Palace maid Shuoning

(One)

Lunar New Year's Eve is approaching.

The Prince's Mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, creating a festive atmosphere.

After Zhou Zhengyin was turned away that night, he indeed ordered the wooden door of Jiang Shuoning's house to be removed the next day.

The two had a fierce argument over this, and in the end, Zhou Zhengyin couldn't win against her and had to give in, so he had to order the door to be repaired properly.

That day, before dawn, Zhou Zhengyin and Shan Hengzhe left the mansion together.

Jiang Shuoning couldn't explain what he was busy planning all day, and he didn't bother to find out.

As evening approached, Jiang Shuoning was having dinner inside when Bailing lifted the curtain and came in.

"My lord, a maidservant at the gate just now asked me to pass on this note to you."

Jiang Shuoning turned to look at the note in Bai Ling's hand, then put down his chopsticks and reached out to take it.

The paper contained only three words: Fragrance Fills the Pavilion.

The night market on Chang'an Avenue was already bustling with activity, with bright red lanterns hanging along the street and various stalls lined up in a row, their calls and laughter blending together.

Pedestrians thronged to the side, their clothes brushing against each other, everywhere was filled with a lively and festive atmosphere, the heavy New Year's spirit lingering in the evening breeze, blowing in your face.

Fragrance fills the building.

Jiang Shuoning stepped into the building and turned to instruct the two guards beside him:

"You all wait here; you don't need to come up with me."

The guards bowed their heads in response.

Bailing carefully helped her up the stairs to the second floor and headed straight for the elegant room at the far right.

Lark lightly tapped the door with her finger, and the door slowly opened from the inside.

Looking up, I saw Xiaodie standing in the house, dressed in a brocade robe and adorned with pearls and jade in her hair, a far cry from her simple, rustic appearance in the countryside.

To an uninformed person, she would indeed look like a pampered rich woman who has lived in the capital for a long time.

"Jiang Gu..." Xiao Die was about to greet her warmly, but she hurriedly changed her words and said respectfully, "Your Highness, I've finally been waiting for you."

As she spoke, she reached out and took Jiang Shuoning's arm, leading her into the inner room, and then carefully helped her to sit down.

Bai Ling stood by his side, while another maid brought by Xiao Die stepped forward to close the door. The two of them stood behind their respective masters, heads bowed and silent.

Xiao Die sat down opposite Jiang Shuoning, her face beaming with a warm smile:

"I've ordered all the restaurant's best signature dishes to be prepared. I wonder if any of them will suit Your Highness's taste?"

Jiang Shuoning glanced at the table full of delicacies, his gaze settling lightly on her face, and slowly asked, "Miss Xiaodie, what is your purpose in seeking me out today?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than her maid stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Highness, you should address her as Madam Xie."

Bai Ling immediately raised an eyebrow, full of indignation, and retorted:

"Since you are Madam Xie, you should first pay your respects to my concubine. Speaking like this makes it seem as if you're trying to overshadow our mistress!"

Jiang Shuo remained silent, only giving the talkative maid a cold glance before turning his gaze back to Xiao Die, waiting for her to speak.

Xiao Die's expression changed, and she quickly and sternly dismissed the maid. She turned to Jiang Shuoning and asked Bai Ling and her maid to leave so she could speak with them alone.

The lark did not budge an inch and refused to leave.

Seeing this, Xiaodie had no choice but to stand up, slightly curtsy to Jiang Shuoning, and respectfully bow: "This humble woman greets Your Highness, the Concubine."

Jiang Shuo looked at her quietly for a moment before nodding and signaling Bai Ling to leave.

The door closed, leaving only Jiang Shuoning and Xiaodie inside. Jiang Shuoning raised his voice, gesturing for Xiaodie to sit down.

Xiao Die slowly sat down, took a pair of embroidered shoes from the chair beside her, and then presented a thick stack of silver notes, gently pushing them towards Jiang Shuoning, her face still warm and welcoming.

"Your Highness, these are the embroidered shoes you gave me on the carriage, and the travel expenses you left me before you and Brother Xie set off."

Today, I return everything to you. Although the embroidered shoes are not the original pair, the material and stitching are more exquisite than the previous pair. As for these silver notes, they are being returned with interest, several times over.

Jiang Shuoning glanced at the embroidered shoes and silver notes, smiled faintly, then looked at her again, raised an eyebrow, and gestured for her to continue.

Xiaodie felt a tightness in her heart under her calm gaze. She lowered her eyes, took a deep breath, and then spoke softly:

"I am three months pregnant, and it's Brother Xie's child. Brother Xie said that he will live a good life with me from now on and let go of the past."

I have come today to inform Your Highness of this joyous occasion, and I hope you will bless my marriage with Brother Xie.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuoning calmly picked up the teacup in front of him, gently blew away the foam on the surface of the tea, took a small sip, and remained silent throughout.

Seeing her like this, Xiaodie panicked. She composed herself, mustered her courage, and looked up at her again, her voice choked with sobs:

"I know that the concubine and the prince have long since severed ties with Brother Xie, but in my heart, I still remember the affection we once shared."

