A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 202: Chapter 201 The Little Prince Is Ill

Zi Yue took the shoe pattern and looked it over carefully, adjusting the size in several places.

”This should do it!”

Xia Ruqing, who could not understand it, said, ”I don’t understand either. Just make it as you see fit—the appearance doesn’t matter; warmth is what’s most important!”

Zi Yue thought for a moment. ”Then we should still fill it with cotton; that’s the warmest!”

”Make sure to use this year’s freshly harvested cotton. As soon as the sun shines on it, it will fluff right up!”

With that, she called over Xiao Xizi. ”Go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs this afternoon to get some cotton. Make sure it’s the good stuff!”

Xiao Xizi said, ”Certainly! It’s such a trivial matter! I’ll go now! I’ll be back in just half an hour!”

Having said that, he left.

Zi Yue couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Xia Ruqing, however, teased, ”Looks like this fellow is quite well-regarded now!”

Zi Yue said, ”When the master is favored, we servants have better days...”

Xia Ruqing thought about it and agreed.

”When I’m favored, it’s not just me who benefits...” She thought of others. Like... Maternal Aunt Wen, or her own younger brother, Xia Jingfeng... That’s right, Jingfeng mentioned he would try the autumn examinations this year.

Suddenly, Xia Ruqing asked, ”When are this year’s autumn examinations?”

Zi Yue was taken aback and pondered for a moment. ”I don’t know either...”

In the end, they had to ask Xiao Xizi to inquire for them. It turned out to be a mid-September event that had already ended.

”Ended? That was fast...” Xia Ruqing was somewhat incredulous.

”Indeed? I also heard that they will release the results before the end of the year!” Xiao Xizi reported.

Xia Ruqing nodded thoughtfully. ”Then we need to find someone to inquire about it. If Jingfeng passes, he will become a Scholar!”

Although being a Scholar wasn’t anything special, if one couldn’t even pass that examination, it might be best to give up on the path of the Imperial civil service examinations early.

Hopefully, he passed. If he did, it would mean the original owner of this body hadn’t risked her life to protect him in vain. Nor would it be in vain that she herself had contended with Lady Yao for his sake. In summary, may everything be well. If someone doesn’t let her have peace, then they can’t blame her for being impolite.

「」

When Xiao Xizi went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to get the cotton, the Ministry directly gave him first-rate cotton. This cotton was produced in the great Northwest. The bolls were large, snow-white, fluffy, and soft. The cotton quilts made from them were light and warm when draped over the body.

By coincidence, Consort Zheng Pin’s palace maid, Hong Yun, was also at the Ministry to get cotton. The weather was getting cold, and without any charcoal fire to warm them, making an extra quilt seemed reasonable. The Ministry gave her one bundle and sent her away.

When she returned and looked at it, Hong Yun was stunned. ”This cotton... it must be third-rate!”

Consort Zheng Pin was drinking tea; she had almost gotten used to the cold silence of Xihuai Palace. She glanced over and scoffed sarcastically, ”I’ve gotten used to it; just make it into whatever. It’ll be fine!”

Seeing her impassive expression, Hong Yun became a bit worried. ”Your Highness, don’t think like that...”

Consort Zheng Pin just smiled faintly. ”Otherwise, how should I think? Actually, maybe it’s not so bad being like this! Not being favored means no one is out to harm me! Just look at the Noble Consort! What good does favor do? To have brought such a thing into this world... it would have been better not to have given birth at all!”

Having said that, Consort Zheng Pin sighed. ”Sigh! Just endure it slowly! Whatever happens, happens!”

「」

As the weather turned cold, every palace and court began to prepare extra clothing. Xifu Palace was no exception. The Noble Consort had many privileges, and in previous years, the seamstresses of the Ministry of Internal Affairs prioritized making clothes for the Empress and the Noble Consort.

But this year, the order had changed. It went without saying for the Empress. Following her, astonishingly, came Consort Ning and Consort Hui Pin. There were princesses, after all; the Eldest Princess was intelligent, and the Second Princess was clever. As members of the noble lineage, they must not be aggrieved. Thus, the Noble Consort had to take her place further down the line.

Noble Concubine Shih sent Ying Yue to urge them several times, and only half of the thick clothes were completed after much delay. They first sent over two sets for her to wear. Noble Concubine Shih, preoccupied with her son, didn’t examine them carefully before putting them on.

However, after just one day, the thread ends at the shoulders and collar began to fray and stick out, looking extremely unsightly!

Noble Concubine Shih threw the clothes to the ground that very night. ”Where’s Hai Dasheng? Tell him to roll over here for this consort!”

Hai Dasheng, the Steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, had been extremely attentive to the Noble Consort in past years. Just a few months ago, during the hot weather, he had personally delivered her monthly allowances, calling her ”Noble Consort” with great earnestness.

But now... Ha ha!

Ying Yue, having been slapped twice, hurriedly went to find him. Nevertheless, reality is cruel; Hai Dasheng, naturally, wouldn’t come. The Xifu Palace was an unlucky place!

Noble Concubine Shih didn’t have the heart to bother with these matters. Not because she wasn’t irate, but because... the Little Prince was ill.

To be accurate, the Little Prince had never been well. The summer was still manageable. However, as the weather turned cold and rains came, he caught a chill, and his fever rose and fell persistently. Just as it seemed he was getting better, a cold snap hit in October. Then, the Little Prince’s condition became uncontrollable!

Noble Concubine Shih held her son, weeping her heart out. Each time Imperial Doctor Zhang examined his pulse, he would shake his head. Finally, unable to turn the situation around, he took off his cap and let down his hair. He then knelt at the door of the Imperial Study Room, begging the Emperor for forgiveness.

”Emperor, this old official is incompetent! Please bestow punishment upon me!”

He had served as an Imperial Physician for many years; naturally, some patients had died under his care. But this Little Prince was the Emperor’s first son, and his failure to cure him was a crime!

Zhao Junyao stood before him, hands behind his back, his expression grave. The cold wind lightly lifted the hem of his Dragon Robe. His silhouette appeared somewhat lonely.

After a long while, he finally spoke lightly, ”Rise.”

Zhang Baiji dared not move.

Zhao Junyao continued to be silent. After all, it was his child; it would be a lie to say he wasn’t distressed. But with such a simple-minded child, he truly didn’t know what to do.

After thinking for a while, he asked, ”What will he be like when he grows up? Give me a straightforward answer!”

Imperial Doctor Zhang raised his head, glimpsed at Zhao Junyao, then quickly lowered it and said honestly, ”Emperor, this humble official... The Little Prince... he simply won’t grow up! That he has lived this long is already a miracle! Even if the chill didn’t claim his life, other illnesses would in the future. A normal child already faces many calamities, and one with cerebral palsy has hardly any resistance. For him to grow up safely is nearly impossible! Moreover, even if he were safe and did grow up, what then? Would the Royal Family have another joke on their hands?”

Zhao Junyao thought for a long time, then gave a command. ”Let it be then...”

Having said that, he turned and left.

Just... may that child be reborn sooner in his next life and be a good child. As his Imperial Father, allowing him to suffer less is also for the best.

Imperial Doctor Zhang knelt for a while before leaving. As for Xifu Palace, they would continue the treatment, but... it was simply incurable.

「」

The next day, to make things warmer, Noble Concubine Shih had someone light charcoal fires in the room. But it seemed the Little Prince was choked by the smoke, coughing incessantly.