Palace maid Shuoning

(Up)

Jiang Shuoning slowly withdrew her hand, gently wiping away the tears from the corner of his eyes. She didn't respond to his words, but instead directly exposed his thoughts.

"Ah Yin, I know you both respect and hate Bao Zhong right now. You respect him for paving the way for you, but you hate him for doing everything better than you, even the people around you speak up for him. You feel that you will always be inferior to him."

She paused, brushing aside the stray hairs falling across his forehead with her fingertips.

"But do you know that he was willing to pave the way for you not because you owe him anything? It's because he saw your suffering and he also saw your backbone."

If he truly thought you were worthless, he wouldn't have bothered with all this effort towards you.

Zhou Zhengyin stared at her blankly, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he didn't say anything.

Jiang Shuoning withdrew his hand, his gaze calm.

"Ah Yin, jealousy isn't wrong. What's wrong is letting jealousy consume you. You hate him not because he looks down on you, but because he thinks too highly of you and wouldn't let you make a single wrong step."

"The thorn in your heart wasn't planted by him. It's your own feeling that you can never become someone like him."

But if you really want to become like him, there's only one way: don't hate him, learn from him. Learn everything about him—how he treats people, how he handles things, how he manages to do a difficult task perfectly.

You don't have to become him, but you can become who you are meant to be.

Zhou Zhengyin lowered his head and remained silent for a long time. When he raised his head again, the redness in his eyes had not yet faded, but the corners of his mouth suddenly curved into a smile.

Like a window being pushed open a crack from the inside at night, letting in a little light.

"Don't worry, Aunt, I've remembered everything." His voice softened a bit. The Book of Rites says, "Strive for self-improvement and cultivate virtue to carry all things."

I'll learn from him, I'm willing. Whatever he knows, I'll learn it one by one. Anyway, I can understand what's written in the book, and I can learn what he does.

After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment, then looked up at her, his gaze still stubborn and with a hint of tenderness that he couldn't let go:

"But after all that reasoning, Auntie still seems to favor me, doesn't she?"

Jiang Shuoning was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled softly, "You do know how to listen."

Zhou Zhengyin's eyes lit up instantly, and he stared at her intently: "Auntie is especially beautiful when she smiles."

"You're getting more and more unruly." Jiang Shuoning suppressed his smile and turned his face slightly away.

Zhou Zhengyin laughed even more heartily, as if the pent-up frustration in his heart had been blown away by this laugh, and his heart felt much lighter.

Huihe Palace.

Biti hurriedly entered the bedchamber, and when she reached the bedside, her voice was low and urgent:

"My lord, something terrible has happened! Little Duanzi has been sent to the Imperial Prison. That kid probably won't be able to withstand a few rounds of torture. What if he blurts out your name..."

Upon hearing this, Consort Mei abruptly threw off the covers and sat up straight, her face filled with shock:

"How exactly did he handle things? Wasn't he just told to take the person to Jingyi Garden? How did it end up in the Censorate?"

Bi Ti wrung her hands anxiously: "I heard that the Emperor happened to see the guards catching Xiao Duan at the Observatory. It was a little eunuch from the library who saved Jiang Shuoning, which caused the whole thing to escalate."

The Emperor has charged him with murder in West Street. My lord, what should we do now?

"Murder?" Consort Mei was so frightened that she immediately stood up, exclaiming in surprise, "I didn't ask him to commit murder! I just asked him to bring the person here for a few questions, how did it turn out like this?"

As she spoke, she abruptly turned her head, staring intently at Beatrice, her finger almost poking the tip of her nose:

"It's all your fault! You said you'd just send a young, unfamiliar eunuch to bring Jiang Shuoning in for questioning and teach him a lesson, and that would be the end of it. Look at the mess you've made now!"

When Beatrice was pointed at, she shrank back and whispered in defense:

"My lord, I said I would 'invite' him over to ask a few questions, I didn't ask him to gag anyone or drug them... It was Xiao Duan who misunderstood and messed things up, how did it become my fault?"

"You still have the nerve to talk back?" Consort Mei stamped her feet in exasperation. "If it weren't for your idea, would I have even thought of this? Now you're trying to absolve yourself of any responsibility!"

Biti lowered her head, her lips moved slightly, and she muttered softly, "I also said not to use strangers, but Master said strangers are safer..."

Consort Mei was choked for a moment, opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.

She glared at Beatrice, then plopped back down on the edge of the bed, one shoe askew, hugging her knees, her voice panicked and disordered:

"What should I do then... I can't really let the Imperial Prisoners come and arrest me..."

Biti glanced at her discreetly and lowered her voice, "How about... Your Highness goes to pay your respects to the Emperor?"

