Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

As soon as Zhou Zhengyin saw Consort Rong step into the room, Chun Chan immediately gave him a meaningful look.

He hurriedly lowered his eyes, knelt on the ground, and said in a high-pitched voice, "Consort Rong...Consort Rong greets this servant..."

The room fell silent for a moment.

The cicada's brain was buzzing, its mouth wide open, but it couldn't utter a single word.

Jiang Shuoning's fingers tightened suddenly as he gripped the blanket, and he stopped breathing.

Zhou Zhengyin himself realized what was happening, his head pressed to the ground, his voice trembling:

"This servant...this servant greets Consort Rong."

Consort Rong stood at the door, glanced at him indifferently, and did not reply.

Chun Chan felt a chill run down her spine. Just as she was about to speak to smooth things over, Consort Rong had already bypassed Zhou Zhengyin and walked to Jiang Shuoning's bedside, looking down at her condescendingly:

"It's good that you're awake. I thought you wouldn't wake up."

Jiang Shuoning, supporting himself on the edge of the bed, dragged his weak body off the bed, his knees buckling as he knelt before Rongfei's embroidered shoes, his voice panting:

"This servant deserves to die; I have caused Your Majesty worry."

Consort Rong looked down at her and questioned:

"Jiang Shuoning, I ask you, why did you go to Yanxi Palace instead of the Imperial Household Department to collect ice?"

Zhou Zhengyin knelt behind Consort Rong and secretly looked up at her.

He had never seen his aunt kneeling before anyone. In his mind, his aunt's back was always straight, she walked with a confident stride, and spoke with neither servility nor arrogance; she never bowed her head, even before the emperor.

But right now she was kneeling there, her forehead almost touching the ground, and her hair hanging down in front of her chest was scattered on the floor tiles.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, and his eyes burned intensely.

My aunt is such a respectable person, she shouldn't kneel before anyone, let alone get tainted by the dust of this palace, and she shouldn't bend her back.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuoning recalled the scene of those eunuchs' rough hands tearing open her clothes, and the smug smiles on the faces of Consort Wei and Qingman standing to the side...

She closed her eyes, desperately suppressing the humiliating images that had humiliated her.

After a moment of silence, she lowered her eyes and spoke calmly:

"Your Majesty, on my way back to the palace, Consort Wei sent a eunuch to deliver a message saying that Qingman had misbehaved at the Imperial Household Department and that she had already reprimanded her."

She then said she was afraid Your Majesty would be upset about the ice, so she sent me to Yanxi Palace to fetch some. I went then…and Your Majesty knows what happened after that.”

Consort Rong stared at the back of her neck, where a fine layer of sweat glistened. Her voice carried a hint of mocking laughter:

"You went with a mere maidservant's messenger. Should I say you're obedient, or that you're foolish?"

Jiang Shuoning kowtowed: "It was this servant's oversight. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

Consort Rong looked down at her, her smile fading, and her voice becoming somewhat softer:

"Punishment? Lying here half-dead is already the best punishment you can receive. How else can I punish you?"

Jiang Shuo Ning pressed his head to the ground and remained silent.

Consort Rong glanced at her and said indifferently, "Don't kneel. It's tiring to look at you. Take good care of yourself."

After speaking, she slowly turned around and walked to the door. Seeing Chun Chan standing by the door with her back bent, she took two steps, glanced at Zhou Zhengyin who was still kneeling in place, and then paused.

"Where did these palace maids come from? They can't even put their clothes on properly."

Jiang Shuo's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately said:

"Your Majesty, it was a young palace maid from the Imperial Hospital who came to deliver medicine to me today. She was a bit unruly just now, please forgive her."

Spring Cicada quickly chimed in, her face beaming with a smile, her tone both obedient and sweet:

"Your Majesty, please understand. This servant is always watching over Miss Shuoning. Physician Qin meant well by sending someone from the Imperial Hospital to deliver the medicine, fearing that it might delay Miss Shuoning's treatment."

This girl is new to Yihua Palace and hasn't seen much of the world. She's too shy and hesitant. I'll definitely teach her properly later.

She curtsied again and added with a smile, "Your Majesty is so magnanimous. You've forgiven him this time. He'll be talking about how good Your Majesty is when he gets back."

Consort Rong glanced at her, too lazy to pursue the matter, and turned to leave.

Once Chun Chan saw that Consort Rong had gone far away, she immediately closed the door. She was already soaked to the bone, and her back was pressed against the door as she gasped for breath.

"My God, that was close!"

Zhou Zhengyin had already stood up, and with both hands he helped Jiang Shuoning up, bending down to brush the dust off her knees.

Jiang Shuoning's heart skipped a beat. She immediately pushed him away in resistance, climbed onto the bed herself, pulled the blanket up to her shoulders, turned her back to him, and spoke in a muffled voice into the pillow:

"Spring Cicada, take him away."

"aunt……"

Zhou Zhengyin took a step closer and looked at her hunched back, feeling a mix of sadness and unease in his heart.

Chun Chan strode forward and grabbed his sleeve: "Come on, come on, stop dawdling. I'll save your filial piety for you to record another day, but saving your life is the priority now."

She dragged him toward the door, muttering to herself, "Your aunt is already causing enough trouble lying there. If you get punished by the Empress on the spot, she'll have to get up and collect your corpse."

