A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 541: Not Planning to Get Involved

Zi Su spoke indignantly, "You stay here! I’m going to report our master’s illness!"With that, she really did leave.

Zi Ning sighed but didn’t stop her. Follow current novels on novel·fiɾe·net

After all, she too felt that their master had been treated too unfairly. Sister Zi Yue was lying there, having been beaten half to death. This was no less a slap in the master’s face. Endure, endure, endure! To what end? Even Zi Ning, with her mild temperament, couldn’t stand it anymore.

Xia Ruqing hadn’t slept much either, waking up as usual when it was time.

Zi Su had already returned and said, "Master, the Emperor has ordered that you rest well today. There’s no need to pay respects to the Empress! I’ve already reported your illness for you!"

Zi Ning nodded in agreement. "Master, you were also tired yesterday. Just rest well today!"

Xia Ruqing looked at the two loyal people by her side, who were as caring as little angels.

She smiled. "Alright! If I don’t go, then I don’t go. It’s just one day; it’s not a big deal!"

She didn’t need to respond directly. In this roundabout way, she made everyone believe she had been wronged. Only in this way could she achieve the best effect. Hehe! She really admired her own cleverness and wisdom!

After speaking, she got up to wash and dress.

「Breakfast was ready.」

A basket of Little Buns, a few dishes of steamed egg custard with shrimp, two dishes of butter-fried little green vegetables, and another two dishes of Little Buns wrapped in egg skin. The Little Buns wrapped in egg skin had a meat filling, and Xia Ruqing felt hungry at just one glance. There was also a bowl of pigeon soup. She had specifically asked the people from the Imperial Kitchen to stew it, as she heard it was good for healing wounds.

"Take this jar of soup to Zi Yue later. If she can’t drink it, you feed it to her!" she instructed. "Later, invite a Female Doctor to take a look. Don’t worry about the silver; we must have the best Female Doctor!"

Xiao Xizi, Little Zhuzi, Zi Su, Zi Ning, and the others all knelt, expressing their gratitude. "Thank you, Master!"

Xia Ruqing hurriedly gestured. "Stand up, everyone. Go on with your tasks!"

"Yes!" they replied, and the group went out, wiping away their tears.

In their hearts, they were truly grateful. In any other palace, a servant who had been beaten with twenty strokes and had shamed their master would be lucky not to be driven out. To even have a Female Doctor summoned for good treatment was the best one could hope for. Only Palace Maids brought into the palace as dowry from a master’s family home might receive such treatment. Those assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs were usually driven out directly.

But their master... ah, their master was so kind-hearted! If she could treat Zi Yue so well today, she wouldn’t treat them much differently tomorrow. So, if they didn’t serve her well, what excuse would they have? In the palace, encountering such a master was surely a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes! Sigh!

Xiao Xizi was so moved that she was still in tears even after leaving. Wiping her eyes with her sleeve, she said through gritted teeth, "If our palace gets more people in the future, and anyone dares to harm our master, I, Xiao Xizi, will be the first to not let them off!"

Zi Su and Zi Ning nodded in agreement. "Exactly! Why else do we serve in the palace, if not for a chance to live and have food to eat? The master treats us well; we cannot be heartless!"

Xiao Zhu Zi, also wiping away tears, quickly added, "Don’t leave me out!"

The few of them continued to wipe their tears for a while, then finally, unable to hold back, they all laughed.

Zi Yue had suffered a beating, and the Female Doctor had given her some herbs and an ointment. They weren’t considered good medicine, but they weren’t bad. The prescription was correct and could still cure the ailment. Still, she had a fever all night. By the next morning, her body was still burning hot.

Xia Ruqing instructed Zi Ning and Qiu Ye to take turns watching over her. As for herself, she could only have someone secretly send medicine. She was also anxious, asking about Zi Yue several times a day. However, she could not visit her.

In the palace, she was gradually grasping the pattern of things: too much is as bad as too little. No matter how much she cared for someone, she couldn’t show it excessively; otherwise, it would become a weakness. The next time someone decided to act, they would target such a vulnerable point. It was just like how the Emperor, despite his affection for her, would not overly alienate others. Exceeding that limit would harm oneself rather than be a sign of favor. In this era, everyone, even the Emperor, could not step outside the bounds of propriety. So, everyone could only silently comply. These were the rules of the game in this world. If one was powerless to change them, one had to adapt. Failure to adapt meant death!

「Zhaochen Palace」

After Emperor Zhao Junyao finished the morning court, he instructed Li Shengan, "Go investigate what happened yesterday!"

Li Shengan, though somewhat puzzled, hurriedly confirmed the order. Emperor Zhao Junyao returned to the Imperial Study Room to review documents, meet with Ministers, and discuss state affairs. Li Shengan promptly asked Little Zhuzi to investigate.

The incident in the Imperial Garden had been witnessed by many, so Little Zhuzi quickly found out what had happened without much investigation. "Master, yesterday Consort Ning beat Lady Zi Yue, who serves Consort Xian Pin! Consort Hui Pin is also aware of this matter!"

Li Shengan was a bit perplexed. "Consort Ning usually causes little trouble. Did you find out why?"

Little Zhuzi quickly replied, "They say Lady Zi Yue didn’t prepare the tea properly and scalded Consort Ning. Out of anger, Consort Ning ordered her to be paddled!"

"However..." Little Zhuzi paused.

Li Shengan grew impatient. "You little rascal, spit it out!"

Little Zhuzi quickly said, "This servant inquired all around and vaguely heard rumors that Consort Ning did it deliberately, just to vent her anger! Aside from that, this servant is dull and truly knows nothing more!"

The subtle schemes among women were difficult to comprehend, even for those who kept close watch. That’s why it was hard to find out the truth!

Li Shengan found himself in a difficult position. "How should this matter be reported?"

Little Zhuzi quickly advised, "Master, we should naturally tell the truth. The Emperor is wise and will make his own judgment!"

Li Shengan sighed. "That’s all we can do!" He flicked his horsetail whisk and turned to attend to matters in the Imperial Study Room.

Around noon, when the Emperor had finished reviewing the documents, Li Shengan found an opportune moment to relay the information he had gathered.

After hearing the report, Emperor Zhao Junyao frowned. "Consort Ning?"

This somewhat foolish woman rarely caused trouble, though she was indeed very diligent in currying favor with the Empress. He knew all this and had no intention of interfering. Could it be that she had started to cause trouble now? It wasn’t impossible; the Noble Consort was still confined, leaving Consort Ning as the only Consort of her rank in the palace.

Emperor Zhao Junyao slammed the teacup in his hand onto the imperial desk. "Go to Jiaofang Hall and inform them that I... will go there for a meal later!"

Li Shengan promptly acknowledged, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

When Jiaofang Hall received the message, the Empress was holding the Third Princess, watching the Wetnurse Nanny feed her.

Early that morning, a Palace Maid from Consort Xian Pin’s quarters had come to report that Consort Xian Pin was ill and would not be coming to pay her respects.

In reality, the Empress had already heard about yesterday’s incident. She figured Consort Xian Pin must have been wronged. However, she did not intend to intervene.