Shen Zaiye curved his lips, smiling wickedly. “You’ve finally awakened.”
Those six words, spoken slowly and deliberately, made Tao Hua’s hair stand on end. She scrambled to retreat to the far side of the bed.
However, someone grasped her ankle, halting her movement. Unexpectedly, Shen Zaiye pinned her beneath him.
So… heavy…
Catching her breath, Tao Hua closed her eyes and resigned herself to her fate. “My lord, you may settle accounts with me as you wish, but please don’t start by crushing this humble servant to death. At least give me a chance to explain!”
Damn it all, wasn’t he supposed to be spending his wedding night with Qin Huaiyu? Why had he come to the Zhengchun Pavilion? She tended to ramble when drunk—had he heard everything?
Shen Zaiye smiled faintly and said coolly, “Go ahead and explain. I’m listening.”
“…” Blinking, Tao Hua turned over, looking at him with a fawning expression. “Before I explain, could my lord perhaps tell me what I said that angered you?”
She remembered nothing after sobering up!
His eyes flickered as Shen Zaiye said, “You said I was the person you hated most, and if not for a twist of fate, you would never have willingly served me.”
Tao Hua’s mouth twitched as she looked at him disdainfully. “My lord, though I don’t remember what I said, I certainly wouldn’t have uttered such outrageous words, even when drunk. Why are you lying?”
“Oh?” Shen Zaiye raised an eyebrow, smiling with satisfaction. “Could it be that you’re genuinely willing to stay by my side?”
“Of course,” Tao Hua nodded earnestly. “The Chancellor is the highest of the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers, second only to one person. How foolish would I have to be not to want to remain by your side?”
“…”
Though her words were true, why did they sound so unpleasant? Reaching out to pinch her cheek, Shen Zaiye said with slight annoyance, “You little opportunist!”
Hearing this, Tao Hua immediately wrapped her arms tightly around him.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m ‘attaching’ myself to power,” she giggled. “My lord’s influence is great, so I must attach myself firmly.”
Both irritated and amused, Shen Zaiye pried her off and glared at her. “Let’s be serious. You sold off everything I gave you and sent the money to Zhao to support their army?”
Her heart skipped a beat. Tao Hua instantly wished she could tear out her tongue. Why had she blurted out everything? Couldn’t she have just slept quietly when drunk?
“Do you have any explanation for this?” Shen Zaiye’s gaze turned cold. “If others found out, it would be tantamount to treason.”
“What are you saying, my lord?” Tao Hua blinked, twisting her body coquettishly. “I’m originally from Zhao. At most, this could be seen as sending gifts from my husband’s family back to my maiden home. How is that selling out the country? You said that what you bestowed upon me was mine to do with as I pleased, didn’t you?”
Shen Zaiye sneered, “By that logic if I gave you a knife and you used it to kill someone, I’d have no say in the matter?”
Tao Hua quickly shook her head. Her eyes darted about as she smiled, “Using a knife to kill is evil. What I did benefits both Wei and Zhao!”
“A benefit?” Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes. “Keep spinning your tale. If you can make this sound reasonable, I’ll let the matter drop.”
That would be wonderful! Tao Hua immediately sat up, helping Shen Zaiye sit properly on the bed as well. Then, with a serious expression, she said, “My lord, as Chancellor, haven’t you noticed? Because Zhao’s national strength has declined over the past decade, Wei has begun to relax its defenses along the Wei-Zhao border, believing a declining nation poses no threat. If this continues, what if Zhao launches a surprise attack one day? Wouldn’t Wei’s border be indefensible?”
Shen Zaiye raised an eyebrow. “You even know about this?”
This was indeed a matter of state affairs. He had advised the Emperor not to let their guard down at the border. However, the Emperor had not heeded his counsel, redeploying most of the Wei-Zhao border troops to the Wu-Wei border, leaving the Wei-Zhao border as thin as a cicada’s wing, vulnerable to the slightest breeze. Nevertheless, given Zhao’s current situation, they could not likely launch any attack on Wei within the next decade.
“I’ve only heard rumors,” Tao Hua said. “One must prepare for danger in times of peace. I believe that Zhao’s weak military might not necessarily be good for Wei. If someone were to use Zhao as a route to attack Wei, how would we defend ourselves? The reason I sent money back to Zhao to support their army was to help Zhao’s military grow stronger, serving as a warning to Wei and drawing the Emperor’s attention to the importance of the Wei-Zhao border defenses.”
The corner of his mouth twitched as Shen Zaiye looked at her with an odd expression. “Don’t you think this explanation is rather far-fetched?”
Did she think her small amount of money could strengthen Zhao’s entire army?
“Not at all, it’s not far-fetched in the least!” Tao Hua straightened her sleeves, lying through her teeth without a hint of shame. “Things must be done step by step. What I can do now is limited, so this is as far as I can go. If my lord thinks my idea has merit, why not join me in this endeavor?”
“I am the Chancellor of Wei,” Shen Zaiye looked at her and said. “How many heads do you think I have to spare, helping Zhao build up their army?”
Forcing a laugh, Tao Hua shrank her neck and said softly, “Then could my lord let me off just this once? After all, no one will find out.”
