A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 183: Chapter 182: Deserving of Death?

”Noble Consort, what’s wrong with you?” a palace maid’s piercing scream came from the side.

At that moment, Honored Lady Xi sobered up considerably and opened her eyes to look. She was so frightened that she immediately knelt with a thump.

”Noble Consort! Noble Consort, are you alright!” she cried, anxiously kowtowing as she spoke.

Noble Concubine Shih had been hit in the shoulder and was tottering. Ying Yue supported her, and she barely managed to avoid a fall.

Now, having just steadied herself, her shoulder throbbed with terrible pain. When she opened her eyes and saw it was Honored Lady Xi, anger flared within her.

”How dare you! You dare to bump into me? Ying Yue, go and slap her face!”

Terrified, Honored Lady Xi hurriedly kowtowed. ”Noble Consort, have mercy! This servant... this servant didn’t do it on purpose! This servant was in a hurry chasing a rabbit, momentarily didn’t watch where I was going, and collided with the Noble Consort. This servant deserves to die! This servant deserves to die!”

Noble Concubine Shih, finally steady, gave a cold smile. ”Since you deserve to die, why do you fear a few slaps from me so much?”

After saying that, she gave another fierce order. ”Ying Yue, why aren’t you doing it!”

Ying Yue bit her lip. ”Yes, Noble Consort!”

As she spoke, she stepped forward and began viciously slapping Honored Lady Xi’s face. In no time, blood trickled from the corner of Honored Lady Xi’s mouth. After a dozen or so slaps, she was seeing stars.

”Noble Consort, this servant will never... never dare again...” Honored Lady Xi swayed, on the verge of collapsing.

Seeing this, Noble Concubine Shih felt a sliver of satisfaction. Cradling her belly, she slowly walked over. Bending down, she used her vermilion-painted fingers to gently stroke Honored Lady Xi’s already highly swollen face.

”Such a pretty little face! No wonder the Emperor insists on taking you with him on his excursions; you really are a match for that slut, Lady Xia!” She sighed. ”I originally wanted to spare you, but you’re too ill-disciplined, not watching your step, just charging around recklessly. If I were to spare you today... then everyone would feel free to aim for my belly in the future. What would we do about that?”

Having said that, she ran her fingernail gently over the tender, swollen skin, a glint of malice flashing in her eyes. ”That slut Lady Xia is favored; I can’t touch her! But you’re different... Honored Lady Xi, you won’t blame me, will you?”

After being beaten and still kneeling under the scorching sun, Honored Lady Xi was now thoroughly frightened by the Noble Consort. Overwhelmed by shock, she could no longer hold on; her vision went dark, and she fainted.

”How insolent!” a deep and forceful voice rang out.

Everyone turned their heads. Noble Concubine Shih was stunned. ”Em... Emperor!”

”We greet the Emperor...” Everyone knelt.

Zhao Junyao didn’t spare them a glance, walking briskly over. He looked at Honored Lady Xi on the ground, already unconscious. Seeing her face so badly swollen and bruised, his brow immediately furrowed.

He ordered Li Shengan, ”Find someone to take her back. Call the Imperial Physician!”

”Yes!” Li Shengan hastily complied, calling over a few little eunuchs to carefully lift Honored Lady Xi and escort her away.

Honored Lady Lan, noticing Honored Lady Xi had been gone for a long time, had come looking for her. At one glance, she saw Honored Lady Xi’s terribly swollen face and was so frightened she was about to cry. The palace maid by her side quickly tugged at her sleeve.

”Master, it’s the Emperor!”

Upon looking over, Honored Lady Lan’s legs went weak, and she knelt. She didn’t dare cry, tears merely welling in her eyes.

Zhao Junyao didn’t even glance their way; he stared coldly at Noble Concubine Shih.

He rebuked, ”You are being utterly ridiculous! A Noble Consort bullying an Honored Lady and even resorting to violence, you truly are...” Zhao Junyao suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

Noble Concubine Shih also felt wronged. ”Emperor, she... she bumped into Your Servant, nearly knocked Your Servant over, and my shoulder was...”

”Silence!” Before she could finish, Zhao Junyao sternly cut her off.

His gaze fell on a rabbit in the grass not far away as he said coldly, ”You seize upon someone’s unintentional mistake and refuse to let it go, even using your power to inflict harm! Noble Consort... you’re becoming more and more ’disciplined’ indeed!”

Frightened by his tone, Noble Concubine Shih knew that talking back would lead to no good. She immediately softened. ”Emperor, Your Servant... Your Servant is guilty. Please administer punishment!”

These words were spoken with three parts grievance, five parts reluctance, and two parts coquetry. After speaking, she even touched her belly.

Zhao Junyao sneered inwardly. Just because she was pregnant, how many problems had she caused in the palace? If it had come to this, then it would indeed be better... better if she weren’t to have the child at all! In the past, he indulged her because she was still sensible, but now... She relied on her pregnancy, relied on the Empress Dowager’s protection, and didn’t even regard the Empress with due respect anymore. Having reached this point, Zhao Junyao not only lacked the desire to dote on her; he didn’t even want to look at her.

”Noble Concubine Shih, for being overbearing, arrogant, and harming others... from this day forth, you are confined for one month. Without Our command, you shall not take a single step out of the palace gates!”

Having said that, Zhao Junyao gave the Noble Consort a cold glance and left with Li Shengan.

Surrounded by her attendants, Noble Concubine Shih was still in a daze when she returned to Xifu Palace.

”Emperor... no, Cousin... Cousin actually confined me! Just for a mere Honored Lady, Cousin actually confined me! I’ve been in the palace for so many years, and Cousin has never confined me before...” Noble Concubine Shih clutched her belly, a tempest of anger and grievance raging within her.

Even after smashing everything within sight, her anger was not appeased. ”Ever since that vixen Lady Xia arrived, all these Honored Ladies have started to get full of themselves! It was clearly her who bumped into me! As a Noble Consort of the palace, how can I not teach her a lesson? In the past, whether it was an Honored Lady, a Consort, or even an Imperial Concubine, Cousin would have said nothing! It’s all that wretched Lady Xia’s fault!”

Were it not for her, the Emperor probably wouldn’t even spare these Honored Ladies a glance! It’s all because of Lady Xia... Lady Xia!!!

”Summon Consort Yun!”

The Emperor had forbidden her to go out, but he hadn’t said she couldn’t receive visitors!

Upon receiving the news, Consort Yun rushed over, braving the heat of the sun. She had heard Noble Concubine Shih had been bumped into and was somewhat worried, yet there was also a faint stirring of malicious delight. However, she dared not show even a trace of it on her face.

”Noble Consort, are you alright?”

Noble Concubine Shih lay on the couch, holding her slightly uncomfortable belly, and waved her hand impatiently. ”Sit down!”

She clearly had little desire to respond. Consort Yun, having been rebuffed, didn’t dare make a fuss and cautiously sat down to the side.

Noble Concubine Shih asked, ”In my view, Honored Lady Xi is not as simple as she appears... You were out with them, spending every day together for over a month. You should understand her, right?”

Consort Yun was taken aback. When she was on the excursion, all her thoughts were on the Emperor; where would she find the mind to care about any Honored Lady! If she did pay attention to anyone, it was Lady Xia! After all, that vixen was always clinging to the Emperor! As for those two idiots, Honored Lady Xi and Honored Lady Lan, she paid them no attention at all. But she couldn’t very well say nothing.

After thinking for a moment, she spoke. ”Noble Consort, from what I observed, those two seem quite honest!”