A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 925: Another Year
Li Shengan stood up and expressed his thanks, then stated his purpose.
"The Emperor has instructed me to bring some supplements to Your Highness, and has asked that you take good care of yourself and the little masters!"
Xia Ruqing was a bit puzzled after hearing this.
The latter part made sense; he was concerned about her.
But the former, giving her supplements, what was that about!
Xia Ruqing looked at Li Shengan in confusion.
"These supplements?"
Li Shengan was also a bit troubled, unable to say it outright, so he just said,
"I guess it’s because the weather has been cold lately, and the Emperor is worried that Your Highness might be overworked and tire yourself out!"
"Overworked?!"
Xia Ruqing was stunned again.
The funeral affairs were all being handled by Consort Hui.
It seemed she had nothing to do apart from crying at the wake and kneeling in mourning.
Could it be...
She touched her eyes.
Could the Emperor have seen?!
She thought to herself that it must be the case.
How humiliating, the Emperor husband actually saw it.
Moreover, he was reminding her in such a roundabout way: no need to cry so hard?!
Really, so embarrassing!
"Cough, cough! I understand, please pass on my thanks to the Emperor, Eunuch Li!"
"I will certainly take good care of myself and the children, the Emperor can rest easy!"
Those were just polite words.
The subtext being:
I understand what the Emperor means, please rest assured, I will be more mindful next time.
Li Shengan saw that she understood.
He didn’t say more, made a bow and left.
Xia Ruqing quickly asked Xiao Xizi to properly see him out.
Once everyone had left.
She could finally slump on the couch.
"Sigh!"
"Look, the atmosphere in the palace right now is really not good at all!"
From the Emperor, down to the concubines, princes, and princesses, to the palace maids and eunuchs in the palace.
Each one doesn’t even dare to smile.
Clearly not sad at all.
Yet everyone has to pretend to be this way, really, isn’t it so oppressive?!
Zi Su came in, casually closed the door, and smiled.
"Master, this is our own place, if you want to laugh, just laugh a bit!"
Xia Ruqing glanced at her.
"You always understand me best!"
"Go, bring my joke book here, I want to have a good laugh!"
Her face was almost stiff from crying.
"Okay!"
Zi Su trotted off.
Zi Yue shook her head with a mix of laughter and tears, but said nothing more.
While waiting.
Xia Ruqing asked about the children.
Hearing they were all quietly asleep, she felt reassured.
Actually.
Whether it’s wearing mourning or kneeling in mourning.
She didn’t feel too aggrieved herself, mainly felt unfair on behalf of the children.
Why should it be?
Facing a woman who constantly wanted to get rid of her.
They still had to kowtow in mourning.
Claiming it’s called; ’Filial piety!’
Filial piety, my foot, fortunately, the children don’t understand yet.
When they grow up and understand someday.
She doesn’t know how disgusted they might feel inside.
Just thinking about it makes her angry.
But no matter how angry she was, there was nothing she could do.
Even the Emperor husband had to consider the royal family’s face and reputation in the world.
Let alone herself.
Forget it, just think of it as earning some good reputation for the children.
Not too much of a loss.
Thinking this way, she felt a bit better.
The joke book was brought up.
She read a dozen pages in one go.
Laughed heartily for a while to adjust her mood.
Only then did she contentedly go to sleep.
Tomorrow, ah, will be another brand new, bitter day.
But thinking about it.
Once this period is over.
She wouldn’t have to worry about the Empress rising again outside the palace.
Finally, she might have the chance to shed the identity of a minor wife and become a major wife.
Never thought about the Empress position before.
Because the Empress was still around, and she couldn’t harm others.
But lately, thinking about it, she’s still quite expecting it, a favored consort who doesn’t want to be Empress, is not a good cook!
Although... she really doesn’t want to arrange the selection affairs for the Emperor husband.
But, every advantage comes with a disadvantage.
Living in this era, one must follow the rules of the game.
Maybe by pouring some toxic chicken soup for herself, she might accept it?
After all, the temptation of being the major wife is really big, isn’t it?!
For example.
She could stride across the harem.
And for example.
Her sons and daughters could stand out above others’ sons and daughters.
And for example.
She can rightfully cozy up to the Emperor husband, no longer worrying about being called a vixen.
The Emperor and Empress are deeply affectionate after all.
And also for example...
Anyway, there are many benefits!
Though the downsides are, it’s quite laborious.
Having to manage the various trivial matters of the harem, and the deadliest is the ’selection!’
After thinking it over, tossing and turning in her mind, she fell asleep at some unknown time.
...
The Empress’s funeral rites lasted over two months in total.
In the palace, female relatives inside and outside mourned and kept vigil for nearly twenty days.
Outside the palace, the body was kept at the Imperial Temple, and they conducted a 49-day water-land rite.
By the time the Empress was buried in the Imperial Mausoleum, it was already mid-March.
And that wasn’t the end of it.
The consorts and princes and princesses in the palace had to continue mourning for another six months for the Empress.
This was the Emperor’s decree, also the rule of the palace.
Actually, the time wasn’t fixed.
But one thing was certain, six months was definitely the shortest period.
Xia Ruqing felt she wanted to cry but had no tears after hearing this.
This year, nowhere to go again.
Better stay obediently in the palace.
The only consolation was, she didn’t have to eat vegetarian.
To be precise, whether she ate vegetarian or not, others wouldn’t know.
Firstly, she had three children here.
Secondly, there was a small kitchen in her palace.
The proper Imperial Kitchen made vegetarian meals for the concubines.
Except for the princes and princesses.
They’re still growing, how could they eat vegetarian?
The Emperor’s thoughts were clear to everyone.
Everyone turned a blind eye, no one minded this.
In the next half-year, except for the Emperor.
Both inside and outside the palace were in mourning, stable like a calm lake, without a single ripple.
No one wanted to cause trouble during the mourning period, that would be disrespectful and result in punishment.
Even the usually chaotic Prince Zhe Mansion.
Had been quiet for a long time.
So-called keeping a low profile, is probably like this.
...
Spring passed, autumn came.
In the blink of an eye, the six-month mourning period was over.
Seemed quick.
But everyone knew how hard it was in between.
The noble ladies in the palace couldn’t listen to music or watch operas, couldn’t go out in groups, could only stay in their own palaces.
Each was about to go moldy.
It was even more miserable for those outside the palace.
Couldn’t entertain, couldn’t marry, couldn’t visit friends.
Yet the outside world was so full of temptations.
More unbearable!
The lustful children of noble families, even forbidden to visit brothels.
So...
When the mourning period ended.
Everyone couldn’t wait to have a celebration.
Xia Ruqing pondered in her heart.
In this world, perhaps no one sincerely grieved for the Empress’s departure.
Living life like this, she really had it tough.
On the first day after mourning.
Xia Ruqing bathed and dressed early.
Immediately took her children to the Imperial Garden.
Chenchen was already five, had to study and practice martial arts even harder.
Henger and Yeye were now two years old.
Their legs and feet were as agile as can be, running faster than her!
