Chapter 104: Recalling the Past

Chapter 104: Recalling the Past

"His Majesty is Consort Lian's son..."

Su Jiaojiao jerked her hand back as if shocked when someone suddenly touched her, then turned to look at the elderly nursemaid on the bed.

Seeing her awake, Su Jiaojiao quickly said, "Nanny's awake."

The nanny stared fixedly at Su Jiaojiao, her eyes brimming with tears, murmuring, "My lady..."

Why was she suddenly crying?

Yu Ying frowned slightly, then stepped forward naturally, curtsying as she said, "Nanny, Noble Consort Zhen here saved you."

"Noble Consort Zhen..." The nanny was still very weak, her voice soft and slow, her complexion poor. She struggled to speak but could only manage faint, incoherent words.

Su Jiaojiao leaned over the bedside and said gently, "Nanny, there’s no need to rush. Please rest a little longer."

Unexpectedly, the nanny raised her hand, struggling to sit up. Su Jiaojiao had no choice but to prop a pillow behind her back and help her up.

Yu Ying stepped forward to bring the warm water from the table to the nanny, then placed a handkerchief under her neck, saying softly, "The physician said you’re severely dehydrated. Please drink a little more."

Understanding Yu Ying’s intention, Su Jiaojiao stood and stepped back, allowing Yu Ying to feed the nanny water.

A thought occurred to her—could it be true?

Earlier, the nanny had faintly called her "Consort Lian"...

Did the nanny recognize this bracelet, which had once belonged to Consort Lian?

Back then, all mention of Consort Lian had been forbidden. Could it be that this nanny had once served Consort Lian? This peaceful, elegant little courtyard—had His Majesty arranged it specifically for her retirement in the summer retreat, far from the turmoil of the inner palace, offering solitude and tranquility?

If so, that His Majesty would show such consideration for the nanny made sense. It was no wonder Xiao Songzi had said that the imperial physicians at the summer retreat, upon hearing of the nanny’s accident, had rushed to inform His Majesty.

For His Majesty to care so deeply for the nanny who had once looked after them both, they must have been very close—hence his order for the entire summer retreat to treat her with respect and deference.

Consort Lian had passed away many years ago, yet His Majesty still cared so deeply for the nanny. Su Jiaojiao used to think His Majesty was cold and indifferent, but now it seemed he only showed detachment toward the imperial consorts.

After drinking more water and resting against the headboard for a while, the nanny regained some strength.

She gazed at Su Jiaojiao with tender affection, speaking slowly, "This old servant is weak and useless. Thank you, my lady, for saving my life."

Then, her eyes fixed on Su Jiaojiao’s wrist, reddening slightly, she raised a wrinkled but warm hand and gently patted Yu Ying’s hand, saying, "Might I speak with you alone, my lady?"

Seeing the nanny’s expression, Su Jiaojiao knew she had something to say. Raising her hand, she said, "Everyone out. I will call if needed."

"Yes."

Once everyone had left and the door was closed, the nanny visibly relaxed. Her eyes were filled with both nostalgia and sorrow as she said, "My lady, might I take another look at the bracelet on your wrist?"

Having personally saved the nanny and knowing she was someone His Majesty valued, Su Jiaojiao had no reason to refuse.

Without hesitation, she removed the bracelet from her wrist and carefully placed it in the nanny’s hands, saying gently, "This bracelet was bestowed by His Majesty. Please look, Nanny."

The nanny cradled the slightly imperfect jade bracelet in both hands, gazing at it for a long time, gently stroking it with deep affection. Finally, unable to contain her emotions, she clutched it to her chest and wept, "It’s this one... After so many years, I've seen your bracelet again..."

Her sobs were heartbreaking. Though Su Jiaojiao had never met Consort Lian, the nanny's grief showed how deep their bond had been.

Su Jiaojiao quietly stayed by the elderly maidservant's side for a long while before the latter finally wiped her tears with her sleeve and reluctantly presented the bracelet back with both hands, saying carefully, "Your Highness, please safeguard it."

She watched intently as Su Jiaojiao put the bracelet back on her wrist, only averting her gaze once the luxurious sleeve hid it from view. Then, she composed herself and turned her gaze to Su Jiaojiao.

"Earlier, I heard that you are His Majesty's Noble Consort Zhen. This servant is unwell today and cannot rise to pay proper respects to Your Highness. I humbly beg your forgiveness." The maidservant, already frail, looked even more haggard after her grief.

Her expression was exceptionally tender and kind as she looked at Su Jiaojiao and asked, "Does Your Highness know this bracelet’s origin?"

Su Jiaojiao paused briefly, then shook her head naturally. "His Majesty bestowed it upon me on my birthday, instructing that I must not give it to anyone else. He mentioned nothing else."

She traced the bracelet hesitantly. "Is there a story behind it?"

Learning it was a birthday gift not to be shared, the maidservant grasped part of its significance.

Su Jiaojiao was not only her savior but also someone the Emperor favored. The more the maidservant looked at her, the more she liked her. With a weak smile, she said, "Since His Majesty was willing to bestow this bracelet upon you, it must mean he holds Your Highness in high regard. This was once a closely guarded secret, but in my heart, I wish for His Majesty to have someone dear by his side. There’s no harm in telling you."

"This bracelet originally belonged to the late Emperor’s Consort Lian—the current Emperor’s birth mother."

Slowly, the maidservant reached out and took Su Jiaojiao’s hand in her own, smiling gently as she continued, "This story begins with Consort Lian."

"Consort Lian was born in Jiangnan, the daughter of a scholarly family in Suzhou. She was pure-hearted, gentle, and breathtakingly beautiful, with countless suitors vying for her hand. But from a young age, Consort Lian loved books. What she sought was love, not just marriage."

