A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 367: It Won’t Be Good to Offend Someone Next Time

What more was there to say? Persistently clinging to the issue wouldn’t yield any benefits. Those who had offended her had already been punished; her goal was achieved. She wouldn’t feign reluctance anymore; she would take all the benefits offered, not leaving the slightest advantage behind.That night, Xia Ruqing stayed in Zhaochen Palace, only returning to Qingya Residence the next day.

Before she even entered the door, she saw several Little Eunuchs. Trembling, they knelt in a line at the entrance of Qingya Residence. Standing beside them was the Chief Steward of the Imperial Kitchen, He Changshou, and the Steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Hai Dasheng.

Xia Ruqing understood the situation perfectly.

Without revealing too much, she stepped forward and, feigning ignorance, asked, "What brings you two Eunuchs here? What is going on?"

He Changshou approached first. Pointing at Xiao Zhangzi, who was kneeling on the ground, he said, "This little whelp offended Xia Jieyu. I feel terrible about it, so I’ve brought him here to beg for forgiveness!"

"From now on, we servants will serve Xia Jieyu’s meals with the utmost care. We dare not make the slightest mistake again!"oo! I just really don’t want to die!"

He Changshou scoffed coldly. "Don’t want to die? Fine. Why don’t you go beg the Emperor to spare your life? Isn’t your fate today entirely of your own making?"

Xiao Zhangzi wept bitterly. "I didn’t know! Besides, I wasn’t the only one in the Imperial Kitchen who slighted Eunuch Xi! Why are they all fine? Why should I be the one to die?"

He Changshou scoffed coldly again. "They were busy, forced by circumstances. You’re different. You went up and cursed him directly! So, if you don’t die, who does?"

Xiao Zhangzi felt incredibly regretful.

Yet, he also felt somewhat puzzled.

Didn’t Xia Jieyu... offend the Empress?If Xia Jieyu offended the Empress, how can she still be so arrogant? How can she have me executed?Even as he faced death, he still couldn’t understand.After all, in this Harem, isn’t Her Majesty the Empress the supreme authority?

Seeing his confused appearance, He Changshou scoffed. "Enough. You still don’t understand how the world works. If you don’t die this time, you won’t live to see the next! Let’s go!"

After speaking, he kicked him in the back.

Xiao Zhangzi’s mind became instantly clear. The Punishment Department?

He Changshou scoffed coldly. "Good that you know!"

Xiao Zhangzi’s eyes were filled with unwillingness, and he howled, "Eunuch He, I want to see the Empress! I want to see the Empress!"

He kept shouting for the Empress, and so loudly at that.

He Changshou’s face turned white with fright. How on earth has this idiot survived until now?

Without time to think further, he quickly had someone gag Xiao Zhangzi and had him taken to the Punishment Department for execution.

The Punishment Department had received word early that morning about an execution scheduled for the day. They already knew most of the details of the matter.

Now, upon seeing Xiao Zhangzi, a few Little Eunuchs responsible for the execution stepped forward and deftly tied Xiao Zhangzi to the tiger bench.

Xiao Zhangzi struggled desperately, a cloth stuffed in his mouth, whimpering pitifully.

A leader among them stepped forward and removed the cloth. "If you have anything to say, say it quickly. We’re waiting to send you on your final journey!"

Xiao Zhangzi gasped for breath, still wailing incoherently, "I want to see the Empress! I want to see the Empress!"

The leader’s face also turned pale. If this matter involved the Empress, none of them would live.

He then took off his own sock and forcefully stuffed it into Xiao Zhangzi’s mouth. "How exalted is Her Majesty the Empress? Is she someone you can see just because you want to? Men! No need to waste any more words on him. Carry out the execution!"

Xiao Zhangzi struggled desperately, screaming grotesquely, clearly unreconciled to his fate.