CHAPTER 652: CHAPTER 652: FINALLY WOKE UP

"Master!"

"Master, you’ve finally awakened!"

Zi Yue and Zi Su were so excited that tears welled in their eyes.

Xia Ruqing was a bit surprised. "What’s wrong with all of you?"

I’d only been asleep for a short while, so why am I so hungry?

After speaking, she looked out the window at the sky. "It’s not fully light out yet; it doesn’t seem late at all!"

Zi Yue and Zi Su exchanged a glance, then Zi Yue said, "Master, it’s an overcast day today. You..."

She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "You’ve been in a coma for two days and nights."

Xia Ruqing was rendered speechless. "Zi Yue, are you joking with me? What coma?!"

My body feels fine, though. Except... I’m a bit hungry. That’s right, hungry! If I’ve been in a coma for two days without eating, how could I not be hungry?

Thinking this, she started to believe them a little.

The smile on her face gradually froze, and a chill ran down her spine.

She patted her nearly numb face and desperately tried to force a relaxed smile. "What happened?"

Zi Yue’s eyes reddened as she recounted everything that had happened over the past two days.

When she finished, she lowered her head and wept silently.

Zi Su and Zi Ning’s eyes also turned red.

Xia Ruqing’s face was pale. Her hands twisted the bedcovers, and she was unable to speak for a long time.

At last, she patted her chest. "There, I’m fine now, aren’t I! Stop crying, all of you!"

Zi Yue quickly took a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "The Master is right, you’re better now! We mustn’t go on like this! Right, Master, you must be hungry. I’ll have someone prepare a meal!"

Zi Yue said this as she walked outside.

Zi Su and Zi Ning then came forward to help their master get up.

Xiao Xizi still fetched the midday meal.

「Imperial Kitchen」

Seeing Xiao Xizi arrive, Xiao Weizi quickly bustled over. "Brother Xiao Xizi, you’re finally here! Is Her Ladyship, Consort Xian Pin, feeling any better? What would Her Ladyship like to have today?"

Among all the busy people in the Imperial Kitchen, only Xiao Weizi came over to greet him.

Xiao Xizi glanced around and, without saying much, stepped forward. "Our Consort has just woken up. Something light would be good."

Xiao Weizi immediately replied, "For desserts, we have freshly made crystal osmanthus cakes and new milk walnut pastries. For the main course, we have noodles, pancakes—everything!"

The Imperial Kitchen staff always made sure to prepare the dishes Consort Xian Pin usually loved; no one dared not to make them.

Xiao Xizi was relieved to hear this. He smiled and said, "Our Master would like noodles—no chicken broth, just clear soup. She also said to add plenty of green vegetables and a poached egg. As for the other dishes, you can decide what to serve."

After Xiao Xizi finished, Xiao Weizi quickly replied, "That’s easy! It’s no trouble at all. Brother Xiao Xizi, please wait a moment."

With that, he hurried off to the back kitchen.

Upon hearing that it was for Consort Xian Pin, the Imperial Kitchen staff dared not be neglectful. The head chef personally kneaded the dough, selected the vegetables and eggs, boiled the water, cooked the noodles until they were eighty percent done, then added the vegetables and egg.

Finally, a bowl of noodles with a poached egg was ready, its fragrance filling the entire room.

The remaining simple side dishes were also prepared according to Xia Ruqing’s preferences: a bowl of clear-stewed ribs, steamed corn, and a plate of steamed baby potatoes sprinkled with salt and pepper. Golden and appetizing, they looked very inviting.

The meal was laid out, and Xia Ruqing weakly approached the dining table.

Her eyes immediately fell upon the bowl of noodles with the poached egg; she could smell its aroma from afar.

"Master, this was specially made for you by the head chef of the Imperial Kitchen. Please come and try it!"

Xia Ruqing, deeply touched, nodded. She picked up her chopsticks, lifted some noodles, blew on them to cool, and took a bite.

With just one bite, tears streamed down her face.

Grandma!

It tasted just like the poached egg noodles her grandmother used to make. When she was sick as a child, her grandmother would always make her poached eggs. The eggs came from the few old hens raised in her grandmother’s yard; Grandma was always reluctant to eat them herself, giving them all to her instead.

How long had it been since she had tasted this flavor? During these years in the palace, she had eaten all sorts of exotic delicacies, yet what truly struck her soul was this bowl of poached egg noodles.

Zi Yue was startled. "Master, what’s this...?"

Before she could finish speaking, someone outside announced, "The Emperor has arrived!"

Zi Yue and the others hurried out to greet him.

Xia Ruqing also put down her chopsticks and went forward to curtsy.

Her body was weak, her steps unsteady. She had just begun to curtsy when she lost her balance and pitched forward.

Zhao Junyao strode forward and caught her. "Qingqing..."

Xia Ruqing fell straight into his arms.

She was a bit dazed, her small, pale face still streaked with tears. She remained stunned in his embrace for a moment before realizing what had happened and hastily trying to pull away. "Your Majesty, I..."

Zhao Junyao pulled her back into his arms, holding her even tighter. "Don’t move!"

He waved the servants away and carried her to sit on the kang bed. "I heard you woke up. Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere?"

Xia Ruqing shook her head. "No!"

She, who was usually lively and cheeky, was now as docile as a wounded fawn, her eyes looking at him with a touch of caution.

This time, I was truly frightened. During my first two years in the palace, I had a strong sense of impending danger. Despite stumbling along, I managed to stay alive. But now, when I seemingly have everything, I unknowingly brushed against death. It’s an awful feeling. The confidence, pride, and radiance I had painstakingly built up vanished in an instant. I’m still that same child, abandoned by Mum and Dad. Still so insecure, sensitive, and fragile. Still alone, the loneliest person.

She buried her head in Zhao Junyao’s chest, letting her tears flow freely down her cheeks.

It doesn’t matter if he truly likes me or not, or how many women he’s slept with, or how many concubines he has. At least, for this moment, he belongs to me, right?

Right now, all she wanted was to borrow his shoulder and have a good cry.

SOB... SOB... SOB...

Zhao Junyao steadied her trembling shoulders, his heart aching terribly. "Qingqing, I’m sorry. It’s my fault you suffered."

Even the wisest are not infallible. He was the Emperor, yet he was also an ordinary man. He knew she liked those particular candles, so he had sent people to search far and wide, wanting only to find them quickly and give them to her, to make her happy. But he never expected to fall into a trap.

Only in hindsight, after investigating, did Zhao Junyao realize how wrong things had been at the time.

It was riddled with flaws! How could I, the Emperor, have made such a foolish mistake! I almost got Qingqing killed!

Her sorrow came quickly but also passed quickly. Xia Ruqing soon finished crying and wiped away her tears. "Your Majesty!"

She was a bit embarrassed. "I’ve dirtied your clothes!"

Zhao Junyao didn’t care about that. He just took her hand and said earnestly, "Qingqing... it’s all my fault!"

A warmth spread through Xia Ruqing’s heart. He’s the Emperor; he doesn’t actually need to apologize!

She smiled through her tears. "Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao pulled her back into his embrace. "Why were you crying when I came in just now?"

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment, then answered honestly, "These noodles were so delicious. They have... the taste of home!"

"Home?" Zhao Junyao couldn’t imagine what there was in that miserable place, Zhuoshui County, that she could possibly miss. He simply said, "If you like them, then eat more!"