A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 938: Lantern Festival

On the fifth day of the first month, it was the anniversary of the Late Empress’s death.

In the harem.

As the highest-ranking Noble Consort, Xia Ruqing

needed to lead the concubines out of the palace to pay respects at the Imperial Mausoleum.

They set off before dawn.

By the time they returned, it was already pitch dark.

After a day of such exhausting activities.

On the sixth day, things finally settled down.

Even though the sun was high, she had no intention of getting up.

After all the hustle and bustle, she was weary and sore.

Finally having a moment to unwind, she indulged in a well-deserved lie-in.

She cozily embraced her quilt.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she turned back and forth on the bed.

Both Zi Yue and Zi Su understood that she didn’t want to get up.

So they waited outside, not daring to enter.

Xia Ruqing rubbed herself absent-mindedly on the bed.

Suddenly, she felt something furry.

’Hmm? What’s this?’

Without opening her eyes, she continued to touch it.

A large garment? Not quite!

Before sleeping, she remembered Zi Yue had tidied up.

Was it... a sleeve warmer or a muffler? It didn’t quite feel right!

Oh? How come it’s damp as well!

Xia Ruqing sensed something was wrong and abruptly opened her eyes.

Only to find her hands covered in blood.

Upon further inspection, that furry object turned out to be a ’dead mouse!’

"Ah!" She let out a piercing scream.

She jumped up in terror.

A mouse is probably the thing girls fear the most.

Especially a bloody dead mouse.

And it appeared so close to her bedside unexpectedly.

Anyone in her position would be horrified!

Xia Ruqing was no exception, shrinking into the corner of the bed, tears almost falling.

Zi Yue and Zi Su heard the commotion and rushed in immediately.

"Madam!"

"Madam, what’s happened to you?"

"What happened?!"

Xia Ruqing extended her hand, trembling as she pointed to the bed’s headboard.

"Mo...mouse!"

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

The two girls were equally terrified, freezing in place!

Zi Yue turned pale with fear, her legs went weak.

Zi Su, however, was a bit braver.

After the initial fear, she quickly calmed down.

"Madam...come down first, I’ll go call for help right away!"

With that, she bypassed the dead mouse to support her.

Xia Ruqing’s legs were wobbly, but she managed to get down, still trembling.

Zi Yue also snapped back to reality, clutching her chest in shock.

"Madam...how did this happen, we were guarding outside, how could this be here?"

Xia Ruqing’s mind was half-frozen, she shook her head instinctively.

"I don’t know!"

Just as she was speaking.

A cat meowed from the side.

"Meow!"

Everyone turned to look.

They saw Da Bai elegantly perched on the windowsill, looking at them smugly.

Xia Ruqing glanced at it, then at the bloodied mouse on the bed.

A realization dawned on her.

"So it was you!"

Da Bai squinted its eyes, its expression seemed to say:

I’ve seen how hard you’ve worked, here’s a surprise for you, what? You don’t like it?

Xia Ruqing patted her chest, laughing and crying.

"I don’t like it!"

Da Bai was a bit miffed.

With graceful cat steps, it leaped to the bed, picked up the blood-soaked mouse, and placed it before her once again.

Then raised its white paw and nudged it toward her, as if saying.

"Don’t like it? How could you not? Such a big and plump mouse, surely you like it!"

Xia Ruqing: "..."

She let out a long breath, laughing and crying she crouched down.

Rubbing Da Bai’s head.

"I really don’t like it, take it back and eat it yourself, be a good boy!"

Da Bai lowered its head, somewhat incredulous, yet somewhat understanding.

Rubbing its paws, it picked up its prized mouse again, gracefully stepping out.

And with that.

Only then did Xia Ruqing and Zi Yue and Zi Su breathe a sigh of relief.

"So it was Da Bai!"

Zi Su hesitated a moment, then broke out in laughter mixed with tears.

"It...it must have been grateful to you, Madam!"

Xia Ruqing patted her chest.

"I don’t need such gratitude..."

"But...at least my care for it wasn’t in vain!"

Though the animals expressed gratitude in a peculiar way.

She was still delighted.

Her Duanning Palace, after all, had some warmth, didn’t it?

Hmm, maybe animal warmth.

Anyway, no matter what, her heart felt warm, just joyous!

After Da Bai took the mouse away.

Xia Ruqing spent the whole morning outside.

Zi Su and Zi Yue, along with a few little palace maids.

Removed all the bed sheets and quilts and exchanged them for new ones.

They opened all the windows to let the bloody scent out.

Then lit incense to freshen the room’s air.

Busy until noon, they finally rearranged everything.

Only then did Xia Ruqing dare enter the room, everything was back to normal.

Time flew by, and it was soon the Lantern Festival.

Both inside and outside the palace, things became lively.

Every courtyard in the palace was adorned with various lanterns, shining beautifully at night.

Outside, the Capital City streets were even more bustling.

Street vendors selling lanterns, roadside stalls selling snacks, from commoners to noble ladies who rarely ventured out.

On this festival, they all went out to join the fun.

The whole Capital City street was abuzz with excitement.

In past years.

Xia Ruqing enjoyed going out with Zhao Junyao to see the lanterns.

But now, with the Empress’s position vacant.

And it just being the anniversary of the Empress’s death.

She couldn’t really make a fuss.

Palace consorts couldn’t leave the palace at will, which would lead to gossip if seen.

Things like:

The Empress’s anniversary just passed, and the Noble Consort eagerly went out to play, showing disrespect to the Late Empress.

Rumors spread quickly, they might end up misrepresented.

Now that her three children were somewhat aware of things.

If she herself was gossiped about, it was one thing.

But dragging the children into it would not be worth it.

So this year she didn’t go anywhere.

Last year due to the Empress’s funeral, the entire Royal Family didn’t celebrate properly.

This year, they said they would make up for it.

Thus, on the Lantern Festival.

The Emperor decided to host a family banquet at the Empress Dowager’s Ningshou Palace.

Since the Dragon Boat Festival of the previous year, when the Empress Dowager’s attendants were replaced.

She had become quite disheartened.

But face was important to the Imperial Family.

Zhao Junyao merely kept her under soft house arrest.

Her meals, clothing, and daily needs were still lavish, she was not mistreated.

Furthermore, Zhao Junyao was the Emperor.

An Emperor must maintain face.

Even if it’s just for appearances, he must "act" filial, right?!

Even if he was "busy" managing affairs and had no time, he often sent people to visit his mother.

Initially, the Empress Dowager ignored it completely.

Later, perhaps she figured something out, she didn’t refuse anymore.

Even cooperated, playing the role of a loving mother to the Emperor.

Thus, motherly love and filial piety, all appeared harmonious once again.

This Royal Family banquet was similar to previous New Year’s Eve feasts.

Noble Consort Xian wasn’t qualified, the Empress Dowager was.

Hosting at Ningshou Palace was just right.

Being a family banquet, the number of guests wasn’t many.

Only the inner and outer relatives.

Aside from a few old princes and old princess consorts.

There was also Empress Dowager Zhen and several other Imperial Noble Consorts.