Still connected to Shen Zaiye? Mu Wuxia was puzzled and wanted to ask more. But seeing Taohua’s lingering fear, he guessed she must have been quite frightened. After some thought, he quietly comforted her instead: “It’s alright now. There won’t be any snakes in our carriage.”
“This concubine knows,” Taohua pressed her lips together, looking up at him with concern. “But didn’t Your Highness just kill some snakes?”
Prince Nan nodded. The snakes in that courtyard still had their venomous fangs. One bite could be fatal. If he hadn’t killed them, both their lives would have been in danger.
“You mentioned earlier that the snakes in the Snake Forest are His Majesty’s favorites,” Taohua frowned. “Will there be any consequences for killing them?”
Mu Wuxia paused, lowering his head in silence.
Father Emperor loved snakes to the point of obsession. He used to keep venomous snakes in the back palace, only moving them to Yingxian Mountain after Concubine Lan entered the palace, as she was afraid of snakes. Every snake in that courtyard was his treasure. Killing them was indeed a serious matter.
However, with lives at stake, he couldn’t let her be charged with trespassing in the Snake Forest, nor could he allow her to be bitten and lose her life needlessly.
If something truly went wrong, he would take responsibility.
“It’s fine. Let’s discuss it when we get back,” the young prince said calmly. “You should rest well when you return. I’ll handle the rest.”
Seeing his resolute demeanor, Taohua didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Your Highness, if His Majesty truly blames you, how do you plan to handle it?”
“I am a prince. Even if Father Emperor is angry, at least my life won’t be in danger,” Mu Wuxia looked at her seriously. “But it’s different for you. The charge of trespassing in the Snake Forest alone could result in severe punishment. Moreover, as a woman of the Chancellor’s household, going out privately with me could ruin your reputation if it becomes known.”
Taohua was stunned, staring at him blankly.
This child showed no hesitation at all. Just because the blame falling on her would make things worse for her, he was willing to bear all the consequences, even though he only acted to save her.
He was truly a bit foolish. If it were Shen Zaiye, he would undoubtedly push her out without hesitation to take all the blame, while smiling and standing aside.
Had the Prince Nan not considered that he was already not favored by the Emperor? If he committed the crime of killing the snakes, what if he were banished from the capital?
“Why is Your Highness protecting this concubine so much?” Taohua couldn’t help but ask.
Mu Wuxia looked at her matter-of-factly: “Because I am a man, and you are a woman. When something happens, it’s not right to let a woman suffer. Today’s outing was my initiative to invite you, so any problems are my responsibility.”
A man indeed! Prince Nan was truly a man, not a child! Taohua felt both warmth and admiration in her heart. Looking at his young face, she silently made a decision.
At the Chancellor’s mansion.
Shen Zaiye was still handling official documents in his study when Zhanlu suddenly rushed in, saying, “Master, something has happened!”
His heart tightened as he looked up with a frown. “What is it?”
“Prince Nan and Lady Jiang encountered Prince Jing. While fleeing, Lady Jiang accidentally entered the Snake Forest,” Zhanlu reported quickly. “Prince Nan killed some snakes. They’re now escaping back and are almost at the side gate of the mansion.”
“Is anyone injured?” Shen Zaiye asked.
Zhanlu shook his head.
“That’s good then.” Shen Zaiye stood up and hurried out.
Jiang Taohua stumbled as she entered the door, nearly falling. Mu Wuxia quickly caught her, chuckling lightly, “Last time you were so badly injured, but I didn’t see you this flustered.”
Taohua laughed dryly, thinking that the venomous snakes in this Chancellor’s mansion were no easier to deal with than those in the Snake Courtyard. How could she not be panicked?
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Mu Wuxia nodded, about to speak again when Shen Zaiye’s stern voice came from nearby: “Come inside to talk.”
Her body stiffened. Taohua thought, how could his information be so quick? He already knew about their incident?
Glancing nervously at the Prince Nan, she saw him calmly say, “You go rest. I’ll explain everything to the Chancellor.”
“That won’t be necessary. This concubine should go along,” Taohua said. “If I don’t go, the consequences might be even worse.”
Shen Zaiye would surely accuse her of bewitching the Prince Nan, finding someone to take the blame, and avoiding responsibility! Compared to that, it was better to go and face his anger.
Slightly surprised, Mu Wuxia thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. The two of them entered the adjacent room together.
Shen Zaiye’s expression was very displeased. As soon as they entered, he fixed his gaze on Taohua and said:
“What did I instruct you before you left?”
Taohua laughed dryly, approaching him and saying, “This wasn’t this concubine’s fault. Who knew the capital of Great Wei was so small that we’d run into Prince Jing as soon as we went out?”
“It was right for you to run when you saw him,” Shen Zaiye frowned. “But how do you explain involving the Prince Nan in having to kill snakes to save you?”
How could she explain? It was all fate! It was her first time at Yingxian Mountain, and she didn’t know the way. Who knew she’d end up in the Snake Forest while running? It was the whims of fate, not her fault, right?
“Please calm your anger, my lord!” Lowering her head, Taohua said, “Things have already happened this way. No explanation can change that. Why don’t we think about what to do next?”
Mu Wuxia stood to the side, lowering his head to feel his waist, then exclaimed, “Oh no!”
