A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 309 - 308: I Have Treated Them with a Clear Conscience!

Zhao Junyao left the court, his expression grim as he headed for Ningshou Palace.The Empress Dowager had long been mentally prepared. She had already heard about Lady Shih being driven out.

Her heart ached dully! Her son whom she had raised, how could she not understand him? This time, she feared it was going to be another uproar. But no matter what, she still had to do it.

Sister Qing’s expression was grave as she hurriedly walked in.

"Your Highness, the Emperor is here!"

The Empress Dowager nodded, showing little surprise.

"I am aware!"

No sooner had she spoken than Zhao Junyao burst in. His face wore a smile as cold and piercing as thousand-year ice in a dark, deep abyss!

"Empress Mother!"

These two words were laden with anger, disbelief, and a hint of unwillingness!

The Empress Dowager’s expression was very calm, as usual.

"My Imperial Son has arrived!"

Zhao Junyao sneered. "Imperial Son? How affectionately Empress Mother addresses me! But have you ever truly regarded me as your son?"

These words seemed more like ones spoken in a fit of pique.

How could he not know the Empress Dowager was his mother?! But it was precisely because they were mother and son that there were no niceties. It was these angry words, spoken in a fit of rage, that could stab directly into the heart!

Sure enough, the Empress Dowager wore a look of utter disbelief.

"What is the meaning of these words, my Imperial Son?!"

Zhao Junyao, overwhelmed with anger, was unable to restrain himself and sneered again. "What is the meaning? Empress Mother knows best in her heart!"

The Empress Dowager paused and thought for a moment, then decided not to beat around the bush. "Is my Imperial Son referring to the matter of Lady Shih?"

Zhao Junyao snorted, his face livid, but said nothing.

The Empress Dowager looked at him and spoke directly. "Yes! This was arranged by me! I summoned them to the palace to secure a future for the Shih family. Do you understand, my Imperial Son?"

Zhao Junyao surely knew! But what he found most difficult to accept was this: did the Shih Family matter more to his Empress Mother than her own son? She had even resorted to such methods for the sake of the Shih Family! It wasn’t as simple as sleeping with a woman! What he loathed was this kind of deceit, exploitation, disobedience, and even something nearing betrayal! As an emperor, betrayal was something he absolutely could not tolerate!

He exclaimed angrily, "Empress Mother, haven’t I done enough? I have not favored only one person, nor have I forbidden them from having children! From the Empress down to the Seventh-Rank Ladies, I have never given anyone Contraceptive Soup! My conscience is clear in my dealings with them!"

Zhao Junyao said these words through gritted teeth, each word forceful and resounding!

After some thought, the Empress Dowager found herself stumbling over her words. "But Wanying... how could you humiliate her like this!"

Seeing the Empress Dowager weaken, Zhao Junyao’s anger began to dissipate, and he only sneered. "Here is my bottom line! More than just humiliation, if there’s a next time, I will take her life! If Empress Mother disbelieves, you are welcome to try!"

Having said that, he gave the Empress Dowager a smile cold to the extreme. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he strode away!

The Empress Dowager’s body went limp, her mind still reeling from the confrontation. Just as she looked up, she saw Zhao Junyao had returned!

He looked at the Empress Dowager with a threatening gaze. "The Harem is managed by the Empress, so there’s no need for Empress Mother to trouble herself. From now on, you should focus on your Buddhist practices in Ningshou Palace!"

Without a backward glance, he turned to leave!

The Empress Dowager called out shakily, "Your Majesty!"

She steadied herself and stood up, walking tremulously towards the Emperor step by step. "Give the Shih Family a child, and henceforth I will only eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures, praying for blessings for Your Majesty and for the realm and its people!"

Zhao Junyao turned his head and gave her a glance! Ultimately, he said nothing and simply left with a flick of his sleeve.

When Sister Qing entered, she found the Empress Dowager collapsed on the floor, completely devoid of strength.

"Empress Dowager!"

She helped the Empress Dowager onto the couch to lie down, then said with pity, "Why must you go to such lengths! Why push the Emperor to such extremes, and why make things so hard on yourself? You’ve turned a perfectly good mother-son relationship into something so strained!"

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, her complexion deathly pale. "This is the final wish of my life."

Once this is accomplished, even if I am left with only a solitary lamp and ancient Buddhist scriptures, I will have no regrets!

Sister Qing shook her head and said no more.

「...」

The Empress Dowager did not achieve the outcome she hoped for, and the situation with Lady Shih was even more chaotic.

When she was sent back naked, it was still before dawn. Not many saw her, so the news did not spread. As for being sent back before dawn, that was understandable; Ladies of her rank were not allowed to spend the night in Zhaochen Palace.

However, at daybreak, Lady Shih called for the Imperial Physician, but no one from the Imperial Medical Bureau had gone yet. This was clearly a problem.

「...」

Xia Ruqing felt something was off!

Yawning, she murmured to herself, "You would think, after serving in the Emperor’s chambers last night, today she would be the new favorite. Wouldn’t the Imperial Medical Bureau be fawning over her?"

Zi Yue, equally puzzled, said, "What Your Ladyship says makes sense. But according to the news Xiao Xizi gathered, the Imperial Medical Bureau still hasn’t sent anyone over!"

"Hmm... I guess... somehow Lady Shih must have angered the Emperor! Forget it, forget it! Let’s not think about it anymore!" Xia Ruqing waved her hand dismissively. "Our watermelons must be ripe by now, let’s go pick some!"

Zi Yue quickly agreed with a smile. "Yes!"

「...」

The backyard of Qingya Residence had become very beautiful under her care. The vegetation was lush and thriving, giving off a bit of a rustic, wild flavor. The large vegetable garden was right in the middle, with a small pond on one side! The lotuses in the pond were in bloom, and Xia Ruqing had even specifically asked someone to release a few fish into it for Da Bai to chase for fun.

As soon as she arrived in the backyard, Da Bai eagerly followed. With short legs and long fur, it ran swiftly, tail erect, trotting gracefully.

"Da Bai, go see which watermelon is ripe."

Da Bai turned, meowed in affirmation, and actually headed towards the watermelon vines. Treading on its short legs, looking at the watermelons—some bigger than itself—the cat seemed a bit bewildered.

Xia Ruqing approached and asked with a smile, "Are they ripe yet?"

"MEOW." Da Bai rolled its eyes at her and coolly hopped onto a watermelon. Wrapping its tail around its pristine white paws, it sat perfectly still. It haughtily surveyed all the watermelons. The entire cat seemed like an emperor reigning supreme, looking down on all creation.

’Look! This is the empire I have conquered for you!’

Xia Ruqing was so amused by its antics. She clutched her stomach, giggling uncontrollably.

"Da Bai, you... Get down now, stop embarrassing yourself!"

Da Bai glared at her again, then continued to imperiously survey all the watermelons.

It had to be said, the cat was truly clever.

"Zi Yue, look, it really chose the biggest watermelon!"

Zi Yue just laughed. "Your Ladyship, Xiao Zhu Zi says Da Bai follows him to the backyard every day, so it probably knew all along!"

Xia Ruqing smiled mischievously. "Good! How about we eat that watermelon today?"

Xiao Zhu Zi, standing nearby, looked a little distressed. "Your Ladyship, you may not know, but this watermelon is Da Bai’s absolute favorite..."

If they picked it, Da Bai would probably be heartbroken!

Xia Ruqing glanced at Da Bai. Indeed, the creature was glaring at her, ready to sacrifice itself for its beloved watermelon at any moment.

Xia Ruqing laughed until she was out of breath. "Alright, alright, let’s pick another one!"