A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 491: Confused

Without offspring, without favor, and if without power too, wouldn’t that be... just a step away from being deposed?Despair filled the Empress’s eyes instantaneously. Deposed?! No! No! It cannot be!

The Empress could no longer maintain her composure, continuously kowtowing.

"Emperor, your concubine will not dare again! Your concubine will not dare again! Please grant your mercy, Emperor!"

Despite all her caution, she had still been dragged down by the Noble Consort. How she regretted it! How foolish she had been! She was the Empress; how could she have gambled with the Royal Family’s reputation? She had forgotten her duties entirely; she deserved to die!

The Empress was sick with regret.

The Noble Consort wasn’t in a much better position either. After all her calculations, she had overlooked this one aspect. Looking at the current situation, she had truly been digging her own grave!

Lady Wang, kneeling to one side, breathed a sigh of relief. She remained kneeling silently on the ground. Having been involved in this affair, she didn’t expect a good outcome for herself; she only hoped it wouldn’t bring disaster to her family.

The Emperor remained silent. The atmosphere in the grand hall was as if frozen, sending a suffocating chill to the core.

After a long while, Zhao Junyao finally spoke slowly. "The Empress has managed the Harem poorly; thus, she will be penalized half a year’s allowances. If there is a next time, she will not be spared lightly! Lady Wang, there is no need for you to appear unless necessary. Stay in the Harem and recuperate! As for Noble Concubine Shih..."

Zhao Junyao paused.

Noble Concubine Shih’s heart clenched. This incident had indeed escalated quite a bit. Would her cousin still show leniency?

Zhao Junyao thought for a moment, then said, "This time, the Noble Consort shall remain in the palace and reflect properly! The Third Princess will be taken to Jiaofang Hall first. When you have reflected properly, it won’t be too late to care for the Princess! If there is a next time..."

That single sentence seemed to drain the Noble Consort of her soul and spirit.

Reflected properly? What would be considered ’properly’? A month? Two months? Or a lifetime? Today the Emperor could send the Princess to Jiaofang Hall; tomorrow, he could register the Princess under Jiaofang Hall’s name. This is...

Noble Concubine Shih dared not continue the thought. Perhaps her cousin was truly disappointed in her. How foolish she had been! Even if she intended to slander Consort Xian Pin, she should not have trifled with the Royal Family’s reputation. How could she be so stupid!

The Empress and Lady Wang kowtowed in agreement. Yet Noble Concubine Shih was ashen-faced, completely stunned.

Then, Zhao Junyao continued, "All of Lady Wang’s palace attendants will be executed by caning. As for the Noble Consort’s..." Zhao Junyao looked toward Ying Yue, knowing she was the Noble Consort’s dowry maid, so he decided to spare her life. "Demote her to the Laundry Bureau!"

Ying Yue collapsed on the spot. The Laundry Bureau... She couldn’t be more aware of the fate that awaited those sent there. Other palace attendants could leave the palace at twenty-five or twenty-six. But those from the Laundry Bureau, typically condemned for their mistakes, were sentenced to a lifetime of hard labor, never to leave until death.

Ying Yue trembled as she looked towards Noble Concubine Shih. She hoped her mistress might plead on her behalf. But she found her mistress equally pale. There was no hope!

After Zhao Junyao finished speaking, he strode away. No one could resist the final verdict.

Lady Wang’s palace maids were executed by caning, and new ones were assigned to her. Noble Concubine Shih experienced the same. With Ying Yue sent to the Laundry Bureau, the Empress had new palace maids assigned to serve her.

Although the Empress had been penalized half a year’s allowances, she unexpectedly obtained temporary custody of the Little Princess, which was an unexpected boon! If the Little Princess’s health began to improve under her care... Then, could it be that the Emperor might... No matter what, having the Princess meant the Emperor would come. The Emperor’s arrival would provide her with an opportunity, wouldn’t it?

This time, the Empress appeared to have suffered an undeserved calamity, but in truth, she had been subtly elevated despite the outward demotion. For a moment, she was extremely pleased!

The Empress rose to her feet with a grand sweep of her arm and signaled for everyone to disperse as well. As she was leaving, she said with a casual smile, "Regarding the Emperor’s hunt, I will draft the list later so that everyone can prepare well in advance!"

"Yes!"

The crowd bowed and retreated.

Upon returning to her inner chamber, the Empress couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "The Emperor is truly wise! He realized this calamity was unmerited for me and only deducted half a year’s salary."

Sister Ji also smiled. "Indeed! The Noble Consort received a truly hefty punishment!"

The Empress snorted coldly. "That’s what she deserves. This time, I was almost led astray by her and nearly capsized in a gutter!"

Sister Ji said, "Fortunately, Your Majesty is wise, and we also didn’t directly confront Consort Xian Pin!"

On second thought, the Empress quickly corrected her. "Sister Ji, do not speak recklessly. Consort Xian Pin had nothing to do with this incident! The Imperial Forest Army belongs to the Emperor. Besides, this matter of illicit affairs is too scandalous—a great taboo for the Royal Family! The Emperor’s favoritism towards us this time might well be because of Consort Xian Pin! She is currently favored, so naturally, I must show her some respect! After this incident, Sister Ji, do you still not see clearly?"

Sister Ji is loyal enough, but she lacks foresight and her vision is somewhat narrow. She only sees immediate benefits and always fails to perceive the long-term consequences. I have made that mistake this time. Am I to repeat it next time? If there truly is a next time, we won’t be so fortunate!

A heavy feeling settled in Sister Ji’s heart. Realizing her words had been inappropriate, she quickly stepped back and bowed. "This old servant is at fault!"

The Empress narrowed her eyes, observing her. "In the future, Sister Ji, think carefully before you speak, no matter the situation!"

"Yes!" Sister Ji bowed her head in acknowledgment.

Yu Lan brought in freshly cut fruit. The Empress picked up a piece and tasted it; it was sweet.

Seeing Sister Ji standing aside, Yu Lan asked with a smile, "Your Majesty, when the Little Princess comes to us, where will she stay? Should the Sister and the Wetnurse Nanny be replaced?"

Upon hearing this, the Empress exclaimed, "Ah!" She had been so preoccupied with her joy that she had forgotten this detail. She quickly set down her fruit dish and stood up, looking around before saying with a smile, "The west wing room is still vacant. It’s separated by a hall, so it’s not too far. The Little Princess can stay there! There’s no need to change the staff; just move their belongings over! Yu Lan, Yu Fu, you two go and prepare quickly. Sister Ji, you go as well!"

The three hurriedly agreed and departed.

After the midday meal, the rooms were arranged. The Empress eagerly sent people to fetch the Little Princess. But let’s not dwell on that.

「Xifu Palace」

The atmosphere in the Noble Consort’s quarters was far from the joyous one at the Empress’s.

Ying Yue didn’t even have time to pack her belongings before she was dragged off to the Laundry Bureau. The Noble Consort couldn’t save her and wasn’t even allowed to exchange a few last words. Her dowry maid, Ying Yue, who had just this morning helped her comb her hair, was taken away just like that. Without a doubt, they would never see each other again in this lifetime!

The Noble Consort looked somewhat dazed. She sat on the kang, gazing vacantly at the Little Princess sleeping soundly in her small cradle. The Wetnurse Nanny and the Sister stood nearby, too terrified to speak.

After what seemed like an eternity, Noble Concubine Shih finally spoke. "Go, call Shih Jieyu over!"