Zhou Zhengyin stumbled as he was pulled, turning back to look at the curled-up figure on the bed, "Aunt..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chun Chan had already pushed him out, and the door slammed shut behind him.

The footsteps faded into the distance, and finally disappeared from sight.

Jiang Shuo Ning slowly curled himself up and closed his eyes tightly.

Tears slid down the corners of her eyes, across the bridge of her nose, and into her other eye. The two tears fell one after the other onto the pillow, leaving two dark, damp patches.

She didn't make a sound, but curled herself up even tighter, as if trying to suppress something and prevent it from overflowing.

(under)

As the sun sets, the sky transforms into a deep, nuanced indigo, with only a faint purple afterglow remaining on the horizon, bringing a touch of coolness to the scorching daytime air.

Xin Damao was huddled in a corner near the Imperial Household Department, his hat brim pulled low. His knuckles were white from gripping the dagger in his sleeve.

He stared at the corner ahead, his breathing shallow. Half his face was illuminated by the palace lanterns, the other half shrouded in darkness. He remained motionless.

Suddenly, one of the guards patrolling ahead shouted:

"An assassin has appeared, near Nagato Palace!"

Before the words were even finished, a group of guards surged toward the Changmen Palace.

Xin Damao frowned suddenly. An assassin? His heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that the people he arranged to kill Zhou Zhengyin that night were discovered?

That man disguised himself as a eunuch and infiltrated Changmen Palace. If he is caught and implicated, Consort Chong will definitely target his family.

His breathing quickened, and he gripped the dagger tighter and tighter. Without further hesitation, he lowered his head and hurried towards the direction of Changmen Palace.

He had just turned the corner when Baozhong slowly emerged from behind the gate of the Imperial Household Department.

Watching Xin Damao's hurried departure, the corners of her mouth curved slightly, but her eyes remained cold.

Xin Damao quietly followed behind the guards. Suddenly, the lead guard stopped and pointed ahead:

"Did you see that? The shadowy figure headed towards Luqiong Pavilion! Chase after it!"

The guards responded with a roar and rushed toward Luqiong Pavilion. The scabbards clattered against their waists, and their footsteps echoed in the empty palace corridor.

Xin Damao's heart tightened, and he quickened his pace to catch up, his chest pounding.

Just as he was about to reach the entrance of Luqiongxuan Palace, a loud shout suddenly came from behind: "Who's that in front of you?!"

Xin Damao suddenly turned around, and Xiao Luzi was standing behind him, looking at him.

The guards all stopped in their tracks and turned to look back. The lead guard glanced at Xin Damao, frowned, and said:

"Which palace are you from? What are you doing running around here in the middle of the night?"

Xin Damao hurriedly bowed, bending over, "This servant..."

As he spoke, he subconsciously took half a step back, his sleeve flicked, and the dagger clattered to the ground on the blue brick floor.

The guards all turned to look at the knife on the ground.

Xiao Luzi stepped forward from behind Xin Damao, stood under the lamplight, pointed at his back, and said firmly:

"This man is Shin Damao from Nagato Palace. He's carrying a knife, and he's here in the middle of the night. If he's not an assassin, then who is?"

The lead guard's face darkened: "Take him down!" The guards drew their swords and surrounded him.

Phoenix Palace.

The Emperor and Empress were having their evening meal. Bao Zhong bowed and stepped into the hall:

"This servant greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress. Your Majesty, the assassin has been apprehended. It was Xin Damao from Changmen Palace. He was carrying a knife and was caught red-handed by the guards near Luqiong Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, the emperor put down his chopsticks, chewed his food, and casually wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.

The Empress glanced at Bao Zhong with a gentle smile and said softly:

"Eunuch Bao doesn't need to be urged to get things done. There are efficient people in the palace, but those who are efficient and don't make a fuss are rare."

The Emperor did not respond, but picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced indifferently at Bao Zhong:

"The man is in custody. We'll continue the trial tomorrow. You may leave."

Bao Zhong bowed his head: "It is Your Majesty."

When he left the palace, Baozhong's back was still slightly hunched, but he straightened up after stepping over the threshold.

Feng Xi strolled over, squinted at Bao Zhong, his gaze lingering for a moment on Bao Zhong's right hand wrapped in white cloth, before lowering his voice to say:

"How could the assassin be Xin Damao? We didn't arrest the wrong person!"

Bao Zhong lowered his eyes, his voice low and steady:

"If the guards hadn't seen him with their own eyes that he was hiding a dagger, my son would never have suspected him."

Feng Xi's lips twitched, his smile as thin as a razor blade: "Bao'er, aren't there enough wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice in the palace already?"

Bao Zhong didn't respond to his question, but simply tilted his head slightly and lowered his voice even further:

"Godfather is right. I just can't understand why Xin Damao, a eunuch from Changmen Palace, would be carrying a knife and waving it around outside Luqiong Pavilion in the middle of the night?"

Feng Xi frowned and looked at Bao Zhong.

Bao Zhong stood beside him, his waist slightly bent, his posture respectful, but beneath that respect was another face.

Feng Xi patted him on the shoulder, a half-smile on his face:

"Bao'er, you're getting more and more thorough in handling things these days."

After saying that, Feng Xi turned and left.

Bao Zhong stood still, watching him walk away, before looking down at his right hand wrapped in white cloth. A smile flickered across his lips.