Shen Zaiye and Taohua both turned to look at him. Mu Wuxia frowned, touching his empty belt, and said, “My imperial jade pendant is missing.”
“Imperial jade pendant?” Taohua was confused. “What’s that?”
“All princes of Great Wei are given an imperial jade pendant at birth,” Shen Zaiye explained with a grave face. “It’s engraved with the prince’s name and birth details. It’s a symbol of their identity.”
Gasping, Taohua’s eyes widened: “It couldn’t have fallen in the Snake Courtyard, could it?”
“Zhanlu, go search!”
Shen Zaiye immediately ordered, and Zhanlu quickly obeyed and left.
Mu Wuxia pressed his lips together, looking up at him, and said, “If that’s truly the case, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Taohua frowned, her mind already racing: “We encountered Prince Jing today, right?”
“Yes,” Mu Wuxia looked at her puzzled. “What of it?”
Jiang Taohua adjusted her sleeve, saying softly, “Nothing, this concubine was just asking. Since things have come to this, there’s no use standing here. Your Highness, why don’t you return to your palace first?”
“But…”
“Go back and rest first,” Shen Zaiye also spoke. “Your Highness looks very tired, and your clothes are dusty.”
Looking down at his somewhat disheveled appearance, the young prince thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: “Then I’ll take my leave first.”
“We bid Your Highness farewell,” Jiang Taohua and Shen Zaiye said in unison.
Looking at the two of them with confusion, Mu Wuxia turned to leave, feeling a bit strange.
Those two hadn’t said anything, but just now, it seemed like they had reached some kind of mutual understanding. Their auras had suddenly become very harmonious.
Was it his imagination?
As the main door closed, Jiang Taohua turned and knelt before Shen Zaiye: “This concubine is willing to make amends and offer my lord an idea.”
Rubbing the ring on his hand, Shen Zaiye glanced at her, his voice cold: “Let’s hear it.”
Outside, the sunlight was still bright, but in this room, a chilly wind seemed to blow.
After carefully explaining her thoughts to him, Taohua felt that he approved. The atmosphere around him softened, and the room finally seemed to brighten.
“We can try it,” he said. “But why would you want to do such a thing?”
Jiang Taohua looked up, saying very seriously, “Because I owe the Prince Nan a favor. If I don’t repay it, this concubine would feel uneasy.”
Hasn’t she owed him favors before? How come she never felt uneasy then?
Shen Zaiye sneered, not bothering to argue with her. He only said, “If you truly want to help the Prince Nan, that’s a good thing. But if I discover you have any ulterior motives, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
“This concubine understands!” Taohua lowered her head.
“Alright, you may rise.”
With a solution in mind, Shen Zaiye’s mood lightened. Glancing at her pale face, he extended his hand, beckoning to her: “Come here.”
Taohua was startled. She quickly stood up and rushed into his arms, tightly hugging Shen Zaiye’s waist, trembling and looking utterly pitiful.
The second half of his sentence, “Sit down here,” hadn’t even left his mouth when he saw this woman embracing him again. Shen Zaiye pressed his lips together, looking down at her and asking:
“Were you truly that frightened?”
“This concubine might have nightmares for days,” Taohua pouted, saying softly, “It was too scary!”
If judging purely by appearance, Shen Zaiye was indeed much better-looking than venomous snakes. At least she wouldn’t be scared half to death upon opening her eyes and seeing him.
He raised his hand, intending to pat her back, but thought better of it. Shen Zaiye put his hand down, saying with disdain, “If you know to be afraid, why did you run into the Snake Forest without eyes on your forehead?”
“Do you have eyes on your forehead?” Taohua retorted, unable to contain her irritation.
The room fell silent again for a moment.
“…Hehe,” sensing the atmosphere had turned awkward, Taohua quickly slapped her mouth, looking up at him and saying, “This concubine spoke without thinking. Please don’t take it to heart, my lord.”
Has talking back to him become a habit? Shen Zaiye sneered, reaching out to pry her off.
“No, no, no, let this concubine hold you a bit longer!” Taohua quickly clung to him with both arms and legs, looking pitiful as she said, “Holding you makes this concubine feel more at ease.”
His heart stirred slightly. Shen Zaiye looked down at her and asked, “Holding me makes you not afraid of snakes?”
“Of course!” Taohua answered quickly and firmly.
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. Chancellor Shen, in a good mood, continued to ask, “Why?”
Was it because he was tall and strong, or because he could protect someone completely?
Jiang Taohua grinned, saying very seriously, “Because you must be the Snake King! To catch thieves, first, catch their king! Holding you, what snake would dare bite me?”
Shen Zaiye was stunned. By the time he reacted, his entire face had darkened.
“Jiang Taohua, I see you’re quite fearless!”
Daring to call him the King of Venomous Snakes?
“Ah, ah, ah!” Feeling him stand up, Taohua quickly clung to him tightly, refusing to let go. “Please calm your anger, my lord! This concubine was praising you! Doesn’t our Emperor love snakes the most?”
Shen Zaiye reached out, and Jiang Taohua hugged his arm, holding it tightly to her chest and saying, “You can’t be so rough with this concubine! Be gentler!”
(End of Chapter)