A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 188: Chapter 187: Really Tough Luck

If it weren’t for Honored Lady Hu, how could he have been demoted to the Cold Palace? Now, following Honored Lady Hu, my life is ruined, he thought.

Hearing movement inside, he simply did not want to bother. He said impatiently, ”Sick and still not behaving? Do you think you are more noble than Lady Xia?”

Inside the room, Honored Lady Hu, lying on the bed, trembled with anger. ”Xiao Chengzi, we have been master and servant for so long, I beg you—save my life!”

As she spoke, Honored Lady Hu gathered all her strength to sit up. From a tattered box, she found a bracelet. The quality was so-so, but it was her last possession. She thrust the jade bracelet into Xiao Chengzi’s hand, then collapsed to the floor, out of energy.

But she refused to give up. She continued determinedly through clenched teeth, ”This is... the last bracelet. I beseech you to pass a message to the Empress...”

After saying this, her face turned pale, and she could no longer support herself.

Xiao Chengzi weighed the jade bracelet in his hand and studied its luster in the sunlight.

”HUMPH! So be it! Considering you’re on your deathbed, I’ll pass on the message for you...” Saying this, he tucked the jade bracelet into his bosom.

That night, he looked left and right to make sure no one was around. Under the cover of darkness, he went to Jiaofang Hall!

In Jiaofang Hall, the Empress was looking over the accounts from last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival. This year’s accounts must be comparable, certainly not too deficient, she thought.

Yu Lan stood by, ready to serve. She occasionally snipped burnt wicks or added tea.

The Empress studied the accounts, her heart at peace. Even though my relationship with the Emperor is still not very harmonious, and even though, when the Emperor does visit, he does not sleep with me, as long as the Emperor still visits, it means... I still firmly occupy the position of Empress.

Regarding the matter she had previously instructed Honored Lady Hu to undertake—the Emperor had subsequently neglected her for months, unwilling even to enter her palace gates. It seemed the Emperor had everything figured out. Therefore, she could do nothing for now. If something happened to Noble Concubine Shih’s pregnancy, no matter whether she was involved or not, she would be implicated.

But... the Empress had come to an understanding. I cannot and do not want to compete with these harem concubines for the Emperor’s favor! What I want is status, the authority as the master of the harem. As long as I am the Empress, my son will be legitimate. According to ancestral rules, if there is a legitimate son, he inherits; if not, the eldest inherits. If there is no legitimate or eldest son, the most capable takes the position. (In the Royal Family, once a Prince’s title is established, it cannot be changed. If the Crown Prince dies young, the Second Prince remains the Second Prince and does not become the Crown Prince, hence the situation of having neither a legitimate nor eldest son.) Even if I ultimately cannot bear a child, it wouldn’t matter; I could adopt one. As long as I raise him, he will be considered legitimate. As long as I retain my throne as Empress, I have plenty of options. I must not lose my composure! If something happened to Noble Concubine Shih’s child, the guilt of plotting against a royal heir would be undeniable. Next would be my dethronement! I will not allow such a thing to happen! With the experience and talents I’ve honed over the years, I will be an impeccable Empress. I don’t believe the Emperor can find a reason to depose me! We are husband and wife; the Emperor is bound to visit. He cannot stay away forever! Previously, I would resent Lady Xia for receiving favor, I would be jealous of Noble Concubine Shih’s pregnancy, and wish I could immediately force down a bowl of safflower decoction to eliminate that scourge! Now, having seen through it all, I feel much more serene. I’ve never been one to act like a sweet, doting wife, nor do I need to! I will find another way to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor!

Thinking this, the corners of the Empress’s mouth curved slightly upward, her eyes filled with determination.

Yu Fu brought in a plate of fruits, lifting the curtains as she entered. On her way out, she gave Yu Lan a meaningful glance.

Yu Lan was somewhat puzzled but followed her out anyway.

”What’s all the secrecy about?”

”It’s that Little Eunuch from the Cold Palace... He says... Honored Lady Hu is gravely ill; she’s probably not going to make it...”

Yu Lan’s expression turned grave. ”What should we do? The Empress is busy, isn’t she?”

Yu Fu just sneered. ”If you ask me, just send him away and act as if we don’t know! It’s just a disgraced concubine dying of illness in the Cold Palace; who would care about that?”

Yu Lan shook her head. ”That’s not appropriate... She’s only been there for less than two months. If she dies now, I’m afraid it might bring criticism to our Empress. Honored Lady Hu was demoted to the Cold Palace for failing to harm Noble Concubine Shih. The Empress was already the prime suspect. If Honored Lady Hu died at this moment, wouldn’t that suggest the Empress was silencing her?”

Yu Lan then said, ”We can’t delay this matter; I’ll go and speak to Her Majesty.”

With that, she went in.

Indeed, the Empress frowned upon hearing the news. ”What? She’s about to die?”

Yu Lan and Yu Fu nodded.

The Empress was also worried. She knows too much and indeed deserves to die... but... not now!

As she spoke, a cold light flashed in her eyes. ”Go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and ask for a Female Doctor. Give her some makeshift treatment, keep her alive; don’t let her die just yet!”

”Yes, Empress!”

Yu Fu left.

Meanwhile, Xifu Palace also received the news.

Noble Concubine Shih’s complexion improved slightly only after she took the fetus-preserving medicine and ate some preserved fruit. However, upon hearing the news, she frowned. ”She’s ill?”

Ying Yue replied, ”Yes, Your Highness. The Little Eunuch from the Cold Palace went to report to Jiaofang Hall; the Empress has sent someone to the Imperial Medical Bureau to request a Female Doctor...”

The women in the Cold Palace weren’t entitled to be treated by Imperial Physicians. They could only be tended to by a Female Doctor, the same as would attend to palace maids or eunuchs.

Noble Concubine Shih smiled coldly. ”The Empress is becoming... more and more magnanimous...” After speaking, she thought for a moment and then added, The Empress wants her dead but doesn’t dare let her die just yet! She’s even more cunning than a fox! To think she can act as if nothing ever happened regarding what she herself did? Heh, wishful thinking!”

”Ying Yue!”

Ying Yue immediately stepped forward. ”Your Highness?”

”Keep a close watch on the Cold Palace for me; don’t let her die! I want her to suffer for a lifetime, to keep on living, to continuously trouble the Empress!”

”Don’t worry, Your Highness, I will have someone watch closely!”

Noble Concubine Shih was then satisfied. She caressed her belly. Eight months along. My child, you must be a prince! If you cannot be the legitimate heir, at least by being the eldest son, your mother can still fight for you!

With the Empress’s command, the Female Doctor went that very night. Honored Lady Hu was already vomiting and purging, burning with fever, and had fallen into a coma. After taking her pulse and examining her, the Female Doctor said, ”She has eaten something bad. She will be fine as long as she eats fresh and clean food from now on!”

With that, she left a prescription and, with a look of disdain, covering her nose, walked away.

Xiao Chengzi was even more disdainful. But since the Empress had ordered that Honored Lady Hu not die, he had no choice but to run to the Imperial Pharmacy for medicine. Honored Lady Hu’s current treatment was worse than even that of a respectable Palace Maid. She didn’t qualify for any good medicine. It was all worthless herbs; as long as they could crudely treat the illness, that was enough.

After getting the medicine and a stove, Xiao Chengzi tossed the herbs into it and brewed them carelessly for a while. Then he forced the concoction down Honored Lady Hu’s throat. He was afraid she would die and dared not neglect her.

After several such forced doses, Honored Lady Hu miraculously recovered.

She really has a tough constitution! Xiao Chengzi thought.