Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

Zhou Yan sat alone by the window, a lake-colored satin cloth spread on the table. Holding a silver needle and thread in her hand, she carefully embroidered the pattern on the cuffs of her nightgown by the dim candlelight.

She embroidered slowly and meticulously. But Jiang Shuoning's words kept replaying in her mind:

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

Difficulties. What difficulties could she possibly have? Could it be that she hasn't visited him even once in over a decade?

Zhou Yan paused for a moment while holding the needle.

After a moment of silence, she gently inserted the needle into the spool, got up, walked to the bedside, sat down, and took out a palm-sized rag rabbit from under the pillow.

The stitches are fine and neat, the cotton filling is full and even, the two ears stand up straight, and a small mimosa flower is embroidered at the corner.

Zhou Yan picked up the rabbit with both hands, leaned against the bedpost, gently placed it on her nose, and closed her eyes tightly.

She remembered that afternoon when her mother held her and spun her around under the mimosa tree.

Her skirt swirled open like a blooming flower, and mimosa blossoms fluttered down onto her shoulders, accompanied by a clear, crisp laugh.

The mother suddenly knelt down, placed the rabbit in her arms, stroked her head, and whispered:

"Yan'er, be good. From now on, when Mommy isn't around, you can sleep while holding it, okay?"

She was too young to understand what "not by her side" meant, and just kept giggling while clutching the rabbit in her hand.

Later she understood.

That year, before the mimosa flowers had all fallen, her mother sent her to Huihe Palace.

I never saw her again after that.

Every night, she would clutch the cloth rabbit in her hand, curl up in bed, and secretly shed tears.

Later, when the rabbit got old and the cotton stuffing collapsed, she learned to embroider, and her first finished product was to mend the stitches on the rabbit's ears.

Consort Mei saw it but said nothing. The next day, she simply dropped a piece of silk on her table.

"Since you're just idling around anyway, embroider a handkerchief for me."

From then on, she began to embroider, piece by piece, from handkerchiefs to nightgowns, and from nightgowns to complete outfits.

She has been embroidering for so many years, yet she still has an endless supply of clothes to embroider.

Zhou Yan looked down at her hands; there were thin calluses on her fingertips, the result of years of handling needles.

My eyes suddenly stung, and tears rolled down my cheeks one after another.

She held the rabbit tightly and sat by the bed for a long time until the sky outside the window gradually darkened.

As dusk settled, a crescent moon hung in the sky.

Consort Rong stood under the corridor, gently stroking her slightly protruding belly with both hands.

A group of eunuchs filed in, carrying bolts of satin and boxes of jewelry into the hall.

Feng Xi bowed and walked up to her, his face beaming with smiles:

"Your Majesty, His Majesty has bestowed gifts upon you again tonight. These are four bolts of newly made Yun brocade, and also red coral beads, each one perfectly round, said to be for Your Majesty to calm your nerves and help you during your pregnancy."

Consort Rong glanced at the brocades and coral beads, but did not respond.

Feng Xi then smiled and said, "His Majesty also said that Your Majesty is in poor health. If there is anything you want or want to eat, just send someone to find me, and I will certainly take care of it perfectly for Your Majesty."

Baozhong is still young and always makes the Empress angry. From now on, these trivial tasks in Yihua Palace will be handled by this servant.

Consort Rong glanced at Feng Xi, a half-smile on her face, and said:

"Steward Feng is very kind. However, although Baozhong is young, he has not made any major mistakes. I don't need to replace him for a few trivial matters. Steward Feng already works hard in front of the Emperor, how could I trouble you to run back and forth?"

Feng Xi's smile froze slightly for a moment, then quickly returned to its usual shape.

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. However, His Majesty specifically instructed that since Your Majesty is pregnant, it would be better to find a reliable person."

Consort Rong suppressed her surging emotions and said, "Go back and thank the Emperor on my behalf."

Feng Xi bowed in response, still smiling, but his expression changed instantly as he turned and led his men out.

After seeing Feng Xi and the others leave, Consort Rong glanced at Jiang Shuoning with a scrutinizing look in her eyes: "What happened?"

Jiang Shuoning lowered his head and said, "Perhaps the Emperor dotes on the Empress and wants to replace her with a more reliable person."

Consort Rong narrowed her phoenix eyes and stared at her: "The daily errands to the Hall of Mental Cultivation are waived, and the Emperor will come to accompany me every three days. The Emperor truly dotes on me."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuoning tightened his grip on his hands, which were clasped together in front of his lower abdomen, without making a sound, and lowered his head in silence.

Consort Rong slowly approached her, gently pinched her chin with her hand, and scanned her face with her gaze: "This face is truly beautiful."

