A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 525 Honored Lady, Let’s Go!

Zhao Junyao was feeling vexed. Without even glancing at Honored Lady Jiang, he turned and waved his hand dismissively.

"Out with her!"

Li Shengan was scared out of his wits.

He suppressed the disdain in his heart and advised her in a low voice again, "Honored Lady, please leave!"

The voice was low but carried an implicit threat.

Honored Lady Jiang froze. She sighed and dared not say anything more. Silently, she rose and followed them out.

Li Shengan quickly returned to find Zhao Junyao already lying on the imperial bed. However, the Emperor tossed and turned, unable to sleep well.

Upon seeing Li Shengan enter, Zhao Junyao commanded sternly, "Send word to Consort Xian Pin!"

Li Shengan was somewhat puzzled. "Ah?"

Zhao Junyao glared angrily at him. "Get lost! Figure it out yourself!" With that, he turned over in bed.

Li Shengan stood stunned for a moment, then quickly knelt to apologize before withdrawing with a bow. After a moment’s thought, it slowly dawned on him.

As Li Shengan pondered this, his heart eased.

With that thought, he happily walked away.

Just before bed, Little Zhuzi came in with water for Li Shengan’s foot soak. Little Zhuzi was very diligent.

The large wooden footbasin was filled with steaming water, to which fine-quality ginger, saffron, angelica, and codonopsis had been added. This blend soothed the meridians and invigorated blood circulation. For a eunuch like Li Shengan, who walked a great deal every day by the Emperor’s side, this was extremely beneficial.

Little Zhuzi carried the basin in, placed it efficiently beside Li Shengan’s bed, and smiled earnestly. "Master, time to soak your feet!"

Li Shengan put his feet into the bucket. The hot, medicinally fragrant water quickly enveloped them.

As Little Zhuzi massaged his feet, he asked with concern, "Master, how does it feel?"

Li Shengan exhaled deeply, his eyes half-closed. "Comfortable... You little scamp, your technique is getting more and more skilled! You do show some filial piety. All my efforts in training you haven’t been wasted!"

Little Zhuzi grinned broadly. "So many were desperate to serve under you, Master, but you chose only me! Naturally, I must serve you well!"

Li Shengan was quite satisfied. "It’s good that you understand!"

Enjoying the comfort, Li Shengan casually asked, "The Emperor chose Honored Lady Jiang’s name plaque. Does the entire harem know?"

Little Zhuzi didn’t even have to think. "Master, the whole harem is buzzing about it... They’re all saying..."

"Saying what?" Li Shengan asked.

Thinking about this, Little Zhuzi also felt quite downhearted.

"Master... do you think Consort Xian Pin is really about to lose favor?" Little Zhuzi asked with a hint of regret.

Li Shengan tapped him on the head. "Don’t talk nonsense. Just mind your own business and pay no attention to these rumors!"

Having said that, he lifted his feet out of the basin and rested them on the edge. Little Zhuzi truly didn’t dare ask any further.

He took a cotton cloth to carefully dry his master’s feet and then helped him into his shoes. Only then did he pick up the basin and leave. He emptied the water and tidied everything away before returning to his own room.

Lying on the bed, he drifted off, pondering.

How could Xia Ruqing possibly be unaware that Honored Lady Jiang had attended the Emperor?

When she awoke early the next morning, Xia Ruqing was still silent. She had a little food. After instructing the Wetnurse Nanny to take good care of Little Bun, she returned to the window to practice her calligraphy. Pen stroke by pen stroke, she wrote until her hands trembled.

Zi Yue couldn’t bear to watch.

"My lady, if you’re feeling sad, just cry it out. Don’t keep it bottled up!"

Xia Ruqing was somewhat surprised. She put down her brush and looked incredulously at Zi Yue. "Why should I cry? I won’t cry!"

Saying this, she stretched lazily. "Come on, let’s go for a walk. The weather has been clear yesterday and today! I want to go cut down those bunches of grapes."

She had specially left a few bunches to dry slowly on the vine. Once touched by frost, they would become exceptionally sweet. Though they didn’t look appealing, they tasted great!

Zi Yue hurried to persuade her. "My lady, your palm is still wounded! I didn’t dare stop you from writing, but climbing high or reaching for things is really not okay!"

Zi Yue followed behind her, fussing like a mother hen.

Xia Ruqing looked at the bandage on her palm. She remembered how, just the previous night, Zhao Junyao had been peeling crabs for her. Her heart ached fiercely once more.

She glanced at Zi Yue, bit her lip, and instructed, "Then you all go. Cut the grapes down, but don’t send them anywhere!"