Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

Standing in the courtyard, Eunuch Qiao said in a high-pitched voice, "Today is the Lantern Festival. After you finish your work, go to the Imperial Household Department to collect your fruits and snacks." He sighed softly, "All year round, only on New Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival can we people have a decent meal."

A palace maid was sitting on a low stool washing clothes when she looked up and asked, "Eunuch, I heard that Xiao Shunzi died after being sent to the Censorate?"

"It seems Suihe has lost a leg. She's been transferred to the flower room now," a young eunuch casually remarked.

All eyes in the courtyard fell on Eunuch Qiao's face.

Eunuch Qiao glared at the two men: "Why bring up such unlucky things on such a solemn occasion? Xiao Shunzi deserved to die; don't mention him again. As for Suihe..."

He was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly caught sight of Zhou Zhengyin coming out of the house and standing blankly at the doorway. Eunuch Qiao immediately swallowed the rest of his words and forced a smile as he went to greet him.

Everyone's eyes turned to Zhou Zhengyin.

Since Zhou Zhengyin returned from the Censorate, Eunuch Qiao seemed like a completely different person. Not only did he allow him to rest in bed for ten days, but he also replaced the leftovers with buckwheat buns, just like everyone else.

"Why did you come out? Your hand injury hasn't healed yet. Come in and rest." Eunuch Qiao smiled and waved to him. "In a little while, I'll tell them to bring you some fruits and snacks as well."

Zhou Zhengyin looked at Eunuch Qiao. His face was sickeningly smiling; he was a completely different person from his former sharp and sarcastic self.

He lay in bed for a few days, then he understood. It was Bao Zhong, and also Jiang Shuoning. Bao Zhong was a favored eunuch before the emperor, and also Feng Xi's godson. Who wouldn't give such a person some face?

But he only came once, personally handed the medicine to Eunuch Qiao, and then left.

Jiang Shuoning is now the head maid of Consort Rong. She still comes to see him in the middle of the night, and was caught by Eunuch Qiao twice.

This is enough.

Others gossiped privately, saying that Xiao Shunzi often bullied Zhou Zhengyin, and Jiang Shuo Ning and Bao Zhong were standing up for him this time. As for whether Xiao Shunzi was actually having an affair with Sui He, no one said for sure, they just smiled.

Zhou Zhengyin glanced at the eunuchs and maids in the courtyard, nodded slightly to Eunuch Qiao, and turned to go into the house.

He was left alone in the room. Eunuch Xin had moved to another room and now avoided him whenever he saw him. He understood that Eunuch Xin didn't want to get involved in anything and only wanted to spend his remaining years peacefully in Changmen Palace.

He had just heard that Xiao Shunzi was gone. Suihe had a limp.

He sat on the stool, slowly bending over, his back hunched over like a drawn arrow.

Because of his false testimony, Suihe was crippled, and Xiaoshunzi died in the Shenxing Division. Eunuch Qiao's casual words erased a life from the story.

Regret, self-blame, and sadness overwhelmed him.

Two voices appeared in my mind again.

One said: "Xiao Shunzi deserved to die. He bullied you every day. Now that someone is standing up for you, you should be happy. He deserved to die. As for Suihe, you cleared the way for Jiang Shuoning. She is now the head maid of Yihua Palace and will no longer be bullied. You did the right thing; you are repaying her."

Another voice said: "Didn't you pretend to be mute? Wasn't it just to avoid all this trouble? Today, for your own selfish reasons, you've caused a death and harmed an innocent woman."

Neither voice would give way. His head felt like it was about to explode, and he had no way of controlling whether the two voices stopped.

(under)

As evening fell, the moon hung like a silver hook, a cold wind swept across the eaves, and the accumulated snow fell softly.

Qing'er carried the wooden basin into the room and saw Jiang Shuoning sitting on the bed reading a book. She walked over with a smile, placed the wooden basin at her feet, and squatted down to take off her shoes and socks.

Jiang Shuoning was startled and pulled his feet back: "What are you doing?"

"I'll wash your feet," Qing'er said, already holding her right foot. "I put some medicinal herbs in the basin to dispel cold and dampness, I guarantee you'll sleep soundly tonight. When Sister Suihe is here, I'm the one who washes her feet. These herbs are what she uses every day."

Jiang Shuoning put down her book and casually placed it under the pillow, letting Qing'er take off her shoes and socks. As her feet soaked in the water, a warm feeling washed over her, and Jiang Shuoning unconsciously lowered her shoulders. The perfect water temperature immediately dispelled any trace of fatigue.

Qing'er squatted down beside her and splashed water on her feet.

"Is Your Majesty resting?" Jiang Shuoning asked.

Qing'er smiled and said, "Her Majesty drank a few more cups of wine at the palace banquet today, perhaps she was in a good mood. She didn't let me stand guard when I got back, and told me to rest early. But Fengchun is guarding the gate."

Jiang Shuo Ning gave a soft "hmm".

Qing'er seemed to remember something: "Sister Shuoning, I washed your purple cloak. It was windy at night and didn't keep you warm at all."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuoning slowly opened his eyes, looking down at her warily without replying.

Qing'er kept her head down, not seeing her gaze, and continued:

"Now that Sister Suihe has been transferred to the flower room, our lives are much better. Sister is now in charge of Yihua Palace, so naturally she won't make things difficult for us like Sister Suihe did. We can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

"Suihe is, after all, an elder of Yihua Palace." Jiang Shuoning's voice was unreadable. "Aren't you sad? She's never treated you badly."

Qing'er raised her head and said with disgust, "I don't like Sister Suihe. She's nice to me on the surface, but she treats me like a maid in private. I don't pity her now that she's in trouble. It's her fault for bullying people all the time, even you, Sister."

She stood up, wiped the water off her hands and clothes, sat down next to Jiang Shuoning, took her hand, and said earnestly:

"Sister Shuoning, I've been taking care of you for the past two years since I came to Yihua Palace. A while ago, Sister Suihe let me eat only one meal a day; it was you who secretly gave me the food. I remember all these kindnesses."

She paused, then lowered her voice: "I understand my sister's feelings. The night before Sister Suihe lost her coral pendants, I saw her go into her room."

Jiang Shuoning's back stiffened abruptly, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Qing'er grasped her hand, tightening her grip: "Sister Shuoning, my mother told me when I was little that you must treat others with sincerity, for only sincerity can be reciprocated. I treat you this way, and you treat me the same way, right?"

Jiang Shuoning withdrew her hand, looked down at her feet soaking in the basin of water, a few medicinal herbs floating on the surface, and smiled faintly:

"Qing'er, the most taboo thing in the palace is not keeping your mouth shut. Did you see me go into Suihe's room clearly? If this gets to Her Majesty's ears, our fate will be no better than Xiaoshunzi and Suihe's."

Qing'er panicked immediately and quickly grabbed her arm:

"Sister, I didn't mean anything by it. I said this to let you know that I stand with you. There's something else. Her Majesty has already instructed Fengchun to investigate this matter thoroughly in private. Sister, we must be careful. Her Majesty said that after some time, she will bring Suihe back."