A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 548: This Palace Will Not Accompany You Anymore!

"Mistress, I have heard that Honored Lady Cheng seems to be pregnant!""Mistress, I’ve heard about it too. Sigh... With Honored Lady Cheng pregnant, I’m afraid no one dares to speak of it openly!" To speak out, isn’t that just waiting to be harmed!

Xia Ruqing didn’t even lift her head. "So she’s pregnant, what’s there to be so shocked about! Having served the Emperor, isn’t pregnancy normal? It’s not like she cuckolded the Emperor. Anyway, there’s no drama to watch! To harm someone and cause a miscarriage, that’s not considered drama!"

Xia Ruqing was very calm, but others were not. This included the Empress, Consort Ning, and all the concubines in the Harem. Those with higher rank were somewhat better off; at least their days without favor weren’t too difficult. But those of lower rank, especially those Honored Ladies who entered with the same batch of Fine Ladies, were all feeling resentful.

"Why her!" they wondered. "Why does she receive favor, able to bear the Emperor’s children?"

Actually, upon closer inspection, Honored Lady Cheng’s beauty truly wasn’t all that great!

Most resentful of all was Honored Lady Du. In this batch of Fine Ladies, she had originally been the most outstanding. When she first entered the palace, even the Imperial Kitchen and the Ministry of Internal Affairs had flattered her for a while. But later on, everyone realized that the Emperor didn’t even glance at her. Gradually, people also stopped entertaining the thought. Why flatter her? Better to rest instead!

Next, the second most resentful was Honored Lady Jiang. It wasn’t that Honored Lady Jiang resented because she wanted to bear the Emperor’s children or to be favored. Rather, it was because she, with her beauty that could overthrow cities and nations, had actually lost to an average Honored Lady Cheng. The Emperor had favored even Honored Lady Cheng, so why not favor me even once?

Actually, I also had a hard time dealing with this. I had finally overcome my psychological barriers and had accepted the Empress’s threats and inducements. I had been prepared to bear children for the Empress. But, to think that the Emperor didn’t even want to spare me a glance. He actually favored someone like... Honored Lady Cheng! Then looking again at Consort Xian Pin, whom the Emperor favored, she wasn’t the most beautiful either. Aside from a pair of eyes that were fair to look at, what else did Consort Xian Pin have! Her appearance was certainly not as good as mine! But still, I lost, didn’t I? Consort Xian Pin was favored, had a Prince, and was living a wonderfully easy life.

And now, Honored Lady Cheng, who resided in Yichun Palace with Consort Ning, also turned out to be pregnant. This was simply... a slap to my face! The more Honored Lady Jiang thought about it, the angrier she became. Somehow, she had become fixated and started feeling extremely jealous.

So the next day, after everyone had dispersed from the morning salutations, she went to Jiaofang Hall.

In the inner chamber, Honored Lady Jiang knelt down as soon as she entered. "Empress!"

The Empress really didn’t even want to look at her, but seeing her loyalty and eagerness to serve, she still decided to tell her to rise. "Get up and sit!"

"Thank you, Empress!" Honored Lady Jiang sat down tremulously beside the Empress.

The Empress naturally knew why she had come and couldn’t help but sneer a little. "What’s the use of worrying now? Everything that I should have given you has already been given; it was you who couldn’t seize the opportunity!"

Upon hearing this, Honored Lady Jiang immediately knelt down and kowtowed in fear. "Empress, this concubine... this concubine’s heart is also suffering! Not hiding anything from you... this concubine... is still intact!"

Honored Lady Jiang decided to reveal the truth, which couldn’t be hidden any longer anyway.

Indeed, as soon as the Empress heard, she was stunned and took a long time to come back to her senses. "You... are still intact? That is to say, after so many times, the Emperor has never touched you?"

The Empress wore a look of disbelief. How could that be possible? Not touching once, not touching twice, but in three or four times, there should be at least one occasion, right? Still intact? That’s not normal!

The Empress’s gaze flickered, and her mind gradually cleared. What’s so abnormal? It’s simply that the Emperor doesn’t like her; it’s as simple as that! I know the Emperor’s temperament all too well. A woman he didn’t fancy, he might not touch at all. Honored Lady Jiang probably fell into this category!

"What have you done? You’re just an Honored Lady, and you’ve done nothing significant. How can the Emperor have such a prejudice against you? Remaining intact after serving in bed several times is actually an insult for concubines!"

Honored Lady Jiang clenched her teeth, tears almost spilling out. "Empress, your servant... I’ve done nothing! Your servant really has done nothing. It’s just... the first time I served in bed, I was really too scared, and... I trembled a little! The Emperor thought that your servant was unwilling! So he just..."

The Empress didn’t even wait for her to finish before she got angry, resenting Honored Lady Jiang for being so incorrigible. "I have favored you so many times in this palace, it turns out that it’s been like playing the lute to a cow! Well done, Lady Chiang!"

"Serving the Emperor is not like going to the execution ground, what’s there to tremble about? Can the Emperor really devour you?" The Empress was both anxious and angry, her emotions running high.

Sister Ji hurried forward to console her. "Empress, please calm your anger. It’s the first time; who wouldn’t be nervous? In my opinion, this matter cannot be entirely blamed on Honored Lady Jiang!"

Honored Lady Jiang tearfully acknowledged Sister Ji with gratitude.

Furious, the Empress smashed the teacup in her hand and exclaimed angrily, "All this time, I have wasted my efforts on you for nothing. Had I known it would be like this, I might as well have recommended someone else! Even Honored Lady Du would be better than you!"

Honored Lady Jiang, scolded so harshly by the Empress, wept miserably. "Empress, please give me another chance! Please!!"

She really wanted to be favored. She wanted to prove that she was in no way inferior to Honored Lady Cheng. She had been outstanding since she was young and had always been fawned over wherever she went. Matchmakers had worn down the threshold of her family’s door; how could she be inferior to Honored Lady Cheng!

Seeing her weep, the Empress truly could not bear to watch and could only wave her hand dismissively. "Enough, enough. From now on, you’ll rely on your own abilities! Let’s clear the air today; from now on, I will not favor you anymore! If you gain favor, that’s naturally good for you; bearing sons and raising children, you can enjoy it and no one can take it away! If you do not gain favor, it’s not because I did you harm; you’ll suffer on your own! I will not accompany you any longer!"

This woman has remained intact after serving in bed several times. She probably won’t ever gain favor in her lifetime. After all, the few occasions she had were all because of my recommendation! Without me, Honored Lady Jiang would never have had such good days; it’s like dreaming!

Honored Lady Jiang, unable to attain what she desired, was eventually driven out by the Empress. Yu Lan’s words were becoming somewhat impolite. "By the order of the Empress, Honored Lady Jiang need not come again! Hurry back!"

Having said that, Yu Lan turned and went inside.

Honored Lady Jiang’s heart felt as if it had been soaked in ice water, about to freeze into a block of ice.

Honored Lady Du took the opportunity to visit the Empress, but the Empress did not see her either. To elevate someone, naturally one looks for the type that the Emperor favors! Honored Lady Jiang, priding herself on her beauty, was too arrogant!