A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 757: Asking the Execution

Ying Qiu quickly agreed with a couple of remarks, and then said, "Your Highness, why don’t you rest for a while? You must be tired and hungry after such a long day!"

"This servant will order some food for you, and get some pastries as well!"

Upon hearing this, Noble Concubine Shih grew angry again.

"A Noble Concubine of my standing, living worse than a Consort Xian!"

When there was an issue with the food, the Emperor had immediately ordered a small kitchen to be set up in Qingya Residence. They prepared to transfer two kitchen maids—one from the Imperial Kitchen and another selected from the common folk—plus a few Imperial Kitchen Palace Maids, specifically to attend to the dietary needs of the mother and children.

In the palace, Xia Ruqing was the first to receive such treatment.

Noble Concubine Shih thought of this and became enraged.

"Vile woman!"

"Your Highness! You just said you weren’t going to get angry anymore!"

"Ruining your health over anger is so not worth it!" Ying Qiu advised helplessly.

In the end, Noble Concubine Shih clenched her teeth but could only wave her hand in resignation.

"Enough, enough!"

After finishing speaking, she sipped some tea, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, then stood up to retire to her inner chambers to change clothes, and lay down.

Noble Concubine Shih didn’t eat much for lunch. She was still angry and didn’t have the appetite.

Ying Qiu didn’t dare urge her further.

But as they were at lunch, Ying Qiu suddenly saw a glimpse of triumph and cunning in Noble Concubine Shih’s eyes!

"Right, there’s also the Empress Dowager!"

"Your Highness, what have you thought of now?" Ying Qiu asked helplessly.

Noble Concubine Shih put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and then laughed.

"This year is the seventh year; according to the rules, it’s time for a selection of Fine Ladies."

"Although the Empress Dowager verbally agreed not to select consorts for the Emperor, she took a fancy to a few when selecting a Main Wife for the Fifth Master."

"Now... they are all waiting outside the palace!"

"Perhaps the Empress Dowager has forgotten about this. I must remind her. What if... there’s someone the Emperor likes?!"

After listening, Ying Qiu pondered for a moment and also felt that it was a good plan.

"Your Highness, you are wise!"

"Originally, the imperial favor should be shared equally in the harem. Now that Consort Xian solely occupies it, it is indeed..."

"Hmph!" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Come, let’s not eat any more. I shall visit the Empress Dowager right now!"

Ying Qiu smiled quietly.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

...

In Ningshou Palace, the Empress Dowager was having lunch with the Third Princess.

Upon hearing that Noble Concubine Shih was seeking an audience, the Empress Dowager was surprised for a moment, then ordered the Third Princess to be taken away.

Noble Concubine Shih entered hurriedly, her face beaming with an impatient smile.

"Empress Dowager, I pay my respects!"

The Empress Dowager lightly lifted her eyes.

"Why are you here?"

"Empress Dowager!" Noble Concubine Shih rose to her feet on her own, approaching and taking the Empress Dowager’s arm.

"What are these words, Empress Dowager? Can’t this subject come if there’s nothing in particular?"

The Empress Dowager’s gaze fell pensively. When there’s nothing in particular, you really don’t come!

However, on the surface, the Empress Dowager was very amiable.

"Alright, alright, you’ve come at this time, and I haven’t finished my lunch yet!"

Noble Concubine Shih promptly said eagerly, "Empress Dowager, let this subject serve you for lunch!"

The Empress Dowager smiled faintly and sat down.

True to her word, Noble Concubine Shih stood by to attend to the dishes.

The Empress Dowager was in no hurry, picking up her chopsticks and slowly eating.

Silence reigned during the meal.

A quarter of an hour later, the Empress Dowager set down her chopsticks.

"Speak up. What makes you so obedient today? What’s the matter?"

Noble Concubine Shih was caught off guard by the question. She did have plans, but... wasn’t this too direct?

"Could it be about the matter with that girl today?"

The Empress Dowager seemed to refer to Hong Hui. Although the matter had not alarmed the Empress Dowager, it caused such a commotion in the harem. It was impossible for the Empress Dowager not to know about it.

Her tone became much more indifferent as she bluntly said, "I will not intervene in this matter!"

