A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1092: The Master Is Not Anxious, But the Eunuch Is Restless
Previously on A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace...
"I may not know much about other matters, but regarding status..."
After everything, I stand as the rightful Princess Consort, formally offered to the Royal Family at the ancestral shrine alongside the Jade Butterfly.
How could mere outsiders shove me out of the way?
True, the Prince acts a bit impulsively, yet the Great Chu Dynasty's Royal Family isn't so simple to bully.
Regardless of the strong ties between Western Xia Kingdom and Great Chu Dynasty, a woman from abroad could never claim the title of Princess Consort.
Besides, Great Chu Dynasty lacks any such tradition.
Not even in past dynasties over centuries has anything like it occurred.
Therefore...
Lady Zhu lifted her chin arrogantly once more.
"Whether Consort or concubine, without favor, they're worthless!"
"Only I remain!"
Rising to her feet, she spun around.
"Once I safely deliver a son, he'll undoubtedly become the true heir!"
"One day, the whole Prince’s Mansion estate will be ours, mother and son!"
"No matter their favor or skills, those women must bow beneath my influence!"
Ying Tao pondered briefly before urging once more.
"My Lady, don't hold such views!"
"Look there—a clear case exists!" She gestured toward the Fifth Prince’s Mansion.
Rumor has it...
Isn't the Fifth Princess Consort from foreign lands?
Frustrated, Lady Zhu lightly knocked Ying Tao’s forehead.
"What’s on your mind?"
"How’s that comparable? She’s a Commandery Princess who nearly attended the Emperor!"
One side features a distant Commandery Princess by marriage, the other mere entertainers unfit for daylight.
They’re utterly incomparable, worlds apart, right?
Ying Tao rubbed her forehead.
"You’re right..."
"In that case, My Lady, stop overthinking!"
"Whatever hardships others face here, ours will stay comfortable!"
She grasps full authority over the household.
Who would dare challenge her?!
Lady Zhu grinned: "Exactly!"
"Enough on this topic!"
"Whatever the Master desires later, we’ll provide it!"
This satisfies him while strengthening our standing. Perfect!
Ying Tao beamed with pride.
"Yes! Such wisdom from the Princess Consort!"
Mistress and servant plotted confidently.
Lady Zhu happily stepped out to view the snow.
Afterward, none bothered the three foreign women in the Sixth Prince’s Mansion anymore.
Peace finally descended on their lives.
...
With no more drama at the Fifth and Sixth Princes’ Mansions,
Capital City chatter turned to the Seventh Master.
Among the ten beauties from abroad, he claimed four alone.
What luck for the Seventh Master!
Zhao Junyan stayed low-key usually, his mother’s family lacking prestige.
Nearly his entire life spent battling in army camps, he held scant sway in court.
During the feast for Western Xia Kingdom’s Prince Jin,
Seventh Master felled a Western Xia Warrior with a single strike, surging to prominence.
Capital dwellers gradually noticed this overlooked Royal Family member.
Now, the Emperor granted him several beauties this time.
Chatter erupted everywhere.
Thrusting the Seventh Prince’s personal affairs into the Capital’s hottest rumors.
"I hear the Seventh Prince boasts stunning looks and martial prowess rivaling the Emperor!"
"True enough!"
"So youthful, yet he bested a Western Xia Warrior—who else shows such bravery and skill? A prime son of Great Chu!"
"I hear he excels in martial arts and masters the gentleman’s six arts too!"
"His bearing exudes innate grace, poised and cultured—a exceptional young prodigy!"
"Like opera heroes, clad in flowing robes with fan in hand, the picture of suave elegance!"
"In armor, golden halberd raised, he appears mighty and imposing, devouring miles like a tiger!"
"Master of pen and sword, a genuine talent!"
"Precisely, precisely!"
Word spread wildly among the crowds, growing taller with each telling,
Within mere days, they’d forged the Seventh Prince into a legendary all-powerful icon.
Hearing it, even he could only offer a bitter smile.
"Such ridiculous tales!"
Little Eunuch Bao Tong hastened forward, grinning brightly.
"Don’t get mad, Master. If you dislike it, I’ll never speak of it again!"
The Seventh Master nodded his head.
"Not a single word from now on!"
"Understood!" Bao Tong replied.
The Seventh Master fell quiet, diving back into his military books, as silence filled the room once more.
...
These rumors weren’t solely fueled by the chatter among the common folk.
Hidden hands from within were fanning the flames.
It all traced back to the day the Emperor granted the four beauties.
On that very day.
The Seventh Master had come back from the army camp and sat studying in his study.
The head eunuch brought in the ladies, asking the Seventh Prince for guidance on their placement.
Bao Tong, thrilled by their stunning looks, hurried to inform him.
"Master... how shall we handle these four ladies...?"
He gazed expectantly at the Seventh Master’s expression.
Yearning to catch words like, ’Place them in the back courtyard.’
After all, the Master still lacked a Chamber Maid.
How could that be? The Master was nearing twenty.
The Empress Dowager had once brought up marriage for him.
Yet somehow, it fell through, and nothing came of it during the selection.
Even Empress Dowager Zhen was setting up Consorts for her boy.
But his own Master, at twenty, had no such plans.
What a heartbreaking fate for a motherless child! So tragic.
The deeper Bao Tong pondered, the more pity swelled for his Master.
To the extent he nearly wept for him.
Regrettably...
His Master showed no rush!
The Master stayed calm, but the eunuch fretted endlessly!
Zhao Junyan had no clue about his servant’s anxiety.
He lifted his head gradually from the pile of military books, paused briefly, then spoke.
"Send them to clean the rear courtyard!"
Bao Tong: "..."
"Master..."
"Are you certain?"
Zhao Junyan seemed surprised.
"What’s there to doubt?"
"Didn’t you mention before that the rear courtyard could use some maids for sweeping? Now they’ll serve that purpose!"
Bao Tong: "..." at a loss for words once more.
This time, he truly couldn’t find a response.
Dumbfounded for moments, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Master!"
"Don’t you want a Chamber Maid?"
"This comes from the Emperor himself, and you’re already..." fully mature.
Bao Tong hinted boldly, sighing inside, since the Master clearly missed the point.
Where on earth is the future Seventh Princess Consort!
Indeed.
The Master, a true gentleman, felt no concern.
Yet the rootless eunuch worried himself to death!
Ahem!
Bao Tong halted his thoughts there.
He clenched his jaw and declared.
"Yes, I’ll take care of it!"
The Seventh Prince nodded approvingly and resumed his military books...
Bao Tong rubbed his brow and glanced heavenward.
Suddenly, he realized that waiting for the Master to awaken alone in this life was futile.
Therefore...
Bao Tong resolved to assist his Master.
For a young master with no one to arrange matters, the servant had to step up!
And so that evening.
Bao Tong gathered numerous chatty palace maids, eunuchs, and veteran sisters.
He lavished them with generous rewards.
Instructing them to endlessly laud his Master and spread the word widely.
And so... the subsequent happenings ignited (the start of all the gossip).