A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 793 Good News

The next day was the second day of the lunar month.

Ni Manxue entered the palace early in the morning, indeed without bringing her child.

When she got into the carriage, she felt a bit apologetic.

"Her Majesty sent so many gifts, yet I’m still going alone. It really isn’t quite right!"

Dong’er, by her side, then reassured her.

"Madam, the Little Heir is still young. He caught a bit of a chill last night, and today he absolutely cannot go out!"

"Her Majesty has the Little Princes by her side; she will naturally understand!"

"You shouldn’t overthink it!"

After hearing this, Ni Manxue nodded with concern and didn’t say anything more.

「Qingya Residence.」

Xia Ruqing had just finished her morning meal not long before Ni Manxue arrived.

Ni Manxue’s complexion wasn’t very good. The dark circles under her eyes were evident despite her makeup, and she looked somewhat haggard.

Just as she was about to kneel in greeting, Xia Ruqing quickly called out to her.

Seeing her complexion, she asked in surprise, "What’s happened to you? Please, sit down at once!"

"I thank Your Majesty for your grace!"

Ni Manxue, with Dong’er’s assistance, sat down and then said apologetically with a smile, "Last night, my child was ill, and I was up with him for quite a while, so today my face might... My apologies if my haggard appearance offends Your Majesty. Please don’t take it to heart."

Xia Ruqing quickly waved her hand.

"Don’t say such things; I’m also a member of the Xia Family, after all!"

She then asked, "What illness did the child contract? Did you summon the Imperial Physician to have a look?"

Ni Manxue hurriedly replied, "It’s nothing serious, just a little chill!"

"He was much better this morning. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty!"

Xia Ruqing also smiled.

"It’s the same for me. My health hasn’t been great these past few days either; it’s just too cold!"

Upon hearing this, Ni Manxue quickly expressed her concern.

"Then Your Majesty must take good care of your health. After all, you have two Little Princes by your side who need your care! You mustn’t be careless!"

"Of course!" Xia Ruqing said.

Speaking of the Little Princes, Xia Ruqing had her two sons brought over for Ni Manxue to see.

As it was her first time meeting them, Ni Manxue also brought gifts: a pair of pure gold Hundred Blessings Longevity Locks, one for each brother.

Perhaps it was because she was a mother herself.

Ni Manxue looked at the two cherubic infants, her eyes brimming with a tenderness that seemed about to overflow.

Glancing at one, then the other, she couldn’t take her eyes off them for a moment.

"Your Majesty is so blessed!"

"With three Princes by your side, you need not worry for the rest of your life; you are bound to live peacefully and stably!"

Xia Ruqing smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

Ever since her two children were born, many people had said this.

Actually, they weren’t wrong. In the ancient feudal Harem, where a mother’s status depended on her sons, all women thought this way; there was nothing strange about it.

After seeing the children, Xia Ruqing also brought out the gifts she had prepared for the Little Heir.

"This is a small token of my affection, a New Year’s present for the child!"

Ni Manxue, feeling apologetic, did not accept it.

"Your Majesty’s grace is deeply appreciated; I am endlessly grateful. But my child is unwell, so I didn’t bring him along!"

"Your Majesty hasn’t even seen him; how could I possibly accept a gift?"

"Ah, you mustn’t think like that!" Xia Ruqing said. "It’s the New Year, so what if he couldn’t come? As his aunt, it’s not as if I can go visit him either, can I? So please, accept it!"

Entering the palace is like diving into the deep sea; leaving the palace, even once, is truly not easy. Although Zhao Junyao occasionally brings me out of the palace, those are covert visits and generally must not be known by others. Otherwise... as a Palace Consort, if I frequently went out, what would people say? I don’t even need to guess how unpleasant the talk would be. That’s why I really can’t leave the palace easily.

Ni Manxue also smiled.

"Since that is the case, then I shall respectfully comply!"

"That’s more like it!" Xia Ruqing said happily.

Afterwards, the two sisters-in-law chatted about many personal matters: about the Hou Mansion, about Xia Jingfeng, and also about Old Master Xia and Maternal Aunt Wen.

Regarding the first two, Xia Ruqing already knew a fair amount.

After all, one was in the Capital City, and she often corresponded with the other by letter, so she was well-informed.

As for the last one...

Anyway, after Old Master Xia went to Anzhou of Jiangning, not a single letter had been sent back. It was as if the father-daughter relationship had been severed, with no news at all!

Xia Ruqing felt a hint of irony.

"Now it seems as if I’m a person without roots!" she said. "I’ve sent several letters, but there has been no reply!"

Ni Manxue’s expression turned somewhat awkward. She didn’t know how to console her, so she simply said, "Your Majesty, don’t be angry. The Second Lady sent a letter a few days ago!"

"Second Madam Wen?" Xia Ruqing was surprised.

Ni Manxue nodded and continued, "The letter said that Father’s performance review for his official duties wasn’t passed. Although he wasn’t demoted, there’s basically no hope for promotion now!"

"Second Madam Wen knows my son was born and misses him dearly. She sent a package of small clothes and two small gold locks."

"She also said that when she has time in the future, she will come back to see us!"

Xia Ruqing nodded thoughtfully.

"Who is in charge of the household there now, the Second Lady or Lady Yao?"

She asked this not out of any other motive, merely to see just how muddled her father had become.

Ni Manxue thought for a moment.

"Naturally, the letter didn’t mention this. However, the Marquis sent someone to visit the Second Lady before! The news that came back said that the Second Lady is doing well there; it seems they manage their affairs separately! And the Second Lady still has the upper hand!"

Xia Ruqing breathed a sigh of relief.

"That’s good!"

Although Old Master Xia is somewhat unreliable, it seems he hasn’t been completely foolish after all. At least he hasn’t been totally played by that young and beautiful second wife, Lady Yao!

"What about Jingfeng? Has he sent a letter home?" Xia Ruqing asked again.

Most of Jingfeng’s letters were sent to the Hou Mansion; after all, with her in the palace, it wasn’t good for them to correspond too frequently. Sending them to the Hou Mansion was just as good.

As expected, Manxue smiled.

"He’s doing very well! The Second Master is intelligent and wise, with an extraordinary bearing. He even scored an ’excellent’ on his first year’s performance review!"

"The Marquis was very pleased when he found out, praising him repeatedly. He even said that when he has the time, he’ll personally go to Yongzhou to see for himself!"

After hearing this, Xia Ruqing was happy and also breathed a sigh of relief.

"When I first learned how poor Yongzhou was, I was a bit worried! I feared Jingfeng might not do well. I never expected him to be so motivated! He truly is remarkable!"

"The Second Master is naturally talented and willing to strive. Your Majesty needn’t worry!"

"Mhm!" Xia Ruqing nodded with a smile, her heart filled with sunshine, like a refreshing spring breeze.

This is wonderful! Jingfeng, you truly are remarkable! I wonder where your biological elder sister has gone. But I believe, if she were here and saw your achievements now, she would definitely be happy too!

Ni Manxue did not stay too long.

She left after a simple lunch; after all, she had a child at home.

Xia Ruqing was also feeling a bit drained, so she didn’t press her to stay longer.

After sending her off, tired from most of the day, Xia Ruqing could no longer remain standing and lay down on her bed to rest.

Before falling asleep, her gaze fell upon the scripture book on the small table by the window, and she sighed softly to herself.

This book is so thick! Which year will I ever finish copying it?

Zi Yue found it somewhat amusing.

"Your Majesty, why have you suddenly thought of this? There’s no rush. Just take your time writing!"