A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 475: Chapter 477: A Great Commotion

”My father was also a hunter, and originally our family lived here,” Ye Tang began. ”But... my mother died young, and a few years ago, my father also passed away. So now, it’s just me alone here!”

”Oh no, that’s not right. Half a month ago, I also saved someone...” Ye Tang suddenly remembered. ”Oh dear!”

She hurriedly ladled some porridge and rushed into one of the three small cottages.

A good while later, she finally came out again, closing the door behind her.

As she walked, she muttered to herself. What was happening these days? In one month, she had saved three people!

Arriving by the stone table in the yard, Ye Tang gave an apologetic smile.

”Miss Ni, Miss Dong’er, I’m sorry. I... saved someone half a month ago, and he’s been unconscious for half a month! I was away all day today, and I was afraid he would starve, so I fed him some porridge!”

Dong’er nodded, just about to say it was okay when she suddenly froze.

”Half a month?”

As she turned her head, Miss Ni also froze.

”Saved a person?”

The maid and mistress exclaimed in unison.

”Miss Ye, is it... is it a man?” Dong’er asked.

Ye Tang was a bit startled, then laughed. ”Yes, how did you know!”

Ni Manxue didn’t answer her but asked even more urgently, ”Then, is he a young man? Handsome?” As she finished speaking, her expression became a little unnatural.

Ye Tang didn’t notice much. She hesitated, then recalled and said, ”Oh, he is quite good-looking. It’s just... his injuries were too severe. If he hadn’t been discovered in time, he almost would have lost his life!”

Before she could finish, Ni Manxue ran out. Although she had gone so long without food and had hardly any strength left, she still ran like the wind.

”Miss!” Dong’er called out and chased after her.

Ye Tang watched the two of them, completely bewildered. What in the world is going on? Could it be they know him?

Thinking this, she too put down her bowl and chopsticks and chased after them.

Ni Manxue stood at the doorway, tears in her eyes, her trembling hands slowly pushing open the dilapidated door. She was somewhat hopeful, yet afraid to look.

After a long while, she took a deep breath and stepped inside.

With just one step and a glance, she recognized him.

”It’s him...”

”It really is him...”

Before she could finish, darkness fell before her eyes, and she fainted.

”Miss!” cried Dong’er.

”Miss Ni!” exclaimed Ye Tang.

Dong’er and Ye Tang hurriedly stepped forward to support her.

”Let’s go! We’ll take her back to the room first!” Ye Tang said.

”Okay!” Dong’er agreed, having no time for other concerns.

Together, they helped Miss Ni to another room and laid her down. The two took care of her, cleaning her up, changing her clothes, and feeding her some porridge before leaving.

That night, everyone was quite tired. After eating a bit, they all went to rest.

Early the next morning, Ye Tang woke up bright and early. Dong’er woke up too, and the two of them started splitting firewood, boiling water, and cooking.

Having found Young Master Xia, Dong’er was overjoyed. She thanked Ye Tang again and again, bowing repeatedly. ”If it weren’t for Miss Ye, Young Master Xia might have... Others might not understand, but our mistress wouldn’t have survived!”

Ye Tang was a bit puzzled. ”What do you mean by that?”

Dong’er glanced toward the room and then whispered mysteriously, ”They... are already betrothed.”

Ye Tang froze for a good while before it sank in. She slapped her forehead. ”How did I not think of it! No wonder. I was wondering why you two young ladies came into the mountains. Turns out it’s a lover searching for her intended!”

Ye Tang said happily, ”They say saving one life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. Here, I didn’t just save a life; I saved a marriage!”

”It’s three lives, actually. Miss Ye saved me and my young lady too!” Dong’er hurriedly corrected. ”If Miss Ye hadn’t come to our rescue, we’d have been eaten by the Tiger long ago!”

Ye Tang smiled and said calmly, ”That vicious Tiger has injured quite a few people around here. Even if you hadn’t shown up, I would have slain it all the same!”

Dong’er saw her speak with such confidence, possessing an air even more dashing than a man’s, and blushed. She praised aloud, ”Miss Ye is so brave,” but her heart harbored a secret lament: Why did she also have to be a woman?!

Ye Tang didn’t take much notice and simply laughed with joy upon hearing the praise. ”HAHAHA...”

In the sunlight, she laughed, as radiant and bright as a sunflower.

Dong’er joined in the laughter. ”Miss Ye has such a kind heart; surely, you must have saved many lives before!”

Ye Tang stopped laughing, dusted off her palms, and said, ”I’m a hunter; I’ve also killed many animals! So when I save people, consider it my way to... atone? I just hope I don’t go to hell when I die. And if I do, I hope it’s not the eighteenth level, and definitely spare me from being fried in oil!”

This frank and humorous joke made both of them burst into laughter.

”Miss Ye, you really have a way with jokes!” Dong’er said. ”With your kind heart, you’re going to be taken up by the Queen Mother to become an immortal!”

Ye Tang, tickled by the comment, pointed at Dong’er. ”You’re even better at joking than I am! Talking about becoming an immortal, HAHA...”

The two bantered back and forth lightheartedly.

Amidst their talk and laughter, breakfast was ready, and the Tiger Ye Tang had hunted the day before was also processed. The two then went to Miss Ni’s room.

Dong’er was still somewhat worried. ”Is the young lady really just faint from hunger?”

Ye Tang nodded.

As they entered, they saw that Miss Ni had indeed woken up and was wiping away tears.

Ye Tang said, ”See, didn’t I tell you!”

Dong’er breathed a sigh of relief. ”Miss, come and have some food!”

Xia Tingfeng was found. But he had sustained severe injuries and was still unconscious. His condition was unstable, making it impossible to move him.

Miss Ni and Dong’er stayed there for a full four days. It wasn’t until the fifth day that Xia Tingfeng’s condition finally stabilized.

Ye Tang then left the woods to hire a carriage to send them off.

Before they departed, Ni Manxue suddenly knelt before Ye Tang. ”Miss Ye, I owe you a debt of gratitude that I cannot repay! Please accept this bow from Manxue! Though we part today, I shall find a way to thank you generously in the future!”

Ye Tang quickly stepped forward to help her up. ”Please stand up, Miss Ni. It was just a small effort on my part; there’s really no need for this!”

Miss Ni still insisted on bowing three times. Before leaving, she also earnestly said, ”Take care of yourself, Miss Ye!”

Ye Tang smiled too. ”You take care too, Miss Ni! And remember, when you get married, you mustn’t forget to invite me for a cup of wedding wine!”

Miss Ni’s face instantly flushed red, but she still nodded. ”I will!”

And with that, she boarded the carriage.

「They returned to the capital.」

Commander Xia had returned! Miss Ni had found him and brought him back!

The news reached the palace immediately.

At that very moment, Zhao Junyao was absent-mindedly reviewing documents. His mind was tangled with whether or not to tell Qingqing, and how to break the news to her with the least hurt, instead of alarming her.

Despite pondering over and over, he couldn’t think of a good solution.

Instead, what awaited him was... extraordinarily good news?

”He’s back? Is he still alive?”