Palace maid Shuoning

(One)

The winter night is bustling, the long street night market is brightly lit, and the crowds are endless. Everywhere you look, there is the lively atmosphere of the market. The cold wind swirls snowflakes and brushes past the shoulders of passersby.

Jiang Shuoning walked slowly through the bustling crowd, with two guards following closely behind him, never leaving his side.

She caught a glimpse of it several times out of the corner of her eye, and her growing unease finally subsided. She turned around, her expression cool and aloof, her voice low but carrying an undeniable authority:

"I am a concubine of the Prince's mansion, not a prisoner. You don't need to keep such a close watch on me."

If you continue to follow me closely, I will report this to the Prince and have you punished for being too reserved and lacking in propriety.

The two guards' expressions suddenly tightened, caught in a dilemma.

Jiang Shuoning raised his hand, took out two silver ingots, and handed them to the two men, his tone slightly softer but still firm:

"Please step back and rest for now, and go to the teahouse for some tea. I will meet you here again in just two hours."

The two looked at each other and hesitated for a moment, but in the end they dared not disobey. They could only respectfully accept the silver, bow their heads and agree, and obediently step aside to wait.

Jiang Shuoning continued on his way alone, turned a corner, hired a carriage, and instructed the driver to drive straight to the city gate.

In the desolate open space of the eastern suburbs, a thatched hut stands alone in the night, surrounded by darkness and silence, with the snow falling silently.

Jiang Shuoning slowly stepped down from the carriage, the cold wind ruffling her clothes. She turned back and calmly instructed the driver to wait there patiently.

I just want to stand here quietly for a while, and then set off to return later.

The coachman dared not say a word, and obediently sat upright in the carriage, waiting quietly.

Jiang Shuoning gripped the copper key tightly in his palm and slowly walked towards the thatched hut in the depths of the night.

The cold wind was biting, and the surroundings were empty and desolate. Looking at the lonely little house in front of her, a sense of bewilderment and bitterness suddenly welled up in her heart.

In the vast capital city, with its brocade and clouds of splendor, and the luxurious mansions of the princes, she found herself with nowhere to go and no one to rely on.

In the end, the only place that allowed her a moment's respite was a thatched hut in the middle of nowhere, unknown to anyone.

She raised her hand, took the key, gently unlocked the door, and pushed it open to enter.

Surprisingly, the room was not as cold and desolate as I had imagined; instead, it was filled with a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Jiang Shuo Ning lit the lamp, and the dim yellow light slowly spread out, illuminating the quiet room.

The charcoal fire burned quietly in the stove, the flames gently licking the embers, the warmth lingering, clearly indicating that someone had been adding fuel every day, and the fire had never gone out.

Jiang Shuoning stood there in a daze for a moment, then a faint smile appeared on his lips.

She raised her hand and took off her heavy cloak, gently draping it over the screen.

There is no scheming and plotting here, no ruthless and cold-blooded Zhou Zhengyin, no entangled love shackles, and no insurmountable wickedness of human nature.

A small thatched cottage, quiet and dust-free.

At this moment, all the world's troubles were shut out, leaving only her and this peaceful and gentle room.

Jiang Shuoning took off his shoes and socks, and gently lay down into the soft bedding.

The bedding was clean and warm, with a faint warmth from the charcoal fire, so comforting that it brought a pang of sadness to my heart.

She closed her eyes and quietly told herself that she would only rest for a short while to calm her mind before returning to the prison of the chess game.

At this moment, she only wanted to temporarily set aside all disputes and entanglements, and steal a moment of peace in this fleeting life.

I don't know how much time passed, but in my sleep, I could vaguely hear the sound of horses' hooves.

Jiang Shuoning was already extremely tired. The bed beneath him was soft and comfortable, and he felt warm all over. He felt relaxed and comfortable for the first time in a long time.

She cherished this peace and didn't want to open her eyes at all. She turned over and fell into a deep sleep again.

The door creaked open and was slowly pushed open.

Bao Zhong was wearing a dark black cloak, and his long, frosty white hair was particularly striking in the candlelight.

He stepped in, a playful smile on his lips, and casually said:

"They must have known I was coming and were waiting for me here."

Before he could finish speaking, he turned his head and saw a figure lying on the bed.

His brows furrowed suddenly, and he slowly approached, bending down to look closely. The next moment, he was startled.

Jiang Shuoning's face suddenly came into his view on the couch, and Bao Zhong's heart tightened, and he subconsciously took several steps back.

He was filled with surprise and confusion. How could Shuo Ning be here?

This secluded abode in the wilderness was only visited by Huo Xiao, and he was never told anything about it to outsiders.

But now, Shuoning is lying peacefully on his bed, holding the bronze key in his hand.

Suddenly, a terrifying thought flashed into my mind.

Could it be that Huo Xiao had already fallen for Shuo Ning?

No wonder Huo Xiao had repeatedly advised him, reminding him that his relationship with Shuo Ning was over and urging him not to let Xiao Die down again.

Looking back now, it wasn't sincere advice at all; it was clearly a way to secretly leave himself an escape route!

(two)

The scent of agarwood wafted into Jiang Shuoning's nostrils, and his eyelashes trembled slightly as he slowly opened his eyes.

