Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

As dawn broke, a layer of muggy heat enveloped the air, pressing down heavily and clinging to the skin, impossible to shake off.

"This weather is really weird. There was thunder and lightning last night, and it looked like a heavy rain was about to fall, but when it got light, we found out it was all for nothing. In fact, it was even drier than the past few days."

Little Deer kept fanning his face with his sleeves, and after only a few steps, he was covered in sweat.

Bao Zhong walked briskly ahead, his clothes billowing in the breeze: "Hot? I don't think it's too hot."

Little Deer was taken aback and followed him to carefully examine his complexion. His eyebrows and eyes were relaxed, his lips were pursed, and even the bluish-gray under his eyes had faded considerably.

He hasn't had a sunny look on his face these past few days, but since he came back last night, he's like a completely different person. This morning, he's more energetic than if he'd drunk ginseng soup.

That's really strange.

"Father-in-law, is there some good news?"

Bao Zhong didn't answer, but simply raised his hand to brush aside the willow branches hanging from the eaves, curved the corners of his mouth, and quickened his pace by half a beat.

Changmen Palace.

Bao Zhong stepped into the courtyard, where people were already busy in front of the row of burned-down houses. Tiles were scattered all over the ground, and charred wooden beams were sticking out in the air.

Eunuch Qiao sat under the eaves supervising the work, with two young eunuchs standing on either side, fanning him frantically with their fans.

The two eunuchs were also sweating profusely, their chests and backs soaked with sweat.

"Is this place going to steam human flesh buns? It's so hot it's killing us!" Old Man Qiao muttered, tilting his head.

Xiao Luzi stood beside Bao Zhong, squinting as she looked down the corridor. "Eunuch Qiao seems quite carefree."

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Qiao was taken aback. He turned his head and saw that Bao Zhong had entered the courtyard at some point. His face tightened instantly, and he hurriedly got up and snatched the fan from the little eunuch's hand.

He strode over in twos and threes, hunched over, and with a beaming smile, fanned Bao Zhong, saying solicitously:

"Grandpa Baozhong, what brings you here?"

Bao Zhong gently raised his hand to block the fan that the man was waving, his eyes filled with a rare smile: "Let's come and check on the progress."

With a forced smile, Eunuch Qiao said, "The weather has been too hot lately, so I didn't let them rush too much, for fear of them getting heatstroke."

Bao Zhong nodded slightly, and as he walked inside, he said with a smile, "Judging by this progress, it might not be finished until autumn."

Eunuch Qiao quickly followed beside him, continuing to wave his fan: "No...it won't take that long. This servant will have them work through the night."

"You said it's so hot, and you're making them work day and night. If someone dies, who will be responsible?"

After saying that, Bao Zhong walked straight towards Eunuch Qiao's room. Eunuch Qiao's expression changed, and he quickly followed him inside.

It was even stuffier inside than outside.

Bao Zhong frowned as soon as he stepped inside, raised his hand to cover his mouth and nose, and muffled his voice:

"Eunuch Qiao, your house... is really something."

Eunuch Qiao gave an awkward smile: "This servant...this servant will have someone inform them immediately."

Bao Zhong held his breath, feeling the taste seep into his throat with every word he spoke:

"The mute servant has been living with the palace maids in the East Courtyard, which isn't a long-term solution. There's no sure when the West Courtyard will be finished. What are your plans?"

Eunuch Qiao said with a bitter face, "He refuses to share a room with me; he ignores me when I suggest he move to another room. I'm worried too. Changmen Palace is only so big, I really have no other choice."

Bao Zhong finally couldn't hold back any longer, turned his head and coughed twice, then straightened up after a while, his voice still a little hoarse from coughing:

"How about this, let him move to the library first, and come back after the west courtyard is repaired, what do you say?"

As he spoke, he took out a silver ingot from his sleeve and placed it lightly in Eunuch Qiao's hand.

"How should I say it? I don't need to teach you, do I?"

When Eunuch Qiao looked down, his eyes lit up. He weighed the silver ingot in his palm, and the wrinkles on his face immediately deepened. His tone of voice changed smoothly and quickly:

"It is this servant who feels it is inappropriate for the mute servant to live in the East Courtyard, and there is no place for him to live in Changmen Palace now. That is why I asked you, sir, to help arrange for him to go to the library. This servant thanks you for your consideration."

Bao Zhong smiled slightly, raised his hand and patted his shoulder, his voice neither too loud nor too soft: "Our family just likes dealing with smart people like Eunuch Qiao."

After saying that, he could no longer hold on. He turned around and rushed out of the house. He stood on the porch, panting heavily, as if he wanted to expel all the smell he had just inhaled before he would stop.

