Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

The next morning.

Jiang Shuo Ning stood beside Consort Rong, serving her a half-bowl of lotus seed and lily porridge, which he gently placed beside her.

Consort Rong held the soup spoon, stirred it gently, glanced at her, and a smile played on her lips.

"Qing'er said you didn't get back until four in the morning last night?" She scooped up a spoonful of porridge and put it in her mouth, then added, "Why didn't you sleep a little longer? You suffered last night too."

Jiang Shuoning put down his silver chopsticks, turned around and bowed slightly to Consort Rong:

"This servant does not feel bitter. It is this servant's blessing to be able to share Your Highness's burdens."

Upon hearing this, Consort Rong's smile deepened, and she said while drinking her porridge:

"You answered well in front of the Emperor last night. I never saw you so clever and eloquent before; now I have a completely new understanding of you."

Jiang Shuoning lowered her eyes: "It was because I was dull-witted before. Ever since I started serving Your Highness personally, and received Your Highness's care, I have slowly come to understand."

"You're getting better and better at talking." Consort Rong put down her soup spoon, turned her head to look at her, a smile still lingering on her lips, but her eyes leveled out: "I heard it was quite lively in the pavilion last night?"

Jiang Shuoning subtly clenched his fist on his lower abdomen.

Consort Rong was asking about Consort Liu's fainting, or about the two extra people in the pavilion last night?

Regardless of the reason, once she asked the question, she already knew everything.

You must not lie.

Just as she was about to speak, Fengchun walked in and bowed, saying:

"Your Majesty, the flower room has delivered several potted plants. And... there's also a lotus kneeling in the courtyard, saying she wants to see Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Consort Rong picked up her embroidered handkerchief and wiped her mouth, a hint of tenderness flashing in her eyes: "Let her in."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Fengchun turned and left.

Consort Rong glanced at Jiang Shuoning, wiped her hands, and said slowly and deliberately:

"Shuoning, I'm warning you. The fact that neither the Emperor nor I pursued the matter of you giving alms to that mute servant at Changmen Palace last time doesn't mean we don't care. You behaved well at Changchun Palace last night, so I won't pursue it for now. From now on, go to Changmen Palace and associate with that good-for-nothing as much as possible."

As for Baozhong, although he's a favored eunuch in the Emperor's court, he's ultimately backed by Feng Xi. Stay away from him. When looking for a patron, find someone reliable; don't do anything that betrays your own side.

Jiang Shuo Ning immediately knelt down on the ground:

"This servant wouldn't dare. That good-for-nothing from Changmen Palace, I had given him alms a few times before, and he came to deliver clothes last night, which was my way of repaying the favor. I haven't gone to see him since. As for Eunuch Baozhong, this servant doesn't know why he was also punished; we just happened to be kneeling in the same place."

Consort Rong sneered: "You'd better remember your words. Bao Zhong knows perfectly well why he was punished. If I say a word, he can go to Changmen Palace tomorrow, or he can simply disappear from this palace altogether."

Jiang Shuo Ning's heart tightened. Bao Zhong had offended not only Feng Xi, but also Consort Rong.

"This servant will remember Your Majesty's teachings." She kowtowed, her forehead pressed against the floor tiles, her knuckles turning white.

Consort Rong glanced at her and said, "Alright, get up."

After Jiang Shuo Ning finished expressing his gratitude, he slowly stood up and stepped back behind Consort Rong. When he looked up, Feng Chun was leading Sui He in.

Suihe's leg was indeed lame, and she walked with a limp. She had lost a lot of weight, and her complexion was not as good as before. She was wearing a dark purple palace dress, and her hair was bald, without any hairpins or earrings.

She no longer possessed the radiant appearance she once had when she was by Consort Rong's side.

Jiang Shuoning glanced at it once and then looked away.

(under)

As soon as Suihe stepped into the palace and saw Consort Rong, tears streamed down her face. She knelt down with a thud and cried out, "Your Majesty..."

Consort Rong looked at her haggard appearance and sighed softly:

"Suihe, I know you have been wronged. Once I find out the truth, I will naturally give you justice."

Upon hearing this, Suihe cried even harder.

