Chapter 189 - 188: Unwilling to Accept This

Now that she had recovered, things were somewhat better.

The Imperial Kitchen dared not give her leftover food anymore, but there was definitely nothing good either.

Plain rice went without saying, and as for vegetables... they were just the scraps left over from other masters’ dishes.

For instance, if someone had cooked a chicken dish, the leftover chicken heads, feet, and rumps would be hers.

Though not great, they were at least fresh and not moldy.

Even so, Honored Lady Hu was still not accustomed to it.

Xiao Chengzi mocked her.

"All these are scraps spared from the mouths of the cooks in the Imperial Kitchen," he sneered. "If it weren’t for the Empress’s protection, you wouldn’t even have this much to eat!"

The ingredients for the masters were always the freshest and best, neither too fat nor too lean, just right.

The masters ate the good meat, and these leftovers and odd bits... the eunuchs in the Imperial Kitchen would be happy to satisfy their cravings with them. Not a bit was wasted!

But it was different for Honored Lady Hu. She wasn’t a servant; she used to be an official’s daughter, and after entering the palace, she was a master. Her status wasn’t high, but the servants didn’t dare offend her lightly.

But now...

Looking at the food before her, she suddenly burst into tears.

Now, was she to look up to others like a dog and be thrown scraps to eat?

Seeing that she wasn’t touching her chopsticks, Xiao Chengzi didn’t bother with her.

"Humph! Acting as if you’re still Lady Xia!" he scoffed. "If you’re so capable, why doesn’t the Emperor think of you every single day, huh! Both Honored Ladies, yet why did I end up with such an unlucky master!"

A flicker of anger passed through Honored Lady Hu’s eyes, but she dared not show it. With only this one eunuch by her side, she had no confidence at all.

But, how long would these days last!

she wondered.

She had busied herself for the Empress so much; was this to be her end? Resigned? Or not resigned? Even if she weren’t resigned, what could she do? Noble Consort Shih couldn’t wait for her to die; she could only rely on the Empress! This was the only way!

「...」

Honored Lady Xi had been nursing her injuries for the past few days. But there was one thing she couldn’t figure out.

"Eldest Sister Lan, Consort Yun and the Noble Consort have always been on good terms..." she mused. "Why didn’t she hold it against me when I offended the Noble Consort, and instead, actually speak on my behalf?"

Honored Lady Lan couldn’t understand it either.

"I... I don’t know either..."

Since Honored Lady Xi couldn’t figure it out, she stopped dwelling on it. She hadn’t left her room for several days.

"I really want to go out after always staying in my room!"

Honored Lady Lan hurriedly advised her, "Your facial wound can’t be exposed to the wind! Wait a little longer..."

Honored Lady Xi felt a bit disappointed and lay down on her pillow.

"I wonder... what Elder Sister Xia is doing?!" she murmured. "Why hasn’t she come to see me..."

With Honored Lady Hu sent to the Cold Palace, there were only three Honored Ladies left in the Harem... They didn’t have any conflicts, so couldn’t they... visit each other?

Honored Lady Lan then consoled her, "It’s said that these past two days Lady Xia has been attending to the Emperor; perhaps she’s willing but powerless..."

Honored Lady Xi was in a daze.

Willing but powerless...

Consort Yun’s words suddenly echoed in her mind.

"Lady Xia is so favored, yet she doesn’t mention you to the Emperor... Lady Xia is so favored, she’s probably forgotten all about you... And you call yourselves good sisters?"

Were they, really good sisters? Were they?

While she was deep in thought, an announcement came from outside: "Consort Yun has arrived!"

No sooner had the voice faded than Consort Yun entered with her Palace Maids.

"Sister Consort Yun..." Honored Lady Lan and Honored Lady Xi hurriedly got to their feet to salute.

Consort Yun stepped forward and firmly held Honored Lady Xi in place. "Alright, what are you doing getting up? We’re not strangers," she said.

