Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

Ever since Baozhong suggested that Consort Rong copy scriptures, the candlelight in the sleeping quarters of Yihua Palace has never been extinguished before the fourth watch.

Sometimes they even burned until dawn, the candle wax piling up in a thick layer, like a small wax mountain, solidified on the lampstand.

Jiang Shuo would stay by his desk grinding ink; when spring came, he would change the teacups beside him, day after day.

The only sounds in the bedroom were the soft scratching of the pen tip on the paper and the gentle rustling of tea leaves being poured into the cup.

Jiang Shuoning looked up at the sliver of gray light on the eastern horizon and silently counted the days; there were still five days until Qingming Festival.

That night, Jiang Shuo Ning saw that Feng Chun was not in good spirits, so she told him to go back and rest, and that she would stay with him tonight.

Feng Chun was extremely grateful and went back inside, yawning.

Only she and Consort Rong remained in the bedchamber. The ink was still being ground, and the lamp was still on.

"This scroll of scripture will be copied tonight." Consort Rong continued writing, her voice tinged with weariness. "What does Baozhong plan to do?"

Jiang Shuoning bent down to grind the ink, his movements unhurried and deliberate.

"Your Majesty, I've run out of ointment. I'd like to go to the Imperial Hospital tomorrow to get another box."

Rongfei paused slightly with her pen, glancing up at the scar on Jiang Shuoning's neck. It had faded somewhat, but the mark was still there. She didn't reply, her gaze slowly shifting to Jiang Shuoning's face.

Jiang Shuoning lowered his head and continued grinding ink, making circles, slowly and deliberately.

Consort Rong glanced at her for a moment, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes, then looked away, resumed writing, and spoke in a calm and indifferent tone:

"Tomorrow, put on that plain white gauze dress. The delicate shadows of branches on the dress will accentuate your gentle and graceful demeanor."

Jiang Shuoning paused for a moment while grinding ink, then continued grinding, only responding with a low "Yes."

Consort Rong paused, as if mentioning it casually:

"His Majesty has never taken a palace maid as a concubine before; this Consort Wei is the first."

After she finished speaking, her gaze fell on Jiang Shuoning almost imperceptibly, as if she were waiting for something.

Jiang Shuo Ning's hands, still grinding ink, didn't stop. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly and deliberately:

"Every flower has its own blooming season. Some flowers bloom for a long time, while others are just a fleeting moment. Whether a flower can go far ultimately depends on how deep its roots are."

Consort Rong glanced at her, but didn't ask any more questions, and continued copying the scriptures with her head down. The candlelight illuminated her profile, making the slight curve of her lips almost imperceptible.

The candlelight drew their shadows close yet far apart, like two silent mountains.

The next morning, the weather was exceptionally bright.

Jiang Shuoning changed into a plain white gauze floral shirt. The light shadows of branches on the shirt and the light, airy texture of the gauze made her look even more gentle and graceful.

Before leaving, Consort Rong came out of her bedchamber, holding a golden crane and magnolia tassel hairpin in her hand, and raised her hand to put it in her hair.

The golden crane on the hairpin seemed ready to take flight, the magnolia buds trembled slightly, and the long, slender tassels hung down beside her ears, making her neck appear long and graceful, and her whole being even more elegant and refined.

"Go."

Jiang Shuoning held a scroll of scriptures in her hand and bowed her head slightly: "This servant thanks Your Highness."

After speaking, she walked towards the palace gate, the tassels at her waist swaying gently with each step.

Consort Rong stood under the corridor, watching her retreating figure, her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and a contemptuous smile appeared on her lips.

Then he turned around and went back to his bedchamber.

When Fengchun and Xiahe passed by the west corridor and saw Jiang Shuoning's outfit today, they couldn't help but pause.

Xia He spoke first, her tone tinged with a hint of jealousy: "Sister Shuoning looks so beautiful today. Her Majesty really favors her."

