Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

The Emperor sat on the soft couch, still reeling from the memory. Just now, Jiang Shuoning had said…

"What I fear is not the Emperor himself, but the Emperor sitting on the dragon throne."

This statement was so cleverly crafted, like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, creating ripples that spread out in concentric circles.

He should have been angry, but the fire just wouldn't ignite.

Is she wrong? Everyone in the palace says they're afraid of him, but how much of that fear is for him as a person, and how much is for the power he wields?

He picked up the teacup, only to find the tea had gone cold, then put it down again, his voice soft: "This girl... dares to say anything."

The hall fell silent. A faint, lingering fragrance of Asarum remained in the air.

After a long while, he picked up the memorial again. But he couldn't read a single word on it.

The sun shone brightly on the palace road, leaving no shade whatsoever. The ground was scorching hot, and it felt like your shoes would melt underfoot.

The shadow of the palace wall shrank into a ball, and even the cicadas chirped weakly.

Jiang Shuoning pursed his chapped lips and walked briskly towards Yihua Palace, pressed against the wall.

The sun beat down on her neck, causing a thin layer of sweat to bead up on it. The heat enveloped her body, making her legs feel weak, as if she were walking on cotton.

"Jiang, Shuo, Ning".

A very soft voice came from the palace path on the right. Jiang Shuoning stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look.

The pond in Jingyi Garden is rippled with clear water, covered with lush green leaves, and several lotus flowers are in full bloom. As the evening breeze blows, the lotus shadows sway gently, and a subtle fragrance wafts through the air.

Jiang Shuoning sat on the steps, took a bite of a peach, and the sweet flesh melted instantly in his mouth, dispelling most of the summer heat.

"Wipe it off..." Zhou Yan, who was standing next to her, handed her a pink handkerchief.

Jiang Shuoning took it, unfolded it, and examined it closely, a genuine smile appearing in his eyes:

"This handkerchief is beautifully embroidered. The stitches are fine and the orchids are elegant. It's not like the stitches from an embroidery workshop. It's much more delicate than what they make."

Zhou Yan felt a little embarrassed by the praise and lowered her eyes: "It's... I embroidered it myself. It's not very good, please don't laugh at me."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuoning paused slightly, then looked down at the handkerchief in his hand and praised it:

"This servant had no idea that Your Highness possessed such skill. No matter how good the embroidery in the workshop is, it's all done by following a pattern, resulting in a thousand people looking the same. Your Highness, however, has put your heart into every stitch."

Zhou Yan smiled shyly, her tone tentative and somewhat hesitant: "If you like it, would you like it?"

Jiang Shuo Ning Wan'er: "The princess loves orchids. Orchids are noble, beautiful, and pure; this servant is unworthy of them."

"How could that be?" Zhou Yan said softly, "You are the best person I met in the palace. You helped me out of a predicament and gave me apricots to eat. I remember it all. You are a good person, a very, very good person."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuoning's heart stirred slightly.

nice guy?

Zhou Yan actually thinks she's a good person?

It's ridiculous.

She had an ulterior motive from the very beginning when she approached her, yet Zhou Yan actually remembered the small favors she had casually done for her; it was truly foolish and laughable.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhou Yan asked, gazing innocently at her profile.

Jiang Shuoning snapped out of his daze, shook his head slightly at her, and then lowered his gaze to look at the peach in his hand.

One apricot for one peach, so it's even.

She looked up, a smile curving her lips: "Princess, I actually like mimosa flowers; they bloom beautifully."

Zhou Yan's face immediately showed surprise: "You like mimosa flowers too?"

"Could it be... that there are others who also like mimosa flowers?"

Jiang Shuoning asked the question casually, but his gaze subtly fell on Zhou Yan's face.

Zhou Yan slowly lowered her eyes, her fingers twirling a strand of hair on her chest. After a long silence, she whispered:

"Consort Chong... also loves mimosa flowers the most."

Jiang Shuoning paused, and the smile on his face froze slightly.

Zhou Yan kept her eyes lowered, her voice muffled:

"You probably know that my birth mother was Consort Chong, and I was raised by Noble Lady Mei from the age of five."

Jiang Shuoning looked at her sorrowful expression, paused for a moment, and said softly:

"Consort Chong may have her own difficulties, which is why she entrusted you to Consort Mei's care."

Zhou Yan lowered her eyes. "I've thought about that too. But... she's never come to see me even once."

Jiang Shuoning didn't reply, but just looked at her quietly.

Zhou Yan's fingertips gently traced the embroidery on the handkerchief, a hint of sadness in her voice:

"Sometimes I wonder, is she really having a hard time, or... does she simply not want to see me?"

Jiang Shuoning comforted her, saying, "Princess, sometimes not knowing the answer to certain things isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Zhou Yan looked up and met her gaze. Her lips moved, but in the end she didn't say anything, only nodded slightly.

"Princess!" A palace maid, drenched in sweat and panting, ran up the steps and shouted sternly, "I knew the princess had come to Jingyi Garden again! I've been looking everywhere for her!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan immediately stood up and whispered to Jiang Shuoning, "I'm leaving."

After saying that, she lifted her skirt and walked nervously up the steps.

When she reached the palace maid, she lowered her head like a servant who had done something wrong, saying, "I'm sorry, I won't run away again next time."

The palace maid glared at her, then turned and walked forward, with Zhou Yan obediently following behind.

