Palace maid Shuoning

(One)

The moonlight was hazy.

Zhou Zhengyin and Shan Hengzhe stood quietly in front of the Prince's Mansion, with a carriage waiting silently beside them.

Bai Ling helped Jiang Shuoning slowly step out of the mansion gate.

When Zhou Zhengyin looked up and saw her, his heart skipped a beat, and his gaze was fixed on her, momentarily lost in thought.

Jiang Shuoning was dressed in a moon-white, wide-sleeved gauze robe. The plain gauze was as light as smoke, and the collar and sleeve edges were decorated with light gray brocade patterns. The jade pendant at her waist swayed gently with her steps.

She wore a silver fox-colored cloak, with thick, soft fox fur around her neck, fluffy and warm, partially concealing her flowing gauze skirt.

Her high bun adorned with pearl flowers and tassels that cascaded down her cheeks, giving her a cool and ethereal appearance from afar, as if she were slowly walking out of a snowy landscape under the moon.

"Shuoning!"

Zhou Zhengyin rushed up the steps, put his arm around her waist, pressed his palm tightly against her back, his Adam's apple bobbed heavily, and his gaze was burning hot.

"It's rare to see you dress up so carefully. With just a little makeup, you surpass all other women."

Jiang Shuoning glanced at him sideways, her expression icy: "Let go!"

Zhou Zhengyin immediately scooped her up in his arms, stepped down the stairs, and said in a deep, cold voice:

"Tonight, even if you are extremely unwilling, you must accompany me and finish the charade in front of the Crown Prince and the others!"

Seeing Jiang Shuoning's resistant expression, Bai Ling felt sorry for him and quickly walked down the steps to follow him.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs of the long street, and the carriage moved forward slowly, passing through the deep moonlight, heading towards the East Palace.

The carriage was filled with a faint fragrance of Asarum.

Zhou Zhengyin sat beside Jiang Shuoning, his gaze sweeping over her greedily, tracing her figure inch by inch. Suddenly, he leaned down and lightly pecked her cheek.

Jiang Shuo raised his hand and slapped Zhou Zhengyin across the face, his voice cold and stern: "Zhou Zhengyin! Your mind is filled with these filthy thoughts!"

Zhou Zhengyin raised his hand and held her waist, his eyes burning with passion, and chuckled softly:

"Haven't you heard the saying, 'When people are well-fed and warm, they think of lust'? Especially since my concubine is so beautiful. It would be strange if I didn't have any desires. Besides..."

He leaned closer, gently biting the tip of her ear, his voice low and seductive:

"My concubine appears slender, yet she possesses all the curves she should. That night, I glimpsed your beauty, and ever since, you have been the subject of my dreams."

Shuoning, to tell you the truth, I fell in love with you the moment we first met.

Jiang Shuoning clenched his fists tightly and said coldly, "Vulgar!"

Before she could finish speaking, she raised her hand again to strike. Zhou Zhengyin suddenly grabbed her wrist, a hint of mockery in his eyes:

"Getting addicted to hitting? Don't rush, we'll get back to the manor tonight, and you can hit me however you want."

After saying that, he lowered his head and gently kissed the back of her hand.

"Shameless! Zhou Zhengyin, I will definitely divorce you!" Jiang Shuoning suddenly pulled his hand back.

Zhou Zhengyin simply smiled faintly and said casually, "Go ahead, do as you please."

Jiang Shuoning frowned as she looked at his nonchalant appearance, knowing that he was harboring a lot of bad intentions. She could only close her eyes and forcibly suppress her surging anger.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the East Palace.

Zhou Zhengyin helped Jiang Shuoning down from the carriage, and just then they saw Huo Xiao also lift the curtain and step down. The three pairs of eyes suddenly met.

"Oh? Lord Huo is also attending the banquet tonight."

Zhou Zhengyin calmly reached out and took Jiang Shuoning's hand tightly, raising an eyebrow and saying with a hint of amusement, "It seems that another big show is about to take place tonight."

Huo Xiao's gaze swept quickly over Jiang Shuoning, a faint smile appearing on his face. He took half a step forward and bowed slightly.

"Your Highness, Consort. Tonight is the Eastern Palace banquet. The Crown Prince has been waiting for quite some time. Let's go in together."

Just as the three were about to step into the hall, Jiang Shuoning's gaze swept over them unintentionally.