She was tortured by Bao Zhong in the Shenxing Division, and after escaping death, she was left with a limp.

I was then transferred to the greenhouse, where I had endless hard and tiring work every day, and my hands were covered in calluses.

The old women and maids in the flower room took turns abusing her, cutting back on her food, leaving her bedding moldy, and not even providing enough charcoal.

But she wasn't the type to be easily bullied. Whenever someone tried to take advantage of her, she would immediately stand up for herself, scolding and even throwing things around. The people in the flower shop secretly called her "the crazy woman."

No matter how tough you are, you can't withstand the relentless grind of working day and night. Poor sleep, poor diet, and your body is a mess.

Consort Rong never asked her a single question or sent anyone to take care of her privately; on the contrary, the Emperor's favor towards her only increased.

Jiang Shuoning climbed to the top by stepping on her, and is now the head maidservant by Consort Rong's side.

Now that they've met, Consort Rong only says, "Wait until I find out the truth."

Spring has already passed; if we really wanted to investigate, why wait until now?

As she thought about it, Suihe's heart grew colder and colder.

"Alright, stop crying." Consort Rong's tone softened. "I know you're wronged. Just bear with it for now. Once I find out the truth, I can rightfully transfer you back to my side."

After saying that, she looked at Fengchun: "Go and get some silver for Suihe. If you have a little more money, life in the flower room won't be so difficult."

Suihe dug her fingernails into the cracks in the brickwork, swallowed her words, and then kowtowed, saying:

"This servant thanks Your Majesty for your kindness. Your Majesty's well-being puts this servant at ease."

Jiang Shuoning watched as Suihe limped out of the palace gate. As she turned around, she saw the resentment in Suihe's eyes.

After a moment's thought, she raised her eyes, a calculating glint in them.

Suihe had just pushed the cart out of Yihua Palace when Qing'er ran after her:

"Sister Suihe, wait a minute."

Qing'er quickly walked up to her and stuffed a bag of silver into her hand:

"Sister, this is a small token of my appreciation. It's all from the Empress's usual gifts; please accept it."

Suihe looked down at the money pouch in her hand, recalling how Qing'er used to serve her tea and water, barely daring to breathe, and now it was Qing'er's turn to give her alms.

What an irony.

She threw the purse back into Qing'er's arms: "You're just crocodile tears."

She pushed the cart a few steps, then suddenly stopped, turned around, limped back, took another purse from her sleeve, and tossed it to Qing'er:

"This was just given to me by Fengchun. Go and tell the Empress not to worry about me."

She turned to leave after saying that. Qing'er quickly stopped her, stuffing both money pouches back into her hands, her voice urgent:

"Sister, you should take it. The greenhouse is no place for a human to stay."

Suihe's temper flared instantly. She raised her hand and slapped Qing'er across the face:

"Who do you think you are? How dare you try to teach me how to do this?"

Qing'er covered her face, tears streaming down her cheeks, and said between sobs:

"Sister, haven't you realized it yet? Her Majesty has truly given up on you. Jiang Shuoning is now a head palace maid; you're not coming back."

Suihe immediately retorted, her eyes resolute: "Your Majesty would never abandon me. I have followed Your Majesty for fifteen years..."

She suddenly stopped. Qing'er looked at her, and her sobs also ceased.

Suihe's eyes flashed, and she shoved her aside fiercely: "Don't try to sow discord between me and the Empress."

After saying that, she limped and pushed the cart forward. Only after she had gone far away did Jiang Shuoning come out from behind the door.

Qing'er immediately ran to her side: "Sister, did you hear everything?"

Jiang Shuoning smiled, looked away, glanced at the handprint on her face, and gently touched it: "Does it hurt?"

Qing'er shook her head and wiped away her tears: "I'll do whatever you ask me to do, sister. I'm not wronged at all."

Jiang Shuoning smiled faintly: "While the embarrassment hasn't faded yet, let's put on a good show."

"Yes, sister." Qing'er tilted her head back, took a deep breath, then covered her face and ran into the palace wailing, "Your Majesty..."

Jiang Shuoning followed behind, listening to the commotion, and his lips twitched.