A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 1008: Phoenix Crown

March went by in the blink of an eye.

By April, after the Spring Equinox, the weather gradually warmed up.

Shedding thick clothes.

Yue Er learned to walk in February and can now chase Yellow Bean all around the courtyard.

In a small garden in the courtyard.

Zhao Junyao had transplanted a few plum blossoms, and under Xiao Zhu Zi’s careful attention, they thrived.

Xia Ruqing stood under the veranda, dressed in casual clothes.

Looking at the lush greenery, her mood was exceptionally bright.

She asked Zi Yue and Zi Su to bring the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone under the grapevine in the courtyard, ready to paint.

Zi Su asked with a smile.

"Empress, last month our courtyard was full of blooming flowers, why didn’t you paint then, but now you want to paint?"

"These flowers have all wilted, what are you going to paint?!"

Busy setting up the paper, Xia Ruqing didn’t even look up.

"Who told you I want to paint our courtyard?"

Zi Yue was even more puzzled.

"If you’re not painting the courtyard, what are you painting?"

Xia Ruqing didn’t respond.

Zi Yue pointed to a stack of books nearby.

"Stop asking, just wait and see!"

"Our Empress may not write well, but she’s quite good at painting!"

Zi Su nodded thoughtfully.

"That’s true!"

Xia Ruqing: "..."

"You two have grown quite bold, daring to tease me to my face?"

Zi Yue and Zi Su giggled.

"Empress, hurry and paint!"

The two laughed while attentively laying out the paper and grinding the ink.

Xia Ruqing lightly tapped both of them on the forehead, then lowered her head to pick up a book, turning the pages one by one.

When she reached the folded pages, she stopped.

With a few strokes, she sketched on the scroll, then continued flipping, repeating this several times.

After about half a Shi Chen.

The outline on the rice paper before her gradually became clear.

"Empress, is this..."

"Is this a piece of headwear?" Zi Su examined it closely.

Xia Ruqing shook her head to correct her.

"It’s a Phoenix Crown!"

Then she explained.

"Next month is the Dragon Boat Festival, the palace will host a banquet!"

"And I’ll have to wear that thing again!"

At the last ceremony when she was crowned Empress, she wore the Phoenix Crown for a day and it nearly caused her to faint from its weight.

If it goes on like this, her body surely won’t be able to handle it.

So, she wants to redesign her Phoenix Crown.

Zhao Junyao agreed as well.

She borrowed many jewelry design books from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, looking for inspiration for a long time.

She marked all the pages with details she liked.

Today, she was improving on these details, blending them into her design.

And voilà.

With her efforts, the outline nearly emerged.

What remains is detailing and color matching.

Zi Su stared in wonder.

"Empress, this looks quite similar to the previous Crown!"

Zi Yue quickly replied.

"The Phoenix Crown naturally looks this way; do you expect to change it into a flower?"

"I think it’s already changed a lot!"

She pointed out several places, explaining each to Zi Su.

Xia Ruqing also smiled.

"Zi Yue pays attention to detail, Zi Su, you should learn from her!"

Zi Su felt a bit embarrassed.

"Empress, your servant has learned!"

Zi Yue asked from beside.

"Empress, you haven’t colored it yet? Which color do you like?"

Talking about colors, Xia Ruqing also felt quite troubled.

She put down her brush and gazed into the distance.

"When it comes to colors, it’s not simple!"

"My initial intention in redesigning the Phoenix Crown was to lighten the weight!"

"To lighten the weight, the material is key!"

"If the material changes, the color will be different; hence, the color must follow the material!"

Zi Yue and Zi Su said nothing.

This... is too difficult.

If the Empress doesn’t know, they won’t chime in!

Xia Ruqing leisurely sat on the stool, unhurriedly pondering.

Actually, she already had ideas in mind.

But she wanted to see if there might be a better way.

"Zi Su, go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and find their most experienced jewel craftsman!"

"Remember, don’t ask for the steward, but the craftsmen who do the work and have experience!"

"Yes!"

Zi Su responded quickly and went off at a brisk pace.

Soon, the craftsman was found.

He was an elderly master with greying hair.

Being an old man under broad daylight, there was no need to avoid any impropriety.

Upon seeing Xia Ruqing, he knelt from afar.

"Servants pay respects to Empress, wishing Empress prosperity and safety!"

His manners were quite proper; clearly, he’d served in the palace for most of his life.

Xia Ruqing smiled and quickly bid him rise.

"Have a seat, Zi Yue, get him a chair!"

Zi Yue responded, about to fetch one, but the old master knelt again.

"Servants thank Empress for the grace!"

Xia Ruqing said nothing, simply waved for him to rise.

Then, instructed Zi Su to give him her drawings.

"Today, I called you here!"

"Mainly to ask, if this design for the Phoenix Crown, can be made as light as possible!"

With respect, the old master took the drawings and carefully reviewed them under the sun.

After a tea lamp’s time, he set down the drawings to report.

"Reporting to Empress, to lighten the weight, the material must be changed!"

"Among the jewelry, brass is the lightest!"

"All made from brass will cut the weight by more than half!"

"However..."

The old master hesitated.

"Say what you really think!" Xia Ruqing encouraged.

The master felt embarrassed.

"Empress, traditionally, the Phoenix Crown is crafted from pure gold, befitting your distinguished status!"

"Changing the material..."

If people find out, it’s disrespectful and undignified! How could the Empress wear a worthless crown without ridicule?

Xia Ruqing smiled faintly.

"Hence... we need the Ministry of Internal Affairs to keep it secret!"

"Ah..." The old master was dumbstruck.

"You crafted it, you know its weight better than me!"

"Worn too long, fear it might ruin the neck!"

"What’s more important, my dignity, or my well-being?"

Xia Ruqing asked softly.

Beads of sweat appeared on the old master’s forehead.

He was merely a craftsman; he didn’t understand this!

He racked his brains, left and right, unable to utter a word.

In the end, he rose to kneel on the ground.

"Servants will follow Empress’s benevolent decree!"

Xia Ruqing finally smiled with satisfaction.

"I have only three requirements!"

"First, lightness. Second... the material change must be unnoticeable!"

"As for the third, secrecy!"

In essence, it should look like solid gold, yet feel much lighter, and must remain unknown!

The old craftsman wiped sweat from his brow, trembling as he spoke.

"Empress, rest assured, the old servant will strive to accomplish it!"

Xia Ruqing nodded contentedly.

"If you succeed, you will be well rewarded!"

Then she signaled to Zi Yue with her eyes.

Zi Yue timely handed over a package of silver ingot.

"This is for you from the Empress; accomplish the task and there is more reward!"

"Thank you, Empress!"