A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1275 - 1273: I’ll Help You

It’s not that she was ungrateful, but she was too enamored with this rare happiness.

She suddenly felt a desire to rebel, a reluctance to face it.

Although all of this was thanks to the Empress Dowager, she really didn’t want to destroy it.

Couldn’t it be compensated in another way?

Why must she do such heartless and immoral things?

She was indeed the Emperor’s birth mother! How could she...?

"Noble Consort, sleep!"

Luo Manman was also out of sorts, placing down the Phoenix Crown, she turned and lay down.

Xiao Ge didn’t understand, nor did he think much about it.

He placed the Phoenix Crown in a box for safekeeping and also turned to leave.

...

That night, the Emperor did not come.

Luo Manman found it hard to sleep alone, tossing and turning until midnight before falling into a restless sleep.

The next day.

Xiao Ge woke her early again.

After dressing and tidying herself up, she headed to Duanning Palace.

According to the rules.

The first day of elevation to Noble Consort, she was to first pay respects to the Empress, then together with the Empress, pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

However... Xia Ruqing felt too lazy to follow such rules.

She simply claimed to be ill, asked someone to serve tea to Luo Manman, and after a quarter of an hour asked her to leave.

Pay respects to the Empress Dowager?

Apologies, she was unwell and feared passing her illness to the Empress Dowager, so she wouldn’t go.

Luo Manman was so angry that she almost spat blood, but there was nothing she could do about it.

She glared fiercely at the few palace maids serving tea, then left with Xiao Ge, waving her sleeves.

Upon hearing the news, Xia Ruqing chuckled lightly, said nothing, and continued fiddling with her chess manual.

Luo Manman over here.

Upon leaving Duanning Palace.

She took a deep breath several times before finally making up her mind, and boarded the sedan chair, letting it take her to the entrance of Ningshou Palace.

And here at Ningshou Palace, the Empress Dowager had already sent someone to wait for her at the door.

As soon as the sedan chair landed, those few little palace maids immediately stepped forward to greet her.

Luo Manman closed her eyes as if resigned to her fate, and got up reluctantly to follow them inside.

"Greetings to Empress Dowager!"

Luo Manman knelt down and kowtowed in front of the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager sat at the head, holding a warming stove, with a thick old deerskin blanket covering her lap.

Although she had gained quite a bit of weight, her complexion was rosy, her demeanor tranquil, seeming more like a kind old lady.

First, she regarded Luo Manman with a very amiable gaze for several moments, then smiled and said.

"Get up quickly!"

After speaking, she looked towards the palace maids beside her.

"Why are you standing there in a daze, quickly help the Noble Consort up, serve tea and snacks!"

"Yes!"

The palace maids responded in unison and retreated.

The Empress Dowager also smiled, beckoning to Luo Manman.

"Come, sit by my side!"

Luo Manman rose to thank her, walked gracefully, and sat beside the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager first examined her carefully, took her hand and stroked it for a while, then smiled and said.

"Indeed, such smooth and tender skin!"

"Back then you were also a beauty, had it not been for my muddle-headedness... you wouldn’t have suffered so much!"

Her tone suddenly became choked with emotion, speaking while constantly wiping nonexistent tears with a handkerchief.

Luo Manman’s mouth twitched slightly.

What does it mean to be crying over spilled milk, or what does fake mercy mean, she truly saw it today.

Yet, the act must continue.

She quickly withdrew her hand, got up, kneeled by the Empress Dowager’s knees, teary-eyed and gratefully said.

"Why would the Empress Dowager say such things!"

"All that I have today is thanks to your nurturing, you are like a second parent to me!"

"Your great kindness and virtue, I dare not forget in my entire life!"

The Empress Dowager sounded very moved.

"Good child, quickly rise!"

Then pulled her over to sit next to her.

The two chatted heart-to-heart.

Their closeness was such that one might mistake them for mother and daughter.

Shih Wanxin came in from outside, witnessing this scene, feeling somewhat envious.

Nevertheless, she forced a smile and approached.

"Oh! Finally, the Noble Consort arrives! The Empress Dowager has been waiting for quite a while!"

The Empress Dowager beckoned her over.

"Wanxin is here, hurry and greet Noble Consort Luo!"

Luo Manman immediately got up, flustered and said.

"I dare not, I dare not! Please, Empress Dowager, don’t embarrass me!"

The Empress Dowager pulled her again.

"What’s there to fear, you are now a Noble Consort, she is nothing, you need not fear her anymore!"

"Come, sit down!"

Luo Manman hesitated for a moment, then obediently sat down.

Shih Wanxin felt a sting in her heart.

Pay respects? She, paying respects to Noble Consort Luo?

That was too ironic!

Back then when she was a Noble Consort, that vile woman Luo Manman was probably struggling somewhere obscure, wasn’t she?

Now she even dares to put on airs of a Noble Consort in front of her!

Hmph! Not even considering how she came to be a Noble Consort!

Despite thinking thus, she hid her displeasure, went forward to greet.

"Greetings to Noble Consort Luo!"

Luo Manman pretended to be composed, raising her hand.

"You may rise!"

Shih Wanxin was so angry her face turned pale, she bit her lip hard and then stood up.

The Empress Dowager smiled, gesturing for her to sit down, the three chatted for a while longer before finally getting to the point.

The Empress Dowager ceased smiling, looked solemnly at Luo Manman and asked.

"You’ve been close to the Emperor for quite some time now, has he suspected you?"

Luo Manman hesitated for a while, shook her head.

"No!"

"The Emperor treats me... well and trusts me!"

"He seems very nostalgic, often talking about his childhood!"

The Empress Dowager’s heart tightened.

"Childhood memories? What did he say about them?"

Luo Manman bit her lip.

"Nothing more!"

"Actually, the Emperor never delves deeply, usually sighing a few times before changing the subject, but I can feel he really cares!"

The Empress Dowager smiled coldly and waved her hand.

"Forget about that, what else? Nothing else?"

Luo Manman nodded, "Nothing else!"

The Empress Dowager and Shih Wanxin exchanged a glance, nodded at each other.

There was silence for a moment.

Shih Wanxin took out a small white porcelain bottle from her bosom, placed it before Luo Manman.

"Since you’ve gained the Emperor’s trust, our next plan must begin!"

Luo Manman’s face suddenly turned white.

She wanted to reach for it, but her hands were trembling fiercely.

Her heart also pounded erratically, as if it would jump out from her throat the next second.

"What’s wrong?"

Shih Wanxin smiled coldly.

"Are you afraid?"

The Empress Dowager said nothing, but her gaze was also colder than before.

Luo Manman, shocked, quickly withdrew her hand.

"No!"

"How could I!"

"Everything I have is given by you, how could I betray you!"

Shih Wanxin smirked.

"That’s better!"

She shoved the bottle into her hand, casually instructing.

"There are thirty pills in total, each day find a way to give him one, after a month..."

"Your task is done, and you’ll forever be a Noble Consort, enjoying endless riches!"

Luo Manman blankly stared at the pills, her gaze incredibly complicated.

Shih Wanxin added coldly.

"Rest assured, these aren’t poison, they won’t take his life!"

"Once completed, we’re even, and you’re free, how does that sound?"

Luo Manman instantly raised her head at these words, her eyes lighting up.

"Alright!"

"I will help you!"