Consort Mei looked up abruptly, as if she had heard something utterly absurd: "Going to pay respects in the middle of the night? Do you want me to die even faster?"

The two looked at each other for a moment, then simultaneously looked away.

The bedchamber was quiet for a moment, with only the occasional pop of candlelight.

(under)

After a long while, Beatrice suddenly had a flash of inspiration and clapped her hands:

"My lord, shall I go and sound out Eunuch Baozhong?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Mei was first taken aback, then her eyes brightened slightly, but before the light could settle, it dimmed again, revealing a dejected expression.

"Baozhong? He's someone in the Emperor's inner circle. Why would he bother with you? Besides, he and that Jiang Shuoning... never mind, we're not familiar with him. Going to him would be like walking into a trap, wouldn't it?"

Bi Ti hurriedly said, "My lady, although Eunuch Bao Zhong is close to Jiang Shuoning, he is always prudent in his dealings and never gives anyone cause for criticism. I will just take it as me going to collect the things for you and to sound out the Shenxing Division. I won't mention you at all."

Consort Mei hugged her knees and thought for a moment, then clenched the blanket tightly before finally letting go:

"Then go there early tomorrow morning, and when you're trying to get his opinion, don't let him suspect anything."

"Yes, Master. Please rest assured, I will not give myself away."

After speaking, Biti turned around and quickly left the bedchamber.

Consort Mei sat alone on the edge of the bed, both anxious and annoyed, muttering to herself, "What kind of mess is this...?"

The next morning, the air was heavy and the summer heat had spread early, making everything feel hot and dry.

Baozhong stepped out of the house.

Today he changed into a light purple robe, wore a steel fork hat with glass jade pendants on both sides, had handsome features, a tall and straight posture, and his clothes were without a single wrinkle.

"Father-in-law, you look so handsome in this purple outfit."

Little Deer followed behind, smiling as he approached.

Bao Zhong glanced at him and asked as he walked down the steps, "Did you find the jade pendant?"

The little deer followed him like a shadow: "No. But this servant will make you a new one!"

Bao Zhong waved his hand: "Never mind, that jade pendant is old anyway, it's fine if it's lost."

The little deer chuckled, its eyes darting around:

"But it's still missing a tassel. How about we have Sister Shuoning braid one for Father-in-law? She's skillful; she'll definitely make a beautiful one."

Bao Zhong immediately stopped and turned to look at him.

The little deer grinned, its face saying, "Am I not smart?"

Bao Zhong raised his hand and gently patted him on the forehead, his voice tinged with helplessness: "No manners."

Little Deer covered her forehead, chuckled, and chased after him: "So, Grandpa agreed? I'll go tell Sister Shuoning later!"

Bao Zhong didn't turn around, only saying, "If you dare to say that, don't come back to work tonight."

Little Deer muttered, "Fine, I won't go then... I'll just braid one myself, and if it's ugly, it's not my fault..."

As they were talking, Biti stepped into the courtyard of the Imperial Household Department and saw Baozhong walking out. She quickly stepped forward and curtsied.

"This servant greets Eunuch Baozhong."

Little Deer squinted at the newcomer, then turned and whispered in Bao Zhong's ear:

"Father-in-law, it is Miss Biti, who serves Consort Mei."

Bao Zhong paused slightly, his gaze falling on Bi Ti. His expression remained unchanged, and he merely nodded slightly: "Miss Bi Ti, what brings you to the Imperial Household Department?"

Biti smiled and said, "This servant has come to collect some ice."

As she spoke, she took half a step closer to Bao Zhong, her tone as casual as if she were chatting.

"By the way, I heard there was quite a commotion on West Street last night. I wonder what happened. It was pretty scary."

Bao Zhong said in a nonchalant tone, "We don't know much about what happened last night. If Miss Biti really wants to know, she might as well go to the Censorate and ask; the people there know more than we do."

Beatrice smiled, didn't reply, and her gaze lingered briefly on his face:

"You jest, sir. I would never dare to go to the Censorate. I was merely curious after hearing some rumors. If you know anything, I would be grateful if you could enlighten me."

Little Deer suddenly tilted her head, as if she had just remembered something, and interjected with a smile:

"Sister Biting, I think Huihe Palace has already received the ice for this month, right?"

Beatrice's smile faltered slightly, then she feigned ignorance:

"Is that so? Perhaps I misremembered. I'll ask you again when we get back."

She curtsied and said, "Then this servant will not disturb you any longer." She turned and left, her steps quickening slightly from when she arrived.

Little Deer watched her retreating figure until it disappeared into the distance, then muttered to itself:

"Father-in-law, do you think she's here to collect ice, or to gather information?"

Bao Zhong watched Bi Ti's hurried departure, then continued walking towards the courtyard gate, his voice so indifferent it sounded like a casual remark: "What do you think?"