Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

When Zhou Zhengyin heard the emperor's question, his heart clenched, and a surge of resentment, both bitter and stifling, welled up inside him.

This is the second time I've run into him since he entered the palace six months ago. The first time was the day Suihe attempted to assassinate Consort Rong.

He was worried about his aunt, so he braved the heavy rain to rush to Yihua Palace, where he bumped into her carriage halfway there.

He simply remarked, "Just a lackey."

She didn't even glance at him.

Tonight is the second time. My aunt was almost murdered on West Street, but he arrived in time to save her. She was brought here by the guards and they are kneeling here together.

But this person had no idea who the boy kneeling in front of him was from beginning to end.

A deep hatred was trapped in his chest. Zhou Zhengyin clenched his lips tightly, his molars aching from biting them.

The eerie voice rang out from the darkness at just the right moment, as if rising slowly from the depths of the chest:

"The opportunity has come. Tell him, 'Do you still remember that you have a son named Zhou Zhengyin? The grievances you have suffered for seventeen years are all thanks to this man.'"

When he gave your mother the poisoned wine, did he hesitate for even a moment? He believed the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, but not your mother, nor you.

The voice paused for a moment, as if waiting for these words to slowly seep into Zhou Zhengyin's heart.

"Where was he when you were thrown into the imperial mausoleum? Where was he when you were treated like a mute slave in Changmen Palace? One new concubine after another came into his life. Do you still remember what your mother looked like?"

You need to make him remember. Make that prick in his heart, see if he ever feels even a sliver of remorse for what he's done.

Zhou Zhengyin's breathing grew heavier, and the veins on his forehead throbbed. Just as he mustered the courage to look up, his aunt's voice suddenly rang out beside him:

"emperor……"

Jiang Shuoning crawled half a step on his knees, slightly turning his body to shield him behind him, clinging to the last shred of clarity, his voice weak:

"Your Majesty, he is the eunuch in charge of organizing books in the Imperial Library. He was the one who saved me at the entrance of West Street just now."

After saying this, her vision began to darken, sweat dripped from her forehead down her chin, and her fingers gripping the cloak trembled slightly.

Bao Zhong smoothly took over the conversation, his tone respectful but not impatient:

"Your Majesty, this young eunuch was originally from the washroom and was recently transferred to the library. He is not good with words, but he is diligent, so I assigned him to organize the books. He probably heard the commotion tonight and happened to come across this."

He glanced at Zhou Zhengyin briefly, then looked away, paused, and his tone became slightly heavier:

"Upon first meeting His Majesty, I failed to behave properly before him, remaining silent for so long. This was truly inappropriate. I will certainly reprimand him properly upon my return."

Upon hearing this, the emperor's gaze lingered on the young man for a moment.

He knelt there, head bowed, lips pursed, as if truly terrified, and showed no intention of speaking.

The Emperor withdrew his gaze, did not ask any further questions, picked up his teacup, stirred up the foam, took a sip, and then slowly put it down.

"That's fine. Since we've saved someone, that's considered making amends. I'll have the Imperial Household Department remind us of the proper conduct later."

Bao Zhong bowed: "Yes, Your Majesty."

After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and took half a step back. His fingers in his sleeve slowly loosened, and his breath fell silently back to its original position.

It was just another dismissive remark.

Zhou Zhengyin's fingernails dug deeply into the flesh of his palms. The resentment in his heart burned, making his throat dry and blocked, and a sour feeling shot straight to his eyes.

He held on tightly, refusing to let that little bit of red turn into tears.

The Emperor put down his teacup, his gaze falling on Jiang Shuoning, his tone becoming more somber:

"Jiang Shuoning, I have a question for you. Why are you out in Yihua Palace, running around West Street?"

Bao Zhong's heart tightened, his gaze fixed on her, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his palms.

Jiang Shuoning lowered her head, trying to suppress her dizziness. Her lips moved, and her voice was weak: "Your Majesty...this servant...this servant..."

