A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 696: Homestyle

After getting up, washing, and freshening up, Xia Ruqing changed into her everyday clothes.

Just then, Xiao Xizi returned, carrying the meal. Zi Yue and the others went to set up the table.

Usually at this time, Xia Ruqing would be at Jiaofang Hall, as in previous years, accompanying the Empress and the various Ladies of Enjoin for the banquet. But this year was different. The Empress wasn’t present, and the Ladies of Enjoin had all gone to the Empress Dowager’s residence. Apart from a few consorts of Pin rank or higher who stayed to accompany them, the rest of the Honored Ladies had returned to their own quarters. Without the usual bustle, no one paid much attention to the ailing Xia Ruqing. Because of this, she was able to comfortably stay home and enjoy delicious food.

Lunch was a banquet meal provided by the Imperial Kitchen. It looked unappetizing, but it couldn’t be skipped; that was the rule. In reality, she was eating according to the medicinal diet prescribed by the Imperial Physician. Carrying twins, how could she not eat well? So, anything she liked that was on the prescribed diet, Zi Yue and Xiao Xizi would invariably find a way to procure for her. And indeed, all the foods she craved were laid out on the table.

There were pickled bamboo shoot and pork spine soup noodles, dumplings with various fillings, mutton soup, and small lamb ribs—these meat dishes were quite light in flavor. But they were still made savory and delicious by the Imperial Kitchen. There was an even greater variety of vegetarian dishes. The vegetable garden had everything, with the shepherd’s purse being the most tender, along with spinach, carrots, white radishes, and so on. Aside from these, there were the sweet potatoes, winter melons, and pumpkins that Xiao Zhu Zi had planted earlier. To store these vegetables, Xiao Zhu Zi had specially asked someone to dig a small cellar in the backyard. Even though it wasn’t large, items stored within could be preserved for over half a year without spoiling or sprouting; when taken out, they still seemed as fresh as new. Hence, Xia Ruqing’s table also featured millet pumpkin porridge and steamed sweet potatoes.

These items might seem unremarkable, and the Royal Family even considered them too rustic to eat. But Xia Ruqing, after all, came from the modern era; how could she pass up these natural, organic vitamins? For lunch, she started with a bowl of millet pumpkin porridge. Then she had a few pieces of steamed sweet potato, which was both sweet and glutinous. Finally, she picked out her favorite fillings and ate some dumplings. There were also small lamb ribs, pork bone noodles, spinach, stewed radishes, and so on; she tasted a few bites of each. It was a well-balanced meal with meat and vegetables, sweet and savory flavors.

By the end, her eyes were still greedy, but her stomach was full—she was reluctant to part with one dish and felt she hadn’t eaten enough of another.

Zi Yue chuckled. "My lady, that’s enough!"

It wouldn’t do to overeat!

After some thought, Xia Ruqing reluctantly put down her chopsticks. "Alright then!"

Zi Yue, feeling a little helpless, quickly had people clear the table.

Xia Ruqing got up and, somewhat dejectedly, sat back on the bed, patting her slightly rounded belly. Has it gotten this big already? she wondered. Is it because I ate too much, or is my pregnancy starting to show?

Xia Ruqing lay there, eyes narrowed, gently rubbing her belly in circles. Before long, she drifted off to sleep again—she was so drowsy!

When Zi Yue returned after tidying up, she found her mistress asleep again and couldn’t help but sigh. Ah! She must be exhausted!

「● ● ●」

When Xia Ruqing woke up, it was already mid-afternoon. The Ladies of Enjoin in the palace had accompanied the Empress Dowager at the banquet and, after some laughter and conversation, had all departed. The palace had once again returned to tranquility.

The New Year celebrations were now considered over. From here on, it was up to each person’s own abilities. In any case, the Emperor would not hold court until after the Lantern Festival. Whether one could win his favor depended on individual fortune.

However, Xia Ruqing wasn’t worried about anything. Lose favor? I’m carrying two in my belly; what favor is there to lose?! Others gaining favor? That’s even more of a joke. The Emperor has been vexed and very busy lately. If any of these women in the palace were to gain favor, they would have done so long ago. Why wait until now?! The only thing truly worth worrying about is the upcoming selection of new Fine Ladies. Sigh! Another batch of glamorous vixens. What if that scoundrel Zhao Junyao really does become infatuated with some new young concubine? Then I... sigh! Never mind, I shouldn’t dwell on these things.

Several times, Xia Ruqing silently repeated to herself, He is not mine. I cannot rely on him, and I certainly must not develop feelings for him! Only then did she manage to suppress the rising tide of emotion.

"Zi Yue!"

"Go fetch me the Four Treasures of the Study—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. I want to paint!"

Zi Yue looked shocked. "Ah?"

When did our mistress learn to paint? How come we never knew?

Seeing her surprise, Xia Ruqing pretended to be calm. "What? Your mistress may come from a scholarly family, but I still know a thing or two about zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"

Zi Yue was speechless. Zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting? Mistress, you should probably focus on practicing your handwriting first!

But Zi Yue didn’t dare voice this thought, so she called Zi Su, and together they went to find pigments and brushes.

Xia Ruqing, cradling her belly, got out of bed, muttering to herself, Why think so much? Besides, thinking too much is useless! This godforsaken place is feudal to the core. Given how things are, what can I do? I’m helpless too!

With these thoughts, she glanced around the room. Then, thinking of her Emperor husband, she made a silent vow in her heart. If I ever get the chance to return to the modern era, I’ll definitely take my Emperor husband back with me! Then, hehe... Xia Ruqing lost herself in a blissful daydream.

「● ● ●」

The brush, ink, paper, and pigments were all ready. Xia Ruqing recalled her art classes from school in her previous life. She mixed the pigments with water until they were evenly blended. Then, she picked up a brush and began to paint.

In truth, she didn’t know how to paint at all. In her previous life, she had attended school in the countryside. Art class, much like physical education, was an enigmatic subject that was rarely taught properly. She hadn’t attended many lessons before the school suspended classes. Consequently, she had only learned the very basics.

Yet now, the way she held the brush actually managed to bluff Zi Yue and the others. Especially Zi Ning.

She gazed at her mistress with admiration and remarked, "Everyone says our Madam comes from a humble background, but why do I feel like she’s from a prominent family!"

Zi Su also chimed in, "Our Madam is indeed from a scholarly family!"

Xia Ruqing had to suppress a laugh. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

「● ● ●」

She was painting a plum blossom—the kind she had seen in Ninghe Hall during the New Year’s Eve banquet the previous night. Xia Ruqing liked it very much. It was just a pity that such things were too precious. Not even the Harem had any; only the Empress Dowager had received two trees. How could she dare to vie for one? So, painting one to feast her eyes on was a good alternative! Besides, she had nothing better to do.

However, her painting skills were truly nothing to boast about. While the branches of a plum blossom are winding and rugged, they possess a unique, expansive beauty. Adorned with blossoms, the entire tree should appear to sway gracefully, exuding immense beauty.

But the plum blossom under Xia Ruqing’s brush... It looked like a poisoned tree. Its branches were like a serpent writhing in agony, twisting and contorting in all directions. And the blossoms on it? They bore no resemblance to plum blossoms. At first glance, it looked as if rouge mixed with water had been haphazardly splashed onto the paper. There was no technique, no aesthetic appeal, no composition. In a word: a complete mess!

"So clumsy!"

A magnetic, yet disdainful voice sounded beside her ear.

Xia Ruqing finally snapped back to reality, startled. "Emperor? What brings you here?"

As she spoke, she tried to hide her hands behind her back, attempting to destroy the evidence. Unfortunately... it was too late!