CHAPTER 23: CHAPTER 22 WATCHING YOUR PERFORMANCE

"She’s just concerned about Elder Sister’s health!" Lady Zhu hurriedly said.

"If I had someone half as good as Shui Hong by my side, I wouldn’t have to worry!" Lady Zhang said with a furrowed brow and a pained expression.

The Palace Maid behind her buried her head even lower!

She thought to herself, a skilled woman can’t cook without rice; I’m willing to make you soup, but you have to earn the ingredients first!

Xia Ruqing drank a few sips of sweet soup, her gaze shifting to the beautiful scenery outside, longing as she admired the large hibiscus flowers! She didn’t respond, just silently watching them perform. She believed that their invitation to meet was not for the sake of idle chatter! Sure enough, seeing that she wasn’t responding, the two finally got to the point!

Lady Zhang started to sob and wail, while Lady Zhu didn’t cry; she just kept complaining!

"Elder Sister Xia! We once lived under the same roof—such a profound connection! And now, among the Fine Ladies of our group, you are the second to be promoted to Honored Lady!"

The first was Honored Lady Hu, who was confined to her quarters the last time because of an incident involving tribute rouge!

"Elder Sister Xia, you must share what you did to make the Emperor favor you for so long! Please take care of us as well," said Lady Zhu, her face flushed red.

"Yes, Elder Sister Xia! If we receive favor as well, we will surely support you!" Lady Zhang said while wiping away tears, a face full of hope.

"Right! And we will surely help Elder Sister Xia too!" said Lady Zhu, her face also red.

"As the saying goes, ’Three cobblers make a Zhuge Liang.’ United, the three of us will surely do much better than going it alone!" Lady Zhang added eagerly.

Xia Ruqing hadn’t even finished listening when she nearly spat out her soup. What a bunch of nonsense!

A profound connection? Hardly. As she remembered, in the room they shared, she was the one of humblest birth and had always been their target for mockery!

And as for taking care of them? The sheer audacity! Why should she support them? Where did such confidence come from?

They claim they’ll support her if they gain favor? What a joke! Where does this unfounded confidence stem from?

These two fools! Who would want to unite with them? Ridiculous!

Observing the two before her, smiling yet with eyes flashing with ambition and greed, Xia Ruqing forced an awkward smile.

"Are my two sisters lacking anything?"

"Don’t worry, having shared a roof makes for a real bond. If there’s anything you lack or need, just speak up..."

Lady Zhang and Lady Zhu saw that Xia Ruqing was not picking up the conversation and were about to continue. Suddenly, Xia Ruqing began to stroke her temples, her face gradually paling.

"My lady! My lady, what’s wrong?" Zi Yue gasped in shock!

"Xiao Xizi! The lady is tired, let’s quickly help her back!"

Xiao Xizi, who was standing not far away, immediately came over to take Xia Ruqing’s other arm.

"Ladies, our lady has just recovered from illness and can’t be exposed to the cold wind, please understand!"

"Lady Zhang, Lady Zhu, we must take our leave now!" Zi Yue also bid them farewell.

After saying this, the two of them hurriedly assisted Xia Ruqing away, leaving Lady Zhang and Lady Zhu staring at each other!

"What... what does this mean?" Lady Zhang’s face flushed with embarrassment.

"It means she doesn’t want to help us!" Lady Zhu put away her pitiful look, flung her handkerchief, and walked away in disdain!

"Hey, wait for me!" Lady Zhang followed after her.

"Hmph, what’s there to be proud of? She’s just a fallen Honored Lady! The Emperor hasn’t summoned her for over half a month!" Lady Zhu said with disdain.

"Exactly, with her low status and her constant illness, trying to climb up is harder than ascending to heaven!" Lady Zhang added after a pause.

Lady Zhu gritted her teeth and plucked a flower. "She got favored again after a whole year! Could it really be just luck?!"

If not, then what exactly did she do?

A disfavored Honored Lady is still an Honored Lady! Once promoted to Honored Lady, she becomes a formal mistress of the Harem! Far superior to us ladies who are half-slave and half-master. She gets to pay her respects to the Empress, receive rewards during festivities, and often see the Emperor at various banquets, big and small! And what of us ladies? Nothing. The bitterness is hard to endure!

Her fingers loosened. Only remnants of the once Yan Hong petals remained. Taking a handkerchief from the Palace Maid, she wiped her hands and gradually walked away.

「Zhaohua Pavilion」

After Xia Ruqing returned, she felt a bit tired. She lay down and fell asleep without much thought.

Not knowing how long she slept, she woke up in a daze. She then heard Zi Yue and the others whispering behind the partition.

"Lady Zhang and Lady Zhu are too shameless, talking about lifting others up! When they were in favor, why didn’t they lift up our Master?" Xiao Xizi cursed softly.

Zi Yue also said indignantly, "Exactly! When those other favored Ladies were in favor, our Master was left out, without anyone to support her!"

It was no secret that her master hadn’t been summoned by the Emperor for a year since entering the palace. Although Zi Yue was new, she also felt angry for her master!

Xia Ruqing herself didn’t really care. Who would constantly think about such disgusting matters!

Rubbing her eyes, she still felt sleepy. Xia Ruqing rolled over and fell asleep again.

When she awoke again, it was Zi Yue who roused her.

"Master, the Emperor has selected your tablet. Hurry up and get ready!"

Xia Ruqing was still groggy when Zi Yue pulled her up.

Xiao Xizi had already heated up the water, and Zi Yue helped her to the bathing room.

Soaking in the hot water, Xia Ruqing finally became somewhat alert. Thinking about having to roll in the sheets again that night, she suddenly lost all drowsiness.

I’m afraid of the pain; the Emperor is too rough!

"Zi Yue, have Xiao Xizi bring some pastries. I need to fill my stomach!" Physical work requires a full belly!

The Emperor’s royal meals look good but don’t taste that great! I can’t eat much of it!

"What would the Master like to eat?"

"Um... I’d like a steamed bun, a plate of salt and pepper peanuts, a plate of meat-filled shortbread, and two pastries—either yam cake or date paste cake would do!"

"Yes! Your servant will go right away!"

These were all light dishes, not too flavorful, so it wouldn’t hurt for her to eat some.

After bathing, she was indeed a little hungry. She ate half a steamed bun with the peanuts, a piece of shortbread, and a piece of mung bean cake, until she was about half full.

"Master, which dress will you wear today?"

Zi Yue laid out the clothes in a row. The winter garments were not yet ready. These were newly made autumn outfits.

"Just that Molli-colored one will do. It’s a light shade of green, refreshing!"

"Yes!" Zi Yue also thought that the Master looked good in refreshing attire.

Xia Ruqing then picked out a Jade Hairpin, a Jade Pendent, and also a Silver Hairpin from which a white jade magpie dangled. Its eyes were dotted with black agate, shining and lively. It looked so real, as if it were singing on a branch! This set of hairpins totaled six pieces. All featured small animals and were very delightful; Xia Ruqing liked them very much!

These trinkets weren’t expensive, but their charm lay in being unique and adorable.

This magpie one looks even better than the last double-fish one!

The white jade was delicate, and the Silver Hairpin was also carved with flowers—the epitome of finesse.