Chapter 38 - 038: Surrender

Xie Jinhua wasn’t there to mock.

On the contrary, she was there to offer help.

“Miss Sang—”

Xie Jinhua, in a light pink palace dress, with her tender, round face looking adorable like a pearl, said, “I heard it’s been hard at Yuesang Palace, so I brought over some food. I hope you won’t disdain it.”

The mention of food instantly invigorated Sang Yan.

She looked in the direction Xie Jinhua had indicated and indeed saw a palace maid following behind her, holding a four- or five-tiered food box.

“Thank you. I won’t disdain it. Not at all.”

She got up to receive it.

Qiuzhi stopped her, “Miss, let me do it.”

She took the food box, lifting out the dishes one by one—a plate of chicken, a plate of fish, a plate of pork trotters, and a basin of white rice.

Sang Yan was drooling with desire. As she ordered the palace maid to call Sang Ruoshui for the meal, she told Xie Jinhua, “I really can’t thank you enough. It’s like sending charcoal in snowy weather.”

Adversity reveals true friends.

She thought the palace was full of opportunists.

Indeed, “Do good every day without concern for the future.”

Xie Jinhua smiled and said, “Miss Sang, please don’t say that. I haven’t even thanked you for pleading on behalf of Princess Consort Li.”

Sang Yan waved her hand, “It’s all in the past. Let’s not mention it.”

From the corner of his eye, Yu Guang saw Qiuzhi “stealing a bite” and knew she was testing for poison. His feelings were complex.

In the Imperial Palace, one becomes unconsciously sensitive and suspicious.

“Well, if it isn’t Jinpin, what breeze has blown you over here?”

Sang Ruoshui had arrived.

She entered the side hall and, seeing Qiuzhi setting out the food, flew into a rage, “Are you a dog? You dare eat whatever anyone sends!”

She had been starving with Sang Yan precisely to force Sang Yan to apologize, and now Xie Jinhua had spoiled her plan.

How infuriating!

“Who are you trying to fool with your little favors? Don’t think I’m unaware of your scheme—if you’re here to gloat, right?”

Sang Ruoshui didn’t want Sang Yan to get too close to Xie Jinhua and spoke without courtesy.

“That’s enough.”

Unable to bear it, Sang Yan interjected, “Sang Ruoshui, don’t be so cynical!”

“Me, cynical? Sister, can’t you be more careful? We are blood sisters! Would I harm you?”

Angered, Sang Ruoshui shoved the table.

The food from the table instantly clattered to the ground.

She also roared at Xie Jinhua, “Get out! We don’t welcome you at Yuesang Palace!”

“Enough!”

Sang Yan, lamenting the wasted food, erupted in anger too. But perhaps due to the intense emotion, her vision darkened, and the next moment, she fainted.

Damn it, might as well die.

Fainting from hunger—that’s a lifetime of shame!

“Sister!”

“Miss!”

“Miss Sang!”

“My lady!”

The surrounding people cried out in alarm, all crowding around.

“It’s all your fault! Look what you’ve done to my sister!”

Sang Ruoshui deflected the blame to Xie Jinhua and then, shoving her aside, she left the hall to look for the Emperor.

Sang Yan fainting might actually be advantageous for their calculated ploy!

*

Qingning Palace

He Ying, as usual, was reviewing petitions when he seemed a bit distracted, “How’s Yuesang Palace doing?”

Pei Muyang replied softly, “Jinpin Her Ladyship went to deliver food.”

He Ying sighed, “She’s stubborn. And Sang Ruoshui is foolish. Is this how she tries to coax someone over? If she starves her into illness, Princess Consort Sang’s position will be on the line.”

Pei Muyang consoled, “Xiangxiu is keeping watch over there. It should be fine.”

As soon as he finished speaking.

They heard Sang Ruoshui crying outside the hall, “Emperor, my sister has fainted. It’s Jinpin who upset her. Emperor, you must support my sister.”

“Snap.”

The writing brush fell onto the desk.

He Ying quickly stood up and strode out, “What did you say? She fainted? Have you called for the Imperial Physician?”

He asked as he walked.

