A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 429: Chapter 429: Complete Subversion

At first glance, He’s merely a handsome man, she thought.

The proud and aloof Honored Lady Jiang paid him no attention whatsoever.

On closer inspection, the Emperor’s serious and earnest demeanor is actually quite pleasing to the eye. But he has three thousand beauties in his Harem. He can’t be a devoted husband to me, let alone understand me implicitly.

Therefore, deep down, Honored Lady Jiang remained unshaken.

What I long for is the kind of devoted love between couples I read about in books. As long as I find someone whose heart resonates with mine, even if it means farming in the countryside or living a life of simple meals, what’s wrong with that? Now, I’ve become a caged canary. Even if I’m draped in silk and fed on jade, what’s the point? It’s just a pity... I can never break free from my fate!

So, she had become completely disheartened.

Be favored then! I can’t preserve my purity, but I can’t just die either. Those who made me unhappy are still living well, so why should I be the one to die! Honored Lady Jiang felt aggrieved.

Zhao Junyao was absorbed in his book and didn’t notice her gaze at all. Why should I care for a woman I don’t like?

Time trickled by, and Hai Hour soon arrived.

Li Shengan came in to remind him. ”Emperor, it’s time to rest!”

Zhao Junyao didn’t answer; he simply put down the book and stood up. Following that, a group of well-practiced Palace Attendants entered. They attended to the Emperor in the cleansing chamber, helping him bathe, change clothes, and wash up.

Honored Lady Jiang had already bathed and dressed. She stood to the side, somewhat at a loss.

Li Shengan then approached her. ”Honored Lady, there’s no need for concern. Your services are not required here. Please come with this old servant!”

With that, attendants briefly helped Honored Lady Jiang with a simple wash and grooming, and then... escorted her to the imperial bed.

The Emperor had not yet returned. She sat on the imperial bed, trembling with fear. My heart feels like it’s filled with a nest of bunnies, thumping nonstop. My hands and feet are shaking. Is it fear or nervousness? My mind is a complete blank.

As she was feeling apprehensive, Zhao Junyao entered. He had just bathed and was wearing his bathrobe loosely, his chest muscles partially exposed, glistening like honey in the candlelight.

If it were any other woman, she would have been blushing with embarrassment by now. But for Honored Lady Jiang, a single glance turned her face deathly pale.

Though the Emperor looks good all over, but... but... I’m so scared. The nannies taught me, but I was too shy and didn’t listen much back then. Now, in this situation... what am I to do?

Zhao Junyao, for his part, didn’t think much of it and slowly walked over to sit down on the other side of the imperial bed. With his half-dry hair trailing behind him, he squinted slightly, his entire demeanor noble yet languid.

If it were any other woman at this time, she would be taking a cotton cloth to gently dry the Emperor’s hair, murmuring sweet nothings, all coy and shy. And naturally, one thing would lead to another... COUGH, COUGH!

But Honored Lady Jiang shuddered and shifted to the other side, trying to put more distance between herself and the Emperor.

Zhao Junyao... still failed to notice anything amiss. Or rather, such a possibility had never crossed his mind. He had never encountered a woman who was unwilling to serve him. Therefore, even though Honored Lady Jiang’s complexion wasn’t good, he simply attributed it to the nervousness of a first-time consort and gave it no further thought. She’s probably just nervous because it’s her first time. Nothing more.

So, when they ultimately lay together on the same bed, Zhao Junyao noticed her deathly pale face and her limbs trembling exceedingly.

He finally realized, albeit belatedly. This woman... she probably doesn’t want to be here, does she? Truth be told, I didn’t intend to do anything to her anyway. Summoning her to serve me was merely to give the Empress face; I’m not that desperate. To casually summon a woman for the night, regardless of whether I find her pleasing or not... if I were like that, I wouldn’t be me.

Zhao Junyao coldly watched her, a sneer forming on his lips. ”If you are unwilling, I will have Li Shengan escort you back,” he said and rose from the bed.

Honored Lady Jiang saw the situation turning dire and immediately followed suit, kneeling down, her voice tinged with panic. ”Emperor...”

If I go back just like this, the Empress will surely not make things easy for me. Who knows what tactics she’ll devise to torment me. But... I can’t bring myself to say I’m willing.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Honored Lady Jiang knelt there, at a loss for what to do.

Zhao Junyao then sneered deliberately. ”How strange. If you are unwilling, yet you don’t leave, what does that mean?”

By rights, this was grave disrespect. It was fortunate that Zhao Junyao was generally lenient towards women and didn’t make a big deal out of it. With some hot-tempered emperors, it wouldn’t have been impossible for her to be dragged out and beheaded on the spot.

Kneeling on the ground, Honored Lady Jiang bit her lip and, going against her conscience, finally squeezed out a few words. ”Emperor, you’ve misunderstood. This concubine is not unwilling; it is just that... it’s my first time, and I am overly nervous!”

Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes, his gaze as icy as a sword as he looked at her. After what felt like an eternity, his thin lips finally parted slightly. ”Rise!”

Honored Lady Jiang felt as if she had received a grand pardon. After expressing her gratitude, when she got up from the ground, the clothing on her back was already soaked through.

My pride, my aloofness, my purity... in the face of life and death, they’ve all shattered to pieces. Did I really have such strong resolve? Now it seems, perhaps not!

Although he did not favor her, Zhao Junyao still left her with a shred of dignity.

「The next morning at dawn, Honored Lady Jiang was escorted out of Zhaochen Palace in accordance with the rules.」

It was only the fourth watch of the night when she returned to Lijing Pavilion. Outside, it was pitch dark. The palace was quiet as well, with all things asleep. Yet, she lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. My mind is in complete turmoil. My entire inner world has been thoroughly overturned. I even began to hate myself.

I had thought I would be like the ladies in the books, determined to defend my inner purity to the death, ready to give my life at any moment for my beloved. But it was only upon arriving at Zhaochen Palace that I realized... in front of a man who could crush me at any moment, I became so timid, cowardly, and impotent! My so-called pride and aloofness turned out to be nothing but self-delusion! All of it was laughably naive! What on earth am I doing!

Honored Lady Jiang racked her brain, but she couldn’t find an answer.

Dawn gradually broke, and daylight seeped through the windows from outside; it was clear it would be another sunny day. It was now the second month, and the weather was not so cold anymore.

When it was time, Hua Cha came in to wake her. ”My Lady, it’s time to rise! You served in the Emperor’s chamber last night; today you must go to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress!”

Even if the Empress claims illness and doesn’t attend to affairs, she is still the Empress, Hua Cha thought. Besides... wasn’t it Her Majesty the Empress who promoted My Lady to favor?

Honored Lady Jiang got up, her face pale. ”I know.”

Seeing her master’s wan and haggard face, Hua Cha paused, then gave a smile but said no more. They say all the masters feel this way after their first service; it’s never easy. How many more times will it take for it to be okay?

Thinking this, Hua Cha became even more considerate. ”My Lady, lie down for a little while longer. I will bring you some hot tea. Have something to eat before going; there’s no rush.” Going on an empty stomach will only make her complexion look worse.

Honored Lady Jiang gave a bitter smile but said nothing more.

What can I say? That I wasn’t actually favored last night? Or that I almost angered the Emperor and was nearly executed?