Chapter 127 Disposal

Jiang Huan looked at the trembling palace maid kneeling on the ground and sighed inwardly.

They look so young, why don't they learn good habits?

"Stealing from the palace is a serious crime. According to the rules, one should be punished with twenty strokes of the cane and expelled from the palace."

Jiang Huan deliberately put on a stern face and lowered her voice intentionally.

Upon hearing this, the young palace maid immediately kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead hitting the floor tiles with a dull thud.

"Your Majesty, please have mercy! This servant will never dare to do it again. Please forgive this servant!"

Jiang Huan glanced at Granny Deng standing to the side and saw that she looked calm, as if she was waiting for her to make a decision.

After thinking for a moment, she continued, "However, I can give you a chance. Tell me, why did you steal someone else's hairpin?"

The young palace maid sobbed as she answered, "My mother is seriously ill, and we have no money to buy medicine. I heard that Sister Yu's hairpin is silver, so... so..."

Jiang Huan frowned slightly, her gaze falling on the rough hands of the young palace maid.

Those hands were covered in calluses and tiny wounds, clearly indicating that they had done a lot of rough work.

"Do you know that stealing is wrong?"

"This servant knows she was wrong, she really knows she was wrong." The little palace maid cried even more miserably. "This servant is willing to be punished, she only begs Your Majesty not to send this servant out of the palace, her family is still counting on the monthly allowance to save their lives."

Jiang Huan pondered for a moment, then looked at Granny Deng: "Granny, what do you think should be done?"

This was the first time she had encountered something like this, and she did have some thoughts, but she felt she should still ask Granny Deng.

After all, Granny Deng was an old hand in the palace and had experienced all sorts of ups and downs.

Upon hearing this, Granny Deng finally spoke.

"Your Highness is kind-hearted, but palace rules cannot be disregarded. In my opinion, it would be better to have her return the hairpin to its rightful owner and then fine her three months' worth of her monthly allowance as a warning to others."

Jiang Huan nodded: "Let's do as the nanny says."

After she finished speaking, she turned to the young palace maid and said, "I will send someone to verify your mother's condition. If it is true, I will ask the imperial physician to take a look."

The young palace maid was stunned, then burst into tears, this time tears of joy.

"Your Majesty's kindness is immense; I will repay it even if it means serving you like a cow or a horse."

Jiang Huan waved her hand: "Alright, go down. Remember, this is the last time."

After the palace maids left, Granny Deng looked at Jiang Huan with more admiration in her eyes.

"Your Majesty handled the situation well, both establishing your authority and bestowing favor."

Jiang Huan smiled sheepishly: "It was all thanks to the nanny's advice."

Deng Mama rarely showed a smile: "Your Highness is very intelligent and quick to understand. I have been in the palace for many years and have seen many masters. It is rare to find someone as decisive and compassionate as Your Highness."

Jiang Huan blushed slightly at the praise and was about to say something modest when she heard Granny Deng change the subject.

"However, now that Your Highness has been promoted to Consort Zhuang, there are some things this old servant must remind you of."

Jiang Huan immediately perked up her ears; a lesson was about to begin.

"Please speak, Granny."

Deng Mama lowered her voice: "Your Majesty is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, but in the harem, the most taboo thing is to monopolize the Emperor's affections. The Emperor is the supreme ruler, and it is the right way to distribute his favors equally. Your Majesty must not have any thoughts of monopolizing the Emperor just because he often comes to Weiyang Palace, and you must not be jealous of the Emperor's favor towards other concubines."

As Jiang Huan listened, her expression became somewhat complicated.

After all, Huo Lin never goes anywhere else except to her place, okay?

Just then, I heard a familiar sound of footsteps.

Jiang Huan looked up and saw that Huo Lin was already standing at the entrance of the garden, his face frighteningly gloomy.

What does "equal distribution of favors" mean? When has the Emperor ever shown favor to anyone else?

How could Granny Deng falsely accuse me without any basis?

[I am an innocent person, yet she makes me sound like a womanizer.]

A series of intense and deeply aggrieved words rang in Jiang Huan's ears.

Looking at Huo Lin's handsome, icy face and listening to his inner accusations, she almost burst out laughing.

Huo Lin strode over, his gaze sweeping coldly over Granny Deng.

Granny Deng was bewildered by the glare and quickly bowed.

"This old servant greets Your Majesty."

Huo Lin snorted coldly, ignoring her, and turned to look at Jiang Huan.

"What are you saying?"

Jiang Huan suppressed the smile on her lips, trying her best to make her expression look normal.

"Your Majesty, Granny Deng is instructing me on some, um... the rules of the inner palace."

[What should I teach her? Should I teach her to tolerate me favoring other men?]

[I am innocent! I can't even remember what the other concubines look like.]

[Sending Granny Deng to her side was to protect her, not to smear me!]

"Why has His Majesty arrived at this hour?"

Jiang Huan quickly changed the subject.

Huo Lin then withdrew his glare at Granny Deng and softened his tone.

"Today's government affairs were handled early."

Actually, I miss her.

I feel empty inside after not seeing them all morning.

[I always get distracted when reviewing memorials, wondering what she's doing.]

Jiang Huan felt both speechless and sweet inside.

Why is this person so clingy, like a large dog?

Seeing through the situation, Granny Deng tactfully took her leave: "This old servant will go and arrange for the new palace maids. Farewell."

After Deng Mama had walked away, Huo Lin sat down on the stone bench next to Jiang Huan and asked casually, "What did Deng Mama say to you just now?"

Jiang Huan blinked, deliberately teasing him.

"It's just some rules of the harem, like being virtuous and gentle, not being jealous, and being considerate of the emperor's equal distribution of favors..."

"Nonsense!" Huo Lin abruptly interrupted her, his brows furrowed. "When did I..."

He suddenly realized he was overreacting, so he coughed lightly and suppressed his emotions.

"What I mean is, these outdated customs and practices are better ignored."

Seeing Huo Lin's anxious yet reluctant expression, Jiang Huan finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I didn't hear a single word."

Huo Lin's eyes lit up: "Really?"

She understands me.

[As expected of my Jiang Huan.]

Jiang Huan nodded, then added mischievously, "After all, the Emperor is so busy with state affairs, how could he have time to get involved with other people?"

Huo Lin's face stiffened: "That's not what I meant..."

[It's over, the more I try to explain, the worse it gets.]

[She probably thinks I'm not going because I'm busy, doesn't she?]

[It's because she's the only one in my heart.]

Seeing Huo Lin's speechless expression, Jiang Huan finally had a change of heart and stopped teasing him.

"I was just joking. I know perfectly well how the Emperor treats me."

Huo Lin breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes softening: "It's good that you know."

She trusts me.

That's enough.

The two smiled at each other, and the garden became quiet and beautiful for a moment.