A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 1057: Illness Strikes Like a Falling Mountain
The next day, Yue Er saw this dagger and couldn’t put it down.
"Father!"
"Do you like it?" Zhao Junyao asked with a smile.
Yue Er giggled.
"I like it!"
Xia Ruqing also smiled.
"Your father made it for you with his own hands, why don’t you thank him quickly!"
"Thank you, Father!" Yue Er obediently replied.
Seeing his little daughter’s happy expression, Zhao Junyao felt everything was worth it.
He was planning to take Yue Er for a walk.
But then Yue Er asked again.
"Father, is this dagger also cheap?"
Xia Ruqing spat out her tea.
"If this is cheap, then nothing in the world is precious, my dear!"
"Precious?!"
Yue Er’s big eyes blinked, still a bit confused.
Xia Ruqing held her forehead and looked up at the sky, feeling a thousand stabs to her heart.
Indeed, being born is an art.
Some people are born with a golden spoon in their mouth, not knowing what is cheap and what is precious.
In her heart, she envied Yue Er for the ten thousandth time!
Xia Ruqing secretly prayed in her heart:
Next time she travels through time, she must end up in Yue Er’s position, and never as some unlucky Lady!
Yue Er held the dagger in her hand.
After looking at it left and right, she threw away the previous one indeed.
"Yue Er likes this one!"
Zhao Junyao was so happy he couldn’t close his mouth.
"Good! Yue Er can have whichever one she likes, alright?!"
The little girl contentedly drew the dagger, chopping the air a few times.
Then she chopped the candle on the table, seeing it split into two pieces instantly.
Yue Er said happily.
"So powerful!"
Xia Ruqing continued to hold her forehead:
A little girl over two years old, who liked to play with daggers, hmm...
Better feel a bit of sympathy for her future Prince Consort...
Zhao Junyao watched his lively, cute, bold, and agile daughter, feeling even more delighted.
The legitimate Princess of the Great Chu Dynasty should indeed be as capable as any man, radiating heroic spirit!
As his thoughts drifted, he suddenly remembered Ye Tang, no, Hai Tang.
That remarkable woman was skilled in martial arts and exceptional in horseback archery; if she were here, having her teach Yue Er would surely...
Unfortunately, she is the legitimate Princess of Western Xia, equally noble.
And he didn’t know when they might meet again.
Nonetheless...
He glanced at Yue Er beside him.
Cultivating Yue Er to be like that in the future wasn’t impossible.
His legitimate Princess didn’t need to follow the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, nor female rules and meditations, and certainly didn’t need to depend on any man to survive.
With him as her Father, as long as she doesn’t harm or commit arson.
She could do whatever she wished.
Xia Ruqing unintentionally caught Zhao Junyao’s extremely indulging gaze.
Her heart was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred once again.
Now she suspected: even if Yue Er wanted stars from the sky, he would do whatever it takes to fetch them for her.
Who else but him could be such a doting father?
...
Since that day, Yue Er deemed the dagger her treasure.
She would take it wherever she went.
Xia Ruqing saw her using it only to dig the soil or chop small branches, not doing anything harmful to herself or others.
So she let her be.
As May arrived, the weather gradually warmed.
Next month there would be an important selection, as Empress she had an unshirkable responsibility.
Thus she busied herself with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Fortunately, with Consort Cheng and Consort Hui assisting, it wasn’t too overwhelming.
The palace consorts had varying degrees of anxiety over the upcoming selection.
Worrying that someone with high status and power might ruin their peaceful lives.
But seeing the Emperor and Empress still deeply in love gave them peace of mind.
What could another high-status person do?
With the Empress reigning supreme, could you overturn the sky?
So...
The unease gradually subsided, and peace returned to the Harem.
...
Xia Ruqing’s days in the Harem were smooth sailing.
Outside at the Minister’s Mansion.
Xia Caiying’s days were similarly smooth and pleasant.
After giving birth to a legitimate eldest son, she stood firm in the Minister’s Mansion.
First learning to manage the household with her mother-in-law, Madam Yang, then participating in various family ceremonies with her sisters-in-law.
These steps symbolized her acceptance into the family.
The sisters-in-law no longer dared to underestimate her, as past awkward relations melted away.
Recently, the doctor also found she’s over two months pregnant.
The news brought joy to the entire family.
Madam Yang quickly took over household affairs, leaving her to focus on resting.
Xia Caiying gratefully pushed aside trivial matters.
Drinking tonic, reading books, and leisurely strolling through the garden.
With her mother-in-law’s care, her husband’s protection, and respect from her sisters-in-law, life seemed extraordinarily comfortable.
Xia Caiying’s mind and body were delighted, her confidence soared, her every move full of elegant grace.
Her complexion became rosy, her blood circulation full, her entire being glowing.
Even the doctor praised her during consultation.
"Young Lady’s health is excellent, full of vitality, with a steady pregnancy; she’ll surely deliver a healthy young master safely!"
Madam Yang and Yang Chenyi were very pleased to hear this.
Xia Caiying was also full of joy.
She caressed her belly, happiness overflowing from her heart bit by bit.
How wonderful! Life is truly beautiful!
...
Xia Ruqing and Xia Caiying were doing well, but one person was in dire straits.
Since marrying into the Prince’s Mansion, Xia Ruyi hadn’t had a single good day.
Not to mention being favored by the Prince, she couldn’t even get a full meal.
Moreover, after continuous beatings, Pan Zhu betrayed her to align with the Princess Consort.
Of course, she wasn’t aware of any of this.
Since May, the weather had warmed.
The sun grew increasingly scorching, and the room became stuffy.
The courtyard she lived in was remote, and the house was low and old.
The interior was simple; the screens were torn and faded, the tables and bedside platform dilapidated.
Most importantly, the hot weather made the room damp, filled with snakes, insects, mice, mosquitoes, and cockroaches.
Once, she woke in the night feeling something cold beside her.
She touched it and it moved; upon closer inspection, it was a snake.
She screamed in shock and fainted immediately.
Pan Zhu, on night watch in the next room, did not rise to check on the noise.
Instead, she sneered sarcastically, turned over, and continued sleeping.
Xia Ruyi remained unconscious until noon the next day, with no one attending her.
Eventually, she woke up on her own.
Since then, she dared not sleep.
During the day, she lay by the corridor for a bit; at night, she stayed on edge, waking at the slightest noise.
The weather grew hotter.
Without ice, she developed a rash.
Dense like needle pricks, painfully sharp when they flared.
This made her temper increasingly irritable.
Unable to eat or sleep properly, burdened by a boiling condition, constantly anxious and paranoid. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
Within less than two months, illness struck her like a mountain collapse.
On the sickbed, Xia Ruyi was gaunt, her face pale, lips dry, and eyes sunken.
No longer possessed the plump and spirited form of the past.
Only more mania remained, and even more viciousness than before.
Pan Zhu brewed medicine for her, helping her drink.
Xia Ruyi responded with a barrage of curses.
"You worthless traitor! After all the trust I bestowed upon you, how could you..."
