Yue Tao rushed over, calling out in confusion, “Mistress?”
Lady Gu wept fiercely. Though her voice was loud, there were few tears. She grabbed whatever was within reach and threw it, venting her anger. Her outburst drew the attention of maids and servants passing by Wenqing Pavilion, who peered inside curiously. The more perceptive ones, after listening for a moment, hurried off to spread the news in other courtyards.
Gu Huairou, once upset, was also prone to disregard consequences. Despite Yue Tao’s attempts to calm her, she continued her tirade until her voice grew hoarse nearly half an hour later.
“What’s the point of all this?” Yue Tao whispered. “The master’s punishment has already made you a laughingstock in the courtyard. If you keep crying like this, won’t it just make them even more pleased?”
“Let them be pleased if they want!” Lady Gu sniffled, her voice raspy. “My heart is unsettled. You can’t even let me cry?”
Yue Tao sighed deeply. Her mistress could occasionally be shrewd, but her pampered nature often led her to act without considering the consequences, prioritizing momentary comfort. As a mere maid, Yue Tao couldn’t speak up. She could only steel herself and bring hot water for her mistress to wash her face.
Lady Gu sat with puffy eyes, brooding. She felt wronged no matter how she thought about it. The three months reduction in allowance wasn’t a significant issue, as she had support from her maiden family. However, being forbidden from serving in bed for half a year? Who would remember her after that time? Once out of favor in this courtyard, what use would she be? Who would still be willing to serve and help her?
She had thought Jiang Shi was exaggerating, but it turned out she had been right.
“Yue Tao, has Jin Yu returned from Zhengchun Pavilion?” Gu Huairou suddenly remembered and turned to ask.
Yue Tao went to check and soon returned with the young maid who had been left at Zhengchun Pavilion.
“What happened at Zhengchun Pavilion?” Gu Huairou asked with furrowed brows.
“Mistress,” Jin Yu knelt and reported, “I stayed in the inner chamber and listened. Jiang Shi remained unconscious, and her maids didn’t accuse you. They only said you accidentally spilled water. Unexpectedly, the master still became angry and said he wanted to make an example of you.”
“They covered for me like that, yet the master still got angry?” Lady Gu couldn’t believe it. “Are you sure they didn’t do anything subtle?”
“I heard it with my ears, Miss Jiang and her servants truly spoke on your behalf, but the master…” Jin Yu couldn’t understand the master’s actions either.
Gu Huairou fell silent, fidgeting with her handkerchief for a while, feeling both angry and confused.
The master had never lost his temper with anyone before, and his punishments were usually light. Jiang Taohua was just a newly married princess who had married into the wrong family. With Zhao’s country in decline, the title of princess was merely an empty shell, without power or money. Why would the master treat her differently?
“If what I said is correct, then set aside your prejudices and come talk to me again.”
Jiang Shi’s words suddenly echoed in Gu Huairou’s mind. She had a slight change of heart and beckoned Jin Yu over, whispering, “Go back to Zhengchun Pavilion and keep watch. When Jiang Shi wakes up, find a time when the master isn’t around and report back to me.”
“Yes,” Jin Yu complied and respectfully withdrew.
At Zhengchun Pavilion, Jiang Taohua’s condition was far from optimistic. Her wound was severe, she had lost a lot of blood and had been in constant distress. The imperial physician’s presence proved crucial, and the entire Zhengchun Pavilion bustled with activity throughout the night, barely saving half her life.
Shen Zaiye sat leisurely in the outer room, watching people come and go with medicine and water, focusing on the documents in his hand, completely unmoved.
Qing Tai felt somewhat annoyed. If he wasn’t going to stay in the room, that was one thing, but if he was going to stay, he could at least pretend to look concerned or anxious to match the atmosphere. His indifferent demeanor was infuriating!
It was fortunate that her mistress was intelligent enough to seek the Prince Nan’s support. Otherwise, given Shen Zaiye’s stone-cold heart, he certainly wouldn’t care whether she lived or died.
What kind of man had she married…?
Shaking her head and sighing, Qing Tai sat by the bed, holding Taohua’s cold hand, gently rubbing it to warm her up.
Jiang Taohua seemed restless in her sleep, her brows constantly furrowed as if she were running frantically, her expression extremely tense. Her pale lips moved slightly, seeming to call out something.
Qing Tai was startled and couldn’t help but lean closer to listen carefully.
“Bastard… bastard, stop right there…”
What? Qing Tai was dumbfounded. She looked up at her mistress, then bent down to listen again, sure she hadn’t misheard. It seemed that she wasn’t being chased, but rather chasing someone.
She had entered the palace late and didn’t know what had happened to her mistress before, but she hadn’t heard of Jiang Taohua having any deep grudges. Why would she be fixated on this even in her dreams?
As she was pondering, Shen Zaiye’s voice suddenly came from behind: “What is she saying?”
Startled, Qing Tai nearly lost her balance. She quickly stood up and moved aside, lowering her head and saying, “The mistress is talking in her sleep, it’s unclear.”
Raising an eyebrow slightly, Shen Zaiye sat down and leaned in to listen. But whether because she had caught up or for some other reason, Taohua stopped talking, though her brows remained tightly knitted.
