A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 789 Return

The crowd below was so scared that they immediately knelt down.

"Your Grace’s kindness is beyond measure, your servant is endlessly grateful!"

How could they possibly scorn such generosity? After all, Consort Xian was known throughout the palace for her magnanimity.

As for the others in the palace, without offspring or favor, they barely scraped by in their daily lives.

Even if she wanted to be generous, she couldn’t afford to be!

Xia Ruqing was very satisfied and waved for them to rise.

Zi Yue also timely distributed the rewards.

The Sisters in charge of the princes’ daily lives received eight taels of silver and a pair of Twisted Silver Bracelets.

Her own personal Palace Maids and the Chief Eunuch received five taels of silver and a pair of agate bracelets (Xiao Xizi got two Silver Tokens).

The Second Class palace maids, which were Zi Ning and Xiao Zhu Zi, as well as the newly promoted Qiu Ye, each got three taels of silver plus a Silver Hairpin or two Silver Tokens.

The rest of the newcomers received two taels of silver, but no additional rewards.

Even that was quite good, though.

In other palaces where the masters were not well-off, even first-class Palace Maids might not receive any rewards.

Two taels of silver was already more than their monthly salary; what more could they want?

"Your servants thank Your Grace for this blessing!"

The crowd knelt all over the room, each one satisfied and grateful.

Xia Ruqing nodded her head.

"All rise. If there’s nothing else, you may all disperse!"

"I’ll give you the afternoon off, until I return tonight, but... you must ensure that Qingya Residence is safe and sound!!"

"No mishaps are allowed on New Year’s Eve night!"

"Yes!"

The crowd grew even more excited.

Xia Ruqing simply waved her hand.

"You may all leave!"

"Yes!"

After the crowd had left, Xia Ruqing collapsed onto the soft couch.

"So tired! I need to sleep for a while. You all go and rest too. We still have to stay up late tonight!"

"Yes!"

"My lady, you should sleep on the bed for a while!"

Xia Ruqing nodded.

Zi Yue tucked her in properly, drew the mosquito curtains, and then went out.

「Over at Zhaochen Palace.」

Zhao Junyao did not return until Shen Hour in the afternoon.

He then summoned several members of the Royal Clan to discuss the ancestral worship scheduled for the next day.

By the time he had a moment to himself, it was already time for dinner. With only half a Shi Chen left before the Royal Family’s evening banquet, he couldn’t even change his clothes before heading out.

All along the way, he inquired with Li Shengan.

"I heard she got summoned by the Empress Dowager today. Is she alright now?"

Li Shengan didn’t know much, having only heard a few words from Little Zhuzi. He said, "Your Majesty can rest assured, Consort Xian has long since returned. It’s said that His Highness the Crown Prince went to rescue Her Grace!"

Zhao Junyao frowned.

"Chenchen?"

"Yes!" Li Shengan answered.

A flash of relief crossed Zhao Junyao’s stern face as he arrogantly thought, Chenchen, so young yet so astute, truly a credit to my own tutelage!

Excellent, truly worthy of instruction!

Li Shengan couldn’t guess what the Emperor was thinking and continued, "It’s also not heard that Consort Xian called for the Imperial Physician, so she should be fine!"

Zhao Junyao gave him a glare and said nothing.

But he thought, Qingqing isn’t foolish; calling for the Imperial Physician in such a situation would only bring trouble upon herself.

Feeling the chill of the silent rebuke, Li Shengan didn’t dare say anything more.

They arrived at Qingya Residence and found it quiet and peaceful.

「"The Emperor has arrived!"」

With that announcement, the Palace Attendants of Qingya Residence knelt down one after another in the courtyard to welcome him.

"Greeting Your Majesty!"

Without taking as much as a glance at them, Zhao Junyao strode into the main hall.

Finding it empty, he proceeded to the inner chamber.

Xia Ruqing was getting out of bed in a flurry with Zi Yue’s assistance.

Upon seeing the Emperor enter, Zi Yue approached, "This servant greets Your Majesty!"

