Although she wasn't entirely at ease inside, Zhen Huan managed her facial expressions quite well in front of the emperor.
"The soldiers fight for the country on the battlefield, and the emperor is generous in rewarding them. Everyone in the world can understand the emperor's desire to recruit talented people."
The chubby orange sat on the stool, held Zhen Huan's hand tightly, and sighed, "Among the concubines, only Huan Huan truly understands my heart."
Zhen Huan sat on his lap and gazed at him tenderly.
...........
Before I knew it, a bright moon rose in the sky, like a jade plate with a chip in it, and soon climbed up to the top of the building.
Su Peisheng and Cui Jinxi, who were waiting outside, finally had time to talk.
"My nephew came to Beijing the other day and brought me some local specialties from my hometown. I'll send some over to you tomorrow."
"I haven't been home for many years, and I don't even know what Yongzhou Prefecture is like now."
Cui Jinxi said somewhat sadly, "You're alright, at least you have family who care about you, and your nephew even brought you things from afar."
"If I have the chance in the future, I might be able to go back to my hometown to retire. But my family is all gone, so even if I go back, I have nowhere to go."
In the first few years after she entered the palace, she could still receive letters. When she reached the age to leave the palace, her family could be reunited.
Then suddenly we lost contact. At that time, she wasn't a head maid, but just a lowly palace maid.
Worried that something might be wrong with his family, he was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He took the silver he had saved since entering the palace and wanted to ask someone to go back to his hometown to check on things.
But Yongzhou Prefecture was a thousand miles away from the capital, so it wasn't that easy. He was swindled out of all his money and received no news from home.
She happened to run into Su Peisheng, who helped her out of consideration for their shared hometown, and sent someone to inquire about her situation.
She then learned that Yongzhou Prefecture had experienced a plague once, and many families had been wiped out. Her family was unlucky; they were among the first to fall ill.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to stay in the palace.
Su Peisheng realized he had said the wrong thing and became as anxious as a young boy, "How could there be nowhere to go?"
"My nephew is your nephew. Once we leave the palace, you can live wherever you want, whether it's a house in the capital or an estate in Yongzhou Prefecture!"
Cui Jinxi glared at him; she hadn't agreed yet!
"Who wants to stay at your house? I follow Consort Wan, so naturally I'll be wherever Consort Wan is."
Su Peisheng said, "You know my feelings. Consort Wan and the Emperor, and you and I, aren't we a perfect match?"
Cui Jinxi said, "It's perfect that Consort Wan and the Emperor are from the same hometown."
"It is strictly forbidden for eunuchs and palace maids to engage in such matters in the palace. You are a eunuch serving the Emperor, and I am Consort Wan's trusted maid. If others were to see this, who knows what kind of trouble it would cause!"
"Even if Consort Wan is favored, the Emperor might still become suspicious. What will you, her personal eunuch, do then?"
Su Peisheng's raised head immediately drooped down. As trusted confidants, they could eventually detect even the most secretive things about their master over time.
No one understood the emperor's suspicious nature better than him, and he also knew that Cui Jinxi's words made sense. Once the emperor began to doubt him, his time as a eunuch would be over.
But as long as he hasn't betrayed the Emperor, and given their years of friendship, and based on his understanding of the Emperor, he wouldn't go so far as to take their lives.
Most likely, they would be assigned to work at the imperial palace. It wouldn't be as prestigious as it is now, where they'd be fawned over and pampered, but they'd be happy with their leisurely lives.
Su Peisheng was now truly regretting how he had arranged for Cui Jinxi to be by Consort Wan's side.
If she were assigned to be a maid in a place like the flower room or the Plum Garden, with his influence, who would dare to bully her?
But Su Peisheng felt really unwilling to give up just like that.
Suddenly remembering how Consort Cheng and the Emperor feigned pitifulness, Su Peisheng glanced at Cui Jinxi and made up his mind.
When it comes to matters of the heart, you have to fight for them yourself. Although the wealth I've accumulated over the years isn't much, it depends on who you compare it to.
Even if I am eventually sent to a palace to live out my days, I will never lack money.
Su Peisheng looked pitiful and said with a mournful tone, "Alas, I know your worries are justified. I am a eunuch, and once I'm castrated, I have no future."
"Someone as beautiful and refined as you could be an empress, but she just doesn't have the inclination."
"If you had such a mindset, you would surely be a benefactor."
Cui Jinxi immediately became anxious upon hearing this, "What nonsense are you talking about? The Emperor and Consort Wan are still inside. Aren't you afraid they'll hear us!"
The two fell silent for a moment, listening to the various sounds faintly coming from inside.
One moment it seemed like something was shaking, the next it seemed like something strange had happened, and they were screaming and shouting excitedly.
It's like the ventriloquist from the lobby of a restaurant outside the palace was invited into the palace. Even if he and Cui Jinxi were to shout louder, the people inside wouldn't be able to hear them!
Su Peisheng laughed and said, "The Emperor and Consort Wan are busy traveling through mountains and rivers and discussing philosophy right now. They don't have time to pay attention to what the two of us are saying."
Trekking through mountains and rivers? Sitting and discussing principles? What does this mean?
Cui Jinxi was stunned for a long time before she reacted. Her face burned red, and she wished she could plug her ears; she had never heard such vulgar language before.
How come she never noticed before that Su Peisheng was this kind of person? He clearly lacked the ability, yet he knew so much!
"Dirty!"
"Where did you hear all this from? It's getting more and more outrageous! If the Emperor and the young mistress find out, no amount of heads will be enough to stop them from beheading you."
Su Peisheng said seriously, "Isn't this about you? I wouldn't bother with anyone else."
“These kinds of things happen in every palace, but who has actually gotten into trouble? I’m telling you this: if you’ve figured it out, you can come to me anytime. I always have a way to protect you.”
Su Peisheng's sincerity touched Cui Jinxi. How many people in a lifetime can one truly encounter who are genuinely good to them?
But Cui Jinxi couldn't bring herself to agree, so she turned around and whispered, "Let me think about it."
Upon hearing this, Su Peisheng knew that the matter he had been pondering for so long was finally on the horizon.
He hurriedly pulled out a gold chain he had bought a long time ago from his pocket and stuffed it into Cui Jinxi's hand.
“I knew you would like it when I saw it before. It’s not anything expensive, and it can be hidden in your clothes so no one can see it.”
A pendant the size of a copper coin hangs from the gold chain; it is a jade rabbit surrounded by laurel wreaths.
She was born in the Year of the Rabbit, and Su Peisheng truly knew her preferences. However, the thought of him simply taking it out of his pocket as if he had already calculated that she would agree was still a surprise.
Cui Jinxi, both embarrassed and angry, shoved the chain back into his hand. "I haven't agreed yet, what are you doing!"
Su Peisheng said ingratiatingly, "Don't misunderstand, your birthday is in a few days, this is a gift I prepared for you."
"Keep it, I don't mean anything by it."
After a long conversation, Cui Jinxi reluctantly accepted the gifts.
With the moon high in the sky, couples appeared both inside and outside the house.
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