CHAPTER 234: CHAPTER 233: NOT CONVINCED

Xia Ruqing only woke near noon.

As she slowly sat up and turned over, she saw a large pool of blood on the bed.

"Oh no!"

How could I have fallen asleep?!

What am I to do now? This is the Dragon Bed!

...

Hearing some movement, several Palace Maids from Zhaochen Palace entered.

"Is Xia Jieyu awake?"

Xia Ruqing looked at them, then at the blood beneath her.

She didn’t know what to say.

The Palace Maids’ complexions turned grim when they too saw the pool of blood. However, being mere Palace Maids, they dared not say much.

"Xia Jieyu, you should get up first. Leave the cleaning to us servants!"

Their tone was somewhat brusque, but they maintained a veneer of polite respect.

Xia Ruqing paid them no mind and hurriedly got out of bed.

She didn’t even have time to put on shoes; she stood barefoot on the floor, wearing only her chemise.

Her chemise was stained red, but no one paid her any mind at that moment.

The Palace Maids bustled back and forth, making her feel as if she were in their way.

For a moment, she didn’t know whether to stand or sit.

The situation was indeed quite awkward.

Zhao Junyao was returning from the Imperial Study Room, intending to check on her. As he entered, this was the scene that greeted him.

"Long live the Emperor!"

All the Palace Maids knelt to greet him.

Only when Xia Ruqing turned around did she realize the Emperor had arrived.

She instinctively began to kneel as well.

With a dark expression, Zhao Junyao pulled her up.

"Who allowed you to get out of bed!"

Xia Ruqing was startled and said weakly, "Emperor, your concubine has soiled your bed!"

Zhao Junyao didn’t speak.

He found a blanket, wrapped her tightly in it, and placed her on the low couch.

Only then did he turn, his gaze falling icily upon the kneeling Palace Maids.

"If this happens again, none of you will serve in Our presence anymore!"

The Palace Maids trembled with fright.

"This servant wouldn’t dare!"

"This servant will never dare again!"

...

After the midday meal, the Small Imperial Kitchen delivered a bowl of medicinal decoction.

Xia Ruqing’s face instantly contorted.

"Emperor..."

Zhao Junyao personally brought the medicine.

"Qingqing, drink it!"

A gentle smile played on his lips, but his eyes held an undeniable sternness.

Xia Ruqing instantly relented.

"I will drink... I’ll drink it right away..."

So saying, she reluctantly took the medicine bowl.

Before the bowl even neared her nose, an extremely foul medicinal odor assaulted her senses.

Xia Ruqing frowned deeply, held her breath, and forced the medicine down.

She drained it in one gulp and put down the bowl.

Nauseated, Xia Ruqing dry-heaved twice.

After rinsing her mouth, she finally regained some composure.

She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears.

"It’s so bitter..."

Zhao Junyao, however, was very pleased.

"Good medicine tastes bitter!"

Xia Ruqing had nothing more to say.

After having lunch and resting for the afternoon, she didn’t return to Qingya Residence until it was nearly evening.

From then on, a medicinal fragrance perpetually lingered in Qingya Residence, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

...

The day after next was New Year’s Eve.

The palace had nearly finished distributing New Year’s gifts.

Even the Palace Attendants each received two winter garments and an extra month’s salary.

This was provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In each palace residence, those whose masters were favored and doing well received rewards. Those whose masters were not faring well mostly spent their days trembling, hoping just to get through safely.

Who would dare to ask for more?

Thus, serving a good master was of utmost importance.

The servants also compared among themselves in private.

「Qingya Residence」

Xia Ruqing was distributing rewards to them.

Zi Yue was first-rank; Zi Su and Zi Ning, who arrived later, were both second-rank.

Xiao Xizi was first-rank; Xiao Zhu Zi was second-rank.

The remaining ones, Qiu Ye and Qiu Tong, were third-rank menial servants.

Xia Ruqing distributed the rewards according to these ranks.

