[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace":3,"chapter-a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-348":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},410360,676,"Chapter 348: Who Doesn’t Want to Climb Up?","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-348",348,"\u003Cp>The palace was just like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To win favor, it was not enough to just say a few sweet words or play the emotion card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There had to be substantial benefits involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who doesn’t want to rise up the ranks?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, Xia Ruqing was famously kind to her servants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was also famously good at winning people’s hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing believed that she did not need them to bring her any great benefits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All she hoped for was that if she ever truly fell from grace, they would not kick her while she was down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing had already fallen into slumber long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest of the palace had also gone to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, with the Empress in power, no one dared to say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they could not become the Empress themselves, at most, they would just have to flatter her more in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life went on as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was different for Noble Concubine Shih, who spent almost the whole night awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Empress rising again, she was the one most on edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Empress were to become the Empress Dowager in the future, my own later years would be ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would I end up like Empress Dowager Zhen? Or like the other Imperial Noble Consorts and Imperial Concubines in the nunnery outside the palace?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spending my life with a dim lamp and an ancient Buddha statue?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even that would be better than the worst alternative... languishing until death?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those other concubines could still sweet-talk the Empress to secure a place for themselves, but what about me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more Noble Concubine Shih thought, the more panicked she grew, clutching the quilt tightly and burying herself in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if burying herself would allow her to avoid facing the harsh reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By elevating Honored Lady Shih, isn’t the Empress trying to disgrace me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After battling for so long, am I going to lose just like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noble Concubine Shih was truly afraid, so frightened that she did not know whether to submit or to stand up and fight again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, causing any more trouble would surely spell her doom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the night, Noble Concubine Shih thought for a long time before finally gritting her teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from enduring, she knew no other way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From doing whatever she pleased before, now she, too, had to learn to endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noble Concubine Shih let out a bleak laugh. \"Heh heh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over there, Honored Lady Shih lay on her bed, also unable to rest easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress’s kind attitude towards her was unnerving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she was somewhat dim-witted, she still understood the palace’s overall situation clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The child in my womb belongs to the Noble Concubine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why is the Empress...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much pondering and failing to understand, she had to let it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before sleep, she kept touching her stomach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two months already, huh? You’re still small, aren’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a little life inside her stomach, soon to call her ’Mother’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honored Lady Shih felt sweetness in her heart. She closed her eyes and, while touching her belly, soon fell asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, the weather was still good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mid-Autumn Festival had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Empress announced that for the next few days, there was no need to come pay respects. Everyone had worked hard and should rest well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing did not need to go pay respects in the first place, so now she felt even more justified in resting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slept in until late morning before getting up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could not be helped; pregnant women are prone to sleepiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She got up, washed, and a meal was served at just the right temperature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One glance was enough to tell it was freshly made, not kept warm on a stove until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take the crispy pan-fried dumplings, for example; they needed to be fried until crunchy to taste good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If kept warm in a pot, they would have become soggy and unappetizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or consider the sour bamboo shoot and chicken soup noodles; they would start to go mushy if left for longer than the time it takes an incense stick to burn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would make them inedible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing looked at the table full of freshly made dishes in front of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She ate with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heh, no need to explain.This was obviously because someone in the Imperial Kitchen was always looking out for me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pan-fried dumplings, small wontons, chicken soup noodles—each dish was exquisitely prepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing sampled each one and finished with a bowl of black chicken soup before putting down her spoon and chopsticks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zi Yue saw that the bowls were empty and was very happy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lady’s appetite is getting better and better. The Little Prince is growing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing gently patted her round belly, looking a bit worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, I am going to gain weight!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zi Yue glanced at her and said in surprise, \"You’re calling this fat?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just look at Consort Ning. Isn’t she much heavier than you?Of course, Zi Yue definitely could not say this out loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, Xia Ruqing thought of it herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consort Ning used to be just plump, but since this year, she had become progressively heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with her not-so-tall stature, she weighed a full one hundred and twenty catties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Harem filled with slender-waisted beauties, this was exceedingly rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, she had a princess. She was not afraid of losing favor, so it did not matter to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever Zhao Junyao visited, it was just to see the princess. Nothing else had happened for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating, Xia Ruqing walked around the corridor a couple of times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After aiding her digestion, she returned to her room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Picking up a storybook, she began to read bit by bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the opportunity for formal prenatal education, then... reading stories will have to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having seen many ancient characters, she now recognized all of them. Sometimes, when she felt like it, she would pick up the brush and carefully write a few.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She managed to write them neatly and properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, compared to the calligraphy models Zhao Junyao had given her, her writing still had a long way to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing flipped through his writings with listless interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, she sighed in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How can one write so beautifully?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zi Yue and Zi Su did not join in the conversation, just smilingly watched their mistress from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Ruqing wrote a few more characters, still unsatisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, she set the brush aside and stopped writing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Da Bai grooming himself not far away, Xia Ruqing suddenly felt inspired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where’s Xiao Xizi?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell Xiao Xizi to go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and have them find a few female cats. I want to get Da Bai some companionship!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Xizi received the orders and hurried off to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Zhaochen Palace.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao left court and then departed the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was accompanied by Xia Tingfeng and a small detachment of the Imperial Forest Army as his personal escort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group rode towards the martial training ground outside the Capital City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could not ride fast on the streets of the Capital City. Once they left the city, however, they spurred their horses on and galloped away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, they arrived in less than two Shi Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why leave the palace?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because on the sixteenth day, the final round of the military examination was taking place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top scholar, second place, and Third Place Scholar were all to be determined in this round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time they arrived, it was already past lunchtime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military examination had not yet started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao was not particular. He simply shared a straightforward meal with Xia Tingfeng and the Imperial Forest Army men under his command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The food and drink were the same for everyone, with no special treatment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao did not like to be treated differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tingfeng, who had always been by the Emperor’s side, was used to it, but the Imperial Forest Army men were not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their movements were constrained. They all buried their heads and ate voraciously, veins bulging on their tense foreheads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tingfeng leaned in and said with a smile that was not quite a smile, \"Emperor, you’ve scared my men!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Junyao looked around and only then noticed the soldiers’ unusual behavior. He paused for a moment before calmly saying, \"Are they that afraid of people? They’re not shy young maidens who’ve never seen a man!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tingfeng heard him clearly, and the soldiers did too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tingfeng touched his nose, at a loss for what to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just glanced at his subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those fellows looked left and right, then suddenly, in unison, put down their bowls and chopsticks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Emperor, we are done eating and will go stand guard outside!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said that, they filed out orderly, one after the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Tingfeng laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You bunch of rascals!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the martial arts field, everyone was still in a state of keen readiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the first time, this time there were fewer than a hundred people left on the field.\u003C\u002Fp>",1531,"2026-05-30T07:40:59.353Z","2026-06-01T04:30:39.363Z",1,"novelbin.me","b92dd9d9a93cfe68e0c354dc7a25d7ed80a8295100e74b0e08792197b8265482","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-432","a-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-chapter-431",1204,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-foodie-transmigrated-into-the-palace-cover.jpg"]