“What’s wrong with your mistress?” Shen Zaiye chuckled lightly, reaching out to smooth her furrowed brow. “Frowning even in her sleep, she’ll become very ugly in the future.”
Following his hand with her eyes, Qing Tai asked very seriously, “Does the master think my mistress is ugly?”
Shen Zaiye fell silent as he withdrew his hand.
The person before him was sleeping more peacefully now. Her face was pale and haggard, yet without any hint of wretchedness. Her eyebrows were like willow leaves; even furrowed, they evoked sympathy rather than unattractiveness.
This woman’s beauty had a kind of aggressiveness to it, which was why he disliked her eyes when they were open. But sleeping quietly like this, he found her adorable.
A girl should just quietly harbor her little thoughts, neither too foolish nor too clever. Someone as overly intelligent as Jiang Taohua was likely to have a short life.
After all, this world still belonged to men, with no place for women.
Taohua turned over, smacking her lips, wanting to curl up as usual, but seemed to pull at her wound, letting out a muffled groan of pain.
“Can’t even sleep quietly?” Shen Zaiye raised an eyebrow and reached out to straighten her body, making her lie flat. He then grabbed a nearby belt and tied her feet to the bed, followed by using a silk ribbon to secure her shoulders, preventing her from turning over.
Qing Tai: “…”
“Won’t this make the mistress uncomfortable?” she asked.
“It’s better than her pulling at her wound again,” Shen Zaiye said as he got up and moved all the documents from the table to the bedside, continuing to read.
Qing Tai glanced at the sky outside and asked with some surprise, “Are you going to keep vigil?”
“There are only two hours until dawn. What’s the difference between keeping vigil or not?” Shen Zaiye said casually. “You go and rest. Come back at daybreak tomorrow.”
Qing Tai was stunned and looked at him with concern.
Why was this man’s thoughts so hard to understand? For the dignified Chancellor to keep vigil for a concubine was unheard of. If he truly cared, why did he look completely indifferent? But if he didn’t care, why was he staying here?
She couldn’t figure it out. If her mistress were awake, she would surely be able to give her some insight, but unfortunately, her mistress was still unconscious.
After hesitating for a moment, Qing Tai decided to rest on a chair in the outer room, just in case there was any movement.
Shen Zaiye simply wanted to go through the motions. Having kept vigil for Jiang Taohua, his desire to save her would seem genuine, right? When word reached the Prince Nan, it would be an opportunity to regain trust.
But why was this woman so restless in her sleep? If she wasn’t groaning, she was trying to turn over. Her brows furrowed and relaxed, then furrowed again, making it impossible for him to focus on reading.
Feeling somewhat irritated, Shen Zaiye simply took off his outer robe, got on the bed, and held her down, gently patting her shoulder as if soothing a child.
With this patting, Jiang Taohua calmed down, leaning against him and sleeping soundly without a sound.
So she could only sleep comfortably when close to a man? Shen Zaiye pressed his lips together, looking at her with disdain, yet his hand didn’t dare stop its gentle and delicate movements. The contrast between his facial expression and his actions was stark, making him look as if he had shed the shrewd skin of the Chancellor, revealing the nature of an awkward child.
If Zhan Lu were here, he would certainly be startled. Unfortunately, Zhan Lu was away on other business, leaving just the two of them in the inner chamber.
As he continued patting, time passed, and Shen Zaiye himself grew drowsy. He had developed a high level of wariness towards Jiang Taohua and shouldn’t have slept here, but he was too tired to move. Even as he gradually fell into sleep, part of him was still struggling, constantly trying to wake from the dream.
This conflicted feeling persisted until he woke the next morning.
Opening his eyes, he found himself staring into Jiang Taohua’s eyes. They were clear with a hint of confusion, looking at him foolishly. He could see himself reflected in her eyes—equally bewildered and completely off guard.
His heart sank. Shen Zaiye quickly rolled over and got up, grabbing his outer robe and putting it on. With a grim expression, he strode out of the room.
“Does he have morning grumpiness?” Taohua asked, dazed.
Qing Tai, carrying a basin of water, replied somewhat oddly, “Perhaps he didn’t sleep well. Mistress, please wash your face first.”
“Mm.”
After sleeping through the night and with the effect of the medicine, although Taohua’s complexion was still poor today, it wasn’t as deathly as yesterday. She managed to wash her face but still had to lie down.
“Did something happen with Lady Gu?”
Qing Tai nodded, “Just as you predicted, Mistress.”
So it followed that pattern? Jiang Taohua was amused. If things developed as she had anticipated, she would have bargaining chips to negotiate with Shen Zaiye.
Shen Zaiye fundamentally looked down on women. If she didn’t make him understand her value, he might think it more convenient to kill her. This time, he wanted to break the rules established in the courtyard, stirring up this tranquil pond to gain something. She could help with that.
However, if he thought he could simultaneously make her the target of everyone’s arrows, confining her to this mansion without the ability to move freely or have extra energy to interact with the Prince Nan, then he was thinking too simply.
Arrogant men always have to suffer a bit.
(End of Chapter)