Little Deer quickly ran over: "Grandpa, what's wrong?"

Bao Zhong didn't answer. Instead, he lowered his head, lifted his sleeve, and sniffed it. His brows furrowed instantly, and he threw the sleeve away with a look of disgust, as if it had been stained with something dirty: "It stinks."

The little deer's eyes darted around, and it immediately leaned forward to sniff, then shook its head seriously: "No, Father-in-law still smells very nice."

Bao Zhong rolled his eyes at him, annoyed, and slapped the back of his head.

"Shaopin. Go to the last room in the east courtyard and have him tidy up so he can come with us."

Little Deer grinned and said, "Alright!" Before he finished speaking, he had already darted off to the east courtyard.

Bao Zhong lowered his head and sniffed his cuffs again, his brows furrowing even more.

(under)

Library.

"This place is located in the southwest corner of the palace, and the pavilions on the east, south and west sides are used to store various books."

Bao Zhong stood in the courtyard, raised his hand and pointed north, continuing his introduction:

"That room houses historical books from various dynasties. Few people come here on weekdays; only the people from the Hanlin Academy occasionally come to look through them. Perfect, you can stay here; it'll be quiet."

After speaking, Bao Zhong turned his head, glanced at Zhou Zhengyin, and smiled slightly.

"You can live in the backyard. I've assigned two new eunuchs to this place, treating them as my own people. Now there are only the three of you in the library; I've replaced everyone else."

Everyone in the palace knows that the Ninth Prince, who was stripped of his title, lives in Changmen Palace. But your face has only been back from the imperial mausoleum for half a year, so not many people have seen you. You can stay there without worry.

Zhou Zhengyin pushed the bundle on his shoulder up, his face stern, his eyelids downcast, and said coldly, "I know."

Bao Zhong then noticed that something was wrong with him today; he hadn't uttered a word the whole way and hadn't looked at him directly.

He didn't react at all when I explained the situation here, as if he had a fire burning inside him that he was holding back.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Baozhong frowned and took a step closer. "The weather has been scorching hot lately. If you've suffered from heatstroke, I'll have someone make you a bowl of cooling soup and bring it over."

Zhou Zhengyin kept his head down, his Adam's apple bobbing, and after a long pause, he replied, "It's nothing, I'm fine. When is Aunt coming to see me?"

His tone was harsh, lacking the usual warmth and respect he received.

Little Deer couldn't help but interject, "In this sweltering heat, our father-in-law has been running around arranging a new place for you, and you haven't even said a kind word?"

Zhou Zhengyin finally raised his head, looked at Xiao Luzi with a sullen expression, and said angrily:

"If you're unwilling, I can continue living at Nagato Palace. I didn't insist on coming to the library."

Upon hearing this, the little deer instantly flew into a rage, took half a step forward, and said with its neck stiff:

"Oh my god, the way you're talking makes it sound like we begged you to come! If it weren't for our father-in-law's concern for you, who would care where you live? And you, without a single word of gratitude, come here and give us the cold shoulder!"

Zhou Zhengyin tightened his grip on the bundle's strap, staring into Xiao Luzi's eyes: "I didn't ask you to interfere with me, nor did I beg him."

"You!" Xiao Luzi's face turned red with anger. She was about to say something more when Bao Zhong raised his hand to stop her.

"Alright." Bao Zhong's tone was low, but his voice was deep. The two words were so low that both of them shut up.

He glanced at Xiaoluzi and said, "Say less."

After speaking, he turned to Zhou Zhengyin, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment, his voice neither warm nor cold:

"Didn't you want to study and learn to read? Now that you're here, settle down and study diligently. The books in these three pavilions are enough to keep you reading for several years."

Shuoning will come to see you when she has time. If you insist on going back, then consider this a wasted trip for me. You decide for yourself.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhengyin's chest heaved heavily, and he turned his head away, no longer speaking.

"You stay put." Baozhong turned and walked towards the door.

Zhou Zhengyin's voice suddenly came from behind, as if he had finally lost his composure and it was almost forced out of his throat:

"You're not allowed to call her Shuoning anymore, she's my aunt!"

Bao Zhong stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him. Something about what he said sounded strange.

What does it have to do with him calling Shuoning Auntie, and him calling her Shuoning?

He twists together things that have absolutely nothing to do with each other, as if he has some pent-up anger that he has to find a reason to vent.

Seeing Zhou Zhengyin standing in the courtyard, his cheeks flushed, his chest heaving, his lips pressed into a thin line, glaring at him angrily.

After looking at him for a while, Baozhong suddenly chuckled, his tone a mix of helplessness and teasing:

"Okay, I won't call her that anymore. From now on, when I see her, I'll call her 'Auntie,' okay?"