Chapter 107: The Beloved

Chapter 107: The Beloved

"Jiaojiao feels for His Majesty."

Su Jiaojiao had been waiting outside the door. Upon hearing the Emperor's summons, she pushed it open, lifted the hem of her skirt, and stepped over the threshold.

Inside, His Majesty was sitting by the nanny’s bedside, speaking with her. At the sound of her approach, both turned their gazes toward her.

She curtsied softly and asked, "May I ask why Your Majesty has summoned your servant?"

Shen Huai did not look at her. After a brief pause, he turned to the nanny and said in a quiet voice, "It was the nanny who wished to speak with you. Come closer."

Su Jiaojiao approached the nanny, who gently took her hand and guided her to sit by the bed. "If not for Your Ladyship’s kindness in saving this old servant today, I might still be lying outside, let alone speaking so comfortably with His Majesty and Noble Consort Zhen now. Your compassion is something I shall never forget."

Su Jiaojiao smiled warmly. "Every life matters. Even if it weren’t you, but someone else, I would have done the same. Please don’t feel burdened."

The events of the day had left Shen Huai unsettled. The careful equilibrium he had maintained was now disrupted, and facing Su Jiaojiao in this state, he found himself unsure how to act.

Without looking at her, he deliberately distanced himself further, his tone growing distant. "Few in the palace know of the nanny’s existence, but she is of great importance to me. By saving her, you have done such a great deed. Later, I will have Cai Shan deliver rewards to you."

At this, Su Jiaojiao stared at His Majesty in surprise, her glistening eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Your Majesty, Jiaojiao did not save the nanny for rewards."

Her voice catching caught him off guard. Unprepared, Shen Huai lifted his gaze to her and saw her eyes reddening, as if she were about to cry.

His muddled thoughts scattered abruptly. Frowning, he softened his tone slightly. "The nanny’s affairs are private. Had you not stumbled upon her by chance, such a coincidence would never have occurred. I never suspected you of acting deliberately."

"But if Your Majesty does not doubt me and is truly pleased, why did you treat Jiaojiao so coldly just now?"

Su Jiaojiao locked eyes on him, biting her lower lip, trembling slightly as if on the verge of tears. "Has Jiaojiao done something wrong? Said something improper?"

Shen Huai disliked seeing Su Jiaojiao cry, especially in front of the nanny. It gave him the illusion that he was bullying her in front of an elder. Yet he found himself at a loss for an explanation—nor did he wish to offer one.

He softened his tone further, offering a casual excuse. "Imperial duties have kept me busy. Today, I only managed to come here in a rare moment of leisure, hence my slight aloofness. And now, even harsher words from me make you cry—truly, it seems I’ve..."

"...spoiled you excessively."

Midway, he realized his words had slipped beyond his control. Hesitating briefly, he found it too late to retract them. Only after speaking did he notice the nanny smiling.

The nanny looked between the Emperor and Noble Consort Zhen, her heart overflowing with delight.

His Majesty had claimed he favored Noble Consort Zhen merely because she was obedient and sensible. Yet the unwitting affection and indulgence he showed her now betrayed the truth—he was unaware of his own partiality.

Since Consort Lian’s passing, she had only ever seen the Emperor cold and detached, never truly engaging in the performances of affection expected of him. Never had she glimpsed such subtle helplessness and gentleness in his eyes.

Noble Consort Zhen was indeed a remarkably shrewd girl.

His Majesty was controlled and reserved, so she advanced step by step, gradually making him accustomed to her presence. She knew precisely how to show vulnerability to stir his pity—delicate yet unaffected, kind-hearted, and rare.

The nanny was certain that even without today’s encounter, Noble Consort Zhen would have become the Emperor’s favorite.

But favor was still within the position as a consort. His Majesty would always maintain a barrier, keeping everyone at arm’s length.

Today, she would pry open a gap in that barrier for Noble Consort Zhen.

What followed would rest on the girl’s own efforts.

The nanny chuckled. "This is Your Majesty’s fault. Every woman loves to be cherished, especially by the one they adore—your every look and smile means the world. Noble Consort Zhen has done such a great deed, yet Your Majesty treats her coldly. Anyone would take offense."

The two women ganged up on him, putting Shen Huai in a helpless position. Yet when Nanny Sun mentioned the words "the one in your heart," his heart suddenly skipped a beat, as if something had silently melted away. The chill in his chest seemed to warm slightly, pounding twice before tightening again, making his breath catch momentarily.

Shen Huai glanced at Su Jiaojiao, and that indescribable feeling grew heavier, disquieting yet not unpleasant.

He rubbed his temples helplessly and called out, "Nanny."

Nanny Sun's smile deepened as she held each of their hands, saying, "This old woman only wishes to see Your Majesty and Her Ladyship happy. That would be enough for me."

"I'm tired now—it's time for my medicine and rest. If Your Majesty wants to comfort your lady, it's better not to do so in front of me, no? The summer villa's grounds are beautiful. Why not take a stroll with Her Ladyship?"

