After some thought, Yue Tao softly suggested, “In this servant’s opinion, if the mistress wants her help but doesn’t want to be implicated, you could form a private alliance with her and simply not harm her. As for appearances, maintain a cordial distance to avoid arousing the master’s suspicion of you being too close.”
“So you’re saying I should do nothing?” Gu Huairou pondered, “That seems like a good deal.”
Gu reasoned that Jiang Taohua might be looking for allies in the rear court. Since Jiang was so calculating, Gu didn’t want to be manipulated and used as a stepping stone without being able to extricate herself later.
Having made up her mind, Gu returned to Wenqing Pavilion and found a red sachet, instructing Jinyu to deliver it to Zhengchun Pavilion.
Taohua had just finished a bowl of donkey-hide gelatin chicken soup and was snacking on some red dates when Qingtai entered with the sachet.
“That was a quick response,” Taohua remarked with a light laugh as she took the sachet. “Qingtai, can you guess Lady Gu’s intentions?”
Qingtai gave her mistress a puzzled look. “What else could it mean? Didn’t you say earlier that if Lady Gu agreed with you, she’d send this? Now that she has, it must mean she agrees.”
Despite still feeling unwell, Taohua managed to roll her eyes at her maid. “If everyone thought as simply as you, the saying ‘you can never truly know another’s heart’ wouldn’t exist.”
“…Could she have other intentions?” Qingtai asked, perplexed as she examined the sachet. “How can you tell?”
“It’s obvious that Lady Gu wants me to help her, but she’s also afraid of being implicated. So she’s sending this sachet as a token of alliance to enjoy my protection without actively helping me,” Taohua explained, setting the sachet aside with a smile. “This way, she only stands to gain without risk, which is why she made the decision so quickly. Otherwise, she would have taken more time to consider.”
Qingtai’s mouth twitched. “You… you even accounted for this?”
“Of course,” Taohua replied, rubbing her forehead and lying down wearily. “I knew from the start she wouldn’t simply agree to help, so I never truly intended to be in the same boat with her. Given Shen Zaiyu’s attitude towards her, she likely won’t have an easy time in the future. As long as she doesn’t cause trouble for me and we don’t drag each other down, that’s good enough.”
Qingtai was speechless, marveling at how her mistress, despite her pale lips and obvious discomfort, still had the energy to think so far ahead. It was truly formidable.
“You should rest for now,” she said softly. “We’ll need to change your dressings soon.”
Knowing that each dressing change would be torture, Taohua quickly closed her eyes to rest. However, before drifting off, she instructed, “Go and learn about the household’s expenses and provisions.”
“Yes, mistress.”
The long-calm rear court of the Chancellor’s mansion finally stirred with activity. News spread like wildfire that Shen Zaiyu had stayed at Zhengchun Pavilion for three days, summoned imperial physicians for Jiang Taohua, and severely punished Lady Gu for causing trouble.
“Now we’ll have some excitement to watch,” Lady Qin remarked, cracking melon seeds as she sat beside Mei Zhaoxue. “Gu is brash and willful. After such a punishment, she won’t be able to swallow her pride and will surely make things difficult for Jiang. Tonight was supposed to be Lady Meng’s turn to serve the master, and tomorrow night Lady Duan’s. Both are of equal rank to Jiang and have seniority, yet Jiang has stolen their favor. This grudge will run deep.”
Mei Zhaoxue chuckled lightly, fiddling with the tea set before her. “As long as we’re not involved, we can simply enjoy the show. Both Meng and Duan are formidable opponents. We’ll just keep our distance and make sure no blood stains our skirts.”
Qin Jieyu nodded, her smile bright as she deftly spat a melon seed shell far away.
Shen Zaiyu acted as if he knew nothing, attending court and working during the day, then visiting Zhengchun Pavilion at night to personally feed Taohua her medicine.
Jiang Taohua smiled at him, refusing to open her mouth.
“This is to replenish your blood,” Shen said with a smile. “I’m feeding you myself. Won’t you take it?”
Taohua shook her head firmly and reached out to Qingtai, saying, “Silver needle.”
Qingtai respectfully handed it over, and Taohua dipped the needle into the medicine to test it.
Shen narrowed his eyes, still smiling. “Are you afraid I’m trying to poison you?”
“This lowly wife would never doubt you, my lord,” Taohua replied, seeing no reaction from the silver needle. She took the medicine and leaned against the bedhead. “Didn’t the Prince Nan say that my life is entrusted to you? You can’t kill me. But with so many people in this compound, someone might accidentally use the wrong medicine. It’s always good to be cautious.”
Watching her drink the medicine spoonful by spoonful, Shen chuckled. “You’re quite wary.”
“Living under your watchful eye, one must be cautious to survive,” Taohua bowed her head submissively. “But since I’m yours now, my lord, why do you still seek to make things difficult for me?”
