Chapter 101: Minor Punishment

Chapter 101: A Minor Chastisement

A warning to the tiger by beating the mountain, teaching Concubine Lian a small lesson.

Even Su Jiaojiao herself felt somewhat dazed, wondering when the Emperor had begun to tolerate her more.

His fingers were well-defined, their cool touch like jade, his fingertips slightly calloused. Face to face, the surroundings were silent, and her senses seemed infinitely heightened. As his fingers lightly traced her skin, she could map every minute shift on her face.

In the Emperor’s expression, she had mostly seen indifference—coldness or anger. Such tenderness and focus were rare.

If Su Jiaojiao were not Su Jiaojiao, but any other woman in the world, she might truly believe, looking at the Emperor now, that he was a man of profound affection.

She had to admit, the Emperor’s appearance was exceptional. Even in the harem, where beauties were as numerous as flowers, he still stood above them all. If he were not the ruler of the nation but merely a nobleman in Chang’an, he would likely be the desire of every noble maiden's heart.

At this moment, Su Jiaojiao suddenly grasped a hint of why Noble Consort Mi and Concubine Lian adored the Emperor so deeply.

To be held in the palms of such a man, beheld with such singular focus, and cherished at the pinnacle of his heart—how could highborn ladies raised in luxury not be moved?

Yet in the depths of the palace, sincerity would only plunge one into an abyss of despair, stripping away reason and turning one into a creature maddened by jealousy.

What Su Jiaojiao sought was substance, not sentiment. Why exhaust her spirit on such fleeting illusions?

"Your Majesty..."

After a long while, Su Jiaojiao whispered softly, "Must you hold me so long? Could you let Jiaojiao down now?"

Shen Huai paused slightly, then chuckled. "You’re sitting on my lap, and you complain of weariness? Hmm?"

Su Jiaojiao, slightly embarrassed, buried her head in the crook of his neck and said coyly, "Your Majesty, it’s time for dinner."

"Among all the Imperial Consorts in the harem, you’re the only one who eats and drinks so freely in my presence. Anyone else would be mindful of their manners, afraid of my scrutiny." Having said this, Shen Huai didn’t set her down but instead carried her directly to the dining area in the side chamber.

He tapped her forehead lightly with a finger and called out, "Cai Shan, have the meal served."

At his words, several palace servants quickly entered, attending to the Emperor and Su Jiaojiao.

Unlike when the consorts dined alone, meals with the Emperor followed more exacting rituals, with greater caution in every detail.

Cai Shan personally oversaw the serving of each dish, tasting them before placing them before the Emperor. Only when all the dishes were ready did he pick up a pair of silver chopsticks to serve the two.

Given the heat, iced plum soup had been prepared at *Lingbo Songshuang*.

Before the meal, Su Jiaojiao drank half a bowl of the tart-sweet brew to whet her appetite, then said with a soft laugh, "Seeing this plum soup reminds me—there’s something I’d like to humbly request Your Majesty decide."

"Speak."

Su Jiaojiao glanced subtly at Cai Shan and smiled. "When the Grand Eunuch came to *Yingzhou Yuyu* earlier, he happened to see Jiaojiao speaking with Beauty Shu. It wasn’t a major matter, but since I’m here, I thought it best to seek Your Majesty’s judgment."

Setting down her porcelain bowl, she curtsied to the side and said, "I humbly request that two more servants be assigned to the *Frost-Resisting Pavilion* to attend to Beauty Shu."

Shen Huai looked up at her and said calmly, "Though the servants at the summer retreat are fewer than in the palace, they are sufficient. Moreover, as a Jieyu, she is already allotted a decent number of attendants. She has never been one for extravagance—why would she lack servants?"

"Your Majesty is generous, and all the consorts have been allotted their full complement of attendants. However, Beauty Shu’s *Frost-Resisting Pavilion* is close to Concubine Lian’s *Flowerthorn Lane*. Concubine Lian was short on maids, so she... took two from Beauty Shu."

She smiled. "Taking two maids is a trivial matter. With Your Majesty's indulgence toward Concubine Lian, even two more would hardly matter. But Beauty Shu has always avoided conflict in the palace. Who would have thought Concubine Lian would..."

Su Jiaojiao let her words fade delicately, then added, "Concubine Lian enjoys Your Majesty’s favor and has been in the palace for less than a year. It’s possible she was momentarily remiss in managing her servants. I beg Your Majesty not to punish her."

Shen Huai set down his silver chopsticks, dabbed his lips with deliberation, and said, "You may rise. Speak at your leisure."

While Su Jiaojiao hadn't spelled it out, Shen Huai could guess what had happened. Xu Qingwu had been spoiled and willful since childhood, indulged by the Marquis of Dingguo, and after entering the palace, she'd pulled similar stunts before.

Moreover, she always kept to herself, rarely interacting with the other Imperial Consorts. Her dislike for Noble Consort Zhen was also common knowledge.

If she had implicated Shu Jieyu because of Noble Consort Zhen, it wouldn’t surprise anyone.

Su Jiaojiao rose slowly and said, "Originally, it wasn’t a major issue, but as mistress of her own palace and someone favored by Your Majesty, Concubine Lian’s every word and action are observed by the other Imperial Consorts and palace servants. If the mistress is kind, the servants are steady; if the mistress is arrogant, the servants get uppity and bully others, emboldened by favor."

"Concubine Lian has a pampered temperament—it’s only natural for a noble-born young lady. It was nothing serious when she provoked me a few times before, but if such incidents become frequent, I fear—"

"I fear the palace may grow discontent, believing Your Majesty favors Concubine Lian too much, disregarding the dignity of the other consorts."

Shen Huai tapped the table a few times, lowering his gaze to look at her. "You just said Concubine Lian once provoked you?"

Su Jiaojiao’s long lashes fluttered slightly as she replied magnanimously, "It was nothing serious. It was just that her attendant, Lv Yao, was new to the palace and didn’t know better—she slapped my head maid, Yu Ying. And not long ago, before the Spring Banquet, she mouthed off to me."

"My matter is already in the past. Your Majesty just needs to give Shu Jieyu some small comfort. After all, Concubine Lian has special ties to Your Majesty, unlike the other consorts."

Shen Huai said calmly, "Concubine Lian is willful but not malicious. If her words and actions cross the line, I will have Yin Shihuai instruct her further."

"Cai Shan, assign four more servants to Shu Jieyu and send her a plate of honeydew melon. No further explanation is needed."

This was a minor matter, and Su Jiaojiao hadn’t expected His Majesty to punish Concubine Lian severely. Just his stance alone was enough to unsettle her.

She had forcibly taken two servants, yet His Majesty gave Shu Jieyu four—this was to make it clear that her actions had been noticed and were not approved of.

The additional gift of honeydew melon was also a small gesture of consolation.

Though Concubine Lian suffered no real loss, this warning shot would unsettle her more than any punishment.

Since she craved His Majesty’s favor, let His Majesty himself teach her a lesson.