Chapter 149 Caught

Chapter 149: The Culprit Revealed

"The mastermind behind this is Consort Yu."

The Dragon's Yang Energy—

Using the method of balancing yin and yang to save Su Jiaojiao?

Shen Huai frowned as he looked over, somewhat uncertain: "Is this truly effective?"

The imperial physicians dared not raise their heads to face the emperor's authority, trembling as they replied: "Your Majesty's imperial health is of utmost importance. This desperate measure... we... is truly a last resort."

"Her condition deteriorates rapidly, but with Your Majesty's intervention, there may yet be hope. However, this will inevitably compromise Your Majesty's health. We truly dare not! The decision... rests entirely with Your Majesty."

Shen Huai stared fixedly at the kneeling figures and said solemnly: "As long as Consort Zhen comes to no harm, what reason have I to hesitate?"

"Leave and wait outside."

The imperial physicians had not expected His Majesty to truly endanger himself to give Consort Zhen a chance at survival. They stared at him in stunned silence.

But the emperor's resolve was clear.

Everyone in the hall was uneasy. They knelt in salute before retreating outside to wait, silently praying for Consort Zhen's safety, lest they suffer the consequences themselves.

With the aid of several silver-burning braziers, the temperature in the hall had risen swiftly.

Shen Huai carefully felt the warmth beneath Su Jiaojiao's blankets—it was already pleasantly warm, almost hot.

Whether it was an illusion or not, her icy hands seemed to have gained a faint trace of warmth.

He removed all his garments and lay beside Su Jiaojiao, then cautiously undressed her as well, pulling her tightly into his embrace.

Shen Huai had always run warm, especially in winter. Holding the ice-cold Su Jiaojiao against him, skin to skin, was like plunging from warmth into bitter cold.

The cold radiating from her body seemed to seep from her very bones, bit by bit, passing through their pressed flesh into Shen Huai's own.

Where he held her was as cold as an ice cellar, while his back was warmed by the warming stones.

The battle between ice and fire within him was so intense that even a man like him found it unbearable.

But the thought that the cold he endured came from Su Jiaojiao's body steeled his resolve. As long as she could wake, no sacrifice was too great.

The hall was silent, save for the two of them.

Though the discomfort was great, Shen Huai couldn't help but cherish this closeness.

It had been so long since he'd held her like this.

He dreaded that if she didn't pull through today, this might be the last time.

The moment this thought surfaced, Shen Huai's heart clenched painfully. His arms tightened around Su Jiaojiao instinctively, as though letting go would make her vanish.

But seeing her eyes shut so tightly, he worried his grip might hurt her and loosened it slightly, adjusting his hold with care.

After holding her quietly for a long while, Shen Huai gave a bitter laugh.

How long had it been since he'd acted so recklessly?

Ever since Xue Miao's departure, he had been caught up in the pursuit of power, his heart growing ever colder.

He had always hated his father, yet without realizing it, he had become the same kind of person.

But fortunately, unlike his father who had lost his mother completely, he had not lost Su Jiaojiao—even if she held a grudge against him.

As long as she lived, it was enough.

Even if she refused to see him, even if she despised the foolish and arrogant things he had done in the past, as long as she was alive, he could always find a way to see her.

The next day, Shen Huai was the first to open his eyes, realizing that it was already dawn outside.

He was startled for a moment, regretting that he had fallen asleep holding Su Jiaojiao without monitoring her condition. Fearful, he hurriedly reached out to touch her arm.

Just as he was about to lower his head to check on her, he saw Su Jiaojiao slowly open her eyes.

Her body had regained warmth, though her face was still very pale, showing her weakness.

The moment he saw her open her eyes, the heavy weight in Shen Huai’s heart instantly lifted, replaced by relief and joy that she was alive.

Moved by emotion, he pulled Su Jiaojiao into his arms, intending to kiss her forehead. But to his surprise, she suddenly woke up, frowning as she pushed herself up, her eyes filled with unmistakable disgust.

Stumbling, she stepped off the bed and fumbled with the clothes from the dressing table, struggling to put them on.

But her movements grew slower and slower.

