A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 786: Chapter 786 Punished

After writing just ten pages, Xia Ruqing felt her grip on the pen was no longer steady. The characters she wrote began to look crooked and twisted. She never liked writing to begin with, and now, thrown into this icy-cold small Buddhist hall without even a charcoal brazier, it was no wonder that her hands were nearly frozen stiff, making it impossible to write well.

Yet, if she didn’t write, overtly defying and tearing off all pretenses seemed unwise. The Emperor hadn’t even torn off all pretenses with his own birth mother, let alone with her. Therefore, she could only grit her teeth and endure.

Internally, she ceaselessly prayed for someone to come and save her soon.

「Meanwhile.」

Noble Concubine Shih was sitting with the Empress Dowager in the warm inner chamber. Her smile was radiant.

”Mother, Consort Xian has been busy caring for the children, which is why she hasn’t come to visit you often. You’re so angry, it seems like you’ve wronged her!”

The Empress Dowager let out a cold laugh.

”Wronged?”

”Ever since I was sick the last time, she visited only once, and that was months ago. She hasn’t come back since!”

”Merely a minor concubine, relying on birthing a few sons, dares to disregard me!”

”Without manners or rules, this time, I shall properly teach her how to behave!”

Having said that, the Empress Dowager did not wait for Noble Concubine Shih to say anything before instructing further.

”Sister Qing, make sure the brazier is thoroughly removed!”

”Tell her to clear her head properly!”

Sister Qing acknowledged the command and left, and only then did the Empress Dowager feel satisfied.

Noble Concubine Shih dared not beg further and quickly changed the topic, calling for Yijing to be brought to them.

Upon seeing the Third Princess, the Empress Dowager brightened up again.

”Although she is not a son, she is still the sole bloodline of our Shih Family!”

”All I hope for is that you give birth to another son someday... so the siblings can look out for each other, and Yijing can have someone to rely on.”

Listening to this, Noble Concubine Shih’s gaze turned somber with a heavy sense of loss.

”Mother... In fact, the Emperor, he...”

”What about the Imperial Son? Hasn’t he been fair to everyone recently?”

I’ve seen the records from the Respectful Affairs Office; every major concubine in the palace has been graced. Of course, your place is no exception. That’s why I’ve rekindled hope for more offspring.

Noble Concubine Shih was conflicted for a moment but ultimately couldn’t bring herself to speak outright and ambiguously acknowledged with a ’yes’.

Then she shifted the topic again.

”Mother, it’s getting late. I’ve been longing for the stewed crucian carp here for a while now. When will we begin the meal?”

Seeing that she did not want to continue, the Empress Dowager did not press further.

She lowered her head and stroked the Third Princess’s hair, saying,

”Good! Let’s have the meal now!”

Upon hearing this, the attending palace attendants immediately began their preparations.

At that moment, Sister Qing also came in from outside.

The Empress Dowager glanced at her.

”Is everything removed?”

”Yes!”

She nodded, very satisfied.

”This time... I hope she learns her lesson well!”

Having said this, she was escorted by the attendants and Noble Concubine Shih herself to have the meal!

「On the other hand.」

Xia Ruqing was already shivering from the cold. Forget about writing, she could hardly stand.

Zi Yue was on the verge of tears.

”It just snowed outside, and without a charcoal brazier inside, it’s freezing to the point of being uninhabitable.”

”Your Highness, you are still frail, how can you withstand this torment!”

After saying this, she hurriedly took off her own warm clothes and covered Xia Ruqing with them.

Xia Ruqing pulled them off and draped them back over her.

”No need for that, the room is too cold, how can you manage with just your undergarments?”

Zi Yue cried out.

”This servant’s life is cheap, it’s okay if I withstand the cold, but Your Highness, you are precious, you can’t afford to be frozen!”

Xia Ruqing sighed.

”I am alright, did you forget I’m wearing a velvet undergarment?”

”But...”

”No buts, even if your life is cheap, you are not made of iron. I had breakfast and I’m dressed warmly, I’m not cold!”

Xia Ruqing insisted. No matter how much Zi Yue tried to persuade her, she wouldn’t let the girl freeze; they were both young women, after all.

With no other options, Zi Yue had to put on her clothes.

「...」

「Over at Zhaochen Palace.」

The Emperor hadn’t returned from offering sacrifices to heaven, and Eunuch Li was also absent. Only Eunuch Li’s apprentice, Little Zhuzi, was there. But even Little Zhuzi couldn’t be of much help.

Zi Su was on the verge of tears in her anxiety.

”What should we do? It’s so cold, and the master is still in Ningshou Palace!”

Little Zhuzi could only try to comfort her.

”Don’t worry, the Empress Dowager must have some sense of measure; she won’t go too far!”

After much persuasion, Zi Su finally calmed down a bit. Seeing that it was really impossible to summon help, she had no choice but to go back and wait.

When Sister Huang saw her returning alone, she asked no questions. She simply led the other Sisters and Wetnurse Nannies to take good care of the children.

「At lunchtime.」

Zhao Qichen returned from the Study Room and saw the inner chamber was empty.

”Is my mother not here?”

Even at his young age, having studied with the Tai Fu, he had developed a sense of decorum. His every move was quite proper and orderly.

Sister Huang quickly smiled.

”There’s no need to worry, Your Highness, Consort Xian has gone to Ningshou Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager!”

”She hasn’t returned at this hour; she must be accompanying the Empress Dowager for lunch!”

Zhao Qichen’s fair little face clouded over, his small forehead furrowing tightly.

”Accompanying the Empress Dowager for lunch?”

This situation seemed somewhat odd to him.

Little Bun frowned in thought. He even went so far as to search through the memories of his entire three years of life. He discovered that his mother hardly ever visited Ningshou Palace.

So, does that mean she doesn’t get along well with the Empress Dowager? Moreover, it seemed the Emperor rarely visited either, and he hadn’t mentioned the Empress Dowager to him. Additionally, it appeared that the Empress Dowager wasn’t particularly interested in him, her Imperial Grandson. He had barely even seen the Empress Dowager, right!

From all of this, Little Bun reached a conclusion.

His mother’s visit to the Empress Dowager’s palace today was definitely not just for having lunch! There must be other reasons. Could it be that his mother was being bullied?

Little Bun’s fair face immediately puffed up with anger, his small fists clenched tightly.

”Sister Huang, take me to my mother, today is New Year’s Eve, and Chenchen also wants to pay respects to the Empress Dowager!”

When Sister Huang heard him say this, she smiled.

”Your Highness, it’s better not to go, Consort Xian will be back very soon!”

”The small kitchen has already prepared the meals; please have something to eat first!”

After a tiring morning, who knew if this little ancestor was hungry!

But Little Bun was stubborn, insisting with his small fists clenched.

”No, I want to go! I must go, Sister, you must arrange for someone to take me there quickly!”

Sister Huang furrowed her brow.

”But why? Consort Xian has said that you must not run around without permission!”

Consort Xian had repeatedly instructed that the Little Prince should not be taken out casually. Even for his usual studies, Wetnurse Nannies and Sisters always accompanied the young prince. Luckily, the young prince had been obedient, and for the past couple of years, there hadn’t been any incidents.

So his eyes were still innocent!

Sister Huang also understood Consort Xian’s painstaking efforts.

She didn’t want the Little Prince to be exposed to the filth too early.

But Little Bun was still insisting.

”Sister, if you don’t take me there, I’ll go by myself!”

Having said that, he really began twisting his little body, heading for the door.

Sister Huang quickly lifted him up.

”Little ancestor, it’s cold outside, if you go out, you have to wear your clothes!”