A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 273: Chapter 272 Something’s Not Right

Honored Lady Lan felt increasingly that something was wrong.

She woke up several times during the night.

Her breathing was labored, and she felt extremely irritable.

Molli heard the commotion and ran in from outside.

”What’s wrong, My Lady?”

When Molli lit the lamp and drew near, she found Honored Lady Lan’s face beaded with cold sweat and ghastly pale.

Honored Lady Lan was sitting on the edge of the bed in her undergarments, gasping for breath.

”Water!” she rasped.

”I need water! Cold water.”

Molli hurriedly brought her some chilled tea.

Honored Lady Lan, as if parched for a long time, snatched the cup and gulped it down.

A cup of cool tea eased the burning in her throat considerably, yet a tightness still constricted her chest.

”Molli! Molli!”

Honored Lady Lan was in agony.

Her chest felt as if a massive stone were crushing it, while her head seemed to be teeming with ten thousand ants, gnawing and crawling.

Sharp pains pricked her all over.

She was utterly agitated.

”What has happened to you, My Lady?”

Honored Lady Lan shook her head, her gaze sweeping the room before finally settling on the incense burning nearby.

She staggered to her feet and made her way to the table holding the incense burner.

With a sweep of her arm, she knocked the incense burner to the floor.

Then, stumbling, she reached the window and flung it open.

At last, she collapsed to the floor.

”Molli, someone... someone is trying to harm me!”

With those words, she fainted.

Molli was terrified.

”Someone help! The mistress has fainted!”

Lianlian, hearing the commotion, rushed over.

”What’s wrong?”

Molli cried, ”The mistress has fainted!”

Lianlian took in the scene: the overturned incense burner, the open window, and... Honored Lady Lan’s expression.

Perhaps... it’s been discovered? she thought. No, that couldn’t be right. Lady Xi wouldn’t have let her be discovered so soon!

While Lianlian was still pondering, Molli, exasperated, shouted at her.

”Lianlian, what are you standing there for? Help the mistress back to bed, quickly!”

Dismissing her thoughts, Lianlian quickly bent down to help.

They settled Honored Lady Lan back into bed.

Molli was pale.

”You watch over the mistress; I’m going to fetch the Imperial Physician!”

Molli had barely finished speaking when she turned to leave.

Lianlian panicked.

”The Imperial Physician? Why call the Imperial Physician? What happened to the mistress?”

Molli glanced at her. The mistress has fainted, so what do you think happened?

”The mistress has fainted, what do you think happened?” she retorted.

Lianlian looked at Honored Lady Lan and said, ”The mistress must have overtired herself today; that’s why she fainted! She’ll be fine after a night’s rest!”

”Besides, how can you be sure that the mistress has fainted, rather than just sleeping deeply?”

Molli looked at her incredulously.

”What... what are you talking about?”

”What do you mean, ’sleeping deeply’?”

Molli was getting angry.

”If you don’t want to help, then go back and rest! I’ll fetch the Imperial Physician myself!”

With that, she pushed past Lianlian and headed for the door.

”Hold on!”

Lianlian shouted loudly.

She walked up to Molli, a sneer playing on her lips.

”Sister Molli, you’re being far too ungrateful!”

”I am the one the mistress trusts most now, not you!”

”If I say the mistress is tired, then she is tired!”

Molli couldn’t believe it. Was this person before her truly the diligent, straightforward Lianlian she knew?

Lianlian looked at her again.

”Sister Molli, if I’m not mistaken, you lit the incense tonight, didn’t you?”

”You actually dare to plot against the mistress!”

Molli was frantic.

”I didn’t!”

”You didn’t? Hmph!”

Lianlian gave a cold laugh.

”You lit the incense, and you’re in charge of it. You say you didn’t; who would believe you?”

Molli felt a surge of panic.

”This incense was requisitioned from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. When have I ever harmed the mistress?”

Lianlian laughed again.

”Alright then! We’ll summon the Imperial Physician to thoroughly examine this incense and see if there’s poison in it or not!”

Saying this, she turned as if to call the Imperial Physician.

It was at this critical moment.

Honored Lady Lan, on the bed, woke up.

”COUGH, COUGH!”

Joy flickered across Molli’s face.

”My Lady?”

Lianlian also hurried back.

”My Lady? Are you awake?”

She rushed to the bedside as she spoke, shouldering Molli aside.

In reality, she didn’t dare truly call for the Imperial Physician. If the truth came out and things escalated, she wouldn’t benefit either.

Molli’s face changed, having been pushed aside.

Honored Lady Lan was now groggily awake.

After staring at Molli for a while, she said in a cold voice, ”Molli, you may leave. I don’t need your services here!”

Molli was desperate.

”My Lady!”

Lianlian was openly triumphant.

”Sister Molli, the mistress told you to leave. I’m here; that’s sufficient!”

Though her words were courteous, her eyes and demeanor were full of smugness.

Molli bit her lip, compelled to retreat.

Honored Lady Lan looked at Lianlian, a faint, dry smile on her lips.

”Lianlian, you are sensible. Fetch me a cup of water!”

Delighted, Lianlian hurriedly acquiesced.

The moment Lianlian turned her back, Honored Lady Lan’s expression shifted instantly.

Her eyes reflected a disbelieving terror and an intense will to live.

Even Honored Lady Lan, usually as meek as a lamb, when she sensed her life was in danger, found herself wanting to resist, wanting to survive. She wanted... to live. She did not want to die!

Lianlian quickly brought the water. Honored Lady Lan feigned a few sips, then turned her head and discreetly spat the water into a handkerchief.

”I won’t drink anymore. You may leave. I’m tired and want to sleep!”

Lianlian was somewhat incredulous.

”My Lady, please drink some more!”

Honored Lady Lan shook her head.

”No more. You may go!”

Lianlian said no more and left with the teacup.

Watching her leave, Honored Lady Lan curled up alone beneath the covers.

Muffled sobs escaped her.

What should I do? What CAN I do? Molli, I’m so sorry!

Honored Lady Lan had grown suspicious.

This was not good news for Lady Xi.

Once again, she urged Lianlian.

”Hurry up! Pressure her to go to Xia Jieyu! Our ultimate goal is to eliminate Xia Jieyu!”

After thinking, Lianlian felt doubtful.

”But, My Lady! Honored Lady Lan is ill now, and no matter how I try to persuade her, she refuses to leave her chambers!”

Honored Lady Xi thought for a moment.

”Then have Xia Jieyu visit her! No matter what, ensure Honored Lady Lan has significant contact with her!”

As long as Honored Lady Lan and Xia Jieyu were in contact, wouldn’t Lianlian have her chance to act? Once she was addicted to that substance, there would be no breaking free! She’d have to obey my every command!

After considering, Lianlian agreed.

「Time flew, and April arrived.」

Honored Lady Lan’s health worsened.

She claimed illness to avoid paying respects at Jiaofang Hall.

The rare times Xia Ruqing saw her, her complexion was frighteningly ghastly, as if something had latched onto her soul.

Honored Lady Lan’s residence was now entirely under Lianlian’s control.

Honored Lady Lan had no choice but to obey Lianlian. Molli, in turn, was dismissed by Honored Lady Lan—under duress—and forbidden from even entering the room.

Honored Lady Lan had struggled; she had secretly and openly sent signals to Xia Jieyu several times, but they were ignored.

Wherever she went now, Lianlian would follow.

She couldn’t speak of forbidden matters, nor did she dare to!

And Lady Xi never visited again!

Lady Xi! Lady Xi! After all the time we’ve spent in the palace together, when have I ever treated you unfairly? And in the end, this is how you repay me! You actually want to harm me like this!