With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

"It's okay."

"It's okay, someone else is helping you?"

Ah Chao paused for a moment, then said, "...There's a past connection."

"What's old?"

He didn't speak.

Shen Nannan stared at him, then suddenly asked, "Is she pretty?"

Ah Chao was stunned for a moment.

"Is Consort Shu pretty?" Shen Nannan tilted her head.

"...I didn't notice."

"You're lying." She poked his chest. "You definitely noticed."

Ah Chao grasped the finger that was poking his chest and kissed it.

"Not as pretty as Miss."

"You...you're kidding me." Her ears turned red. "I asked if she's pretty, not if she's more attractive than me..."

"You're the most beautiful, Miss," he interrupted her, completely serious. "The most beautiful in the whole world."

"Stop trying to sweet-talk me." She slapped his hand away. "Is she a good dancer?"

Ah Chao opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Seeing him like this, Shen Nannan felt even more jealous. She knew she shouldn't be jealous, but she just couldn't help it. A concubine she'd never even met was sending him gifts and invitations, and they even had a past relationship... What right did she have?

"Shen Nannan," A-Chao suddenly called her by her full name.

"Um?"

Are you jealous?

"No." She turned her face away, her voice muffled. "Why would I be jealous?"

Ah Chao looked at her turned profile and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"She is older than the young lady."

"I didn't ask that."

"The servant doesn't like her."

"I didn't ask that."

"This servant only likes the young lady."

Shen Nannan's face flushed red, and she turned to glare at him: "You...who told you to say that!"

"That's what the young lady asked."

"When did I ask that?!"

"Miss asked her if she was pretty," Ah Chao said seriously. "This servant replied, 'This servant only likes Miss.'"

Shen Nannan was speechless, so she punched him lightly. He took her hand, kissed it, and his eyes crinkled with laughter.

"Alright, alright," she said, pulling her hand away, her face flushed. "I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm going to pack my things."

She turned to leave, but after taking two steps she stopped and looked back at him.

"Ah Chao".

"Um."

"I can dance too."

Ah Chao was stunned for a moment.

"I learned it before," her voice trailed off, "I learned it at home. I'll show you when I get back."

Ah Chao looked at her, and something stirred in his dark eyes.

"Okay," he said.

Shen Nannan looked at him, then suddenly spoke again: "Achao."

"Um."

Are you... leaving?

The corridor fell silent for a moment.

A gust of wind blew, and peach petals fell all over the ground in the yard, rustling like a sigh.

Shen Nannan stood there, her back to him, her shoulders tense. She didn't turn around; she didn't dare to.

She was afraid that if she turned around and saw his expression, she wouldn't be able to hold back her emotions.

She had sensed it long ago.

Lately, the way he looks at her is strange... It's not that sticky, reluctant gaze, but the kind of look that etches her image into his eyes, like he's memorizing something.

He combed her hair more slowly than usual, and would suddenly stop and stare blankly while feeding the rabbits. She woke up at night and found that he was not asleep, just watching her.

He was taking notes. He was writing her down bit by bit, as if afraid of forgetting her.

"Miss." His voice came from behind, low.

"Um."

"Only a servant will return."

Shen Nannan's nose tingled. She didn't turn around, but just stood there, her back to him.

"how long?"

"have no idea."

"Then I won't wait anymore." Her voice was hoarse. "Come back or not, it's up to you."

There was no sound behind her. She waited for a while, but still no sound. Finally, she couldn't resist and turned around.

A-Chao stood under the eaves, the sunlight falling on him and illuminating his bewitching face clearly.

He looked at her; her eyes were red, but the corners of her mouth were curved.

"Miss is lying," he said. "Miss will wait."

Shen Nannan's tears fell. She didn't want to cry, but the tears wouldn't listen, falling one by one, hitting the ground and the flower petals.

"How did you know?" Her voice trembled.

"Because the servant will wait too," he said. "Wait for the young lady to return. I'll wait however long it takes."

Shen Nannan looked at him, then suddenly ran over and buried her face in his chest, hugging his waist tightly.

"You said it," she buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled, "I'll come back. Don't die. Don't get hurt. Don't not come back."

Ah Chao reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"Yes," he said. "This servant agrees, Miss."

"If you're lying to me, I'll haunt you even in death."