Caught red-handed like that, she would be unable to get involved even if she wanted to!

"Empress Dowager..." Noble Concubine Shih pleaded with a face full of entreaty.

"No!"

"Wanxin, do you not understand why you have come to this point today?"

"Do you think the Emperor is unaware of what you have done?"

"His reluctance to move against you is simply because he still has some affection for you. Do you really want to exhaust even that last bit of affection?"

Noble Concubine Shih’s face turned red with chastisement.

"Empress Dowager!"

Indeed, she had come because of Hong Hui’s matter, but she had not asked the Empress Dowager to intervene. Becoming a bit anxious, Noble Concubine Shih blurted out, "Empress Dowager, I just cannot stand to see that wretch Lady Xia so smug!"

The Empress Dowager gave a cold laugh.

"She has borne three princes. Who else should be proud if not her?"

"I tell you, for the next five or six, or even seven or eight years, she will continue to be in the limelight. You cannot deny it, even if you refuse to accept it!"

"What are you planning to do? Just continue to wear yourself down?"

Noble Concubine Shih was at a loss for words. She hemmed and hawed for a long time before remembering.

"Empress Dowager, didn’t you select some Fine Ladies for the Emperor? Maybe... maybe the Emperor, my cousin, might like them!"

The Empress Dowager laughed again.

"Fine Ladies? They are merely Fine Ladies, after all!"

"Don’t forget, all these years, among so many Fine Ladies, only one Lady Xia emerged!"

Noble Concubine Shih began to feel disheartened.

"Is there really no way?"

The Empress Dowager snorted.

"It’s not that there are no ways, but that you are too greedy!"

"How good it would be for you to remain your Noble Concubine in peace. With the Empress away from the palace, you are the most honorable one. Who can do anything to you?"

"The Emperor may not favor you, but he still respects you!"

"Why must you oppose him?"

Noble Concubine Shih’s heart constricted upon hearing this.

"Empress Dowager, are you saying that there is really no chance... for me and my cousin?"

The latter half of the sentence was left unsaid by Noble Concubine Shih.

The Empress Dowager looked at her darkly and sneered.

"What do you expect? That he would give up his empire to indulge in romantic love with you?"

"Don’t forget, he is the Emperor!"

"As much as he once favored you, he now showers that affection on Lady Xia!"

"Similarly, as much as he favors Lady Xia now, in the future, he will bestow his affection on other women!"

"Your today is merely Lady Xia’s tomorrow. Romantic love? Heh, it doesn’t exist!"

Noble Concubine Shih was stunned. Upon further thought, she realized it was true; everyone knows the principle that no flower blooms for a hundred days.

Many favored consorts have been seen throughout history. But not one has been favored continuously, let alone loved for an entire lifetime by the Emperor!

Yet, Noble Concubine Shih still felt a sense of resentment.

"That’s easy for you to say, but who wants to be neglected? What’s wrong with me not wanting that?"

The Empress Dowager was momentarily speechless. To say so much and still not be understood... it’s like playing the lute to a cow. Enough! It’s better not to say any more!

The Empress Dowager didn’t continue and just picked up her tea to drink.

Noble Concubine Shih found herself engulfed in awkwardness.

Just then, Sister Qing rushed in from outside, flustered.

"Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, something terrible has happened!"

The awkward atmosphere was instantly shattered.

Noble Concubine Shih and the Empress Dowager’s eyes—four gazes in total—immediately focused on her.

"What’s happened?"

The Empress Dowager had been having an ominous premonition lately. Now her heart was pounding furiously. It seemed... the foreboded event had finally arrived.

Sister Qing glanced at the Noble Concubine, looking as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.

The Empress Dowager also gave her a look and eventually commanded, "Speak!"

Sister Qing then said, "Empress Dowager, the Emperor has locked Crown Prince Yan in the Imperial Prison and has decreed that he be executed in three days!"

This news struck the Empress Dowager like a thunderbolt, searing her from within, as if her very soul were being extinguished.

"You... what did you say?"

"Execute him? Impossible! Junqi is his own first cousin; how could he possibly..."

"No matter how ruthless he is, this can’t be possible! Impossible!"