A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 584: Chapter 584: Sacrifice to Heaven

How could she leave the Little Princess alone in the palace for an entire day without care? How could her heart endure it?

And besides, how could Sister Ji not go?

All of her trusted aides must go!

The Empress thought it over and over, and finally made a decision.

”Yu Fu shall stay to look after the Little Princess. Have someone go and summon Shih Jieyu!”

”Shih Jieyu!”

Sister Ji was immediately shocked.

”Empress, Shih Jieyu is... Are you not afraid...”

”Are you not afraid...”

The Empress interrupted her.

”Afraid of what? What is there to be afraid of?”

”Afraid she’ll grow up and find out? Afraid she’ll grow close to Shih Jieyu?”

”Sister, I cannot afford to care about that now!”

Women are inherently weak, yet they grow strong when they become mothers.

In the entire Imperial Palace, the person least likely to harm the Princess was Shih Jieyu.

Thus, she would surely protect the Princess with her life.

And furthermore... she would be grateful to me.

As for whom the princess will grow close to in the future? I don’t care. It isn’t my true intention to raise just one child for my entire life. My main goal is to adopt a Prince in the future. The Little Princess is just a stepping stone for now. With her around, the Emperor will still be willing to visit, and I’ll have an opportunity to mend our relationship. I absolutely refuse to end my days in lonely solitude. I absolutely refuse to watch someone else’s son become the Crown Prince and the new Emperor. And I will not let the new Emperor’s mother ascend to the same position of Empress Dowager as I! I will never allow such a thing to happen!

Sister Ji wanted to persuade her further but was directly interrupted by the Empress.

”Enough!”

”I’ve heard... there are Grassland Tribes invading from the Northwest, and my father is commanded by the Emperor to lead troops in defense. Sister, if you have nothing else, why not take this opportunity to leave the palace and gather some information?”

Although her father had never been very affectionate towards her, she was, after all, a daughter of the Fan Family. No matter what happens, I cannot deny it!

Seeing that she could not be swayed, Sister Ji said no more.

She agreed and went to prepare the necessities for leaving the palace.

「...」

Shih Jieyu was about to sleep when she received the message.

The one who delivered the message was the Empress’s Senior Palace Maid, Yu Lan.

She relayed the Empress’s words.

Shih Jieyu was stunned for a long time.

”Can I really...”

”Can I really go take care of the Princess?”

She was very excited, her eyes wide with disbelief!

Yu Lan gave a light smile.

”That’s right!”

”Tomorrow morning, the Empress will join the Emperor in leaving the palace to perform the Heaven Worship Ceremony!”

”The Little Princess will be without care, so the Empress thought of you, Shih Jieyu!”

”Tomorrow morning, make sure to go early. The Empress will have some instructions for you!”

Shih Jieyu nodded excitedly.

”Yes! Yes!”

”This servant understands!”

Yu Lan smiled.

”In that case, I shall take my leave first!”

Shih Jieyu quickly nodded.

”Zhaoer, see Lady Yu Lan out with care!”

”Yes!”

Zhaoer curtsied and followed beside Yu Lan as she left the room.

”Eldest Sister Lan, this is a small token from our mistress. Please kindly accept it.”

”It’s the New Year as well; Sister, you should get yourself a new piece of jewelry!”

Having said all that, it wouldn’t be good to refuse, so Yu Lan accepted it.

”Many thanks to Lady Jieyu!”

Zhaoer hurried to say there was no need for thanks.

She saw Yu Lan all the way to the gate of Lijing Pavilion, then returned to the palace.

That night, Shih Jieyu was too excited to sleep.

Meanwhile, in the adjoining side hall where Honored Lady Jiang resided, she also could not sleep.

”Another year has passed!”

”In the blink of an eye, it’s my second year in the palace!”

”And still, I am not favored!”

Is this how it’s going to end, alone and old?

Honored Lady Jiang felt lost and desolate.

Who would have thought, after being in the palace for so long, having served in the Emperor’s bed so many times, she would still remain untouched. Even she found it hard to believe. Let alone the Empress!

SIGH...

This year’s allowance was far inferior to previous years.

The coal was subpar, and the quilts were second-rate.

In her quarters, she was even worse off than Honored Lady Du.

Her palace maids returned, complaining that only her quilt was second-rate, like those of the lower-ranked Ladies.

Not even like Honored Lady Du’s!

The daily meals were not even worth mentioning; they were sometimes even worse than what some lower-ranked Ladies received!

The room was cold, and wrapping herself up in two layers of quilts didn’t help!

The window paper wasn’t new either; it was full of little holes.

The north wind whistled through the gaps, burrowing straight into her neck from under the covers!

HEH...

Her past pride and lofty detachment were worthless in the palace! At this moment, how she longed for the past! The books say ’When one is well-fed and warm, one thinks of lustful pleasures’; that saying is indeed true. When you can’t eat your fill or wear warm clothes, you don’t have the luxury of thinking too much, let alone maintain any nobility, or hold onto a lifelong commitment to one person! How absurd! She was no longer the same person who had first entered the palace. If the Emperor were to summon her to serve now, she would immediately lie on the dragon bed. She might even undress herself, not troubling the Emperor to lift a finger. Just as long as... just as long as she doesn’t have to live like this anymore!

COUGH COUGH...

ACHOO!

”Hua Cha! Hua Cha!”

Honored Lady Jiang called out several times, but no one in the room responded.

Hua Cha was actually just outside and had heard her, but she just didn’t want to get up.

The room was too cold, and she knew her mistress couldn’t sleep soundly because of the cold. But who was to blame? The Empress had favored her so much at the beginning! She even had the chance to serve the Emperor. But what about her mistress? So arrogant. In her eyes, not even the Emperor was good enough for her! PAH! Had she lost her mind? Ruining a perfectly good life to end up like this; she must be satisfied now! What now? Regretting it now? Realized the importance of the Emperor’s favor? Want it now? Too bad, it’s too late! Who does she think the Emperor is? Someone she can summon or dismiss at will? Wishful thinking! Serving such a mistress, I’ve truly suffered eight lifetimes of bad luck. Look at Zi Su and Zi Ning, who entered the palace with me and now serve Consort Xian Pin! Their complexions are rosy, and they’re full of energy. They receive rewards every holiday. Just yesterday, I heard Consort Xian Pin even gave them quilts. New quilts that their mistress, Consort Xian Pin, had only used for a few months! On such a cold day, receiving those was like getting charcoal in snowy weather—a true blessing. Then look at my own mistress. Her own quilt isn’t even good enough, and look at the quality of what the Ministry of Internal Affairs provides her! It was incomparable! Never mind anyone else; I, Hua Cha, am utterly disheartened. Therefore, when her mistress called, she pretended not to hear!

Honestly, Honored Lady Du was pretty worried too; life was tough for her as well!

She had gathered all her valuable belongings and bribed the officials at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

That was why the provisions she received were somewhat better.

But of course, no one else knew about this.

「...」

「Returning to Shih Jieyu.」

Early the next morning, Shih Jieyu got up before dawn.

She tidied up her things and headed for Jiaofang Hall.

Preparations in Jiaofang Hall had begun at the Yin Hour (around 3-5 am).

The Heaven Worship Ceremony could not be delayed, and the Empress needed to be splendidly attired.

All the members of the Harem had to come out to see off the Empress and the Empress Dowager as they left the palace.

Xia Ruqing and the others also had to rise early to see off the Empress and the Empress Dowager.

The Empress’s makeup was almost complete.

Seated before the dressing table, Yu Lan was arranging her hair.