Chapter 2

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Author: Xiao Yao

Chapter 1 – Title – Chapter 3

It was as if nothing had changed, Su-gonggong was exactly the same as he was in Hui Ming’s distant memory, he was wearing a neat dark scarlet inner official’s robe, embroidered with the sixth-grade auspicious cloud pattern on the hem, and other than the plain ruyi1 knot that were commonly hung on the belt of a person serving inside the palace there were no other accessories on his body, he also had his black hat and boots, and along with the scarlet robes, he looked particularly fine, with red lips and white teeth. Please read at insidethemirror. DO NOT REPOST.

Although he was a court eunuch, Su-gonggong was just twenty years old, his delicate and handsome facial features were also rare in the palace, in addition, his expression often looked cold, he stood straight at the waist without any appearance of humbly bending and scraping to curry favor, unlike a servant who served people, but somewhat more like the uncontaminated scholars inside the Imperial Academy, bright and clear like the cold moon and standing upright like a lone pine.

Such a talented appearance coupled with his status of being the chief steward, no matter which, there was no difficulty in finding a court lady that would want to associate with him, not to mention, Su-gonggong did not lack for anything.

It’s no wonder that many people in the palace felt that she was shameless, so for this reason towards Su-gonggong the one who took the initiative to post her there, the worry and grievance she showed was said to be her striking an attitude, plainly provoking a lot of contempt, which made her even more disgusted and angry at Su Jin.

In fact, not to mention talent and appearance, just relying on the status of being an imperial steward, if Su-gonggong really intended to force her to do something like that, how could she refuse?

Thinking about it now, in her previous life at this moment, Su-gonggong had never mentioned to her about wanting to be a couple, it was clearly a kindness and a gentleman’s sense of helping another, but in the end, how self-righteous she was in her previous life and thought that the orchids and jade trees2 that was Su-gonggong fell in love with her, a little palace maid with a plain appearance and temperament?

All the worries and fears she had in her last life, every precaution she had against Su-gonggong, apart from being ungrateful, it was only herself imagining that she was fancied by him.

“Why haven’t you changed your clothes yet? Is your body indisposed?” Su Jin only glanced at Hui Ming after entering the room, then he lowered his eyes to avoid suspicion, nor did he step closer to her, he just stood at the threshold and opened his mouth, perhaps to try to conceal the peculiar sharp tone of a eunuch, he constrained it under a slight dullness, but it seemed more like a faint cold flute.

When asked by Su Jin, Hui Ming was taken aback, she suppressed the shame in her heart and was a little speechless for a while, after all, even without the experience of life and death she had in the previous life, it would be difficult to offset the fact that she and Su Jin was not acquainted, in fact, if it weren’t for this kind of dying and being reborn, Hui Ming at this moment should’ve been filled with fear and wary of Su Jin.

It’s just that things have changed and a person would always change, not to mention that she had gone through life and death.

Don’t say that Song Hui Ming had already earlier known that Su Jin was just giving her a bit of respect since it was the first time that she would be serving in front of the emperor, without any lewdness or evil thoughts, and it was just due to her ignorance, also “Song-gugu” who could go through three dynasties in the harem would not be messed up under the kind of matter that’s just like the current situation. The reason for her hesitation was that for the former “Hui-gugu”, Su-gonggong had died many years ago and only existed in her memories and imagination, now to suddenly see Su Jin who was alive and even had a bit of youthfulness, she was be at a loss on how to face this for a while.

Ever since she was transferred to serve in front of the emperor, whenever the two met in private, Hui Ming would always be on guard. Su Jin was not surprised by Hui Ming’s reaction, so he stopped asking more when he saw this and inadvertently used his right hand to stroke the ruyi pendant tied around his waist, then slowly said, “If you feel uncomfortable, lie down and rest, I will find a female doctor to see you, don’t worry about your errands, let Qiu Ya take care of it for you for a few days.”

