Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

Jiang Shuoning didn't reply. He straightened the books on the table one by one, stacked them up, and then went to the bedside to put the few books scattered on the bedding on top of the stack.

"Remember to put it back in its place after you're done watching."

Zhou Zhengyin held the bowl, chewing rice, his eyes following her hand, and said cheerfully, "I understand, Aunt."

The room was quiet for a while, with only the soft rustling of pages falling.

After finishing the last book, Jiang Shuoning dusted off his hands, then sat down next to him, frowning as he watched him wolf down his food.

"There are rules for eating. Did you even carefully read the 'Palace Rules' I gave you?"

Zhou Zhengyin was taken aback by her question. He held the bowl in mid-air, a grain of rice still clinging to the corner of his mouth. After a long while, he muttered softly:

"...I did see it. But the food my aunt brought smelled so good that I forgot all about the rules."

Jiang Shuoning looked at the grain of rice at the corner of his mouth and reached out to hand him a handkerchief:

"There are rules everywhere in this palace, and you have to memorize them. The aroma of food is not an excuse to break the rules."

A sly glint flashed in Zhou Zhengyin's eyes as he leaned closer and said playfully:

"Auntie, my hands are too busy, could you help Ah Yin wipe them?"

Jiang Shuoning looked up and met his clear black and white eyes, the corners of which were slightly upturned, the pupils as black as ink soaked in water, giving an illusion of deep affection.

She did indeed find that his features resembled the emperor's by about six points, carrying the innate nobility and sharpness of an imperial family.

The remaining four points resembled those of Mi Fei: a high nose bridge, a clean and sharp jawline, a somewhat aloof demeanor when not smiling, but a warm and welcoming smile.

She looked away, not responding to his words, but simply placed the handkerchief in front of him, "Wipe yourself."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhengyin's face immediately showed a disappointed expression. He gave a soft "Oh," lowered his head, took a bite of rice, chewed it a couple of times, and felt that the food didn't seem as delicious as before.

"Aunt, I've already sent out that poem. What's next? Has Baozhong found out anything about Song Zhang? Has Consort Chong made any moves lately?"

Jiang Shuoning turned his head to look at him, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke:

"Once the poems are distributed, you don't need to worry about the rest. Baozhong is investigating Song Zhang's matter, but there's no action taken against Consort Chong yet."

Your focus now should be on your studies. I'll investigate your mother's matter for you. Remember, protecting yourself is more important than anything else.

Zhou Zhengyin nodded, gently rubbing his fingers along the rim of the bowl twice. He didn't say anything, but picked up a mouthful of rice and put it in his mouth, chewing very slowly.

Seeing his head bowed, like a blade of grass wilted by the rain, Jiang Shuoning paused for a moment, then softened her voice:

"But you just said that the poem has already been distributed, that's good."

Zhou Zhengyin looked up at her, a glint in his eyes, as if that saying was more effective than any magic pill.

Jiang Shuoning didn't look at him, but moved the dish closer to him. "The food's getting cold. Eat first, then think about other things."

Zhou Zhengyin looked at the bowl, which still had more than half a bowl of rice left, picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. After chewing it a couple of times, he felt the aroma return.

Just then, Fu Dou's excited voice came from inside the courtyard: "Grandpa Bao Zhong, you've arrived!"

(under)

Bao Zhong stepped into the house with an apricot in his mouth and saw Jiang Shuoning there as well, seemingly not surprised at all.

He walked over with a smile on his lips, his gaze sweeping over the tall stack of books on the table, his tone casual:

"That's right, I've been reading a lot of books lately, I've really put in a lot of effort."

Zhou Zhengyin ate in silence, offering no response.

Bao Zhong didn't mind that he was being ignored. He smiled and was about to sit down when he noticed a bundle on the stool.

He casually picked it up and placed it on the pile of books next to him, then sat down and handed the apricot in his other hand to her: "Try it, it's very sweet."

Zhou Zhengyin suddenly reached out and snatched the apricots from Baozhong's hand. He then got up, walked to the counter, and took out a large bag of apricots wrapped in oil paper.

He returned to Jiang Shuoning's side and laid out on the table in front of her.

The oil paper was unfolded, revealing large, yellow, plump, and round apricots inside, with a sweet and refreshing fruity aroma wafting out.

"Auntie, please have this." Zhou Zhengyin looked at her, his tone serious and leaving no room for refusal. "I picked this especially for you; I chose the sweetest ones from the tree."

Jiang Shuoning looked down at the pile of bright yellow apricots, then glanced at Zhou Zhengyin's smug expression, and didn't speak immediately.