After saying that, Consort Rong suddenly raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face. With a crisp "smack", Feng Chun and the others were stunned for a moment.

Jiang Shuoning was knocked to the side, half of his face burning and numb, his whole body stiffened, and his ears were ringing.

Consort Rong withdrew her hand, slowly wiped her palm with a handkerchief, and said in a calm tone:

"Get out of here. Reflect on why I hit you. You can return to the palace when you've figured it out."

Jiang Shuoning lowered his head, his hair falling down to cover half his face, his throat tightened, but his voice remained steady:

"Thank you for the punishment, Your Majesty. I will certainly reflect on my actions."

As soon as she finished speaking, Consort Rong stopped looking at her and turned to walk towards her bedchamber.

(under)

Jiang Shuoning, having been expelled from Yihua Palace by Consort Rong, was wandering aimlessly along the palace path.

The evening breeze, carrying the heat of summer, hit my face, making it feel burning hot.

They walked very slowly, as if they didn't know where to go, or as if they didn't want to go anywhere.

As she passed through the passageway, the library came into view. She raised her hand and gently touched her left cheek, hesitated for a moment, and then took a side path to bypass it.

Fu Dai was carrying a food box and walking towards her. When he saw her, his eyes lit up, and he rushed to her in a few strides: "Auntie! You've come to see Brother Yin?"

Jiang Shuoning frowned: "Who gave you permission to call me 'aunt'?"

Fu Dai was taken aback, his gaze falling on her slightly swollen left cheek, his smile instantly freezing: "Auntie... what happened to your face?"

Jiang Shuoning turned her face away from his gaze, her voice turning colder:

"It's alright. Go back now, and don't call me aunt anymore."

After saying that, she stopped looking at him and quickly left through another long street.

Fu stood there stunned, clutching the food box in his hand, then turned and ran towards the library.

As Zhou Zhengyin pushed open the courtyard gate, he came out of the attic carrying a stack of books. Fu Dai rushed up to him, panting.

"Brother Yin! This servant has run into your aunt, and something's wrong with her!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhengyin nearly dropped the stack of books he was carrying: "Where is she?"

"They headed towards West Street."

Zhou Zhengyin immediately stuffed all the books into Fu Dai's arms and ran out.

"Brother Yin! Eunuch Baozhong won't let you run around..."

Fu stood behind shouting, but his voice was quickly swallowed up by the night wind.

Jiang Shuo Ning was walking along West Street toward Panhu Pavilion when a small eunuch suddenly appeared in front of him.

"This servant greets Miss Shuoning." The young eunuch bowed slightly. "The Eighth Princess is waiting for you at Jingyi Garden and has sent this servant to take you there."

Jiang Shuoning was forced to stop and look at the completely unfamiliar face in front of him.

Zhou Yan?

I saw him at Jingyi Garden at noon, but he was called away by a palace maid later.

Now they've sent someone to invite her again?

Besides, even the palace maid next to her was giving her attitude, so how could she possibly have the ability to order people around to deliver messages?

Furthermore, even if they really wanted to meet, why not choose daytime instead of this hour?

She thought it over in her mind, but her face remained expressionless:

"Go back and tell the princess that I need to return to Yihua Palace to serve Consort Rong. If you insist on seeing her, please come to Yihua Palace for a visit."

As she spoke, she subtly took a half-step back, glancing around with her peripheral vision.

The long street was deserted, with only a lonely moon hanging overhead, unable to illuminate the shadows of anyone else.

The young eunuch remained standing, showing no sign of leaving, a smile playing on his lips, his voice neither hurried nor slow:

"Miss Shuoning, our princess has not had a confidant for many years. Now that she has finally met someone she can confide in, please don't keep our princess waiting."

Jiang Shuoning's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm, raising his voice slightly:

"It is my honor to have gained the princess's favor. But at this hour, if the princess truly wishes to see me, would she really be willing to lend me twenty taels of silver?"

The young eunuch was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "Of course. The princess has already prepared everything, which is why she sent me to deliver the message."

Without a word, Jiang Shuoning abruptly pulled the hairpin from her hair and gripped it tightly in her hand. She took two quick steps back and said sternly:

"Nonsense! I didn't mention borrowing money at all today. Who sent you?"

The eunuch's face darkened, and he instantly revealed his true colors. He immediately pulled a face towel from his sleeve and lunged at Jiang Shuoning.

Jiang Shuoning turned and ran, shouting, "Help—"

The moment the words left her mouth, a hand suddenly covered her mouth from behind, forcing the cry of "Help!" back down her throat.

At the same moment, at the other end of West Street, Zhou Zhengyin stopped and heard a short, abrupt shout that sounded like it had been cut off.

He suddenly looked up and ran in that direction.