A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 397: Chapter 397: The Situation

She thought... It must be done more covertly, even more covertly. She absolutely could not let the Emperor find out—no, rather, she could not let anyone find out. Only by capturing the Emperor’s heart could she grasp everything!

Having thought this, Noble Concubine Shih’s smile turned even more sincere.

”You are now eating for two! How can you not eat a bit more?” Having said that, she personally opened the soup tureen.

Inside were tender pork ribs with corn, red dates, and kelp—all good things, perfect for a pregnant woman.

”Look, just this small tureen; it’s not much. You don’t need to eat the meat; just drinking the soup is fine!” With that, she instructed Zhaoer to fetch a bowl.

Zhaoer hesitated, looking at Honored Lady Shih. Honored Lady Shih glanced at Noble Concubine Shih, then back at Zhaoer and, seeing no other choice, nodded.

Noble Concubine Shih then laughed. ”Good sister, that’s more like it!”

Zhaoer fetched a bowl and poured out the pork rib soup. A rich aroma filled the room.

Honored Lady Shih drank an entire bowlful.

Noble Concubine Shih’s smile grew even more joyful. ”Good! That’s how it should be! Now that you’re pregnant, you need to eat more!” After speaking, she chatted with Honored Lady Shih for a while longer before getting up to leave.

Before leaving, she took Honored Lady Shih’s hand and repeatedly urged her, ”Rest well. Just lie down and sleep; no need to get up!” After saying this, she left.

Honored Lady Shih, inclining her body slightly as a courtesy, watched Noble Concubine Shih’s retreating figure, feeling even more puzzled. She muttered to herself, ”Why is it that every time Noble Concubine Shih visits, she insists on filling me with soup and forbids me from getting out of bed? The Imperial Kitchen is also a bit strange. I clearly want to eat something light, but the meals they send are always either too greasy or too sweet!”

In fact, I don’t even like sweets or greasy food! These things, Honored Lady Shih simply couldn’t figure out.

Soon after, she fell asleep on the bed, partly because pregnant women are indeed prone to drowsiness, and partly because her body had grown quite weak.

When the Imperial Physician had visited, he advised her to move more and eat less. She was also trying hard to control herself from eating too much. Yet, Noble Concubine Shih would send various tonics every few days. Not only would she send them, but she would also insist on watching Honored Lady Shih consume them. Honored Lady Shih had no choice!

She previously felt that Noble Concubine Shih was truly kind to her. Now, why did it feel like such excessive kindness was becoming uncomfortable?

Xia Jieyu gave birth to the Crown Prince and thereafter rose to the rank of Consort Xian Pin.

Although the concubines were jealous, none dared to show their bitterness. What qualification did they have? After all, she had borne the Emperor a Prince. Everyone knew the Emperor had always cherished her. Now, with a Prince, her status was even more secure.

Thus, the newly appointed Consort Xian Pin became, for a time, unrivaled in prominence within the Harem. This prompted the lesser Honored Ladies to visit Qingya Residence one after another, under the pretext of seeing the Prince. Even though Consort Xian Pin was still in her confinement period and did not readily meet guests, still... making one’s presence known was also good!

「And...」

Next door at Lijing Pavilion, things were much quieter.

Honored Lady Jiang remained as she was, her life neither particularly good nor bad. Currently, the Empress lacked the means to get her into the Emperor’s bed.

However, once such a thorn was embedded, it could never be removed. Who knew when that thorn might become inflamed, swelling and festering with pus.

Hua Cha looked worriedly at Honored Lady Jiang, who had been sitting in a daze in the draft for a long time. ”My Lady, we should go back to the room. You’ll catch a chill sitting here!”

It would soon be November, and snow could fall any day. Honored Lady Jiang glanced at her and smiled. ”Hua Cha, what do you think... if I hadn’t entered the palace, what would my life be like now?”

Hua Cha’s expression changed drastically. ”My Lady, why are you still dwelling on this?!”

Honored Lady Jiang hadn’t really expected Hua Cha to provide an answer. She smiled faintly and turned her head away. She sat for a while longer before getting up.

”Let’s go. Let’s go inside; it’s really cold out here!”

Only then did Hua Cha smile. ”Yes!”

”Tonight, I will go to the Imperial Kitchen and get you a tureen of ginseng chicken soup! As winter approaches, it’s time for nourishing foods!”

Honored Lady Jiang frowned. ”I don’t want ginseng chicken soup; it’s too greasy. Just bring me a tureen of silver ear mushroom soup instead!”

Hua Cha quickly agreed, ”Yes!”

Hua Cha felt relieved. Her mistress still had an appetite for something—that was good, very good! It wasn’t as if she looked like she wanted to die at any moment. In this, Hua Cha found contentment.

By evening, Hua Cha indeed returned with a steaming tureen of silver ear mushroom soup. The other dishes included stir-fried cabbage with pork and dried vegetables with diced chicken. They weren’t considered fine cuisine, but Honored Lady Jiang did not disdain them. She ate a little of each dish and drank the silver ear mushroom soup. She didn’t eat much of the other food but finished most of the soup.

Hua Cha felt even more reassured. Her mistress had eaten quite a bit!

After dinner, the air was chilly. Though the charcoal basin was lit, it didn’t provide much warmth, and the room remained cold. Honored Lady Jiang went to bed early.

Honored Lady Jiang and Honored Lady Shih were both new to the palace. One was managed by the Empress and currently lived a passable life. The other was under Noble Concubine Shih’s control, pregnant, and though her life wasn’t bad, she lacked autonomy.

The rest were hardly worth mentioning; their lives were not good at all.

The Empress focused solely on solidifying her own position and suppressing Noble Concubine Shih, completely forgetting the other people in the Harem! The Honored Ladies who weren’t favored were neglected by everyone and couldn’t curry favor with anyone. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Imperial Kitchen gradually began to slight them as well. With so many mistresses in the palace, officials naturally attended to the most important ones. Those of lesser importance? They were pushed aside!

These unfavored Honored Ladies wanted to climb the ranks, but lacking any connections, they buzzed around aimlessly like headless flies. If they saw someone serve the Emperor one day, they would flock to her to learn her secrets. If they noticed another being summoned by the Emperor the next, they would hurry to curry favor with her.

In short, they too longed for favor! Consort Xian Pin, now a figure of high standing, had ascended from her humble beginnings as a mere Lady, hadn’t she? It had taken her a total of just two years. From a modest Lady, she had become a winner in the Harem, bearing the Emperor a son and gaining his affection.

So, after Consort Xian Pin gave birth to the imperial heir, she suddenly became their model! If a mere Lady could achieve such a noble and respected status, then surely they, as Honored Ladies, could too!

Honored Lady Du was the most confident among this group because she possessed one unique distinction: she was the only woman the Emperor himself had chosen to enter the palace.

The Emperor had chosen her over others for a reason. He must have liked her, even if just a little. That surely made her better than the others, didn’t it?

Honored Lady Du lay in bed, clutching the child-bearing Guanyin statuette her mother had given her when she entered the palace. Lost in her thoughts, she sighed. Initially, she had wanted to present the child-bearing Guanyin statuette as a congratulatory gift; it was the only presentable thing she had left. But... sigh... At first, I wanted to give it to Xia Jieyu, but she didn’t want it! Now... she’s Consort Xian Pin. How could I possibly offer it to her now?!

”Ding Xiang...”

Ding Xiang entered with tea. ”What’s the matter, My Lady?”

Honored Lady Du sighed deeply. ”When will I ever be able to have a child!”

Ding Xiang paused, considering this.