A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 435: Chapter 435: ”Apologize?

Noble Concubine Shih’s heart was struck with terror, and she quickly knelt down.

”I dare not! I haven’t slept well all night, and I feel so guilty!”

In the end, coming from the same family, she ultimately couldn’t afford to break completely with the Empress Dowager. Moreover, she couldn’t overpower the Empress Dowager, so after much thought, the only option was to submit.

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly.

”Guilty?”

Noble Concubine Shih buried her head even lower.

”Mother, I was momentarily clouded by folly and made a grave mistake, almost harming my sister and the child!”

”I know my error!”

Noble Concubine Shih finished speaking and then deeply kowtowed. Her eyes were slightly reddened, her attitude sincere, and indeed she looked haggard from not having slept well the night before. To look at her was to see the very image of true remorse.

The Empress Dowager didn’t quite believe her, yet, in the end, she also had no choice, for they were, indeed, one and the same.

After drinking the porridge, Sister Qing brought over the medicine.

Noble Concubine Shih scrambled to her feet and hurriedly took the medicine.

”Sister, let me do it. I feel truly guilty that Mother is ill. Allow me to show some filial piety!”

Noble Concubine Shih looked earnestly at the Empress Dowager.

Sister Qing didn’t dare to give it to her lightly, also looking to the Empress Dowager.

After a long while, the Empress Dowager finally sighed and nodded.

Noble Concubine Shih was overjoyed. The Empress Dowager had... forgiven her!

Sister Qing didn’t say much more. She simply handed over the medicine bowl and then led the palace attendants out. After all, there were things the aunt and niece needed to discuss.

That day, Noble Concubine Shih didn’t leave Ningshou Palace until nearly noon. Her expression was relaxed, nothing like the panic and helplessness she had shown earlier that morning.

And the Empress Dowager, after taking her medicine, was attended by Sister Qing as she lay in bed.

”Empress Dowager, you’ve just taken your medicine. Please get some sleep!”

The Empress Dowager heaved a heavy sigh, grasping Sister Qing’s hand with a serious look on her face.

”SIGH!”

”Whether the child is a boy or a girl, as long as they are all right, I can rest easy and close my eyes for the final time! I won’t need to concern myself with those matters any longer!”

She had given her entire life to the Shih Family and didn’t want to see everything destroyed at the end. Therefore, this child must be well! This child was the testimony of her lifelong endurance.

Sister Qing’s eyes became red immediately.

”What nonsense are you speaking, Your Majesty? You are still young, with plenty of good times ahead of you that you have yet to enjoy!”

The Empress Dowager gave a bitter smile.

”Qingyun, I am fortunate to have you by my side; otherwise, I would indeed be utterly alone!”

Sister Qing tucked the Empress Dowager in properly.

”You’re tired. Try not to think too much, just get some good sleep!”

The Empress Dowager sighed inwardly and finally closed her eyes.

Noble Concubine Shih returned to Xifu Palace. She hadn’t yet had lunch.

Seeing her return, Ying Yue quickly had a meal brought and hurriedly set it up.

Noble Concubine Shih ate only a little. After eating, she quickly rinsed her mouth and felt tired.

”Your Majesty, you didn’t sleep well last night. Please have a good rest now!”

Noble Concubine Shih’s mind was at ease. She lay down, closed her eyes, and fell asleep, sleeping until evening, without further mention.

In the blink of an eye, the end of the second month arrived, and on the fair-weather days, there was already a hint of spring in the air. The ladies of the palace, eager and impatient, had changed into their spring attire. Swaying like willow branches in the wind, they tried to find fortuitous encounters with the Emperor in the Imperial Garden.

As Honored Lady Shih’s health improved, Noble Concubine Shih dared not meddle with her food and drink any longer. Regardless, everything would have to wait until after the child was born.

