Chapter 80: The Jade Pillow Breaks

Chapter 80: The Jade Pillow Breaks

Cai Shan personally delivered the items to her.

Su Jiaojiao had always preferred not to adorn her head with gold and silver. Her natural beauty was delicate yet enchanting, and she favored jade and wood, occasionally using velvet or silk flowers, which looked quite lovely.

Shen Huai held her slender waist with his large hand, finding a comfortable position for her to sit in front of him. He removed each hair ornament from her head, placing them on the nearby table.

Soon, her smooth, jet-black hair cascaded down, mingling with his, feeling slightly cool.

The soft, fragrant strands felt pleasant to his touch. Shen Huai played with them for a moment, then chuckled softly, "Your hair is truly exceptional."

Su Jiaojiao couldn't see the Emperor's expression, but her voice was shy, "All the palace concubines use the hair oils and creams provided by the Imperial Household Department each month. How is mine any different? Your Majesty must be joking."

Shen Huai tapped her head lightly with his knuckles, making a soft thud, and coaxed her, "If I tell the truth, you say I'm teasing. Is it wrong to praise you?"

He roughly arranged her black hair and called out to the palace servants waiting outside the screen, "Bring it over."

The comb Su Jiaojiao used was the jade comb with bird and flower designs he had previously given her.

When he had it made, he specifically requested that it be carved more finely, so it would feel better in the hand, less likely to slip, and more valuable.

Although it was valuable, Shen Huai had never imagined that he would one day personally comb her hair with it.

This intimate act didn't resemble that of an emperor and his concubine, but rather that of an ordinary, devoted couple.

The thought of the word "couple" made Shen Huai instinctively remember something, and the faint smile on his face inadvertently faded.

The warmth that had just filled his heart cooled and hardened, as if reminding him that the so-called marital love was all an illusion.

Love, as it was often described, was nothing more than a beautiful illusion crafted by poets and scholars.

He liked Su Jiaojiao, but only because she was gentle and understanding, which made him feel at ease. It had nothing to do with love.

With so many concubines in the palace, although he had never favored anyone more than Su Jiaojiao, he would never use the term "ordinary couple" to describe their relationship.

Lately, he had been doting on Su Jiaojiao so much that he had started to entertain such absurd illusions.

Shen Huai laughed at himself, repeatedly combing her hair from root to tip with the jade comb before finally putting it down.

The jade comb made a crisp sound when it touched the wooden table, and Su Jiaojiao turned her head, smiling, "Is it done?"

She reached up and touched her hair, finding it smooth and neatly arranged, then praised, "Your Majesty's hands can manage state affairs and comb a woman's hair with equal skill. I truly admire you."

Shen Huai glanced at her delicate fingers and said lightly, "As the mistress of a palace, you could wear gold-plated, flower-engraved nail guards. Why don't I see you wearing them?"

Su Jiaojiao's clear eyes held a hint of allure as she leaned back, lightly kissing the corner of the Emperor's lips, "I find them cumbersome, and they don't look as nice as my slender, white fingers. I don't like wearing them."

In the past, Shen Huai would have deepened the kiss, leading naturally to more intimacy.

But today, the Emperor merely smiled lightly, seemingly uninterested, and said offhandedly, "Your words are getting sweeter."

Su Jiaojiao's eyes flickered, unsure of what had changed about the Emperor.

When he first arrived, he had been very affectionate, but after combing her hair, she could clearly sense that his interest had waned.

Although his words were the same as before, there was an inexplicable distance in his demeanor.

Nothing had happened while she was facing away from him...

The emperor's thoughts are inscrutable, and Su Jiaojiao could only assume that His Majesty was in a somber mood. She stopped pondering further and discreetly sat up straight, putting some distance between herself and His Majesty.

Then she stood up, curtsied, and said softly with a smile, "Since Your Majesty arrived at Pixiang Palace, you haven't had the chance to drink the tea here. Since Your Majesty personally combed Jiaojiao's hair, Jiaojiao will return the favor by personally brewing tea for Your Majesty."

Ling Xiao walked in from the palace door, nodded, and placed the porcelain pot she was carrying on the table. It had been kept warm on low heat, perfect for brewing tea. She bowed and whispered, "Your Highness, it has been simmering gently, ready for use."

Su Jiaojiao nodded, opened the wooden box with satin lining, and used tweezers to pick out the dried tea leaves from the box. She lowered her eyebrows and said, "The golden melon tribute tea you just bestowed is rich but not heavy, clear but not bland, and exceptionally pleasant to the palate. I heard this tea is best for relieving greasiness, and since last night's New Year's Eve banquet was filled with rich food, the golden melon tribute tea will come in handy."

Shen Huai glanced over but said nothing.

The charcoal fire in Pixiang Palace was roaring, making the room warm and cozy.

Su Jiaojiao was not dressed heavily; her figure was elegantly outlined, her black hair flowing down her back. She lowered her eyebrows with a faint smile, her delicate hands pouring tea, like a scene from a painting.

He couldn't help but speak more gently, "If you really like it, I will bestow more upon you."

Tea tasting is an elegant ritual, involving intricate steps and requiring graceful, fluid movements.

Shen Huai lazily reclined on the couch, watching Su Jiaojiao brew tea, and casually glanced around her palace.

When he saw a wooden shelf crafted from premium agarwood on the side of the screen, with a jade pillow placed on it, he raised his eyebrows and said, "Why is a jade pillow displayed so conspicuously? Is there something special about it?"