Bao Zhong leaned back in his chair, unperturbed by the apricots being taken from his hand. He merely chuckled and slowly began to speak:

"Oh, you even hid the best one, specially saved for your aunt?"

Zhou Zhengyin ignored him and stared at Jiang Shuoning, as if he wouldn't be satisfied until she took one.

Jiang Shuoning paused for a moment, then reached into the oiled paper, picked up an apricot, took a bite, and chewed it twice: "...Sweet."

Zhou Zhengyin seemed to have received some great recognition. The corners of his mouth turned up, and he sat back down at the table, picked up his bowl, and continued eating. He even picked up his chopsticks more skillfully than before.

The lamplight flickered, making the pile of golden apricots shine even brighter, as if the whole room had brightened up as well.

"Shuoning..." Bao Zhong had just opened his mouth when Zhou Zhengyin suddenly raised his head and glared at him angrily.

Bao Zhong paused, helplessly scratching his brow, swallowing back the rest of his words.

Jiang Shuoning's gaze swept back and forth between the two men, sensing an unusual atmosphere. He sighed inwardly and turned to Zhou Zhengyin:

"Ah Yin, you've read so many books, but what have you learned from them?"

Zhou Zhengyin put down his chopsticks, his expression becoming serious: "Those who aspire to great things do not concern themselves with short-term gains or losses."

As she spoke, she glanced at Baozhong and added, "He has also learned that when it's time to fight, he can't give an inch."

After listening, Jiang Shuoning picked up the apricot he had just bitten into, took another bite, chewed it slowly, and his voice softened:

"You haven't read books in vain. But reading should also teach you to distinguish right from wrong, not to use reason as a weapon."

"If you truly understand the book, you'll naturally know when to fight and when to back down. But if you read the book rigidly, it's no different from not reading it at all."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhengyin opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back, keeping it to himself, and only responded with a low "I know."

Jiang Shuoning didn't look at him anymore, but turned to Baozhong: "He can call me 'aunt,' but you can't. Don't tease him with that."

When Baozhong heard what she said, he didn't rush to defend himself. He just smiled and took another bite of the apricot in his hand.

But when her gaze swept over Zhou Zhengyin, she saw that although he had his head down, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

Seeing this, Baozhong smiled helplessly again, slowly chewing on his apricot without saying another word.

Jiang Shuoning stood at the door and glanced back at the two of them. One was eating his rice in silence, while the other was leaning back in his chair chewing apricots. The room was unusually quiet.

"Alright, let's go. It's getting late."

Zhou Zhengyin suddenly stood up and handed her the package of apricots wrapped in oil paper: "Aunt, take these back and eat them."

Jiang Shuoning looked down at him, then looked at him again: "Keep it for yourself."

Zhou Zhengyin held up the bag, refusing to accept it: "I've picked so many, they'll just go bad if I leave them here."

She paused for a moment before reaching out to take it: "Okay. I need to read it."

Zhou Zhengyin smiled slightly and said, "I understand."

On the quiet path, she and Baozhong walked side by side, their footsteps falling lightly and steadily on the blue brick ground.

The evening breeze drifted in from the palace walls, carrying the coolness of late summer and the lingering sweetness of apricots.

The two walked for a while without saying a word.

Bao Zhong turned his head and glanced at her, his gaze sliding from her lowered eyes to the bag of apricots in her arms. He smiled slightly and walked quietly beside her.

The moonlight slowly spread down from above, casting long shadows of the two people that overlapped and then separated.

"Shuoning..." Baozhong spoke first, striding up to her and taking out an exquisite brocade box from his sleeve, handing it to her: "This is for you."

Jiang Shuoning glanced down at him, then looked up at him: "Why are you suddenly giving me something?"

"Open it and take a look, I think you'll like it."

Baozhong stuffed the brocade box into her hands and took the apricots from her arms.

Jiang Shuoning opened the brocade box with a puzzled look.

Inside lay a bamboo-shaped hairpin with emerald green leaves, adorned with jade beads and a long glass pendant, elegant and refined, gleaming with a warm light under the moonlight.

She looked at it for a moment without saying anything, then closed it and put it back in his hand, taking the apricot back with her: "It's too precious, I can't accept it."

Bao Zhong held the returned brocade box and smiled gently: "It's not about how valuable it is, it's about how it suits you."

Jiang Shuoning took two steps forward while holding Xingzi, then turned to look at him and said, "Whether it suits me or not, I don't wear it often."

Bao Zhong strode up to her, stuffing the brocade box back into her arms, his voice tinged with amusement:

"Then just leave it. It's fine if you don't wear it often; it's good to keep it for reference."