Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

The concubines from each palace left Fengyi Palace one after another and dispersed at the palace gate.

Consort Mei stopped and smiled, "Consort Wei looks like a blessed person. She became pregnant two months after being favored by the emperor. This is a great blessing."

Consort Su adjusted the hairpin in her hair and said in a light tone, "That's right. When I was pregnant with the Fourth Prince, it wasn't until the third year that I conceived."

Wei Xuanshi rested one hand on her waist and the other gently on her lower abdomen, a smile she couldn't suppress playing on her lips.

"That is all thanks to the care of my elder sisters and the love of Her Majesty the Empress. I am so fortunate to have this blessing."

Consort Mei warmly stepped closer: "Little sister, you're pregnant, is there anything you like to eat? I'll have someone send it to you later."

Consort Wei smiled, her voice light and cheerful: "She seems to prefer sour foods. His Majesty said yesterday that judging by her taste, she might be a little prince."

After she finished speaking, she laughed first, and the sound of her laughter gently echoed at the palace gate.

Jiang Shuoning followed Consort Rong out of the palace gate. Even from a few steps away, he heard every word she said.

She glanced sideways at Consort Rong.

Consort Rong's face remained expressionless, but a fleeting look of melancholy crossed her eyes, and the fingers gripping her sleeve tightened slightly.

Jiang Shuo Ning took in his eyes.

Five years ago, after Consort Rong's child died, she never conceived again.

The imperial physician once said, "Her Majesty is grieving too much, her qi and blood are deficient, and her uterus is cold and weak. It is feared that she will have difficulty conceiving again in the future."

These words were like a thorn, stuck in Consort Rong's heart for many years. She didn't say it, but it was always there.

Just now, when I heard Consort Wei say "It's probably a young prince" at the palace gate, the thorn didn't bleed, but it twitched slightly.

Jiang Shuoning lowered his eyes and quietly followed beside Consort Rong.

That night, Consort Rong did not eat dinner, nor did she allow anyone to serve her. She locked herself in her bedchamber.

Feng Chun stood guard at the door, sighed dejectedly, and whispered to Jiang Shuoning:

"Her Majesty reacts like this whenever she hears that a concubine in any palace is pregnant. She may not say it outwardly, but she's more heartbroken than anyone else. What woman doesn't hope to rise in status through her son? Consort Su entered the palace at the same time as our Her Majesty, and her fourth prince is already twelve..."

He shook his head and didn't say anything more.

Jiang Shuoning glanced at him, her voice indifferent: "It's certainly a good thing for a mother to gain status through her son, but if she loses herself, how long can she sustain herself with just a child?"

Feng Chun paused for a moment, opened her mouth but didn't say anything, then closed it again, lowering her head as if she was thinking about something.

A breeze swept through the corridor, ruffling Jiang Shuoning's pale blue sleeves. She reached up and pulled them closed, then remained silent.

The candlelight in the bedchamber was still so thin, so delicate, like a thread that wouldn't let go once it was bitten.

Jiang Shuoning walked along the corridor, his gaze sweeping over the palace maids and eunuchs in the courtyard. He frowned and asked, "Where is Xia He?"

Upon hearing this, a palace maid quickly walked to the corridor and said with her hands at her sides, "Sister Shuoning, Xiahe is not here at this time these days."

"Where did she go?" Jiang Shuoning asked.

The palace maid lowered her eyes, her face showing difficulty. Her lips moved, but she didn't dare to reply.

Jiang Shuoning walked down from the corridor and stood before her: "Why isn't she serving Her Highness in the palace? What has she been doing out there?"

Feng Chun strolled over leisurely, leaned against a pillar, and chuckled:

"Where else could she go? She dresses up like a butterfly every day, with a different color of velvet flower in her hair every day. Isn't she just going to the Imperial Household Department to see her brother Baozhong? Ever since Eunuch Baozhong fell ill, which night hasn't she gone over to fawn over him? I say, Sister Shuoning, you're sharing a room with Xiahe now, and you haven't even noticed?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuoning's eyelashes trembled slightly, but he did not reply; he simply turned and left.

Feng Chun watched her retreating figure, pursed her lips, and added in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft:

"That Xia He is really something. Of all people to like, she has to fall for a eunuch. But Eunuch Bao Zhong is indeed handsome. If he hadn't been castrated, the line of people who like him would probably stretch all the way to the palace gates."