“No need, I’m fine.” After hearing the words that he would look for a female doctor, Hui Ming, who was still in a daze, immediately shook her head and declined, there were many rules in the palace, not to mention she wasn’t sick, so why add these troubles. Hui Ming explained again: “It’s just that I was being indolent today, so I got up late.”

Su Jin obviously didn’t believe this statement, he silently glanced at her and his sight met Hui Ming’s gaze.

In the previous life, Hui Ming only hated and feared Su-gonggong, so when they were alone she deliberately dodged and never dared to look at him, even when he was talking she would turn her head aside to show her disgust, suddenly meeting each other’s gaze the two of them were both taken aback, Hui Ming didn’t know about Su Jin but the first thought that came to her mind was that Su-gonggong turned out to have a pair of peach blossom eyes with a clear look, and the corners of his eyes were slightly raised, that when looking at the person like this, his originally cold countenance would for no reason appear a bit romantic and affectionate.

The two of them stared at each other for a few breaths of time, but Su Jin couldn’t help but shift his gaze to the brazier in the room, he clenched the ruyi knot at his waist and suddenly said, “Even so, you rest first, I, I will ask Yuan Bao to send some charcoal fire.”

Before he could finish his words, Su Jin was slightly frowning, not so much in anger, but more in annoyance.

When Hui Ming looked at him her heart was inexplicably relaxed and even the panic she felt regarding her rebirth after opening her eyes seemed to have become calmer, then at the same time, also wondered why she was clearly such a person, he was obviously kind to her, so why did she always fear him and only until Su Jin died that she gradually began to regret it?

Thinking of this, Hui Ming secretly shook her head, but didn’t decline then bent her body in address and replied: “Then this one thanks Su-gonggong very much.”

When Su Jin heard these words, his hand holding the ruyi knot slowly loosened, but he still stood stiffly from his waist, this time he didn’t continue to say anything and just slightly moved his jaw, then quickly said “no need” before turning around and walking out.

Hui Ming stared stunned at the lightly trembling curtain door and when she was about to get up, heard a low voice come from outside the room: “I’ll come to see you later.”

Su-gonggong came suddenly and went in a hurry, the deep voice outside the curtain still rang in Hui Ming’s ear, but there was no trace of Su-gonggong outside the door.

It wasn’t until Su Jin had already left for a while that Hui Ming became completely awake.

She actually came back! Then Hui Ming sighed, she touched her throat showing some bitterness, so what about coming back? It’s not enough to spend her whole lifetime in the inner palace, but she had to do it again and reclaim the three-foot white silk? Please read at insidethemirror. DO NOT REPOST.

Not only to find something to calm her mind, but since it was also her habit for more than ten years, so after she recovered, Hui Ming didn’t sit on it anymore, she got up and started to wash her face with clean water, she didn’t have to do anything worthwhile, so she just wore the old clothes she brought with her when she was still in the Bureau of Administration, she also didn’t do her hair in a bun, and just braided it in a slanted manner then tied it with a plush string, leaving an inch-long braid at the end, it was simple and light, a style often worn by the little maids in the palace, and since then Hui Ming really hadn’t combed it for many years.

After tidying up she looked at herself in the mirror, this was her brightest years, although it didn’t have any make up on, it was much better than the face she had after more than ten years of grinding in the palace in the previous life, Hui Ming couldn’t help feel much better just by looking at herself, anyway, it was still early, she temporarily put aside the things pressing on her heart, twisted a cloth and wiped the room carefully.

In the palace, more than ten female servants were squeezed in the rear court rooms along the corridor, so the place wasn’t that large, and after Hui Ming cleaned the room Qiu Ya happened to reenter carrying their food, when she saw Hui Ming’s actions, she repeatedly stopped her and said, “Ei, isn’t it uncomfortable, why are you still working? Steward Su has already ordered me, tomorrow I will cover for you, you just keep getting better.”

Qiu Ya spoke very diligently, but her feet didn’t move, with a more discerning eyes you could see that Qiu Ya’s smile was only vainly floating on her face, but there was blatant disgust and impatience in her eyes.

