A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 425: Chapter 425: The Empress’s Illness

When Sister Ji and Yu Lan saw that the Empress was alright, their legs went soft, and they collapsed to the ground.

”Please... please call the Imperial Physician!”

Yu Lan took a while to recover before she managed to get up on her shaky legs.

The hustle and bustle started again in Jiaofang Hall. Calling the Imperial Physician, taking her pulse, administering medicine—another round began.

This time, the Empress was much more cooperative than before. She drank the medicine the Imperial Physician had decocted without a word, tilting her neck back to gulp it down.

When the Imperial Physician told her to rest, she complied readily, going to sleep right after finishing her medicine.

Worn out from consecutive days of exertion, coupled with the medicine’s potency, the Empress slept soundly.

Sister Ji no longer concealed the news of the Empress’s severe illness. She didn’t hide anything from those who inquired.

By the afternoon of the second day of the first lunar month, the news had spread throughout the entire palace.

「...」

On the second day of the first lunar month, according to custom, the families of consorts of the Third Rank and above were permitted to visit the palace.

However, Xia Ruqing’s family was far away in Jiangnan. A visit to the palace? Out of the question. Even if they could come, Maternal Aunt Wen, being a concubine, certainly wouldn’t be permitted. Likely, only Lady Yao would be able to enter. So, it was best to forget it. She never wanted to see Lady Yao’s face again in this lifetime.

Thus, she could only hope that one day her elder brother would marry and her younger brother would take a wife. Perhaps then their wives could visit her, their husband’s sister, in the palace. She didn’t dare to hope for anything more.

In the afternoon, news arrived from outside the palace: the Empress was seriously ill.

Xia Ruqing furrowed her brow, though she wasn’t particularly surprised. That’s right. During the New Year’s Eve banquet, the Empress looked so pale by the end. She must have been utterly exhausted, even if she wasn’t ill then!

Xiao Xizi added, ”I heard Imperial Doctor Zhang visited her three times today. She must be truly, seriously ill!”

Xia Ruqing patted Little Bun in her arms. Her expression tensed, but she ultimately said nothing.

After a moment, she finally instructed, ”Since the news is out, the authority over the Harem will likely be transferred. Regardless, make sure our people are well-behaved. It’s best to avoid any trouble during this period.”

Xiao Xizi hurriedly complied. ”This servant understands! Please rest assured, Mistress!”

Xia Ruqing nodded slightly and dismissed him.

「...」

「Zhaochen Palace」

The Emperor had left the palace to visit several teachers from his youth and only returned very late in the evening. As soon as he entered the palace gates, he heard the news of the Empress’s collapse.

Zhao Junyao immediately frowned. ”Collapsed? Has an Imperial Physician been called?”

Li Shengan stepped forward to reply, ”An Imperial Physician has already been summoned. This servant inquired. It’s said she caught a chill, aggravated by consecutive days of exhaustion and lack of proper rest, which caused her to collapse.”

Zhao Junyao gave a faint nod. After a considerable pause, he finally ordered, ”Go to the storeroom, select a few items, and send them over. Make them generous.”

Li Shengan quickly nodded in acknowledgment.

To Zhao Junyao, even if he disliked her, the Empress was, after all, the Empress. She had to be accorded the dignity her position demanded. Otherwise, if things became too unseemly, it would reflect poorly on him as well. Naturally, all the requisite items would be provided. However... to expect him to offer genuine emotional concern and tenderness was out of the question. He couldn’t feign affection he didn’t feel. Towards the Empress, he could only use gifts to demonstrate the importance he placed on her status—and on his own dignity. Anything more? Apologies, but there was none.

He was exhausted from the day’s activities. After bathing and changing, Zhao Junyao lay down, feeling a distinct emptiness beside him. There should have been a delicate, soft little body nestled against him—warm, pliant, and wonderfully comforting to hold. The thought filled him with longing, and his hands even began to tingle, as if eager to hold someone. Unfortunately... he had no such comfort at the moment.

