A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 702 Thawing Prejudices?

Xia Ruqing still frowned.

Men sending each other hairpins?

Then again, perhaps it was just a gift from some other lady to her sister-in-law!

Maybe she was overthinking it.

Xia Ruqing closed the box and passed it to Zi Yue.

"Put it away!"

"Yes!" Zi Yue turned and left.

Seeing Xiao Xizi was still there, Xia Ruqing casually asked, "You just said, where did this hairpin come from?"

Xiao Xizi smiled. "It came from the Ministry of Internal Affairs!"

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs?"

It was true that gifts from outside the palace had to be inspected by the Ministry of Internal Affairs before they were allowed into the inner court. But she still felt something was not right!

Before she could think further, she was overcome with sleepiness. More than four months along, her appetite had returned, but so had her desire to sleep more than before. Her eyes were barely open when she lay down and immediately fell asleep, dreaming of meeting the Duke of Zhou.

The next day, she slept until she woke up naturally and brushed off the matter of the Yellow Jade Hairpin. It was foolish to chase shadows and fret about nothing.

「On the morning of the Lantern Festival.」

The noblewomen from outside the palace entered the palace early. With the Empress absent, they all went to Ningshou Palace. In the Harem, the Noble Consort took the lead. Consort Hui and Consort Ning followed closely behind, accompanied by several consorts, as they all made their way over.

Xia Ruqing, with her pregnant belly, didn’t want to go where the crowd was and claimed illness to avoid the event. The Empress Dowager had nothing to say about it.

But the Noble Consort was quite pleased. Lady Xia had the decency not to compete for attention. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The luncheon was set in Ningshou Palace. Even though a rift had arisen between the Noble Consort and the Empress Dowager, in front of others, they were as cordial and affectionate as ever, a picture of blossoming splendor.

Consort Ning was always cautious and dared not say much. Consort Hui, on the other hand, was quite generous. The luncheon went off without a hitch.

In the afternoon, the Enjoin ladies bid farewell and departed, and everyone in the Harem also prepared to say their goodbyes.

Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager asked the Noble Consort to stay.

Noble Concubine Shih was reluctant. But she knew in her heart that without the Emperor’s favor, she had to learn to lower her gaze within the palace. So she stayed.

Sister Qing served tea and snacks before leaving with the others.

The Empress Dowager looked at the splendidly dressed and immaculately made-up Noble Consort and smiled kindly. "Wanxin, please take a seat!"

Noble Concubine Shih was somewhat reluctant. "Whatever your orders, Empress Dowager, just command me."

Her meaning was clear: there was no need to sit; if there was business, she should state it quickly. This attitude was rather arrogant, yet the Empress Dowager was not annoyed.

"Wanxin, are you still blaming me?"

Noble Concubine Shih was startled, flustered at being so directly called out. But she quickly regained her composure. "Empress Dowager, you have always been wise; how could I dare to blame you!"

The Empress Dowager took a sip of tea and spoke calmly. "Even if you do not say it, I know! I did indeed wrong you in the previous matter! But Wanxin, don’t you understand by now? You must have heard about the Fan Family outside the Palace, haven’t you? Right at this moment, the Empress is trapped in a nunnery. Meanwhile, you are still the Noble Consort and wield control over The Six Palaces!"

The Empress Dowager’s gaze was sharp, her words clear and structured!

The Noble Consort was speechless. She used to think that the Empress Dowager and the Empress were in league, neglecting her, their own niece. But now, breaking it down like this... it seemed... The Empress Dowager really hadn’t wronged her at all!

Seeing her stirred, the Empress Dowager continued, "Although Mother did not completely overthrow Lady Xia for you, Mother did indeed do everything she could... The reason I pulled you out previously was also for your own good! That’s why this time, the Emperor has granted you control over The Six Palaces."

The Noble Consort was stunned. Yes, what would her fate be now if she had been involved in the previous assassination attempt and framing of Lady Xia?

The Empress Dowager continued speaking. "Third Princess is now also being raised by Us. The blood of the Shih Family will not fall into the hands of outsiders! Once the Empress passes, the Emperor will surely look for a new mother for her. By that time..."

The Empress Dowager didn’t finish her sentence, but the Noble Consort knew what she meant!

Yijing was not her own flesh and blood, but she had raised her since she was seven or eight months old. How could she not have feelings for her? Furthermore, she had been fighting with the Empress for so many years. Even just for this reason, she would not let the Empress get her way. If the Empress knew all this—knew the Fan Family’s troubles, knew that the daughter she had cherished for so long had returned to her side—I wonder what her expression would be? So looking forward to it!

Which is to say, she now lacks only the title of Empress. In reality, hasn’t she already taken everything of hers?

A shock went through Noble Concubine Shih’s heart, and she broke out in a cold sweat. There was fear, thrills, and an irrepressible excitement.

Has she won? Did she really win?!

That day, she almost forgot how she got back from Ningshou Palace. All she knew was that she felt light on her feet.

By the time she returned to Xifu Palace, it was already evening. Noble Concubine Shih forcibly suppressed the excitement and tension in her heart. She called over Ying Qiu.

"How are things at the nunnery outside the palace? The year has ended; she must be struggling to hold on now, right?"

Falling to her knees, Ying Qiu responded with a hint of pride, "Your Highness, this servant has already sent someone to inquire. There will be news soon! Now the Noble Consort is in charge of the palace. As long as you are willing to spend Silver, messages can still be sent out."

The Noble Consort laughed. "If that’s the case, then send another message out! Tell my father to take good care of the Empress!"

In short, once she’s out, she should not think of coming back!

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The Noble Consort nodded in satisfaction.

Actually, how she wished she could go herself! How she longed to tell her personally that she had lost completely, then to fully enjoy the shock and despair on her face. It would be perfect to watch her breathe her last with her own eyes. That would be true satisfaction. Unfortunately, she was deeply trapped in the palace and could not go out! But this was good too. To win was already enough satisfaction for her.

Having figured it all out, Noble Concubine Shih felt relaxed in body and mind. She had her evening meal, went for a walk, and then returned.

「Outside the palace, Wanyue Nunnery.」

The Empress’s days grew worse. The mountains were cold; the snow had not melted, and the mountain roads were still impassable. Before the Lantern Festival, they ran out of coal. They dared light only one brazier each day. During the day, she wrapped herself in blankets, and at night, she couldn’t sleep for the cold. The Empress’s health was already not good, and with one thing and another, she had fallen ill.

The nunnery had herbs to treat colds, but after having grown accustomed to the excellent medicine from the palace, how could these herbs be effective? She drank them for several days but without any effect.

Yu Lan could not bear it anymore. "Your Highness, let us send a message back to the palace. This late spring frost is the most formidable. How can you endure this any longer!"

The Empress laughed coldly. "What good is sending a message?! I’ve seen it clearly now; the Emperor wishes for nothing more than for me to die out here! The Empress Dowager is no different. I truly was delusional to believe her lies! Such a pity for my Yijing!"

Having said this, the Empress began to sob. Yu Lan, filled with pity, quickly tried to console her, "Your Highness, please don’t be like this; the heavy snow seals the mountain!"

The Empress cried, her eyes swollen red. "Seals the mountain, seals the mountain, it’s just an excuse! If it were Consort Xian Pin, the Emperor would have sent someone to fetch her away long ago. How could he wait until now?!"