Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

Zhou Zhengyin hid in a corner and saw Eunuch Xin come out of the Imperial Household Department, but after taking only a few steps, he suddenly leaned against the wall and slowly squatted down.

He didn't make a sound, but his shoulders trembled as he shrugged. The moonlight shone on his hunched back, making it look like a half-collapsed earthen slope.

After a long while, he slowly stood up, wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve, and continued walking forward with a hunched back.

Zhou Zhengyin had no idea what had happened when he stepped into the Imperial Household Department. For an elderly person to cry like this, he must have encountered some great difficulty.

Just as he was about to follow, Bao Zhong's cold voice came from behind him:

"Have you memorized the book? What are you doing wandering around the Imperial Household Department so late at night?"

Zhou Zhengyin was startled and hurriedly turned around. Bao Zhong grabbed him and pulled him into the shadows, his face grim.

"I... I noticed something was wrong with Eunuch Xin, so I came over to check on him. He seemed to be in some kind of trouble..."

Bao Zhong interrupted him coldly:

"Just mind your own business. No matter how difficult other people's lives are, it's none of your concern. Don't easily pity anyone. You're not at the point where you should be pitying others."

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the Imperial Household Department. "Go back, I'll test you tomorrow night."

Zhou Zhengyin nodded slightly: "I understand." He then pulled his hat brim down, lowered his head, and quickly left, keeping close to the wall.

After Bao Zhong stepped across the threshold, he glanced back at Zhou Zhengyin's back and muttered under his breath, "Overestimating himself."

Three days later, in the afternoon.

When Eunuch Zhu came to Changmen Palace to deliver a message again, he was taken aback to see that the man's temples had turned completely white and he looked much older.

"Old Xin, you still haven't raised the money?" Eunuch Zhu looked troubled, took out some loose silver from his pocket, and stuffed it into his hand. "Take this. I saw your sister wrote again; she's probably asking you to raise money again."

Looking at the loose silver in his palm, Eunuch Xin felt a lump in his throat, his nose stinging with tears, and his voice choked with emotion. "Thank you, Old Zhu..."

Eunuch Zhu sighed, waved his hand, and turned to leave.

Grandpa Xin clutched the letter, opening it as he walked into the house, but his fingers trembled uncontrollably.

He dared not look, yet he had no choice but to. He hadn't borrowed enough money yet, and he had no idea how to reply to the letter.

After being expanded, it reads:

"Brother, I received the twenty taels and twelve doses of medicine. These medicines look very expensive; they must be from the palace. I gave Qingsheng a few doses, and his complexion has improved a lot. By the way, brother, you sent someone to find us a place to stay. The house isn't big, but we're content. Brother, I thank you on behalf of Zhao Kui and Qingsheng."

After reading it, Eunuch Xin stood there stunned, the letter trembling in his hands.

At this moment, an unfamiliar eunuch hurriedly ran into Changmen Palace, called out to Eunuch Xin, whispered something in his ear, and then turned and ran away without looking back.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Xin stood there dumbfounded.

(under)

At Panting Lake, the evening breeze rustles the willow branches, and all around is quiet and still.

Eunuch Xin reached out and brushed aside the drooping willow branches, then walked towards the lake. In the distance, he saw a person wearing a purple cloak standing on the shore.

He stopped abruptly, his expression changing drastically. He recognized that figure.

"Miss Shuoning?" He approached from behind her, staring at the figure, his voice tinged with surprise, "How could it be you?"

Jiang Shuoning slowly turned around. A hood covered most of her face, revealing only her chin. A slight smile played on her lips, her voice devoid of emotion:

"Did you receive your sister's letter?"

Eunuch Xin frowned, staring at her incredulously: "Miss Shuoning, how do you know about my family?"

As soon as he said it, a thought flashed through his mind. Could it be that word had spread about him going to the Imperial Household Department to borrow money that night?

That's true, that's always been the case in the palace. But then I thought, even if word got out, how would it reach her ears?

Jiang Shuoning did not answer his question directly, but only smiled:

"We're all from the palace, so if someone's in trouble, we should help each other out. Besides, I remember the cover you gave me at Changmen Palace."

