Palace maid Shuoning

(One)

Bao Zhong found it hard to believe that the woman he loved to the core would actually kowtow to him, begging him to let go and to stop loving her.

How cruel, and how heartless!

He was in great distress and suffered excruciating chest pain.

It all started when I, at the age of five, first met three-year-old Shuoning. Standing in the crowd, he blurted out:

"Mother, that little sister is so beautiful, like a fairy."

The fate has ended. Today, Jiang Shuo Ning kneels at his feet, begging him to break the bond, asking him to let go and stop loving her.

Bao Zhong's legs went weak, and he knelt heavily before Jiang Shuoning, watching her kowtow repeatedly.

Hot tears rolled down his pale cheeks as memories of their days together in the deep palace flooded his mind.

He suddenly chuckled softly, a mournful laugh, his Adam's apple bobbing repeatedly, his voice hoarse and broken.

"I have fallen to such a state, becoming the despicable person you speak of, forcing you to kneel down and beg me to let me go."

Shuoning, my Ning'er, the woman I, Xie Jinghuai, have loved for eighteen years since I was five, is now begging me to let go.

Ning'er, how disappointed must you be in me to force us to this point?

Jiang Shuoning remained kneeling on the ground, his forehead pressed against the earth, his whole body trembling, unable to suppress his pain.

Bao Zhong stared at her with red eyes, let out a long sigh, and his voice was hoarse:

"Ning'er, since my love has become your lifelong suffering, I let go. From now on, I will no longer love you, nor will I entangle you. I sever my ties with this mortal world."

After speaking, Bao Zhong slowly propped himself up, staggering, and turned to step out of the thatched hut.

"Thank you, brother!"

Huo Xiao immediately strode forward, took a few steps, then stopped. He glanced back at Jiang Shuoning, who was still kneeling on the ground, and whispered to Zhan Qing to secretly follow Bao Zhong and make sure to protect him and prevent anything from happening to him.

Zhan Qing accepted the order and quietly followed them out.

Huo Xiao immediately bent down to pick up the cloak from the ground, walked to Jiang Shuoning, carefully wrapped her naked body in it, reached out to help her up slowly, and whispered, "He's gone."

Jiang Shuoning hung her head, already exhausted from crying. She slowly raised her eyes to look at Huo Xiao, her voice hoarse and dry:

"Now that things have come to this, send me back to the Prince's residence. This place is no longer suitable for me to stay. If Zhou Zhengyin finds out, who knows how much trouble will ensue."

"Lord Huo, I am truly sorry for the trouble I have caused you today. I had nowhere else to go, and this falling out was entirely expected. Please escort me home."

Looking at her pale, haggard appearance, with tear stains still wet on her face, Huo Xiao felt a pang of heartache in his eyes, but he remained composed and did not offer much comfort. He simply nodded gently and replied softly:

"You don't need to blame yourself. What happened today was not your fault. I will carefully cover things up with Zhou Zhengyin, so you don't need to worry."

But you are currently weak, still addicted to the acacia seeds, and the journey has been bumpy. Can you endure it?

He paused, his tone calm and gentle:

"Since you are determined to return to the Prince's Palace, I will personally escort you back."

Jiang Shuoning nodded slightly, the despair and panic in his eyes fading, replaced by a calm demeanor.

"Ye Wan forced me to take the love pills and then sent me out of the palace. I knew that an even greater calamity was waiting for me ahead."

Right now, the only way out is to grit your teeth, kick the drug addiction, and pull yourself together. Only then will you have the strength to stand up to her and the princelings. Simply wallowing in despair is not the way forward.

Looking at her resolute appearance, Huo Xiao felt a pang of pity and sighed softly, "As a woman, you are truly very strong."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuoning's lips curled into a cold, mocking laugh:

"Strong? Lord Huo, I am but a weak woman. To call me strong is not a compliment, but a clear insult."

If there is someone supporting you from behind, and someone sheltering you from the wind and rain, who would willingly pretend to be strong in the eyes of others?

The world is inherently unfair to women, making endless demands. They are expected to be beautiful and talented, yet also to be patient, manage the household, and bear children. When their husbands take concubines, the women are expected to accept it with equanimity. Every step is fraught with difficulty.