Su Jiaojiao blotted her eyes delicately with a handkerchief and smiled softly. "I had originally planned to go boating on the lake before saving you. I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to join me now."

At this, Nanny Sun frowned. "They say there's a whirlpool in the lake recently—it's not safe. Even the small boats by the shore have loose bottoms and can't carry people. The inspection hasn't been completed yet. Two palace servants drowned, and everyone knows about it. Didn't the palace attendants around Her Ladyship warn you when you left?"

Su Jiaojiao froze, suddenly recalling what Jia Xi had said before she left the palace.

She'd sensed something amiss about Jia Xi but couldn't pinpoint what. Now, she understood exactly what schemes the girl harbored.

Su Jiaojiao had always been cautious, never trusting new palace attendants lightly. She had brought only her most loyal attendants from the palace, which was why no one had known about the incident by the lake at the summer villa.

Jia Xi had merely mentioned it in passing. Even if something had happened, she could have emerged completely blameless—without lifting a finger. Quite cunning indeed.

The question was, who pulled Jia Xi's strings? To think they were already setting traps on the very first day at the retreat.

Since the mastermind hadn't been uncovered yet, Su Jiaojiao wasn't in a hurry to deal with Jia Xi. She would wait for the girl to slip up. Lowering her gaze, she said lightly, "A new maid in the palace mentioned that twin red lotuses had bloomed this year and that we could go boating. She likely knew nothing—perhaps she didn’t know whether the repairs had been completed."

Su Jiaojiao sidestepped deftly, and Nanny Sun pressed no further, only saying, "As the favored consort, there will always be those with ill intentions in the palace. Such things have happened throughout history. You must be careful in all matters."

"Thank you for your guidance, Nanny."

At this, Shen Huai finally spoke gently, "Nanny, just focus on taking care of yourself—that is what would bring me the most comfort. I will send more workers to repair the lakebed. Later, additional maids will be assigned to serve you, so you can rest peacefully."

Nanny Sun smiled gratefully and nodded. "Your servant is grateful."

He stood and glanced down at Su Jiaojiao. "Let's go."

Su Jiaojiao smiled at Nanny Sun before turning to follow His Majesty.

As the wooden door closed softly behind them, Shen Huai and Su Jiaojiao left Nanny Sun’s residence.

Their retinue followed at a distance, giving the two of them space to walk alone. Yet no one knew that throughout the entire journey, they exchanged not a word.

Su Jiaojiao could sense that His Majesty was troubled, but she couldn’t guess what he was thinking.

In such a situation, speaking rashly might only annoy him. It was better to stay silent and let him gather his thoughts before initiating the conversation.

The shaded path was lined with lush willow trees.

They walked side by side for a long while before His Majesty finally spoke. "What did Nanny tell you?"

Su Jiaojiao knew how taboo the topic of Consort Lian was. She wasn’t sure if His Majesty was probing to reprimand her or simply asking out of curiosity. Hesitating for a moment, she played innocent with a smile. "What?"

She looked genuinely confused, as if she didn’t understand his question. Only then did Shen Huai lift his gaze to look at her.

"Nanny Sun has cared for me since I was a child. Originally, she was also my mother’s wet nurse. The bracelet on your wrist—when I gave it to you, I never explained its origin. It was my mother’s most treasured piece before her death. You saved Nanny Sun, so she must have seen this bracelet and thought of my mother."

Shen Huai spoke calmly. "I want to know what Nanny told you—and how much."

Most would have simply answered whether she had spoken or not—either begging forgiveness or obscuring the facts to distance themselves.

But Su Jiaojiao was different from others.

She simply stopped and looked at him, her beautiful, clear eyes glistening with tears as she asked softly, "Is Your Majesty afraid of being known?"

Shen Huai froze, silent.

Then she added, "Your past?"

He abruptly averted his gaze, avoiding a direct answer, and only said, "My mother was a forbidden subject in the palace."

As if to tell her that it wasn’t fear, nor was it that he dared not let others know—it was simply that the subject itself was forbidden, something that should not exist.

Yet Su Jiaojiao also knew that it was common knowledge the Emperor’s birth mother was not the Empress Dowager but another woman, though most did not know exactly who.

If it were merely learning Consort Lian’s name, what did it matter? What His Majesty did not wish her to know was surely not that.

Rather, it was that the nursemaid knew him far too well—she could analyze him completely and lay him bare before Su Jiaojiao.

In Su Jiaojiao’s eyes, the Emperor had always carried an air of cool indifference.

A ruler with iron determination, both calculating and ruthless, never really giving his heart to anyone—even just a slight frown from him was enough to make others feel the weight of his displeasure.

A ruler without vulnerabilities.

Though he showed her more favor than others, she knew well that it was far from being truly special.

The Emperor she had come to understand over the years was vastly different from the gentle yet distant man the nursemaid described. Even she was taken aback—who knew His Majesty had this hidden side?

He was human, too. He could feel vulnerable. He had his own longings.

Tears fell from Su Jiaojiao's eyes. "But my heart aches for you, Your Majesty."