Taohua had just returned to Zhengchun Pavilion when she suddenly shivered. Holding her tea, she glanced outside and wondered aloud, “Why do I feel like someone’s cursing me again?”
Qingtai laughed, “You’re overthinking it. Now that Miss Duan’s matter is resolved, you can rest easy in this household. What else is there to worry about?”
She had a point. Miss Duan’s mysterious downfall had frightened everyone in the household. Things would likely remain calm for a while before the next wave of drama. Taohua decided to use this opportunity to nurture her relationship with Shen Zaiye, to avoid being suddenly sold off herself.
Just as she was thinking this, Shen Zaiye arrived. He still looked troubled, as if something was weighing on his mind.
“What’s on your mind, my lord?” Taohua had noticed his unease earlier and finally couldn’t help but ask, “You’ve seemed preoccupied ever since returning from the palace.”
“The Emperor and Concubine Lan are both ill. The Emperor is seriously ill, while Concubine Lan’s old ailment has flared up,” Shen Zaiye said as he sat down on the couch. He pursed his lips and continued, “I’m searching for medicine, but it’s proving difficult. Even the imperial physicians are at a loss.”
Taohua was startled. Why would Shen Zaiye be concerned about the Emperor falling ill? As long as the Emperor didn’t pass away, a serious illness might prompt him to consider naming a crown prince – exactly what Shen Zaiye wanted. If he wasn’t worried about the Emperor, then…
He must be troubled about Concubine Lan’s condition.
Biting her lip, she asked, “What is Concubine Lan’s old ailment?”
“Chest pains,” Shen Zaiye replied. “It doesn’t flare up often, but when it does, it can be life-threatening. In previous years, she could endure it, but she’s weaker this year. The Emperor is worried she won’t be able to withstand it, so he’s asked me to find medicine.”
“You’ve done your best, my lord,” Taohua smiled. “If there’s truly no solution, the Emperor won’t blame you.”
Shen Zaiye gave her a cool look and said impatiently, “She cannot come to harm.”
Though he rarely cooperated verbally, Concubine Lan always acted in ways that benefited him. Some things only she could accomplish. It wasn’t an exaggeration to call her his trump card.
Taohua pouted and unconsciously moved away from him. An irritable man was least lovable, covered in thorns that even pricked her.
“What are you doing?” Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes at her movement and beckoned to her. “Come here.”
“Aren’t you in a bad mood, my lord?” Taohua chuckled nervously. “Perhaps I shouldn’t come closer?”
Shen Zaiye smiled. “Are you sure?”
A moment later, Taohua was obediently sitting in his lap, allowing him to pinch her soft cheeks in his anger.
“My lord, it hurts!”
“I’m not hurting,” Shen Zaiye said, eyeing her. “Will you dare to avoid me again?”
“I won’t,” Taohua shook her head quickly, recognizing the situation. She said meekly, “I was just afraid of upsetting you further by getting too close.”
When had she ever kept her distance when he was unhappy? Shen Zaiye snorted lightly and said, “I came to praise you. The task I gave you last time – I didn’t expect it to be completed so beautifully and flawlessly. You truly live up to your title as the Princess of Zhao.”
Taohua frowned and looked into his eyes, saying softly, “If I told you that Miss Duan’s situation had nothing to do with me, would you believe me?”
“No,” Shen Zaiye replied, glancing at her. “In this courtyard, no one but you could have dealt with Duan Yunxin so quickly.”
Taohua smiled bitterly and asked, “In your eyes, my lord, am I someone who excels at scheming and harming others?”
He truly believed she would kill Liu Shi to frame Duan Yunxin.
Shen Zaiye didn’t answer, but his eyes clearly said: Aren’t you?
Taohua’s mouth twitched as she muttered softly, “You can’t assume I’m like that just because you are! I don’t usually harm people. I’m just more alert and like to give tit for tat, unlike you who casually takes lives…”
“What did you say?” Shen Zaiye raised an eyebrow. “Jiang Taohua, have you forgotten the house rules again after not being disciplined for a few days?”
“I haven’t forgotten. I copied them thirty times,” Taohua jumped up from his lap and turned towards the room. “Would you like to see, my lord? The handwriting is very neat.”
Shen Zaiye snorted lightly and pulled her back. “No need to look. I wasn’t scolding you. Why are you so worked up?”
“There’s a lack of basic trust and understanding between us, my lord,” Taohua tilted her head. “We can’t last long like this.”
Last long?
Hearing these words, Shen Zaiye looked as if he’d heard a joke. His eyes filled with disbelief, and he wrinkled his nose. “You want to last long with me?”
“Yes, I want to grow old with you, my lord. To be together for a lifetime,” Taohua said calmly, her eyes steady. “Don’t you feel the same?”
Shen Zaiye was momentarily stunned, staring at her with a complex expression. Could he be so attractive that all these women were willing to die for him? Even the most intelligent Jiang Taohua wanted to spend a lifetime with him.
Seeing his expression, Taohua maintained a serious look for a moment before suddenly breaking into a smile. “I was just joking, my lord. Don’t take it seriously.”
