A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 318 Spit!

Honored Lady Du pondered over and over before she finally realized it.That time by the Taiye Pool, when she encountered Xia Jieyu and the Emperor, Honored Lady Du had approached them and exchanged a few sharp words with Xia Jieyu.

She must have offended Xia Jieyu then. That must be why Xia Jieyu had schemed against her behind her back.

So, that was why Honored Lady Du had come with gifts to offer an apology.

And now, before she even started speaking, she began to cry and sob.

"Xia Jieyu, I didn’t mean it back then. I beg for your magnanimity to forgive my reckless words!"

Xia Ruqing looked at her, startled and a bit bewildered. Which time was she talking about?

Zi Yue quickly whispered something in her ear.

Xia Ruqing finally remembered the incident by the Taiye Pool. Realization dawned on her.

"So much time has passed, I had truly forgotten. Honored Lady Du, you shouldn’t take it to heart," she said.

Do you think I want to keep it in mind? What a joke! She’s quite the actress, tripping people behind their backs and then pretending to have forgotten when confronted. She truly knows how to play her part! Honored Lady Du gritted her teeth.

However, on the surface, she maintained a pitiable appearance.

"This servant knows that incident was due to my own presumption. I angered you, Xia Jieyu!"

"If your anger hasn’t subsided, please punish this servant! I shall have no complaints!"

Xia Ruqing smiled faintly. "I truly didn’t take it to heart. You’re overthinking things!"

Honored Lady Du, still not giving up, hastily took the Sandalwood Box from her palace maid’s hands.

"This is a child-granting Guanyin statue, specially sought from the temple by my mother before I entered the palace. Today, I present it to you, Xia Jieyu, as an apology!"

With that, she opened the Sandalwood Box. Inside was a pure white Jade Guanyin.

The Guanyin statue was sculpted lifelike, with a benevolent smile on its face, holding a chubby baby in its arms.

The entire jade figure was pristine and smooth, clearly carved from fine-quality white jade.

Xia Ruqing looked at it and smelled a scent of Tan Xiang drifting out.

The scent was too strong. Xia Ruqing almost vomited on the spot.

"Take it away! Quickly, take it away!"

"UGH..."

"I can’t stand this smell!"

Honored Lady Du’s expression changed, and she quickly closed the box.

Zi Yue also helped Xia Ruqing to her feet. "My Lady, hurry! Go outside for some fresh air!"

Xia Ruqing then rose and went out. Zi Su, Zi Ning, Xiao Xizi, and Xiao Zhu Zi all followed her out.

Honored Lady Du couldn’t remain inside either, so she followed them out.

Zi Yue didn’t let her come any closer, blocking her way from a distance. Her words were courteous enough, though.

"Honored Lady Du, please sit!"

"Honored Lady Du, please have some tea and refreshments!"

In reality, Zi Yue had no intention of letting her sit.

Xia Ruqing watched her. She’s still here? Could she possibly have some ulterior motive? No, that seems unlikely. She can’t even get close to me, so what motive could she have?

As expected, Honored Lady Du left after a short while.

After Honored Lady Du was seen off, Xia Ruqing quickly re-entered her chambers.

"Ah... it’s cooler in here. I can take another good nap," she said, removing her outer robe and lying down on the bed.

Unable to sleep immediately, she chatted with Zi Yue and the others.

"My Lady, what do you think Honored Lady Du intended by coming here today?" Zi Yue asked. "That Guanyin statue... was there something wrong with it?"

Xia Ruqing yawned and replied languidly, "It should be fine. She wouldn’t dare."

An Honored Lady of the Sixth Rank, with no significant family background and newly entered into the palace, surely wouldn’t be so bold.

"I suppose she harbored no ill intentions. It’s just that the fall from being favored to not being favored created a disparity she couldn’t handle."

Zi Yue thought for a moment and agreed.

"It’s said she was the only one personally selected by the Emperor!"

"There were even rumors before that she might become the next ’you’!"

