Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

The sun had set, but a half-orange hue still lingered on the horizon. Long shadows stretched across the palace walls, the summer heat lingered on the ground, and the air felt stifling, as if a downpour was brewing.

After dinner, Jiang Shuo Ning was instructing the palace maids to clear the dishes when he turned around and saw that Consort Rong had fallen asleep on the couch again.

Feng Chun replaced the ice in the palace, walked to Jiang Shuoning's side, glanced at the bed, and lowered her voice:

"What's wrong with Your Highness? You fell asleep right after finishing your meal. Your Highness rarely sleeps so much."

Jiang Shuoning did not reply, but turned and walked out of the hall.

Feng Chun glanced at her back, muttered something under his breath, and then followed her out.

Jiang Shuo Ning stood under the eaves, gazing at the gradually darkening sky, his voice calm and unhurried:

"The weather is hot, and Her Majesty is not sleeping well at night, so naturally she is not energetic during the day. She also got angry this morning, which is bound to upset her. Please change the ice more frequently tonight, so that the palace doesn't get too hot."

As she spoke, her gaze swept around the courtyard, as if she were looking for someone.

Feng Chun stood behind her, glanced at her, and put on a smile, speaking in a solicitous tone:

"Sister Shuoning understands Her Majesty best. If it weren't for her, Xiahe would have suffered so much today."

Jiang Shuoning then withdrew his gaze, glanced at him sideways with a calm expression, and asked, "Where is Xia He?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Chun sighed and looked sympathetic.

"Xia He's forehead cut was quite deep, and we changed several handkerchiefs but couldn't stop the bleeding. I was afraid that if she kept bleeding like this, something bad would happen, so I had to secretly take her to the Imperial Hospital."

After hearing this, Jiang Shuoning simply nodded and turned to walk down the corridor.

During the time she was bedridden, Zhou Zhengyin did not appear again, and Baozhong did not send any news.

Tonight, Yihua Palace is unusually quiet. The palace and the surrounding area are shrouded in twilight, and the sultry heat lingers, as if something is holding back and not coming down.

She walked slowly through the corridor, calculating the time in her mind.

When the night deepens and the shadows beneath the palace walls grow long enough, it's time to go see the two of them.

The Imperial Household Department.

Bao Zhong had just returned from his duty at the imperial palace. His dark robe was soaked through and clung to his back, and he looked somewhat haggard.

He coughed softly as he stepped into the courtyard of the Imperial Household Department. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he heard a suppressed sob coming from a corner.

He paused for a moment, then turned his head to look in the direction of the sound.

A figure was crouching at the foot of the courtyard wall, dressed in green, huddled up, his shoulders twitching.

Bao Zhong took a few steps closer before he could see clearly that it was Xia He from Consort Rong's palace.

"Why are you squatting here crying?"

Xia He was startled and abruptly looked up. Seeing it was Bao Zhong, she quickly stood up, hastily wiped her face with her sleeve, and rushed to him, her voice trembling:

"Eunuch Baozhong... I've finally been waiting for you."

Bao Zhong took a half step back without making a sound, creating some distance between them. His gaze swept lightly across her face before finally settling on her forehead.

There was a cut from broken porcelain; the bleeding had stopped, but the surrounding skin was bluish-purple, which looked rather horrifying.

He didn't inquire about the cause of the injury, but simply asked expressionlessly, "What business do you have with us?"

Xia He pursed her lips and didn't speak, but just looked up at him, tears streaming down her face, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes until her knuckles turned white.

Seeing this, Bao Zhong was about to speak when his throat tickled. He clenched his fist, pressed it to his mouth, and coughed softly twice. He waved his other hand at her and said, "Go quickly."

After saying that, he turned and stepped into the Imperial Household Department.

Footsteps followed behind him. He paused, turned around, and saw that Xia He had already followed him into the courtyard. He subconsciously glanced at Feng Xizheng's house and, seeing that it was pitch black inside, relaxed a little.

He suppressed a cough, his tone suddenly turning cold: "You are not allowed to come to the Imperial Household Department from now on."

Having said that, Bao Zhong strode towards his room. Just as he put his hand on the door frame to close the door, Xia He suddenly rushed in and dove into the room.

Bao Zhong sidestepped, his face darkening completely, and said in a low voice, "What are you doing?"

