Honored Lady Jiang’s eyes were filled with longing.
"Xia Jieyu truly has a good life!"
True envy filled her eyes.
Xia Ruqing looked at her pale face and laughed. "Life is lived step by step. Who hasn’t suffered at the beginning! If you don’t want to suffer in the palace, just use your brain more!"
Seeing her poor complexion, Xia Ruqing guessed she must have suffered greatly at the Empress’s hands. Just yesterday, she had seen the Empress blocking her in the Imperial Garden. Surrounded by so many palace maids and eunuchs, they looked truly menacing! Looking again at Honored Lady Jiang’s appearance, Xia Ruqing didn’t need to guess the Empress’s intentions.
She sneered inwardly. Is the Empress unable to maintain her benevolent and generous facade and finally showing her tiger’s claws? Taking advantage of the Emperor’s absence from the palace to bully a mere Honored Lady—such behavior is utterly unsightly!
Honored Lady Jiang’s face turned even paler. Her lips quivered repeatedly, but in the end, she uttered no pleas for help, only a bitter smile.
"Xia Jieyu is wise and intelligent, deeply favored by the Emperor. I am truly inferior..."
Even though she spoke these words, Xia Ruqing noticed that her face showed no regret or disappointment. Even the envious look that had filled her face moments ago had vanished without a trace.
Does that mean she is neither envious nor regretful, and feels no disappointment? That would mean... she doesn’t wish to be favored at all.
Xia Ruqing was startled by her own conclusion. But the fact remained: only someone with no desire for favor would be free from jealousy and envy.
She glanced around, ensuring no one was near, then asked straightforwardly, "You... don’t want to serve the Emperor?"
At these words, Honored Lady Jiang’s expression changed drastically. She rose from her seat and knelt with a thud, her voice trembling with emotion. "Xia Jieyu..."
She neither admitted nor denied it, but her eyes began to redden.
It was too hard. Her life had been so difficult. Now that someone suddenly understood her, the grievances in her heart seemed to find an outlet. All she wanted at this moment was to cry her heart out. Even though she desperately held it back, her eyes still reddened.
Xia Ruqing watched her calmly. Her gaze was like the surface of a still lake, without a single ripple. She picked up her teacup, took a light sip, and then smiled. "What is Honored Lady Jiang doing? Are you perhaps worried I won’t serve you tea?"
As she spoke, Zi Yue, standing beside her, chuckled. "Honored Lady Jiang, please rise quickly!"
Xia Ruqing quickly instructed, "Go and bring out all the pastries from the basket. If Honored Lady Jiang doesn’t mind, please have some!"
Honored Lady Jiang bit her lip, the grievances in her heart surging like waves, one after another—arriving fiercely, then receding just as quickly.
When she returned to her seat, several plates of fruit and pastries had been placed on the stone table. These were delicacies Honored Lady Jiang had never even seen, let alone tasted. There was a milk crisp, a shrimp meatball, and salt-baked walnut kernels.
Among the Imperial Kitchen’s pastries, these were considered excellent—not expensive, but prized for their exquisite craftsmanship. Those not in favor could never taste such fine pastries. Even those somewhat favored Honored Ladies couldn’t have them every day. This just showed how much imperial favor Xia Jieyu truly enjoyed. Of course, it was also related to the child in her womb.
Xia Ruqing urged her again, "These pastries are some of my favorites. If Honored Lady Jiang doesn’t mind, please have some!"
One look at her sallow complexion made it clear. Who knew how long it had been since she’d eaten anything decent.
Xia Ruqing lived by a simple creed: Eating and drinking well are paramount. If one can eat and drink to their heart’s content, how hard can life truly be?
She was merely a Jieyu, pregnant and holding a precarious position. Both the Empress and the Noble Consort disfavored her, seeing her as a thorn in their side. She really couldn’t help Honored Lady Jiang much. So, all Xia Ruqing could do, within her limited ability, was to try and make her feel a little better and let her eat something good.
Don’t call her cold-hearted. She was no Saint Mary, nor was she Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion who relieves suffering. On the contrary, she was like a clay bodhisattva crossing a river—barely able to save herself.
When Honored Lady Jiang saw these pastries, she immediately felt her stomach growl. She was human, not a god. Having barely eaten for two days, naturally, she was hungry.
When Zi Yue brought a plate of shrimp meatballs to her, Honored Lady Jiang finally couldn’t resist trying one. And then... she tried another.
The small bowl of meatballs was quickly emptied. Xia Ruqing smiled. "Try the salt-baked walnut kernels. If you like them, I’ll have someone wrap up a paper packet of them for you later!"
As Honored Lady Jiang ate, large tears began to fall. Once, she too had been a pampered young lady from a prominent family. Now, she had been forced into such a state, relying on others’ charity even for a plate of pastries! This was truly...