"Alright!"

The Emperor noticed her discomfort and interrupted her, his hand on her knees suddenly tightening.

After a moment of silence, he abruptly stood up, walked up to her, looked down at her, and questioned her:

"Jiang Shuo Ning, first it was Yanxi Palace, and tonight it's West Street. You're just a lowly palace maid; I'd like to know just how many people you've offended."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuoning lowered his eyes and remained silent, his hands gripping the corner of his cloak tightly until his knuckles turned white.

The Emperor's chest heaved, his gaze lingering for a moment on her pale face. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he only said coldly, "Baozhong, send her back."

Bao Zhong bowed: "This servant obeys the decree."

The emperor turned and strode down the steps, his robes billowing in the night breeze.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped for a moment, turned his back to the crowd, and lowered his voice slightly:

"If I find you disobeying me again, I will punish you first."

After saying that, he didn't linger and strode away into the night.

The observatory fell silent. The night breeze rustled through the flowers and trees, and the last wisp of smoke in the incense burner dissipated.

Jiang Shuoning clutched the cloak, slowly lowered his body, and gently pressed his forehead against the cold ground.

(under)

Bao Zhong strode over, bent down, his robe hem resting on the blue bricks, reached out to support Jiang Shuoning's arm, and lowered his voice: "Can you still hold on? I'll take you to the Imperial Hospital."

Jiang Shuoning was half-helped up by him; her face was as white as paper. She shook her head, her voice so weak it was almost inaudible:

"No need... you'll feel better once the medicine wears off..."

Bao Zhong pulled Jiang Shuoning close, letting her lean against his chest, wrapping his cloak tightly around her shoulders, lowering his eyes, his throat slightly bobbing, and frowning as he asked, "What exactly happened?"

Jiang Shuoning closed his eyes briefly, paused for a moment, and said in a weak but firm voice, "It's a noble lady. It must be because I got close to the Eighth Princess and offended her."

Zhou Zhengyin suddenly looked up, his eyes still red, his voice urgent and resentful:

"Why won't you let me speak? I've been in the palace for half a year, waited for seventeen years, and tonight is the closest I've ever been to him. I want him to know that I am the son he left in the imperial mausoleum for seventeen years!"

Seeing his exasperated state, Bao Zhong felt a surge of anger rise within him. His chest heaved heavily, his eyes darkened, and he said in a low voice:

"And then what? If you let the Emperor know that the person kneeling before him is his deposed Ninth Prince, will he acknowledge you on the spot, or will he immediately feel remorse towards you?"

He held Jiang Shuoning tightly, paused for a moment, and lowered his voice even further:

"If things really went as you think, Shuo Ning and I wouldn't have had to risk our lives to reopen Mi Fei's old case for you."

Zhou Zhengyin felt a tightness in his chest from those words and looked at him with a resentful expression.

Jiang Shuoning frowned and looked at Zhou Zhengyin: "Ayin, a small act of impatience can ruin a great plan. You've endured seventeen years, what's one more time?"

She swallowed hard as she spoke, then raised her hand and beckoned to him. Zhou Zhengyin, with tears in his eyes, knelt before her and reached out to take her hand.

Jiang Shuoning yanked him away, grabbed his collar, pulled him close, and spoke in a hoarse but sharp voice:

"Han Xin endured the humiliation of crawling between someone's legs, and Goujian slept on firewood and tasted gall. Where did you read your books?"

She paused for a moment, but instead of loosening her grip on his collar, she tightened it even more.

"You don't understand the Emperor at all. Baozhong and I went to great lengths to get you here step by step from Changmen Palace. If you acted impulsively just now..."

She paused, as if she couldn't catch her breath, and after a moment, continued, "All three of us will die. Do you know that?"

Zhou Zhengyin froze on the spot, his clothes gripped tightly by her. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

"You're so insensible!"

After Jiang Shuoning finished speaking, the hand that was gripping his clothes suddenly loosened, and he fainted in Bao Zhong's arms.