"Not demoting her to a Lady is already lenient of them," Xiao Xizi muttered.
Zi Yue glared at her. "Don’t talk nonsense."
Xiao Xizi could only sulk and shut her mouth.
Xia Ruqing, however, smiled radiantly. "Although Xiao Xizi’s words are out of line, she’s absolutely right..." She yawned. "It seems I’ll have more entertainment in the future. I just love the way she can’t stand me but can’t do anything about it."
Having someone like that popping up occasionally makes palace life a bit more interesting!
Then, she instructed Xiao Xizi, "Keep an eye on Yaoyue Palace. If Honored Lady Xi wakes up, let me know. We should go and see her."
Yesterday’s incident was so sudden. Honored Lady Xi was injured saving the rabbits, after all. I should at least show some concern.
"Yes..." Xiao Xizi replied.
After Honored Lady Xi was injured, Consort Yun had sent someone to check on her once and had also gifted many medicinal herbs. Honored Lady Lan, on the other hand, visited several times a day, her eyes swollen from crying.
Having been unconscious for a day, Honored Lady Xi hazily opened her eyes to see Honored Lady Lan’s tear-swollen face. "Eldest Sister Lan, what happened to you?" Her voice was hoarse, her throat burning as if on fire.
Honored Lady Lan hurried to fetch water. Honored Lady Xi rubbed her eyes and, after a few sips of water, gradually came to her senses.
"COUGH, COUGH..." She accidentally choked, a sharp pain lancing through her throat. The wound on her chest also throbbed violently, bringing tears to her eyes. A Palace Maid quickly patted her back and brought her medicine.
Honored Lady Lan gently advised, "Slowly now..."
Frowning, Honored Lady Xi drank the medicine before finally asking, "Is the rabbit... is it alright?"
Honored Lady Lan sighed in exasperation. "How can you still be worried about that at a time ?"
But Honored Lady Xi remained fixated on it. Just as she was about to say more, an attendant announced, "Lady Xia has arrived!"
Honored Lady Xi’s eyes lit up. "Quick, please show her in!"
Xia Ruqing arrived, bringing the rabbit cage with her. Although it was a gift from the Emperor and shouldn’t be regifted, she truly disliked being indebted to anyone. So, along with the rabbits, Xia Ruqing had brought a generous array of gifts: nutritive tonics, medicinal herbs, Zhen Zhu and agate—a complete selection.
At first, Honored Lady Xi refused everything. However, Xia Ruqing insisted, and eventually, Honored Lady Xi reluctantly accepted the gifts, but she absolutely refused the rabbit cage. "That was a gift from the Emperor to you, Sister. I can’t possibly take it!"
Thanks to Consort Yun spreading the news, word of the Emperor’s gift to Xia Ruqing had quickly circulated throughout the Harem, so Honored Lady Xi was aware of its origin.
Xia Ruqing simply smiled. "Once it was gifted to me, it became mine. Since you like them, they’re all yours now."
Honored Lady Xi hesitated. "But... what if the Emperor asks about it? Wouldn’t that put you in a difficult position, Sister?"
"Just accept them. The Emperor is occupied with countless state affairs; he won’t concern himself with such a trivial matter."
Hearing Xia Ruqing’s reassurance, and truly wanting the rabbits, Honored Lady Xi hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Xia Ruqing comforted her a little longer and then departed.
That night, Zhao Junyao had Xia Ruqing brought to Zhaochen Palace. She was a little surprised and stood somewhat dumbfounded upon seeing the Emperor.
Zhao Junyao asked, "What is it? Do you not recognize Us?"
Xia Ruqing snapped back to her senses and stepped forward. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Zhao Junyao extended his hand. "Come here." He then asked, his tone intriguing, a smile playing on his lips but not quite reaching his eyes, "We hear you gave away the rabbits We gifted you?"
"Your Majesty already knows?"
"Is there anything that can be hidden from Us?"
