Chapter 288 - 287: Fight Poison with Poison?

Overnight, the news had spread through every corner of the Harem.

When Xia Ruqing opened her eyes, Zi Yue was already by her ear, delivering the news.

Xia Ruqing stretched lazily under her blankets and yawned.

"AH!"

Does this count as fighting poison with poison?

she wondered.

Noble Concubine Shih was poisonous enough, but Lady Xi was even more so!

"Luckily, I kept my distance back then," Xia Ruqing said. "If I had casually offended either of them, your mistress wouldn’t be here today!"

Zi Yue was also terrified.

"Back then, Honored Lady Lan and Lady Xi came to our door so many times. Fortunately, My Lady, you were sensible!"

If it were someone else, they might have befriended them.

Women like that are venomous snakes, ready to strike anyone, devoid of all sentiment!

Xia Ruqing thought.

Xia Ruqing smiled.

"That’s why I say, talking about sisterhood in the Harem is naïve!"

"All of you, always remember this saying!"

"Unwarranted courtesy often means ill intent or thievery!"

Zi Yue, Zi Su, and Zi Ning promptly responded.

"We will heed our lady’s teachings!"

Xia Ruqing nodded in satisfaction.

"Alright, it’s time to rise. We still need to go pay our respects to the Empress!"

Zi Yue and the others got busy: fetching water, assisting with washing up, helping with dressing and hair-combing, and so on.

Xia Ruqing chose a beige palace dress and, not wanting to be flashy, simply adorned her hair with a few green jade hairpins.

Even the shoes were hand-embroidered by Zi Yue, with aqua-colored uppers stitched with several lotus leaves.

This ensemble looked especially refreshing in the early May heat.

"These shoes are truly comfortable!"

"They have thinner soles than the palace shoes I wore before, making them far more comfortable for walking."

Palace shoes, designed for appearance, had very thick soles, and the toes were made very pointed to make the feet look smaller.

But Xia Ruqing didn’t favor wearing that kind of shoe at all.

Viewed with twenty-first-century aesthetics, they were neither good-looking nor comfortable.

That was why she had Zi Yue make all her shoes. This became even more so after she got pregnant.

The shoes were made quite a bit larger, but at least they were loose and comfortable, fitting her feet well.

The soles were multi-layered, with a gentle, natural slope at the heel and the front.

The toe area was also widened a bit.

The design was simple and elegant. They were also comfortable and breathable. Xia Ruqing loved them!

Once she finished dressing, Xia Ruqing took Zi Yue and Zi Su with her to Jiaofang Hall.

The Empress sat on her high seat, her face alight with a triumphant, spring-like smile.

After all, the Noble Consort’s downfall brought her great pleasure.

Though it’s only temporary, with the shadow of this incident hanging over her, her future won’t be easy!

the Empress mused.

Of course, what mattered most was that the Emperor’s misunderstanding of her had been cleared. He had previously thought she was behind everything, but unexpectedly, it wasn’t her doing at all! With this, it would be unkind not to show the Empress some deference. After all, it truly wasn’t her fault.

...

The Empress sat on her high seat.

Observing the people below her, her smile grew even more radiant.

"It’s quite a full house today!"

"Apart from the Noble Consort, everyone is here!"

Consort Ning nodded and quickly flattered, "Being able to pay respects to the Empress is a blessing for us sisters!"

"We only fear that the Empress might find us distasteful and send us away!"

Her words made everyone laugh.

"The Princess is already so grown, yet your tongue is as silver as ever!" the Empress said, laughing.

Consort Ning hastily feigned distress.

"Your servant speaks from the heart, Empress. How could you make fun of your servant!"

The Empress waved her hand dismissively.

"Enough, enough! I won’t say any more!"

Consort Ning covered her mouth with a handkerchief, laughing with obvious pride.

She was like a hen that had won an award, clucking triumphantly all over the place.

Xia Ruqing sat quietly to the side, not speaking a word.

Yet inside, she felt a deep sense of irony. This Consort Ning, fawning over the Empress, is trying a bit too hard. Back when Noble Concubine Shih was pregnant, and the Empress was so pressured she could hardly breathe, why didn’t I see such devotion from her? Now that Noble Concubine Shih has fallen and the Empress is resurgent, she acts like this? Heh.

Seeing Xia Ruqing keeping her head down, the Empress asked with concern, "Xia Jieyu, you’ve been so quiet. Are you feeling unwell?"

"You are with child; you must speak up if you’re not feeling well!"

Xia Ruqing composed herself, smiled faintly as she stood up, and performed a curtsy.

"Thank you for your concern, Empress. Your servant is feeling fine."

The Empress was reassured. She took a sip of tea and then continued, "Some of you have been in the palace for at least three years. My own womb has been unfruitful, but how is it that none of you are succeeding either?"

"The Emperor has no sons, which truly gives me a headache!"

"I can only hope that all of you will be like Xia Jieyu and soon bear heirs for the Emperor!"

She spoke these grand words without batting an eye.

If it were really as you say, with everyone here pregnant, I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to sit still, would you?

Xia Ruqing sneered internally.

The Empress saw nothing wrong with it.

She enjoyed saying it, and those below enjoyed fawning. What was wrong with that?

Fine, fine, fine,

Xia Ruqing thought.

You’re the Empress, after all!

The Empress sat on her high seat, basking in the insincere praises of the concubines.

She then engaged everyone in casual conversation, and the atmosphere became very lively for a time.

Xia Ruqing was astounded.

These women change faces so quickly! Goodness, they act more affectionate than real sisters!

The Empress was very pleased.

"Soon, new sisters will be joining us in the palace. I hope everyone will be accommodating. After all, we are one family!"

Everyone quickly rose to their feet.

"We will heed the Empress’s teachings!"

The Empress also stood up and waved her handkerchief.

"MM. In that case, you may all leave. I am tired!"

With that said, she left, leaning on Sister Ji’s hand for support.

Everyone bowed and saw her off before they took their leave one by one.

「Returning to her Qingya Residence.」

Xia Ruqing’s head was still spinning for quite a while.

"I must say, the Empress is quite skilled at brainwashing!" she remarked to Zi Yue.

Zi Yue was a little confused.

"What are you talking about, My Lady? What brainwashing?"

Xia Ruqing quickly corrected herself.

"Uh... well! It’s nothing! I’m just... a bit shocked!"

Zi Yue was even more puzzled.

"Shocked?"

Xia Ruqing waved her hand dismissively.

"Never mind, let’s not talk about it. I’m hungry!"

"That yam paste with strawberry jam from yesterday was delicious. Please make me another small bowl."

Zi Yue hurriedly acknowledged and went off to prepare it.

Xia Ruqing picked up her fan and lay on the couch.

There was nothing to be shocked about,

she thought to herself.

It’s simply that no one dares to disobey and is happy to flatter. If the Emperor didn’t grant her this favor, would the Empress be so imperious today? Probably not. That’s just how a patriarchal society works! Gain a man’s affection, and you have everything! Without a man’s backing, you are nothing! Noble Consort, Empress—they’re all just empty titles. So, how could she dare not compete?

As Xia Ruqing pondered, she touched her abdomen.

"Baby," she murmured, "will you blame me for bringing you into such a place?"

"Mother doesn’t even know now whether you’re protecting me or I’m protecting you."

Zi Yue soon brought the snack: a small bowl of yam paste.

Xia Ruqing dipped it in a bit of strawberry jam and ate half the bowl.

In the morning, she read for a while and then practiced her calligraphy.

She had a simple lunch at noon and went to sleep right after.

When Xia Ruqing woke up, she groggily sensed someone beside her.