"Qingqing!"

Zhao Junyao directly bypassed Zi Yue and strode energetically toward the bedside.

Xia Ruqing had not yet finished dressing when she saw Zhao Junyao had already reached her side.

"Emperor... COUGH, COUGH!"

"What’s wrong?"

Zhao Junyao was somewhat nervous and felt a bit of remorse in his heart.

Xia Ruqing quickly shook her head.

"It’s nothing serious, just a bit of a chill, COUGH, COUGH..."

Xia Ruqing was a bit puzzled as well. She seemed fine before going to sleep, but upon waking up, her throat had become so itchy.

COUGH! COUGH!

"If you’re sick, we should call the Imperial Physician, Li Shengan..."

"No!" Xia Ruqing swiftly interrupted.

"Emperor, the Empress Dowager has only just started to let go of her anger. If she finds out I called for the Imperial Physician as soon as I returned, she will get angry again!"

"I’ve drunk a few bowls of ginger soup. Let’s wait until after the new year to call the Imperial Physician!"

Zhao Junyao immediately restrained his expression.

"Qingqing, why put yourself through this?"

"Even in front of the Empress Dowager, I am fully capable of protecting you!"

"You really don’t have to do this!"

Xia Ruqing quickly shook her head.

"But Emperor, you can’t always be by my side!"

"Watching over the Harem!"

"Just like today, I..."

Xia Ruqing bowed her head, quietly fiddling with her fingers.

Zhao Junyao felt a chill in his heart.

After pondering for a moment, he realized that what she said was true. Indeed, he could not be there to protect her all the time.

Today, he was merely out of the palace for most of the day, and Qingqing had already suffered such an indignity.

If he were to travel far in the future, what would become of Qingqing... he simply couldn’t bear to think further!

"All right, even if we don’t call the Imperial Physician, you can’t go without medicine!"

"I’ll have someone in the palace make a cough remedy for you. You must drink it!"

"Also, tonight, if you can’t hold up, don’t be stubborn. Come back early and rest!"

"Yes! Thank you, Emperor!"

No matter whether she could manage to leave early in the end or not, as long as the Emperor had said these words, Xia Ruqing was satisfied.

Zhao Junyao gently ruffled her hair.

"You, when will you ever give me peace of mind!"

Xia Ruqing then said with a smile, "I have always given the Emperor peace of mind!"

Seeing her carefree attitude, Zhao Junyao felt really helpless.

After frolicking with her for a while and having a few sips of tea, he departed.

Xia Ruqing, for her part, could no longer sleep. She might as well get up, dress, and prepare for tonight’s banquet.

Zi Yue picked out a set of violet palace attire for her, complemented by a silver-grey cloak embroidered with plum blossoms.

On her feet were a pair of lavender-colored flower shoes adorned with Southern Pearls.

To prevent slipping in the winter, Zi Yue had specially ordered someone to add a layer of wooden pieces with carved edges to the soles of the shoes. That way, they were both light and slip-resistant when walking.

Xia Ruqing felt comfortable wearing them.

The hair accessories were not complicated either. It was a pair of violet Jade Hairpins, a set of jade-embellished gold Bu Yao, four exquisite Zhu Hua made of purple crystal and palace gauze, and a pair of agate hair rings with grape motifs.

For such an occasion, being too simple would seem shabby. Being too flashy would seem ostentatious.

Neither of those was what Xia Ruqing wanted.

She looked into the mirror and smiled.

"Not bad, just right for me!"

"Neither too simple, nor shabby! And certainly not too eye-catching!"

"Otherwise... with the Noble Consort’s temperament, whoever steals the show tonight will have a tough half a year ahead!"

Zi Yue said with a smile, "Your Grace is always cautious; such matters would never fall upon us!"

Xia Ruqing smiled.

"Indeed!"

After speaking, she stood up and took a sip of tea.

She entrusted Sister Huang with the task of looking after the children well.

Xia Ruqing then led her entourage to the New Year’s Eve banquet at Ningshou Palace!