His information network is truly impressive, Xia Ruqing thought wryly. Then, feigning grievance, she said, "Honored Lady Xi liked them, and she was injured trying to save the rabbits. The incident was my fault, so I felt I had to..." As she spoke, Xia Ruqing pouted, an expression of profound sorrow on her face.
Her aggrieved look seemed to cry out: Look at what Your Majesty’s other consorts are up to! I’m the most innocent one here, the most wronged!
She absolutely hadn’t wanted to give them away.
Zhao Junyao pulled her into his embrace, holding her gently as one might hold a beloved daughter. "You couldn’t bear to part with them?"
Xia Ruqing nodded vigorously. Why should she give away something her husband gave her?
"That was Your Majesty’s gift to me; no one else received one..."
Seeing her so genuinely distressed, the slight displeasure in Zhao Junyao’s heart vanished. "They’re not worth much," he said. "If you like rabbits, We can have someone find you a few more, even better ones. How about that?"
But Xia Ruqing was still not entirely pleased. "I don’t want rabbits anymore."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"I’d like a kitten. Kittens are the gentlest..." Xia Ruqing said, her face full of anticipation.
She ate rabbit meat, so she didn’t particularly want to raise rabbits. It was like how many people who keep dogs stop eating dog meat.
"Very well. We shall have someone bring you a few kittens to choose from. How does that sound?"
"This servant thanks Your Majesty!"
Little Zhuzi indeed arrived with a cage containing several kittens with exceptionally fine fur.
"These are?" Xia Ruqing inquired.
Little Zhuzi introduced the breeds one by one. After examining them for a while, Xia Ruqing chose a small white kitten. In appearance, it closely resembled a modern Persian cat.
They have Persian cats in this era? Does that mean Persia exists too? she mused.
As if reading her thoughts, Little Zhuzi explained, "Honored Lady, you have excellent taste. This particular kitten is of pure Persian lineage. The Emperor spent a considerable sum and had his men search throughout the Capital City. This was the only one they managed to find!"
The noble madams of the Capital City also enjoyed keeping cats, and a cat of pure breed and fine fur could fetch an exorbitant price in Silver. Merchants, driven by profit, would always find a way to procure and sell such animals if there was a demand. That was how Xia Ruqing came to possess the little kitten now in her arms.
"No wonder I thought it was the prettiest," Xia Ruqing said with a smile.
"Since the Honored Lady has made her choice, please take good care of it," Little Zhuzi said before taking his leave.
Xia Ruqing gazed at the kitten in her arms; it was no bigger than her palm. Its fur was snow-white and immaculate. The little creature was purring softly, fast asleep. Xia Ruqing felt her heart melt. She quickly instructed Zi Yue to prepare a nest for it on the large heated kang bed in her bedchamber. Follow current novels on novel⁂fire.net
For the rest of the day, Xia Ruqing was so engrossed with the kitten that she even forgot about making undergarments for the Emperor. After her meal, she climbed onto the kang bed and simply watched the kitten sleep, a yearning to pet it growing stronger by the minute.
It’s so adorable, I desperately want to cuddle it! But its fur isn’t fully grown yet; I’m afraid I might stroke it bald...
Zi Yue and Xiao Xizi exchanged a look, a deep sense of despair reflected in each other’s eyes.
After finishing his official documents, Zhao Junyao headed straight for Zhaohua Pavilion, not even bothering to flip a name plaque to choose a consort for the night. Upon arriving, he entered directly without having himself announced.
Inside, he was greeted by a rather peculiar sight.
Xia Ruqing was on the kang bed, bottom in the air, practically drooling as she peered into the cat’s nest. The woman and the tiny kitten were just staring at each other.
... Zhao Junyao felt a part of him crumble inside. The corner of his mouth twitched fiercely as he stepped forward. "Qingqing, what are you doing?"
Xia Ruqing, lost in her observation of the kitten, was startled by the sudden voice beside her. Her whole body jerked. The kitten in its nest was also jolted awake.
Both woman and kitten, one big and one small, stared blankly at Zhao Junyao.