A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 546: Chapter 546: A Small Gift

A small horse and a small sheep.

The eyes were direct inlays of black agate, shining brilliantly; the nose was a piece of brown cloth, on which minute patterns were embroidered with thread of the same color.

Even the nostrils were embroidered.

The legs of both little animals were short, and the small toys could be placed on the bed for the Little Princess to ride.

When placed on the ground, they could also serve as small stools.

Although not valuable, they truly were made with care.

Xia Ruqing was very pleased.

”Hopefully, the Little Princess will like them!”

「...」

On the twelfth day of October, Xia Ruqing ordered someone to use a beautifully crafted large box to pack both small cloth dolls inside early in the morning.

Wrapped in red cloth, one could not see anything upon opening the box, which also kept prying eyes at bay!

Xia Ruqing was very satisfied.

”Today is Consort Hui Pin’s celebration! I’ll choose an inconspicuous outfit then!”

”Yes!”

Soon, Zi Su came in with two sets of clothes.

One was a lake blue palace dress, the other a willow green.

She didn’t particularly like either of them.

”Choose a set in millet yellow, a shade deeper than goose yellow. It looks good too!”

”Yes!”

Zi Su went back out and, after a while, brought two sets of yellow, but neither was quite satisfactory.

Xia Ruqing frowned.

”Zi Su, what’s the matter with you!”

Zi Su lowered her head.

”Mistress, the trunks for storing clothes... I... I haven’t had time to sort them out!”

”I deserve to die!”

With that, she knelt down.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Ruqing waved her hand.

”Get up!”

”You are usually clever, but organizing things is not your forte!”

”Zi Ning, you go!”

”Yes!”

After several tries, she finally put on the clothes she preferred.

She then had Zi Su do her makeup and selected a red silk-wound Zhu Hua with a yellow stamen carved from beeswax inside.

It looked so lifelike and realistic.

The headdress she wore on the back of her hair was a set of yellow jade hairpins.

One was straight, two with tassels.

The tassels weren’t made of thread, but from tiny fragmented beeswax beads strung together.

It looked both elegant and attractive!

Having dressed and prepared well, Xia Ruqing picked a milky-white Yunjin cape with goose down lining, and then left her room.

The distance between Qingya Residence and Consort Hui Pin’s Zhaoxiang Pavilion was just about the time it takes two sticks of incense to burn.

When she arrived, the Honored Ladies were already there and rose to greet her upon her arrival.

”Greetings to Consort Xian Pin!”

Xia Ruqing smiled.

”Everyone, please rise! Please sit!”

”Thank you, Your Highness!!”

They all took their seats again.

It was too cold outside, so the feast was set up in the main hall.

Consort Hui Pin’s main hall was neither big nor small.

However, Consort Hui Pin had tidied it up nicely and heated it with Ground Dragons, so it wasn’t cold.

Everyone had a seat, and in front of them were mid-sized tables.

Xia Ruqing then sat down in her assigned place.

Coincidentally, her place was right next to Consort Hui Pin’s.

Consort Hui Pin smiled and said,

”You’ve arrived. This place isn’t as nice as yours, and it isn’t very big, so don’t look down on it!”

Xia Ruqing smiled back.

”What are you talking about! Don’t be so modest!”

The two of them were not used to calling each other ’sister’, so they spoke with ’you’ and ’me’ in their conversation.

In front, the Empress and Consort Ning had not yet arrived, but Shih Jieyu across was already there.

Sitting there, she didn’t speak, simply sipping her tea quietly!

Not sure if it was concern for the Little Princess or something else.

Shih Jieyu had already lost quite a bit of weight, no longer possessing the round plumpness of pregnancy.

She noticed Xia Ruqing was looking at her.

With a slight bow, Shih Jieyu smiled as a form of greeting; apparently, they had already exchanged formalities earlier.

Xia Ruqing returned the smile, then shifted her gaze away.

Very few people in the room were talking, just some Honored Ladies whispering among themselves.

It was quiet, then a commotion arose from outside.

”The Empress has arrived!”

”Consort Ning has arrived!”

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly stood up.

After a round of greetings, they all settled back into their seats.

The Empress conversed warmly with everyone.

Consort Ning, sitting to the right of the Empress, glared fiercely at Xia Ruqing.

Xia Ruqing pretended not to notice, sipped her tea, and concealed the smirk at the corner of her mouth.

More than twenty days had passed, yet the grudge wasn’t dropped; I myself haven’t even harbored resentment yet, but she’s already taken it to heart. Heh!

”Today is the Second Princess’s special day, so let’s not stand on ceremony. Let’s have Consort Hui Pin choose a couple of plays for us to enjoy and liven things up!”

”Many thanks to the Empress!” everyone replied in unison.

Consort Hui Pin also smiled.

Turning around, she summoned someone to fetch the play scripts.

Cakes and hot tea were served, and well-dressed Little Actors arrived.

The space was limited, without a stage, so they performed in the center of the main hall.

Tables were arranged around them so everyone could see clearly.

This setup was both interesting and convenient.

The Little Actors sang in their distinctive high-pitched tones, captivating the audience, but Xia Ruqing was uninterested.

She ate cakes and sipped tea, occasionally looking here and there.

The Second Princess was dressed in a bright red jacket, with two delicate braids atop her head while the rest of her hair cascaded down her back.

At that moment, she stood by Consort Hui Pin, innocently inquiring,

”Consort Mother, why did big sister come, but my little brother and third sister didn’t?”

Consort Hui Pin responded with a smile,

”They are still young, and it’s too cold outside!”

”They could catch a chill, which would be no good. When the weather gets better, they will come and play with Yi An!”

”Alright!”

Yi An jumped up excitedly.

The Empress glanced over and said with a smile,

”The Second Princess is growing more and more distinguished. Come here, let Mother take a look at you!”

Yi An, not shy at all, obediently went over.

”Empress Mother, is the little sister doing well? When will she start walking?”

The Empress laughed, and nearby, Shih Jieyu’s gaze instantly stuck to the Second Princess.

It was as if the Second Princess was her own child.

After a moment’s thought, the Empress said,

”By this time next year, she’ll be walking. Then, she can play with Yi An!”

”Alright!”

The Empress was always kind to the Little Princess.

After all, she was the Empress, wasn’t she?

As the Little Actors performed two acts, the midday meal was served course by course.

Consort Hui Pin busily attended to the guests, while Yi An stood near the Empress.

Xia Ruqing watched with interest and thought to herself,

Actually... looking at it this way, Zhao Junyao’s array of wives seem quite harmonious! This man really has some skill. Without much effort, he has managed to keep all these women obedient and well-behaved; truly befitting an Emperor!

As she was mulling over this, a new announcement came from the front,

”The Emperor’s gifts have arrived!”

The hall once again erupted into lively activity.

Xia Ruqing internally rolled her eyes. Whatever happened to relaxing and not standing on ceremony? How many times have we stood up and sat down now?

Following the Emperor’s gifts, the Empress’s presents also arrived.

Then, it was time for others of the harem to start presenting their gifts.

Consort Ning was first.

Consort Ning wasn’t one to obsess over appearances in the past.

But since being humiliated by the Empress in the Jiaofang Hall, she had been scheming on how to regain her face.