Chapter 109 (No further information)

The weather gradually turned cloudy at midday, with low-hanging dark clouds, making it hot, humid, and irritating.

With his back injured, Yuan Changsheng could neither lie down nor sit up, so he could only lean against the couch. Soon after, half of his body went numb and he lost sensation.

The courtyard of the main residence was small, with a few poppies planted in a corner of the tiny yard. Yuan Changsheng enjoyed tending to flowers and plants in his spare time, and he especially loved poppies, with their crimson flowers that were as fiery as flames when in full bloom.

After the flowers faded, Yuan Changsheng never felt regret, for they would bloom again, from late spring to midsummer.

For some reason, the poppies this year are still lush and green, without even a single bud.

Yuan Changsheng stood before the window, his right hand resting on his left arm. He had regained feeling on the left side of his body, but his hand remained firmly on it. The room was dimly lit, and his figure seemed to blend into the darkness.

Yang Ying rushed into the room, sweating profusely. He was taken aback to see Yuan Changsheng, who was usually vigilant, standing motionless. He called out to his boss and said in a low voice, "The Imperial City Guard is conducting a thorough investigation of the records of people entering and leaving the palace."

Yuan Changsheng finally turned around. He moved very slowly, shuffling over from the window frame. "I'm investigating."

Yang Ying hastily wiped the sweat from his brow and said anxiously, "Boss, the Imperial City Guard has been making frequent moves lately. The personnel on duty have been reassigned haphazardly; even those on duty don't know where they'll be assigned or who their colleagues will be. Ding Shang is personally overseeing the investigation. He's a former spy, cunning and shrewd; no one dares to interfere. Boss, the Imperial City Guard is ruthless; once they're interrogated, no one can withstand the pressure. Boss, perhaps..."

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he raised his hand to his neck, saying, "Boss, we can't let him live!"

Yuan Changsheng remained silent. If the person was gone, it would be too obvious and would alert the Imperial City Guard.

Yang Ying waited for a while, and seeing Yuan Changsheng deep in thought, he became anxious and stepped forward to advise, "The Imperial City Guard is not what it used to be. After a long period of peace, the soldiers and officers of the Imperial City Guard have become lazy, extorting and hustling, and have become fat and strong, a bunch of useless people. Boss, if the people in the Imperial City Guard commit crimes, Ding Shang will have no face to do so. He will only hide it and try to get away with it."

"The duty system of the Imperial City Guard has changed, so it is no longer the Imperial City Guard it used to be. Consort Hui knows all about the things that happen in and out of the palace, but she hasn't pointed them out. The past of the Imperial City Guard has been glossed over. Ding Shang is an old fox. If he wants to continue leading the Imperial City Guard, he has to show off his achievements in front of Consort Hui."

Yuan Changsheng pondered the recent changes in the imperial court and harem. Not only Ding Shang, but the political climate in the Council of State seemed to have shifted as well. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he said, "Consort Hui is not easily fooled. By checking the register, she is stirring up trouble. She is just waiting for the enemy to jump out on her own."

Yang Ying's expression changed, and he was immediately at a loss. He asked, "Boss, what should we do?"

Yuan Changsheng remained silent for a moment, then gave a few instructions. Yang Ying responded to each instruction, turned around, and hurried out.

Standing for too long aggravated the injury on his back, and Yuan Changsheng was in excruciating pain, his face pale and his clothes soaked with cold sweat. He leaned against the soft cushions, supporting himself on the edge of the couch. He opened his tightly clenched hand; the paper inside was soaked with sweat, the ink had smudged, and the writing was blurred. His palm was also stained with ink.

He had done hard labor since childhood, and his hands were covered with scars. Over the years, the scars had become less noticeable. Ink covered most of them. At first glance, it looked like an ink splash painting.

Staring into his palm, Yuan Changsheng smiled faintly. His smile grew wider and wider until tears streamed down his face, falling into his mouth, salty and bitter.

His life was like the palm of his hand. What the wealthy and powerful considered elegant calligraphy and paintings were, to him, scars.

The few words on the paper were enough for Yuan Changsheng to read. The familiar handwriting, without his conscious thought, was spontaneously and forcefully etched into his mind.

A breeze picked up, causing the gauze curtains on the window frame to billow and sag, rustling softly. The oppressive heat lingered in the room, eventually giving way to the patter of raindrops on the poppy leaves, leaving only a faint, fishy smell of rain in the air.

The curtain was lifted, and Song Gongzheng walked in. Holding an umbrella, her hair and clothes were still mostly wet, and her expression was anxious yet concerned.

"Yang Ying said you have something urgent to attend to. The weather is hot, but has your wound become infected?"

"I'm fine, please sit down." Yuan Changsheng moved up a little, trying to sit up straight.

"Don't move." Song Gongzheng hurriedly raised his hand to persuade her. She breathed a slight sigh of relief, moved the round stool to sit down in front of the bed, and carefully observed Yuan Changsheng's face. Her heart jumped again.

His long eyebrows, reaching his temples, were always furrowed, with a deep crease between them. His once rosy face had lost its color, withered like a fallen flower.

