CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 15 DOUBLE NINTH FESTIVAL 2

The Empress Dowager’s eyes flashed with a complex emotion for a brief moment before she regained her composure without a word.

Stepping forward, the Empress smiled elegantly. "Such childhood trifles, Sister Shih remembers them quite vividly!"

Noble Concubine Shih keeps saying ’when I was young’—what is she implying? The past is, after all, the past. Now and in the future, I am the Emperor’s wife, the only one who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor. Hmph!

"Your servant simply cherishes the memories," Noble Concubine Shih replied with a wistful smile. Some people, if they wish to reminisce, find they have nothing to reminisce about, right? The bond of childhood friends is something the Empress naturally wouldn’t understand.

「...」

Descending from Guanjing Mountain, it was already time for the midday meal, and everyone was hungry.

"I have already prepared a banquet in the Imperial Garden! Please, Emperor and Empress Dowager, proceed there," the Empress offered her arm gracefully.

Even though the Empress Dowager did not favor her, it wasn’t proper to be too obvious, so she had no choice but to allow the Emperor and Empress to escort her toward the Imperial Garden.

The banquet was ready, and the opera troupe began to perform, enlivening the Imperial Garden.

After a few rounds of toasting, Noble Concubine Shih suddenly spoke up.

"Empress, why has Lady Xia not attended?"

The Empress’s expression darkened, her fist clenching tightly within her sleeve. That Noble Consort is bent on making me uncomfortable! It was hard enough to find someone to divert some of her favor, and it had to be Lady Xia, who is always sick. Constantly ill! Utterly useless!

On the surface, however, the Empress maintained her charming smile.

"Lady Xia has fallen ill, and this palace has excused her from her duties so she can recuperate properly," she said.

"Oh, I see. I was wondering why the Respectful Affairs Office removed her nameplate!" Noble Concubine Shih couldn’t be happier.

After speaking, she sighed, "Alas! What a pity! Such a gentle and lovely sister, even the Emperor is quite fond of her. Unfortunately... such ill fate!"

The Empress gripped her wine cup so tightly, barely suppressing the urge to splash the wine in the Noble Consort’s face.

"This chrysanthemum wine is excellent. I propose a toast to the Emperor!"

The Empress skillfully changed the subject, stepping forward to offer a toast to the Emperor.

"Hmm," Zhao Junyao took a sip from his wine cup.

He was accompanying the Empress Dowager in watching the opera. To him, the performances on stage and the dramas unfolding around him were all part of the same play.

「...」

The Imperial Garden was bustling with excitement, and Zhaohua Pavilion was not to be outdone.

Chrysanthemum wine, Double Ninth cakes, dogwood berries—nothing was missing. The table even held a generous serving of fatty crab from the Imperial Kitchen.

"Master, the chrysanthemum wine was brought by Xiao Weizi from the Imperial Kitchen. He has excellent skills! You must try it!"

"This pomegranate is excellent!"

Xia Ruqing eyed the bright red pomegranate seeds that Zi Yue had peeled.

"You all sit down and eat too; there are no outsiders here!"

"Aye, thank you, Master!"

Since the Imperial Kitchen had received a secret order from His Majesty, they dared not neglect this Honored Lady.

Desserts and fresh treats of all sorts were never missed for her, and the midday meal for the Double Ninth Festival was especially sumptuous.

The high-ranking consorts had many requests, so the Imperial Kitchen selected several fine dishes and sent quite a few plates to Xia Ruqing.

The table was full to the brim, and as a food lover, Xia Ruqing ate with great joy.

"This steamed mandarin fish is excellent! The flesh is tender yet firm—exquisite!"

"The Eight-Treasure Stuffed Duck is delicious too! The duck meat is well-marinated, tender and juicy, without the usual gamey taste!"

"Master, try this," Zi Yue offered her the peeled crab roe.

"Such a large and fatty crab, filled with so much roe!" Including the crab meat, the portion filled a small dish; this single fat crab must have weighed over a catty.