This was also inevitable, they were all court ladies of the same level, and Qiu Ya had served much longer in front of the emperor, so why would she be willing to help others for no reason? But she was afraid of Steward Su so she had no choice but to be polite.

As a matter of fact, for running errands inside the imperial palace, who was not good enough? If she didn’t even understand this and really loafed off, she really hasn’t lived in this palace for a lifetime, not to mention that Hui Ming was not originally an arrogant person.

Hui Ming hurriedly let go of the broom and took the food box Qiu Ya brought over, then she shook her head and smiled: “It’s just my being lazy and slept a little longer today, where can I not perform my duty anymore, don’t frighten me by spreading outside that I’m very sick, such inauspicious thing would make me have to move away, this is such good work, I want to do it more!”

Although she and Qiu Ya had just been acquainted with each other for the first time, the two of them have been together for nearly two years in her previous life and had decades of experience, so Hui Ming brought some close familiarity when she spoke, while talking she took out the food from the box and put them on the table then asked, “What do you want to eat this afternoon? I will bring back more in the afternoon so when you come back after your shift, it would be hot and delicious on the brazier.”

Although they were all court ladies serving in front of the emperor, the 16 female servants had their own divisions of labor, for example, Hui Ming and Qiu Ya handled the ornaments, they only attended to the crown hairpins, and ornamental thumb rings for His Majesty, even also those beads on the crown that he wore when he attended court, this kind of work was respectable and dignified, they were usually on duty when His Majesty changed his clothes. His Majesty had been seriously ill and had been bedridden for many days, so naturally, these encumbrances weren’t necessary, and Hui Ming and Qiu Ya just took turns to wait on the side hall, just in case.

The two shared the same position and lived in the same room, so it stood to reason that if she was sensible, since Qiu Ya took her shift in the morning, she should return the food back so that the other person could save some time on the way, not to mention that in fact, Qiu Ya was still a senior, and Hui Ming should make more of an initiative.

It’s just that in the previous life Hui Ming was suddenly transferred by Su Jin to such an important task as serving in front of the emperor, and she heard others say something about sharing food3, that every day she was only filled with worry and fear, and naturally she did not care about being courteous with Qiu Ya, after Qiu Ya showed her good intention several times, and saw that she didn’t appreciate her she was a little bit displeased, although she didn’t make things difficult for the sake of Su-gonggong’s face, she didn’t care about being on friendly terms with the other person, therefore, the relationship between the two of them until the end was only mediocre.

Seeing Hui Ming being sensible, Qiu Ya’s smile after she spoke became naturally more real, and she also stepped forward to help arrange the tableware then asked her about what food she preferred to eat, after a few more chatters, he also mentioned a few words of advice and taboos to avoid when performing ones duty, which many things weren’t pointed out to Hui Ming in her previous life, and only easily understood after stumbling, but she didn’t expect that she could have instinctively be saved these many ups and downs. Hui Ming heaved a sigh, but also nicely thanked her.

Qiu Ya had to go back and wait after eating the morning meal, so she just swallowed half a vegetarian fried fillet with butter tea and hurried away, leaving Hui Ming to slowly eat, and tidy away the bowls and chopsticks, there was nothing to do for a while, so she flipped through the memories of her previous life and compared them to the current situation one by one. Please read at insidethemirror. DO NOT REPOST.

TRANSLATOR’S NOTES:

1. 如意: wishful ↩

2. 芝兰玉树: someone with splendid future prospects ↩

3. 对食: There are two explanations: the first refers to the so-called homosexuality among women in the palace, those palace ladies who are not favored by the emperor have intercourse with other women because they are not allowed contact with the opposite sex deep in the palace; Second, it also refers to the marriage between the palace maids and eunuchs. There are many eunuchs and maids in the palace, comforting each other because of their loneliness. They fall in love privately, meaning that they can’t sleep together because of a eunuch’s predisposition, but they eat together and comfort each other’s loneliness. ↩

If there are any mistakes, please do not hesitate to point it out.

Chapter 1 – Title – Chapter 3

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