A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 507: Chapter 507: Marquis Xiahou

”Thank you for your consideration, Young Master Xia!”

Xia Tingfeng nodded somberly and relented.

It was dusk by the time Xia Tingfeng left. The evening glow spread across half the sky. Groups of people who had gone hunting in pairs and trios had all returned, their courtyards bustling with activity. Such a life—fresh, poetic, and precious—was naturally to be thoroughly enjoyed.

Men loved to hunt and drink. The women, well, they loved to gossip!

Only one night had passed when the news that ’Marquis Xiahou had spent several Shi Chen in a young lady’s room’ spread among the women of each household and estate.

「At that time.」

Miss Ni was enjoying the scenery with several other young ladies from prominent families. As they had all eagerly sought her out, she couldn’t very well send them away and thus accompanied them with only half her attention. After this news broke, those young ladies snorted and looked at Miss Ni with disdain, mockingly criticizing her from head to toe. They then left one after another, flouncing away.

As they walked, they laughed mockingly.

”Pah! She really thought she was already Lady Hou! It seems Marquis Xiahou doesn’t care for her much after all!”

”Exactly! He didn’t even give her a second thought! Before even marrying into the family, he’s already found a new favorite!”

”If you ask me, it’s Miss Ni herself who is shameless, with all that talk about ’searching miles for a husband.’ Marquis Xiahou probably finds it embarrassing as well!”

Another woman covered her mouth with a handkerchief, giggling with schadenfreude.

”Imagine if, on the wedding day, the Marquis married them both. Now that would be entertaining...”

The group of young ladies chattered away. Though exquisitely and lavishly dressed, the words they spoke became more malicious with each passing comment.

Dong’er was also very indignant, her eyes reddening with anger.

”How could Marquis Xiahou do such a thing, to so carelessly betray the Young Miss’s trust!”

”If we had known, we wouldn’t have gone...”

Miss Ni furrowed her brow and cut her off. ”Dong’er, don’t talk nonsense. Don’t make rash comments without clarifying the facts!”

She knew those women all too well. Anything that passed through their mouths would be twisted into the vilest slander.

Dong’er bit her lip and dared not continue.

Miss Ni looked up at the surrounding beauty, sighed softly, and went back inside.

She picked up her needle and thread, her hands trembling, her heart filled with sorrow.

What was the truth? Would he... hear the news and come to explain?

Distractedly, she stitched one stitch after another, then suddenly pricked the wrong spot.

”Ouch!”

A bead of blood quickly formed on her tender fingertip.

”Young Miss!” Dong’er hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief.

Ni Manxue shook her head. ”Never mind!”

She then put the bloodied fingertip to her lips. The pain in her finger was connected to her heart, and both ached.

”Young Miss, why don’t we go out for a walk?”

Ni Manxue shook her head bitterly. A lump formed in her throat, and she couldn’t speak. Though she said she believed him, her heart still ached terribly.

Dong’er had no idea how to console her further and could only stand by, wringing her hands in anxiety.

Ni Manxue picked up her needle and thread again and embroidered for a while longer.

Another bead of blood appeared on her hand.

Dong’er urged her to stop again.

Miss Ni persisted.

Until the sixth bead of blood emerged on her fingertip.

Tears fell from Ni Manxue’s eyes.

Dong’er was beside herself with worry. ”Young Miss...”

Just then, someone suddenly arrived in the courtyard. Soon after, a young maid ran in, holding a letter.

”Marquis Xiahou has sent this servant to deliver this letter to Miss Ni!”

Ni Manxue’s eyes immediately brightened.

”I understand!”

”Dong’er!”

Dong’er smiled as she took the letter and handed it to her. Miss Ni eagerly read the paper. Meanwhile, Dong’er happily scooped up several handfuls of snacks and fruit, then courteously saw the young maid out.

The letter was brief. A few succinct sentences conveyed a message:

’Miss Ye has awakened. That young lady was Miss Ye!’

Ni Manxue’s face lit up with joy, and she breathed a profound sigh of relief.

”Indeed, it is just as I suspected!”

It was merely a matter of repaying a life-saving kindness, not at all what those women had been saying.

Ni Manxue felt a great weight lift from her shoulders.

Ni Manxue knew, Lady Ni knew, and the entire Ni Family knew. Outsiders, however, did not.

Rumors spread like wildfire, and soon even the concubines in the traveling palace had heard about it.

When Xia Ruqing heard the news, she was shocked.

”Impossible! My brother doesn’t seem like that kind of person!”

Zi Yue was a bit conflicted and didn’t know what to say. In the end, she only offered, ”Commander Xia is now a Marquis. Isn’t it normal for him to have three wives and four concubines?”

Xia Ruqing didn’t believe it. Deciding against wild guesses, she sent Xiao Xizi to uncover the truth. Sure enough, she soon learned what had really happened.

She laughed and said, ”No wonder my brother and Miss Ni could keep their composure so well! It was just repaying a life-saving kindness, a few more words exchanged—some people are just too despicable!”

After complaining a bit, she didn’t dwell on it any further. Her good mood would not be ruined by such people!

After waking up, Ye Tang recuperated for a few more days. Once she felt better, she asked to take her leave.

Xia Tingfeng was very reluctant to see her go.

Such a talent, why should she be overlooked just because she’s a woman?

Yet, he truly had no way to help her. He racked his brains but found no solution, which left him quite agitated.

Tiger also felt extremely reluctant to see her go. He couldn’t match Monster in eloquence, nor was he as clever as Rat. He couldn’t spout grand principles; he was simply filled with a deep sense of unwillingness to part.

Ye Tang patted him on the shoulder. ”Brother Tiger, there’s no need for this! There’s a saying, ’When kindred spirits reside in the world, the ends of the earth can feel like next door.’ We are sure to meet again in the future!”

Xia Tingfeng paused for a moment, looking at Ye Tang. ”Have you studied?”

Ye Tang also paused, then replied after a moment’s thought, ”When I was young, my father taught me a few lines, but I’ve almost forgotten them all!”

Xia Tingfeng grew more puzzled. A hunter? Educated?

As he was contemplating this, Ye Tang bid her farewell.

”Young Master Xia, please convey my thanks to... the Emperor! And to the Imperial Physicians as well! I am grateful for their life-saving kindness! We are bound by fate; we shall meet again!”

Tiger cupped his fist with a gloomy expression. ”We will meet again!”

Yet in his heart, he wondered if they might have convinced her to stay if both Rat and Monster were there. But she is a young lady, after all. It wouldn’t be right to force her to stay, alas... If only she weren’t a young lady. He still wanted to learn archery from her.

Having said her goodbyes, Ye Tang, with a small bundle on her back, was about to leave. She had only taken two steps when she heard a crisp voice.

”Wait a moment!”

As Xia Tingfeng and Tiger were about to turn back, they saw a small sedan chair being set down. Ni Manxue emerged from it, also carrying a bundle!

”Miss Ye!” Ni Manxue didn’t even spare Xia Tingfeng a glance as she hurriedly chased after Ye Tang.

When Ye Tang turned around, she saw Ni Manxue approaching.

She smiled radiantly. ”Miss Ni!”

Ni Manxue ran over, carrying her small bundle. ”Miss Ye, here is a package of dried provisions, some clothes, and a bundle of silver taels! Please consider this a small token of my appreciation. You must accept it, Miss Ye!”

As the saying goes, a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. Like Xia Tingfeng, she was a person who knew to repay kindness.

Hearing about the silver taels, Ye Tang frowned. ”This...”

She was not one to covet wealth, nor did she seek to curry favor with the powerful.