After all, even if Xia Jieyu is favored, she can’t serve the Emperor with such a large belly.

At such a time, for a fresh, tender flower bud to arrive, one who was also to the Emperor’s liking... It was truly like someone delivering a pillow just as he was dozing off.

So, during that period, both the Imperial Kitchen and the Ministry of Internal Affairs were eager to curry favor with her.

Her daily meals were almost on par with Xia Jieyu’s.

How could Honored Lady Du not feel proud?

But later... she couldn’t afford to be proud anymore. The Emperor ignored her.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs also began to give her the cold shoulder. The disparity was truly quite large!

Xia Ruqing smiled. "The incidents with Lady Xi and Honored Lady Lan are still vivid in my mind. I’m not good at judging people either."

Who knows if they are genuinely kind or merely pretending.

It takes time to see a person’s true heart. As for someone like Honored Lady Du, who has just entered the palace, it’s best not to get involved.

"At most, I just won’t associate with them."

If she felt bored, she could go out for a stroll. She had five attendants, and they could chat to alleviate any boredom.

Besides, she would soon be busy with her child. When that time came, Wetnurses and Experienced Sisters would arrive, making Qingya Residence even more bustling.

How could she possibly have time to feel bored!

After chatting for a while, she gradually felt drowsy, turned over, and fell asleep.

This was probably what it meant to be carefree.

「Meanwhile」

Honored Lady Du had failed to deliver her gift and had also faced an embarrassing situation.

Upon returning to her own quarters, she set up the child-granting Guanyin statue herself.

"She doesn’t know what’s good for her!" Honored Lady Du muttered. "Hmph, if she doesn’t want it, I’ll keep it for myself!"

Look how frightened she was! Does she think she’s so noble that she can’t even bear the smell of Tan Xiang? So pretentious!

She thought about it for a while, and the more she thought, the angrier she became. Eventually, she forced herself to stop thinking about it.

"Ding Xiang, it’s so hot! Why haven’t you fetched any ice?"

It was previously said that Honored Ladies could only use ice during the dog days. It was the dog days now, so where was the ice?

Ding Xiang stammered for a long moment before replying, "My Lady, this servant went... but... the people at the Ministry of Internal Affairs wouldn’t give us any!"

Those people were all so arrogant, looking down their noses at everyone! After going twice, she didn’t want to go again.

Honored Lady Du felt deeply wronged. "These servants are getting too big for their boots!"

"Let’s go! I want to see if they have any respect for their masters at all!" Saying so, she grabbed an umbrella and stormed out.

Master? Ding Xiang thought to herself. Here in Zhaoxiang Pavilion, you can hardly be considered a master, let alone a true master of the Harem. But of course, she didn’t dare say this out loud.

She could only follow Honored Lady Du towards the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The shrewd people at the Ministry of Internal Affairs saw Honored Lady Du approaching angrily and quickly came forward to greet her.

"Aiya, Honored Lady Du! Why have you come yourself on such a hot day?" a Little Eunuch exclaimed, hurrying forward.

Honored Lady Du’s brows shot up, and she sneered, "If I hadn’t come, I suppose you all would have let me roast to death in this heat!"

Then, she glared at the Little Eunuch. "I am an Honored Lady of the Sixth Rank, personally appointed by the Emperor! During the dog days, I am entitled to ice, yet you dare to withhold my allotted share!"

The Little Eunuch immediately put on an apologetic smile. "Honored Lady, my apologies. Please, take a seat here, have some tea, and cool down." He gestured. "Right here!"

The Little Eunuch was very solicitous, quickly finding a stool and serving her tea.

Much of Honored Lady Du’s anger dissipated. "Hmph! At least you know what to do!"

The Little Eunuch smiled. "Honored Lady, please rest your feet here. This servant will go and urge them on for you." With that, he scurried away.

As soon as the Little Eunuch turned the corner, he spat on the ground behind him. "PAH!"