"It doesn't seem like something I gifted you," Shen Huai tilted his chin, signaling the palace servants behind him, "Fetch it for me."

Concerned that the young maid might mishandle it, Ling Xiao stepped forward first, cradling the jade pillow in both hands, and presented it to His Majesty.

She bowed her head, not daring to look directly at His Majesty, and said respectfully, "This was a gift from Her Majesty the Empress when we paid our respects at Fengyi Palace at the beginning of the year."

Su Jiaojiao, while brewing tea, quickly glanced up.

Since it was a gift from the Empress, it should either be used or stored in the treasury. Why was it displayed so prominently? It's not like a porcelain or painting collectible, which is quite strange.

Shen Huai took the jade pillow, examined it for a while, and said indifferently, "It's a good piece of jade, but not overly valuable. Moreover, a warm jade pillow is something to be used daily, and its appearance is inelegant, not suitable for display. By displaying it, you are indeed paying great respect to the Empress."

He thoughtfully glanced at Su Jiaojiao, who was bringing over a tray with a teacup and a small plate of pastries, her eyes crinkled with a smile, appearing innocent and pure. "Your Majesty, please taste how well Jiaojiao brews tea."

She sat down gracefully, then smiled naturally, "Originally, Jiaojiao was also using this jade pillow, but when Her Majesty the Empress left Pixiang Palace that day, she specifically mentioned that this jade is precious. It seems that during the late Emperor's reign, it was the warm jade pillow used by Consort Lian. Jiaojiao is not very familiar with the past events in the palace, but knowing it is precious, I dared not use it anymore. So, I had the Imperial Household Department make a stand to display it, so it can be revered at all times."

As Su Jiaojiao spoke, her expression was very sincere and innocent, as if she was merely repeating the words without realizing what she was saying.

Shen Huai stared at her intently, his fingers holding the cup turning white, his voice deep, "Say it again, what did the Empress say?"

Seeing His Majesty's change in expression, Su Jiaojiao's face turned from innocent to fearful and confused. She immediately stood up and half-knelt, lowering her head and trembling, "Her Majesty the Empress said that this was the warm jade pillow used by Consort Lian, and it is very precious. She told me not to break it."

"Your Majesty... did I say something wrong?"

Su Jiaojiao could not possibly know about Consort Lian. When he gave her the bracelet, he had not told her anything about it. Unless someone told her, the name Consort Lian should have disappeared from this world.

The late Emperor forbade mentioning his mother because her death was too resolute, a great disrespect, a tragic severance of life and death.

Shen Huai also forbade anyone from mentioning her because no one in this world was qualified to mention his mother, to speculate or comment on her.

The name Consort Lian was deeply taboo in the palace, and when the late Emperor passed away, the palace servants were largely replaced. How could the Empress know?

His gaze was extremely dark, his aura cold and devoid of any warmth.

Could it be that the Empress Dowager told her? How much did she say?

Presumably, what the Empress heard was far from favorable.

Shen Huai looked at Su Jiaojiao and asked again, "Did the Empress really say that herself?"

Su Jiaojiao was somewhat frightened, her voice trembling with a broken sob, "Yes, the Empress said it herself. Many palace servants in Pixiang Palace heard it; it can't be a lie."

Upon hearing this, Shen Huai let out a cold sneer.

His mother never used a jade pillow, only ones filled with love pea seeds and buckwheat husks.

The Empress gave Noble Consort Zhen a jade pillow, claiming it was something his mother had once used. Was it to trick Noble Consort Zhen into investigating Consort Lian, or was it some other shady scheme?

Using his mother's memory to cause trouble only deepened his disgust.

The Empress had ulterior motives, but was Noble Consort Zhen really not curious about who Consort Lian was? Had she never asked?

Shen Huai stayed silent, quietly watching Su Jiaojiao cry pitifully, her eyes red, looking nervous and scared.

She cried so pitifully, and earlier, she had spoken without thinking, just following his lead.

It seemed she really hadn't taken it to heart.

Besides, Noble Consort Zhen was gentle and kind-hearted, well-liked in the palace.

She loved reading, and in their casual chats, she often had unique insights, never biased when judging historical figures.

Since Shen Huai had given her his mother's jade bracelet, it showed he accepted Su Jiaojiao.

Even if she found out later— It wouldn't matter.

She was smart and obedient, knowing what to say and what not to say.

As for the Empress, he had always considered the size of the harem and her hard work in managing it, never blaming her for any mismanagement.

Now she had become bold, daring to use his mother's name in her schemes.

Shen Huai hid the anger in his eyes, gently helping Su Jiaojiao up, and said coolly, "This jade pillow of yours is flawed. I'll take it and have a new one sent to you."

He stood to leave, his voice calm and deep, "I'll visit you another day."

By evening, snow blanketed the palace.

Cai Shan personally led a group to Fengyi Palace, greeting with a polite smile, "Your servant greets the Empress. His Majesty has recently acquired some novelties and specifically sent them for your enjoyment."

The Empress sat gracefully, smiling warmly, saying, "Yu He, go quickly and receive it personally."

The Emperor rarely visited Fengyi Palace, but he often sent gifts to honor the Empress, which was some comfort.

Today was the first of the month, and the Emperor must have prepared a generous gift.

Yu He stepped forward, took the brocade box with both hands, opened the lid, and facing the Empress, smiled, "Your Majesty, look, what treasures do we have here?"

The Empress leaned slightly to look, her heart skipping a beat, her face turning pale.

Inside the brocade box were piles of jade fragments, and on top, lay a dried lotus flower.