gnawed by rats; all she had done was order someone to smear something on the beam that rats loved to eat.

Xia Ruqing suddenly remembered something. She shivered and said, "Those rats..."

"I ordered them to be released!"

"If you had stayed in your room upon returning, as usual, instead of going out, you’d be nothing but a pile of minced flesh by now!"

Xia Ruqing’s heart plummeted. A wave of shock washed over her. So, Honored Lady Xi saved my life? After all, she was the one who insisted on dragging me to Yaoyue Palace to see the rabbits. That’s how I escaped this disaster!

After a moment’s thought, Xia Ruqing said with a cold laugh, "Such brilliant methods, Noble Consort. So perfectly covert that afterwards, a dose of poison would have ensured no evidence remained!"

Noble Consort Shih was immensely pleased with herself and laughed heartily.

"Indeed, indeed! Lady Xia, you understand me so well! That’s right. What I want is your life! Lady Xia, I want you dead!"