A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 1034: What Is Love

"Miss!"

"Miss, please let go of your hand!"

Xia Ruyi, fierce and rabid like a mad dog.

"Why should I let go? Speak! Are you in cahoots with them? Are you?"

Pan Zhu shook her head, struggling desperately.

"Miss, this maidservant is solely devoted to you..."

Halfway through, tears began to fall from her eyes.

"So be it!"

"If Miss finds it unbearable, then kill this maidservant!"

"Since childhood, this maidservant has grown up with Miss, served you for so many years, and if I must die by your hand, I will at least die without regret!"

"Do it then!"

With that, she closed her eyes, radiating a sense of fearlessness towards death.

Xia Ruyi gritted her teeth fiercely.

"Do you think I won’t dare to kill you?"

With that, she used all her strength in her grip.

Pan Zhu’s face gradually turned red, then blue, and finally purple.

It looked like Pan Zhu was on the brink of death.

Xia Ruyi eventually couldn’t bring herself to do it and suddenly released her.

She gave her a vicious kick to the abdomen, then turned around and burst into tears.

Pan Zhu clutched her throat, feeling pain in her belly.

Immediately, she let out a miserable cry, rolled her eyes, and fainted on the ground.

Hearing something behind her, Xia Ruyi turned around in shock.

"Pan Zhu..."

She froze there completely.

She looked at Pan Zhu lying on the ground with a ghastly pale face, motionless.

Fear slowly crept in, her body starting to tremble.

In the end, she frantically threw herself to the ground, screaming uncontrollably.

"Pan Zhu!"

"Pan Zhu!"

In the front courtyard, the Sixth Prince and Sixth Princess Consort were newlyweds, basking in their joy.

The grand crimson attire was incredibly lavish, accompanied by rounds of songs, dances, and toasts, inducing a slight intoxication.

After nightfall.

Each moment of bliss during the first night was precious, the young couple inseparable.

In the backyard, the master and maid showcased total collapse, one fainting and the other unconscious.

The dim light cast a cold, lonely ambiance.

Cobwebs in the corners added to the melancholy.

The contrast between the front and back was stark.

Making Xia Ruyi’s utter failure, desolation evident.

For the rest of the twelfth month.

Xia Ruyi was virtually confined by the Princess Consort, using various excuses.

She hadn’t even seen the Sixth Prince, let alone shared a bed with him.

Meanwhile, she hit Pan Zhu several more times.

Once, when Pan Zhu couldn’t take it anymore, she ran to the garden in the rear courtyard of the Prince’s Mansion, intending to throw herself into the lake.

She was saved by Hong Qiao, the Princess Consort’s trusted maid.

After much persuasion, Pan Zhu finally returned to Xia Ruyi’s side.

But strangely.

Since then, Xia Ruyi never hit Pan Zhu again.

As for what exactly happened that night, only those two maids probably knew.

Of course, that’s another story, for now, let’s not dwell on it.

...

Time shifts back to the day after the Sixth Prince’s grand wedding.

The entire Capital City was inundated with gossip about Xia Ruyi shamelessly throwing herself at the Sixth Prince, delusionally pursuing him.

Though not entirely false, considering it was the truth.

The Hou Mansion and Minister’s Mansion were the first to learn the news.

Ni Manxue even sent word to the palace at the first opportunity.

Though Xia Ruqing knew early on.

Upon hearing the confirmed news, Xia Ruqing was still quite impressed with the brazen behavior of the Sixth Prince and Empress Dowager Zhen.

She sighed deeply.

"Alas!"

"Had it been another innocent young girl, I’d probably feel heartache!"

"But for Xia Ruyi, that’s not necessary!"

Not being some virtuous white lotus herself!

Figuratively using others’ tricks against them, she remembered it firmly!

Zi Yue and Zi Su listened for a while before finally understanding.

Zi Su asked further.

"Miss, does that mean?"

"The Sixth Prince swapped the bride last minute?"

Xia Ruqing snorted coldly.

"Last minute? Who knows how long it was pre-meditated! How could it have been last minute!"

Zi Su nodded and asked further.

"So does that mean Xia Ruyi was completely kept in the dark?"

"She didn’t know she was swapped!"

Zi Yue tapped her head playfully and laughed.

"Exactly!"

"You’re usually so clever, why so slow this time?"

"The Miss has said it three times already!"

Zi Su chuckled.

"I’m just too shocked!"

"Even in dramas, they wouldn’t dare write it like this!"

Xia Ruqing laughed.

"It is quite the spectacle!"

"But..."

She stood up, gazing out at the goose feather snow, stretching lazily.

"It doesn’t concern me! Let’s not talk about it!"

"In a few days, it’ll be Yue Er’s second birthday. Are all the preparations I instructed ready?"

Zi Su patted her chest.

"Miss, don’t worry!"

"Who would dare neglect the Little Princess’s birthday!"

Xia Ruqing laughed.

"Just asking offhandedly!"

With that, she turned and let the maid help her into her fur coat, heading to the side hall to see Yue Er.

The snow was heavy today, the little girl must be bored, unable to play outside.

Zi Yue and Zi Su quickly followed, bringing cloaks, parasols, and other items.

...

Time passed quickly.

The Little Princess’s birthday arrived soon.

The heavy snow from the past days stopped, and the weather was clear.

Though it was in the coldest period of winter.

Now, the sun shone warmly, and the ground dragon inside made it cozy.

On this day.

Chenchen, Henger, and Yeye, the three brothers, took a rare day off from their tutor and stayed home just to celebrate Yue Er’s birthday.

Zhao Junyao also came back early from court.

To celebrate his daughter’s birthday, he temporarily put aside the memorials.

Even though the consorts weren’t invited.

They still sent over all kinds of gifts.

Just registering and cataloging everything took Xiao Xizi and Xiao Zhu Zi more than a month.

Xia Ruqing couldn’t help but laugh and cry looking at these gifts.

"Recently, I asked them to donate a lot of silver, and now they’re being put to expense again!"

"Your Majesty, I actually feel rather bad about it!"

"It’s truly a..."

Zhao Junyao smiled.

"What does this matter?"

"My harem isn’t poor to that point, rest assured with me here!"

Xia Ruqing thought about it and agreed.

Since everyone belonged to the Emperor, they wouldn’t be starved, would they?

"Oh right, Your Majesty!"

"About the promotion you mentioned earlier... It’s already the eighteenth, isn’t it about time?"

Zhao Junyao nodded.

"Yes!"

Xia Ruqing was about to say more but he covered her mouth.

"Today is Yue Er’s birthday, let’s not talk about other women!" It’s a bit of a mood spoiler.

Xia Ruqing chuckled helplessly.

Indeed!

Why was she discussing other women at her daughter’s birthday banquet?

She must be out of her mind!

She shook her head to stop thinking about it!

The rest of the day.

Xia Ruqing prepared all kinds of surprises for her daughter.

There were gifts, flowers cultivated in the greenhouse, and a cake.

There were candies and modern-like princess dresses.

Father Emperor and Mother Empress, three brothers, and the Yellow Bean family with Da Bai and Xiao Bai were all present.

Everyone was lively and cheerful.

A warm white mist hung on the glazed tiles of the windows.

Xiao Lele’s cheeks were red with excitement.

"Mother!"

"Mother!"

"I... love you!"

Xia Ruqing kissed her daughter’s cheek, smiling in response.

"Mother loves you too!"

The little girl went to her Father Emperor.

"Father Emperor, I love you!"

Zhao Junyao’s face turned bright red, thinking... What is love?