Chapter 49: Glib tongue yet you were saved by a woman!
By the time Hua Jing and Zhao Yan arrived at the shelter, exhaustion was written all over their faces. The gates creaked open, and servants hurried forward, their expressions a mix of relief and worry.
But before anyone could utter a word, a blur of movement zipped past everyone.
Hua Jing blinked, startled, as she suddenly felt a weight slam into her body. She staggered back slightly, steadying herself just in time to see a familiar face buried in her chest.
It was the maid she had rescued earlier, tears streaming down her face and mucus running from her nose. She clung to Hua Jing like a lifeline, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Seventh Consort! A-Aye! I thought— I thought you were gone!" the maid wailed, her voice broken by hiccups and gasps for air.
Hua Jing froze for a moment, unsure of how to react. The sheer force of the maid’s emotions had caught her off guard. Then she softened, wrapping her arms around the girl in a comforting embrace.
"There, there," Hua Jing murmured, patting the maid’s back gently. "I’m here now. I’m safe. I’m sorry I worried you."
The maid’s sobs grew louder, her tears soaking through Hua Jing’s robes. The other servants standing nearby exchanged wide-eyed glances. They had expected the Seventh Consort to push the hysterical girl away or at least reprimand her for such behavior.
But instead, Hua Jing held her close, whispering soothing words and stroking her hair.
"She’s... kind," one servant muttered under her breath, her tone filled with surprise.
"Who would have thought?" another whispered, his brows furrowed in awe.