Feng Chun glanced at her as well, then chuckled, "Favoritism? Just you wait and see."

(under)

As Jiang Shuoning walked along the palace path, the eunuchs and palace maids passing by all turned their heads to look at her. After she passed, they lowered their heads and whispered to each other.

The murmurs spread out like ripples on the water, just loud enough for her to hear.

"Look at her clothes. She's under house arrest in Yihua Palace, yet she still manages to come out, dressed so flamboyantly. Is she trying to seduce the Emperor in the Imperial Garden like that Consort Wei?"

A eunuch spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of contempt.

"She has rendered meritorious service in protecting the emperor. The emperor himself said that the Imperial Hospital should not leave her with scars. Relying on this imperial edict, she can naturally come and go as she pleases."

Another voice chimed in, "But who knows if they're really going to the Imperial Hospital?"

A palace maid nearby covered her mouth and laughed; her voice wasn't loud, but it was high-pitched.

"Dressed like that, she looks like a vixen. Consort Rong is really bold to let her out. If it were me, I would have ruined her face long ago."

Jiang Shuoning didn't stop walking, his face expressionless. He simply pulled the scriptures deeper into his sleeve and continued walking forward.

She ignored the gossip and focused on only one thing.

Last night, Baozhong delivered a message: The Emperor will go to Yongkang Palace at noon to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.

Yongkang Palace is not far from Guanghua Hall.

She took the opportunity of delivering the scriptures to let the Emperor inadvertently see Consort Rong's handwriting.

This was Baozhong's arrangement, and also the first step for Consort Rong to escape her predicament.

Consort Rong made her dress like this to go out, not just to deliver the scriptures.

It was a test to see if she also wanted to follow in the footsteps of the Imperial Guard.

Thinking of this, Jiang Shuoning gripped the scriptures in his sleeve and headed towards the Imperial Medical Academy. His steps were neither hurried nor slow, yet each step felt like walking on thin ice.

Around noon, she took the ointment, left the Imperial Hospital, and hurried towards the Guanghua Hall.

The sun was blazing, making the blue brick floor slightly hot. A thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead, but she dared not slow her pace.

Two more streets and she would reach the Guanghua Hall. Clutching the medicine box in her hand and the scriptures in her sleeve, she walked quickly and steadily.

Just as they rounded the palace gate, they saw Consort Wei riding in a palanquin towards them, fanning her face with a handkerchief in her hand, her brows furrowed, looking impatient.

"It's not even the start of summer yet, and it's already this hot."

Jiang Shuoning paused slightly, then stepped aside, bowed his head, and made way for her.

"Stop!" Consort Wei suddenly called for a halt to the palanquin. The palace maid Qingman beside her stepped forward, looked Jiang Shuoning up and down, and said in a raised voice, "You almost bumped into our young mistress's palanquin just now. Who did we think it was? It's Sister Shuoning from Yihua Palace."

Qingman's gaze lingered on her dress and the hair ornament in her hair for a moment, a cryptic smile playing on her lips.

"My sister looks so dazzling today, I almost didn't recognize her from afar."

Jiang Shuoning did not raise her eyes, but only slightly curtsied: "This servant was in a hurry just now and did not pay attention, so I offended you, my lady. Please forgive me."

Qingman had a grudge against her when they were in the laundry department. Now, somehow she had gotten close to Consort Wei, so she naturally wanted to take the opportunity to kick her when they met.

Now is not the time to dwell on these things; she doesn't want to get too entangled in them, as she has important matters to attend to.

Consort Wei sat on the palanquin, lazily glancing at Jiang Shuoning, and waved the handkerchief in her hand:

"I was just out for a stroll and I ran into such a troublesome thing." She lowered her eyes and fiddled with the corner of her handkerchief, her tone casual. "Qingman, let's teach her a lesson for what happened earlier. It'll be a good way to teach this impetuous person a lesson."

A smile flashed across Qingman's face, and she replied crisply, "Yes, my lady."