A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 575: Chapter 575: Ill Intentions

Rat hesitated for a long while before finally saying, ”We promised to invite Brother Ye for wedding drinks!”

”But... we don’t even know where Brother Ye is!”

That line seemed to hit some sort of switch. The smiles on everyone’s faces gradually faded, replaced by worry.

”Sigh... isn’t that the truth!” Rat sighed. ”Brother Ye has vanished into thin air, just like that; she said she would come!”

”But we’ve been waiting here for so long, and she hasn’t shown up!” Monster’s eyes even turned red as she spoke. ”You guys are really annoying! Just when things were going well, you had to bring up painful memories!”

After saying that, she turned and ran back into the room, sobbing.

Tiger and Rat looked exasperated. However, after exchanging glances for a few seconds, they too went back inside.

Such a worry!

Ye Tang hadn’t appeared since her farewell that time.

One month before the wedding banquet, they had searched in the deep mountains. Her little cabin had long been empty, uninhabited for a long time.

It was clear that Ye Tang had never returned there. But if she hadn’t returned, where had she gone? In this vast sea of people, where could they possibly find her?

Ye Tang, you stinker, you don’t keep your word! Rat cursed inwardly.

Tiger also felt quite upset. ”She promised to teach me archery, and I haven’t learned it yet!”

”Brother Ye doesn’t seem like someone who would break her promise!”

”SIGH!”

Everyone was feeling miserable.

It was so hard to find a kindred spirit like her, and now she was lost. What a shame!

Xia Tingfeng also felt terrible. He, too, had sent people to search, but they also returned empty-handed, unable to bring back even a useful clue, let alone Ye Tang herself.

After searching high and low to no avail, they could only give up on the matter.

If they had scoured every corner and found nothing, it certainly meant one thing: Miss Ye did not want to be seen. Since she did not want to be seen, they naturally could not insist.

If fate decreed, they would surely meet again someday!

「...」

The matters outside the palace had come to a temporary close. Inside the palace, the hustle and bustle resumed.

As the end of the year approached, several heavy snowfalls occurred, and everyone donned their winter attire.

The winter clothes for every palace and chamber had been distributed long ago, and some of the ladies had already begun to wear them. Yet, some could not.

Why?

Because their garments were simply too shabby to be seen in!

Take the cloaks, for instance. Honored Lady Cheng’s was made from Yunjin Brocade. In contrast, Honored Lady Du received one made of common fabric, and the color was awful—dark green! It looked both old-fashioned and unattractive. When Honored Lady Du held it, her eyes nearly bulged out.

She couldn’t believe the Ministry of Internal Affairs would dare give her such a thing. She ordered her Palace Maid to take it back for an exchange. But the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were also quite arrogant.

”Don’t like it? Fine! Here, take this better one!” they said, tossing over a tree-bark brown cloak. This... this is even more frumpy!

Ding Xiang was so angry she was on the verge of tears. In the end, she had no choice but to bring back the same dark green cloak. ”My Lady, there are no others. The remaining ones are even uglier!”

Honored Lady Du was furious. ”None left?!” She threw the cloak in her hand onto the floor. ”How am I supposed to wear something like this?”

”The end of the year is almost here! What am I supposed to wear? No, this won’t do! Take some silver and tell them to make me a new one!” With that, she turned and began to rummage through her jewelry box. But after searching high and low, she couldn’t find many pieces valuable enough to use as a reward.

They were either not of imperial make or simply worthless!

Indeed, Honored Lady Du no longer had any valuable possessions. Ever since entering the palace, she had received no favor, yet she had always used a penchant for bright, dazzling items to create the illusion of being favored.

So, naturally, she had to pay for them out of her own pocket. And once she started buying, she couldn’t stop. Over time, all the silver and jewelry she possessed had been given away as rewards.

So, of course, she had nothing left!

Honored Lady Du stared at the stiff, dark green cloak, feeling like crying but having no tears to shed. That one thought began to sprout wildly in her heart once more: I must gain favor! I absolutely must!

Only with favor could she live well, eat fine food, and wear beautiful clothes.

Without favor, without children, everything else is just empty talk!

Honored Lady Du clutched the cloak tightly, her eyes filled with a frightening intensity.

「...」

Honored Lady Du lived in Consort Hui Pin’s Zhaoxiang Pavilion. It wasn’t far from Yichun Palace, where Honored Lady Cheng resided.

On the night of the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, it snowed again. Early the next morning, the Empress sent word that due to the bad weather, there was no need for morning greetings; everyone should rest well instead.

Honored Lady Du was very pleased. ”Rest we shall, but on a day like this, one must naturally go out and appreciate the snow!” After saying this, she instructed Ding Xiang.

”Prepare my old cloak from last year. We’re going to appreciate the snow. Oh, and bring some refreshments; let’s go visit Honored Lady Cheng.”

After all, she was idle and had nothing better to do!

Lately, many people, whether they had actual business or not, enjoyed visiting Honored Lady Cheng. They all hoped to bask in some of her good fortune.

Honored Lady Cheng always treated people very politely and never turned them away. She simply let them sit there and offer their flattery. For her, it went in one ear and out the other. She offended no one, nor did she curry favor with anyone.

Neither servile nor overbearing, gentle as water.

「...」

Early that morning, Honored Lady Cheng rose and lifted the curtain, intending to get some fresh air. Suddenly, she saw Honored Lady Du approaching with her attendants. Honored Lady Du had first gone to Consort Ning’s main hall to pay her respects.

Afterward, she came out and headed toward Honored Lady Cheng’s quarters.

Honored Lady Cheng smiled. ”Huan Cui, go and open all the windows. We have guests again!”

Huan Cui acknowledged the order and hurried to open the windows. This served a dual purpose: firstly, to air out the room, and secondly, to prevent her mistress from being harmed. This was in case someone carried something harmful or unclean on their person. With the windows open, any such scent would quickly dissipate.

This was a precaution taught by the Imperial Physician!

However, Huan Cui was somewhat worried today. ”Mistress, it’s very cold today. With all the windows open, the room won’t stay warm!”

Honored Lady Cheng smiled. ”I have a brazier right in front of me, so what do I have to fear? Besides, I’m not afraid of the cold!”

Anyone afraid of the cold can simply leave early. Anyway, I don’t care for the meager nourishing tonics they bring! I couldn’t care less about their visits either.

The kang bed wasn’t heated; it was cold. In the past, other honored ladies who visited would sit on the cold kang bed, enduring the chilly draft, and would leave early without needing to be shooed away. And now... Honored Lady Du would receive the same ”courtesy”!

「...」

As soon as she entered, Honored Lady Du shivered. ”Honored Sister Cheng, your place here... is truly...”

She wanted to say something polite, but her brain felt frozen stiff; she couldn’t get the words out!

In the end, all Honored Lady Du managed to stammer out with a shiver was, ”So cold!”

Honored Lady Cheng, as if she hadn’t heard, sat serenely on her soft couch.

Thick furs and quilts were spread beneath her, and a foot warmer was placed by her feet. Beside her hand was a warm charcoal brazier. Dressed warmly as she was, she felt toasty all over.

The chill could not get near her.

But... it was a different story for Honored Lady Du.

The kang bed was cold, no charcoal was burning to warm the room, and she was seated near the windows, which were wide open!