"First-rank servants receive ten taels of silver and two bolts of silk fabric. Second-rank servants receive five taels of silver and two bolts of silk fabric. Menial servants receive two taels of silver and one bolt of silk fabric! The silk fabric could be used to make clothes, which was useful for both Palace Maids and eunuchs. Even if they were given finer quality material, they wouldn’t be permitted to use it due to their station."

These rewards could be considered quite generous.

"I am merely a Fourth Rank Jieyu; I can’t afford to give more!"

"My lady, you mustn’t say that! There are few in the palace who can compare with your generosity!," Xiao Xizi said gleefully, sidling up to her.

"I heard just yesterday that Her Ladyship the Noble Consort merely cleared out some unwanted fabrics from her storerooms to distribute!"

"The Palace Attendants serving Consort Yun Pin and Consort Zheng Pin didn’t even receive a scrap of cloth!"

"And you even gave out silver!"

Xiao Xizi was truly satisfied.

The others, needless to say.

For Zi Su and Zi Ning, receiving five taels of silver was their first reward since entering the palace!

They were so excited that they were speechless.

Xia Ruqing admonished them with a smile.

"Don’t go around blabbering. If word gets out and others become envious, they might cause trouble for your mistress!"

They all hurriedly kowtowed and agreed.

Xia Ruqing then smiled.

"If there’s nothing else, you may leave. The day after tomorrow, on New Year’s Eve, you’ll all have a half-day off!"

"Yes, my lady!"

A fresh wave of excitement washed over them.

...

After they dispersed, Zi Yue attended to matters in the inner chamber, while Zi Su and Zi Ning cleaned utensils in the antechamber.

Xiao Xizi and Xiao Zhu Zi were on duty in the courtyard.

Qiu Ye and Qiu Tong headed towards the servants’ quarters in the rear courtyard.

Along the way, Qiu Tong’s expression was sour.

"I’ve served for nearly three years, yet I’m still no match for those two fledgling girls!"

"Others receive ten taels or five taels, so why do we only get two!"

Qiu Ye glanced at her, somewhat puzzled.

"We’re menial servants; of course, we’re third-rank!"

Contempt flickered across Qiu Tong’s face.

"I arrived before you. On what grounds are we treated the same?"

Qiu Ye was even more puzzled.

"We are both third-rank. How is that not the same?"

Qiu Tong huffed and said nothing more.

She flounced back to her room.

"Hey, the courtyard hasn’t been swept yet!" Qiu Ye called out.

"Sweep it yourself! I’m not feeling well!" Qiu Tong retorted without looking back.

It’s always me! Qiu Ye thought with resignation.

Whether she wanted to or not, she had no choice. If Qiu Tong didn’t do it, and she also refused, how filthy would the courtyard become?

If their mistress decided to punish them, both would suffer.

So, it’s better to just do it.

It’s almost New Year’s; anything is better than being punished!

...

In the cramped servants’ room, Qiu Tong lay on her simple bed, sulking.

Enduring this year after year, when will I ever make something of myself?!

After a moment, she rolled over and retrieved a small cloth pouch from beneath her bedboard.

Inside lay a pair of jade bracelets.

They were a vibrant emerald green, with a fine luster, clearly of considerable value.

She slipped them onto her slender wrists, a satisfied expression on her face as she admired them.

Then she noticed her own wrists, dark and coarse, which made the beautiful bracelets look jarringly out of place.

In a fit of pique, she snatched the bracelets off and tossed them aside.

But then, as if remembering something, she hastily picked them up again.

She wiped them over and over with a handkerchief.

As she polished them, her eyes filled with an infinite yearning for wealth and glory.

Ultimately, I must find another path!

...

On New Year’s Eve, a festive atmosphere permeated the palace.

In the afternoon, the banquet at Jiaofang Hall was ready, just waiting for the Empress Dowager and the Princesses of the Royal Clan to arrive.

Xia Ruqing had gotten ready early and timed her arrival perfectly, neither too early nor too late.

When she arrived, Honored Lady Lan, Honored Lady Cheng, and Noble Lady Song were already present.

Honored Lady Cheng and Noble Lady Song chatted occasionally, while Honored Lady Lan seemed a bit shy.

Honored Lady Lan sat alone, appearing rather isolated.