Chapter 19
Holding Hands

“You little brats, how dare you run wild?” The eunuch from Changxin Palace shouted at the bullies, causing them to scatter and disappear.

The eunuch pursed his lips, muttering about Consort Jiang’s lack of discipline, and then went to help the person on the ground.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” The eunuch was hunched over, his back severely bent. He wore the lowest-rank eunuch’s uniform, which was dirty and old. Even his ankles and wrists were exposed, indicating that no one had provided him with new clothes.

In the palace, the fate of eunuchs varied greatly. If they were fortunate enough to be favored by a master, they could rise to prominence. But if they were clumsy and lazy, their lives were no better than in hell.

Song Wan looked at the eunuch’s exposed hands and feet, feeling pity.

His hands were covered in bruises and scars, with countless small wounds. His palms and the backs of his hands were marked with recurring frostbite scars, indicating that he had suffered for a long time without respite. Such injuries were something she had only seen in medical books before.

“Where do you work, and why are you here?”

The young eunuch replied, “My name is Ji Rong. Today, I was instructed by Eunuch Wang from the Eastern Palace to come to Yanqing Palace to fetch some items from Eunuch Changsheng.”

The eunuch from Changxin Palace explained, “I’ve never heard of him. It seems these little brats lost money gambling and sent him to collect it, which is why he got beaten.”

Seeing the bullied eunuch nod, Song Wan asked Heng Wu to give him two taels of silver. “If you have nowhere to go in the palace, you can come to Changxin Palace and find my aunt.”

His injuries were indeed old and not fake, and his speech was not as smooth as that of ordinary eunuchs. Such a person would struggle in the palace, but Changxin Palace wouldn’t mind having one more cleaning eunuch. For Ji Rong, it might save his life.

Unexpectedly, he shook his head dumbly. “I work in the Eastern Palace.”

“You little brat, why don’t you appreciate kindness and instead choose to suffer?”

Song Wan smiled faintly. “It’s fine, as long as he has a place to stay. Besides, I respect the Crown Prince, and there’s nothing wrong with serving in the Eastern Palace.”

Hearing this, both Ji Rong and the eunuch beside Song Wan were stunned.

The master of the Eastern Palace had been paralyzed for half a year, and the Crown Prince’s position was merely nominal. Even the eunuchs spoke of the Eastern Palace with disdain, not expecting someone of Song Wan’s status to express respect for the Crown Prince.

After all, the Crown Prince had been sent to a neighboring country as a hostage at the age of five and returned as a cripple, having little presence in the palace. It was her aunt’s son, the third prince, who was the hot favorite to become the next Crown Prince.

After speaking, Song Wan turned to leave, but Ji Rong muttered, “Why… respect the Crown Prince?”

Song Wan turned back. “A king is like a father to the people, and the Crown Prince, being the son of the emperor, naturally shares the same blessings. They have protected the country and its people for many years, so I respect the Crown Prince.”

Ji Rong watched Song Wan’s departing figure, feeling puzzled. He returned to the Eastern Palace, which was as desolate as a cold palace. The maids and eunuchs were lazy and undisciplined.

“Where have you been? That thing inside wet the bed again. Hurry up and clean it.” A maid sitting in front of the Eastern Palace’s sleeping quarters scolded him harshly. Jirong woodenly walked inside.

The Crown Prince’s sleeping quarters, draped in bright yellow, reeked of urine. He walked to the golden bed and looked at the emaciated Crown Prince. “You didn’t suffer in vain; someone still remembers your merits.”

Talking about prosperity and longevity is just an excuse. The court’s national strength is weak, and sending a five-year-old child to a neighboring country as a hostage is a great humiliation. The current emperor exchanged the Crown Prince’s life for ten years of peace, but when the Crown Prince returned to the court, he was not greeted with honor and favor but with contempt and disdain.

As long as the Crown Prince lives, the entire court, from the emperor to the ministers, must bear the name of incompetence. As long as the Crown Prince does not die, the unbearable fact that the peace of the world was exchanged for a child’s life cannot be forgotten.

Therefore, no one dares to say that the Crown Prince gave the twelve years of peace, and no one dares to say a word of respect for him.

Ji Rong looked at the Crown Prince, whose eyes were cloudy and who unconsciously made hoarse sounds. Helplessly, he helped him up and skillfully changed the bedding.

The world was waiting for the Crown Prince to die early, but he managed to survive for eight years.

If it weren’t for the fact that the third prince is still young and the eldest prince is truly incapable of taking on great responsibilities, the emperor would have long removed the Crown Prince to eliminate the shame and worry in his heart.

Song Wan’s words today not only shocked Ji Rong but also resonated with that eunuch from Changxin Palace.

“Madam, please do not mention that person again in the future.”

Seeing him point to the east, Song Wan smiled and nodded.

The farce was over, and a few people strolled in the small garden of Yanqing Palace. Until they left, she did not see Consort Jiang.

Seeing Jiang Xingjian come out, Song Wan bowed to Consort Jiang inside the Hundred Flowers Window from a distance.

“Song Wan is still acceptable.” Jiang Man fiddled with her broken nail without expression. The palace maid beside her said, “First Master has admired the Song family girl since childhood. Since Your Highness thinks Song Wan is acceptable, why break up the couple?”

“Why?”

Jiang Man sighed, “Because Song Yunning gave birth to the third prince, the Song family blocked my way.”

“The matter of the old marquis at the border…”

Jiang Man raised her eyebrows, full of ambition, “It doesn’t matter whether my father was harmed by the Song family or not. What matters is that in the future, the third prince and my Shu’er will inevitably compete. The outcome is uncertain when tigers and wolves meet. I cannot let Yi’er be distracted, not even a little bit of softness.”

“Moreover, long pain is better than short pain. If the two are destined not to have a good ending, it is better not to start at all.”

Jiang Man spoke softly as she watched Jiang Xingjian’s back. She only left after seeing him walk out of the hall.

Song Wan noticed that Jiang Xingjian’s expression had become colder after he came out of Yanqing Palace, far less gentle and warm than before. She felt a bit lost and aggrieved.

Jiang Xingjian walked ahead with a somber face, his eyes showing hidden struggle and pain. He knew Song Wan was innocent, but he also understood that she was one with the Song family. Without the Song family’s schemes, there would be no Song Wan’s glory.

Women are sensitive and delicate. Seeing his cold demeanor, Song Wan knew that Consort Jiang must have said something. She looked at Jiang Xingjian and suddenly gathered some courage.

He is her husband; she couldn’t let them remain so cold.

Blushing, Song Wan bit her lip and walked a few steps quickly. She looked at Jiang Xingjian’s hand for a long time before mustering up the courage to gently hold it.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Xingjian’s arm stiffened. After a moment of thought, he shook her off and never looked back.