Perhaps Ling Xiao's words sounded too pitiful, because instead of making Prince Ning back down, he even reached out and touched her face, his voice becoming gentle, "It's alright, I'll take care of all of this, and I won't let you feel wronged."
Upon hearing this, Ling Xiao buried her face in Prince Ning's palm and cried even more bitterly...
·
Having been tricked instead of tricked, Ling Xiao, feeling utterly hopeless, looked utterly dejected when he went to Xuanzhi Hall to take Ahao's pulse. Ahao was puzzled at first, but waited until Ling Xiao finished taking her pulse and withdrew his hand before asking, "What's wrong? You seem to have something on your mind?"
Unable to elaborate, Ling Xiao could only listlessly reply, "I will be strong..." A-Hao suppressed a laugh and asked again, "I think there's nothing wrong with my body now, right? I haven't felt unwell for so many days, so I guess I'm all better."
"Her pulse looks fine." Ling Xiao temporarily put aside her past with Prince Ning, and saw A-Hao smilingly get up to fetch a small black lacquered box with gold trim, which she then handed back to him. Ling Xiao took it, unlocked the copper plate, and saw that it was a box full of gold and silver jewelry. She couldn't help but ask, "What's this for?"
Ah Hao then told her, "It's a thank-you gift. I originally went to the Imperial Hospital to thank you that day, but on my way back I encountered that kind of thing. Fortunately, you helped me escape that disaster. I've troubled you with many things these days."
"Although I shouldn't be so polite, it seems you're short of money. These things may not be of great help, but they should be of some use. If you truly consider me a friend, then please accept them and don't refuse." Ah Hao sat up straight on the edge of the bed and slowly spoke to Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao was an extremely astute person, and after what A-Hao had said to her, she understood his thoughts even better than before. Sensing that A-Hao might be thinking something, Ling Xiao stared at her for a long time, then frowned and advised her, "A-Hao, don't be impulsive." She lowered her voice and said, "It's not that there's no possibility between you and His Majesty."
“It wasn’t an impulse…” Ah Hao smiled at Ling Xiao, not surprised that she had discovered what he was thinking. “His Majesty knows, so it should be nothing. Now that Mother is gone, I have no more worries. His Majesty will surely be alright. If I stay in the palace, I will only cause more trouble. I can’t make things difficult for His Majesty anymore.”
"I can't just stand by and watch His Majesty and the Empress Dowager be at odds without doing anything. No matter why the Empress Dowager took me in back then, seeing things turn out like this, I feel like I've repaid kindness with enmity. It's not that I don't hate her for not tolerating me, but if it weren't for her, I don't know if I would have survived... And what happened that night..."
If it were anyone else doing this, Ling Xiao might have cursed them, but she couldn't think that way about A-Hao. She could understand... Seeing innocent people die because of her, how could she dare to touch that twisted emotion from the emperor again? Even if she had once had expectations, perhaps she felt more fear than anything else.
Since she's managed to survive so many years in the harem, she must not be infinitely tolerant of everything. Ling Xiao, observing her, also felt that A-Hao simply couldn't bring herself to be ruthless towards those who had been kind to her. Besides, human emotions are inherently complex, and there aren't so many black-and-white issues. To love freely and hate decisively—how easy is that?
Thinking back to the playful banter between Ah Hao and Prince Ning at the beginning of the year, if it weren't for the pain and struggle that constantly weighed on her heart, she might have been a lively, lovely, and carefree person. Then, thinking about what was buried deep in her own heart, she decided to help Ah Hao.
Ling Xiao leaned close to A-Hao's ear and whispered something to her. A-Hao listened to Ling Xiao's words, a look of astonishment on her face. She never expected that Ling Xiao would also... A-Hao looked at her and couldn't help but whisper, "Ling Xiao, you have such a bright future ahead of you, why do this?"
"Ah, I have my own difficulties too."
She entered the Imperial Hospital to accomplish something, and now that matter is almost settled, the palace is no longer a place for her to stay.
Imperial Physician Zhou resigned from his position at the Imperial Medical Academy at the beginning of the year, and now that things are settled, he won't be implicated in anything that happens to her. She had already planned this out, and now that there's someone else with the same idea, it doesn't make much difference.
Ling Xiao thought to himself, then smiled at Ahao and said, "It's settled then. Ahao, we'll keep each other company, even if things don't work out... we'll still have each other."
