Eunuch Su, Eunuch Su!

Knowing that Huiming's parents were coming today, Eunuch Su, who had to work and also deliberately avoided them, did not show up today. Even Yuanbao, who brought Huiming's family over, only led them to the main room in the front yard before tactfully excusing himself.

Two couples came. One was slightly older, while the other was young and strong. The women wore blue cloth headscarves, and their bellies were already slightly rounded. It was undoubtedly Huiming's parents and elder brother and sister-in-law.

Blood relations were indeed strong. The moment she saw her parents, Huiming's parents, who had long since faded in her memory, immediately came alive. Her father was still rough and silent, and her mother was still gentle and kind. Except for looking older, everything seemed as if nothing had changed.

"Dad, Mom…"

Huiming stepped forward, and as soon as she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.

Huiming had lived two lifetimes. After careful calculation, she had been separated from her family for decades. Moreover, she had gone through a lot in between, including life and death. The emotions involved were naturally difficult for outsiders to understand.

However, in the eyes of Father Song and Mother Song, Huiming had only been away from home for five years, and it had only been three years since they last met. Naturally, they would not be as emotional as Huiming. Mother Song took a step forward, her eyes slightly moist, and reached out to touch her temple. She only smiled and chided, "You were the crybaby at home. After so many years, you look like a grown woman, but why haven't you changed at all!"

Huiming shed a few tears, but she gradually calmed down. Hearing this, she smiled under her mother's comfort, wiped the corners of her eyes, and after a few words, she turned her gaze to the two people behind her.

She naturally knew her elder brother, Song Shan. Although he was older now, his appearance had not changed at all. She then looked at the woman beside him who was already showing signs of pregnancy and took the initiative to greet her with a smile, "This must be my sister-in-law, right?"

Song Shan smiled honestly, but before he could speak, the woman stepped forward and said in a very familiar and straightforward voice, "Yes, I've heard my parents mention you. I finally get to meet you today! I'm your sister-in-law! My maiden name is Li."

"Nice to meet you, sister-in-law." After staying in the palace for so long, Huiming could still tell how much sincerity there was in other people's familiarity and enthusiasm. Although her sister-in-law had a smile on her face, it was only on the surface. There was a hint of scrutiny in her eyes, which made her seem a little superficial.

However, she and her sister-in-law were not related by blood. Although they were considered family, they had never met before. Today was only the first time they had met. It was already very good that she could treat her so familiarly. Huiming did not mind so much. She also smiled and returned the greeting, then quickly arranged for everyone to sit down and personally served them tea.

Huiming chatted with her family about the situation at home, then slowly turned the conversation to the present.

"I heard from the little eunuch who sent me here that you're now… with a Head Eunuch…" When this matter was brought up, everyone's expressions turned serious. Mother Song couldn't help but press the corner of her eye and held Huiming's hand in distress. She lowered her voice and asked, "What's going on? Have you been wronged?"

Huiming quickly shook her head. She knew that the matter of palace maids and eunuchs being together was something that could not be talked about outside. At this moment, she only vaguely said, "Really not, don't worry, I'm doing well in the palace! I haven't been wronged, and no one has bullied me. It's all my own choice."

Mother Song seemed a little surprised, but after a pause, as if she was worried about the walls having ears, she continued, "The person who came to deliver the message to our family only said it unclearly. He said you could leave the palace? Didn't he say you had to wait until you were twenty-five? There are still ten years left, what's going on?"

Huiming did not expect Eunuch Su to have already told her family that she could leave the palace. She paused for a moment and slowly denied, "How can there be a rule that allows us to leave at fifteen? We were trained from the age of ten, and it's the age to work. Even outside, there's no such reason…"

Hearing this, Mother Song became even more puzzled. She looked around and asked, "Then where is this place? Why didn't you meet us at the previous place? What's going on with that Head Eunuch? Child, don't be afraid, tell us if you have anything to say!"

Father Song had been sitting silently by the side. At this moment, he lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "Your mother is right. If you can come out, then come out. Our family can afford to raise you!"

Song Shan, who was standing behind Mother Song, also nodded. Just as he was about to say something, Li Shi suddenly pulled him and sat down beside Huiming, holding her hand. "Oh, Dad, Mom, don't worry about Second Sister. Second Sister is in the palace to enjoy blessings. Touch Second Sister's hand, look how delicate and tender it is, without a single callus. Think about our younger sister at home. After Da Shan hurt his leg, even though Mom and I are heartbroken for him, he still has to help with the fire and cooking. His hands… compared to Second Sister's, they're simply unpresentable. How can anyone have such good fortune like Second Sister!"

Huiming was stunned to hear this, and a hint of displeasure rose in her heart. After she came out of the laundry department, she was assigned to the sewing bureau to be an embroiderer. This job was different from others. Because she had to handle a lot of delicate materials, not to mention calluses, even a tiny bit of hangnail on her fingertips could snag the fine fabric. Naturally, she would be extra careful, and they were even given hand cream to apply every night. After a long time, their hands naturally became very delicate.

