A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 749: I’m Not Dead Yet

However, Xia Ruqing didn’t think so.

She faintly heard the Sister say, "Another prince!"

Her heart sank a little, and she murmured, "No daughter!"

Then she passed out.

Zhao Junyao was somewhat anxious and quickly patted her face.

Unexpectedly, he was pulled away by the Sister standing beside them.

"Emperor, Consort Xian is too tired and has fallen asleep. She’s fine!"

"Ah?!" He was completely bewildered.

"Are you sure?" His gaze bore an inviolable authority.

"This servant is certain!"

The Sister quickly bowed her head, maintaining a neither humble nor haughty attitude. Though she was frightened inside, there was also a feeling of exasperation at his ignorance. Since ancient times, men simply couldn’t enter the birthing room during childbirth! Even if they did, they wouldn’t understand anything, would they?

Regardless, an Old Sister would always find some things hard to watch.

Zhao Junyao didn’t bother to inquire further and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Take good care of Consort Xian. Any negligence, and you will all pay with your lives!"

"Yes!"

These words evidently had a great effect. Everyone’s attitude became extremely respectful.

Zhao Junyao nodded in satisfaction and left.

With both mother and son safe, he felt reassured.

Coming out of the birthing room, he crossed the main hall and went outside.

Zhao Junyao instantly saw the Empress Dowager standing in the courtyard. By her side stood Noble Concubine Shih, with a number of concubines from the harem standing behind her.

He was a bit surprised.

"Mother?"

The Empress Dowager was already livid with rage and snorted coldly without speaking.

Noble Concubine Shih and the others only dared to pay silent respects.

Zhao Junyao gestured for them to rise and continued, "Mother, how come you’re here?" he asked, moving forward to support her.

Regardless of how much he disliked it on the inside, he knew he had to maintain appearances. He remembered every single grievance Qingqing had suffered!

But the Empress Dowager shook off Zhao Junyao’s hand with a scoff.

"Do you even remember this Empress Dowager?"

"After ten months of pregnancy, I bore you, yet the moment you return to the palace, you rush to see this woman?"

"The birthing room is unclean; it’s harmful to you! It’s ominous!"

The implication was clear: he would rather visit an ominous place than see his own mother.

The Empress Dowager was both angry and heartbroken.

Zhao Junyao secretly raised his eyebrows.

"Mother, please calm down! Your son knows he was wrong!"

The Empress Dowager pointed at him, her face streaming with tears. "Tell me, if something were to happen to you, with such a large harem, this vast empire, all these common people... how would they all survive..."

Zhao Junyao: "..." Was this an outright curse? Could a mother really curse her own son like this?

Zhao Junyao’s expression became grim as he gazed at the Empress Dowager and said quietly, "Mother, do you truly wish for your son’s death?"

The Empress Dowager, realizing her words were improper, felt somewhat embarrassed and softened her tone as she continued, "I am worried for you!"

"Your return was not announced. There was no one to receive you. Where is the demeanor of an Emperor?"

Now she sounded a bit more like a mother, but her words still felt off.

Zhao Junyao lightly curled his lips and said indifferently, "What does it mean to act like an Emperor?"

"If it means being extravagant and ostentatious, putting on airs at every turn, then I would rather not!"

"I returned ahead of schedule; the main army is still on its way!"

The Empress Dowager immediately frowned. "How can this be acceptable? Without the army to protect you, if something were to happen on the way..."

"Mother need not worry. I’m not dead! Perfectly fine!" Zhao Junyao cut her off directly.

After speaking, he turned his gaze to Noble Concubine Shih. "Noble Concubine Shih, if you are unoccupied, perhaps you could arrange the details for the victory banquet?"

Noble Concubine Shih quickly lowered her head. "Yes, Your Highness, this concubine understands!"

Zhao Junyao nodded, heaved a sigh of relief, and turned to the Empress Dowager. "It has gotten chilly. Mother, if you have no further matters, you should head back. Consort Xian has just given birth; her body is frail and she should not receive visitors!"

The Empress Dowager was instantly enraged. "You..."

Zhao Junyao simply ignored her and strode away.

The Empress Dowager’s face turned green with rage. "Look at him, just look at him!"

"Does he even have any regard for me!"

Noble Concubine Shih quickly tried to calm her. "Empress Dowager, the Emperor has been traveling and needs to rest. Let us return first!"

The Empress Dowager was furious. "You too..."

"Forget it, let’s go, let’s go back!"

She originally wanted to accuse her of siding with the Emperor, but on second thought, the Emperor was the support of every woman in the harem—how could they not side with him? At a loss for words, what else could she do but return?

After seeing the Empress Dowager back to Ningshou Palace, Noble Concubine Shih, exhausted, returned to her own Xifu Palace.

She took off her heavy headdress and changed into casual clothes.

She slouched on the couch and took the warm tea handed over by Ying Qiu.

She took a sip but frowned.

"What’s wrong, Your Highness? Is the tea not to your liking?"

Yet, on second thought, that couldn’t be right—this tea was exactly the same as always!

Noble Concubine Shih impatiently set down the cup, closed her eyes with a headache, and said gloomily, "Consort Xian now has three Princes. Tell me... in the future, won’t this harem become her domain?"

"Do I still have a place here?"

Ying Qiu quickly said, "Your Highness, you are the Noble Consort! As long as she is Consort Xian, no matter how many children she has, she must bow down to you!"

Noble Concubine Shih scoffed again. "But... according to law, there can be two Noble Consorts. Who knows if the Emperor won’t promote her to Noble Consort as well?"

By then, a Noble Consort beloved by the Emperor with three Princes, and a Noble Consort with nothing—who would be higher or lower?

Ying Qiu’s expression became a bit stiff. "Your Highness..."

"No matter what, we currently manage The Six Palaces, and the Emperor still values you the most!"

Noble Concubine Shih didn’t take it to heart. "Do you think managing The Six Palaces is an honor?"

Ying Qiu did not understand. "Isn’t it?"

Noble Concubine Shih gave a bitter smile. "I used to think so. Now it seems... it’s just a lot of work!"

"The Mid-Autumn banquet, the victory celebrations, the upcoming Double Ninth Festival, and all the daily trivialities of the palace!"

"All these things add up, and it gets tiring!"

"As for the benefits, it’s merely having more subordinates, people paying respects, and offering sweet words!"

Whether it’s the concubines or the servants below, everyone just wants to curry favor. But even with all the flattery, she remained alone; the Emperor wouldn’t spare her an extra glance. The most favored was still another woman, and that woman was carefree and secure! Was she... merely performing unpaid labor?

Noble Concubine Shih grew angrier the more she thought about it.

Ying Qiu quickly stepped forward to console her. "Your Highness! Don’t be angry. Getting upset is bad for your health..."

"Enough!"

"It’s always the same few words. What use do I have for you!"

"When Consort Yun Pin was by my side, at least she could offer some advice!"

Noble Concubine Shih, frustrated, slapped the table.

Ying Qiu fell silent. After a long while, she cautiously said, "This servant... this servant has an idea, I’m not sure if Your Highness..."

Noble Concubine Shih looked at her. "Speak!"

Ying Qiu then leaned in and whispered in her ear.

Noble Concubine Shih squinted, asking skeptically, "Can this really work?"

Ying Qiu was confident. "Even if it doesn’t, we have nothing to lose, right?"

Noble Concubine Shih then smiled. "Indeed!"

"Go and make it happen."