“That joke was too frightening,” Shen Zaiye glared at her. “I thought something was wrong with you. If you scare me like that again, you’ll be copying the ‘Family Instructions’ again.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Taohua quickly waved her hands, smiling. “I absolutely won’t speak carelessly again.”
Hmm, it sounded fine on the surface, but for some reason, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. Looking at Jiang Taohua’s smiling face, he couldn’t help but want to reach out and crush it.
“My lord,” Wan Lu hurriedly entered from outside and said in a low voice, “The Emperor urgently summons you to the palace!”
Shen Zaiye’s pupils constricted slightly as he quickly stood up. He glanced at the bright sky outside and took a deep breath. “Go inform Prince Jing.”
“Yes.”
Taohua smiled as she watched him leave, seeing his dark official robes fluttering in the wind. She thought that when Shen Zaiye returned, he would surely bring back results that satisfied him.
Closing the door and sitting in the room lost in thought, she didn’t know if she had been infected by his mood, but she inexplicably felt low-spirited. Lying on the soft couch, she stared blankly at the ceiling, not knowing what she was thinking about.
Qingtai came in to check on her and went to prepare some snacks. Just as Jiang Taohua was about to close her eyes, she saw a head suddenly extend from the beam above.
“You live up to your name as a swallow,” Taohua chuckled lightly. “Have you built a nest on the beam in my room?”
Snorting with laughter, Xu Yangui said, “I can be wherever I want. Even Shen Zaiye can’t control me. There’s good entertainment here, so of course I came to watch.”
What good entertainment? Taohua gave her a strange look and remained lying down. “You don’t happen to enjoy watching people being intimate, do you? Pervert!”
Xu Yangui’s mouth twitched as she flipped down, landing beside her. She said disdainfully, “What you two do is nothing. It’s not even as exciting as erotic paintings.”
Jiang Taohua: “…”
“Hey! Let’s talk this through!” Seeing her raise the spittoon to throw at her, Xu Yangui quickly said, “That’s not what I meant. I meant if I wanted to watch people being intimate, I wouldn’t come here. I love watching people who say one thing but mean another. Before Concubine Lan was the most interesting to watch, now it’s you.”
Slightly startled, Taohua didn’t pay attention to what she said, but noticed a problem: “You know Concubine Lan?”
“Of course I do. Before she entered the palace, she was always by Shen Zaiye’s side,” Xu Yangui sat down on the soft couch, casually picking up an apple to eat. “It’s quite a fateful connection, you could say.”
Taohua’s heart skipped a beat. She blinked and glanced at her. “From the way you’re talking, could it be that you’ve known Shen Zaiye for a long time?”
“Naturally,” Xu Yangui snorted. “The time I’ve been with him might be longer than you’ve been alive.”
“I’m eighteen,” Taohua frowned. “You’ve been together for eighteen years?”
“Why not?” Xu Yangui chuckled. “It’s just that we weren’t as close before. We’ve only become familiar in recent years working together.”
Taohua drew in a sharp breath, about to ask something, but Xu Yangui reacted faster. She raised her hand and said, “I won’t tell you any secrets about Shen Zaiye’s past, even if you kill me. Don’t bother asking.”
Pouting, Taohua said, “Then what about Concubine Lan? Can you tell me about her?”
“No.”
“You liar!” Taohua narrowed her eyes. “I knew you were just boasting. They say only the Emperor knows Concubine Lan’s identity. How could a mere jianghu person like you know?”
Xu Yangui frowned. “Don’t look down on me, alright? If you want to hear, fine. Give me a hundred taels of silver, and I’ll tell you. Otherwise, if Shen Zaiye finds out, he’ll kill me.”
What an extortionist! Taohua fell silent for a moment, then got up to fetch a hundred-tael silver note. “Here, now talk.”
Seeing how easily Taohua produced the money, Xu Yangui clicked her tongue, thinking Shen Zaiye must dote on this woman. After finishing the last bite of her apple, she tossed the core away and began, “Since you’re so sincere, I’ll tell you. Concubine Lan’s original name is Lu Zhilan. She and Shen Zaiye were childhood friends, you could say. She had unrequited feelings for Shen Zaiye for many years, but he never reciprocated. Later, she entered the palace to become a concubine.”
Taohua had a sudden realization. She clapped her hands and said, “Then I guessed right. There was emotional entanglement between them. So Concubine Lan was sent into the palace by Shen Zaiye himself? That’s too cruel. No wonder Concubine Lan hates him.”
Xu Yangui was slightly taken aback. She frowned and said, “Shen Zaiye may be a scoundrel, but he wouldn’t do something like that. Lu Zhilan entered the palace voluntarily. She only regretted it afterward and blamed everything on Shen Zaiye.”
“What?” Taohua was dumbfounded. “If it was her choice, why does she blame the Marquis?”
“The complexities behind it are beyond your understanding,” Xu Yangui shrugged. “You only need to know that for certain reasons, Shen Zaiye feels deep guilt towards her, though he doesn’t show it. His kindness to Concubine Lan is compensation. You don’t need to be jealous at all.”
(End of Chapter)