"Master!"
"Master, you’ve finally awakened!"
Zi Yue and Zi Su were so excited that tears welled in their eyes.
Xia Ruqing was a bit surprised. "What’s wrong with all of you?"
I’d only been asleep for a short while, so why am I so hungry?
After speaking, she looked out the window at the sky. "It’s not fully light out yet; it doesn’t seem late at all!"
Zi Yue and Zi Su exchanged a glance, then Zi Yue said, "Master, it’s an overcast day today. You..."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "You’ve been in a coma for two days and nights."
Xia Ruqing was rendered speechless. "Zi Yue, are you joking with me? What coma?!"
My body feels fine, though. Except... I’m a bit hungry. That’s right, hungry! If I’ve been in a coma for two days without eating, how could I not be hungry?
Thinking this, she started to believe them a little.
The smile on her face gradually froze, and a chill ran down her spine.
She patted her nearly numb face and desperately tried to force a relaxed smile. "What happened?"
Zi Yue’s eyes reddened as she recounted everything that had happened over the past two days.
When she finished, she lowered her head and wept silently.
Zi Su and Zi Ning’s eyes also turned red.
Xia Ruqing’s face was pale. Her hands twisted the bedcovers, and she was unable to speak for a long time.
At last, she patted her chest. "There, I’m fine now, aren’t I! Stop crying, all of you!"
Zi Yue quickly took a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "The Master is right, you’re better now! We mustn’t go on like this! Right, Master, you must be hungry. I’ll have someone prepare a meal!"
Zi Yue said this as she walked outside.
Zi Su and Zi Ning then came forward to help their master get up.
Xiao Xizi still fetched the midday meal.
「Imperial Kitchen」
Seeing Xiao Xizi arrive, Xiao Weizi quickly bustled over. "Brother Xiao Xizi, you’re finally here! Is Her Ladyship, Consort Xian Pin, feeling any better? What would Her Ladyship like to have today?"
Among all the busy people in the Imperial Kitchen, only Xiao Weizi came over to greet him.
Xiao Xizi glanced around and, without saying much, stepped forward. "Our Consort has just woken up. Something light would be good."
Xiao Weizi immediately replied, "For desserts, we have freshly made crystal osmanthus cakes and new milk walnut pastries. For the main course, we have noodles, pancakes—everything!"
The Imperial Kitchen staff always made sure to prepare the dishes Consort Xian Pin usually loved; no one dared not to make them.
Xiao Xizi was relieved to hear this. He smiled and said, "Our Master would like noodles—no chicken broth, just clear soup. She also said to add plenty of green vegetables and a poached egg. As for the other dishes, you can decide what to serve."
After Xiao Xizi finished, Xiao Weizi quickly replied, "That’s easy! It’s no trouble at all. Brother Xiao Xizi, please wait a moment."
With that, he hurried off to the back kitchen.
Upon hearing that it was for Consort Xian Pin, the Imperial Kitchen staff dared not be neglectful. The head chef personally kneaded the dough, selected the vegetables and eggs, boiled the water, cooked the noodles until they were eighty percent done, then added the vegetables and egg.
Finally, a bowl of noodles with a poached egg was ready, its fragrance filling the entire room.
The remaining simple side dishes were also prepared according to Xia Ruqing’s preferences: a bowl of clear-stewed ribs, steamed corn, and a plate of steamed baby potatoes sprinkled with salt and pepper. Golden and appetizing, they looked very inviting.
The meal was laid out, and Xia Ruqing weakly approached the dining table.
Her eyes immediately fell upon the bowl of noodles with the poached egg; she could smell its aroma from afar.
"Master, this was specially made for you by the head chef of the Imperial Kitchen. Please come and try it!"
Xia Ruqing, deeply touched, nodded. She picked up her chopsticks, lifted some noodles, blew on them to cool, and took a bite.
With just one bite, tears streamed down her face.
Grandma!
It tasted just like the poached egg noodles her grandmother used to make. When she was sick as a child, her grandmother would always make her poached eggs. The eggs came from the few old hens raised in her grandmother’s yard; Grandma was always reluctant to eat them herself, giving them all to her instead.
How long had it been since she had tasted this flavor? During these years in the palace, she had eaten all sorts of exotic delicacies, yet what truly struck her soul was this bowl of poached egg noodles.
Zi Yue was startled. "Master, what’s this...?"
Before she could finish speaking, someone outside announced, "The Emperor has arrived!"
Zi Yue and the others hurried out to greet him.
Xia Ruqing also put down her chopsticks and went forward to curtsy.
Her body was weak, her steps unsteady. She had just begun to curtsy when she lost her balance and pitched forward.
Zhao Junyao strode forward and caught her. "Qingqing..."
Xia Ruqing fell straight into his arms.
She was a bit dazed, her small, pale face still streaked with tears. She remained stunned in his embrace for a moment before realizing what had happened and hastily trying to pull away. "Your Majesty, I..."
Zhao Junyao pulled her back into his arms, holding her even tighter. "Don’t move!"