“This time only, it won’t happen again,” Shen Zaiye rose, dressing as he spoke. “If I ever find out you’ve done something like this again, you can forget about your monthly allowance from Zhengchun Pavilion.”
“Rest assured, my lord!” Tao Hua quickly said. “Next time, I definitely won’t let you find out!”
Hmm… Huh? Turning back to glare at her, Shen Zaiye sneered, “You dare to think there will be a next time?”
Slapping her mouth, Tao Hua shook her head repeatedly. “There won’t be a next time!”
This fearless little girl! Shen Zaiye sighed inwardly. As he finished dressing and prepared to leave, he suddenly remembered something. Returning to the bedside, he said in a low voice, “Qin Jieyu is gone now. Qin Huaiyu must live well in this courtyard. Remember what you promised me before.”
What she had promised him? Tao Hua was stunned for a moment, then recalled that she had indeed promised to help look after the newly arrived lady.
With Prince Jing now acting as regent, and Shen Zaiye’s people installed in the positions of Minister of the Imperial Stud and Director of the Palace Library, the situation looked promising. However, this was precisely the time to stabilize public sentiment and consolidate power. Since Minister Qin held significant judicial authority and had already sent another daughter as a gesture of goodwill, Shen Zaiye naturally couldn’t mistreat this daughter.
“Don’t worry, my lord,” Tao Hua nodded. “I understand.”
For some reason, her nod reassured Shen Zaiye more than Mei Zhaoxue had nodded. It gave him a sense of reliability, a feeling that nothing would go wrong.
Taking advantage of the pre-dawn darkness, he slipped away, silently returning to Linwu Court.
“When did my lord leave?” In Linlang Pavilion, Qin Huaiyu woke up clutching her blanket, asking her maid in confusion.
The maid, Lingrong, said softly, “Probably around the third watch. We servants didn’t notice.”
Didn’t notice? Qin Huaiyu frowned, hugging the blanket as she carefully recalled the events of the previous night.
As daylight gradually broke, Duan Yunxin had already risen and was amid her morning toilette when Heer returned.
“My lady, I’ve heard some shocking news,” Heer closed the door and knelt before her. “It seems my lord also visited that Guantong Money House, just the day before the incident with Lady Qin.”
Slightly startled, Duan Yunxin asked in surprise, “What did my lord go there for? Are you certain they didn’t mistake someone else for him?”
“I’m certain, my lady. The money house clerks didn’t recognize the Chancellor, but they always remember their customers’ accessories. One clerk mentioned a guest wearing a priceless white jade pendant carved with orchids at his waist.”
White jade was already rare, and if carved with orchids… Duan Yunxin pressed her lips together. “Did you ask about the customer’s appearance?”
“I did inquire, my lady,” Heer replied. “They said he was handsome and dignified, with a noble air. Putting all these details together, I believe it must have been the Chancellor without a doubt.”
Why would Shen Zaiye go to a money house? Duan Yunxin stood up and began pacing slowly around the room.
Lady Qin had fallen for Jiang Taohua’s trap this time, which should have had nothing to do with my lord. But under normal circumstances, how could the Chancellor personally visit such a place?
“Rise and send this news back to the Duan residence,” Duan Yunxin pressed her lips together. “We don’t know what my lord did, but they might be able to guess something.”
“Yes,” Heer accepted the order and left.
After brief consideration, Duan Yunxin opened the door, intending to pay her respects at Linghan Court. Lost in thought along the way, she unexpectedly encountered Qin Huaiyu and Jiang Taohua.
“Don’t be upset, my lady,” Taohua smiled. “My lord will surely visit your chambers more in the future.”
“But it was supposed to be our wedding night, it’s different!” Qin Huaiyu pouted, clearly displeased. “It’s bad enough that I don’t remember anything, but there wasn’t even any blood on the bed!”
Shocked that such words could be spoken openly, Taohua hastily covered Qin Huaiyu’s mouth with her hand. Just as she was about to scold her, a gentle voice came from ahead:
“Lady Jiang, Lady Qin, I didn’t expect to see you two walking together.” Though surprise showed in Duan Yunxin’s eyes, her smile was very kind. “Are you going to pay your respects? Why don’t we go together?”
Struggling free from Jiang Taohua’s hand, Qin Huaiyu glared at her before smiling at Duan Yunxin, “Good morning, Sister Duan.”
Taohua also nodded, thinking to herself that this little ancestor truly was like a blind person unafraid of a high cliff, being so familiar even with Duan Yunxin.
As the three walked together, the atmosphere became somewhat strange. Taohua and Duan Yunxin hardly spoke, leaving Qin Huaiyu chattering away in the middle: “I had heard before that the Chancellor was accomplished at a young age and exceptionally handsome. Now that I’m married to him, I find those words to be true. He’s gentle with people as well.”
Duan Yunxin smiled, “My lord is the in-law that all officials in the court wish to claim. Many young ladies from noble families in the capital have tried various ways to enter the Chancellor’s household. You’ve arrived and immediately gained the status of a wife, so you must serve my lord well.”
“Of course,” Qin Huaiyu wrinkled her nose and said softly, “But I can’t help feeling that something is odd. Although my lord appears gentle, at night…”
(End of Chapter)