Chapter 271 - 270: I Actually Hope for a Daughter

The moment Xia Ruqing laid eyes on the green apricots, her mouth instantly flooded with saliva, and her eyes gleamed.

"Sour?"

"I’ll eat, I’ll eat!"

Her stomach churned as if a raging sea, and she was about to throw up.

Zi Yue no longer hesitated and brought over the plate.

Sure enough, Xia Ruqing took an apricot and began to eat.

Standing to the side, Zi Yue felt sour just watching.

"My Lady, this servant heard the Old Sisters say, ’Sour for sons, spicy for daughters!’"

"The child you’re carrying in your belly must surely be a Little Prince!"

After finishing an apricot, Xia Ruqing spat out the pit with a look of relief on her face.

She touched her stomach.

"Whether it’s a Prince or a Princess, I’ll love them all the same!"

"But, I do hope that this first one is a Princess!"

If it were a Princess, the Empress would also be delighted, and no one would have designs on her! If it were a Prince, then he would be the Crown Prince. A thorn in many people’s sides!

Zi Yue just laughed. "My Lady, you needn’t worry! It’s still early to talk about such things!" Xia Ruqing could only nod in agreement.

By late March, the weather gradually began to warm up.

The willows in the Imperial Garden were like puffs of smoke, birds chirped incessantly, and the scenery was as splendid as a rich tapestry. A true picture of spring in full bloom.

The Palace Consorts, wearing their gorgeous court gowns, walked in pairs and groups among the splendor. Lovely Palace Maids, in their light-colored uniforms, walked in twos or threes. They moved to and fro in the Imperial Garden with standardized steps and graceful postures.

The Imperial Garden in The Sunny March—in a word: Beautiful!

Xia Ruqing, staying in the Qingya Residence, felt a growing internal distress from being confined.

Even Zi Yue persuaded her, "My Lady, why not... when there are fewer people this afternoon, we go for a stroll in the garden?"

Xia Ruqing touched her stomach and thought about it.

"I better not go..."

The child was the most important thing, and she was still experiencing morning sickness. If people saw her, all her efforts would have been for naught!

Zi Yue did not persuade her further.

My Lady spoke wisely indeed.

Xia Ruqing nodded and then added, "It’s almost the end of March... I’ll wait a bit longer. The new Fine Ladies will enter the palace in April. By then, all eyes will turn to them, and I’ll be safe!"

Zi Yue heartily agreed. "My Lady, you are right!"

Currently, the Emperor still treated her Lady very well. He came to see her every few days, stayed overnight, and summoned her to sleep, just like before. Her Lady was still a thorn in other people’s eyes. So, it was better not to go out if she could avoid it!

Thinking about these things, Zi Yue laughed. "My Lady, the Emperor truly cherishes you from the bottom of his heart!"

"Cherishes me?"

Xia Ruqing pondered thoughtfully. For some reason, ever since she became pregnant, her mindset had changed. She suddenly felt very insecure and became rather sentimental. The thought of bearing this man’s child made her feel uncomfortable inside.

Was it resentment? Resentful that she would have a child without mutual love? Resentful that she had to hide her pregnancy and dare not let anyone know? Or perhaps... Was there another thought in her mind? Resentful of being trapped in the deep palace like a cage, for a lifetime?! Were these her feelings?

Xia Ruqing touched her stomach and smiled. She laughed at her own foolishness, her own naïveté! Each of her resentments, when faced with reality, could be soundly defeated, instantly vanquished. They could be crushed into dust by reality, reduced to ashes!

So, wake up!

She considered her situation carefully once more.

Xia Ruqing laughed. "I am bearing his child! Who else would he cherish but me?"

After saying this, she stood up, supporting her belly.

"Zi Yue, for lunch I’d like dumplings with wild vegetable filling and some shrimp, but with less salt!"

Zi Yue smiled. "Yes!"

She was quite happy. "It’s great that you can eat, My Lady!"