Song Gongzheng involuntarily raised his hand, intending to smooth the area between Song Gongzheng's brows. However, he hesitated halfway up before realizing he shouldn't be so abrupt and hastily withdrew his hand.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Changsheng's hand suddenly touched hers. Song Gongzheng's hand was burning hot, and she was suddenly startled, her mind in turmoil.

"Woman, your clothes are all wet, are you cold?" Yuan Changsheng asked gently.

"Insect Girl" was Song Gongzheng's name. Poor families often gave their daughters names casually, as the village was full of flowers, plants, and insects. Since entering the palace as a lady-in-waiting, very few people addressed her by her given name. Song Gongzheng remembered chatting with him years ago and mentioning her name, but he had never called her by it, always respectfully addressing her by her official title.

Hearing the name she didn't want to mention from his lips, she felt a tenderness and affection lingering in her heart, and her nose stung with helplessness.

"I'm not cold," Song Gongzheng replied, lowering her head, not daring to listen to her trembling voice.

"Be careful not to catch a cold," Yuan Changsheng cautioned, pressing his palm down slightly before withdrawing his hand.

Song Gongzheng hummed in response, his gaze unconsciously following Yuan Changsheng's hand. The warmth of the back of his hand lingered, and his heart felt empty.

"We've both suffered a lot during our years of service, and accumulated a lot of injuries and illnesses."

Yuan Changsheng smiled wryly, his expression forlorn, and said, "I'm truly weary from this injury. If I'm lucky enough to survive, I want to leave the palace. I'll save up some silver, buy a small courtyard, and live out the rest of my life in peace. Insect Girl, what about you? What are your plans? If you leave the palace, we can live next door to each other and keep each other company."

Song Gongzheng's family had long since passed away, and she had nowhere to go after leaving the palace. When elderly female officials and eunuchs were no longer able to perform their duties, the palace would send them to temples, where the court would provide them with money and food.

Temples were not places of tranquility; those initially sent there soon perished. The imperial court later devised a method: sending imperial physicians regularly to examine the monks and providing them with monthly stipends. Gradually, the number of deaths decreased. However, the stipends were often embezzled, leaving them barely clinging to life.

Song Gongzheng was worried about her uncertain future as she grew old, and she often woke up in the middle of the night, unable to sleep. She had reached the pinnacle of her position as a lady-in-waiting, but in reality, she was still a servant.

When leaving the palace, Yuan Changsheng was the only one who accompanied me.

Song Gongzheng looked up at Yuan Changsheng, and for a moment she couldn’t believe it. She asked in a daze, “After we leave the palace, will we live next door to each other?”

Yuan Changsheng said softly, "If you don't want to, I can stay further away."

"I do!" Song Gongzheng said urgently without thinking. As soon as she finished speaking, her face turned bright red, her heart raced, and even breathing became difficult.

“Okay. Let’s set up a courtyard separated by a low wall, and put a gate in the wall so that it’s convenient to come and go.”

Yuan Changsheng smiled and began to explain his plans after leaving the palace, whether to stay in the south or east of the city, and which location would be quieter and more convenient. Song Gongzheng stared intently at Yuan Changsheng, gradually becoming engrossed in his conversation.

“Alas, as long as we can survive, there is hope.” Yuan Changsheng’s words changed, and his expression darkened: “The Imperial City Guard has taken over the Chuigong Hall, and it is difficult for me to even see the Emperor. Consort Hui is all-powerful in the palace, and I have offended her. I can only desperately try to protect myself.”

Yuan Changsheng was flogged by Emperor Yuanming, and Song Gongzheng roughly knew about it. He knew that Yuan Changsheng had fallen out of favor with the emperor and must have made a serious mistake.

Song Gongzheng was stunned when she remembered the message Yuan Changsheng had entrusted to her to deliver. She asked, "Gouqi and Shuilian left the palace together that day. Gouqi delivered the message to Minister Zhao. Is there any danger?"

Yuan Changsheng nodded and said, "The Imperial City Guard is checking the list of palace officials, and it is very likely that they will find them."

Palace rules dictate that anyone leaving the palace on official business must travel in a group. Shui Lian, having only recently entered the palace, was clumsy and honest, and thus the hardest and dirtiest tasks in the Palace Administration Department were assigned to her. Gou Qi, however, was a confidante of Palace Attendant Song, who had been loyal to her for years, treating her with the respect due to an elder sister. Shui Lian was unaware of the mission to deliver messages; Palace Attendant Song had only entrusted it to Gou Qi.

If the investigation leads to Gouqi Shuilian, Gouqi will definitely implicate her. At that point, even if she survives by sheer luck, she'll probably be severely injured.

The Palace Attendant often punished palace maids who made mistakes, and Song Gongzheng knew exactly what to do. But the thought of goji berries made her feel incredibly sad.

Yuan Changsheng sighed softly and said, "Chongniang, I'm sorry. I've implicated you and put you in a difficult position. If Gouqi and the others are found out, just blame it on me."

