A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 218: Chapter 217 I’m Just Pretending

”My lord, after all, it is the Empress...”

”Pah!”

Xia Ruqing charged furiously toward Zi Su. ”Zi Su, you smash it! Zi Ning, you too, take one each and smash them into pieces!”

The two Little Palace Maids looked at each other, bewildered. After hesitating for a moment, they obediently picked up a hairpin each. They first stomped on them a few times, then found a brick and smashed them again and again until they were thoroughly destroyed.

”Ah...” Zi Yue wanted to stop them, but it was too late!

Xia Ruqing finally felt a sense of relief. ”You two did well. Xiao Xizi, reward them!”

After speaking, she dashed back into the room, threw herself on the bed, and ignored everyone, even neglecting her morning meal. Xia Ruqing slept like this until the afternoon.

It took Zi Yue a good while to finally wake her up. ”My lord, you haven’t had your morning meal. Xiao Xizi went to the Imperial Kitchen to get the dishes you love! You really should get up and eat a little!”

Groggily, Xia Ruqing opened her eyes and saw it was Zi Yue. A feeling of vexation welled up inside her, and she turned her head away in a huff.

Zi Yue was exasperated. ”Alright, my lord, this servant apologizes to you! My lord, this servant shouldn’t have ignored your orders and should have smashed the hairpins!”

Xia Ruqing gave her a sidelong glance but still turned away.

Zi Yue then smiled, pulling out a wooden box. ”Look, this servant has kept the broken hairpins! If the Empress asks, you’d have something to report, right?”

Upon seeing them, Xia Ruqing could tell they were the pair of hairpins that had been smashed to bits. She felt a rush of satisfaction! She had finally surmounted that hurdle.

”You are attentive, you little wench!” Having said that, she got up on her own accord.

Zi Yue called for water to be brought in for washing and attended to her while she combed her hair. Xiao Xizi had already set up the noon meal: ”Spicy Douban fish, stir-fried bamboo shoots, millet porridge...”

”Hmm, not bad...” Xia Ruqing mused. ”A balance of rich and light flavors, both fragrant and spicy!”

Xia Ruqing found the meal to her satisfaction. Having eaten her fill, the bit of displeasure in her heart had long since vanished. Playing with cats, reading books, nestled in her own little space, she felt quite free and at ease.

「Yaoyue Palace」

Consort Yun’s place had been lively lately. Both Honored Lady Xi and Honored Lady Lan had been invited over for a visit. They even had their noon meal at Yaoyue Palace!

Xia Ruqing was very grateful for this. ”If not for Consort Yun, I couldn’t have shaken those two off!” From a certain perspective, she was enjoying a rare moment of leisure thanks to Consort Yun’s involvement!

「After the noontime meal.」

Both Honored Lady Xi and Honored Lady Lan stayed quite a while before leaving. Consort Yun appeared reluctant to see them go. ”Cai Die, have someone see them out!”

Cai Die quickly saluted. ”Yes!” Saying so, she followed them out and asked a Second Class Palace Maid named Ruirui to see them off, while she herself returned after reaching the doorway.

Cai Die was somewhat puzzled. ”Your Highness, Noble Concubine Shih only asked you to keep an eye on them, why did you...”

Consort Yun smiled. ”Why I’ve been so good to them, is that what you’re asking?”

Cai Die nodded.

Consort Yun smiled again and after a long pause, she slowly said, ”The Emperor has long cast Noble Concubine Shih aside, can’t you see? Even if I can’t find another way, at the very least, I must leave a way out for myself!”

The Emperor’s favor was the ultimate escape route. Cai Die considered this and, finding it made sense, said no more.

After returning to her residence, Honored Lady Xi stood by the window for a long time. Her gaze was fixed in the direction of Lady Xia’s Qingya Residence. With no one behind her, the corners of her mouth revealed a sinister smile.

Noble Concubine Shih! Consort Yun are easy to deal with! That woman is the true fox spirit!

Dong Cha entered cheerfully with a bowl of tea. ”My lady, the tea you love to drink the most, I have brewed it for you...”

Before Dong Cha could finish speaking, she saw Honored Lady Xi suddenly turn around. Her expression was fierce, her gaze icy and chilling, as she slowly approached, getting closer and closer.

”BANG!” The teacup hit the ground. Dong Cha, shivering from shock, suddenly felt her legs give out and she knelt on the shattered pieces. Dong Cha was scared to death! She paid no mind to the sharp pain coming from her knees. Trembling, she asked, ”M...My lady... What’s wrong with you, my lady? Have you been possessed by something?”

Honored Lady Xi sneered coldly. ”What thing could possess my body!” Having said that, she slowly bent down and hooked Dong Cha’s chin. ”How about it? Dong Cha, did I act convincingly?”

”Ah?” Dong Cha was astonished. Acting? Could it be that all of her lady’s innocent acts were just a pretense?

Honored Lady Xi laughed heartily as if she could read minds. ”Yes! I was acting! It’s just a pity that someone already saw through my facade; you are the second one to know!”

Dong Cha was so scared she nearly broke down, on the verge of tears. What on earth was this about!

”M...My lady, are you... too heartbroken because you haven’t been promoted? My lady... how could you...”

Honored Lady Xi’s gaze suddenly turned menacing! ”Promotion? Ha! What I want is power, supreme power, do you understand? I want to be Empress! I want to eliminate all the enemies in front of me!”

Dong Cha’s face turned even paler in an instant. ”My lady, you...”

Honored Lady Xi slowly stood up, looking down on her loftily. ”Don’t be afraid, Dong Cha... I know you are loyal, so I won’t kill you!”

Ah? Kill? Dong Cha’s fragile mind could no longer bear it; her eyes rolled back, and she fainted!

Honored Lady Xi kicked her fiercely. ”Good-for-nothing thing! You’re only fit to serve people! Xiao Xuzi, take her away. If she dares to spout nonsense, kill her!”

”Yes!” A dark-skinned Little Eunuch came out respectfully. Although he looked small, he was actually very strong; he didn’t seem to use much effort to drag Dong Cha away!

Honored Lady Xi, as if she had resolved a troublesome matter, stood by the window and took a deep breath. It’s time to take action!

「Days passed peacefully.」

The people of the Harem originally thought that Honored Lady Cheng would gain favor, competing equally with Xia Jieyu. However, unexpectedly, Xia Jieyu had been summoned to Zhaochen Palace for several days in a row.

As the Laba Festival approached, Zhao Junyao finally remembered to turn over the nameplates.

It was Xia Jieyu again! The hearts of the Harem members, which had been lifted, now sank. Compete equally? Hah!

In the afternoon, when Zhao Junyao arrived, Xia Ruqing had just woken up and was playing with her cat. Xia Ruqing mischievously let Da Bai leave a few adorable paw prints on the Xuan paper. Then she picked up a brush and hastily sketched a few strokes on that sheet of paper. A landscape painting of snowy scenery emerged: a farmhouse, fences, a cat’s paw prints. Although the brushwork was clumsy, the artistic conception was rather impressive; at least, it was quite amusing.

”Hmm! Well-painted!”

Xia Ruqing was startled. Looking up, she saw it was the Emperor and quickly knelt down. ”Your concubine...”

Da Bai let out a MEOW in alarm, its fur puffing up instantly. But on seeing it was the Emperor, the shameless cat immediately perked up its ears, moved forward, and rubbed against Zhao Junyao’s Dragon Boots. Hmm, it too was a beautiful and seductive little female cat, you know?

Xia Ruqing said, ”You little flirtatious cat!”

Da Bai replied, ”MEOW!”