Shen raised an eyebrow, observing her exposed white neck as she bowed. He reached out to grasp her chin, forcing her to look at him.
“Where do you see me making things difficult for you? For your sake, I even kept the imperial physician from returning to the palace all night.”
Meeting his deep gaze, Taohua calmly said, “I heard you severely punished Lady Gu.”
“That was because she misbehaved and deserved punishment.”
“Wasn’t that too harsh, my lord?” Taohua smiled. “Lady Gu didn’t intentionally cause me trouble, nor did she cause any serious consequences. Why deny her the right to serve you for half a year?”
“Are you pleading on her behalf?” Shen asked, surprised. “With her nights reduced, you’ll have more time with me. Aren’t you happy about that?”
Who would want to sleep with a venomous snake? Jiang Taohua laughed coldly in her heart but maintained a gentle expression. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I just feel that everything should be fair. Not only is Lady Gu unjustly punished, but others in the household might think you’ve been bewitched by me and are showing favoritism. Doesn’t this create difficulties for me, my lord?”
Has she seen through my intentions? Shen lowered his eyes, reflecting for a moment. Had he underestimated this woman again? What he meant as a show of favor would have made others complacent, yet she remained clear-headed enough to analyze the disadvantages.
His gaze flickered as he said, “I hadn’t considered that. Now that the rule has been set, pardoning Gu might make people think I’m fickle. This matter…”
“I have a solution,” Taohua interrupted, reaching for the sachet by her pillow. “Lady Gu sent this small gift to apologize to me. Knowing one’s mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue. I’ve heard Lady Gu is proud, yet she’s willing to admit her error. Why not show some leniency, my lord? It would give you a reputation for magnanimity.”
Shen looked up, his gaze sweeping over her face. “Gu came to apologize to you?”
“Yes, it wasn’t a big issue to begin with. I feel bad that she went to the trouble of apologizing.”
Lies, surely? Shen didn’t believe it. Given Gu’s temperament, she would certainly have caused a scene. How could she have done nothing and even apologized to Jiang Taohua? She wasn’t that sensible.
He glanced at Zhanlü, who bowed and whispered in his ear, “Lady Gu did indeed visit Zhengchun Pavilion at noon.”
Shen fell silent, observing the pale-faced woman before him who still managed to smile. After a long while, he finally spoke, “How did you manage that?”
“What do you mean, my lord?” Taohua feigned innocence. “What did I do?”
“If you had done nothing, would Gu have come to apologize?”
Blinking her eyes, Taohua replied with a clear gaze, “I truly did nothing. Perhaps Lady Gu felt guilty on her own and decided to come.”
This explanation might fool others, but him? Shen laughed, reaching for the empty bowl Taohua had drunk from and placing it heavily on the nearby tray.
The sharp sound startled everyone in the room. Jiang Taohua raised her eyelids slightly, calmly looking at him. “Why are you angry all of a sudden, my lord?”
“I dislike women who lie,” Shen said, his face darkening. “Especially those who think they’re clever enough to manipulate me.”
Taohua sat up straight, frowning slightly before relaxing her expression. She looked at him calmly and said, “Please calm down, my lord. I’m merely trying to survive. There’s no direct conflict with you, so why are you so concerned?”
Whether she was being clever at his expense or had truly anticipated his thoughts and angered him out of embarrassment, Jiang Taohua could see through it. This display might intimidate other women, but she had been raised amidst fear and was no longer afraid.
Shen Zaiyu’s eyes were like sharp swords, piercing her from head to toe. Finally, realizing she showed no fear, he gave up on intimidation and asked directly:
“Do you truly only want to survive, or do you have other desires?”
Taohua smiled, “Rest assured, my lord. I only wish to survive. After all, if I lose my life, I lose everything. I can cooperate with you on other matters, but please forgive me for being cautious about things that might endanger me.”
Her meaning was clear: he could do as he pleased with his rear court, as long as it didn’t threaten her life. She would obey. But he should abandon any thoughts of elevating her only to let her fall to her death later.
Shen Zaiyu stared at her silently, his gaze full of pressure. Jiang Taohua met his eyes gently, even with a smile.
The atmosphere in the room was tense, like a fully drawn bow—either the bow would break or the arrow would fly. Qingtai and Zhanlü stood nearby, not daring to breathe deeply, sweat forming on their backs.
After a long while, Shen surprisingly chuckled, taking her hand in his. “If that’s the case, why don’t we cooperate for mutual benefit? What do you say?”
“What would you have me do, my lord?” Taohua asked playfully, tilting her head.
“Just be an ordinary woman, doing what you should in this rear court,” Shen said, raising his hand to gently smooth her long hair. “As for your life, with me here, it won’t be in danger.”
“What assurance do I have?” Taohua asked. “You also guaranteed my safety to the Prince Nan but failed to deliver. Without proof, I dare not trust you easily, my lord.”
(End of Chapter)