Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

late at night.

Jiang Shuoning felt hot all over and tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She turned to her side and saw that Chun Chan was already fast asleep, but was still unconsciously chewing, with a pile of snack crumbs scattered around the pillow.

She had known Chun Chan for three years. This girl was simple-minded, her biggest flaw being her gluttony. She never sent letters home each month, only packets of food.

Chun Chan often said, "Humans have seven emotions and six desires, but I only have the desire to eat. My parents said that life in the palace is tough, so if I can eat a better meal, I'll consider it as me enjoying a bit more happiness for them."

Jiang Shuoning watched her chewing with relish even in her dream, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

Everyone in the palace is suffering, but Chun Chan manages to find sweetness even in her bitter days.

The night breeze rustled through the window paper.

Jiang Shuoning put on an overcoat, dragged his weak body slowly off the bed, and gently pushed open the door.

The courtyard was quiet and still, bathed in moonlight. She pulled her clothes tighter and walked towards the front yard.

Feng Chun was dozing off at the entrance of the bedchamber; the lights inside were already off. She paused for a moment, not wanting to disturb him, and turned to walk towards the backyard.

She sat down in the corridor, gazing up at the bright moon.

Various images flooded her mind: the humiliation at Yanxi Palace, Xia He crying and clutching her hand, Zhou Zhengyin feeding her medicine spoonful by spoonful, and Consort Rong questioning her from above.

She closed her eyes, trying to suppress them all, but Xia He's voice was like a thorn, embedded in her mind and impossible to remove:

"Baozhong risked his life for you. He pulled you out of the water, and his whole body went limp. The way he looked at you, it was as if he couldn't live without you."

She owed Baozhong more and more. Before, she owed him favors; now, she owed him her life.

What can a person who owes a life repay?

The moonlight fell on her pale face, the night breeze blew her loose hair to her cheeks, and the lanterns under the eaves swayed, casting a flicker of light and shadow on her face.

At the same time, Bao Zhong stood outside the back gate of Yihua Palace.

He leaned quietly against the wall, looking up at the high wall in front of him.

The moonlight made his face appear pale, with faint dark circles under his eyes.

I haven't slept for two days and one night, but I still can't rest easy and want to come see her.

He knew which courtyard she lived in, which way her window faced, and that she should be asleep at this hour.

But he didn't have the courage to climb over the wall like Zhou Zhengyin. Climbing over the wall was against the rules, and more importantly, he wouldn't know what to say once he got there.

He glanced at his right hand, which was wrapped in white bandage. The wound was still throbbing. His lips twitched, as if he were laughing at himself for going to such lengths.

After pausing for a moment, Baozhong turned and left.

The wind swept through the narrow palace corridor, making his pale figure appear even thinner. His throat itched, and he clenched his fist, pressed it to his mouth, and coughed lightly a few times.

Jiang Shuoning got up and walked back from under the corridor. When he was almost at the door, he suddenly stopped.

She slowly turned her head and looked at the wall at the back of the courtyard. Under the moonlight, the wall looked no different from usual.

But then she remembered that when Consort Rong was confined to her quarters, it was Bao Zhong who had passed her spring pancakes from under the wall. Thinking of this, she walked over there as if possessed.

The night breeze was gentle. She walked to the wall and raised her hand to lightly touch its rough surface. The place her fingertips touched still carried the warmth of the daytime sun.

Two people were separated by a wall. One waited for a long time before leaving, and the other came out for a long time before going back. Neither of them knew who had just been there.

(under)

The next day, a light drizzle fell from the sky.

Jiang Shuoning was drinking her medicine when Chun Chan sat on the edge of the bed, chewing on dried sweet potato, looking at her with disbelief.

"I heard there was an assassin in the palace. The assassin was caught last night. Guess who it was?"

"Assassins?" Jiang Shuoning finished his medicine and placed the bowl beside the bed. "Why are there assassins in the palace?"

Chun Chan shifted her position closer to her, her face full of gossip:

"On the night you had your accident, an assassin suddenly appeared in the palace, and the Emperor ordered his arrest. Strangely enough, I never expected that the assassin would be Eunuch Xin from Changmen Palace."

He always seemed so honest and unassuming, how did he become an assassin? I heard the guards saw him holding a knife and grabbed him near Luqiong Pavilion.

Jiang Shuoning was taken aback.

Wei Xuanshi is dead? Xin Damao was an assassin? Or was he captured at Luqiong Pavilion?

These three things, when put together, seem too strange to be a coincidence.

Consort Chong lived in Luqiongxuan. She was a concubine who entered the palace with Consort Mi. Her daughter was fostered by Noble Lady Mei.

She hadn't even had a chance to tell Zhou Zhengyin this clue, so how did she get involved?

"What are you thinking about?" Chun Chan waved her hand in front of her eyes.

