A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 970: ’Visiting

The news of Consort Ning Pin being downgraded quickly spread throughout the harem.

The concubines hastily inquired after the cause.

Unfortunately, there was no one present at the moment it happened, and the Emperor had issued a gag order, forbidding any discussion of the matter.

Hence, these bits of gossip were spread privately by word of mouth.

Some said it was because of The Eldest Princess, others said it was because of Consort Cheng.

However, regardless of the reason, it was not unexpected.

Consort Ning Pin’s usual behavior was evident to all.

That afternoon.

Consort Zheng Pin and Consort Yun Pin gathered together to chat and laugh.

Consort Zheng Pin, fanning herself, took a sip of plum juice and laughed.

"Some people, floating up, inevitably sink to the bottom, huh? We are better off like this!"

Back when Consort Ning was favored by The Late Empress, she did not spare these ladies here from her scorn.

After The Late Empress passed away.

She flaunted herself before the Emperor for having given birth to a princess.

She used to boast and sneer at these concubines who had no sons or daughters.

Now, it’s good, isn’t it? Her time has come, huh?!

Consort Yun Pin also laughed.

"As the saying goes, fortunes change! Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west!"

"She lorded over us for so long, I haven’t forgotten any of it!"

"I once served Noble Concubine Shih, when she was still a favorite by the Empress!"

"Though I was demoted, and she was still Consort Ning, every time we met, she would sting me a bit, she could never stop!"

"She even brought up my lost child once!"

The pain, unless experienced, is not comprehensible!

Consort Zheng Pin laughed and comforted her.

"Alright, alright! Have some tea to calm down!"

"We’ve been sisters with Consort Ning Pin, oh no, Honored Lady Dou, for so many years now!"

"Why don’t we pick a time to go visit her?"

The Emperor only demoted her rank, didn’t confine her.

So they could still visit.

Consort Yun Pin took a sip of fragrant tea.

"Alright!"

"I like that!"

"When the time comes, I’ll look after her properly!"

Consort Zheng Pin also laughed.

"Alright, don’t stay mad, it’s not worth it!"

Consort Yun Pin pouted.

"I’m not mad, I’m just pleased!"

Consort Zheng Pin smiled and said.

"I have come to terms with it; life in this palace is like this, it depends on how you live it!"

"I used to hope for favor, but now? I think this is just fine!"

"Anyway, we are of rank, even after the Emperor passes away, we won’t need to retreat to a temple, we can remain in the palace as Imperial Concubines!"

"I will live steadily!"

Consort Yun Pin still had some temperament.

But over the years, the Shih Family had fallen!

Her father was aligned with the Shih Family faction, and faced severe suppression in court.

Had it not been for her supporting as an unfavored concubine, he would have been ousted long ago.

With nothing to rely on at home, what does she have to rise with?

Maintaining the status quo is the best choice.

So, she begrudgingly accepted the present.

"Me too!"

"I don’t dare to cause trouble, steady it is!"

If one blindly causes trouble.

It’s likely that any commotion here would cause her father’s black gauze cap to be lost outside the palace.

Consort Ning Pin is a living example, isn’t she?

So, what else can be said?

"It’s all fate!"

"Some have good fortune, must’ve done good deeds in their past lives!"

"Some have bad fortune, like us, this life, it’s just like this!"

Consort Zheng Pin comforted her.

"Don’t think that way!"

"Ours isn’t bad, either; better than below, less than above, just look at those lesser Honored Ladies and Ladies, that’s truly pitiful, isn’t it?"

"Especially those who entered the palace alongside Noble Consort Xian!"

"The lady is now Noble Consort, some are still Ladies, how big a disparity is that?"

"Enough, don’t comfort me, I understand!" Consort Yun Pin put down her tea cup.

And rose with a radiant smile to admire the scenery.

"Look at the beautiful scenery of Taiye Pool? Would it not be a pity not to enjoy it?"

Consort Zheng Pin also stood up, laughed into the wind.

"Isn’t it?"

...

In the following few days.

After this turmoil in the palace settled.

Consort Zheng Pin and Consort Yun Pin went together to Zhaohua Pavilion to visit Honored Lady Dou.

In these few days of being demoted, Honored Lady Dou suffered tremendously, not much needs to be said.

The worst was the poor living conditions.

From the main hall of a palace, to a side hall in a small pavilion.

The disparity was something that wasn’t easy for anyone to endure.

Indeed, it was a side hall.

Zhaohua Pavilion already housed an Honored Lady Chen.

She was part of the second batch selected into the palace.

From the time she entered, she saw the Emperor fewer times than one could count on a hand, she wasn’t favored either.

Yet, even unfavored, she was still a properly titled Honored Lady, not someone demoted for transgressions.

Therefore, Honored Lady Chen naturally lived in the main hall.

After Honored Lady Dou came, she could only reside in the side hall.

Even then, Honored Lady Chen wasn’t pleased.

One of the smallest rooms from the two side halls was cleared out for her.

Which makes sense.

If someone’s place suddenly gets a disgraced consort, who would be happy?

When she moved in.

Honored Lady Chen’s Senior Palace Maid brought some people to clear out things, turned on her heel and left.

Didn’t even give a cold snort.

Honored Lady Dou just brought her maids and looked tearfully at this place they could barely call a side hall.

The room was small.

Previously, Honored Lady Chen used it as a small storage room, it hadn’t been lived in.

The window had holes, there was no bed.

Just two broken tables, their legs askew, and the edges gnawed into holes by mice.

After a thorough examination.

Honored Lady Dou cried until she nearly fainted.

Lan Xiang and Lan Rui also wore mourning faces, both master and servants with a world-ending expression.

In the end, a Little Eunuch came swaggering in and asked.

"Hey!"

"Our master has a spare bed, do you want it?"

It was a discarded bed from Honored Lady Chen, they had no place for it.

Honored Lady Dou disliked it greatly, and without thinking, said no, wanting to send them away.

In the end, it was Lan Xiang who advised.

"Master, without a bed how will you sleep?"

"Go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs now?"

Those people have their eyes on their foreheads, they would hardly comply!

A broken bed is better than none, couldn’t sleep on the ground.

Honored Lady Dou had no choice but to wipe her tears and say.

"Let it go!

"Lan Xiang, bring it over!"

Lan Xiang then called someone to move it, and afterward cleaned the room. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

They busied themselves for several days before the room was livable.

However, Lady Dou started to feel grieved.

Because after she calmed down, she finally realized that her later years would potentially be spent in this wretched place.

Since then, she cried daily without cease.

Eventually, Lan Xiang and Lan Rui both maintained their distance, reluctant to serve by her side.

After all, no servant can endure being worn out like this, let alone what loyal ones she could cultivate in her charge.

On this noon.

Honored Lady Dou saw the food delivered, and cried nearly fainting again.

"All leftovers and cold dishes, is this food for people to eat?"

"Are they sincerely trying to poison this palace!"

Lan Xiang stood by, looking embarrassed.

"Master, you are now a Honored Lady, you shouldn’t call yourself ’this palace’!"

Honored Lady Dou was so angry she nearly spat blood, slapping over.

"Wretched hoof, is it your place to remind me?"

Lan Xiang covered her face in disbelief.

"Master you..."

For so many years, this is the first time she was hit!

Didn’t finish speaking, she ran out, Lan Rui also hurriedly followed.