My parents are gone, and I have no one left to rely on in this world. If I hadn't met you all, my parents wouldn't have ended up like that...

Having said this, she could no longer hold back her grievances, and tears streamed down her face.

(two)

Only Xiaodie's intermittent sobs remained in the room.

Jiang Shuoning slowly drank the tea in his cup, then gently placed the cup on the table with a soft sound.

"How is the long scar on his chest healing now? It was inflicted in the palace years ago."

I used to prepare scar-reducing cream for him and told him to apply it regularly. I wonder how much it has faded now?

Jiang Shuoning remained calm and spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Also, he always frowns when he's asleep, is that any better now?"

Xiaodie was taken aback for a moment, then smiled again: "I applied medicine to that scar every night, and it's all healed now. He sleeps very well now and rarely frowns at night."

Jiang Shuoning nodded slightly, his tone calm: "It's been three months already?"

Xiaodie immediately raised her hand and gently stroked her lower abdomen, her eyes filled with tenderness: "Yes, it's been exactly three months."

After a pause, Jiang Shuoning looked at Xiaodie, a subtle, enigmatic smile playing on his lips:

"I truly envy Madam Xie, living a life of luxury and having so much free time."

Xiaodie was startled, her eyes widening suddenly, completely baffled by the deeper meaning in her words.

Jiang Shuoning met her bewildered and confused gaze, his smile undiminished:

"First they returned the embroidered shoes, then the silver notes, and now they're bringing up the pregnancy. Since she's three months pregnant, why don't I send someone to invite a doctor over to give Madam Xie a proper examination and see if the pregnancy is real?"

Xiao Die suddenly stood up, her body trembling slightly: "Your Highness... what do you mean? Don't you believe me?"

Jiang Shuoning looked up at her calmly, his tone composed:

"What do you think, Zhao Xiaodie? You deliberately arranged to meet me here for a man. Are you trying to show off, or are you just gloating? Tell me, is it you who's by his side now, not me?"

Two women are locked in a heated argument in this private room of a restaurant, all over a man. Don't you really think this kind of behavior is utterly ridiculous?

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Shuoning slowly stood up and walked slowly to her:

"From the moment you walked in, I knew what you were planning. Zhao Xiaodie, I originally treated you with kindness because of our past relationship, but I never expected that the glitz and glamour of the capital would make you lose your true heart."

Well, it's natural for people to strive for higher positions, but you must remember that everything you have today is due to us.

"Now you want to return these embroidered shoes and silver notes? Even the embroidered shoes worn by my maids in the Prince's mansion are more exquisite than these. How could my dignified Prince's mansion be short of such a small amount of money?"

She slowly walked around behind Xiaodie, her voice calm and clear:

"Since you insist on arguing, then I'll be frank with you. First, the deaths of your parents were not caused by me, Jiang Shuoning. There's no need for you to play the pitiful card in front of me; I won't fall for that."

Xiaodie trembled, lowered her head, and her tears fell even more rapidly.

Remember this: it was I who rejected him, that gave you the chance to stand beside him. Otherwise, where would you have gotten your turn? And why would you have needed to lie about being pregnant?

Xiaodie's lips moved as if she wanted to explain, but she couldn't utter a single word.

"Thirdly, speaking of your brother Xie, to tell you the truth, back in the palace, there were quite a few women who admired him. I personally cut off two of his romantic entanglements, and each of them was exceptionally beautiful."

The palace was never short of beautiful women, favored by concubines and admired by palace maids. If he hadn't encountered such a misfortune, you would never have had the chance to meet him in your life.

I can understand people using some means to climb the social ladder and live a comfortable life.

But it's not worth it to have all your heart tied to one man. If Xie Jinghuai truly wanted to be with you forever, why would you bother to come and brag to me? How absurd!

You secretly left the manor to meet me. Have you considered who will suffer if you are discovered? Not me, but your Brother Xie. If you wish for him to suffer misfortune, then feel free to continue this nonsense.

After she finished speaking, Xiaodie was already sobbing uncontrollably, standing there blankly, unable to utter a single word in rebuttal.

Jiang Shuoning reached out and picked up the stack of silver notes, a sneer escaping his lips, before tossing them away.

Silver notes fluttered and scattered all over the ground.

Her gaze was as cold as frost as she stared at the weeping Xiaodie: "Don't you even know your place? How dare you act so arrogantly in front of me?"

Xiaodie bit her lower lip tightly, tears streaming down her face. She felt utterly humiliated and had lost all face. In a panic, she kept whispering apologies:

"I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to. I disturbed Your Highness. I'll leave right away!"

After saying this, she covered her lips, hurried to the door, and flung it open. Just as she was about to leave with her maid, Jiang Shuoning coldly shouted, "Take the silver notes and embroidered shoes and get out!"

Xiaodie froze on the spot.

The maid rushed in, squatted down to hurriedly pick up the scattered silver notes, grabbed the embroidered shoes on the table, and followed Xiaodie downstairs in a panic.

Bai Ling noticed Jiang Shuoning's back was turned to her, his shoulders trembling slightly. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she softly called out, "Master..."