Honored Lady Xi gave an embarrassed smile. "Many thanks to Your Highness!"

Today, Consort Yun was dressed in a long gown of pale purple, her makeup exquisite. She wore a complete set of amethyst ornaments in her hair. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her and making her appear dazzlingly bright and stunningly beautiful.

Consort Yun took a seat and first examined the injury on Honored Lady Xi’s face. Then, a radiant smile appeared on her delicate and beautiful face. "This is... about to heal already..." she remarked.

Next, she began to vigorously brainwash Honored Lady Xi. "It must be that the Noble Consort acted impulsively! The Imperial Physician has said that pregnant women are prone to emotional instability..."

In the end, she waited until Honored Lady Xi clearly indicated, "I know the Noble Consort didn’t mean it. I don’t blame Her Highness; it’s all my own fault!"

Only then did Consort Yun stop the brainwashing, satisfied. Finally, she changed the subject.

"My dear Sister Xi, look what I’ve brought for you," she said.

With that, Cai Die brought over a food box. Upon opening it, inside was a large bunch of grapes, each grape plump and translucent, fully ripe. A fine layer of white frost hung on them, making them look very fresh.

"These are from the south. There aren’t many in total..." Consort Yun explained. "With the Noble Consort pregnant, the Emperor granted her some extra. She couldn’t finish them all, so she gave me two bunches. This kind is certainly not found here. So, I brought you one bunch..."

She then turned her gaze to Honored Lady Lan. "It’s not much, but please share and taste it as a treat!"

Honored Lady Xi and Honored Lady Lan felt rather embarrassed and somewhat dared not accept. After several refusals, Consort Yun insisted, and they finally accepted.

Consort Yun sat for a while before taking her leave.

Honored Lady Xi asked Dong Cha to wash the grapes. "Eldest Sister Lan, since it’s Consort Yun’s kind gesture, let’s not be polite," she said.

Honored Lady Lan was initially hesitant. She couldn’t resist Honored Lady Xi’s temptation and ate two.

"These grapes are really sweet..."

Being from a humble family, she had never eaten such a precious thing.

"Aren’t they? These southern delicacies are quite valuable," remarked Honored Lady Xi. "I heard... they were transported here with ice blocks."

Honored Lady Lan found it unbelievable. "In such hot weather, it must have taken a lot of ice!"

Honored Lady Xi laughed, "Eldest Sister Lan, that’s not something for you to worry about!"

Honored Lady Lan smiled sheepishly.

Those purple grapes were indeed very sweet. Peeling the skin and taking a bite filled the mouth with cool, sweet juice. In the end, their hands were sticky. A silk handkerchief was not enough to clean them; they had to be washed with water.

"I heard Elder Sister Xia has also grown grapes, but I’m not sure if they’re good..." Honored Lady Xi mused. Some grapes are sour no matter how ripe they become, while others are very sweet.

Not knowing how to continue the conversation, Honored Lady Lan could only offer, "Wait until you’re healed..."

「...」

At the beginning of August, several rains fell in succession. They chased away the remnants of the Indian summer’s heat, and the weather gradually became cooler.

Inside the palace, tranquility prevailed.

If even the Empress could keep her composure, who else would dare to stir?

Xia Ruqing acquired some seeds suitable for winter planting—carrots, radishes, spinach, cabbage, bamboo shoots, and lettuce—and sowed them in the vegetable garden. She also had a small lotus pond about ten square meters dug out. She had the bottom coated with clay and laid with river pebbles. She filled it with soil, waiting for the right season to plant lotus roots. The following year, they would be digging up lotus roots to eat.

Zi Yue, seeing her mistress dressed simply, with one hand covered in mud and the other in soil, felt quite helpless.

"Mistress, you should take a rest; these tasks can be left to the servants..." she advised.

Xia Ruqing strongly disagreed. "The taste of something you grow yourself is different from what you get ready-made!" she asserted.