CHAPTER 99: CHAPTER 98 FOOLISH THINGS

The new bed was quickly made, and the room had also been renovated.

By the end of April, Xia Ruqing moved in with great joy!

Looking at her room, transformed anew, Xia Ruqing exclaimed excitedly, "It really does look much better than before!"

"Is everything ready?" Zi Yue smiled and pulled back the canopy. "Wouldn’t you know just by looking, Master?"

Xia Ruqing indeed saw a brand new bed. The top-quality fir wood exuded a rich, woody fragrance. The newly applied tung oil had dried, leaving the entire bed lustrous and smooth. Xia Ruqing was astonished by the meticulously carved, intricate patterns and hollowed-out designs.

No wonder a bed like this costs so much money... she thought. In modern times, this would definitely be considered a work of art.

"It’s so nice here!" Xia Ruqing lay on the bed, closed her eyes, and let out a satisfied sigh.

No formaldehyde, no air pollution, the sky so blue, the water so clear, living a carefree life as a happy freeloader! Wasn’t this the ideal life she’d imagined in her past life?

"It’s raining outside..." Zi Yue said. "Otherwise, we would have taken all these quilts out to sun."

Xia Ruqing squinted her eyes. "Then we’ll just wait for good weather to dry them..." Saying this, she hugged Da Bai and yawned.

Zi Yue was somewhat helpless. "Master, you don’t even go out for a walk..."

"It’s about to rain, isn’t it..."

"The lotus leaves at Taiye Pool have grown so big. Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin are taking the Princess to see them!"

"I’m not going..." Xia Ruqing stated, uninterested.

"Why? You used to love strolling through the gardens, didn’t you?"

Didn’t I kneel enough last time? What if I run into someone other than Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin? The bruises on her knees were still healing, and who knew how long it would take!

Zi Yue thought for a while and then conceded, "That’s true!"

「By Taiye Pool.」

Consort Hui Pin was indeed in the pavilion with Second Princess Yi’an, who was not quite two years old, watching the rain. It was the time when the princess was babbling and learning to walk. Consort Hui Pin was teasing her with a large lotus leaf in her hand. "Yi’an, come quickly... The lotus leaf is here with Mother!"

Consort Hui Pin shook the lotus leaf in her hand and opened her arms towards the Princess, who wasn’t far away. Second Princess Yi’an, chubby and adorable, giggled at the sight of the large lotus leaf and rushed into the embrace.

"Mother..." she called, her tender voice endearing and melodious.

Consort Hui Pin, her face blooming with joy, kissed her daughter’s cheeks repeatedly. The mother and daughter were deeply engrossed in their play.

Not far away, Consort Zheng Pin took in the entire scene.

"My lady, it’s chilly outside; we should go back," Hong Yun advised.

Consort Zheng Pin let out a light laugh, self-deprecatingly. "What lady am I... Even though I hold the main position at Xihuai Palace, what of it? I must be living the most unbecoming life of all the ladies in the palace..."

"Don’t think like that, my lady..." Hong Yun didn’t know how to comfort her anymore.

Indeed, although the Emperor never visited, even the palace attendants were negligent. But life in Xihuai Palace wasn’t unbearable. One had to try and look on the bright side of things in the palace. However, her master always dwelled on such thoughts, casting herself into gloom. Recently, she had lost much weight, and her menstrual cycle had become irregular. If the Emperor were to visit one day and see her like this, he would surely be alarmed, Hong Yun worried.

Consort Zheng Pin sighed. "Let’s go back..."

Hong Yun quickly followed.

Upon arrival at Xihuai Palace, after some tidying up, it was time for the midday meal. Hong Yun went to fetch the meal, but when she opened the food box, she frowned. "These dishes, why is there not a single meat dish? Our Lady is in poor health and needs to be well-nourished..."

A Little Eunuch spoke with disdain, "Oh, please, Hong Yun, don’t be so ungrateful. Nowadays, the palace emphasizes frugality; even the Empress eats vegetarian dishes..."

As Hong Yun listened, she looked up and saw Honored Lady Xi’s attendant Dong Cha, smiling and speaking with another Little Eunuch. That Little Eunuch respectfully stuffed a plump roast duck into a food box. Honored Lady Lan’s meal wasn’t bad either – it was a bowl of bird’s nest porridge. As for Lady Xia, it went without saying. The moment Zi Yue arrived, those eunuchs were practically falling over themselves, eager to please, almost to the point of wanting to carry her shoes. It could only be better, not worse for her, Hong Yun thought.

Hong Yun saw everything clearly and became angry on the spot. "Is this what you call everyone eating vegetarian?"

The Little Eunuch was very impatient. "Miss Hong Yun, I don’t want to say much else. If you want it, take it; if you don’t, just leave it there. I still have other tasks to attend to..."

"You!" Hong Yun was furious. But these people only knew how to curry favor with the powerful and trample on the weak; they were utterly unprincipled. What was the use in saying more?!

For the moment, she could only take the food and leave.

Consort Zheng Pin had grown accustomed to it. She let out a cold laugh, ate a little, and then set down her chopsticks.

"My Lady, please eat a bit more. If you keep on like this, how can your health improve?"

"I have no appetite. Take it away!"

Hong Yun sighed and did not insist further.

「Regarding the Imperial Kitchen.」

Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi had Consort Yun’s backing, so naturally, the Imperial Kitchen staff would not trouble them. Lady Xia was favored, and they dared not offend her. The Noble Consort was pregnant—Heavens, she was treated like an ancestor! Even the Empress had to make way for her. Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin were raising princesses; their meals, and those of the princesses, could never be lacking, no matter who else’s were.

So then... the only ones left to bully were Consort Zheng Pin and Honored Lady Hu, weren’t they?

Actually, Consort Zheng Pin’s situation was relatively better. Despite her lack of favor, she was still a consort of main rank, so they didn’t dare to go too far.

As for Honored Lady Hu... HEH HEH. It was practically a malicious prank. The food looked perfectly fine, but the taste was bizarre. What should be sweet was salty, and what should be salty was sour. For instance, they’d put chili in her porridge, make sweet dishes out of fatty meat, or serve her sour rice... The food was also served cold.

Honored Lady Hu dared not utter a word of complaint. When she could no longer bear the food, she went to seek the Empress.

She knelt in an inner chamber of Jiaofang Hall, weeping profusely, "Empress, save me!"

The Empress was a bit surprised. "What happened to Honored Lady Hu?"

Honored Lady Hu recounted all these matters and then said, "Empress, I truly can’t stand it anymore. Please save my life! I am willing to do anything for Your Majesty!"

Living like this is worse than death. That Xia woman harmed me so terribly, yet I have to watch her live so freely and contentedly! I can’t accept this! This is more agonizing than death itself!

But the Empress wasn’t running a charity. Hearing what Honored Lady Hu said, she merely smiled. "Honored Lady Hu, don’t talk nonsense. If you’re not eating well, I will just have them add a dish for you..." The Empress was magnanimous; after all, she had a reputation for being virtuous, kind, and demure to uphold. But to ask her to trust someone easily? That was impossible! She hadn’t muddled through these years in the palace for nothing!

Honored Lady Hu clenched her teeth but persisted. "I know it is impossible for Your Majesty to trust me instantly. Rest assured, I will certainly show my sincerity first."

The Empress was even more surprised. Looking around, she cautioned in shock, "I advise you not to do anything foolish."

Honored Lady Hu gave a desolate smile. "Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will not do anything foolish!"