“How could I possibly pin this on you?” Song Gongzheng immediately replied.

I remember our first meeting in the Imperial Garden. He was standing under a magnolia tree, talking to Huang Liang. He noticed her approaching, turned his head to look at her, a nonchalant smile on his face. The magnolia blossoms falling on his shoulder seemed like mud compared to his handsome face.

From that moment on, he remained in her heart and never left.

The palace was filled with beauties, and she was merely an ordinary person. She tried her best to hide her feelings, and was content with just a few words of laughter and conversation with him.

She was willing to go through fire and water for him.

Song Gongzheng composed himself and said, "We can't keep the wolfberry and water lily here. There's no time to lose, I'll go back now."

Yuan Changsheng gazed quietly at Song Gongzheng, reached out and grasped her wrist, gently admonishing, "Be careful."

Song Gongzheng's heart pounded uncontrollably. She pursed her lips, her joy barely concealed in her eyes and brows. "Okay. Take good care of yourself and I'll come see you again later."

The rain was falling heavily, and rumbling thunder echoed. A flash of lightning illuminated the dimly lit room.

Song Gongzheng looked back reluctantly. Her face was flushed, and the longing in her eyes, the emotions she was trying so hard to suppress, flickered like lightning.

The swaying curtain stopped moving, and Song Gongzheng finally left. Yuan Changsheng opened his left hand, which had been kept by his side the whole time. The crumpled paper in his palm had become torn, but he held it tightly.

Song Gongzheng thought he had hidden his thoughts well, but Yuan Changsheng had seen through him from the first time they met.

His thoughts were no different from those of Consort Liu.

He never took Song Gongzheng's feelings seriously, so what about her?

But just like he did with Song Gongzheng, he ruthlessly exploited her, coldly watching her fly towards the fire like a moth to a flame.

Chuigong Hall.

Emperor Yuanming found the weather too hot and humid, so Jiang Ling ordered Huang Liang to lead five eunuchs to help him wash from head to toe. After changing into dry clothes, they came out to find an ice chest set up in the room, making it cool and pleasant.

Lying comfortably in bed, Emperor Yuanming finally calmed down. Jiang Ling had something on her mind and was about to return to her room when Emperor Yuanming stopped her, complaining, "Where are you going? I haven't seen you all day. You get impatient after spending a little time with me."

"His Majesty needs to deal with the memorials, so I shouldn't stay," Jiang Ling said impatiently, spouting a blatant lie.

Emperor Yuanming snorted, glanced at the pile of memorials in the box, his mind racing, and said, "My eyes hurt from reading for so long. You read them for me, and I will review them."

Jiang Ling's eyes widened in surprise, then she was overjoyed. She feigned coyness and said, "I'll only read a few books; Your Majesty shouldn't get tired."

Emperor Yuanming felt comfortable and his mood improved greatly. He laughed and said, "Alright, alright, read it quickly."

Jiang Ling picked up a memorial and opened it. Memorials had a fixed format, with a very formal and literary style at the beginning and end. She read it haltingly, which amused Emperor Yuanming.

After reading five books, Jiang Ling had a general idea of ​​what to read, so he began to be picky. He rummaged through the box, quickly scanning each one, and said, "I'll find a shorter one to read."

Emperor Yuanming feigned anger and said, "I can tell you're just trying to shirk your responsibilities."

Jiang Ling spent a long time choosing before starting to read. He deliberately misread two words, and Emperor Yuanming looked puzzled. He took the document, glanced at it, and burst out laughing; "Truly ignorant and incompetent."

After laughing, Emperor Yuanming couldn't resist teaching Jiang Ling. First, he corrected his pronunciation, then explained the meaning of memorials, which government office the official who submitted them came from, and so on.

Jiang Ling listened for a while. Emperor Yuanming's review of memorials was very simple: memorials he approved were reviewed and returned; memorials he ignored were not sent out; and important memorials were kept for discussion with the court officials.

As dusk fell, Huang Liang entered the room to light the lamps. He stepped forward and whispered to Jiang Ling, "Your Majesty, the eldest princess has come to pay her respects to the Emperor. Would Your Majesty like her to come in?"

When Emperor Yuanming saw Huang Liang and Jiang Ling talking in secret, he immediately frowned and said, "It's raining outside and it's late. Why do you still have something to ask us for?"

Xiao Jiatong's arrival must be related to her meeting with Consort Liu. Jiang Ling was not afraid of her coming, but only afraid that she would not come, so he told her about Xiao Jiatong's visit, "Your Majesty, the eldest princess is filial, let Huang Liang go and invite her in."

After Xiao Jiatang's last visit, Emperor Yuanming disliked her. However, considering that she was his own daughter, Emperor Yuanming reluctantly agreed.

Huang Liang went out as ordered, and soon returned with Xiao Jiatang, who had her head bowed, into the house.

Jiang Ling glanced over casually and noticed that Xiao Jiatang seemed a little too respectful, his movements stiff and strange.

After paying his respects, Xiao Jiatang asked, "Where are A-Zan and A-Lang? I haven't seen them for quite some time. Are they alright?"