A smile touched Xia Ruqing’s lips. "This body is my own; why shouldn’t I eat?"

The child was hers; her body was her own. So, she should eat when it was time to eat and drink when it was time to drink.

Zi Yue nodded and excused herself to call for meals.

Xiao Xizi came in to report, "Master, the 21st of The Sunny March is Consort Hui Pin’s birthday, and Consort Hui Pin is hosting a banquet. She has sent you an invitation!" As he spoke, he presented the invitation and added, "Also, on the 25th of The Sunny March is Lady Xi’s birthday!"

Xia Ruqing accepted the invitation. Upon hearing Lady Xi mentioned, her gaze turned cold. "As for Lady Xi’s birthday, we can pretend we don’t know about it. Let’s accept Consort Hui Pin’s invitation first!"

Xiao Xizi acknowledged with a yes.

The lunch was served quickly. A plate of thumb-sized crystal dumplings arrived, small, exquisite, and adorable. Inside were minced wild greens mixed with shrimp; the flavor was mild, yet with a hint of fresh shrimp taste. Xia Ruqing ate more than ten in one breath.

"My Lady, have some soup!" Zi Yue poured the fish soup into a small bowl and brought it over.

Xia Ruqing was a bit resistant. "It’s too fishy, I don’t want to drink it!"

She used to love drinking fish soup, but now that she was pregnant, her tastes had completely changed.

"It’s not fishy, why don’t you try it?"

The chefs from the Imperial Kitchen had used some method to slowly simmer the fish soup to perfection. This process not only retained the freshness of the fish soup but also ensured it didn’t smell fishy at all.

Xia Ruqing took a sip to try. It was both fresh and fragrant. The fish was tender and smooth, melting as soon as it entered her mouth.

After a bowl, Xia Ruqing held her belly, feeling blissfully bubbly.

For a foodie, there’s nothing that can’t be solved by a good meal. If there is, then make it two.

After lunch, Xia Ruqing walked around the courtyard, then went to the backyard to check on her small vegetable garden. After the New Year, she stopped planting vegetables there, having Xiao Zhu Zi plant some melons and fruits instead. Whether they bore fruit or not didn’t matter; the main thing was to have something to do.

"Watching a small seed slowly sprout, send out tendrils, blossom, and bear fruit is quite interesting!"

Zi Yue laughed. "Those watermelon plants over there are still just seedlings! And those pumpkin vines have just started to send out tendrils! To eat their fruits, we’ll have to wait until autumn!"

Xia Ruqing laughed at her. "Do you really expect to eat their fruits?" Then, teasingly, she said, "If you ask me, we’d be lucky if Xiao Zhu Zi doesn’t kill them!"

Xiao Zhu Zi hurriedly said from behind, "Master, how could this servant kill them? This servant is learning from someone every day!"

Xia Ruqing was amused. "Alright, alright! Then I’ll look forward to eating the fruits; you take good care of them. I don’t have the energy to!"

Xiao Zhu Zi quickly affirmed. "Do not worry, Master!"

Having taken a stroll, her food had digested, and her mood had lightened. Xia Ruqing then happily went back to her room to sleep.

「The 21st of The Sunny March」

Consort Hui Pin’s birthday.

Zhaoxiang Pavilion was bustling with activity early in the morning.

First, the Emperor sent a large amount of rewards as birthday congratulations. Then came the rewards from the Empress and from the Noble Consort. Next were the congratulatory gifts from Consort Ning, Consort Yun Pin, and Consort Zheng Pin. After that, Xia Ruqing also chose the perfect time to send her gift. Neither too early nor too late, just right, without any mistake.

In addition, Zhaoxiang Pavilion also had to prepare for the noon banquet. The Empress also graced the celebration with two operas, and the theatre troupe from the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrived early to set up the stage.

For a while, Consort Hui Pin was incredibly busy.

By mid-morning, everything was finally ready, and Consort Hui Pin could finally take a breath of relief.