I caught a glimpse of Bao Zhong dressed in a purple brocade robe, with a richly dressed woman by his side.

When she saw the person's face clearly, she was suddenly stunned.

Little Butterfly?

Zhou Zhengyin noticed her sudden change in expression and turned to look in the direction she was looking.

Upon seeing Baozhong and Xiaodie, he was slightly taken aback at first, but then a cold, mocking smile appeared on his face as his gaze returned to Jiang Shuoning.

Huo Xiao witnessed the whole scene from the side, and his heart sank suddenly.

Bao Zhong was leading Xiao Die forward when he suddenly bumped into Jiang Shuoning and Zhou Zhengyin.

His hand gripping Xiaodie's wrist suddenly tightened.

When Xiaodie met Jiang Shuoning's gaze, she felt uneasy and subconsciously lowered her eyes, not daring to meet her eyes.

At this moment, Jiang Shuoning's gaze lingered on the two of them for a moment, then a faint self-deprecating smile appeared on his face.

She gently pulled away from Zhou Zhengyin's hand, turned around, and stepped into the East Palace Hall.

(two)

Inside the main hall, candles hung high, and thousands of lamps cast their glow, creating a play of light and shadow.

The seating arrangement tonight is subtly suggestive, as it does not follow the old conventions of rank and status among members of the imperial family.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess sat in the highest positions.

To the left, in descending order, are the Fifth Prince, the Sixth Prince, then Bao Zhong, with Xiao Die beside him, and finally Zhou Heng.

On the right side, in a separate row, sat Zhou Zhengyin, Jiang Shuoning, and Huo Xiao.

The grand hall was sparsely populated, with only a handful of guests.

The Crown Prince spoke first, his tone gentle and composed, a faint smile on his face, his gaze fixed intently on Zhou Zhengyin:

"Ninth Brother, you have been confined to your quarters for two months, which has truly been unfair to you. I have specially prepared this private banquet and invited you and your concubine to attend."

Upon hearing that the Princess Consort was unwell, I excused her from the banquet and allowed her to recuperate at home.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhengyin smiled faintly, his voice calm and even:

"Your Majesty's concern is deeply appreciated. Your confinement for self-reflection is a punishment from Father, intended to make me examine my own faults. How can I be considered aggrieved?"

The princess is frail and often ill, and truly cannot withstand the exertion of an evening banquet. It is her good fortune to have the emperor's consideration. With a concubine attending to her tonight, that is sufficient.”

The Crown Prince nodded slightly, his gaze slowly shifting to Jiang Shuoning. His tone was gentle, yet scrutinizing.

"Today, the concubine is dressed in a moon-white dress, elegant and charming. I have long heard of her exceptional intelligence, and since we are sharing this table today, I may say a few words."

Jiang Shuoning rose and gave a slight curtsy. He glanced up briefly, his gaze calmly meeting the Crown Prince's scrutinizing eyes. His voice was clear and precise, each word perfectly chosen:

"Your Highness flatters me. I am of humble appearance and hardly intelligent. Your Highness has hosted a banquet for Your Highness, and I am merely an attendant. I dare not presume to discuss matters of state. I only wish that Your Highnesses enjoy a peaceful and pleasant banquet tonight."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Crown Prince raised his hand to signal Jiang Shuoning to return to his seat.

The Fifth Prince, Zhou Jin, suddenly spoke up, openly mocking:

"I've long heard of the concubine's remarkable abilities. Without her, my ninth brother might not be where he is today."

I have heard that you once made a scene in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, kneeling in the pouring rain to plead for justice and clear the name of your ninth brother's birth mother.

"To have accomplished so much from a mere palace maid, not only escaping unscathed but now becoming the ninth brother's concubine—such wisdom and composure are far beyond the reach of ordinary women."

He turned to look at Bao Zhong, a meaningful smile playing on his lips:

"Don't you think so, Lord Xie? You and the concubine were once acquaintances in the palace. You know better than anyone how cunning and calculating she is."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhou Zhengyin raised his hand and tightly grasped Jiang Shuoning's icy hand. Before Bao Zhong could speak, a faint smile appeared on his lips, his voice low but clear enough to echo throughout the hall:

"Fifth Prince, you flatter me. My concubine knelt in the rain to plead for justice back then, seeking only fairness. How could she have used any underhanded means? What does it matter if she comes from a humble background? Having a strong sense of righteousness in her heart makes her superior to many people in high positions."