"I'm not lying."

Shen Nannan cried in his arms for a while, then, after she had cried enough, she stepped out of his arms, wiped away her tears, and glared at him with red eyes.

"When are you leaving?"

"After the flower viewing banquet."

Her heart sank.

After the flower-viewing banquet, he had already planned to leave once the banquet was over and she returned safely.

"Where to?"

He didn't speak.

"Can't you say?"

"Not now."

Shen Nannan suddenly smiled. Her smile was tinged with tears, glistening in her eyes.

"Okay," she said. "If you don't want to tell me, then don't. But when you come back, bring me a present."

Ah Chao was taken aback for a moment: "What does Miss want?"

"Whatever." She thought for a moment, "Bringing a rock is fine too. As long as you've touched it."

Ah Chao looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbing. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her very tightly.

"Miss." His voice was muffled.

"Um."

"You lackeys."

"wait."

"I will definitely wait."

"I will definitely wait."

That night, Shen Nannan lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

She took the jade pendant out from under her pillow and looked at it in the moonlight.

It's pure white, smooth and delicate, with the character "淑" (Shu) neatly engraved on the back. Consort Shu. Who exactly is she? And what is her relationship with Ah Chao?

She thought for a long time but couldn't come up with an answer. She tucked the jade pendant back under her pillow and turned over.

"Ah Chao," she called out towards the door.

The door was gently pushed open. Ah Chao walked in, stood by the bed, and looked down at her.

"Miss, can't you sleep?"

"Um."

"Did you have a nightmare?"

"No." She moved further in and patted the spot next to her. "Sit here."

Ah Chao sat down on the edge of the bed, his back ramrod straight.

Shen Nannan looked at him, then suddenly reached out and grabbed his sleeve: "Lie down."

Ah Chao was stunned for a moment.

"Lie down." She tugged at his sleeve. "You're sitting so upright, it makes my neck sore from looking up at you."

He paused for a moment, then lay down beside her. The two lay side by side, a fist's width apart.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, falling on the curtains and casting blurry shadows of the two people.

"Ah Chao," she called him.

"Um."

"What will happen to the rabbit after you leave?"

"Raised by a young lady."

"I won't raise it. It only listens to you."

"It listens to Miss. It's just throwing a tantrum at her."

Shen Nannan turned over and lay on her side looking at him. In the moonlight, his profile was clearly illuminated, revealing a high nose bridge, a sharp jawline, and slightly pursed lips.

"Ah Chao," she called him again.

"Um."

"Turn around."

He turned his head and looked at her. Their eyes met, so close that she could see the bloodshot in his eyes and smell his cool, refreshing scent.

"What's the first thing you do when you get back?" she asked.

Ah Chao stared at her for two seconds, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"My dear young lady."

Shen Nannan's face flushed again: "Can't you...can't you think of something else?"

"No," he said. "I've thought about it for too long."

She reached out and punched him lightly; he took her hand, and their fingers intertwined.

"Miss."

"Um."

"Go to sleep."

"I'll go to sleep after you leave."

"Then this servant will not leave."

"That's a lie."

He didn't say anything, but simply tightened his grip on her hand a little more.

Shen Nannan closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his palm. It was warm, dry, and reassuring.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but she was almost asleep when she suddenly heard him speak.

"Miss."

"Hmm..." she mumbled in response.

"Keep that jade pendant close to your body. Don't lose it."

"Um."

"On the day of the flower viewing party, don't be alone. Stay with Miss Qiu and don't get separated."

"Um."

Don't drink alcohol offered by strangers. Don't eat tea or snacks given by strangers.

"Aren't you annoying?" She opened her eyes and glared at him. "You're even more long-winded than my brother."

Ah Chao looked at her and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"This servant is afraid that Miss has forgotten."

"I can't forget it." She closed her eyes, moved closer to him, and pressed her face against his arm. "I remember every word you said."

He didn't say anything more, but turned his head and placed a very light kiss on the top of her head.

The sound of the night watchman's clapper could be heard in the distance; it was the third watch.

The rabbit had somehow jumped onto the bed and nestled at their feet, its ears drooping, fast asleep.

Ah Chao glanced down at the rabbit.

"Keep an eye on her," he whispered.

The rabbit twitched its ears, as if it understood.