Jinshu wanted to say that when she went to the capital garrison to see Li Chengzu off to duty, she had once seen a courtyard near there. That courtyard was full of elderly people with ashen complexions and no one to care for them.

After inquiring for a long time, she learned that living there were all servants who had left the palace.

Servants were different from palace maids. Palace maids over twenty-five or who had served ten years in the palace could leave to marry outside, but servants, due to their special status, could only be confined within these red walls and yellow tiles for their entire lives.

Often the palace couldn’t afford to bear so many expenses. When they grew old, they would mostly be sent outside the palace to fend for themselves.

The fates of those servants were mostly miserable. Not only did no one care for them, but they were also frequently bullied by people who came to their doors.

She had witnessed this several times. Though her heart couldn’t bear it, she was powerless to help.

She didn’t know why, but thinking about Wan Xiao’s future—that he might perhaps also end up in the same circumstances—Jinshu felt her heart couldn’t bear it.

She wanted to say that if Wan Xiao had no descendants in the future, when he grew old, perhaps her children could help support him more.

But just as these words reached her lips, Jinshu felt it was very inappropriate.

His status was so high that under no circumstances should he end up in such a fate. If she said these words, people would only think they were flattering and ingratiating words.

After thinking, Jinshu raised a smile: “What this commoner woman wanted to say to Director Wan is that this commoner woman has changed her name. If we meet again next time, Director Wan can call this commoner woman Tao Qian.”

Wan Xiao was slightly stunned. Only after a long while did he smile faintly: “Tao Qian.”

“Yes.”

Jinshu grinned foolishly, then raised her hand and waved at Wan Xiao: “Director Wan, you’re a distinguished person with many affairs. You needn’t escort me further. This commoner woman can walk the road ahead by herself. Please return quickly.”

“Alright.”

Wan Xiao nodded, turned around, and strode back toward the palace interior.

Jinshu watched his back with a sweet smile, then also turned to leave the palace.

Hearing that person’s footsteps gradually fade away, Wan Xiao stopped and stood in place for a long time.

But from beginning to end, he never looked back.

“Brother Chengzu.”

Walking out of the palace gate, Jinshu saw Li Chengzu sitting on a wooden cart, his head covered with light perspiration.

His temperament was taciturn and honest. Having said he would wait for her in a certain place, he wouldn’t move half an inch. Jinshu saw his cheeks were flushed red from the sun and couldn’t help but feel distressed.

“Why didn’t you find a shady place to wait for me?”

Li Chengzu said: “I was afraid you’d come out of the palace and not see me. Get on. I’ll push you home.”

“No need. I can walk myself.”

Li Chengzu shook his head: “Sit. You’re with child, and the palace has many noble people. This half day, you surely had no place to rest.”

Pulling the coarse hemp cushion on the wooden cart before Jinshu, Li Chengzu half-pulled, half-supported her onto the cart.

Under the scorching sun, the man pushing the wooden cart was sunburned until his face was completely purple-red. Jinshu felt extremely distressed and several times wanted to get down from the cart, but was stopped by Li Chengzu each time.

He lowered his head and looked at Jinshu, whose eyes were full of distress, smiling as he wiped sweat with his sleeve.

This was his wife and child. He never felt they were a burden.

In the past he had no name and suffered much bullying. Now that he could, through heaven’s grace, live an ordinary life, it was enough to make him grateful to tears.

Though his name was false, the current life was real—this was enough.

Raising his hand to pass the large lotus leaf on the cart to Jinshu, Li Chengzu said: “Cover yourself a bit. The sun is strong.”

“I’ll also cover Brother Chengzu a bit.”

Holding that lotus leaf high and placing it between them, even though it didn’t bring shade to either person, the young couple still felt very comfortable.

“By the way, Brother Chengzu, today when I entered the palace I saw Director Wan. He told me not to enter the palace again in the future to see Her Ladyship. Why is this?”

“I know he means well for me, but I can’t figure out the reasoning.”

Li Chengzu lowered his head to look at Jinshu, whose eyes were full of innocence, and smiled: “Your status is different now. If you enter the palace to see noble people, many will think you’re seeking something.”

“Moreover, if relatives and friends around you learn that you have this friendship with the current Empress, it will only bring harm and no benefit.”

Their status was lowly. They absolutely couldn’t protect this grace. If people knew, it would only add troubles.

Jinshu thought for a moment and understood the reasoning.

“I understand now. From now on I won’t enter the palace again.”

After thinking, Jinshu said again: “Brother Chengzu, if you have time tomorrow, could we go to that half-abandoned courtyard on the outskirts of the capital again? I’m thinking tomorrow I’ll make some pork buns to send to those elderly… people.”

“Alright.”

“Brother Chengzu.”

“Mm?”

Li Chengzu concentrated on pushing the cart, striving not to let it jostle.

“After seeing the elderly in that courtyard, I always feel uncomfortable in my heart. If someday Director Wan also falls to that state, could I have our child support him until he passes?”

“When I was in the palace he took care of me a lot, and you were also found by him. If he truly has such a desperate time, I’m thinking it would be best if we could lend a hand.”

But she couldn’t make this decision herself. She always had to ask her husband first.

“Naturally.”

Li Chengzu’s hands pushing the cart were exceptionally steady, his tone also carrying a sense of matter-of-factness: “To receive someone’s grace and repay their kindness—this is the way of the world. What you’re doing is right.”

“I think so too.”

At these words, Jinshu’s face filled with smiles.

She looked at her husband and finally couldn’t help but bashfully touch Li Chengzu’s hand pushing the cart.

The man lowered his head and smiled honestly.

“If we pass a pickle shop, shall we go buy some pickles? That eight-treasure radish you love seems to have run out, and these past days I’ve also been craving something sweet and sour.”

“Alright.”

“We also need to buy some soft cloth. At this month, we should start preparing things for the child to use. I was lazy before, but these past days not sitting or lying down is uncomfortable. I think I can do some light work.”

“Alright.”

“I also want to make you another pair of short boots. The ones I made before were all too thick. Now they can’t be worn at all…”

“I also need to sew myself a pair with soft soles.”

“Aunt Li says in a few more months these legs and feet will swell. I’m afraid I won’t be able to wear my old shoes.”

Li Chengzu had a taciturn temperament and just kept saying “alright, alright” all along the way. Jinshu sat on the cart calculating what items they’d need to prepare in the coming months, while he firmly remembered everything at her side.

Not until the two had finished buying everything did they return home to rest.

After seeing Jinshu off, Wan Xiao returned to the palace to find Ji Rong.

Now Ji Rong had become Shen Qianyu’s seal-bearing chief eunuch. Though usually extremely busy, seeing him come he immediately put down the work in his hands.

“What’s wrong with you now?”

Waving everyone around him away, he looked helplessly at Wan Xiao’s appearance, which differed from usual, and sighed slightly.

“I just heard from a eunuch at Changle Palace that Jinshu entered the palace today.”

“Did you see her?”

“Mm, I saw her.”

Ji Rong said: “How is she doing?”

Wan Xiao smiled faintly: “She’s doing very well. I should thank you.”

“That man is one who knows gratitude. He treats Jinshu very well. I imagine if Jinshu’s father’s family knows under the nine springs, they can finally close their eyes in peace.”

Both of them had walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. They always had this bit of accuracy in judging people.

At these words, Ji Rong smiled faintly: “As long as you don’t resent me.”

“Resent you for what?”

After saying this, Wan Xiao patted Ji Rong’s shoulder and spoke quietly: “Actually, I have another matter I’d like to trouble you with.”