A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

”You!!”

The sounds of Lady Zhu and Old Scholar Zhu’s loud quarrel resounded throughout the courtyard.

But no one cared.

Neither the head maids nor the little maids, nor Old Master Tang and his three legitimate daughters, showed up.

Lady Zhu was being hit over and over with a cane, quickly covering her arms in bruises.

She realized that if she didn’t get away soon, she might be beaten to death.

With disheveled hair and clothes in disarray, Lady Zhu dashed out like a ghost.

”Help!”

”Help!”

”Someone save me!”

Lady Zhu first ran to her eldest daughter’s courtyard.

Tang Ying was enjoying a delicious breakfast just sent from the kitchen.

Her favorites: roast chicken, roast duck, roast goose; along with soy-pork, stewed trotters, sautéed intestines, and braised pork, all were present.

Her face was shiny with oil as she ate heartily.

A maid reported by her side.

”Madam requests to see you!”

Tang Ying impatiently waved her hand.

”What’s mother doing here at this hour? I won’t see her, just say I’m feeling unwell!”

The young maid spoke again.

”Madam looks unwell!”

Tang Ying, her cheeks bulging with food, became even more impatient.

”I said no!”

”How bad can my mother be this early? Honestly!”

The young maid, ordered by the master, dared not say another word.

She could only sigh and went out to chase Madam away.

The situation was the same with the second and third daughters.

The servants didn’t dare speak, and the masters didn’t know.

Thus, Lady Zhu missed the best chance to plead for help.

...

Leaving the third daughter’s courtyard,

Lady Zhu was filled with despair and turned to the most secluded little courtyard.

This was her last hope.

She hoped that the young girl she had once mistreated would overlook her past grievances.

Hoping that she could survive this time.

But unfortunately...

Her hope was destined to sink.

Tang Xun looked coldly at the disheveled woman before her, taking a while to recognize her, then slightly curled her icy lips.

”Oh! It’s Madam!”

Technically, she should call her mother, but Lady Zhu never allowed her to.

So addressing her as Madam was reasonable.

Lady Zhu’s face suddenly showed some discomfort.

But she couldn’t care less and knelt on the ground, frantically kowtowing.

”Fourth young lady, please spare me!”

”Fourth young lady! I was wrong, it’s always been my fault!”

”Now... I have no way to survive, I beg you to spare me!”

”I’ll be a cow or horse in gratitude for your kindness! Just plead with the master not to dismiss me!”

Tang Xun frowned intensely.

”Lady Zhu, have you lost your mind?”

Lady Zhu wasn’t insane, but she was half-crazed.

(In ancient times, being dismissed by a husband was a devastating blow to a woman, akin to being sentenced to life imprisonment in the modern day; most dismissed women would be drowned in gossip and disgrace. Lady Zhu was nearing forty; her later years would be miserable if she lived to see them!)

She cried and laughed while kowtowing.

”No!”

”Fourth young lady, I’m sincerely admitting my mistakes!”

”Don’t dismiss me!”

Tang Xun twitched her lips, yet remained expressionless.

”Why would I dismiss you!”

”Lady Zhu, what nonsense are you babbling?”

Lady Zhu’s mind was already unraveling; she had no idea what she was saying.

She babbled on madly, shouting crazily.

Tang Xun finally couldn’t stand it, turned to Xiao Chuan and said,

”Madam is unwell, escort her back!”

”Get more people over there to watch her, make sure nothing goes wrong!”

Xiao Chuan responded affirmatively, nodded, and took Lady Zhu away.

Although Lady Zhu was somewhat chubby,

Xiao Chuan was rather robust and often engaged in heavy work.

The crazed Lady Zhu likely couldn’t outmatch her struggles.

So...

Lady Zhu was successfully sent back to her own yard, under her father’s tyranny.

...

Unclear how long the chaos ensued in the main courtyard.

In the afternoon, Tang Xun received news.

Lady Zhu had already been taken away by Old Scholar Zhu.

At that time, she was eating fresh dishes, upon hearing the news, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

”Really dismissed?”

Xiao Chuan’s eyes gleamed.

”Of course, didn’t you know about our master?!”

Tang Xun chuckled ironically.

”True!”

That’s a heartless one who would betray anything for benefit!

Betraying his wife and daughters without a blink.

It’s no surprise he did such a thing, what wouldn’t he do?

Seeing the young lady’s face worsen, Xiao Chuan hastily tried to comfort her.

”Don’t be sad! After all... there’ll be no one bullying you in this household anymore!”

Tang Xun gave a bitter smile as she glanced at her.

”Silly girl!”

This household? Bullying?

Is that called bullying? That’s humiliation.

Tang Xun put down her bowl and got up, looking outside.

She raised her hand to gaze at the sky, with a faint smile on her lips.

”Today’s weather is really nice!”

Just want to escape here quickly!

Anywhere’s fine!

No matter the profession!

Even bland meals are quite fine.

She can do without anything!

She just wants to leave here, yes, far away, without any ties.

Xiao Chuan laughed heartily.

”Miss, you look lovely when you smile!”

”Please smile more often, the gentlemen will be heartbroken if you frown!”

Tang Xun blushed and scolded.

”Don’t talk nonsense!”

”Hehe!”

The mistress and servant continued their exchanges.

Tang Xun leaned on the simple bed, ready for an afternoon nap.

Xiao Chuan, as usual, covered her with an old blanket, picked up her needle and thread, and began her work.

No sooner had Tang Xun closed her eyes than she heard voices outside.

It seemed like a group of people, accompanied by footsteps and voices, chaotic.

She frowned, opened her eyes, and asked.

”What’s going on, Xiao Chuan, go check it out!”

Not waiting for her instructions, Xiao Chuan had already put down her basket and went out.

Moments later, she returned smiling.

”Master has bought new maids for Miss!”

”Sister is leading them over for Miss to choose.”

Tang Xun frowned.

”Maids?”

A flash of insight seemed to emerge in her mind, and she hurriedly said.

”Send them away, just say I don’t need maids!”

No sooner had she spoken than a sister arrived uninvited.

The Old Sister smiled and said to her.

”What are you saying, young lady!”

”The master has instructed, though we’re not a high-ranking family, we should still have what’s proper!”

”You’re the legitimate fourth young lady, how could you not have any maids around!”

She glanced at Xiao Chuan, meaningfully.

”Even with Xiao Chuan by your side, you should have some for rough tasks, right?”

”We can’t be laughed at!”

Tang Xun sneered: Haven’t others laughed enough?

She patiently refused.

”Sister, I don’t need them!”

”Please take them all away!”

The old lady was still unwilling, continuing to persuade.

”Miss, this is also the master’s instruction!”

”I am just a servant...”

”If you really don’t want them, why not personally inform the master?”

Tang Xun’s gaze suddenly turned sharp, she got up, her aura overwhelming, and casually threw her teacup on the ground.

”Insolence!”

”Who are you to dare to threaten me!”

”I said no, it means no!”