Zhao Junyao tossed and turned, finally falling asleep only in the dead of night.

「...」

「Jiaofang Hall」

That evening, Li Shengan arrived with a box of nourishing supplements.

Sister Ji personally came out to greet him. ”Greetings, Eunuch Li.”

Li Shengan repeatedly said he wouldn’t dare presume such honor.

Upon entering, Li Shengan presented the box of supplements with his own hands. ”The Emperor went out of the palace today and has only just returned. As soon as he heard Her Majesty the Empress was ill, he immediately instructed this servant to deliver these supplements.”

The Empress, supported by Yu Lan, sat up, her face pale as she leaned weakly against a cushion. ”Your humble servant thanks His Majesty the Emperor for his concern. It’s just...”

How could Li Shengan dare to listen to such words? He quickly cut her off. ”Your Majesty, please do not worry. You are young and in good health; a minor ailment like this will surely pass with some rest. Please lie down now! His Majesty also mentioned he will come to see you tomorrow.”

A layer of joy appeared on the Empress’s face. She nodded and lay back down as bidden. ”Thank you, Eunuch Li. And thank His Majesty. This one truly cannot hold on much longer; please forgive my discourtesy.”

With that, she closed her eyes in exhaustion.

Seeing this, how could Li Shengan dare to linger? After saying, ”May Your Majesty rest well and enjoy boundless peace and health!” he bowed and retreated.

「...」

The next day, after finishing his morning meal, Zhao Junyao indeed went to visit the Empress.

The imperial brush had been sealed, and there were no pressing matters at court, so he might as well pay her a visit. But in truth, having not visited for so long, he really should have at least joined her for breakfast or something similar. However, when Zhao Junyao recalled the Empress’s pretentious airs, and considered that now, being ill, her pale face likely meant she was eating even less, he figured he himself would probably lose his appetite watching her. The more he thought about it, the less appealing breakfast seemed. Never mind, it was better to go after he had eaten.

”The Emperor has arrived!”

At the eunuch’s loud announcement, the Empress immediately put down her porridge bowl, threw off the covers, got out of bed, and knelt. ”Your Majesty!”

She couldn’t even remember how long it had been since the Emperor last came. In any case, it had been a very, very long time—so long that she had grown numb. Now... after hoping against hope, she had finally, finally seen the Emperor arrive. The Empress was, of course, thrilled. In her excitement, she wanted to present herself as the perfect Empress, desperate not to leave the slightest flaw in the Emperor’s perception of her. Therefore, early that morning, despite lying in her sickbed, she had applied makeup. She had then gotten back under the covers, still wearing relatively formal attire.

When Zhao Junyao entered, he saw the kneeling Empress. He immediately felt a surge of annoyance. ”Haven’t you caught a cold? Kneeling like this... aren’t you afraid of aggravating your illness?”

Was aggravating her illness a way to show others she was being wronged in the Harem? Otherwise, for whose benefit was this display? Zhao Junyao was naturally displeased.

The Empress, discerning the implication in his words, quickly rose. However... she had forgotten about her makeup and looked up directly.

And then... Zhao Junyao beheld what was perhaps the most grotesque face he had ever seen. Her face was white as paper, her lips red as blood—a stark, shocking contrast.

Zhao Junyao: ”...” He subconsciously took a step back.

Completely oblivious, the Empress asked, ”Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”

Zhao Junyao coughed lightly twice, nodded, then shook his head, finally mumbling ambiguously, ”It’s nothing.”

Ultimately, when Zhao Junyao left Jiaofang Hall, he felt as if he were practically fleeing in disarray. Grotesque. It was simply too grotesque.

However, before that, one more thing had occurred. Zhao Junyao had taken a seat at a table in the inner chamber, and a Palace Attendant had brought in tea. But the room reeked of medicine, and he couldn’t bring himself to drink, so he had merely toyed with the teacup. The Empress had been granted permission to remain lying in bed. After the Palace Attendants had been dismissed, the Empress had begun to weep softly.