As the blurry vision gradually cleared, Bao Zhong came into view.

His eyes were red, his expression was cold and somber, and he stood silently by the bed, staring at her coldly.

The moment their eyes met, the charcoal fire crackled softly inside the room, filling it with warmth, yet a chilling cold suddenly settled over it.

Jiang Shuoning was startled, his sleepiness instantly vanished, and he sat up, propped himself up by the blankets, secretly surprised and doubtful, never expecting to run into him here.

Thoughts raced through my mind, and in an instant, a bold guess flashed through my head.

Her eyes flickered slightly as she looked up at Bao Zhong, as if she had suddenly realized something.

"When did you and Huo Xiao start dating?"

Bao Zhong's voice was as cold as if it had been tempered with ice, each word striking the room.

Jiang Shuoning was suddenly startled, then threw off the covers and bent down to put on his shoes and socks.

Just then, Bao Zhong's deep voice fell from above again:

"You're getting revenge on me, aren't you?"

Her fingers paused abruptly, but she still managed to put on her shoes and socks steadily, slowly straightened up, and looked up to meet his gaze.

A mix of emotions welled up inside her, and her eyes uncontrollably welled up with tears. She ignored his suspicions and instead asked in a low voice:

"Xie Jinghuai! This isn't the time for you to question me. Shouldn't you give me an explanation? Explain why you're in Huo Xiao's thatched hut?"

Bao Zhong's lips curled into a cold sneer, his gaze fixed intently on her:

"You are so intelligent; you already know the answer in your heart. Why must I tell you?"

"Is it for Zhou Zhengyin, or for me?"

Jiang Shuoning's body trembled slightly uncontrollably, her heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by a hand, the pain causing her voice to choke:

"Is it worth it? Is it really worth risking your life for all of this? Once the truth comes out, the Crown Prince will never forgive you!"

Xie Jinghuai, how could you be so foolish! We don't need you to sacrifice yourself like this. What I wanted was never some grand plan; I just wanted you to be safe and sound.

Even if you leave Zhou Zhengyin and seek the peaceful life you desire, I will not suffer like this.

But you chose what you thought was the greatest path. You're not a savior; you're just an ordinary person.

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Shuoning could no longer hold back his tears, which streamed down his face, and he broke down in sobs.

"How could you do this... Are you deliberately trying to make me feel guilty? To make me, Jiang Shuoning, owe you a debt of gratitude for the rest of my life?"

It was I who pulled you back then and supported Zhou Zhengyin together, which is why you ended up in this dangerous situation today!

It's my fault, it's my fault! I dragged a perfectly good person into this quagmire and ruined them into this state!

Zhou Zhengyin isn't worth such a huge price you've paid, and I'm even less worth it! How could you be so foolish!

She raised her hand and clutched her clothes tightly to her chest, sobbing uncontrollably, each word filled with a desperate question:

"What gives you the right to make decisions for everyone? What makes you so sure you can turn everything around? What makes you insist on being this selfless hero?"

Bao Zhong looked at her weeping and wailing, his heart ached, and the pain almost suffocated him.

His eyes were red-rimmed as he backed away step by step, his voice choked with emotion, tinged with a self-destructive defiant air.

"Yes! I, Xie Jinghuai, am arrogant, ignorant, and have no self-awareness whatsoever. I deserve it! Jiang Shuoning, remember this clearly: I did all this not for you, and certainly not for Zhou Zhengyin!"

It's over between us a long time ago. Don't try to make yourself look good; you're no longer worth it! Without me, you would have jumped into Huo Xiao's arms in the blink of an eye!

You used to stay true to yourself, resenting me for not taking you away and not wanting to stay with me in secret. But what about now?

You appeared alone in this secluded abode, secretly meeting and spending time with him! Could it be that you were already having a marital affair with him during the day, and then had to return to the Prince's mansion at night to continue dealing with Zhou Zhengyin?

Jiang Shuoning, your actions only make me feel hypocritical and disgusted!

As soon as he finished speaking, the last glimmer of light in Baozhong's eyes went out. His heart was ashen, and without saying another word, he turned around abruptly, opened the door, and strode out.

"Xie Jinghuai, you bastard!" Jiang Shuoning didn't have time to think and chased after him out the door.

But he had already mounted his horse, whipped it, and galloped away into the distance.

Jiang Shuoning chased after them desperately, the wind and snow stinging her face, mingling with her tears, as she cried out hoarsely:

"Xie Jinghuai! You bastard! How could you abandon me again! Xie Jinghuai!"

She staggered and ran wildly through the snow, but the person on horseback always kept her back straight and never looked back.

"Xie Jinghuai! Do you really not want me anymore?"

Jiang Shuoning slipped and fell heavily onto the snow-covered ground.

The horse had already galloped away, engulfed in wind and snow, leaving only the sound of its hooves clattering in the snow, growing ever more distant.

The driver, who was waiting nearby, hurriedly stepped forward, reached out to help her, and anxiously asked, "Young lady, are you hurt?"

Jiang Shuoning lay prostrate in the snow, crying his heart out, his hands clenched tightly, pounding the cold snow with his fists, his voice broken and choked with sobs:

"Is it so difficult to even sit down and talk things through these days...? We could have sat down and explained, really, we could have explained it clearly..."