A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 968: Slap in the Face

After lunch, everyone took a nap.

In the afternoon, they teamed up and went fishing by the stream with the children.

Xia Ruqing lounged on a recliner, enjoying the warm breeze and watching the sunset—it was incredibly pleasant.

Ni Manxue, whose pregnancy was more advanced, found sitting uncomfortable, so she wandered around.

She watched for a while as several little eunuchs caught worms as bait.

Then she watched the children excitedly catch fish, unable to contain her laughter.

Xia Caiying also sat nearby, gazing at the rolling mountains in the distance and the river and stream stretching out before her.

In her heart, she wondered where he was at that moment.

Where would he rest tonight, and would he be home tomorrow?

She caressed her belly, thinking of him, completely content.

"How wonderful it is, for them to walk together hand in hand like this. It truly is wonderful!"

A warm breeze brought the scent of fresh flowers to her nose.

Xia Caiying sighed deeply, feeling at ease.

"Life is truly comfortable!"

...

In the following month or two,

from the hottest summer to the refreshing autumn, the three of them lived in this way.

Like the farmers in the mountains, they rose with the sun and retired at sunset.

During the day, they dug for wild vegetables, fished, picked flowers and herbs, and occasionally flew kites with the children.

In the evening, they gathered to enjoy delicious food.

It was quite amusing; the three pregnant women had vastly different tastes.

Ni Manxue favored sour foods, Xia Caiying liked sweets, while Xia Ruqing preferred spicy food.

Sometimes just spicy wasn’t enough—she craved sweet-spicy, sour-spicy, fragrant-spicy, all kinds of spicy.

Chef Jiang was always nervous because of her.

She wished she could call the Imperial Physician every day to ask.

"Is this quantity okay? Is there any problem with eating that?!"

The Imperial Physician’s answers were generally consistent.

"As long as the Noble Consort feels comfortable, there’s no problem!"

With that assurance, Xia Ruqing indulged herself even more.

Since she didn’t spend much time outside the palace, she made sure she ate well.

And so the feast included:

’Grilled lamb legs, grilled meat skewers, grilled river shrimp, grilled wild chicken...’

’Fried quail, fried chicken legs, fried pigeon!’

’Sour spicy fish soup, sweet spicy fish soup, and more!’

When the autumnal rain fell,

Xia Ruqing called for a hotpot with tender lamb at night.

She put in a thick layer of spice.

The scent made Zi Yue and Zi Su sneeze, but she ate happily with sweat on her forehead, repeatedly saying how delicious it was.

Zi Su wiped her tears and worriedly said,

"Noble Consort, is it really okay?"

While indulging in the feast, Xia Ruqing replied.

"What’s the problem? Have the Imperial Physician come check, what’s the problem?"

Zi Su said no more.

Well! Since the Imperial Physician didn’t stop her, how could they dare to?

And like that.

In the span of one or two months, Xia Ruqing nearly ate all the wild game she desired.

The only regret was that she couldn’t eat crab.

"Sigh!"

"I’ll let it go since there are other delicious things. I’ll wait until next year!"

In truth, the ancient crabs were a culinary delight not to be missed.

Pure and natural growth environment.

No feed, no hormones, no artificial rearing, only the nurturing of nature.

Those crabs were so plump.

Even male crabs had golden crab roe bursting out when opened, making people’s mouths water.

As Zi Yue and Zi Su ate, Xia Ruqing watched with a sour expression.

Zi Yue laughed and said.

"Noble Consort, you mustn’t eat!"

"I know! I’m just watching!"

Zi Yue: "..."

...

Outside the palace, life at The Summer Resort was carefree.

But inside the palace.

When Xia Ruqing first left, all the women in the inner palace silently cheered:

The Noble Consort who monopolized the Emperor’s favor had finally left temporarily, making it a great opportunity.

Everyone geared up.

They aimed to use this limited time to catch the Emperor’s eye, hoping to give birth to a child.

Securing their future.

However, as time passed day by day,

The Emperor scarcely stayed in the harem apart from occasionally visiting the children.

No matter the coquettish glances, fortuitous encounters, pretending to be pitiful or weak.

The Emperor remained indifferent.

In the end, they had no choice but to give up, sullenly.

So the final outcome.

Was that most women without children or affection, envied a few Palace Consorts with children, who could occasionally see the Emperor.

And among those with children.

Some lived steadily and quietly, while others became utterly arrogant.

Consort Ning Pin belonged to the latter.

After Xia Ruqing left, she became arrogant again.

On this day.

Consort Cheng Pin brought the Second Prince to the Imperial Garden to play.

Consort Ning Pin walked toward her, and as soon as they met, she began mocking.

"Oh, isn’t it Consort Cheng Pin? I saw you leaving early this morning, thought you were up to something, turns out you’re here!"

"Sister is indeed very leisurely."

Consort Cheng Pin bade the Wetnurse Nanny and Sister to take care of the child, and then stepped forward to greet.

"Oh, it’s Consort Ning!"

She greeted her nonchalantly, refusing to call her ’sister.’

According to age, she could call Consort Ning ’sister,’ but the palace’s elder-sister system wasn’t age-based.

Therefore, she genuinely didn’t want to call her sister.

Consort Ning felt stifled but couldn’t say anything.

She ground her teeth, furrowed her brows, and sarcastically said.

"The Second Prince is truly handsome, but... in such heat, Consort Cheng Pin, you suffer bringing your child out!"

Consort Cheng Pin smiled lightly and replied.

"Here, surrounded by mountains and water, with a breeze, it’s not hot!"

"But Consort Ning, aren’t you known for fear of heat? Why are you out?"

Consort Ning had gained quite some weight in the past two years, most afraid of the heat.

Just after summer began, she rushed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs demanding ice, claiming she couldn’t stand the heat.

Whether true or not.

She managed to obtain ice.

But because of this, the palace attendants secretly ridiculed her.

It angered Consort Ning for quite a while.

Now bringing this up constituted a subtle retaliation.

Consort Ning’s face indeed turned sour.

She ground her teeth again and angrily said.

"Is it any of your concern whether I’m hot?"

Consort Cheng Pin smiled softly.

"Then is it any of your concern whether my child is hot, Consort Ning?"

"You..."

"What have I done?" Consort Cheng Pin lowered her eyes, stood straight, still composed.

Suddenly, Consort Ning laughed angrily.

"Hmph!"

"What are you so proud of!"

"Both having Princes, the Noble Consort can leave the palace for summer air, and you can only bring your son to the Imperial Garden!"

"And listen!"

"The Emperor said... once your son turns one year old, you’ll move out with him!"

"Tsk tsk, and where were you moved? Aren’t you still under my roof?"

"Obviously, the Emperor doesn’t regard your son!"

"Not like my Yiming is favored! After all, she is The Eldest Princess, isn’t she?"

Consort Cheng Pin lowered her eyes, silent for a long time.

She bit her lips, unsure how to retaliate, when suddenly a voice came from nearby.

"Who said I don’t regard the Second Prince?"

Consort Ning shivered, trembling as she turned around.

"Em... Emperor?"