It wasn’t even noon yet, and the sun was already scorching.
The air itself was blistering hot.
Xia Ruqing had no appetite at all.
When Xiao Xizi went to get the meal, she was also troubled.
"What would you like to eat, my lady?"
Xia Ruqing’s eyelids drooped, her whole being listless.
"I don’t want to eat anything!"
Xiao Xizi thought for a bit, and then had to leave.
When she returned, in addition to the usual dishes and soups, Xiao Xizi had also brought back a large bowl of chilled fruits.
There were honeydews, juicy peaches, and watermelon, all cold and refreshing.
Xia Ruqing was pleasantly surprised.
"Where did these come from? The first batch of fresh fruit isn’t abundant. I’m afraid it’s only available to the Emperor and the Empress..." At most, add a Noble Consort who is with child.
Ancient agriculture wasn’t as developed as it is today, and one couldn’t eat all kinds of fruits throughout the seasons. In ancient times, fruits and vegetables were only available when in season. One month early or one month late was not an option!
The fresh fruits available at this time were all from the first harvest and were also transported from the south. They were exceedingly rare!
Xiao Xizi just smiled. "These were given by Eunuch Wei. He said they weren’t cut nicely and couldn’t be presented, so he left a bowl for you to enjoy a taste of something fresh!"
Xia Ruqing looked closer.
She saw that, in this agate bowl, a thin layer of ice was spread across the bottom. A layer of neatly cut fruit pieces, two fingers wide and three fingers long, were stacked systematically on top. The bright red watermelon flesh was without a single seed. The honeydew’s flesh, too, was cut immaculately. And the juicy peach, even more delicately, was carved into the shape of lotus petals, resting on the very top.
Xia Ruqing, upon seeing such a plate, immediately fell in love with it.
"I want to eat, but..." She was reluctant; it was too beautiful! Just looking at it was a pleasure, let alone eating it.
Zi Yue just smiled. "My lady, please eat quickly. Otherwise, once the ice melts, it won’t taste as good..."
Only then did Xia Ruqing reluctantly pick up the agate bowl and start eating the fruits.
Zi Yue stood to one side, fanning her cool air from behind the ice basin.
"Are there any grapes? Later on, let’s get a basket and make grape wine to drink..."
Zi Yue said, "I’m afraid that will take another half a month."
A half-month was on the shorter side. By the time they are fully in season, it might well take a month. And if an Honored Lady wants to eat them, that would cost silver. The Honored Lady had just spent ten taels of silver to buy a grapevine. Where would she find spare silver now?
Xia Ruqing belatedly realized this issue as well.
"Zi Yue, how much silver do we have left in the chest?"
"We’ve only got some bits and pieces left, around five or six taels..."
Xia Ruqing was taken aback. "How can there be so little left? Didn’t the Emperor give us a chest of five-tael silver ingots once?"
Zi Yue smiled helplessly. "It’s all been spent..."
Xia Ruqing was stunned for a moment, then she thought.
I really am a spendthrift...
Xia Ruqing then said, "Well, then..."
Then she would just have to find an opportunity to ask for more from her Emperor husband. There was no helping it; who told her to marry the richest man in the entire world—and, of course, the handsomest too!
After finishing the fruits, Xia Ruqing felt her appetite return. She had a bowl of millet and mung bean porridge, some rice, and a few small dishes.
Then she went to take a nap.
When she woke up from her sleep, it was dusk again. The heat outside had gradually dissipated. A breeze blew, the bamboo rustled, bringing a wave of cool air.
Xia Ruqing was covered in sweat. After taking a warm bath, she changed into casual clothes made of ice silk.
Then she went to check on her grapevine.
Underneath the tree pit was a pool of mud.
Xiao Xizi, who was still busy at work, smiled and approached to greet her master upon her arrival.
"Have you risen, master? Are you hungry? Shall I fetch your meal?"
Xia Ruqing was exasperated. "I’ve just gotten up. There’s no hurry, wait a moment."
While speaking, she squatted down beside the pit to examine her grapevine.
"Will it survive?"
Xiao Xizi patted her chest. "Of course, it will survive!"
Xia Ruqing looked at the neatly pruned branches and felt very confident too.
"In the future, let’s set up a table underneath, and come here to drink tea and enjoy the cool breeze at dusk!"
Xiao Xizi said with a smile, "Do you love to swing, master? Just today, I asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and they said they can build another swing frame for us!"
Xia Ruqing did the math and then asked, "That would require a fair amount of money, wouldn’t it? I don’t have any silver left."
"Hey! A grapevine alone cost us ten taels of silver, how could they charge us again for a swing!"
Xia Ruqing thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright!"
Swings can be fun, and there’s no reason to refuse if it’s for free.
Just then, someone suddenly announced from outside.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
Upon hearing this, Xia Ruqing was startled and intended to turn around to greet him, but she accidentally stepped on some mud.