In the past, it had always been Yu Ying and Yu Ye who helped her wash and dress. But now, Yu Ye would never appear again...

Memories flooded over her, and grief surged through her heart. Su Jiaojiao stood frozen before the dressing table before clutching the palace gown and slumping to the floor, crying silently.

Shen Huai quickly rose from the bed, grabbing his inner robe and draping it over himself. He couldn’t let Su Jiaojiao risk going outside in this state.

Yet her cold attitude still managed to hurt him.

She hadn’t even asked why he was here, why they were lying together unclothed. The moment she saw him upon waking, she had pulled away without saying anything.

But seeing her cry still hurt him.

When Xue Miao had left all those years ago, his grief had been no less than Su Jiaojiao’s now.

People who grew up with little always valued whatever warmth they had left.

Shen Huai was like that. So was Su Jiaojiao.

"Jiaojiao."

Right now, she was like a scared rabbit, ready to run at the smallest sound.

Afraid of further upsetting her, Shen Huai cautiously took two steps forward, speaking gently, "Come back and rest, alright? Your body is too weak. If you push yourself like this, you’ll only make things worse."

After a pause, he added gently, "Yu Ye wouldn’t want you to harm yourself either."

At the mention of Yu Ye’s name, Su Jiaojiao, still facing away from him, asked coldly without turning, "Where is Yu Ye?"

Seeing her stubbornness, Shen Huai frowned slightly. "Yu Ye has been placed in Yaoxian Hall. We haven’t buried her without your knowledge. First, let the maids help you wash and dress, let the imperial physician check your pulse, and then I’ll accompany you back to Yaoxian Hall."

"Last night, I already said that Yu Ye would be buried with honors as an honorary daughter of the Su family. She gave her life protecting her mistress—she deserves recognition."

To his surprise, Su Jiaojiao only reddened her eyes, clutching the clothes as she turned her head and spoke each word clearly, "Deserves recognition?"

She let out a cold laugh, staring at him with complete scorn. "If not for someone’s deliberate plot, how would Yu Ye and I have fallen into Mirror Shadow Lake late at night?"

Shen Huai faltered briefly. "I’ll find who did this to you—"

But before he could finish, Su Jiaojiao coldly interrupted him. Her lips twisted into a mocking smile as her slightly reddened eyes gleamed with frost. "The true culprit?"

"You’d probably never dare."

At this moment, Cai Shan, who had been waiting outside, heard the noise inside and perked up.

Knowing this was good news of Consort Zhen's awakening, he knocked on the door and asked, "Should I call the imperial doctor for Her Ladyship?"

Shen Huai glanced toward the door, his mood darkened by Su Jiaojiao's scorn and indifference. He stood up, yanked Su Jiaojiao up from the floor and shoved her back under the covers. Then, throwing on his outer robe, he said coldly, "Let them in."

Su Jiaojiao struggled under the covers, trying to get up, but Shen Huai held her firmly in place.

When the imperial physician entered and saw Consort Zhen awake, he was overcome with gratitude, kneeling and saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, Her Ladyship—"

With that, the lead physician immediately rose and half-knelt before Su Jiaojiao, placing a thin cloth over her wrist to take her pulse.

After a careful examination, the physician reported, "Your Majesty, though Her Ladyship’s body temperature has recovered by seventy or eighty percent, the cold has invaded her system, damaging her vitality. Her Ladyship’s severely weakened, made worse by grief—her condition is not favorable."

"She needs gentle warmth to heal quickly."

At least she’s alive, even if it’s bad. Shen Huai sighed in relief and ordered sternly, "Get her the best tonics."

Once the physician withdrew, Shen Huai called out, "Cai Shan."

Cai Shan hurried in, bowing his head to receive orders.

"Did you catch last night’s attackers? Did they reveal the mastermind?"

At the word ‘mastermind,’ Cai Shan tensed.

He peeked up nervously, then looked down and replied warily, "We caught them."

"The attacker was the former Deposed Lady Jiang, whom Your Majesty sent to the Cold Palace. Under torture, she confessed—"

"Consort Yu put her up to it."