Upon hearing this, Huo Xiao felt a sharp pain in his chest. He gazed at her, his voice extremely soft:

"Can I hug you? I think you need a shoulder to lean on right now."

Jiang Shuoning looked up at him, tears welling up in her eyes again, and slowly shook her head:

"No, Lord Huo. Xie Jinghuai and I have severed all ties. I cannot turn around and lean on someone else's arms."

Besides, I still have Zhou Zhengyin; we shouldn't get entangled in this complicated and unresolved love affair any longer. Before the addiction kicks in, please send me back to the Prince's mansion as soon as possible.”

The pity in Huo Xiao's eyes slowly faded, leaving no trace of displeasure. He calmly withdrew his hand, his tone remaining gentle and steady:

"I was being presumptuous, you're right."

He said no more, pulled her cloak tighter, helped her steady herself, and whispered:

"I'll take you home right away. I'll keep an eye on you on the way, and if you show any signs of withdrawal, I'll do something to calm you down immediately."

(two)

The world was a vast expanse of white, with endless snow falling.

Huo Xiao picked up Jiang Shuoning and gently placed her on the horse's back.

He then nimbly mounted the horse, sat behind her, leaned slightly forward, and whispered in her ear:

"How long until the drug withdrawal symptoms return?"

Jiang Shuoning shifted slightly forward and answered softly, "One more hour."

Huo Xiao's heart sank, and his expression suddenly tightened:

"Alright! I'll urge the horse to speed up the journey. You must hold on; if you feel unwell, tell me immediately."

Jiang Shuo Ning nodded slightly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Xiao spurred his horse and galloped forward, the steed cutting through the snow.

In less than an hour, the two arrived at the Prince's Palace.

Huo Xiao noticed that Jiang Shuoning was starting to feel unwell, so he immediately scooped her up in his arms, quickly stepped onto the stone steps of the Prince's Mansion, and called out loudly:

"Quickly report to the Prince that the concubine has been found!"

Zhou Zhengyin hurriedly instructed Bailing and several maids to first help Jiang Shuoning wash and settle down, and then immediately sent someone to summon a doctor to quickly examine her injuries.

A biting wind blew under the eaves outside. Zhou Zhengyin, Huo Xiao, Gao Shuran, Shan Hengzhe, and the others, who were holding Ya Ya's hand, were all anxiously waiting outside.

Zhou Zhengyin's fingers clenched so tightly they turned white, his gaze fixed intently on Huo Xiao, his voice trembling with anxiety:

"Where did you find the concubine? She's injured like this; it must have been Ye Wan who poisoned her."

Huo Xiao lowered his eyes, cupped his hands, and looked solemn:

"Your Majesty, I have found the concubine outside the city. The injuries on her body were indeed inflicted by Consort Wan."

"But Your Highness, the concubine has become addicted to acacia seeds, and it seems she will soon be suffering from an addiction."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhengyin shuddered violently, and the color drained instantly from his face.

"Lotus seeds?"

He repeated those three words in a low voice, his throat tight:

"Once that vicious substance takes effect, the pain is worse than death; how could she possibly endure it?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Shuran instinctively pulled Yaya closer to her side, pursed her lips, and looked worried, not daring to make a sound to disturb her.

Shan Hengzhe frowned and said in a deep voice, "The poison of the acacia seed is extremely difficult to cure. When it takes effect, the pain and itching are unbearable. There is no antidote. The only way to temporarily relieve the symptoms is to continue taking the poison."

Huo Xiao cupped his hands in a respectful gesture: "Your Highness, this matter should not be publicized. If the news leaks out and reaches the Eastern Palace, Ye Wan will surely take further action to harm the concubine."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Shuoning’s painful groans suddenly came from inside the room, mixed with Bai Ling’s panicked cries.

Everyone's expression changed drastically. Just as they were about to rush into the room, Zhan Xiao staggered into the courtyard, his face ashen. He knelt down in the center of the courtyard with a thud, his voice trembling and broken:

"Your Highness, my lord! Lord Xie... he's been castrated a second time!"