Palace maid Shuoning

(One)

As the deep night enveloped the surrounding area, Jiang Shuo Ning and Huo Xiao led a group of servants out of the mansion in a hurry.

"My lord, someone from the Xie residence reports that Ya Ya secretly slipped out this evening, and someone saw her heading towards Fairy Lake!"

As night deepened, Jiang Shuoning's heart sank. She lifted her skirt and hurried towards Fairy Lake, her voice filled with anxiety and regret:

"How could the Xie family not even be able to keep an eye on a little maid! If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have entrusted Yaya to the Xie family in the first place."

Huo Xiao turned to look at her anxious and distraught appearance, then stayed close by her side, gently comforting her:

"Don't panic, let's get there as soon as possible, she'll be alright."

Before long, the group arrived at Fairy Lake.

On the shore, Baozhong was carrying Yaya, who was soaking wet, his face grim.

"Who gave you the right to come to the lake and cause trouble?"

Ya Ya's chubby little legs flapped wildly in the air, her wet hair clung messily to her forehead, her little face puffed out, and she spat at him angrily.

Bao Zhong was so angry that his chest heaved. Looking at her round face, he felt both annoyed and amused.

"All you ever think about is sweets! Look at yourself, you've gained so much weight, you've even lost two cavities, and you still won't stop!"

Tears welled in Ya Ya's eyes as she puffed out her cheeks and whimpered at him, her chubby arms and legs kicking wildly.

"Ya Ya wants to find her mother! She wants to find her great-uncle! Great-uncle is the best, he won't be mean to Ya Ya!"

"Still making a fuss." Bao Zhong put Ya Ya on the ground and raised his hand to gently pat her little bottom.

"Don't hit her!" Jiang Shuoning frowned, lifted her skirt and hurried forward. Huo Xiao saw this and quickly reached out to support her.

As he approached, Jiang Shuoning bent down to hug Ya Ya, but after two attempts, he couldn't lift her.

She simply squatted down, looked at Ya Ya's round little belly, and smiled with a frown:

"You've eaten so much food at the Xie residence this past month, how did you become so heavy?"

After saying this, he took out an embroidered handkerchief and carefully wiped away the tears and lake water from her face.

The moment Bao Zhong saw Jiang Shuoning approaching, the long-suppressed longing in his heart surged up, and he almost couldn't contain himself.

He looked up and his eyes met Huo Xiao's. Their gazes met briefly, and then, without prior arrangement, both turned back to Jiang Shuoning.

"Mother! Father is bullying Yaya! He won't let Yaya sleep next to him at night!"

Ya Ya pointed her chubby little finger at Bao Zhong, her face full of grievance, and then she wrapped her arms tightly around Jiang Shuoning's neck:

"Mother, Ya Ya misses you every day. She can't eat a single bite of food at Father's house."

Huo Xiao turned his head to look at her, and seeing her squeezing her eyes and trying hard to hold back her tears, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"If you really can't eat, how come you're so heavy that even your mother can't carry you? Your face has gotten so round, why force yourself to pretend to cry?"

Ya Ya was exposed by his words, and she glared at Huo Xiao fiercely before burying her face in Jiang Shuoning's neck and bursting into tears.

Bao Zhong listened to the little girl's twisted lies, his temples throbbing with anger, and he sighed repeatedly:

"It's not that I can't eat! I'm lazy and don't study all day, but as soon as I start teaching myself to read, I complain of being hungry and use that as an excuse to eat constantly. In just one month, I can't even fit into my old clothes anymore!"

After hearing this, Jiang Shuoning silently stood up, without saying anything more or looking at Baozhong, and simply took Yaya's hand and prepared to leave.

"Mommy!" Ya Ya grabbed her sleeve, tilting her round little face up. "Ya Ya wants to go boating on the lake!"

Jiang Shuoning leaned down to look at her and gently advised, "Let's play another day. You're soaked to the bone. Go back and change your clothes first, or you'll catch a cold."