Jiang Shuoning snapped out of his reverie and smiled slightly: "It's nothing. I was just wondering, who did Eunuch Xin assassinate?"

Chun Chan shrugged while chewing on dried sweet potato: "I don't know, and they didn't say. Never mind, it's none of our business anyway. Just take care of yourself."

She jumped off the edge of the bed, reached for the empty bowl, and smiled at Jiang Shuoning:

"You seem to be getting better. After taking three more doses of medicine, you'll be fine. I need to go back to the Imperial Hospital."

After saying that, she ran out.

Jiang Shuoning sat on the bed, looking in the direction of the door, and slowly pieced together the events of the past few days.

After her accident, she knew nothing about what was happening outside. Zhou Zhengyin came yesterday, but he only focused on feeding her medicine and didn't say anything.

Now Chun Chan tells her: Wei Xuanshi is dead, and Xin Damao has been arrested near Luqiongxuan.

She mentally went over these things again, like stringing scattered beads back onto a thread.

Consort Wei was Feng Xi's man. With her downfall, Consort Rong was in the open, while Bao Zhong was in the shadows. These two joined forces to remove one of Feng Xi's pawns.

What about Xin Damao? How did a eunuch from Changmen Palace become an assassin? And why was he captured at Luqiong Pavilion?

The death of Consort Wei was an open move, while the capture of Xin Damao was a covert one. She didn't know how Bao Zhong did it, but she knew he must be inside.

The rain was still falling outside the window. Jiang Shuoning leaned back against the headboard, his gaze fixed on the empty space.

Bao Zhong's current actions have completely embroiled him in these problems.

Zhou Zhengyin must have told him about his mother's affair as well. Given his personality, he wouldn't stand idly by after hearing it.

But she knew better than anyone that every step she took into that pool of water increased the risk of not being able to get out.

Her heart suddenly sank, she couldn't tell if it was pain or something else, it felt like something was being gently pulled, not broken, but very taut.

Luqiongxuan.

Feng Xi led his men into the courtyard.

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, but the mimosa tree in front of the porch was in full bloom, its pink and white fluffy flowers like clouds and mist, the only thing still alive in this abandoned little courtyard.

"This servant greets Consort Chong." Feng Xi walked to the middle of the courtyard and bowed slightly.

Consort Chong sat under the eaves, holding a mimosa flower in her hand, looking down at the delicate stamens, as if she hadn't heard anything, not even blinking.

Feng Xi waited a moment, then smiled again:

"Your Majesty must have been frightened last night. His Majesty was concerned for you and sent me to check on you. Is Your Majesty alright?"

Consort Chong gently twirled the lace with her fingertips, her voice filled with melancholy:

"His Majesty has long forgotten that there is still a Consort Chong in the palace. Don't use the Emperor as a pretext. Chief Eunuch Feng never sets foot in that unlucky place, Luqiong Pavilion. Speak plainly."

Feng Xi smiled gently, ignoring her comment:

"Xin Damao was arrested last night at the entrance of the Empress's palace and is now in the Censorate. The Emperor is just wondering what a eunuch from Changmen Palace is doing, carrying a knife and waving it around at the Empress's entrance in the middle of the night. The Empress has always been aloof from worldly affairs, but people outside may not think so."

Consort Chong paused slightly, then slowly spoke:

"Does the death of a cat at my doorstep mean I should be held responsible? Chief Steward Feng's investigation has led me to Luqiong Pavilion; does he intend to take me to the Censorate for interrogation?"

Feng Xi smiled, his voice neither loud nor soft:

"Your Majesty is joking. How could this servant dare to take Your Majesty to the Censorate? It's just that Xin Damao, a eunuch from Changmen Palace, appeared at Your Majesty's palace gate without reason, carrying a knife. People outside are bound to have doubts. Although His Majesty hasn't said anything, there are many people in the palace who gossip. If word gets out, it won't be good for Your Majesty's reputation."

He bowed slightly. "This servant is only thinking of Your Majesty's best interests. If Xin Damao were to make baseless accusations against Your Majesty while he is in the Censorate, it would be disgraceful."

Consort Chong slowly raised her eyes, her gaze falling on his face. She placed the mimosa flower in her hand on her lap, her voice soft yet clear: "So, what do you want me to do here?"

Feng Xi bowed and smiled, "Your Majesty's question is appropriate. This servant has only come to deliver a message. Having delivered the message, this servant will take his leave."

After saying that, he bowed, took two steps back, and turned to leave.

Consort Chong sat under the eaves, watching Feng Xi's figure disappear at the courtyard gate. She lowered her head and twirled the mimosa flower on her lap, her fingertips slowly closing.

"Xiao Sanzi, go to the Censorate and tell Xin Damao that his sister's family is sleeping well on the street, so he can rest assured."

Xiao Sanzi bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."