She hadn't walked a few steps when she suddenly turned around. Chong Jiang Shuoning smiled back and quickly followed her.

Jiang Shuoning stared at the departing figure with a puzzled expression.

It's quite unusual for a princess to be bossed around like that by a palace maid.

But then I thought, in this palace, a mother's status depends on her son. Consort Chong has no status in the palace, the emperor doesn't love this daughter, and she's being raised by Consort Mei.

Whether Consort Mei treats her well or not is obvious; just look at the attitude of the palace maids.

Those below are the best at reading people's expressions and acting accordingly. Since their master doesn't take the princess seriously, the servants naturally don't respect her either.

(under)

Huihe Palace.

Consort Mei sat at the table, picked up a lychee, and gently pinched it with her fingernail until the thin skin cracked open. She then slowly and methodically peeled it.

"Biti said you went to Jingyi Garden again and spent time with a maidservant who serves Consort Rong. Is that true?"

Zhou Yan stood before the table, her fingers twisting the silk sash hanging from her waist, her voice timid:

"...My daughter only met her once at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, and thought she was a very nice person..."

"It's fine?" After peeling off the last piece of skin, revealing the glistening white flesh, Consort Mei slowly raised her eyes. "You mean, I'm not good?"

Zhou Yan hurriedly shook her head: "No, my daughter didn't mean that..."

"So what do you mean?"

Consort Mei put the peeled lychee into her mouth, chewed it slowly, the juice seeping onto her lips, and then dabbed her mouth with a handkerchief.

"Yan'er, you secretly took peaches and gave them to strangers. What, just because someone gives you a smile, you've completely forgotten the kindness of raising me?"

Zhou Yan lowered her head, her voice muffled in her throat: "Daughter wouldn't dare...Daughter knows she was wrong..."

"You know you were wrong?" Consort Mei leaned back in her chair, her gaze fixed on her. "Then tell me, what did you do wrong?"

Zhou Yan's lips moved, and after a long pause, she managed to squeeze out, "Daughter... shouldn't have run off without your permission..."

Consort Mei gave a soft snort, as if she had heard a joke, picked up another lychee, and slowly peeled it, her tone indifferent:

"Go back to your room. Don't go to Jingyi Garden too often in the future; that place is remote and brings bad luck."

Zhou Yan nodded slightly, then turned and walked out of the hall.

Consort Mei, holding a freshly peeled lychee, didn't look up but suddenly asked, "Have the nightgowns been finished yet?"

Zhou Yan stopped, turned around and bowed slightly: "The only missing piece is the pattern on the cuffs. My daughter will finish embroidering it tonight."

Consort Mei nodded, put the lychee in her mouth, chewed it twice, and added:

"Once this is finished, let's get the autumn clothes done at the same time. I'm used to wearing your clothes; other people's embroidery doesn't fit me well."

Zhou Yan lowered her eyes: "Your daughter knows."

Consort Mei waved her hand: "Go back inside."

Zhou Yan exited the palace and gently closed the door behind her.

Bi Ti walked slowly into the palace from outside, and when she reached Consort Mei's side, she slightly curtsied.

"My lady, the princess has been staying with Jiang Shuoning, the head maid of Consort Rong, all day. The more I think about it, the more suspicious it seems."

Jiang Shuoning's unprovoked approach to the princess is likely at the behest of Consort Rong. We've won Xia He over, and Consort Rong has immediately sent someone to get close to the princess. Could this be an attempt to sow discord between you and the princess, using this as a pretext for revenge?

Consort Mei listened quietly, then put a peeled lychee into her mouth. After swallowing the flesh, she gently touched the corner of her lips with a silk handkerchief and said:

"Consort Rong is always proud and arrogant; she wouldn't stoop to using a princess who isn't favored by the Emperor as a pawn. But this Jiang Shuoning—you just said she's Consort Rong's head maid?"

Biti nodded in reply: "Indeed, my lady. She was the one who organized the banquet for the Dragon Boat Festival."

Moreover, this girl is no ordinary person. The reason Consort Wei ended up in such a state was because of her. Even the Emperor is paying extra attention to her.

Consort Mei paused slightly upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "The death of Consort Wei was caused by her?"

Beatrice quickly lowered her voice:

"That's right. Back then, Consort Wei detained Jiang Shuoning in Yanxi Palace, and the Emperor and Consort Rong rushed there to demand her release. Afterwards, the Emperor directly stripped Consort Wei of her title and demoted her to a palace maid. She also lost her unborn child and eventually died in the Shenxing Division. As for the details, this servant has not yet found out."

After listening, Consort Mei remained silent for a moment, then chuckled softly.

"A mere palace maid could cause the death of a concubine and even attract the emperor's attention. This girl is no ordinary person."

Biti took another half step forward and added in a low voice, "There is one more thing. I heard that Eunuch Baozhong and she are also very close."

Consort Mei stopped peeling the lychees, remained silent for a long while, and finally just chuckled:

"Interesting. Biting, in this palace, how can a palace maid gain the Emperor's favor, be relied upon by the favored concubine, and be treated with such affection by the imperial eunuchs? What does she want from our princess?"

Biti lowered her eyes in deep thought.

Consort Mei chuckled to herself, "She has everything, yet she comes to be nice to Zhou Yan. Either she's really stupid, or she's after me."