A bunny can't beat a wolf, no matter how strong it is. In the end, Xia Yuqing surrendered.
The distant clouds on the horizon had begun to color like blood by the time she awoke.
As Xia Yuqing feebly went to open the muslin drapes filtering the light, she fell from the bed accidentally with a loud bang.
The maids waiting outside rushed in at the sound. They jumped in fright at Xia Yuqing's pallor.
"Milady, are you okay? This is bad, call the imperial physician."
"Milady, did you fall off the bed? Please tell me, let me help…"
"Milady…" The maids twittered on endlessly. Xia Yuqing finally understood the wisdom behind her father's saying: One woman equals five hundred ducks.
"Everyone shut up." Xia Yuqing bellowed with all her remaining strength. She succeeded in quelling the commotion.
Xia Yuqing glared at the girls sharply to shut up. They backed away three feet, stuttering.
Most of them had only heard a wheeze. After conferring amongst one another, a trembling girl stepped up beside Xia Yuqing and gingerly asked, "Milady, did you want something?"
She leaned in to hear the words that Xia Yuqing mouthed…
"Fffooood, I need food."
"…"
She'd suffered two violations in the course of one day on an empty stomach. Xia Yuqing had never realized how wonderful the Rice she'd eaten for twenty-some years was. She bitterly regretted always settling with Instant Noodles before.
Lu Rui and co were dumbstruck as their mistress resurrected, sweeping through the trench table like a whirlwind. She finished three days' worth of food in one go.
Xia Yuqing polished off the last bowl of longyan soup, then stuck out her finally restored drum belly and sunk into a royal chair. She felt swollen with contentment. As she thought, being a freeloader was the best!
Xia Yuqing recalled something. She opened her cat eyes from her nap to asked the closest maid on standby, "Where is the emperor?"
The girl was moved to tears.
"Milady, His Majesty's gone to the Imperial Study. He says he'll be busy preparing to receive Prince Rui, so he won't be coming over and asks you to take care of yourself. The day after tomorrow, you will be accompanying His Majesty at the evening reception for Prince Rui."
"Prince Rui? Reception?" Xia Yuqing knit her brows. "This Prince Rui must be a great personage for the emperor to personally arrange his reception?"
"Of course! Milady, you don't know, but Prince Rui is His Majesty's uncle, the late emperor's third brother. He is a great hero who has extraordinary military achievements during his station at the border. I hear the triumph this time is for Prince Rui's defeat of the State of Xue's cavalry."
Xia Yuqing was doubtful of her wors.h.i.+pful introduction.
Prince Rui must be a devoted subject if he's done such awesome s.h.i.+z. But in all the novels she'd read before, this sort of outstanding official, no matter if he was truly loyal or not, would only have one fate: used up and tossed aside!
"What's wrong, milady?" The maid became nervous as Xia Yuqing didn't reply. She worried she'd accidentally said something offensive.
Xia Yuqing was called back from her thoughts. "It's nothing. I was just wondering." She smiled at the girl. She wasn't good at complicated things like intriguing anyway. She'll just take this chance to enjoy herself,
"Lu Rui, come." Xia Yuqing beckoned to the maid she remembered being closest to.
Lu Rui faltered. She looked around to confirm that she was indeed the one Xia Yuqing called before rus.h.i.+ng over. "What do you need, milady?"
Xia Yuqing beckoned her again enigmatically, "Closer."
Lu Rui had her misgivings, but she did as ordered. The others couldn't hear what Xia Yuqing said but they could see the s.h.i.+ft in Lu Rui's expression.
"Milady, this sort of thing…it's no good. If anyone finds out…"
"Who'll know if it's just between us? Go forth. I'll take the blame if anything happens." Xia Yuqing wore a Mona Lisa smile. Lu Rui broke out in a cold sweat, but she had no choice but to go.
What happened between them remains a mystery. Those present were mystified by their exchange. In the following days, many girls close to Lu Rui would ask about this matter, but she was always evasive. She'd end up blus.h.i.+ng like a tomato, looking so distressed that eventually people gave up on the matter.