A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 269: Chapter 268: No Entry Means No Entry

Molli wasn’t there either. She had been sewing, but while sitting, she felt a heaviness in her chest and discomfort, so she got up and took a walk in the courtyard. She brought in the quilt that had been airing outside. After staying outside for a while, she finally felt a bit better.

It wasn’t long before Lianlian returned. Seeing Molli collecting the quilt, she quickly came over to lend a hand.

”Let me do it, Sister Molli!” Lianlian said, eagerly taking the heavy quilt.

”Oh! No need, I can manage!” Molli protested.

But Lianlian insisted, ”Sister Molli, you should go take care of our Master. I don’t mind this kind of heavy work!” With that, she deftly slung the quilt over her shoulder and carried it into the house. In no time at all, she had collected all the quilts.

Molli watched her, her face flushed from the exertion, and the slight suspicion she held gradually dissipated. She’s just an ordinary Little Palace Maid, Molli thought. How could she possibly harm our Master?

After Lianlian finished with the quilts, she saw Molli still standing under the veranda and ran over. ”What are you thinking about, Sister Molli?”

Molli, seeing her drenched in sweat, smiled and handed her a handkerchief. ”It’s nothing! Let’s go in; our Master should be waking up soon!”

Lianlian smiled. ”Alright!”

The two entered the room.

...

The Calming Incense had almost burned out. Lianlian, feeling the scent in the room was a bit too strong, went to open a window.

Honored Lady Lan woke up not long after. Lianlian and Molli hurried to fetch water and wring out towels to assist their mistress in getting up. Honored Lady Lan, however, was suffering from a splitting headache, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. ”What’s wrong with me... My head hurts so much!”

Lianlian took a look and said, ”It seems our Mistress might have caught a chill. Sister Molli, please attend to Her Ladyship. I’ll go and close the window again!”

Before she could finish speaking, a gust of wind blew in, making Honored Lady Lan shiver violently from the cold. Seeing this, Molli’s remaining doubts vanished.

Lianlian rose, closed the window, and then asked with a smile, ”Do you feel a bit better now, My Lady?”

Honored Lady Lan considered for a moment, then nodded. ”Mhm, a little better!”

Lianlian smiled. On the surface, the mistress and her servants appeared harmonious and cheerful.

...

After lunch, in the Qingya Residence, Xia Ruqing was also sleeping. Since becoming pregnant, she had started to sleep much more. But then again, there wasn’t much else for her to do. If she felt sleepy, she might as well sleep.

Zi Yue sat beside her, pondering whether to find some soft fabric to make baby clothes for the Little Prince. With our Mistress’s sewing skills, she’s unlikely to make anything presentable! Zi Yue thought helplessly. Our Mistress can’t be relied upon for this, so I’d better oversee it myself.

Thinking this, she called for Xiao Zhu Zi. ”Come, get the keys and open the storeroom. I need to pick out a few pieces of fabric!” Then she instructed further, ”Xiao Xizi, Zi Su, and Zi Ning, you three stay here and watch over our Mistress. I’ll be right back!”

”Yes!” the three responded. Zi Yue then quickly left with Xiao Zhu Zi.

Xia Ruqing was still asleep, and very soundly at that. The three attendants sat together with nothing much to do, just watching idly.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the Qingya Residence.

Zi Su, ever alert, said, ”Eunuch Xi, I’ll go see who it is!”

Xiao Xizi, who had been about to get up, sat down again, watching with amusement as Zi Su hurried out. ”This girl is really clever!” he remarked.

Zi Ning, sitting beside him, smiled somewhat sheepishly. Sometimes, I’m just not as clever as Zi Su! she thought.

At the front, Zi Su opened the door. She saw Honored Lady Lan, with Lianlian behind her.

Zi Su smiled. ”Oh, it’s Honored Lady Lan!” she said, but made no move to invite them in.

Honored Lady Lan also smiled, though her smile seemed a bit forced. ”It’s me. I heard your Mistress isn’t feeling well, so I came to see her!”