Xia He knelt down with a thud, tears welling up again, choking back sobs:

"Eunuch Baozhong, I have no other choice but to come to you. Now that Consort Rong will not tolerate me, I can only beg you to help me."

Bao Zhong looked down at her, remained silent for a moment, and his voice was devoid of warmth:

"Our family has no relation to you, so why do you think we would help you?"

Xia He knelt down at Bao Zhong's feet, grabbed his clothes with both hands, looked up at him, and pleaded, "Please take me in."

(under)

As soon as Jiang Shuoning stepped into the courtyard of the Imperial Household Department, he saw Xiao Luzi watering the ground with a water jug, making the whole courtyard wet.

"Little Deer..." she called softly.

Little Deer looked up at the sound, startled at first, then put down the water bottle and ran over: "Sister Shuoning, what brings you here?"

Jiang Shuoning looked up and glanced at Bao Zhong's room: "I need to speak with Eunuch Bao Zhong."

Xiao Luzi followed her gaze, a troubled look on her face: "Father-in-law has already retired for the night."

"The light was still on in his room, so I went in to say a few words."

As he spoke, Jiang Shuoning took a step and walked into Baozhong's house.

Little Deer's heart tightened, and he quickly rushed in front of her, bracing himself against the doorway with his arms:

"Good sister, please don't make things difficult for me. My father-in-law is not in a position to see you right now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Shuoning suddenly heard a woman's voice coming from inside the room.

She was startled, raised her hand and pushed Xiao Luzi aside, then opened the door without hesitation.

The moment the door was pushed open, Xia He was hugging Bao Zhong from behind, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist, her face pressed against his back, tears soaking a large patch of her clothes.

"This servant truly loves you. I beg you to allow Consort Rong to give me to you in marriage."

The door creaked open, and all three people froze.

Xia He abruptly released her grip, took two steps back, and hurriedly lowered her head, wiping her face haphazardly with her sleeve.

When Bao Zhong turned around, the moment his gaze met Jiang Shuoning's, he almost lost his composure.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his fingertips unconsciously curled up, as if he wanted to say something but didn't know where to begin.

He paused for a moment before finding his voice, but his tone was more urgent than usual: "Why didn't you knock before coming in?"

Jiang Shuoning stood at the doorway, his gaze sweeping over Xia He's red-rimmed eyes and disheveled hair before settling back on Bao Zhong's face, and he gave a cold laugh:

"It was my fault for being rude and spoiling your enjoyment, sir. Please continue, sir."

After saying that, Jiang Shuoning immediately turned around and quickly walked across the courtyard.

"Sister Shuoning..." Little Deer scratched his ears and cheeks anxiously, called out in a low voice, and then looked at Bao Zhong, whose face was ashen, with a look of fear, and explained, "Sister Shuoning insisted on coming in. This servant couldn't stop her."

Bao Zhong hurried to the door, then suddenly stopped, clenched his fists, and said, suppressing his anger, "What's the point of stopping me? We haven't done anything!"

After speaking, he turned to look at Xia He, his eyes as cold as well water in the twelfth lunar month, though his tone still carried a hint of politeness:

"Miss Xiahe, you are still young and beautiful, no less so than that Wei Xuanshi from before. She is eager to climb higher, but you, on the contrary, insist on throwing yourself at one of our eunuchs."

The word "eunuch" felt like a knife cutting through his throat when he uttered it. The softer he spoke it, the deeper the wound cut into his heart.

He paused, turned his head, and his voice became slightly softer:

"Our family's life ends here. We can't give anyone a future, nor can we bear anyone's favor. You're still young, don't narrow your path. Life in the palace is long, and relying on yourself is better than relying on anyone else. While there's still time, focus your attention on yourself; it's better than focusing on anyone else."

He paused, his voice almost a soliloquy: "Some paths you can turn back from if you take the wrong one, but some paths you embark on for life. Don't ruin your life on them."

"Don't come here again." After saying that, he turned around, his back to her, and didn't say another word.

Xia He stared blankly at his retreating figure, her lips trembling a few times. She covered her mouth, turned around, and ran out.

Little Deer watched her departing figure, then looked at Bao Zhong, and said cautiously:

"Father-in-law, do you want to go after Sister Shuoning?"