I heard the Empress Dowager talking about me, so I strained my ears even more.
"Your Majesty, that Lady Jue is ungrateful, but without her, the Emperor would definitely... and then the Prime Minister would not have been able to ascend the throne!" The voice was somewhat hurried.
The Empress Dowager secretly clenched her hands, "I know this."
"Empress Dowager, or else kill her!"
"No, without a perfect plan, we might offend Young Master Jue. I don't want to suffer a loss later. Go and..."
"Zhe"
Seeing that the old woman was about to come out, I quickly hid myself even more discreetly in the bushes.
After wandering around for a while, I finally arrived at the Empress Dowager's palace. Thinking about what I had just heard, I roughly guessed the current situation. When I first entered the palace, I had asked Xiao Wu about the Emperor, who wasn't the Empress Dowager's biological son. So, if that's the case, then the Empress Dowager is planning to usurp the throne. Jue is the ally they've been looking for, but now that Jue is gone, their target is me. And what about Xingyi? If I'm not mistaken, Xingyi invited Jue to the palace this time. It seems Xingyi also needs Jue's help, which is why they don't dare to do anything to me. What is the Empress Dowager's next plan? Is she going to kill me, or please me?
Ah! There are so many things to do in the palace! My head is about to explode from thinking about it.
In short, as long as you don't try anything with me, I don't care what you do or how many people die. But if you do try anything with me, I won't let you off the hook. Right now, that matter is more important. Let's put all this aside for now.
Chapter Forty-Three
Because I was thinking about the problem, and I didn't know where I was, I painstakingly thought about the path I had walked, and as a result, my mind went blank.
Frustrated, I squatted down and drew circles on the ground, feeling like crying. How did I get lost again?
"What's wrong?" A clear voice rang out above my head.
I jumped up, and accidentally bumped into her face with too much force.
I looked at her awkwardly. She was wearing a palace maid's dress, her petite body wrapped in pale yellow clothes. She looked like a little girl of 12 or 13 years old.
"Um, are you alright?" He was flustered and didn't know what to do, so he could only look at her with shame.
"It's okay," she said, touching the spot where she had been bumped and giving me a sweet smile.
Ah, what a good person! No, she is my savior, the savior who rescued me from my troubles!
I excitedly grabbed her hand, my eyes shining as I looked at her. "Do you know how to get to the Jade Sound Palace?"
"Uh, I know," she replied woodenly, clearly taken aback by my enthusiasm.
"Can you take me there?" I asked her eagerly.
"Yes, are you a palace maid from the Jade Sound Palace?" she asked as she led me along.
Why does everyone think I'm a palace maid?! Do I really lack the air of a noblewoman? I think I'm quite alright!
Looking down at his clothes, which he had hastily put on that morning, he certainly didn't look like someone of status.
"Mmm," I replied casually, following her closely, not thinking about anything else, afraid of losing her again.
"That's great!" she said, looking at me with longing.
"Ah, what?" I didn't know that serving in the Jade Sound Palace was a good thing. (Author's note: Because you're not a servant. Zi Xue: That's true.)
"I heard that Lady Jue treats the palace maids very well," she said, looking at me as if seeking confirmation.
"Well, it's alright," I scratched my head and looked at her with an embarrassed smile. It turns out that I have such a good image in the eyes of the palace maids. I feel a little ashamed.
"arrive"
Looking up at the familiar plaque that I've lived here for so many days, I was speechless. Why, why, after living here for so many days, do I still not recognize this road? Damn it, I'm sure this palace maid has never been here before, so how does she know it so well?
"Miss, where have you been? Why did it take you so long?" Xiao Wu ran out and scolded me.
"Miss?" The palace maid looked at me with a puzzled expression.
A moment later, she knelt down in terror, slapping her own hands and crying, "This servant deserves to die! This servant deserves to die! I didn't know you were Madam Jue! Madam, please spare my life!"
All the palace maids in this palace like to do this. I didn't say anything, they just kept torturing themselves. I'm so dizzy!
"Get up, it's alright," I bent down to help her up, smiling at her.
"Madam Xie, this servant takes her leave." She hurriedly bowed to me and then ran unsteadily towards the door of the Jade Sound Palace.
Who said I was kind to the palace maid? Who said I wasn't that scary? The moment this palace maid found out who I am, she ran away faster than anyone else. Hey, hey, I'm not someone who eats people, is it really necessary?
"Miss, the master is back," Xiao Wu's voice came from behind me.
"Oh," she replied listlessly, and walked back into the house. But she stopped, her eyes widening as she turned to look at Xiao Wu. "Who did you say came back?"
Xiao Wu hadn't left her spot since, looking at me with a knowing expression, and said with a soft sigh, "Miss, Master is back."
Xiao Wu saw that the young lady's originally gloomy face blossomed into a smile as beautiful as a flower, but she looked a bit idiotic, staring blankly at me.
I asked, a mix of excitement and nervousness, "Where is he now?"
"Yuanhe Hall"
As soon as Xiaowu finished speaking, I ran outside and returned to her in a moment, fidgeting and saying, "Um, Xiaowu, how do I get to Yuanhe Hall?"
"I knew it," Xiao Wu slapped her forehead, looking helpless.
Xiao Wu kept leading me around, which confused me completely. I kept muttering, "Xiao Wu, are we there yet?"
"Soon"
"Has Xiao Wu arrived yet?"
