Palace maid Shuoning

(One)

The cabin fell silent for a moment, with only the soft sound of the lake water lapping against the gunwale, each sound like a tap on the heart.

Huo Xiao made up his mind in a moment, turned his head to look at Jiang Shuoning, and spoke in a low but firm voice:

"But now, we have already stepped into their trap. Only by turning the tables on them can we break this deadlock."

He immediately turned to look at Bao Zhong, his words clear and distinct:

"Brother Xie, you can go and meet with the Fifth Prince Zhou Jin and tell him that I have found out the new location of the poison workshop. At the same time, you can also pass the news to the Crown Prince."

You must protect yourself first. The prince has not yet returned; you absolutely cannot put yourself in danger at this moment.

The atmosphere in the cabin grew increasingly somber.

Bao Zhong looked up at Huo Xiao, his expression grave and his heart pounding: "You intend to take the risk yourself?"

Huo Xiao slowly nodded, his voice calm:

"Exactly. Xia Kun was originally a spy planted by the Crown Prince beside you. Why not take advantage of today's events to get rid of him, so that the Crown Prince will mistakenly believe that the traitor lurking on his side is Xia Kun, not you and Zhou Xiao."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuoning abruptly turned to look at Huo Xiao, his tone urgent:

"Absolutely not! Lord Huo, there are many ways to break this deadlock. There's no need to risk your life. The Prince hasn't returned yet; neither of us can afford to get hurt."

Huo Xiao looked at her calmly, his expression composed: "It's alright, I know what I'm doing."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the little girl in Jiang Shuoning's arms, and his tone suddenly softened:

"Hey kid, want to play something fun?"

Ya Ya blinked her big, innocent eyes and tilted her head, asking, "What is it?"

Huo Xiao raised his hand and gently stroked the top of her head, coaxing her with a smile:

"Let your mother and father talk alone for a while, then I'll take you out and buy you a string of candied hawthorns."

Ya Ya looked up at Jiang Shuoning first, then at Bao Zhong, her bright black eyes darting around before she immediately opened her chubby little arms: "Hug!"

Huo Xiao reached out and took Ya Ya from Jiang Shuoning's arms. The little girl nestled softly against his shoulder.

He turned to look at the two people inside the cabin, raising an eyebrow slightly. His gaze swept lightly over Bao Zhong's face, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"It's rare to have a moment alone with you two, so I imagine you have a lot to talk about. I'll take Ya Ya for a stroll around the night market, and then I'll take her back to the Xie residence later."

Before Jiang Shuoning and Bao Zhong could respond, Huo Xiao, carrying Ya Ya, bent down and stepped out of the cabin. He held Ya Ya firmly with one arm, lifted the boatman with the other, and used his lightness skill to leap towards the shore.

The small boat suddenly rocked violently, and Jiang Shuoning lost his balance and staggered forward.

Bao Zhong reached out almost instinctively and steadily supported her.

The moment his palm touched her shoulder, the warmth seeped through her thin summer dress, and both of them were startled, the air suddenly becoming still.

Their eyes met, and silence fell over the cabin.

The lake water lapped against the side of the boat, again and again, like a heartbeat that had missed a beat.

Unconsciously, Bao Zhong leaned slightly closer, a deep tenderness welling up in his eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he asked in a low voice:

"How are you?"

Her voice was two decibels lower than before, and the last syllable was slightly hoarse. In the cramped cabin, it somehow evoked a sense of tenderness that was hard to describe.

Jiang Shuoning was the first to conceal the turmoil in her eyes, turning her head away to avoid his gaze.

She raised her hand to push away his hand that was on her shoulder, sat up straight again, and turned to look out of the cabin.

The small boat drifted slowly on the water, silently cutting across the lake's surface.

"It's fine." Just two words, cold and distant.

Baozhong gazed quietly at her profile.

Night fell in from outside the cabin, outlining a soft curve from her chin to the side of her neck. A gentle breeze blew, and a few strands of hair clung to her cheeks.

His hands, clasped tightly on his knees, clenched ever tighter until his knuckles turned white. The surging longing in his heart could no longer be suppressed, and his voice trembled slightly:

"Shuoning, I miss you. I really miss you."

Jiang Shuo remained silent, unwilling to respond, and simply bent down to leave the cabin, trying to escape the surging emotions within it.

But as soon as she moved, the hem of her skirt brushed against his knee, and that tiny touch felt like a spark on dry grass.

Just as she turned around, Baozhong could no longer suppress his pent-up emotions and suddenly raised his hand to grab her slender wrist.

The force wasn't strong, but it carried an unyielding stubbornness that wouldn't let anyone break free, pulling the person back in front of them.

Caught off guard, she stumbled half a step and fell into his arms. In her panic, she braced herself on his shoulder, her palms resting on his taut muscles, which she could feel burning even through his clothes.

He took the opportunity to pull her close, letting her sit steadily on his lap, his arms tightly wrapped around her waist.