Today is a banquet hosted by the Crown Prince, meant for leisurely conversation and drinking. Why dwell on past affairs of the women in the inner quarters, spoiling the enjoyment?

After speaking, the Crown Prince's gaze remained fixed on Bao Zhong.

Bao Zhong met the gaze directed at him, turned to Zhou Zhengyin and chuckled lightly. His smile was faint, his voice calm, yet each word was sharp as a blade:

"Yes, it is indeed rare in this world for someone to succeed by relying on their wife. Your Highness's methods are all too clear to me."

Speaking of the concubine, we are old acquaintances from the inner palace. If it weren't for my behind-the-scenes maneuvering and assistance back then, even with all her ambitions, how could the concubine have achieved what she has today?

"How many years of schooling could a woman who started as a palace maid have received? By the way, Your Highness was once illiterate; it was I who personally taught you to read. Has Your Highness forgotten?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the hall burst into laughter.

Xiaodie lowered her head silently, her hands tightly gripping her sleeves. Listening to the laughter filling the room, she felt a chill run down her spine.

Huo Xiao's face suddenly turned ashen, his gaze hard as iron as he fixed it on Bao Zhong.

Zhou Zhengyin seemed to be enraged and was about to stand up when Jiang Shuoning gently pressed him down and pushed him back into his seat.

Immediately, she slowly stood up, looked up at the Crown Prince, and a faint, melancholic smile appeared on her lips:

"Tonight the Crown Prince is hosting a banquet. I originally thought that His Highness and the princes were showing their brotherly affection."

Unexpectedly, this private banquet has turned into a spectacle for everyone to laugh at, using me and the Prince as a target. Since that's the case, I will now entertain everyone in public.

Her gaze slowly swept across the entire room.

The Crown Prince remained calm and composed, while the Crown Princess smiled faintly and remained silent.

The mockery on the faces of the Fifth and Sixth Princes gradually faded, passing over Xiaodie before finally looking directly at Baozhong, their voices firm and resolute, neither humble nor arrogant:

"Indeed. If it weren't for Lord Xie's help back then, Your Highness and I wouldn't be where we are today."

The prince, who had returned from the imperial mausoleum, was abandoned in Changmen Palace and suffered all kinds of humiliation and mistreatment from the palace servants.

May I ask everyone present, does he truly deserve this suffering? His Highness has never intended to target anyone in the hall.

I know that I come from a humble background, merely a palace maid, but my birth is ordained by fate and cannot be chosen by me.

If I were born into a lucky family like the princes, living a life of luxury and comfort, wouldn't that be a blessing?

However, I know that I am of lowly status and have no right to speak here. But if you want to make fun of me and Your Highness, I will not silently endure it.

Even if this matter reaches His Majesty's ears, I will have no fear.

Indeed, Lord Xie was kind to us in the past, and Your Highness and I will always remember it.

But now that Lord Xie has turned against us, we shouldn't bring up old grievances and publicly humiliate the Prince. Why do this?

Back then, when I spoke out for the Prince's birth mother, I also wanted to secure a way out for myself and a stable future.

Is there anything wrong with that?

I also wish I were born like you all, with no worries about food and clothing, and with choices in everything.

But I had no choice whatsoever from beginning to end. I only wished to survive, only wished that my days could be a little easier.

Have you ever experienced the bone-chilling cold of having your hands immersed in icy water all day long during the dead of winter?

Have you ever experienced the excruciating pain of a steel needle being driven into your fingernail? Even in the most intense pain, you can't shed a tear; you have to bow your head and thank your master.

Have you ever tried a moldy, blackened, cold steamed bun and swallowed it? What does it taste like?

Have you ever been forced to eat spring pancakes until your stomach was so bloated that you had to vomit, and then you still had to keep stuffing them into your mouth?

Have any of you ever experienced the despair of being brutally beaten, on the verge of death, isolated and helpless, with no one to lend a helping hand?

Have you ever experienced the helplessness of watching your close sister being pushed off the roof of a building, with all the blame placed on you, leaving you speechless and unable to defend yourself?

Within the depths of the palace, every step is a potential trap.

Those who never devised any means of self-preservation or any cunning have long been buried beneath the yellow earth of the deep palace, dead a thousand times over.

Since you all seem so eager to hear this tonight, I will speak frankly and tell you. What else would you like to know?