A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 382: Chapter 382: Boarding the Bandit Ship

Zi Ning, who had been silent the whole time, was somewhat puzzled.

”Master, why are you...suddenly asking this?”

Xia Ruqing smiled but said nothing more.

The night gradually fell.

It was rather cool outside, just as Xiao Xizi returned with their food.

Xia Ruqing then led everyone inside to wash their hands and dine.

Lijing Pavilion, which neighbored Qingya Residence, presented a different scene altogether at that moment.

Xiao Dengzi had also brought back food. Upon opening it, the contents were still a horrifying sight: cold congee, meat scraps, soured rice, and other leftovers.

The previous meals had been barely tolerable, but now, they were completely inedible.

Honored Lady Jiang didn’t appear as disappointed and distraught as usual. Instead, her gaze suddenly turned very chilly.

She sneered, ”Does the Empress...intend to win at all costs?”

Hua Cha’s eyes also reddened. ”Master, should we...”

Honored Lady Jiang suddenly cut her off, speaking coldly, ”No need to say more, I know what to do!”

Having said that, she stood up briskly and walked to the bedside.

Hua Cha was anxious. ”Master, you haven’t had your evening meal yet. Xia Jieyu must have extra, shall I go and ask?”

Honored Lady Jiang scoffed, ”Enough. I do not know any Xia Jieyu.”

”I am tired. Let’s sleep and get up early tomorrow!”

After speaking, she lay down without washing up, covering herself with the quilt and going to sleep.

Hua Cha was startled, unsure of what had happened, and didn’t dare to approach. Seeing that her master had gone to sleep, she could only sigh and put away her master’s meal. She tidied the room, moved the lamp, and then went out.

Hua Cha couldn’t understand why her master’s attitude had changed so swiftly. Wasn’t she still enjoying pastries with Xia Jieyu that afternoon? Why did things suddenly...

Later, when Xia Ruqing learned of this, she sighed. She truly is a heroine among women!

It was a kindness born from just two plates of pastries. Honored Lady Jiang repaid it. Precisely because she didn’t want Xia Ruqing to be drawn into those entanglements, she chose to be cold from that point on.

In this deep palace, indifference might not be a bad thing, and warmth might not necessarily be good!

...

The next day, Honored Lady Jiang did indeed get up very early. It was early enough that there was just a hint of dawn in the sky, while the entire Harem was still asleep.

She got up, had Hua Cha dress her and do her hair and makeup, and then went to Jiaofang Hall.

She didn’t call anyone to announce her arrival. She just knelt outside.

After kneeling for two Shi Chen, when Sister Ji finally ordered the doors to be opened, someone discovered her. By then, she was drenched with dew, her whole body soaking wet, shivering, her lips white from the cold.

”Oh, isn’t this Honored Lady Jiang? Why are you kneeling here?”

Honored Lady Jiang didn’t speak but just knelt there silently, perfectly straight.

Sister Ji quickly instructed someone to inform the Empress.

Inside the private chambers, the Empress had already risen. Upon hearing the news, the corners of her lips curled into a smirk, and she said to Yu Lan with a light laugh, ”Wasn’t she acting above it all? I thought she would hold out for much longer!”

”It seems she’s nothing special after all!”

Yu Lan also laughed. ”Empress, once in the palace, which lady doesn’t wish to serve in the imperial bed and be favored, rather than forsaking a good life for the sake of pride, enduring hardship and suffering instead!”

The Empress smiled in contentment, sighed, and stood up, instructing, ”Let her come in!”

Yu Lan acknowledged and stepped out.

A moment later, Honored Lady Jiang entered. Upon seeing the Empress, Honored Lady Jiang knelt straight down. Without a word, she first kowtowed deeply three times, each kowtow deep and sincere.

The Empress was very pleased, yet she still pretended to be surprised, ”What is Honored Lady Jiang doing here?”

As she spoke, she didn’t ask her to rise.

Honored Lady Jiang rose to her feet, her face showing respect, and after a pause, she said, ”I was ignorant of the rules the day before yesterday and failed to appreciate the Empress’s kindness! I am here today to offer my apologies to the Empress!”

Having said this, she kowtowed again.

The Empress was even more pleased and said warmly, ”Oh, my good sister! Stand up quickly!”

”Yu Lan, help her up, no more kowtowing!”

”Yes!”

Honored Lady Jiang was seated on a small stool arranged by the Empress. The Empress, just like that day, took her hand and examined it carefully for a while.

Finally, she said, ”No wonder I favor you! After all, it’s your own merit that you possess such stunning beauty! If it were someone else, they couldn’t hope for such an opportunity!”

Honored Lady Jiang smiled gently and submissively said, ”The Empress is right! I had not thought through the matter before!”

The Empress happily patted her hand. ”No matter, you’ve just entered the palace and you are still young. It’s good to correct your mistakes when you recognize them!”

Having said this, she then pulled Honored Lady Jiang to her feet. ”Come, join me for the morning meal!”

Honored Lady Jiang bowed her head and replied, ”Thank you, Your Majesty, for your generosity!”

The smile on the Empress’s face grew even wider.

When it came to what the Empress said, Honored Lady Jiang agreed without question. Whatever the Empress asked her to do, she did.

Therefore, by the end of the morning, the Empress was very satisfied with Honored Lady Jiang’s performance.

Before the midday meal, when sending Honored Lady Jiang off, the Empress smiled and said, ”Good! Submissive, well-behaved, and obedient! Indeed, she just needed some discipline!”

Yu Lan and Sister Ji both smiled. ”Congratulations to the Empress, our felicitations to the Empress!”

They added, ”The Empress is so fortunate. From now on, we don’t need to compete for favor ourselves; we’ll just support Honored Lady Jiang!”

After all, won’t the children ultimately belong to the Empress?

The Empress nodded with a smile.

After the midday meal, the Empress lay on the bed. Her heart was full of longing for the future, feeling that everything was heading in the right direction!

Emperor, it doesn’t matter if you don’t dote on me! What I’ve always wanted was not your doting love! As long as we’re still husband and wife, you have to give me face!

In her heart, the Empress planned to find ways to adapt to the Emperor’s temperament and to mend their marital relationship. As long as she had prestige, she would have no worries about raising children in the future!

Indeed, the root of everything was ultimately the Emperor!

...

Before she left, the Empress instructed Honored Lady Jiang, ”In the future, you don’t need to do anything overtly. As for the specifics, I’ll have someone instruct you. Understand?”

The meaning was, there was no need to make a show of it for everyone to see!

Honored Lady Jiang nodded. ”I will follow the Empress’s orders!”

”Hmm! Be off then!”

Honored Lady Jiang acknowledged and departed.

When she returned to Lijing Pavilion, it happened to be time for the midday meal. Xiao Dengzi had arrived early with the food, entering excitedly.

”Master, Master...”

”Today there’s a freshly killed fish, I saw it die with my own eyes! It’s the freshest, most tender fish, steamed in the pot, and drizzled with a secret sauce from the Imperial Kitchen’s head chef!”

The most delicate part of the fish was gently picked, dipped in the sauce, and tasted. It was fresh, fragrant, tender, and delicious! Yet, when it reached her mouth, Honored Lady Jiang only tasted utter bitterness.

From now on, nothing could compare to the three plates of pastries from Xia Jieyu that she would forever savor in memory.

She thought, Ultimately, the feelings behind each were different.

The former was a simple wish for her to eat more, a precious gesture of friendship.

The latter, however, she had bought with her own integrity!

How could it be the same!