As she lowered her eyes, the deep affection and regret that had been building up in them for so long poured out.

Bao Zhong stared intently at her dazed expression, his gaze tracing her features inch by inch, as if trying to make up for the months that had passed. His voice was low and hoarse, each word earnest:

"Shuoning, there's no one else by my side anymore. Could you... give me another chance to start over?"

Jiang Shuoning was caught off guard and fell into his arms. Her body stiffened, and she stood there stunned.

The familiar scent emanating from him lingered around my nose, mingled with the dampness of the lake breeze and the faint fragrance of agarwood, and my heart suddenly skipped a beat.

She subconsciously raised her hand to his chest, trying to push him away, but her fingertips trembled slightly. The force was less of a push and more like a cat's paw gently scratching him.

Immediately, she lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his expectant gaze; her eyelashes trembled, and her voice tightened slightly:

"Baozhong, we are now caught in a dilemma. The game of chess is not yet over. Love and affection are the most harmful things."

Bao Zhong's arms around her didn't loosen; instead, they tightened even more, his forehead almost touching hers, their breaths mingling as he whispered a plea:

"Now I only care about you. These past few months without you have been torture for me."

He paused, his voice even lower, as if forced out from deep within his throat:

"Have you truly erased all that has happened from your mind?"

Jiang Shuoning looked up at him.

At such close range, she could see every ripple of emotion in his eyes and the taut lines of his jaw.

Her words, one by one, were like a dull knife slowly cutting away the remaining feelings between them:

"You can let go of the past, but I can't. Baozhong, let me go. I have no energy left to keep dwelling on the past."

She paused, her voice softening but becoming even more steady, "I've already let you go."

(two)

The small boat glided leisurely into the depths of the lotus flowers, where layers of lotus leaves and blooming flowers isolated the surroundings.

All was quiet except for the gentle ripples on the water, and the faint fragrance of lotus blossoms lingered in the evening breeze, sweet enough to be intoxicating.

The longing that had been building up in his heart could no longer be contained. Baozhong lowered his head slightly and gently covered her soft lips with his.

"Well……"

Jiang Shuoning trembled suddenly, and pressed her fists against his chest, instinctively pushing him away, but her strength was weak and powerless.

He held her tightly, refusing to let go, slowly prying open her tightly clenched teeth. His kisses were lingering and passionate, carrying the thirst and regret of the past few months, conquering her inch by inch.

Tears welled up uncontrollably, silently spilling from the corners of her eyes, sliding down her cheeks and into their intertwined lips, salty.

In her frantic struggle, her fingertips caught on the fabric of Bao Zhong's shoulder, causing his clothes to slip down and revealing half of his shoulder to the cool night breeze, his skin trembling slightly.

Bao Zhong's desire surged uncontrollably. He gently stroked her cheek with his palm, his fingertips brushing against her wet eyelashes, and then down her neck to her shoulder, igniting a fire wherever they touched.

Jiang Shuoning's clothes slipped off his shoulders.

The night breeze brushed against her bare skin, jolting her awake. She abruptly pushed him away.

Her lip rouge had already smudged, and Bao Zhong's lips were still stained with her rouge color. A touch of crimson on his thin lips made his usually solemn face look somewhat alluring.

He was slightly out of breath, but his gaze remained fixed on her face, unwilling to look away.

"No, Baozhong, we can't go back. You can't keep me here like this, I..."

Jiang Shuoning was breathing heavily, his eyes filled with a mixture of grievance and embarrassment at having his boundaries crossed.

Bao Zhong refused to give up, so he leaned down again, his warm lips brushing against her slender neck, before taking her earlobe into his mouth and gently biting it.

He always remembered this place as Jiang Shuoning's Achilles' heel, a place where he could not hide his feelings.

"Um... let me go..."

Jiang Shuoning's cheeks flushed crimson. She tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and gripped his clothes tightly, her knuckles turning white.

The next moment, Baozhong reached out and wrapped his arms around her, making her straddle his legs.

Jiang Shuoning leaned back slightly, his neck relaxed, and his lips continued to linger on the side of his neck.

Bao Zhong slowly pulled the jade hairpin away, and his long hair, which had been tied up, was freed. His long black hair cascaded down, covering his shoulders and back, and the ends brushed against the back of his hand, making him itch and catch his breath.

"Ning'er... I miss you so much, it's agonizing."

He murmured softly, his lips gently brushing against her skin, all his longing infused into this delicate, lingering kiss.

The night was hazy, and the moonlight gently spread across the water.

Jiang Shuoning looked up and saw Bao Zhong staring at him blankly, unable to discern his thoughts. He gently lowered his eyes, his voice soft yet carrying a hint of detachment:

"Let's leave. This place is not safe to stay. I don't want to attract gossip and criticism."

Bao Zhong snapped out of his chaotic reverie, realizing that he had just lost his composure. His face flushed slightly, and he quickly looked away.

"Okay, I'll row."

Before he finished speaking, he bent down, stepped out of the cabin, picked up the oar, and started rowing.