Palace maid Shuoning

(One)

Winter ends and spring arrives; time flows on.

Jiang Shuo endured the poison of love-sickness seeds for three whole months.

The addiction was recurring, sometimes good and sometimes bad, like a cycle of purgatory.

Zhou Zhengyin was on the verge of collapse several times and almost couldn't help but go to Ye Wan to ask for another bottle of acacia seeds.

Later, whenever Jiang Shuoning recalled those three months, he truly understood what it meant to be unable to live and unable to die.

If Zhou Zhengyin hadn't stayed by her side day and night, she wouldn't have survived this ordeal.

From day to night, the only sounds inside were her heart-wrenching screams during her drug withdrawal and the loud crashes of objects breaking.

Fearing that she might accidentally injure herself if she lost control, Zhou Zhengyin ordered his men to remove all hard objects from the room early on.

Even so, his body was still covered with wounds, all inflicted by Jiang Shuoning when he was in a state of mental confusion and out of control.

In just three months, Zhou Zhengyin became emaciated and looked haggard.

She vividly remembers the last time her drug addiction subsided, she and Zhou Zhengyin were both exhausted and collapsed to the ground.

"Is...is it over?"

Jiang Shuo leaned softly against his shoulder, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

Zhou Zhengyin held her tightly, his eyes bloodshot, a stubble of green on his chin, his voice hoarse and choked with emotion:

"The hard times are finally over... I'm thinking, if you still can't get rid of your drug addiction, I really have to go to Ye Wan and ask for the love elixir."

If you suffer this pain, then I will suffer with you; if you are in pain, I will be in pain too.

Jiang Shuoning turned his head slightly to look at him, raised his still weak hand, and gently stroked the rough stubble on his chin with his fingertips.

In that instant, she suddenly realized something.

In fact, she, Baozhong, and Zhou Zhengyin had been bound by blood and soul for many years.

Even though there were constant arguments and upheavals afterward, these three hearts were never truly separated from beginning to end.

Zhou Zhengyin raised his hand and covered hers, holding it in his palm. He turned his head and gazed at her, his nose gently brushing against hers. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his sobs were low and hoarse.

"Auntie, we've finally waited for spring to arrive and the flowers to bloom."

Jiang Shuoning, her eyes blurry with tears, looked up at him blankly.

In just three months, the boy in front of us had become extremely thin, with deep sunken cheeks and sharp features that made one's heart ache.

He looked haggard and unrecognizable, a far cry from his former handsome appearance.

Seeing his body covered in wounds and his eyes filled with exhaustion, a surge of bitterness welled up in my heart.

For the past three months, she has been in unbearable pain, but he has been with her, falling into purgatory together.

A thousand words stuck in her throat; she had no way to repay this companionship and affection that had given her life.

Amidst the turmoil of emotions, Jiang Shuoning suddenly leaned forward, tilted his head back, and gently kissed his lips.

The sudden tenderness made Zhou Zhengyin stiffen, completely stunned, as if he had fallen into an unreal dream.

He immediately raised his hand, gently but firmly pushing her away. His thin lips trembled violently, and his eyes instantly filled with tears. He spoke in a flustered and humble manner:

"No! Auntie, please don't do this!"

His breathing was disordered, each word uttered with a tearful lament, brimming with restraint and forbearance:

"I don't want you to repay my kindness of staying with me for the past three months in this way."

I truly love you, so much so that I'd go to hell with you, but I no longer want to, and dare not, force you in the slightest.

I'm afraid... I really won't be able to control myself.

I don't want this tenderness that comes with a sense of indebtedness and a desire to repay.

What I want is your willingness, not your compromise out of guilt.

Auntie, I don't want to...

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Shuo's last line of defense completely collapsed.

She suddenly leaned forward, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and pressed herself tightly into his embrace.

The pain, guilt, helplessness, and overwhelming emotions that had been building up for three months all burst forth in a devastating sob, which she buried her face in his shoulder and choked out.

"Ah Yin... thank you..."

Zhou Zhengyin trembled all over, and all his forced composure crumbled instantly.

He hugged her tightly, burying his face in her cool hair, and a muffled sob escaped his lips.

All the weariness, fear, and torment of the boy were released at this moment.

The room was quiet, with only the two of them embracing and weeping.

Having endured the biting winter and survived the agonizing poison, they finally crawled back from hell, pulling each other along.

