CHAPTER 678: CHAPTER 678: GLORIOUSLY ALIVE

With that thought, it seemed to be the case.

He then hugged her even tighter.

"Yes!"

After a long pause, he spoke slowly, "Manxue, thank you!"

His voice was deep, carrying a hint of suppressed emotion. Word by word, it struck her tender heart, moving her deeply.

Ni Manxue nestled comfortably in his embrace, her expression slightly petulant.

"Husband, it’s getting late; you should sleep now. You have duty tomorrow!"

"Mhm!" Xia Tingfeng responded lightly.

The night passed without another word.

The next morning, Xia Tingfeng, as usual, rose, put on his official cap, and dressed. He had his meal, girded his sword, and rode out.

Ni Manxue, as usual, saw him to the second gate.

He held her shoulder, reluctant to let go for a long time. In the end, however, he said nothing and left with great strides, never looking back.

The moment he turned, the smile on Ni Manxue’s face vanished. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she wept uncontrollably against the doorframe.

"Husband!"

Dong’er, alarmed, quickly rushed forward. "Miss, why are you crying?"

Ni Manxue clutched the doorframe tightly, her shoulders trembling as she cried, not even noticing the pain as her fingernails cracked and bled.

"Miss, has something happened?"

"It’s cold outside; let’s go back inside!" Dong’er said, stepping forward to wipe her tears while supporting her.

Ni Manxue knew that standing there was no solution. After crying for a while, she leaned on Dong’er and returned inside.

In the inner room, Dong’er settled her comfortably. Ni Manxue lay on the daybed, disinterested in tea.

"Miss, what’s the matter with you?"

Ni Manxue looked out the window at the winter scene, a bitter smile on her lips. It’s nothing... I just feel like something is about to happen!

Dong’er also looked outside but saw nothing amiss. "Miss, don’t overthink it! Everything is fine!"

After a long while, Ni Manxue managed a slight curl of her lips and nodded.

「In the palace」

The assassination attempt on the Emperor had caused a tremendous stir in the Harem. The incident had occurred close to Qingya Residence, and rumors spread that the attacker was a guard disguised among the Imperial Forest Army. Coincidentally, Xia Ruqing’s brother was the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Forest Army. Therefore, rumors and gossip began to flood in their direction.

The small Qingya Residence, like a tiny boat tossed in a violent storm, seemed on the verge of being overwhelmed at any moment.

Xia Ruqing, somewhat puzzled, asked weakly from her bed, "The Emperor was the target of the assassination, and the Emperor is also in charge of investigating the case! Normally, the Emperor wouldn’t disclose the progress of the case, so where did all these rumors in the Harem come from? Is the attacker really... from the Imperial Forest Army?"

Feeling extremely unwell, her mind a mess, and burdened by these troublesome matters, Xia Ruqing found life even harder to bear than when she had first arrived.

Zi Yue gently wiped her mistress’s face and hands with a damp cloth, her own face etched with worry as she said, "My lady, you don’t need to worry about these things. What’s most important now is your health! If you’re really unwell, I’ll go and call for the Imperial Physician right away!"

Xia Ruqing stopped her, a bitter feeling in her heart. "Don’t go. I’m fine; I know my own body! With things being so chaotic, we shouldn’t add to the confusion!"

Zi Yue was on the verge of tears. "My lady, what... what’s happened to you?" The Imperial Physician used to come regularly to check her Peaceful Pulse, and My lady had never been so resistant before! Why the sudden change?

As they were speaking, Sister Huang suddenly came in. After a proper curtsy, she took Zi Yue’s hand with a smile.

"Miss! I can’t be blamed for being nosy, it’s just that... all three of us in the west wing heard it! Strictly speaking, I shouldn’t tell you this, since you’re still a young unmarried woman. But... Miss, think about it, how long has it been since Her Majesty’s last Period?"

Zi Yue was stumped. Upon careful reflection, it seemed... it had been quite a while indeed! Having been in the palace for so long, she knew such common-sense matters.

Zi Yue’s eyes lit up as if she had realized something. "What does Sister mean?"

Sister Huang nodded. "Miss is a clever person; you know what to do next without my saying."

Zi Yue breathed a huge sigh of relief, visibly excited. "So that’s it! Thank you, Sister, for the reminder; I’ve been foolish!"

"Your Majesty, I spoke out of turn!"

Xia Ruqing touched her belly and smiled bitterly. "I know you care about me. Alright, I’m not feeling well and I’m craving something sour. Go tell Xiao Xizi to fetch some pastries."

Zi Yue promptly curtsied. "I’ll go right away!"

Seeing her leave, Xia Ruqing finally felt a bit of relief.

Sister Huang sat by the bed and smiled. "My lady, don’t blame me for being talkative. At a time like this, you shouldn’t worry about anything! Just eat well and sleep well; the Emperor will take care of everything! I’ve seen many things in my time; my eyes are sharp! Everyone, high and low, sees how the Emperor treats you!"

Thinking of Zhao Junyao, Xia Ruqing felt a warmth in her heart and nodded with a smile. "I understand!"

Deep down, though, she was unsure. To the Emperor, women didn’t mean much. But she still wanted to take the risk. She was betting on the affection built over the past few years, on Zhao Junyao’s character, and on the sliver of importance she hoped she held in his heart. If she won, she would have nothing to fear. If she lost, her heart would be thoroughly dead. Life afterward would become much easier; if one doesn’t hope, one can’t be disappointed, can they?

Either way, she had to live, and live gloriously.

After advising her for a while, Sister Huang left.

Xia Ruqing dozed off for a bit.

It was almost time for the midday meal when Zi Yue entered quietly. "My lady! Xiao Xizi just brought sour jujube cakes from the Imperial Kitchen, made by Xiao Weizi’s own master chef, fresh from the oven, smelling so delicious! Would you like to get up and have some?"

Xia Ruqing opened her eyes, turned over, and felt a pang of hunger. "Mmm! Yes."

She had eaten breakfast only to vomit it up, so her stomach was now completely empty. She needed to eat.

Zi Yue was pleased and carefully helped her mistress rise. After washing up and changing into some comfortable, everyday clothes, she sat down at the table.

The midday meal was already set. There was a plate of soft, fluffy sour jujube cakes, and a dish of thinly sliced crunchy lotus root dressed with rice vinegar and sprinkled with chili rings. There was also a bowl of sour bamboo shoot chicken soup, a plate of golden-fried shiitake mushrooms with diced beef, and a plate of chilled noodles.

There were two soup bowls: one contained a tender stew of chicken and mushrooms. The other was a thick, white fish soup, which the head chef had somehow made rich and savory, yet entirely without a hint of fishiness. Previously, she couldn’t stand even the slightest smell of fish, but now she didn’t find it off-putting at all.

"These are all my favorites!"

Zi Yue smiled. "Indeed, My lady. Please eat plenty!"

Xia Ruqing first sipped some soup, then had some noodles. She also ate a few bites of the chicken and mushroom stew and drank a good amount of the fish soup.

Finally, the sour jujube cakes were truly delicious—tart and sweet, made with milk and eggs. One bite, and a tart fragrance filled her mouth.