A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 323 Meeting the Female Ghost

The fifteenth day of the seventh month is the Ghost Festival, commonly known as Ghost Day.However, Xia Ruqing had never believed in it.

It had rained a few days prior, dissipating the summer heat.

It was much cooler outside. After dinner, Xia Ruqing went to the courtyard to enjoy the cool air.

The setting sun was as red as blood, casting a golden hue over everything.

In the courtyard, on the grape trellis, Xia Ruqing had intentionally left a few bunches of underripe grapes. She said they should wait until after the first frost to eat them, as they would be sweeter then.

Xia Ruqing casually watched the sunset for a while, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "Zi Yue, I want to go to Taiye Pool!"

Such a fiery red sunset and the shimmering lake surface were a perfect match.

Zi Yue was somewhat worried. "Master, it’s the Ghost Festival tonight. It’s better not to go out!"

Xia Ruqing scoffed. "You believe that? Besides, the sun is still so high!"

Saying this, she patted Da Bai, who was leisurely lying on the stone table. "Right, Da Bai?"

Da Bai lazily glanced at her, clearly uninterested in responding. Still, he eventually let out a languid meow.

Xia Ruqing was pleased and stroked his fur. "Such a good boy! How about I find you a few beautiful female cats?"

Zi Yue looked utterly embarrassed. Master, if you speak so bluntly, Da Bai would be mortified if he understood!

Da Bai was a cute, long-furred male cat, noble and graceful. He always wore an expression that seemed to say, "I am the Emperor," looking down on everyone with faint disdain. Not even Zhao Junyao was an exception!

When he first arrived, he was just a small kitten, but now he was fully grown.

Xia Ruqing didn’t have the heart to let him remain single and was determined to find him a mate.

Whether Da Bai understood or not, after hearing her, he gave her a disdainful glance and went back to grooming himself.

Xia Ruqing hugged him. "Enough grooming, let’s go!"

With that, she set off towards Taiye Pool with a few Palace Attendants and Da Bai.

The weather was good and the path smooth. Xia Ruqing, leaning on Zi Yue and Zi Ning, walked very slowly.

Zi Su ran ahead to check for any raised bricks or slippery spots.

Xia Ruqing was escorted in their midst, feeling somewhat bemused by their overprotectiveness.

"Do we really need to... do this?"

Zi Yue insisted firmly, "Of course! We absolutely can’t let anything happen to you, Master!"

Xia Ruqing looked at her and suddenly lost the desire to go out. "Shall we... head back then?"

Zi Yue was taken aback for a moment. "Master... we’re almost there!"

Xia Ruqing smiled helplessly. "I’m truly defeated by you all!"

Actually, there wasn’t much danger on this path. Her Qingya Residence was right next to the Imperial Garden; a short walk south, about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, would get them there.

Still, it never hurt to be cautious.

Xia Ruqing sat on the cotton-padded stone bench, gazing at Taiye Pool under the sunset.

Occasional breezes brought refreshing coolness, and she would sometimes tease the cat.

It was comfortable, truly comfortable.

If only... those women weren’t eyeing her so covetously, she might be even more at ease.

Some time ago, several Honored Ladies had taken turns visiting her, likely intending to get close.

But she could barely protect herself, let alone shelter others. With what could she offer them protection?

After sitting for a while, the sun gradually set, and night began to fall.

Xia Ruqing didn’t stay much longer and led her attendants back.

On the way back, she walked very slowly. With her growing belly, she couldn’t walk quickly, nor did she intend to.

As she turned a corner, her vision inexplicably blurred, and a white figure seemed to float by.

Just then, a cloud obscured the sun’s afterglow, and a cool gust of wind brushed her face.

Zi Yue’s heart turned cold. The Ghost Festival? Tonight *was* the Ghost Festival!

The clouds gradually thickened, and darkness enveloped everything. The air had become noticeably cooler.

Zi Yue and Zi Ning felt a little spooked. How could it become so overcast so suddenly, with not even the moon visible?

But despite their inner fear, they maintained a calm facade.

Xia Ruqing didn’t notice anything amiss, merely feeling it had grown cooler. She mused that it might rain tomorrow, which would make it even cooler. The thought brought her considerable comfort, and she felt more spirited than moments before.

Just then, a crying sound suddenly came from ahead.

On the palace wall not far away, a white figure flashed by again.

Zi Ning let out an "AH!" and, with trembling lips, pointed at the fleeting white figure. "That is...?"

Zi Su tugged at her. "Don’t talk nonsense; there’s nothing there. You’re seeing things!"

In truth, Zi Su was already terrified, but with others around, she managed to feign courage.

Xia Ruqing also noticed something was amiss. She frowned, looking ahead, then scanned the area carefully again. "There’s nothing there!"

She turned and asked, "Xiao Xizi, did you see anything?"

Xiao Xizi looked conflicted but, after a moment’s thought, decided to tell the truth. "Master, your servant saw a woman with long hair!"

The words had barely left his lips when another cry echoed. "SOB SOB SOB... I... died so miserably!"

"Xia Jieyu... I died... so miserably!"

With the sound of crying, another white figure appeared not far ahead. This time, everyone saw it clearly.

The ghostly woman had a green face and fierce fangs. Her hair was disheveled over her forehead, her face deathly pale. Blood, so red it was almost black, trickled down from her brow. Her white robes were covered in blood, which even dripped to the ground.

Her feet dangled in the air. When the wind blew her long hair aside, revealing her green face and fierce fangs, she appeared even more sinister and terrifying.

"Xia Jieyu—"

"Xia Jieyu—you actually have a child—"

"I died such a wrongful death! I want to be reincarnated in your womb and bring about your demise—"

The "female ghost" had finally appeared.

Zi Ning’s face turned pale with fright. Zi Su bit her lip, not daring to speak. Zi Yue, though outwardly composed, was nearly collapsing from inner terror.

After all, today is the Zhongyuan Festival, the Ghost Festival! Zi Yue thought, her heart pounding. But... so what if it’s the Ghost Festival? Master cannot be harmed!

Zi Yue gritted her teeth and stepped forward. Trembling, she mustered her courage and asked, "Who... who are you? My master has no quarrel with you. Why are you trying to harm her?"

As Zi Yue stepped forward, Xiao Xizi also rushed over. "What do you think you’re doing?!"

The ghostly woman gave a sinister smile. "I am Lady Xi, murdered by Lady Xia! Lady Xia!"

"Return my—life!"

As she spoke, the ghostly woman’s body floated a few steps closer.

Xia Ruqing narrowed her eyes, observing her. "Today is the Ghost Festival, so someone’s putting on a ghost act?"

"Too bad... I just don’t believe in such things!"

Saying this, she bypassed Xiao Xizi. Her footsteps resounded as she strode forward a few steps. She scoffed, "Lady Xi, my conscience is clear. I’m not afraid of your curse!"

"Besides, didn’t you say you died a wrongful death? Cursing me to death would be too slow!"

"According to tradition, shouldn’t you come and claim my life directly?"

As she spoke, she stood tall, her pregnant belly prominent, showing no sign of fear.