"No! Mother, Ya Ya wants to go boating on the lake! Look how beautiful that boat is!"

Ya Ya refused to comply, let go of his hand, turned around and rushed towards Bao Zhong, looking up at him and pleading:

"Father, Ya Ya wants to go boating on the lake with Father and Mother. Ya Ya won't catch a cold."

Huo Xiao stood quietly to one side, his gaze falling on Ya Ya. A knowing look suddenly flashed in his eyes, but he remained silent with a smile.

(two)

The servants of the Xie and Wang families stood quietly on the shore, watching a small boat slowly sail towards the center of the lake.

Xia Kun hid in the shadows of the trees, his gaze deep and thoughtful, pondering to himself:

It seems Xie Jinghuai truly harbored ulterior motives.

If the Crown Prince was aware of this, how could news of the poison workshop have fallen into Huo Xiao's hands so quickly?

If it weren't for this little girl leading them here, how would Jiang Shuoning, Bao Zhong, and Huo Xiao have had this opportunity to meet?

I used to think they were just estranged from each other, but now it seems that all that discord was just a show put on for others to see.

Okay, very good.

The lake was shrouded in mist, and the trees on the surrounding shore were only outlined in dark ink. The lights on the distant shore were faint and difficult to see clearly through a layer of hazy mist.

The evening breeze swept across the water, creating ripples that blurred the moon's reflection.

Ya Ya nestled in the cabin, loosely wrapped in Bao Zhong's large purple robe, the long hem of which almost covered her tiny feet.

She held up a string of bright red candied hawthorns, her big, dark eyes first looking at Baozhong.

She then glanced furrowing her brow slightly at Huo Xiao, who was sitting next to Jiang Shuoning, and handed the candied hawthorn to Bao Zhong: "Daddy, have one."

Bao Zhong raised his hand and gently pushed away: "I won't eat."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ya Ya's little mouth twitched, and she looked like she was about to cry.

He had no choice but to step forward and take a bite.

The sweet and sour taste spread across his tongue, and Bao Zhong frowned slightly, remaining silent.

Seeing this, Ya Ya immediately jumped down from the small stool, ran to Jiang Shuoning, and handed him the candied hawthorn: "Mommy, have one too!"

Upon hearing this, both Jiang Shuoning and Bao Zhong froze, and the atmosphere in the cabin suddenly became awkward.

Huo Xiao crossed his arms, tilted his head, and looked at the little girl with a smile, teasingly saying, "Little rascal, are you playing matchmaker now?"

Upon hearing this, Ya Ya trotted over on her short legs, gave Huo Xiao a light kick with her little foot, puffed out her cheeks, and huffed, "Who gave you permission to get on the ship!"

Huo Xiao chuckled softly, deliberately flicking his finger lightly across her round cheek:

"The boat doesn't belong to you alone, you little brat. You're allowed to go boating on the lake, but I'm not allowed to come along?"

Ya Ya got even angrier, tilting her little face up to glare at him: "This is Ya Ya's and Daddy and Mommy's boat, get off right now!"

Jiang Shuoning reached out and pulled Ya Ya to his side, his gaze calm: "Did someone else instigate you to come here?"

Ya Ya hung her little head, pouted, and spoke in a soft, aggrieved voice:

"Actually, it was Sister Ping'er who told Ya Ya that Father and Mother were going boating on Fairy Lake tonight and that they didn't want Ya Ya anymore, so Ya Ya secretly ran away to find you."

Upon hearing this, Bao Zhong's expression suddenly turned serious. After a moment's thought, he looked up at Jiang Shuoning and Huo Xiao:

"This is terrible! Someone has set this up in secret."

Huo Xiao frowned deeply: "I'm afraid the Crown Prince has already noticed something amiss."

Jiang Shuoning quickly pulled Ya Ya into his arms, letting her lean against him, then turned to look at Huo Xiao, his voice steady:

"It seems your investigation into the drug den has aroused their suspicion. We must not fall into their trap now."