CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 81: DISTURBED THE FETAL ENERGY

Sister Qing took a good while before she came back and said, "The Imperial Physician is fine for now, just tired. He has been advised to rest more and not to overwork himself!"

Finally, the Empress Dowager breathed a sigh of relief. However, she soon felt that Noble Concubine Shih was causing trouble again. After grumbling for quite some time, she let it go.

Sister Qing helped the Empress Dowager lie down before she left, her face filled with concern. Actually, Noble Concubine Shih was not merely tired. Instead... she had disturbed the fetal qi. In her plea for mercy, Noble Concubine Shih had repeatedly begged Sister Qing not to tell the Empress Dowager. Seeing her pale face as she lay in bed, she looked truly pitiable. Thinking about how she had watched Noble Concubine Shih grow up from a young age, Sister Qing eventually could not bear it and thus agreed.

「In the Xifu Palace.」

After sending Sister Qing away, Noble Concubine Shih fiercely gripped the bed curtains. Through clenched teeth, she said, "If anyone dares to utter a word, I will have you die with no place to be buried!"

The group kneeling beneath her all professed they would not dare.

Noble Concubine Shih waved her hand, dismissing them all.

Ying Yue came in holding a bowl of medicine, carefully aiding her as she drank it, and then advised, "Your Highness, your anger has subsided. From now on, you must take good care of your pregnancy..."

Noble Concubine Shih swallowed the bitter medicine, frowning deeply. Only after popping a piece of candied fruit into her mouth did her complexion look somewhat better.

"When will the Emperor return?"

Ying Yue replied, "His Majesty will return to the palace tomorrow..."

Noble Concubine Shih nodded and did not say anything further.

...

At Xia Ruqing’s quarters, she took her medicine, sweated profusely, and then slept for an entire day and night, from early morning the first day until almost noon the next. She sweated profusely again and again, and her bedding had been changed three times; at last, her fever had receded.

After bathing, she sat on the bed dressed in her undergarments and wrapped in a blanket, watching Zi Yue bring over a bowl of dark medicine. Having hardly eaten anything and drunk plenty of medicine, one could imagine how miserable Xia Ruqing’s day had been.

"My Lady, it’s just cool enough now. It won’t burn your mouth. Please drink it quickly!"

Xia Ruqing looked at the dark medicine, steeled herself, held her breath, and downed it in one gulp!

"Have a piece of candied fruit quickly!"

Xia Ruqing looked at the sugar-coated dried fruit with some reluctance.

"It’s too sweet!" she said, with a look of disgust. "I want to eat pickled plums—sweet and sour!"

Zi Yue was a little curious. "What are pickled plums?"

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment. Unable to explain clearly, she said, "When plums are in season, I will make some and keep them in a jar. They can be kept for a year and are much tastier than this candied fruit!"

Candied fruit was just fruit dried and preserved in sugar; it was sweet, and nothing but sweet. Pickled plums were different; that sweet and sour taste was something most girls couldn’t resist. As a child, her grandmother had made them for her, a memory she still treasured. She was just unsure if hers would be as tasty as her grandmother’s. I’ll have to try and see.

Zi Yue happily agreed. Then Xiao Xizi came in to ask, "My Lady, what would you like for your noon meal?"

Xia Ruqing thought for a moment and started to feel troubled. "My mouth is so bitter, I don’t want to eat anything, but I’m really hungry!" I haven’t eaten much, and my stomach is empty.

Xiao Xizi thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "This morning when I went to the Imperial Kitchen, Xiao Weizi mentioned they had tender chives, fresh and newly cut!"

Having said that, Xiao Xizi smiled and added, "I just don’t know... if My Lady likes to eat this!"

Xia Ruqing’s eyes brightened. Yes, when it’s cold out, there isn’t much else, but chives are always available!

"I want to eat dumplings stuffed with chive and egg, with some vermicelli noodles too. They are light yet fresh and tender, that taste..." I’m sick and can’t eat anything greasy, but I can still eat non-greasy food—I’m a foodie; no one can stop me from eating!

Xiao Xizi agreed. Just as she was about to leave, Xia Ruqing called her back.

"Get some dumplings with shepherd’s purse filling too, mix in some shrimp and dried scallops, and stew a fish head with tofu soup for me. That should be about it..." I can’t have meat, so I’ll have vegetables; I can’t eat meat, so I’ll have fish! That way, I’ll get both meat and vegetables, for a balanced diet...

Speaking of a balanced diet, Xia Ruqing remembered she had forgotten something and continued to give instructions. "Get me some lotus leaf porridge and some steamed flat cakes too!"

Steamed flat cakes are actually just like regular steamed buns, made the same way, except they are flat and disc-shaped. If you want them in the typical bun shape, that’s also fine, but Xia Ruqing liked steamed flat cakes—she enjoyed rolling them with vegetable dishes.

"Ah..."

Hearing that their mistress had such a good appetite, Xiao Xizi and Zi Yue were both happy.

"Being able to eat is the key to recovering from illness quickly!"

After Xia Ruqing gave her instructions, she leaned back on the bed. There was no helping it; her body felt weak and powerless after even the slightest illness.

She pondered. Simply recuperating won’t be enough. When it gets warmer, I’ll still need to go out in the sun and exercise a bit!

...

As these thoughts ran through her mind, Xia Ruqing covered her eyes and drifted into a drowsy state.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when she sensed someone suddenly before her. He carried... a familiar scent.

Hmm, Zhao Junyao? No, that can’t be right; he won’t be back in the palace until tomorrow! But... such a familiar scent of ambergris. If not him, then who could it be?

While hazily thinking this, suddenly the figure came closer and closer.

Finally, the figure slipped into her bed...

Coarse stubble scraped against her face, bringing a gust of cold air with it.

Xia Ruqing immediately woke up.

And then, she was startled by the person in front of her!

"Ah..."

She cried out in surprise, wanting to run, wanting to hit him.

Zhao Junyao immediately caught her flailing hands and feet, his voice deepening.

"Come here..."

Xia Ruqing heard the familiar voice and finally calmed down...

"Emperor... Emperor?"

She couldn’t quite believe it. She wanted to reach out and touch his face but drew her hand back midway. She just stared at him with her big, watery eyes!

Zhao Junyao maintained a stern expression, but his eyes held a hint of warmth.

"What? Have you forgotten me after I’ve been gone for only six or seven days?"

By now, Xia Ruqing had fully come to her senses, her dazed mind clearing.

Haha, the Emperor has returned! The tough times are finally over; now I can live a comfortable life without any guilt! In Xia Ruqing’s heart, an understanding had unknowingly formed: as long as he was here, no one would bully her!

Right then, Xia Ruqing became cheerful.

"You’ve finally returned, Your Majesty! You’re tanner and thinner. As for your scent..." Xia Ruqing sniffed. "Well, even if you are a bit smelly, I won’t hold it against you..."

Zhao Junyao kept a straight face, but inwardly he wanted to laugh.

"You’re the first person to dare call me smelly, Lady Xia!"

Xia Ruqing brimmed with pride.

"Will you punish me, Your Majesty?"

Zhao Junyao glanced at her meaningfully, the corners of his lips curling up slightly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"Of course, I will!"

Xia Ruqing suddenly realized her blunder. Her face flushed crimson. I’ve really shot myself in the foot this time!

Flustered, Xia Ruqing quickly changed the subject...

"Your Majesty, how come you’ve returned early?"