A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 328: Chapter 328: The Emperor... Is He Really That Angry?

But now she was dead, and it was a difficult situation to explain!

After thinking for quite a while, Xiao Chengzi fetched some water, cleaned the blood off her head, and then found a rope to hang her from the beam, making it look like a suicide. Afterwards, Xiao Chengzi reported that Lady Zhou, unable to bear the blow, had hanged herself to death!

This news didn’t even cause a ripple in the Harem. Ha! Who would care about something that happened in the Cold Palace? Noble Concubine Shih would rather she were dead, and as for the Empress, she wouldn’t bother with matters that brought her no credit. Having been cast into the Cold Palace, it was none of their concern if she died; what was there to fuss about!

A living, breathing life had been extinguished just like that.

When Xia Ruqing found out, she let out a cold laugh and a sigh.

”This is the Harem! In this place, conscience is just a pile of dog shit!”

”How could I dare not fight?”

If I hadn’t fought, I would have been hanging there already. Of course, as someone who treasures her own life, I would never let myself be placed in such a predicament!

After the incident, Noble Concubine Shih was quite pleased with herself. Those Honored Ladies who wanted to rise in the Empress’s favor now had to weigh whether they could afford to offend a Noble Consort like her. For a time, no one dared to visit Jiaofang Hall.

The Empress was somewhat annoyed. ”Noble Concubine Shih is going a bit too far! Just because she now has Lady Shih, she wants to block my path?” Those Honored Ladies were her hope! She was just waiting for one of them to bear a child she could raise. Now, with Noble Concubine Shih’s obstruction, no one dared to come!

Yu Lan, while fanning her, comforted her, ”Luckily, Your Majesty is wise. This batch of Honored Ladies doesn’t have many living on the western side; most of them are on our eastern side.”

The Empress nodded. ”That’s right, no matter how long her arms are, she can’t stretch them this far, can she!”

She sighed. ”Never mind. The military examination is in a few days, and the Emperor is busy. Keep an eye on the Harem and prevent any disturbances that would displease the Emperor!”

Yu Lan smiled and agreed.

The matter concerning Lady Zhou didn’t stir up much, and it passed just like that.

Two days later, explosive news spread throughout the palace, completely washing away her incident, leaving it utterly forgotten, sunk into the sea. The explosive news was that Lady Shih had been diagnosed as being one month pregnant. The moment the news broke out, it left all the women in the Harem in a dizzying frenzy.

Xia Ruqing learned of the news after waking from her afternoon nap. She was so excited she almost cried. Oh heavens, at last someone else has come to take the hits for me. Bearing a child alone, I felt like I was being roasted on a fire, never knowing when I would fall and be burned to death. Now, at last, another is here. Good, very good!

Zi Yue, on the other hand, was somewhat worried. ”My Lady, Lady Shih’s child will surely be raised by Noble Concubine Shih! After being oppressed for so long, if the Noble Consort rises again, I’m afraid...” I’m afraid trouble will follow!

Xia Ruqing laughed coldly. ”Even when she’s down, hasn’t she just made trouble?” Don’t think that because she killed Lady Zhou, I’m foolish enough to believe that Lady Zhou was pretending to be a ghost to scare me! Noble Concubine Shih is quite skilled at this ’killing two birds with one stone’ drama, isn’t she? It not only intimidated me but also served as a warning to the Honored Ladies, deterring them from seeking favor with the Empress. Heh...

Zi Yue thought about it and agreed.

Xia Ruqing sneered again. ”Moreover, Noble Concubine Shih having a child is the Empress’s biggest concern! When that time comes, whether it’s Noble Concubine Shih, the Empress, or anyone else, they will all turn their attention to Lady Shih’s belly! And I will be safer here!”

Zi Yue was still worried. ”But what about the Emperor?”

Xia Ruqing looked at her and smiled. ”Are you afraid Lady Shih will rise in favor?” Thinking about it, she sneered. ”Stop joking! He was framed by his own mother, taken to bed with a woman while drunk, and now there’s even a child from it. The Emperor must be utterly disgusted. To think she could still be favored after that! She can go cool off wherever she pleases. Although my mind isn’t as sharp as Zhao Junyao’s, I’ve figured this much out!”

With this realization, Zi Yue chuckled. ”Exactly so! My Lady is indeed wise!”

Xia Ruqing waved her hand dismissively. ”What wisdom? The Emperor belongs to the whole world, to the entire Harem; he can’t possibly rely on me alone for children! The Emperor is bound to have other children, so it doesn’t matter who bears them!”

Seeing her say this, Zi Yue hurriedly advised, ”You mustn’t think like that, My Lady. The Emperor’s fondness for you is known throughout the Harem! There’s no other lady whom the Emperor holds so close to his heart and keeps in his thoughts!”

Xia Ruqing lifted her head and smiled. ”I’m well aware of that!” It wasn’t as if she couldn’t accept it; after being in the palace for so long, she was used to it. This was how things were in ancient times. She couldn’t very well throw a tantrum and demand the Emperor disband the Harem. She’d likely be accused by the Ministers of being a femme fatale and driven out of the palace, or even drowned in a pig cage, before she could even start making a fuss. Valuing her life as she did, of course, she wouldn’t do anything foolish.

「Zhaochen Palace」

Zhao Junyao had also received the news. His face turned dark as he immediately summoned the Imperial Physician who had taken the pulse. With a cold expression and a voice like an ice blade, he asked, ”Are you sure? Is she really with child?”

The Imperial Physician was so scared he almost wet his pants, stuttering incoherently. If I say yes? The Emperor looks like he’ll chop my head off. If I say no? The Empress will have my head for ’deceiving the monarch.’ Oh, for crying out loud! Why am I so unlucky to be caught up in this mess!

Seeing that he didn’t answer, Zhao Junyao’s anger intensified. ”Is she or isn’t she? Have you gone mute?”

The Imperial Physician trembled and, holding back his need to urinate, stammered, ”Your Majesty, yes!”

Zhao Junyao felt as if someone had scraped his heart with an ice blade. His chest was filled with anger and humiliation! To have someone climb into my bed and get pregnant on the first try—what are the odds?! If it weren’t for her pregnancy, I’d almost forgotten about that incident. Now I remember it all too clearly, and this shameful memory will haunt me for the rest of my life! Damn it!

Zhao Junyao slammed his fist on the imperial desk!

Li Shengan hurriedly came forward to console him. ”Your Majesty, please calm your anger! This... this, no matter what, the child is innocent!”

His words only made Zhao Junyao even angrier. ”Innocent?!”

Li Shengan’s heart tightened, and he quickly knelt and slapped his own face. ”Ouch! This servant misspoke! This servant knows his guilt! Please, Your Majesty, calm your anger!”

Zhao Junyao was so frustrated he roared, ”Get out!”

Li Shengan scurried out as fast as he could.

No sooner had he left than Little Zhuzi came trotting up timidly. ”Master? Is the Emperor pleased? Will he ask for the keys to unlock the treasury for rewards?” According to tradition, it was time for rewards. When Xia Jieyu was pregnant, the Emperor was so overjoyed that the rewards poured into Qingya Residence like a river. This time, although it might not be as much as Xia Jieyu’s, there should still be some, right?

Li Shengan spat at him. ”Pah! You’d better grow some sense! What rewards? Just withdraw for now!”

After saying this, he hurried on his way.

Little Zhuzi was a bit confused. The Emperor... is really that angry, huh!

Li Shengan turned around and said,