Chapter 37: Chapter 037: Falling Out of Favor
“You asked to apologize, I must reflect and find out what I have done wrong, mustn’t I? Otherwise, if I can’t explain myself before the Emperor, I’ll be blad even more.”
Sang Yan, evasively lying, said, “Go back. I’m still reflecting.”
Sang Ruoshui, unaware of the situation, disagreed. “Sister, don’t overthink it! If the Emperor asks you to reflect, and you actually do it, that would be foolish. Listen to , just admit your fault and speak softly to the Emperor, and he will surely forgive you.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Sang Yan feigned a sudden realization, gratefully saying, “Alright. Thank you. I know what to do now.”
She sent Sang Ruoshui away and went back inside the hall to continue her deep sleep.
Sang Ruoshui thought that Sang Yan would prepare and go to apologize to the Emperor.
Instead, she had soone watch over the side hall, stating she was still asleep.
She waited impatiently until the evening but saw no action from her.
It left her sleepless with frustration all night.
The next day, as usual, she had soone keep an eye on Sang Yan—who was still deep in sleep, showing no intention of apologizing.
Furious, she smashed a teacup and cursed, “What a foolish woman, spoiled by favor! Who does she think she is? With so many won in the harem, does the Emperor even rember who she is? She’s almost a worn-out woman; how long does she think she can stay fresh? Absolutely foolish!”
After cursing, she sat back on the soft couch, almost ruining her manicure.
Finally, an idea struck her.
She gestured for Xiangxiu, sorting out orders: “Take the ice and als allocated by the Household Affairs, withhold them, I want to show her what happens when you lose the Emperor’s favor!”
Xiangxiu, thinking about the ssage from Pei Muyang at the Emperor’s side and the urgency of getting Sang Yan to apologize, complied.
Thus, Sang Yan soon found the side hall without ice, sweltering heat making her dizzy, and the lunch served was visibly poor.
Not to ntion the lack of oil in the dishes, just a few leaves of greens, including the rice was scorched black.
It was utterly inedible.
Ever since she had crossed over, she had lived a life of privilege with no worry about food or drink, never imagining that she would face such days in the Imperial Palace.
Indeed, dramas portray fallen won living worse than dogs—it was true.
“Miss, what shall we do?”
Qiuzhi looked at the al, and as a re maid, she lacked appetite, let alone the miss.
Sang Yan also pondered what to do.
The food was inedible.
If the despicable Emperor wanted to humiliate her this way, he had unfortunately failed.
“Co, let’s go to the main hall.”
That’s what Sang Yan thought; she was her own person, and Sang Ruoshui was Sang Ruoshui. Surely, as a legitimate imperial concubine, Sang Ruoshui wouldn’t be treated this harshly.
Indeed, once inside the main hall, it was refreshingly cool.
On the dining table
Eight dishes and four soups awaited, richly served.
Seeing this, she smiled with satisfaction, “Little sister, let join you for the al.”
Then, without waiting for a response, she quickly grabbed a bowl of rice and took over two plates of dishes.
Of course, she didn’t forget Qiuzhi, first handing her a whole chicken, then saying, “I know you’re on good terms with Sister Xiangxiu, go accompany her for the al.”
Qiuzhi: “…”
She wasn’t so bold, flushing, she said, “This servant isn’t hungry. This servant will serve the miss during the al.”
But Sang Yan insisted, shooing her away.
Seeing the master and servant’s cunning move, Sang Ruoshui lost her appetite too.
When Sang Yan left after enjoying her al—oh, and before leaving, she made sure Qiuzhi took away two basins of ice, she smashed another teacup.
“Fool! Always resorting to these petty tricks!”
But she couldn’t condone Sang Yan freeloading.
Otherwise, how could she be made to go apologize to the Emperor?
“Shaless!”
“Foolish!”
She muttered and cursed around the hall and soon ca up with another idea.
“Starting today, this palace will use no ice, and the als will be on the sa standard as those in the side hall.”