Our Mistress isn’t feeling well? Zi Su thought to herself. Who spread that rumor? But... never mind, I might as well play along.

”Our Mistress caught a chill recently,” Zi Su explained. ”The Imperial Physician said she needs plenty of rest and even prescribed medicine.” As she spoke, she glanced back into the room. ”Our Mistress just took her medicine and has only recently fallen asleep, I’m afraid...” She looked at Honored Lady Lan, clearly indicating she wouldn’t be allowed inside.

Honored Lady Lan’s eyes dimmed. ”Oh!”

She seemed about to say more, but Lianlian quickly interjected, ”Since that’s the case, Mistress, let’s come back later!”

Honored Lady Lan glanced at Lianlian, then gave a wooden nod. ”Very well.” Turning to Zi Su, she said, ”Miss Zi Su, please go back inside. I’ll come back later!”

She’s coming back?

Zi Su’s heart sank. Why is she so persistent, like a pest you can’t shake off!Outwardly, however, she dared not be too presumptuous and merely responded respectfully, ”Understood, Your Ladyship.”

Honored Lady Lan left. Zi Su leaned against the doorframe, watching them walk into the distance before finally closing the door and going inside.

Before she even entered the main room, she saw Xiao Zhu Zi and Sister Zi Yue emerging from the small storeroom, Zi Yue holding a bolt of cloth.

Seeing Zi Su’s displeased expression, Zi Yue smiled. ”What happened? Who annoyed you?”

Zi Su snorted. ”Sister Zi Yue, you be the judge! When our Mistress was out of favor, neither Honored Lady Lan nor Lady Xi were anywhere to be seen! Now that our Mistress has persevered and gained favor, they all come crowding around! Just now, Honored Lady Lan, having heard from who-knows-where that our Mistress was unwell, insisted on visiting! She’s the one who’s unwell! Our Mistress is fine!” The more Zi Su spoke, the angrier she became.

Zi Yue laughed. ”You and your sharp tongue! Keep your voice down! Our Mistress is still sleeping inside!” Then, lowering her voice, she added, ”You did the right thing. Right now, our Mistress should avoid seeing anyone if possible. Who knows what intentions they harbor!”

Zi Su wholeheartedly agreed. ”Exactly! Sister Zi Yue, I won’t say any more. Let’s go inside.”

”Mm,” Zi Yue acknowledged.

...

Zi Su was naturally clever and spirited. When she first arrived, she had been unfamiliar with the ways of the palace and had kept to herself, cautious and reserved, not daring to speak out of turn or draw attention. But by now, she had clearly seen that her Mistress was a kind person who genuinely cared for them. Her Mistress hadn’t even tried to hide her pregnancy from them; she obviously considered them her own people.

Having come to this understanding, Zi Su felt a surge of protective energy. She was brimming with a desire to help her Mistress, though she wasn’t always sure how best to direct it.

What happened today with Honored Lady Lan was something Zi Su simply couldn’t tolerate, and her fiery temperament had surfaced. That Honored Lady Lan—Zi Su had felt from the start that she harbored no good intentions! Thus, her decision to deny entry was non-negotiable; if she said no, it meant no.

Inside, Xia Ruqing had already woken up. She had overheard everything Zi Su said.

Seeing them enter, she smiled. ”What a good girl you are. I hadn’t realized before—you’re quite feisty!”

Zi Su’s face instantly flushed red. ”Mistress, this servant...”

Xia Ruqing slowly sat up, propped a pillow behind her lower back, and pulled the blanket over herself. ”It’s alright, you did nothing wrong. You handled it very well!” As for Honored Lady Lan and her sort, she thought, I’m not too keen on seeing them either. Unless it’s absolutely unavoidable, I really don’t want to interact with them!

”Let’s leave it at that,” Xia Ruqing said aloud. ”I’m hungry. Let’s have some refreshments!”

Zi Su then asked, ”Mistress, what if they come again?”