·
Zhang Xin was so worried about not being able to catch Xia Mingzhe cheating that she was biting her handkerchief during the day and the corner of her blanket at night. She'd been racking her brains about it. She'd thought and thought, since she didn't like anyone else anyway, if Xia Mingzhe didn't dislike her, being with him wouldn't be a problem. But, she couldn't accept Xia Mingzhe's drinking and womanizing ways… *sobs*
After much hesitation, Zhang Xin finally made her way to Xuanzhi Hall, hoping to persuade Zhang Yu to allow her to leave the palace to save Xia Mingzhe from his predicament. Outside the hall, she ran into Ling Xiao, who was returning to the Imperial Hospital after examining Ahao's pulse. Zhang Xin greeted her sullenly.
"What's wrong, Your Highness?" Ling Xiao's heart stirred upon seeing Zhang Xin, and he took the initiative to inquire about her condition. Zhang Xin waved her hand without speaking, but Ling Xiao leaned closer and asked, "Is it that you want to leave the palace but are afraid to act recklessly because of what happened at Jiutuo Mountain?"
Ling Xiao's insightful observation immediately piqued Zhang Xin's interest. Always admiring intelligent people, she perked up and pulled Ling Xiao aside, whispering, "Aunt Ling, how did you figure it out? Was I that obvious? Or is there some trick? Teach me..."
"Isn't Your Highness worried about Lord Xia going out to drink and have fun?" Ling Xiao asked, feigning confusion, and then added, "You mentioned this to me before."
"Huh?!" Zhang Xin didn't remember at all, realizing that her mouth was very loose, but after all, she and Ling Xiao had a deep friendship in saving Song Shuhao together, and she felt that maybe it really was true. Zhang Xin immediately confided to Ling Xiao, "But what should I do? My brother the emperor won't let me leave the palace, and I've begged him many times to no avail."
"Do you think saving Lord Xia is more important, or avoiding angering His Majesty?" Ling Xiao asked Zhang Xin seriously. Zhang Xin thought about the question for a moment and felt a headache coming on. Ling Xiao coughed lightly again, "Your Highness, there are some things I don't know whether I should say or not."
“You know…” Zhang Xin, who was worried about not having anyone to help her come up with ideas, was caught off guard by Ling Xiao and pulled her in to analyze the situation properly. Seeing that Zhang Xin had jumped into his trap like an innocent little rabbit, Ling Xiao silently cursed himself before letting Zhang Xin come closer and carefully explaining to her.
As Zhang Xin listened to Ling Xiao's words, she nodded repeatedly, deeply agreeing with every word she said. Finally, with a resolute expression, Zhang Xin grasped Ling Xiao's hand and nodded heavily, "Yes! Aunt Ling is absolutely right. In that case, then we..."
Ling Xiao squeezed Zhang Xin's hand back and whispered in her ear, "At three-quarters past 9 PM the night after tomorrow, we'll meet under that crabapple tree in the southwest corner." Thinking about how she could soon save Xia Mingzhe, Zhang Xin, practically ready to die for her cause, nodded emphatically again, "Okay, whatever you say!"
·
Two days later, as usual, the day agreed upon with Ling Xiao arrived. Ahao got up earlier than usual and waited outside the palace for Zhang Yu to get up, helping him wash and dress, and styling his hair. Afterwards, she helped Zhang Yu put on his court robes, fastened the jade pendant that usually hung at his waist, and then knelt down to smooth out the wrinkles in his skirt before sending him to court.
After Zhang Yu finished court, Ahao served him breakfast. After discussing matters with the ministers, Zhang Yu reviewed memorials in the main hall, and Ahao brewed the recently presented Jingting Green Snow tea and brought it to the hall. At noon, Ahao served Zhang Yu lunch, after which Zhang Yu went to take a nap, and she also returned to her room to rest for a while.
Dinner was prepared personally by A-Hao in the kitchen. She had put effort into choosing the menu, selecting dishes that suited Zhang Yu's taste. After preparing dinner, A-Hao took a bath before serving Zhang Yu his meal. Zhang Yu had also just returned from his bath, and his hair was still a little damp, so A-Hao took a dry towel and gently dried it for him.
