A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 511: Chapter 511 Bai Fang Pavilion’s Wine Play

The suggestion to go drinking garnered unanimous approval.

So the question arose: where to drink?

They couldn’t possibly go to a brothel just for carnal pleasures. But at this hour, all the good taverns were nearly closed.

There was only... the brothel itself left as an option for a late drink.

Xia Tingfeng didn’t think twice. He led them towards Bai Fang Pavilion.

Rat and the others didn’t feel it was their place to comment.

Alright then, this time it would surely be ’plain’ again.

He guessed Big Brother probably hadn’t even considered the ’fancy’ versus ’plain’ aspect of it.

Anyway, wherever he drank, it was always a ’plain’ affair for him.

The main difference was that Bai Fang Pavilion had more singing girls.

Perhaps Big Brother had specifically chosen a place with singing girls to entertain Miss Ye.

He never considered that Miss Ye, being a young lady, might warrant a more decorous setting.

Walking the entire way, Rat became utterly certain.

Big Brother really treats Miss Ye like one of the guys, like a true bro!

Fortunately, Miss Ye was open and honest. Otherwise, if she were any more sensitive, she would have certainly turned on her heel and left!

COUGH, COUGH! What in the world am I thinking! Rat shook his head to clear it.

They arrived at Bai Fang Pavilion, entered, asked for the best room, and requested the finest singing girls.

They feasted on large chunks of meat and downed bowls of liquor, celebrating noisily all night long—but let’s not dwell on that.

「In the palace.」

Having returned from The Summer Resort and taken two days of rest, the Harem finally settled back into its rhythm.

Everyone, having followed the Emperor on the trip, felt more at ease and were much more content at heart.

Meeting again, the ladies of the various palaces had far fewer barbs to show. There was, after all, a sense of harmony.

The Empress took even greater care of the Little Princess, who had been sickly. The princess, once so frail they were hesitant to even hold her, had gained nearly a pound.

Previously thin and small, the baby now had some chubbiness in her cheeks and was gradually developing some baby fat. Her large eyes no longer seemed so prominent, nor did her large head, making her appearance much more harmonious.

The Empress was very pleased, carefully holding the princess and saying, ”My constant vigilance, day and night, has not been in vain!”

Sister Ji came forward to offer congratulations, ”Noble Concubine Shih had cared for her for five months, and she had scarcely gained any weight. But under Your Majesty’s care for less than a month, she has plumped up a bit!

”The Emperor himself is pleased to see it!”

The Empress just smiled, ”She is the Emperor’s own flesh and blood—how could I not cherish her!”

This child represents all my chances to turn things around. If I can take good care of the child, I might win back the Emperor’s heart and defeat Noble Concubine Shih in one fell swoop. For so many years, I have been suppressed by her; finally, I am going to have my moment to breathe freely.

”When Noble Concubine Shih first entered the palace, how favored and glorious she was!”

”But now... isn’t she just as despised by the Emperor? Locked away to reflect, with no specified term!”

”This just shows that in the Harem, favor isn’t the most important thing; status and offspring are what truly count!”

Sister Ji quickly agreed. ”Indeed, both Master Taizong and the Great Ancestor had highly favored consorts, didn’t they? Not one of them met a good end, though!”

”Ultimately, it is the Empress who lies beside the Emperor in death and receives the ancestral rites from future generations.

”One never sees a concubine overstepping her rightful place!”

The more the Empress heard, the happier she became.

She put down the Little Princess and went into the inner chamber.

”From now on, things will improve! I’ve come to terms with it!

”I will just focus on nurturing the Little Princess, and in my free time, I’ll copy scriptures to calm my heart.

”The Emperor... he will come eventually!”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have entrusted the Little Princess to me, would he? The Emperor acknowledges me; he will not depose me!

After such a long period of confusion, the Empress was finally beginning to understand. She smiled bitterly. ”How foolish I was before!”

