A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 845: Chaste as Jade?

Sister Lan’s eyes were red with pity.

The Eldest Princess reached out her tender little hand to wipe her tears.

"Sister, please don’t cry; Yiming is used to it already!"

Sister Lan held her.

"My poor Princess, just because you’re not a Prince, you must suffer like this! It’s truly too difficult!"

The Eldest Princess lowered her head and murmured.

"My mother has always resented that I’m not a Prince; it hurts her deeply!"

"Being beaten and scolded doesn’t matter to me; as long as it makes my mother a little happier, I’m willing!"

Sister Lan felt even more heartache.

"Such a good child!"

Why doesn’t Consort Ning cherish her? Why?!

Sister Lan carefully applied medicine and dressed her.

She wanted to say something but, after thinking, she couldn’t say anything.

After all, she was just a sister in matters between mother and daughter.

She couldn’t interfere!

The Eldest Princess grimaced in pain while dressing, her face pale, sweat pouring cold.

She looked at Sister Lan, tearfully pleaded.

"Sister, can I remove this? It hurts too much!"

"I can bear being beaten and scolded, but this I cannot!"

Sister Lan looked down and found her chest wrapped in thick layers of white gauze.

Her face instantly showed shock!

"Princess, who did this to you? Damn them! This is excruciating pain!"

The body needs to develop; it’s natural.

This forced inhibition of growth is going against nature!

The Eldest Princess said nothing, but Sister Lan could guess.

"Consort Ning again?"

The Eldest Princess bit her lip, teary-eyed, and nodded.

Sister Lan felt chills in her feet and heart sinking, sweat breaking out on her back.

"She’s a woman; she wouldn’t ignore this pain!"

"How could she be so ruthless to you; she’s really unfit to be a mother."

This matter is too serious.

If mishandled, it could become a matter of life and death!

Sister Lan dared not think further.

She quickly removed the gauze from her chest and solemnly told her.

"Princess, you are a girl, a woman, and this is not shameful!"

"You are to be a mother someday, and if you’re tortured now, you’ll never be able to be a mother!"

"So, you must always obey Sister!"

"If anyone ties you up again, come find Sister!"

"Sister will quietly take it off for you, alright?!"

The Eldest Princess seemed scared, also hesitant.

"But Sister, my mother said that if this grows, I’ll become bad!"

"Sister, I don’t want to become bad!"

Sister Lan’s face turned pale, her heart pierced with pain.

"Your mother is lying to you!"

"Look, Sister has them too!"

"You’re not a bad woman; this is something every woman should have, otherwise how could you be a mother, what would the child eat!"

"So, listen to Sister, it’s for your own good!"

The Eldest Princess nodded.

"Alright, I’ll listen to Sister!"

"Ah, that’s right!"

Removing the gauze, she dressed her properly.

Though the Eldest Princess still hunched with slumped shoulders, her movements became much more graceful.

Anyway, she looked much stronger than her previous withered appearance.

Thinking of the Emperor’s decree, forbidding the Princess from doing embroidery henceforth, letting her read, write, and learn horseback riding.

Sister Lan felt a glimmer of hope.

She’s only nine; it’s not too late.

If she learns well for a few years, builds up her health, hopefully these bad habits can be corrected.

Take it slowly.

...

The Eldest Princess’s affair made Zhao Junyao realize once again that the harem truly needed him.

These times, he indeed neglected the harem too much.

Of course, this need isn’t the need of consorts.

Nor the need between men and women.

Rather, the harem is his harem.

As an emperor, he cannot detach himself from the harem.

It’s not merely about issuing orders to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, ensuring those women are well-fed and well-kept, it’s much more complex.

He needs to invest time and energy to maintain it.

For instance, the authority of the Six Palaces was entrusted to Consort Hui and Consort Ning.

But neither of these consorts is favored; their esteem and credibility are lost within the harem.

Others might think everyone’s just unfavored.

Why should I be under your control!

Another example, children not seeing their father for long becoming strangers to him.

In any dynasty, the situation where Princes and Princesses cannot see their father should never occur.

After neglecting Consort Cheng Pin for a long time.

For the first visit, the Second Prince Honghong hardly recognized him.

He’s still very young, and hasn’t seen his father for a long while, hence his unfamiliarity is normal.

Consort Cheng Pin awkwardly coaxed and taught him.

After a full Shi Chen, she managed to get him to call "Father" reluctantly.

Even then, he was unwilling.

When Zhao Junyao reached out to hold him, two-year-old Honghong cried out loudly and intensely.

Zhao Junyao dejectedly released his hand.

Consort Cheng Pin was equally embarrassed.

The two remained silent, almost without words.

Ultimately Zhao Junyao had to retreat in defeat!

Returning to Duanning Palace.

Comparing Chenchen, Henger, and Yeye growing under his care.

Zhao Junyao realized his mistakes deeply.

"No matter what, children should never be neglected!"

Xia Ruqing also strongly agreed.

"Emperor, children are innocent, you must visit them more often!"

Though psychologically, Xia Ruqing felt she was persuading her husband to visit other children.

But what could she do? She couldn’t stop it.

Not only couldn’t stop, but had to support it, feeling utterly helpless and annoyed.

Zhao Junyao seemed to sense her displeasure.

His strong desire to survive led him to promise various assurances.

For example: Assuring not to touch them, and to be absolutely loyal to Qingqing!

Another: Ensuring never to speak ill of her behind her back!

Further: Pledging not to gaze at any woman directly, if spending the night elsewhere, recite ’Qingqing is the most beautiful!’ a hundred times before sleep and upon waking!

Xia Ruqing never demanded this.

She had no idea where Zhao Junyao learned these tricks, yet they worked well.

At least, her heart felt balanced, right!

She finally gained confidence, when her Emperor husband visited other women.

Forcing herself to be assured that she’s his utmost concern, indeed!

...

After such intense mental struggle.

The mighty emperor of the Great Chu Dynasty once again embraced the life of equally showering grace in his harem.

Of course, this grace is spiritual, not physical.

Balancing the harem is part of an emperor’s duties.

As long as he sits in this position for a day, he remains the Emperor of the entire harem.

However, to Zhao Junyao, there’s always just one woman!

He couldn’t understand the complexities of love and romance.

He simply recognized one thing.

After being with this woman, he found he’d never be interested in others.

He didn’t know why, it was odd.

But it’s a fact!

Zhao Junyao puzzled over it, eventually giving up.

Since then, the Emperor reverted to summoning the harem to his bedchamber per routine.

Only, no matter how they came, they returned unchanged!

They felt extremely wronged.

Yet, no one dared actively approach the Emperor!