Xia Ruqing took a hefty scoop of crab roe, dipped it into the special sauce, and savored it.

"Mm! Delicious, delicious!" she nodded excitedly.

Such a large piece of crab roe, rich, tender, and fragrant, filled her mouth with a savory taste so delightful she almost drooled while eating.

Xia Ruqing felt that the glutton within her had finally been appeased.

It has been two months since she transmigrated. At the beginning, she had no status, no favor; crushing her was no more difficult than crushing an ant. The hand she was dealt was pitifully bad. Two months later, she had escaped the clutches of the Empress, avoided the schemes of the Noble Consort, and gained the Emperor’s favor. Life was finally getting better. As for the future... Of course, it would only get better and better!

「...」

Ever since Qiu Hong and Qiu Tong were sent to serve in the courtyard, they were completely out of the loop on what was happening inside.

Usually, Zi Yue attended to the Honored Lady, while Xiao Xizi kept watch outside.

The moment either of them approached, they would be chased away.

"It seems you two still don’t have enough to do!" Xiao Xizi sneered coldly.

"Ah?"

"Not at all, not at all! What are you talking about, Xiao Xizi?" The two of them laughed awkwardly, trying to ingratiate themselves.

"Xiao Xizi, we’ve served our master for a year, after all. You have some influence with the master, so please put in a good word for us!"

"Yes, Xiao Xizi, for old times’ sake, speak to our master and let us come back to serve her directly!"

Winter was fast approaching, and life doing menial work outside was truly unbearable.

When Xiao Xizi heard this, he sneered again. "Are you still harboring such thoughts? Let me tell you the truth—if it weren’t for the master’s lingering sentiment for you, she would have sent you to the Laundry Bureau long ago! You wouldn’t even have been allowed to reach this point!"

Qiu Hong and Qiu Tong looked at each other, their hearts sinking.

"Alright, I’ve said enough! Remember, work hard. Otherwise, the master might not even care about this little bit of past sentiment anymore!" Xiao Xizi finished speaking and left.

Just before he was completely gone, he turned his head back.

"If I catch you approaching again, don’t blame me for being impolite!"

With that, he truly departed.

"Yes!"

The two replied dejectedly.

「...」

After eating and drinking her fill, Xia Ruqing slept soundly. Upon waking, it was already Shen Hour.

After freshening up, Xiao Xizi came in and reported on Qiu Hong and Qiu Tong.

Xia Ruqing listened and gave a cold laugh. "They’re still too idle!"

After thinking for a moment, she ordered, "From now on, all the menial tasks in Zhaohua Pavilion—washing clothes, scrubbing toilets, all the dirty and tiring work—give it all to them!"

It would be best if they left on their own initiative! Humph! Weren’t they so adept at causing trouble? At passing information? Let them try now! Go ahead, cause trouble! Go ahead, pass information! If they can find out anything about Zhaohua Pavilion from now on, it will mean I, Xia Ruqing, am incompetent!

"Yes!"

After the ’illness’ incident, Xiao Xizi and Zi Yue were more convinced of their master’s abilities than ever, complying with her orders without a single question!

「...」

On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, Zhao Junyao still hadn’t flipped anyone’s name card. Just before the palace gates were about to be locked for the night, he quietly ordered someone to bring Xia Ruqing over.

Li Shengan had made Zhaochen Palace as secure as an iron drum; Zhao Junyao was completely unconcerned about any news leaking out.

In the Emperor’s bedchamber, Xia Ruqing curtsied gracefully.

"Your servant greets the Emperor!"

This was their first meeting since he had decided to protect her.

"Sit," Zhao Junyao said. He had already bathed and was casually dressed in a bright yellow inner robe, leisurely reading a book.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Xia Ruqing had also bathed and, beneath her royal blue silk cloak, was also wearing an inner robe.

The palace attendants tactfully withdrew, and only then did Xia Ruqing dare to sit down.

"Lady Xia, you are very smart!" Zhao Junyao, who didn’t like beating around the bush, spoke directly.