Many years later, whenever Jiang Shuoning recalled this day, he would always feel a pang of melancholy.

She always remembered.

If Zhou Zhengyin hadn't pushed her away that day, if he had accepted her kiss as a way of repaying her kindness, or even taken her as his wife...

She truly would completely let go of the past, wholeheartedly follow him for the rest of her life, and peacefully be his queen for a lifetime.

But that time was the first and only time in his life that he pushed her away.

He didn't want her to feel indebted, didn't want her to compromise, and didn't want her to repay his kindness with her own body.

He only wanted her to be willing.

(two)

In April, the spring breeze is gentle, and the grass grows and the orioles fly.

After enduring a long, hellish winter, the capital city has finally welcomed the gentle colors of spring.

The frozen ground on the streets is thawing, withered trees are sprouting and blooming, and thousands of willow branches are hanging down by the lake, gently swaying the blue waves in the wind.

Kites flutter and soar in the sky, freeing themselves from their constraints and roaming freely in the clear sky on the warm breeze.

On this gentle spring day, an imperial edict suddenly came from the palace, summoning Zhou Zhengyin to the palace for an audience immediately.

Unable to disobey the imperial decree, Zhou Zhengyin dared not delay. He immediately tidied his clothes and hurriedly entered the palace side by side with Shan Hengzhe.

As Jiang Shuoning's health gradually improved and his addiction was cured, he felt relaxed and went out for a leisurely stroll with Gao Shuran.

Gao Shuran is five months pregnant. Her loose spring clothes cover her slightly protruding belly, and her gentle and quiet eyes are full of the soft warmth of impending childbirth.

The two walked side by side down the long cobblestone street, chatting and laughing in hushed tones, exuding a relaxed and carefree air.

Ya Ya has grown quite a bit, her eyes and brows are becoming more and more lively. She skips and hops along beside me, chattering about funny things. She is soft, cute, and adds a touch of freshness and vitality to the spring scenery.

Six black-clad guards stood at attention behind them, while Bailing and Minglan stayed close by, taking good care of them.

Just as Ya Ya was leading Jiang Shuoning and Gao Shuran to the lakeside for a stroll, they bumped into Bao Zhong, with Xia Kun beside him.

His long, white hair remained unchanged, his face was handsome, and his figure was as upright as ever. He wore a light purple robe, with an old tassel hanging from a jade pendant at his waist.

The tassel was hand-woven by Jiang Shuoning in his early years, and it had long since worn away and faded over the years.

This time, however, Zhao Xiaodie was nowhere to be seen beside him.

Jiang Shuo later heard about this from Huo Xiao.

Zhao Xiaodie remained trapped in guilt and remorse, convinced that it was her secret meeting with Jiang Shuoning that led to the kidnapping and forced Baozhong to destroy himself and sever all ties with the world.

While Baozhong was bedridden and recovering from his injuries, she cut off her long hair and went to a temple outside the city to become a nun.

She said that it was her own greed and selfishness that caused trouble for everyone, and that she would spend the rest of her life atoning for her sins by staying away from the Buddhist temple.

Bao Zhong looked up and immediately saw Jiang Shuoning walking out from under the willow tree.

She wore a green dress, which was even more delicate and beautiful than the willows swaying on the bank.

Her hair was tied up in a high bun, and her once pale and haggard face had regained its rosy color. Her complexion was relaxed, and she looked radiant, no longer showing the sickly and listless state she had before.

The two locked eyes.

Those past experiences soaked in blood and tears seemed to quietly settle down at this moment, and all the endless heartache faded away.

Jiang Shuoning looked at him and saw that he was safe and sound. The tragic act that night had not ultimately led to an irreversible outcome.

The huge weight that had been hanging over my heart for so long finally lifted, and a relieved smile spread across my lips.

We are still ourselves, yet we are no longer the same as before.

She knew that the wish she had so desperately prayed for in that dream had finally come true.

Immediately, she calmly shifted her gaze, bent down to pick up Ya Ya, turned her head and chatted and laughed softly with Gao Shuran, her steps steady as she gracefully brushed past him.

Bao Zhong also slightly raised his chin, slowly passing by her, a slight smile playing on his lips.

If she is safe and sound, he will have no worries.

Ya Ya opened her big, bright black eyes and looked at Bao Zhong as he walked past her. In her childish voice, she softly called out:

"Father!"