Jiang Shuoning did not stop walking, but his hand in his sleeve clenched tightly.

(under)

The Imperial Household Department, duty room.

Jiang Shuoning had just reached the door when a little deer came up to her, blocking her way and smiling obsequiously:

"Sister Shuoning, you're here again."

He glanced quickly at the closed door behind him, then looked back, looking troubled:

"My dear sister, please don't make things difficult for me. Eunuch Baozhong is not fully recovered and cannot see anyone."

Jiang Shuoning didn't move. His gaze went past Jiang Shuoning's shoulder and landed on the door. His voice was so calm it was devoid of emotion: "Is he alone?"

The little deer paused for a moment, stammered, and didn't dare to answer.

Jiang Shuoning was silent for a moment, neither asking nor pressing the issue, only saying softly, "You go ahead and get busy. I'll wait a bit."

The little deer immediately became anxious, scratching its ears and cheeks, and said:

"Oh dear, my dear sister, you should leave. It's bad for your reputation if word gets out that you're standing guard at our father-in-law's door like this."

Jiang Shuoning glanced at him, said nothing, and didn't move. He simply moved half a step towards the wall by the door to make way, and stood there quietly, like a motionless shadow.

Little Deer opened her mouth, wanting to persuade her again, but seeing that she had no intention of leaving, she didn't dare to speak again. She sighed, shrank her neck, and backed away.

The corridor was quiet, with only the occasional breeze blowing through the eaves, causing her clothes to sway gently. She leaned against the wall, her eyes downcast, as if she were truly just waiting for a moment.

A short while later, the door to the room creaked open from the inside, and Xia He walked out.

She wore a cherry blossom-colored dress, a matching velvet flower in her hair, and her face was made up with makeup and powder; she dressed up more carefully than usual.

She stepped out the door and bumped into Jiang Shuoning standing against the wall. The smile on her face froze for a moment, then quickly brightened again: "Sister Shuoning? What are you doing here?"

Jiang Shuoning didn't answer her. His gaze slowly moved from her face to the half-open door behind her, as if confirming something, before he looked away and said softly, "You come here every day?"

Xia He's smile faltered; she lowered her head, twisting her fingers, and her voice softened.

"My father-in-law Baozhong is ill, and I... I was worried, so I came to check on him."

Jiang Shuoning looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and then simply said, "I understand."

After saying that, she turned and left, her steps even faster than when she came.

Xia He stood at the door, watching her departing figure, and felt a sudden panic in her heart, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong.

"Sister Shuoning..." She subconsciously took two steps to catch up, but Jiang Shuoning did not turn around.

Seeing this, the little deer immediately shrank its neck and slipped into the house, bending over and quickly walking to the bedside.

The purple curtains hung low, obscuring the person inside. He lowered his voice and spoke cautiously:

"Father-in-law, Sister Shuoning just ran into Xiahe. She... she didn't look well and turned away."

Candlelight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, hazy glow on the couch.

Bao Zhong leaned against the headboard, his white nightgown loosely open, revealing his firm chest and well-defined abdominal muscles.

Her dark hair was scattered on the pillow, making her face appear even paler, and her lips were so pale they looked almost bloodless.

His eyes were closed, his long eyelashes casting a faint shadow under his eyelids. Despite being ill, his features still possessed an indescribable cool and handsome air.

Like a painting dampened by moisture, the outline is still there, and the essence remains.

He said in a hoarse voice, "She's gone?"

"They've...they've left."

Bao Zhong remained silent for a while before slowly opening his eyes, lowering his head to straighten his clothes, lying back down, his gaze fixed on the top of the tent.

After a long pause, he said softly, "Good riddance." His voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself.

Xiao Luzi stood by the bed, hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but ask, "Then... what did Miss Xiahe bring you these past few days...?"

"Take it away." Bao Zhong interrupted him, his voice as indifferent as a cup of cooled tea. "Starting tomorrow, don't let her come in either."

Upon hearing this, the little deer frowned and muttered:

"Miss Xiahe has come for several days in a row, but you haven't even let her see you. You accepted the things she brought, and her intentions were there, but you won't let her come again tomorrow... This servant really doesn't understand."

Bao Zhong did not answer, but simply shifted his gaze from the top of the tent and slowly closed his eyes.

"Never mind if you don't understand."

His voice was very soft, as if he didn't even have the strength to explain another word.