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Xin was taken aback at first, then lowered his head and gave a bitter smile. He didn't reply, but walked straight past her, sat down on the stone stool, gazed at the lake in silence for a moment, and then slowly spoke:

"Miss Shuoning, you've gone to such lengths, extending your reach even beyond the palace, giving money, sending medicine, arranging accommodations. In the end, it's all for a purpose."

Jiang Shuoning smiled, turned around and stood beside him, her gaze fixed on the calm lake surface, her voice as soft as the wind:

"My father-in-law is indeed a wise man. However, I'm not in a hurry for you to repay me in any way, and it doesn't matter if you don't. I never intended to use this matter to get him to talk."

She paused for a moment, her voice lowering slightly:

"I just feel that it's so good to have family. Whether this family brings blessings or curses, it's better than being all alone and ignored."

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Xin remained silent for a long time.

A lake breeze swept by, causing the white hair at his temples to tremble slightly.

After a long pause, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice:

"Miss Shuoning, you're right. It's wonderful to have family. But you don't know, having family also brings fear. Fear of them suffering, fear of them getting into trouble, fear of not being able to protect them one day..."

He raised his hand, quickly wiped his eye with his sleeve, and then forced a smile that was more like a grimace:

"You've done me such a great favor, I, Xin Damao, am not ungrateful. I will naturally tell you everything I know, whatever you want to know."

Jiang Shuoning nodded slightly, but glanced discreetly at the artificial hill not far away, and called out softly, "Come out."

Zhou Zhengyin emerged from behind the artificial hill, pushed up the brim of his hat, and came to Jiang Shuoning's side.

"aunt……"

Eunuch Xin looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Zhou Zhengyin, but he did not seem surprised.

He said nothing, only turning his gaze back to the lake, as if he had expected it.

"Ask away!" said Lord Xin.

Zhou Zhengyin stepped to Eunuch Xin's side, turned to look at him, his gaze deep. When he spoke, his voice was extremely low, yet every word was clear:

"Who exactly is the person whose hands were chopped off and whose tongue was cut out?"

Eunuch Xin replied calmly:

"His name is Song Zhang. He is the younger brother of the Yu Mama you mentioned. The two siblings were once the head maid and head eunuch serving Consort Mi, who was your mother."

Zhou Zhengyin shuddered violently, a chill running down his spine and to the top of his head. He clenched his fists and asked cautiously:

"Was Song Zhang subjected to such cruelty because he learned some hidden secret?"

Eunuch Xin remained silent for a moment, his gaze still fixed on the lake, his voice hoarse as if it had been sanded:

"Song Zhang knew too much, so he lost both his tongue and hands. As for Granny Yu..."

He slowly stood up and turned to look at Zhou Zhengyin. Meeting a pair of eyes filled with both expectation and trepidation, his heart clenched, and he couldn't bear to say it.

"If I were to tell you the truth, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to handle it..."

Zhou Zhengyin suddenly grabbed Eunuch Xin's arms, his eyes red-rimmed and his breathing rapid: "Tell me!"

Jiang Shuoning stepped to Zhou Zhengyin's side, glanced at his out-of-control appearance, and then nodded slightly to Eunuch Xin: "Speak. He'll have to face this sooner or later."

Eunuch Xin hesitated for a moment, as if he were reopening that old wound in his heart.

After a long pause, he looked up at Zhou Zhengyin, his voice deepening:

"Your mother did indeed die unjustly. What truly convinced the Emperor that she was a demon reincarnated was that bowl of medicine. After drinking it, she became delirious, spoke incoherently, and even bit a palace maid in front of the Emperor, laughing with her mouth full of blood. The Emperor saw this with his own eyes, and only then did he completely give up and order the poisoned wine."

He paused, looking at Zhou Zhengyin with a complicated expression:

"That bowl of medicine was personally served to your mother by Granny Yu. When Song Zhang discovered this, before he could even speak, he was dragged out and had his hand chopped off and his tongue cut out."

"After your mother died, you were supposed to die with her. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau said that you would harm your brothers and sisters and bring chaos to the country, so you cannot be allowed to live."

It was a master from Guanghua Hall who had long since passed away who left a message: "Sending you to the imperial mausoleum will dispel the evil spirits and prevent future troubles," which is how you survived.

"So when Granny Yu knelt down and begged to go to the imperial mausoleum to take care of you, it wasn't out of loyalty, but to atone for her sins."