"Just a little longer"
"Why hasn't Xiao Wu arrived yet?"
Xiao Wu exploded, "Miss, you keep asking questions, keep asking questions, isn't that enough?!"
I looked at her innocently, my hands clasped together, and pouted, saying, "Xiao Wu, why are you angry? It's been a long time!"
Seeing that Xiao Wu was about to vomit blood, I kindly decided not to upset her anymore.
Seeing that I knew I was wrong and could correct my mistakes, Xiao Wu didn't say anything, and continued walking with me while holding her breath.
How did I end up with such a girl? Not only is she dull and clumsy, but she also acts like it's perfectly normal when she does something wrong. I'm so angry with her. But maybe it's precisely because of her innocent appearance that I want to get close to her. Even when she's smart, she's still just a child!
I didn't have time to brake and crashed headfirst into Xiaowu's back. I winced in pain and complained, "Xiaowu, why did you stop suddenly? It hurts!"
"Miss, we've arrived."
"Ah, oh, be careful next time." I wasn't listening carefully to Xiao Wu's words. Wait, what did Xiao Wu say? 'We're here'?
"Ah, Xiao Wu, why didn't you remind me?" I stomped my foot and yelled.
“Miss, I already told you,” she said casually, glancing at me sideways.
"But.."
Before I could finish speaking, Xiaowu added, "Miss, it's time to go in."
"Go in?" I pondered, then tapped my forehead. "Right, I have to go in."
Looking at Zixue like this, Xiaowu thought to herself: How come Miss is still so confused after being in this palace for so long? I really suspect that she will be laughing and joking while counting money for someone who has been deceived.
I stepped past Xiao Wu and looked at the large, dark red door before me, hesitant to open it. How long had it been since I'd seen Jue? If I counted carefully, it must have been about half a month. I really didn't know what to say if I went in. "Jue, long time no see," "Jue, I missed you so much," or "Jue, why did you keep me waiting so long?"
I shook my head. Ugh! So annoying! Oh well, I'll just go inside and say whatever comes to mind! I can't come up with anything right now no matter how hard I try! I'll just let things take their course!
I don't know if, while I was thinking, the palace maids and eunuchs around me saw a madwoman with expressive features, clutching her hair. At that moment, they thought, 'Madam Jue has gone mad,' while Xiao Wu was sweating profusely, looking at the oblivious guy in front of her. If I had seen their expressions, I probably would have gone in already.
With a creak, I opened the old door, stepped inside, and looked up. I froze, not even managing to step my other foot in.
What's going on? Can anyone tell me?
Chapter Forty-Four
I was stunned, staring at the scene before me, my mind blank, all the words I had prepared vanished.
From my angle, I could see that Jie'er was shyly nestled in Jue's arms, with Jue holding her tightly in his arms. Xingyi looked on with an air of detached amusement, propping his chin up as he watched us from the upper hall.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped in with my other foot, opened my eyes, and never imagined that I could be so calm in the face of such a sight.
"Can anyone tell me what's going on here?" I never expected that the first thing I would ask upon entering this palace would be this question. In this palace, I have encountered far too many things that are beyond my comprehension!
"Xue'er" immediately let go of Jie'er's hand, her eyes full of tenderness. After so many days apart, all her feelings were condensed into a single call.
"Sister, you've misunderstood," she said, standing up straight and explaining urgently, as if what I saw was exactly what she meant.
"No, I didn't misunderstand," I said with a comforting smile. But when I saw Jue's eyes, I knew things weren't as I thought. To love someone is to learn to trust them first. If love loses trust, then a rift will appear between lovers. I can't leave Jue heartbroken like the women in novels, because then Jue and I will never be able to go back. That will become a chasm between us.
As I ran, a gentle breeze lifted my skirt, sending it fluttering like a butterfly. I threw myself into Jue's arms, nuzzling my head against his chest, tears welling in my eyes. "Jue, you're back."
No sweet words, no need to say anything, this moment of meeting is the most important thing.
"Lady Jue and Young Master Jue are truly the envy of everyone. I am so happy for you both," Xingyi interrupted my gaze with Jue, her tone flippant.
I glared at him, then leaned closer to Jue in a softer voice, pulled Jue to nod to Xingyi, and walked out.
"Jie'er, let's go!" Jie'er, who had been lost in thought with her head down, trembled when I called her, and looked up at me.
Let's go!
"kindness"
Jie'er followed me out of the Yuanhe Hall. I didn't ask Jie'er why she was there, nor did I ask what her behavior meant. Some things are better left unsaid; asking will only cause more trouble.
Stepping on the cobblestones, basking in the warm sunshine, I closed my eyes and felt the warmth all around me; my breath was filled with an unprecedented ease.
"Jue" belatedly looked at Jue's slightly tired face.
He patted my head, without smiling, but I could feel his tenderness.
"You're tired, go and rest!" I touched Jue's face. What an absolutely beautiful face it was, a gift from heaven. This captivating face held a loneliness and solitude unlike anyone else's. Jue must be in so much pain. I wanted to erase the loneliness in his eyes and bring him some joy.
"It's okay," she said, pulling my hand down and gently rubbing it in hers.
"Go on, go to sleep, or I won't talk to you anymore," she pouted and turned her head away.
"Hmm," she said, her eyes filled with a smile.
"Xiao Wu, take Jue to sleep," I instructed Xiao Wu as I turned around.