But could it be said that being an embroiderer was a blessing just because one's hands were delicate? Naturally not. Once they entered the palace, the palace maids were all servants who served others. Being an embroiderer seemed to be easier than cleaning and other chores, but in reality, it was just as tough. They had to stay in the sewing room all night long, not to mention the backaches. After embroidering for a long time, not many of them would have good eyesight when they got older. She had only been in the sewing bureau for less than three years, but her eyesight was no longer as clear as other people her age.

Her parents knew that Huiming was an embroiderer in the palace, and Li Shi must have heard about it too. But now, she made it sound as if entering the palace meant doing nothing but enjoying blessings.

Huiming pursed her lips and pretended not to hear. She stood up and took the opportunity to pull her hand back. She took out the package and box that she had prepared long ago and handed them to Mother Song. "Mom, don't worry, I'm really fine. This time, I received some rewards from my mistress, and together with the things I've saved over the years, I want to send them home. As for leaving the palace, I guess the messenger got it wrong."

With that, Huiming unpacked the package one by one. There were two thick cotton-padded jackets for her parents. She had made them bit by bit when she was working in the sewing bureau two years ago, taking advantage of her work. They were all made of fine materials and cotton. The rest were a few handkerchiefs that she had embroidered over the years. They were worth some money if sold. As for her monthly allowance, because she had spent a lot of money on the seriously ill Nanny Wang and on food for Eunuch Su, she only had a few taels of silver left.

These were nothing. The most important thing was a pair of coral red hair ornaments that she had received from the Empress in Kunhe Palace last time. Although in the eyes of her mistress, it was an old item that was not worth mentioning, to Huiming, it was truly a hundred times more precious than all her possessions.

As expected, when the hair ornaments were opened, everyone's eyes widened in amazement. Li Shi couldn't help but step forward and touch them carefully one by one.

Mother Song came back to her senses and was still a little uneasy. "Which mistress gave you such a precious gift?"

Huiming hesitated for a moment and told a half-truth. "My mistress forgot about me for a while and made me kneel in the cold wind for an hour. Later, she probably felt bad and rewarded me with something."

As soon as she said this, Mother Song's face was filled with distress, and she declined even more, saying that Huiming should keep it for herself. The two of them pushed back and forth for a while, and finally, Father Song made a decision. "Since it's our child's filial piety, we'll accept it. In the future, when Huiming leaves the palace, we'll save it for her dowry!"

As soon as he said this, Li Shi, who had just revealed a hint of joy, became somewhat dissatisfied. She lowered her head and muttered, "Da Shan's leg has been hurting day and night. The doctor said that if we have money, a few doses of good medicine will be able to cure it completely."

Originally, she wanted to send the things home to help out with the family expenses. Seeing that her parents and brother's expressions all stiffened after hearing these words, Huiming quickly said a few words about how her brother's leg should be treated first, and then changed the subject. She said, "Next time, bring my younger sister here. I'll prepare some things for her dowry."

Actually, because they were close in age, Huiming was closest to her younger sister before she entered the palace. After knowing that her younger sister's marriage was already settled, she had already prepared a few exquisite needlework pieces and jewelry for her. Some were given by Eunuch Su, and she herself, after gaining favor, had exchanged some with Yu Gan, who had received many rewards. However, seeing the situation today, she did not take them out, thinking that she would give them directly to her younger sister next time, so as to avoid any trouble.

Mother Song agreed readily. Although Jing Lane was outside the imperial palace, it was still within the imperial city. It would not be good to go out too late. Therefore, the family did not say much more. Moreover, Huiming had been away from home for many years. They had asked about everyone's situation and said all the words of advice. For a moment, there was actually a silence that had nothing to say.

Even though they were blood-related, after being separated for so long, their daily experiences and encounters did not intersect at all. Estrangement was also an inevitable result.

Because of all this, when Yuanbao reappeared, Huiming did not delay for long. After asking if there was a place for them to stay outside, she stood up and sent her long-lost family out of the door.

Watching her parents and brother's figures getting further and further away, Huiming stood there for a long time, unable to describe the feeling in her heart.

She was naturally happy, but the distance was also real. This was not entirely because of the addition of her sister-in-law, Li Shi. It was just that after being separated for so long, without the day-and-night相处 from childhood to adulthood, after meeting again, the intimacy and affection in her memory could not be treated as if they never existed.

This was also inevitable. If she was really just the fifteen-year-old Song Huiming, she would probably be very sad at this moment… However, for Aunt Song, who had experienced the vicissitudes of life, perhaps because she did not have too much expectation, today's reunion actually felt quite expected in her heart.

However, this did not prevent her from using this reason to completely dispel Eunuch Su's idea of letting her leave the palace.

Therefore, when Su Jin returned from work, what he saw was Huiming sitting at the door, looking at the faint crescent moon in the sky, her face as indifferent as the moonlight, revealing endless melancholy and sorrow.

ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ

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