A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 1335: Chapter 1333: Provocation

Leaving Duanning Palace.

Consort Zheng took Hong Yun on a detour through the Imperial Garden on their way back, unable to suppress her emotions along the way.

"The Eldest Princess and the Fourth Princess are indeed different!"

"The Fourth Princess has such determination for someone so young, while the Eldest Princess..."

Hong Yun hurriedly interjected.

"Isn’t it obvious, ma’am!"

"Who bore the Eldest Princess? And who bore the Fourth Princess? How can they be the same?"

Consort Zheng smiled and shook her head.

"You’re right; what am I even comparing!"

With that, she sighed.

"The Eldest Princess is truly pitiable. I wanted to find her a good family, so she wouldn’t suffer, but never expected..."

She paused, looked up with a melancholic expression, and said:

"I never thought the Tao Family would turn out like this!"

Hong Yun consoled her.

"Ma’am, don’t say that. No one has foresight!"

"They were doing well for several years, only recently did things start going wrong!"

"This was unexpected, it’s not your fault!"

Consort Zheng was troubled.

"But ultimately, it is my fault!"

"Since the Empress entrusted this matter to me, I can’t let her down!"

"Even if the Emperor asks about it later, I’ll find a way to explain!"

Hong Yun contemplated.

"In that case, ma’am, why not go out of the palace yourself and take a look?"

"That way, those petty people would realize that the Eldest Princess has backing!"

"There’s no way she should be wronged in vain!"

Consort Zheng’s expression was complex.

"Leave the palace?"

Leaving the palace!

If remembered correctly, she hadn’t left the palace in a long time.

Previously, the Emperor used to take hunting trips annually and enjoy spring and autumn outings, bringing concubines along.

But now...

The Emperor has reached middle age and lost interest in such activities.

Concubines also lost the desire and settled into their lives peacefully.

Thus, leaving the palace held no special anticipation.

Suddenly talking about leaving the palace now felt quite outdated.

"I will think about it!"

She adjusted her high, coiled hair bun.

"After walking all day, I’m tired, let’s go back!"

"Alright!"

Hong Yun stepped forward to support her.

"Ma’am, walk slowly!"

The mistress and servant, along with several palace maids and eunuchs, headed toward Xihuai Palace.

...

Tao Residence.

The Eldest Princess returned from the palace when it was already late.

She took a sedan chair from the side entrance back to the main courtyard.

After washing up, she felt a bit hungry and asked the maid to fetch some food from the kitchen.

Over half a Shi Chen later, the maid Xiao Luo brought some unsatisfactory dishes.

"Princess, the kitchen staff said it’s too late, the stoves are sealed, so you have to make do with these!"

With that, she placed each dish from the food box on the table.

A winter melon soup, as clear as rinse water.

A stir-fried vegetable dish, indistinguishable, seemingly a mix of various leftovers.

A stir-fried green vegetable dish, looking dark and stale, seemingly made the day before.

A bowl of rice and a few plates of cold dishes.

There was an odd smell, not at all like freshly prepared food.

Even in the palace, where she was not favored, no one dared to withhold her portion; she had never eaten such a thing since childhood.

For a moment, she was stunned, standing speechless.

"Princess, I... really did my best!" Xiao Luo said quietly, head down.

The Eldest Princess swayed slightly and turned pale.

"It’s fine, not your fault!"

She steadied herself with the table and chair, letting out a cold laugh.

"I have no appetite, I don’t want to eat, take them away!"

Xiao Luo wanted to say more, but the Eldest Princess waved her off.

"I’m tired, let’s rest early!"

Xiao Luo swallowed her words and helped the Princess to bed.

...

The next morning,

she hadn’t risen yet when her Maternal Aunt Tao came early to pay respects.

The Eldest Princess frowned, perplexed.

"Why is she here?"

Xiao Luo thought a moment.

"Perhaps it’s because the princess visited the palace yesterday!"

"And also..."

"They still don’t know that the one injured a few days ago was the Fourth Princess!"

"Master, should we tell her?"

The Eldest Princess contemplated and shook her head.

"Let’s not tell her!"

"We’re all family; no need to frighten them!"

"My situation is already known to the Empress Mother! She’s likely to act soon! Best we let it be!"

"Let’s go out and see."

With that, the Eldest Princess took Xiao Luo outside.

However, Xiao Luo was somewhat unwilling: What’s there to be afraid of, getting them frightened or even scared to death would be better!

Despite how they treated the Princess, the Princess still considered their feelings.

Is this wisdom or weakness!

...

In the main hall,

Maternal Aunt Tao respectfully greeted.

"Greetings to the Princess!"

After the Eldest Princess was seated, she let her rise and asked someone to serve tea, asking indifferently.

"You’ve come today, is there something on your mind?"

Maternal Aunt Tao hesitated before smiling smugly.

"It’s like this! Princess!"

"Qingming Festival is approaching, and our family, as per tradition, needs to honor the ancestors!"

"Madam plans to take my child to perform the ancestral rites! However... I’m just a concubine, and the child is born of a concubine; I don’t dare to make decisions on my own!"

"That’s why I come to the Princess for approval?"

Maternal Aunt Tao spoke while observing the Eldest Princess’s expression, unable to hide the glee in her eyes.

The Eldest Princess’s face turned a bit pale.

"Perform ancestral rites?"

She hesitated before speaking.

"By rights, only legitimate sons can enter the ancestral temple; children born of concubines have no such privilege! Is that truly what Mother said?"

Maternal Aunt Tao secretly rejoiced and nodded.

"Yes!!"

Then she continued with ’pitiful grievance’.

"I also tried to persuade Madam, but Madam said our family has only the child born of a concubine; where’s a legitimate son?"

"Madam also said that regardless of being born of a concubine or legitimate, they are children of the Tao family, so no need to differentiate too clearly! The ancestors have waited many years; since the child is here this year, they must meet him!"

The Eldest Princess felt a chill.

"I don’t agree!"

They were indirectly pressuring her to adopt Maternal Aunt Tao’s child.

Performing ancestral rites, entering the family temple, sweeping the ancestors’ graves—these are privileges for the legitimate eldest son. When did a child born of a concubine get the chance?

Maternal Aunt Tao remained defiant, arrogantly saying.

"You don’t agree, but Madam does!"

"Why not discuss it with Madam?"

"Otherwise, being a concubine in the middle isn’t easy either!"

"I kindly ask for the Princess’s understanding!"

The Eldest Princess trembled with anger, but mindful of her status, she restrained herself, responding coldly.

"Rest assured, I will speak to Mother!"

"In any case, you should dismiss the thought!"

"As long as I am here, your son shouldn’t expect to take the position of a legitimate son, nor will I adopt him!"

Maternal Aunt Tao smugly and excitedly said.

"Princess!"

"Some words... should not be said too decisively!"

"You’ve been married for six years without a son, which already violates the seven grounds for divorce; by rights, your husband could send you away!"