A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 450: Pah!

Lady Yao pondered for a while but still didn’t believe it.

With this thought, Lady Yao felt righteous again.

"Pah!"

"What a cunning Palace Maid, daring to mock Madam here!"

Xia Ruyi also chimed in from the side, "Exactly! Who do you think you are to dare mock my mother! Do you know who she is?"

Xia Ruyi was practically ruined by Lady Yao’s upbringing. Whatever her mother did, she would do the same—a truly spoiled young lady of privilege.

After all, back in Jiangnan, Old Master Xia had been quite influential. He relied on his daughter, a consort in the Imperial Palace, and his eldest son, an official in the Capital City. Officials of all ranks were willing to show him deference, and Lady Yao had always been a central figure among the ladies. Over time, pride became second nature, and they forgot where their confidence truly stemmed from!

「 」

Zi Su turned white with anger when she was scolded, but she still had to observe the proper etiquette.

At this moment, Zi Yue came out from within. She looked at Zi Su with a cold face, then turned to Lady Yao.

"Is this... Lady Xia?"

Lady Yao guessed immediately.

So she haughtily raised her head. "Yes, Madam here!" After speaking, she gave Zi Su another disdainful look, then entered on her own.

Zi Yue’s lips curled into a sneer, but she didn’t try to stop her and followed her inside.

Lady Yao, without waiting for an invitation, picked the best seat like the Family Matriarch and sat down.

Zi Yue didn’t bother with her, quietly serving a cup of tea. "Madam, please enjoy your tea!"

Lady Yao nodded. "Finally, someone sensible!"

After saying this, she began to drink the tea with a sense of entitlement. Having walked for most of the day, she was both tired and flustered, and had long been thirsty.

After the tea, she felt hungry and picked up the pastries on the table. "Ruyi must be hungry too, have some first! When your elder sister comes later, there will be even better things!"

But Ruyi was stubborn, tilting her head defiantly. "No, I must have the best!"

Lady Yao chided, "Such a picky girl!" However, she didn’t insist further and started eating on her own.

Lady Yao, like a pig, had eaten and drunk her fill since her arrival, almost depleting all the pastries and tea.

Xia Ruqing was in the inner chamber. She could hear every single movement clearly.

Suddenly, she remembered a scene: Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Lady Yao dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief and resumed her posturing. "Well... when will my daughter come over! This is too improper; I, as her mother, have been waiting for half a day already!"

While asking, she surveyed the room’s furnishings. Xia Ruqing’s place, though not resplendent with gold and jade, was still luxurious and extravagant. Antique vases and jade potted plants were everywhere; each piece was priceless, things Lady Yao had never even seen before.

She was immediately captivated.

Zi Yue could hardly stand to watch anymore, finally leaving with one last remark. "I will go and summon Her Highness!" And then she left.

Zi Su couldn’t leave and just glared at Lady Yao, rolling her eyes.

As Zi Su was thinking, the inner bed curtains were drawn back layer by layer, revealing the crystal bead curtains that had been hung earlier.

Lady Yao’s eyes widened again.

「 」

Zi Yue re-emerged, having adjusted the curtains. Her face had already taken on a serious expression.

"Madam, it is time to pay your respects! Consort Xian Pin has come out!"

Lady Yao was somewhat stunned.

Zi Su at her side also hurriedly reminded her, "Haven’t I taught you how to pay respects, Madam?!"

Looking left and right, Lady Yao slowly began to understand.

While cursing inwardly, she didn’t dare to rebel outwardly. She slowly stood up and, pulling Xia Ruyi with her, knelt towards the inner room’s entrance.

"This humble wife... pays respects to Consort Xian Pin!"

「 」

Inside the inner chamber, Xia Ruqing was lounging on the chaise, watching Lady Yao with cold eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips.

For some reason, her heart suddenly filled with a strange feeling.

Xia Ruqing smiled.

Her thoughts whirled. Xia Ruqing finally pulled herself back to the present, and with a light parting of her rosy lips, said, "You may rise!"

These two words, languid yet imbued with nobility, graceful yet carrying authority.

Lady Yao was so taken aback by these words that she didn’t dare say more and hurriedly kowtowed again. "Thank you, Consort Xian Pin!"

Xia Ruqing did not speak again, nor did she offer them seats, simply allowing them to stand.

The atmosphere in the room was serious and oppressive; Lady Yao was extremely nervous. Her earlier arrogance and disrespect had vanished without a trace. She was thoroughly intimidated now, hardly daring to make a move.

After a long silence, Xia Ruqing finally spoke again. "Mother has come all the way to the Capital City; the journey must have been arduous..."

When Lady Yao heard the word "Mother," her heart instantly relaxed, and a smile immediately spread across her face. "Your Highness is too kind; it wasn’t arduous at all!"

Xia Ruqing curled her lips, then after a pause, she asked, "I wonder... how are my younger brother and sister?"

Lady Yao, feeling smug, shamelessly said, "Wei Feng and Ruyi are both well. In fact, Ruyi has come today too!"

After saying this, she directly pulled her daughter over. "Ruyi, come and greet your elder sister!"

Xia Ruyi bit her lip and, without much hesitation, knelt. "Greetings to Elder Sister!"

Xia Ruqing was silent for a moment before curling her lips into a smile. "Rise..." Then she added indolently, "I wasn’t asking about the two children you gave birth to."

These words, direct and sharp as blades, pierced straight into Lady Yao’s heart. The most infuriating part was that the other person maintained an air of unruffled calm, as if it were all perfectly natural.