“Lady—”
Xiangxiu thought Sang Ruoshui was really pushing it to make Sang Yan apologize.
So, when Sang Yan ca back that night with Qiuzhi to scrounge for a al, she discovered the sharp decline in food quality.
Uh…was she dragged down by her?
Sang Yan, ever naive, had not expected Sang Ruoshui to be so harsh on her own.
“Sister, how are we to live this way? The Emperor must despise too. It’s my fault, unable to protect you.”
Sang Ruoshui started crying, sobbing without placing bla, instead finding fault with herself.
Seeing this, Xiangxiu was astounded by Sang Ruoshui’s transformation—her palace scheming skills were growing strong!
Sang Yan also dimly realized that Sang Ruoshui had started speaking, so she truly felt a bit guilty from her words.
If she had bowed to the Emperor, would it have been different?
The sound of Xiangxiu’s sobbing echoed in her ears, “Lord Sang, Lady is in poor health and cannot endure such hardships. Please have rcy and bow before the Emperor. The Emperor might just be waiting for you. He surely won’t bla you.”
Sang Yan: “…”
Was she really wrong?
But she truly didn’t want to bow down!
Sang Yan returned to the side hall with a lancholic expression.
The side hall was oppressively hot and stifling.
The palace maids were still quite diligent, continually sprinkling water on the ground and using fans to create a breeze for her.
Yet they themselves were sweating profusely.
The sweat mixed with rouge and face powder, and the sll was unpleasant.
She waved her hand, dismissing them: “No need. You all go and rest too.”
“Yes.”
The palace maids gradually left.
Only she and Qiuzhi remained in the side hall.
Qiuzhi was the personal maid of the original owner and, unlike the other palace maids, was closest to her.
“What do you think I should do?”
She was sowhat bewildered.
That was how ancient tis were, tangled with interests, making it difficult to remain uninvolved.
Although unwilling, behind her were Sang Ruoshui, the Sang Family, and even these maids and palace attendants that served her.
“The Emperor is quite ruthless. Just because Miss wants a status, he has humiliated you like this. Living a life of dependence on others is worse than returning to the estate.”
Qiuzhi’s words surprised Sang Yan.
“You think so too.”
She had thought Qiuzhi would advise her to bow down to the Emperor.
Qiuzhi shook her head, her expression serious and earnest, “I used to not understand, thinking that the Imperial Palace was enchantingly opulent and the Emperor adored you, giving you a place for the remainder of your life. But seeing now, this is no place of riches but rather a devil’s den.”
Sang Yan: “…”
This perspective was indeed worthy of soone she esteed.
“Haha, Qiuzhi—”
She was amused to laughter.
Her depressive mood brightened.
“You’re right, returning to the estate is better.”
What’s there to bow for then!
Let him mistreat her for a few days, and once he calms down, then she’ll bring up leaving!
Just consider it bitter before sweet!
But she hadn’t expected the bitterness to last so long.
She couldn’t sleep at all because of the heat the entire night.
The next day, dark circles appeared under her eyes.
Breakfast was even worse.
She took one look at it and had it thrown away.
Without food, she drank water.
Barely enduring until noon, her stomach was loudly rumbling, and she felt unbearably hungry.
It was too hard to bear.
She hadn’t eaten well in two days.
Maybe she should bow down to the Emperor after all?
Sang Yan’s dignity was on the verge of crumbling—
Just then, a Palace Attendant ca to announce, “My Lord, Concubine Jinpin has arrived.”
Concubine Jinpin?
Who?
While Sang Yan gathered her spirits to face the situation, she wondered what sort of person Concubine Jinpin might be?
Perhaps it was due to being extrely hungry, her mind was not working well.
When the person arrived in front of her, she then rembered that she was the one who had led a group of concubines to kneel and beg her to save Princess Consort Li and others.
Concubine Jinpin.
Jizhou’s cruel officer, Xie Sui’s sister, Xie Jinhua!
What was she here for?
To mock her?
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