The sedan chair hurriedly followed.

He sat down.

Sang Ruoshui also wanted to take the opportunity to ride in the sedan chair, but saw it depart like the wind, leaving her disheveled in its wake.

Damn it!

Sure enough, the Emperor’s eyes still only held that foolish woman!

Yuesang Palace, side hall

Eunuchs and palace maids kneeled all over the ground.

The atmosphere was oppressive and solemn.

The plump Imperial Physician wiped his sweat, and under the Emperor’s gaze, he carefully took the pulse, and after confirming several times, bowed slightly and said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, it seems Miss Sang has fainted from hunger.”

He Ying: “…”

The entire palace of eunuchs and palace maids: “…”

Including the fainted Sang Yan: “…”

She had now woken up but wished she could just die on the spot.

“Besides this, does she have any other illnesses?”

Since Miss Sang’s arrival at the Imperial Palace, she had fainted three times already.

He always felt her body was still too weak, wondering if she might have some hidden illness.

The Imperial Physician shook his head and said, “Your Majesty worries too much. A frail constitution, anxiety, and pensive thoughts are common among women. With proper care, she will recover.”

He Ying listened and nodded, “Then go and prepare her medicine.”

Then, he ordered the Palace Attendant to prepare a meal.

The Imperial Physician thought for a moment and added, “Your Majesty, Miss Sang has a weak stomach and should avoid greasy food. Light meals are suitable.”

“How about bird’s nest porridge?”

“Very good.”

The Imperial Physician nodded in agreement.

“Then let it be bird’s nest porridge, accompanied by red bean and snow fungus soup. Send the order quickly.”

“Yes.”

A little eunuch acknowledged and scurried off to deliver the message.@@novelbin@@

The room quieted down again.

“Gurgle—”

Sang Yan’s stomach noises were particularly loud.

What constitutes a grand public embarrassment?

This was it.

Sang Yan lay on the bed, her face burning, turned over, and covered her disobedient stomach with her hands tightly.

He Ying looked at her, waved everyone else out, and sighed low, “Ah Yan, why do you torment yourself? Is it so hard to lower your head to Us?”

Sang Yan didn’t speak, and her stomach continued to grumble.

Gurgling a few times more.

She felt so embarrassed she could’ve dug out an entire Imperial City.

He Ying felt a pang of heartache, sighed, and sat at the bedside, conceding, “Alright. It’s my fault. I knew you loved freedom and did not covet fame or fortune, yet I still wanted to keep you in this place of power and wealth. I was greedy.”

He did not wait for Sang Yan to reflect; instead, he reflected on himself.

“But I have never thought of mistreating you. Your sister acted on her initiative; you cannot blame me.”

So it was Sang Ruoshui?

She truly was the original owner’s good little sister!

Sang Yan’s feelings were complicated, at times blaming Sang Ruoshui for her deceit, and at other times blaming the Emperor for his cold heart, “Even if Sang Ruoshui took it upon herself, did you really not know, Your Majesty? You were indulging her, right? Her motives were for Your Majesty after all. You don’t need to do anything; with just a glance, people will rush headlong to accomplish things for you. So, Your Majesty, don’t be greedy anymore. Let me out of the palace.”

“Impossible!”

“Your Majesty, hear me out—”

Sang Yan turned around, sat up, and looked at him coldly, her expression serious, “I have no intention of becoming a part of the harem. If you come to understand, I would still be willing to keep our ‘one-night stand’ agreement.”

“But I am not willing.”

He Ying frowned deeply, firmly saying, “No matter what, I must give you a status.”

“No! Don’t force—”

“Don’t be afraid!”

He Ying looked at her, his gaze gentle but reassuring, “It’s not what you think.”

Sang Yan’s face was a picture of fright, her red lips trembling, “Then, what is it?”

He Ying said, “I want to designate you as an Imperial Concubine. A palace maid leaves the palace at the age of twenty-five. You just happen to have one more year. In this year, you will spend your days with me. If you still do not have affections for me at the end, then I will set you free.”

Sang Yan: “…”

One year, huh?

It sounded not so bad.

But by that time, would her heart still be her own?