Sister Ji bowed her head, not daring to say anything more. She certainly couldn’t just affirm, ’Yes, Your Majesty, you were indeed foolish.’

When the Empress is content, the Harem tends to be peaceful. But a Harem without any trouble can hardly be called a Harem.

Now that the Emperor had returned, Noble Concubine Shih was unwilling to remain silent in her obscurity. She had pondered for a long time but still couldn’t understand.

Why had Cousin suddenly become so heartless? What was the reason? It wasn’t as if my past foolish deeds were few. Why, this time alone, was he so unforgiving?

His ruthlessness was like an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, leaving her unable to even cry. She had orchestrated Lady Wang’s death merely to attract her Cousin’s attention.

Even if it meant having someone come to interrogate her, or even being thrown into the Punishment Department for rigorous questioning. At least then, she could have played the victim.

But now, her Cousin showed no reaction whatsoever. It was as if he were completely unaware of Lady Wang’s death.

In fact, she even wondered.

Had Cousin completely forgotten about me? Indeed, he has sons and daughters, a Harem full of beauties. What did I count for in comparison?

Ying Qiu brought in a bowl of soup. Seeing Noble Concubine Shih’s continuous dejection, she advised, ”Your Majesty, you haven’t eaten anything for almost a day. How can your body endure this?”

Noble Concubine Shih gave a cold laugh, ”It doesn’t matter. It would be better if I died!”

Hearing this, Ying Qiu suddenly knelt down. ”Your Majesty, please don’t say such things!”

”As the saying goes, ’While there are green hills, there’ll be wood to burn.’ We must pull ourselves together!”

Noble Concubine Shih’s eyes blurred with tears, yet she forced another cold laugh, ”Green hills? Where are there any green hills left for me?”

”Heaven gave me a verdant mountain, but I myself turned it into a barren wasteland! It’s gone, all gone!”

Ying Yue truly didn’t know how to console her. After a moment’s thought, she said, ”Your Majesty, why not... go and admit your mistakes to the Emperor?”

”If you admit your mistakes and sincerely mend your ways, the Emperor will surely recall your past affections!”

Noble Concubine Shih looked out at the gradually darkening sky. She gave a self-mocking smile. ”Do you think I can even get out?”

Ying Qiu said, ”Your Majesty, the Emperor ordered you to face the wall and reflect. Since you acknowledge your mistakes, you naturally should repent...

”Even if you cannot go out, we can still submit a memorial!”

Noble Concubine Shih, ultimately not ready to give up all hope, felt her eyes brighten for a moment. ”Submit a memorial? Would that work?”

Ying Qiu was quite pleased with her own resourcefulness. She nodded. ”Of course, it will be useful. Your Majesty, please write it, and your servant will deliver it for you.”

We can only try anything at this point, like trying to save a dead horse as if it were alive. What else can be done?

Noble Concubine Shih got up and drank half a bowl of soup.

Then Ying Yue lit the lamp and ground the ink. Noble Concubine Shih spread the paper and, taking up her brush, began to write.

Noble Concubine Shih was born a lady of high birth, raised since childhood to the exacting standards of a Crown Princess Consort. She was well-read and proficient in zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting. Writing an apology letter was certainly not difficult for her.

After some thought, she began to write. The characters were graceful and neat. Her wording was earnest, her language elegant, weaving in classical allusions with ease. Her emotions flowed onto the paper, as poignant as a whispered lament.

As she wrote, she began to cry. Tear after tear fell onto the letter, causing the ink to blur and spread.

Any man, no matter how iron-hearted, would be moved by such a letter. Moreover, the writer was his childhood sweetheart, the cousin with whom he had grown up, sharing an innocent bond!

Noble Concubine Shih, wiping her tears, sealed the letter filled with hope and handed it to Ying Qiu.

Then she lay on her bed, staring desolately at the canopy.

Another sleepless night ensued.

「The next morning, Zhao Junyao returned from the Great Hall after the morning court session.」