CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 31: A SLAP IN THE FACE

"Ah..." she exclaimed.

"Your Majesty... You haven’t had your dinner yet..."

"I’m not eating!"

Li Shengan stood outside, looking up at the sky and sighed, "Ah... The sun is really nice today!"

"Master, it’s evening," Little Zhuzi said.

Li Shengan turned his head and knocked him on the head. "You little brat! What I clearly said was the moon!"

Little Zhuzi said, covering his head and making a pained face, "Master! There’s no moon either. It’s cloudy tonight!"

So... Little Zhuzi’s head successfully received another knock.

「...」

Xia Ruqing didn’t know when she had fallen asleep. By the time she woke up, there was no one by her side. She was groggy and, as usual, clutched her blanket.

"Zi Yue..."

Zi Yue didn’t come; several palace maids entered instead.

"Lady Xia! Are you going to get up?" one asked.

"His Majesty instructed you to sleep in a bit more when he left," another added. "He’s already sent someone to inform the Empress that you need not go for morning greetings today."

"Oh..." Xia Ruqing was about to continue sleeping when her mind suddenly cleared. "Ah?"

This place... this is Zhaochen Palace! The memories of the previous night flooded back, and Xia Ruqing felt so ashamed she wished she could crawl into a hole and hide. Last night, he tormented me until nearly midnight, and I was exhausted to the point of passing out! Does the Emperor have such intense tastes? I was crying my eyes out, looking like a mess, yet he still had the mood... They say a woman’s heart is hard to fathom, but now it seems, a man’s tastes... are even harder to guess! Or maybe... when I fought and kicked, it was especially thrilling and exciting for him?! Ah! The Emperor can’t have masochistic tendencies, can he?

"What’s wrong, Lady Xia?" a palace maid asked, seeing her space out.

Xia Ruqing threw off the blankets and got up. "I won’t sleep anymore. Please help me do my hair, sisters. The rules must not be neglected!"

How could I not go to Jiaofang Hall to pay my respects? Even if I don’t want to get on the Empress’s good side, I still have to show proper respect! To live well in the Harem, one can’t bypass the Empress!

「...」

The Empress’s attitude towards Xia Ruqing was very amiable. As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend! The fact that Lady Xia can make Noble Concubine Shih uncomfortable delights me immensely!

"I heard... yesterday, Lady Xia, you bumped into Consort Yun in the Imperial Garden? You really... do not know your manners!" In Jiaofang Hall, the Empress "reprimanded" Lady Xia in front of all the concubines.

Consort Yun mumbled discontentedly to one side, This isn’t a reprimand! The Empress is clearly just putting on a show!

"Empress, your teachings are correct. I won’t dare do it again," Xia Ruqing said respectfully.

The Empress smiled serenely. The Emperor hasn’t taken issue, so of course, I won’t either.

"Since that’s the case, you should apologize to Consort Yun. You are all sisters here, and Consort Yun shouldn’t be too upset either!"

The moment Xia Ruqing heard that, she felt delighted. The Empress’s heart has leaned completely to my side! Feeling favored really feels great! Hahaha...

Consort Yun was so angry she could practically spit blood. She was about to retort, but suddenly remembering the Emperor’s demeanor, she didn’t dare. She forcefully suppressed the rage in her heart and reluctantly agreed.

After Xia Ruqing apologized, the Empress laughed and said, "We all belong to the Emperor. Living in the palace, we should get along peacefully. Otherwise, if word gets out, wouldn’t it be a laughingstock?"

"This concubine will heed the Empress’s teachings!" all the women spoke in unison.

After coming out of Jiaofang Hall, Consort Yun glared fiercely at Xia Ruqing and walked away, flinging her sleeves. Consort Zheng Pin looked at Xia Ruqing with complex emotions and also left. All the way back, she simply could not figure it out.

"Hong Yun, tell me, it was clearly Lady Xia who offended Consort Yun, but why does it seem like... Consort Yun is the one who came off worse?" Consort Zheng Pin asked.

"My lady, we mustn’t speak carelessly of these affairs. Who can truly know what happens inside Zhaochen Palace!" As she spoke, Hong Yun leaned in and whispered, "I’ve heard from some people in the palace that when Consort Yun left Zhaochen Palace, her eyes were red, as if she had been crying!"

"Really? Such a thing happened?"

"I am just relaying what I’ve heard; I didn’t believe it at first! But now it seems..." Hong Yun replied.

Consort Zheng Pin nodded, understanding. Yes. If Consort Yun went to complain, and if the Emperor wanted to punish Lady Xia, why would he have summoned her last night? I was confused. But for Lady Xia to be able to make Consort Yun suffer like this, I truly underestimated her before.

「...」

Xia Ruqing’s Zhaohua Pavilion was close to Honored Lady Hu’s Lijing Pavilion. All along the way, Honored Lady Hu was in full sarcasm mode.

"Lady Xia, you really have some skills! Not only have you offended Consort Yun, but you’ve also coaxed the Emperor into taking up your cause!"

Last night, I was so full of anticipation, hoping the Emperor would severely punish Lady Xia. I craned my neck, waiting and waiting! And what did I get? The Emperor summoned Lady Xia! Summoned her! How infuriating! What on earth did Lady Xia do to make the Emperor disregard even Consort Yun?

"Honored Lady Hu, was your confinement last time not satisfying enough?" Xia Ruqing asked with a light smile. "With the New Year just a month away, perhaps you... wish for some peace and quiet for yourself?" Xia Ruqing’s smile was both mocking and nonchalant.

"You..." Honored Lady Hu sputtered. "Lady Xia, don’t be so proud! Don’t think that just because of your momentary favor, you can act with impunity!"

Me, act with impunity? Xia Ruqing was a little perplexed. Who is the one always causing trouble here? Why make such a fuss when you could live your days in peace?

Perhaps Honored Lady Hu was spooked, for she defiantly snorted a few more times before hurriedly leaving with her palace maid. Xia Ruqing shook her head and paid her no more attention, continuing along the small path of the Imperial Garden back to Zhaohua Pavilion.

In the following days, Zhao Junyao summoned Lady Xia twice more, only after which did he visit Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin to see the Princess. When it came to favor, of course, Noble Concubine Shih was far ahead. Xia Ruqing had just made a brief appearance before sinking back, becoming one of the many "neither favored nor disfavored" palace consorts.

Xia Ruqing was quite content with this. It’s better this way. The most stable life in the palace is for people like this!

Zi Yue adjusted the charcoal brazier for her mistress, who was now sitting on the couch doing needlework. Hearing this, Zi Yue couldn’t help laughing. "At first, I didn’t understand my lady’s thoughts, but now I do!"

Xia Ruqing held a small hand warmer, her feet tucked under the quilt for warmth, and in her hands was a hot, toasty sweet potato roasted by Xiao Xizi. It tasted delicious and sweet.

"You’ve only been in the palace for a short time; you’ll understand more as time passes," Xia Ruqing said, taking another bite of sweet potato. The bright red, semi-translucent flesh of the sweet potato, roasted over charcoal, oozed with sugary syrup.

"By the way, my lady, when Chief Steward Hai brought so many people, why did you pick only me?" Zi Yue asked. "I was thinking that those older sisters had served in the palace before and must be nimble and handy. I, being new, surely wouldn’t stand a chance!"

"And now?" Xia Ruqing asked.

"Now I think... it’s better not to employ those people!" Zi Yue replied after pondering.

Both mistress and maid understood the hidden implication: who knew whose spies those girls were!

Xia Ruqing laughed. "You’re quite insightful, girl!"