A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 514: Chapter 514: Life Isn’t Bad

”Do you really care about the Princess, or are you just putting on an act?”

The Empress smiled.

”Whether I am sincere is not for you to question!”

Having said that, the Empress walked toward the vast courtyard of Xifu Palace. She looked around in every direction, taking in the main hall and the side halls.

Eventually, she laughed and said, ”From now on, Xifu Palace will have only you, Sister! Indeed, it will be much quieter! Noble Consort, my sister, you should enjoy it thoroughly!”

Noble Consort Shih felt an indescribable rage inside. Her face turned pale, and her whole body shook.

”Empress, if it weren’t for you, my cousin wouldn’t have treated me like this! It’s all because of you, you malicious and poisonous woman!”

Upon hearing this, the Empress laughed instead of getting angry.

”Hahaha, I am the poisonous one? Weren’t you poisonous when you harmed Shih Jieyu? Besides, the relocation of Shih Jieyu was the Emperor’s idea; it has nothing to do with me! You say that I have harmed you, but you need evidence to back that claim; otherwise, it’s considered slander against me, a grave disrespect!”

Noble Consort Shih was speechless with fury.

”You!”

The Empress laughed again.

”Ah... I have been genuinely concerned about you, Sister, sending you medicine and food, but who knew that you would be so ungrateful! It truly saddens me!”

Having said that, she sighed to herself.

”Forget it! Yu Lan, leave the items here, and we won’t come to deliver anymore!”

Yu Lan bowed her head.

”Yes!”

She placed the items on the table beside the stone bench in the courtyard.

The Empress smiled contentedly and swept away with her entourage.

Noble Consort Shih was so angry that she smashed everything on the table—the food, the drink, and the medicinal herbs—into smithereens!

”Slut! Slut!”

Ying Qiu dared not console her, kneeling to one side in fear, saying nothing.

「...」

The next day, when Shih Jieyu was about to move out, she came to bid farewell.

Noble Consort Shih refused to even see her. Behind the inner chamber’s curtain, she shattered teacups into the air.

”Get out! Get out of here!”

Shih Jieyu didn’t dare to dodge, allowing the shards of porcelain to scatter in front of her. Occasionally, sharp fragments flew onto her, sharp enough to leave cuts.

By the time she left the main hall, her knees were already bleeding in several places.

Zhaoer said, ”My Lady, let’s go back first; let me apply some ointment to you! Even though the side hall has been cleared out, it’s still our place!”

Shih Jieyu looked in the direction of the side hall, her mouth curling into a bitter smile.

”No need, let’s go!”

She would never come to this place again.

Zhaoer had no choice but to help her walk away slowly.

Upon reaching Lijing Pavilion, Honored Lady Jiang awaited her at the entrance, rushing to pay her respects upon seeing her.

”Shih Jieyu!”

Shih Wanying’s face was somewhat pale, and she waved her hand.

”There’s no need for such formalities, Honored Sister Jiang! It’s still quite hot at noon; you should go back and rest. I’m tired as well!”

Honored Lady Jiang noticed the bloodstains on Shih Jieyu’s knees. Without daring to say more, she left.

Shih Jieyu returned to the inner chambers, which had already been neatly arranged with everything in place.

Zhaoer helped her lie down on the bed and began applying medicinal ointment to her wounds.

Shih Wanying lay there, disbelief in her eyes.

”Zhaoer, do you think I was wrong? Everyone in the palace says the Little Princess was born prematurely because of my cousin! She relentlessly fed me nourishing soups, not to strengthen my body, but to induce a difficult birth! Even though I was perfectly healthy, she would not let me leave the bed! She had been through this herself; how could she not have known?”

It took Shih Jieyu a long time to accept this fact. It truly broke her heart.

Zhaoer didn’t know what to say. The servants were all talking about it, but how could she bring herself to say it! All she could do was comfort her.

”My Lady, don’t overthink it! You are a woman of fortune; the Little Princess is fine, and so are you. Even though she’s not raised by your side, you won’t lack the honor that’s due to you!”

Shih Jieyu turned over. Tears slid down her cheeks.

”Had I known it would be this way, why did I even start! Do you think... if I’d fought for it, I might have been able to raise the princess myself?”

She didn’t fight because she trusted the Noble Consort too much. She had been brainwashed by the Empress Dowager and her family before entering the palace. She didn’t need to fight, just to be compliant. Thus, she had been manipulated along the way, almost killed by her cousin.

Now, she was finally coming to her senses, finally understanding. Without fighting, she could only watch as her belongings were taken away. She could only watch her daughter being raised by the Empress’s side. And herself, apart from bearing the title of biological mother, she could do nothing. Her daughter’s tears and laughter were all irrelevant to her.

Such is the play of fate!

Zhaoer also didn’t know how to console her anymore and felt terrible inside!

”My Lady, don’t think too much about it. We just need to look forward; the best is yet to come!”

Shih Jieyu sighed deeply.

”That’s all I can do!”

「...」

「Qingya Residence」

The Double Ninth Festival was taken by the Empress to celebrate the Little Princess’s half-year birthday. But Xia Ruqing still wanted to experience the true Double Ninth Festival. Not to mention anything else, she definitely wanted to eat the big, fat crabs; because of childbirth, it had been a long time since she could indulge in her favorite foods.

”I missed out last year; I must have it this year!”

Zi Yue laughed and said, ”What’s so difficult about that? Now is the time when fruits and vegetables abound; what can’t you eat if you wish? It’s just some crabs. If you love them, just order some from the Imperial Kitchen!”

Xia Ruqing laughed.

”Of course, I’ll make a list right away! When the time comes, I must eat crabs, appreciate chrysanthemums, oh, and chrysanthemum wine, too! We’ll celebrate by ourselves then!”

Zi Yue started to tease her, ”My Lady, you must be joking. It’s not ’we,’ but ’you and the Emperor’!”

We servants already understand the Emperor’s ways. On festivals and special occasions, whenever our mistress here has a late-night snack, the Emperor is sure to come. He probably won’t be an exception this time either!

Xia Ruqing just smiled and said nothing. She was delighted if the Emperor chose to come. She hoped she could continue to enjoy his favor for a long, long time. That way, both she and Little Bun would have good days ahead, wouldn’t they?

It surprised even her, this so-called modern woman of the 21st century, how well she had adapted to the mindset and lifestyle of ancient times.

Xia Ruqing then thought to herself, This is just the reality! A harsh, unyielding reality!

In the evening, before going to bed and while waiting for Little Bun to fall asleep, Xia Ruqing propped her chin on her hands and, while pondering, began to make a list. Chrysanthemum cakes, osmanthus sugar, lotus root sliver paste, crabs, wick cakes, and all sorts of delicious treats. She made a long list that filled an entire page.

In the end, Xia Ruqing took out two pieces of silver—one worth ten taels and another worth twenty taels—and laid them on the paper.

”Ah! Your mistress here has even reached the point in life where she can spend thirty taels of silver on a meal!”

Thirty taels in ancient times had the purchasing power equivalent to three thousand yuan today! In her past life, she had worked various jobs, including selling vegetables, and earned about three thousand yuan a month, just enough to make ends meet.

Now... just one meal was worth three thousand yuan, tsk tsk!

As Xia Ruqing lay in bed, she thought contentedly, Life after time-traveling really isn’t bad at all!