A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 1001: Are They Really My Own Children?
Played with Yue Er for a while.
Seeing the sky darken, she let the Wetnurse take Yue Er away.
Xia Ruqing was exhausted from the day and hardly touched her dinner.
She washed up, soaked in a hot bath, and went to sleep comfortably.
The next day was the second day of the month.
In the palace, families of masters and mistresses of the Third Rank or above could come to visit, but first, they had to pay their respects to the Empress.
Xia Ruqing was somewhat troubled by this.
After all, it was the first year, and she couldn’t not see them.
So she had to get up early to dress and groom.
Phoenix Crown, court attire, everything put back on properly because you can’t meet people in regular clothes.
And so, on the second day, she sat again the whole day.
Then, on the third day.
She finally had the chance to take off her clothes and stretch properly.
Late morning.
Xia Ruqing rolled over comfortably in her bedding.
"Ah, this is the most comfortable!"
Zi Yue came in with the water, smiling.
"Mistress, please get up quickly!"
"The Little Princess and several princes are in the front hall, and the Emperor will come for breakfast later!"
Xia Ruqing wriggled against the quilt, lazily saying.
"I haven’t slept enough yet, I don’t want to get up!"
At this moment, Zi Su also brought in clothes.
"Mistress!"
"After the Lantern Festival and completing the Enjoin ceremony, the mistresses of the palace will come to pay respects to you!"
"Will you still be able to lie in bed by then?"
Xia Ruqing listened and felt a bittersweet.
"Ah? Ceremony?"
Isn’t it just getting up early every day, and sitting with the Emperor’s other wives, chatting away or staring blankly?
Oh my, how could she forget this detail.
"Uh... Let’s figure out what to do then!"
After speaking, Xia Ruqing got up.
"Alright, I’m not sleeping, help me dress!"
"Hey!"
Zi Yue and Zi Su chuckled as they wetted the towels and came forward with the clothes.
Once she was dressed, she headed to the front hall.
There she saw Chenchen, Yeye, and the others playing with her little daughter and Yellow Bean.
Yellow Bean was lively yet gentle. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Xiao Lele threw a multicolored ball, Yellow Bean fetched it, stretched out its tongue, and licked the little girl’s hand.
Yue Er giggled, threw the ball again, Yellow Bean fetched it again, licking her hand.
This cycle continued, and Yue Er enjoyed herself immensely.
Xia Ruqing found it quite amusing and walked over.
"Chenchen, did you bring that ball for your little sister?"
Chenchen looked excited.
"Yes!"
"Mother, look how much she likes it!"
Xia Ruqing ruffled Chenchen’s hair.
"Good child, you’re the most caring towards your sister!"
Chenchen tilted his head to avoid her hand, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Mother, I’ve already turned eight years old this year!"
"Father said I’m a man now, not a child, so you can’t ruffle my hair anymore!"
Xia Ruqing stared at her hand suspended in the air, reacting at last.
"Oh! I almost forgot, you’re already eight!"
In ancient times, an eight-year-old boy was certainly not considered a child.
She smiled.
"Alright, I won’t touch, but you’ll always be my child to me!"
Chenchen spoke maturely and earnestly.
"Yes, as a son, I will always be filial to you!"
Xia Ruqing was speechless.
This child really is... a little adult acting all serious!
Just then.
Henger and Yeye suddenly came over, interrupting.
"Mother, we will always be filial to you too!"
Xia Ruqing was even more taken aback, ruffling the two little carrots.
"Do you know what being ’filial’ means?"
Henger and Yeye were a bit bewildered, squeezing their heads together trying hard to think.
Yue Er also tilted her little head, softly saying.
"Filial... piety..."
Xia Ruqing: "..."
Although the little dumplings were still quite ignorant.
Nonetheless, Xia Ruqing found it delightful.
Hugging them, she laughed: "Alright, alright! All filial!"
Then she laughed happily.
As Zhao Junyao entered the room and saw this scene, he asked with a smile.
"What’s making you so happy!"
Everyone turned to look at the door.
"Father!"
Chenchen reacted first and stepped forward to greet.
Henger and Yeye also mimicked him and walked forward.
"Paying respects to Father!"
The small ones clasped their fists and saluted, mimicking earnestly!
Yue Er seemed a bit puzzled.
She suspiciously watched her brothers for a moment.
Then she pulled her mother’s hand, and tottered over to Father.
Habitually stretched out her arms.
"Father... hug!"
The little girl now pronounced words clearly, no longer mumbling.
However.
She didn’t understand why her brothers were bowing.
Whenever she reached out for hugs, Father was always delighted.
So naturally, she should be hugged!
Zhao Junyao looked down at his daughter, indeed, very pleased.
Bending over, he picked up Yue Er, laughing.
"Come, my little princess, call Father again!"
Yue Er gleefully hugged Father’s arm, and called once more.
"Father!"
The sweet little voice melted Zhao Junyao’s heart.
"Good Yue Er! My little princess is truly understanding!"
Yue Er was very happy too.
She looked down at her brothers still bowing, feeling even more puzzled.
What happened to her three brothers?
"Gugu!"
"Gugu!"
Yue Er pointed her small finger at them.
Zhao Junyao finally reacted, letting his three sons stand.
Xia Ruqing, nearby, twitched the corner of her mouth.
Thinking to herself.
’Emperor, your sons all seem to have been picked up!’
"Emperor!"
Xia Ruqing bobbed a curtsey.
She was now Empress, his wife.
Thus the greeting was just a slight curtsey, no longer needing the deep bow or kneel.
Zhao Junyao freed one hand to help her up.
"Qingqing, no need for formalities!"
Then.
Holding one daughter in one arm and his wife in the other, the three headed into the inner chamber.
In the front hall, the three Princes were left confused.
After exchanging looks with each other.
Chenchen spoke first.
"Ahem! It’s almost time for breakfast, I’m leaving first!"
With that, he hurriedly left.
Henger and Yeye glanced at each other.
"Well... should we go?" asked Henger.
"I don’t want to go; I still want to play with my sister!" Yeye was somewhat reluctant.
Henger said helplessly.
"But we... seem a bit extra here."
Yeye did not reply.
After pondering a moment, he followed Henger, feeling a bit forlorn.
When Xia Ruqing called out for them, she found not a single one.
She was slightly irked.
"Emperor, where are the three sons outside? How could you ignore them!"
Zhao Junyao felt wronged.
"I didn’t do it intentionally!"
"Besides, they usually don’t eat here, do they?"
Men who are studying don’t eat with their mothers, isn’t it shameful!
When Chenchen started studying, he ate meals at school.
It hasn’t changed over the years.
Now he had a place in the front palace, he wouldn’t eat meals here!
As for the other two, he didn’t know where they ate and didn’t care to know (yes, just not concerned).
Xia Ruqing felt quite helpless.
"Anyhow, it’s always your reason that counts."
Wondering in her heart, were these really his biological sons?