"I still remember a rainy day when I accompanied Consort Lian to a temple to pray. A sudden downpour trapped us inside, where we happened to meet the late Emperor, who was traveling incognito at the time."

Her eyes grew distant, her aged voice pulling Su Jiaojiao into the past.

"Consort Lian was so beautiful that even the Emperor could not resist. He fell for her at first sight. They discussed poetry in the rain, their conversation lively, and afterward, Consort Lian could not forget him. Not long after, the Emperor personally visited her family to seek her hand in marriage."

"Though versed in the classics and worldly, Consort Lian was gentle to a fault, sheltered by her family. She wholeheartedly believed the Emperor would protect her and entered the palace for love."

Su Jiaojiao asked softly, "What happened next?"

"Next..." The maidservant smiled bitterly. "After entering the palace, Consort Lian faced endless opposition and resentment. The Emperor insisted on bringing her in, immediately granting her the rank of Consort Lian and making her the mistress of her own palace—an unprecedented honor. She soon became pregnant, and to protect her from harm, the Emperor even moved her to a side hall in the Taiji Palace to rest during her pregnancy."

"Thanks to the Emperor’s favor, she safely gave birth to a prince—the current Emperor."

The maidservant patted Su Jiaojiao’s hand, her eyes filled with sorrow. "To hoard favor is to invite envy. Consort Lian understood this, but she loved the Emperor so deeply that she endured the dangers of the palace without complaint. Still, under his unwavering protection, she lived safely for many years and was eventually elevated to Consort Lian."

"But human hearts change."

"After years of exclusive favor, a new round of palace selections brought in a fresh face. Her name, perhaps Your Highness has heard of it—Consort Rou."

Su Jiaojiao thought for a moment before lowering her gaze. "Before entering the palace, I lived in obscurity and knew nothing. Only after arriving did I occasionally hear Consort Rou’s name mentioned. They say the late Emperor doted on her, that she was bewitchingly beautiful—but died tragically."

The maidservant’s tone turned icy. "Tragic? She deserved it. There was nothing tragic about her death."

"Young and beautiful, Consort Rou was a master of beguilement. She entered the palace just as Consort Lian had given birth to Princess Xue Miao. With Consort Lian occupied with the child, Consort Rou seized the opportunity. Within a year, she overshadowed even Consort Lian in favor."

"Faced with the Emperor’s neglect and change of heart, Consort Lian was heartbroken. But she never complained or vied for attention, waiting silently for his return. But how can a changed heart be won back? Day by day, she withered, and the Emperor and Princess Xue Miao naturally sensed her sorrow. The princess grew up quiet and obedient, never causing trouble. Until one day, a great calamity struck."

Decades later, the maidservant’s voice still shook with hatred as she spoke, as if she wished she could see Consort Rou’s bones ground to dust.

"Flushed with favor, Consort Rou resented how many palace servants still held Consort Lian in reverence. She loathed that the Emperor had once cherished Consort Lian and sought revenge. One night, she framed Consort Lian for attempting to harm her, demanding the Emperor punish her. Consort Lian—so gentle and kind, who would mourn even a fallen petal—how could she ever harm Consort Rou?"

"But Consort Rou held greater sway then. The Emperor, who rarely visited Consort Lian anymore, believed her without thorough investigation and punished Consort Lian that very night. It was meant as a light punishment—merely twenty strikes. But only afterward did they discover Consort Lian had been pregnant again, and the child was lost by the Emperor’s own order."

"That blow shattered Consort Lian’s heart. She withered day by day, like a palace flower withering away. From then on, only Consort Rou’s enchanting songs filled the halls, and Consort Lian’s graceful dances were seen no more."

"Not long after, Consort Lian was framed again by Consort Rou—this time, for adultery."

The old nurse's tone grew increasingly mournful and desolate: "That day, Consort Lian seemed to finally break down, crying and repeating over and over, 'You don’t believe me.' She said, 'I have already lost a child for you. We once loved each other so deeply, yet now you refuse to trust me. Since you have Consort Rou now, Your Majesty no longer needs a woman as wicked as me.'"

"Consort Lian had never lost her composure like this before. With Consort Rou whispering in his ear, it provoked the late emperor’s thunderous rage. Consort Lian, her heart already dead, chose the most resolute way to bid him farewell."

"She slit her throat in front of the emperor, her blood splattering across the palace walls."

Speaking of Consort Lian’s death, the old nurse covered her face and wept bitterly: "From that day on, the late emperor never set foot in the inner palace again. He ordered all news related to Consort Lian sealed away and refused to see His Majesty and Princess Xue Miao."

"Losing his mother and deprived of his father’s care, as the elder prince, His Majesty learned how cold people could be from a very young age. He turned colder and withdrew into silence. After losing his mother, His Majesty shut his heart away completely. He no longer believed in love, nor did he need it. He allowed no one to get close, only occasionally showing a smile in front of Princess Xue Miao."

"But then a grave illness took even Princess Xue Miao from him."

"In His Majesty’s heart, he became utterly and completely alone."

The old nurse, her eyes red, looked at Su Jiaojiao and said: "In truth, when His Majesty was young, he was a gentle yet distant person. He loved his mother, his sister, and even us servants—anyone who treated him with genuine kindness. But the world is cold, and people change. His Majesty was no exception. So now he has become a cold, unreadable emperor, seemingly no different from the late emperor."

"But His Majesty is Consort Lian’s child. I know that at his core, he craves love. His Majesty and the late emperor were never the same kind of person."

"And I also know that in His Majesty’s heart, you, my lady, must be someone special."