Zhang Yu remained seated with his eyes closed in the recliner, not changing position. Even after Ahao finished drying his hair, he didn't react. The palace servants had already brought dinner to his private room. Ahao sensed that Zhang Yu wasn't asleep, so she gently called his name. Zhang Yu responded, and she said again, "Dinner is ready." Zhang Yu then opened his eyes and stood up.
Dinner was more lavish than usual, but Zhang Yu only glanced at it before sitting down at the table. Ahao followed him over; as always, there was no one else in the private room. She sat down next to Zhang Yu, picked up the wine pot, and poured wine for both of them.
"This servant has never had a proper drink with Your Majesty," A-Hao said calmly with a smile. She raised her wine cup again and asked him, "May this servant offer Your Majesty a cup of wine?" Zhang Yu did not move. A-Hao drank her wine in one gulp and then refilled her own cup. Zhang Yu glanced at her, picked up his wine cup, and finally drank it all in one go.
Zhang Yu barely spoke, so A-Hao started talking. She recounted the winter hunting trip in the thatched hut, the snowy Yuanshu Pavilion, the rabbit lanterns of the Lantern Festival, and their kite-drawing together, laughing at Zhang Yu for talking to a child. She drank as she spoke. She hadn't forgotten Lan Fang's matter and had asked Zhang Yu for help. Although Zhang Yu didn't speak, he drank with her frequently and also drank quite a bit.
She didn't know how long they had been talking or drinking, but seeing Zhang Yu slumped over the table, Ah Hao thought that the medicine Ling Xiao had given her was still effective. She put down her wine glass, walked to Zhang Yu, and gently stroked his eyebrows and eyes, kissing his eyes and then his lips, but pulling away after a brief touch.
Emerging from the cubicle, Ah Hao smiled and told Lü Yuan and Lü Chuan that His Majesty was asleep before returning to her own room. Taking only a few valuables and nothing else, she quietly climbed out the window, carefully navigating a path she had prepared beforehand to avoid people, and successfully met up with Ling Xiao.
The northwest corner of the palace was very close to Yongxiang Lane, and the area along the wall was overgrown with weeds. After Lingxiao met Ahao, seeing that no one was around, he led Ahao into the waist-high grass. After walking along the wall for about a hundred steps, they reached a more secluded spot. Lingxiao parted the weeds, revealing a section of wall that was distinctly different from the others.
She groped around in the weeds for a while and found a small iron hammer wrapped tightly in cloth. The small iron hammer didn't make much of a sound when it hit the wall. The wall, which had already been disturbed, was no longer as solid as other parts of it, and Ling Xiao quickly knocked an opening. The two of them then worked together to clear the wall, creating a square cave large enough for a person to crawl through.
Relieved that no one had been alerted, Ling Xiao gestured for A-Hao to go ahead first, and for her to follow. A-Hao nodded, and after Ling Xiao crawled out, she followed him through the same cave. The palace was separated from the outside world by only a wall. Escaping the palace was a serious crime, and being caught and brought back might mean certain death, but Ling Xiao said that at least she would have company.
Ahao didn't know if Zhang Yu would let her leave. If he didn't, her every move was under his watchful eye, and she couldn't hide anything from him; she would inevitably be caught and brought back. After crossing the palace wall, Ahao thought she might be safe, but she saw a faint torchlight moving towards her in the distance.
Ling Xiao noticed this too and turned to look at A-Hao, wanting to discuss what to do with her, but unexpectedly, A-Hao hit him on the head with an iron hammer that Ling Xiao had put down. A-Hao hit hard, and Ling Xiao was knocked unconscious. A-Hao apologized, dragged Ling Xiao back from the cave, and hid him in a secluded corner, concealing him with weeds.
When she emerged from the square cave again, Prince Ning was already approaching with his men. He had assumed Ling Xiao had arranged to leave the palace with Zhang Xin and then escape, but upon arriving at the location, he found only Zhang Xin alone, realizing he had been tricked. Upon receiving Zhang Yu's message, Prince Ning, having found the place, again assumed the others had fled, but to his surprise, Song Shuhao was still there while Ling Xiao was nowhere to be seen.
"Sixth Brother sent me to pick you up and take you back," Prince Ning said to Song Shuhao, keeping his composure.
Ah Hao nodded and said, "Mm."
Prince Ning then asked, "Where is she?"
Ah-hao just frowned and asked, "Who?" Then she shook her head and said, "It's just me, there's no one else."