Honored Lady Jiang, with the Empress’s strong support, had her name marked twice more by the Emperor. But Zhao Junyao did not even spare her an additional glance; like the first time, he directly ordered someone to arrange for her to sleep elsewhere. He could grant them face, but he would not touch a woman whom he found displeasing!

That day, it was once again the time to collect one’s regular share from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The spices Hua Cha brought back were different from those usually used.

Before she could figure out why, a palace maid whom she did not recognize came seeking an audience, claiming to be from Xifu Palace.

Honored Lady Jiang felt a bit suspicious: Xifu Palace? She had no dealings with the Noble Consort.

Yet she could not refuse to meet her, so she said, ”Let her in!”

Hua Cha led the woman in.

The palace maid was named Ying Qiu. She was also one of the Noble Consort’s first-class palace maids, though she usually managed the various day-to-day affairs within the palace. She wasn’t one to accompany her mistress outside. Which is why many of the newly arrived honored ladies did not recognize her.

Upon entering, Ying Qiu was quick to perform a curtsey.

”Your servant Ying Qiu pays her respects to Honored Lady Jiang!”

Honored Lady Jiang quickly bade her rise.

”So it’s Lady Ying Qiu...”

A first-class palace maid serving the Noble Consort was prestigious and dignified; it was better for her as an honored lady not to provoke her!

As she spoke, she offered her a seat and called Hua Cha to serve tea.

Ying Qiu hurriedly objected. ”Honored Lady Jiang is too kind! Your servant has come today to apologize to you!”

Honored Lady Jiang was somewhat confused. ”Apologize?”

Ying Qiu didn’t beat around the bush and said directly, ”A batch of fine spices was delivered to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, originally intended for the lords outside at the various prince’s mansions! Our mistress, inexperienced as she was, mistakenly sent the spices to the harem! Upon realizing the great mistake, our mistress especially sent me to collect the spices back from each place!”

Honored Lady Jiang was even more perplexed. It was just spices. Even if they were sent incorrectly, it could not be said to have caused a great disaster, could it? What harm could using them incorrectly cause?

Seeing her dubious look, Ying Qiu explained smilingly, ”Honored Lady Jiang may not know, this batch of spices contains precious musk, which is meant for men to use; it is not good for us women to use it!”

Honored Lady Jiang suddenly realized. ”I see!”

As she spoke, she called Hua Cha to fetch the spices.

Yet her mind was pondering: It is said that using too much musk could lead to infertility, and she had no desire to become pregnant. Although she had not yet truly served the Emperor in bed, the future was uncertain. Anyway, she did not want to have children, so... keeping it might prove useful! But... In the palace, not wanting children was a grave sin! So how could she say it out loud?

Ying Qiu noticed her hesitation and her look of wanting to speak but stopping herself. She straightforwardly offered with a smile, ”Could it be that Honored Lady Jiang wishes to keep some?”

Seeing her intention revealed, Honored Lady Jiang’s expression turned awkward, and she could only offer a forced laugh. ”Since it is meant for the men outside the palace, how could we...”

Ying Qiu laughed. ”What’s the harm? Though the musk is present, the amount is small and it’s not used daily, it won’t really harm the body... Our mistress loves this scent; she kept a box and occasionally lights a little, just to enjoy the fragrance!”

Honored Lady Jiang’s face brightened up, and she hastily asked, ”Then... may I keep a box too?”

Ying Qiu smiled. ”Of course you can.”

That very day, Honored Lady Jiang indeed kept a box of the spices with musk.

But somehow... the Empress caught wind of it.

That night, the Empress sent Yu Lan over.

Honored Lady Jiang, who had already bathed, changed, and gone to bed, had to order someone to open the door again.

Yu Lan didn’t say much upon entering; after performing a curtsey, she got straight to the point, ”The Empress said that there was a mistake with the batch of spices distributed today, and hearing that you’ve kept a box, the Empress has sent this servant to retrieve it! The Empress also said... you are still young, Lady, it would be better not to touch such things, lest you harm your body and live to regret it!”