Shen Zaiye said displeased, “I’m asking you.”
Looking at him curiously, Gu Huairou said softly, “Lady Jiang is a good person, so it’s normal for me to think of her. Although many things happened during her time managing affairs, those who didn’t cause trouble in the household fared much better. No one dared to withhold wages or bully others at will. I’ve heard many servants praise…”
“Enough,” Shen Zaiye frowned, glancing at her. “Why do you need to say so many good things about her?”
“I’m not just saying nice things, it’s simply the truth,” Gu Huairou looked at him strangely. “Besides, Lady Jiang hasn’t done anything wrong, so why would I need to speak well of her?”
Shen Zaiye lowered his gaze, only then remembering that in the eyes of those in the back courtyard, Jiang Taohua had merely gone to the mountains to recuperate and hadn’t returned yet.
“…Just rest well yourself,” he stood up and walked out expressionlessly. “Don’t mention her in front of me again in the future.”
Gu Huairou was stunned, clutching her handkerchief as she bowed, not knowing what had happened. Everything was fine, so how had Lady Jiang fallen out of favor again?
Shen Zaiye returned to Linwu Court and calmly continued to read official documents. He had many things to do and couldn’t let Jiang Taohua occupy too much of his thoughts. She was just a woman after all, useful when needed, and when not needed… well, that was a matter for later.
“Master,” Zhanlu pushed open the door. “The kitchen just made some snacks. Would you like some? After that, please take your medicine.”
Shen Zaiye looked up at the snacks on the tray and frowned slightly, “What is this?”
“…” Zhanlu looked down carefully at the peach blossom cakes on the tray and said reluctantly, “Just ordinary flower cakes.”
He hadn’t paid attention when he brought them! The kitchen made snacks according to the Prime Minister’s tastes, usually making what he liked. Who knew these clever people would make this?
Snorting coldly, Shen Zaiye looked at Zhanlu seriously and said, “I’ll say this only once. Take immediate action to throw out everything in this mansion related to Lady Jiang. If anyone mentions her in front of me again or brings anything related to her, I’ll hold you responsible!”
“Yes!” Sweating profusely, Zhanlu quickly agreed and immediately went to lock up Zhengchun Pavilion, ban all recipes related to Lady Jiang, and busied himself inside and out for a long time.
Shen Zaiye felt a sense of emptiness in his heart. When he went out again, he found the Prime Minister’s residence even more spacious.
That’s good, he thought. A tumor-like Jiang Taohua should be dug out to prevent it from spreading and causing greater disaster. Zhanlu had done a good job and deserved a reward!
However, when he prepared to retire for the night, this thought completely disappeared.
“Where’s the pillow?” Looking at the new embroidered pillow on the bed, Shen Zaiye coldly eyed Zhanlu. “Where did it go?”
Zhanlu’s legs went weak as he stammered, “Didn’t you say to throw out everything related to that person? That pillow naturally…”
Of course, it was related, and Lady Jiang had embroidered it herself. It even made him unable to sleep. Had he forgotten all that?
Grabbing Zhanlu and pulling him close, Shen Zaiye said in a low voice, “I told you to throw out other things, not that pillow. Find it and bring it back.”
Zhanlu was dumbfounded, thinking he was truly wronged. His master had initially said all things, without excluding that pillow!
But a master’s orders, no matter how unreasonable, must be obeyed. He could only endure Shen Zaiye’s icy gaze and quickly ran out to find someone.
“Sir, you told us to throw it away, so we didn’t dare keep it!” The subordinate said innocently. “We gave it to a beggar passing by outside the mansion. How can we find it now?”
Given to a beggar? Just as Zhanlu was about to scold them, he felt a sudden chill behind him.
Shen Zaiye, dressed in a long black robe, said calmly behind him, “Come with me to search. If we can’t find it, you won’t sleep tonight either.”
“…Yes.”
People are sometimes strange like this. They often regret decisions they’ve made themselves. For ordinary people, regret is bearable, they just have to deal with it themselves. But for people like Shen Zaiye, when they regret something, those around them inevitably suffer.
It was already late, with few people on the streets. Shen Zaiye rode on horseback, searching every street and alley. Zhanlu followed, really wanting to say there was no need for him to come out personally, but considering his master couldn’t sleep lately anyway, he decided to let him be.
After walking just a couple of streets, they saw a small beggar carefully hugging that medicinal pillow, about to sleep by the roadside. Shen Zaiye, quick-eyed and quick-handed, leaped over and snatched the pillow back.
“What are you doing!” The little beggar was anxious, grabbing his clothes. “That’s my pillow, give it back to me!”
Zhanlu hurried over to try to pull him away, but the little beggar was stubborn, clinging tightly to Shen Zaiye’s leg and even biting: “Give it back to me!”
“This is my thing,” Shen Zaiye frowned.
“You… you didn’t want it anymore, you already gave it to me, so it’s mine!” The beggar insisted. “You’re even snatching from beggars!”
With a slight headache, Shen Zaiye reached out and gave him some silver pieces: “I’ll give you this, alright? Return the pillow to me.”
“No!” The little beggar said stubbornly. “I just like that pillow. You already threw it away, why are you snatching it back?”
Zhanlu was terrified, sweating all over. Seeing his master’s expression, he feared he might draw his sword and cut down this little beggar, so he hurriedly tried to carry the beggar away.
Unexpectedly, after a moment of silence, Shen Zaiye said, “I like this pillow very much too. Someone else threw it away, not me.”
The little beggar was startled, looking up at him dazedly, asking with a troubled face, “You like it very much?”
“Yes.”
“Then…” He pressed his lips together and finally let go. “Then I’ll give it back to you.”
Looking at the dirty little fellow at his feet, Shen Zaiye softened his expression and said quietly, “Zhanlu, take him back to the Prime Minister’s residence.”
“Master?” Zhanlu was shocked. “Bring this beggar?”
“Didn’t General Pang recently say he needed an apprentice? Send one to him.”
Dumbfounded, Zhanlu watched his master hug the pillow and mount his horse. He quickly picked up the beggar, threw him on the horse, and took him back.
Finding a pillow and picking up a person along the way – this was probably something only his master would do. General Pang’s soldiers were all carefully selected; sending such a beggar over, who knew if he would be angry.
With the pillow recovered, Shen Zaiye changed clothes, lay down, and surprisingly had a good sleep. He hadn’t slept well for so long that Zhanlu didn’t have the heart to wake him. By the time he opened his eyes on his own, it was already the morning of the third day outside.
“How long did I sleep?” Shen Zaiye asked, stretching his muscles and bones.
Zhanlu answered softly, “A day and two nights.”
“Hmm, no wonder I feel so energetic,” Shen Zaiye didn’t blame him and was in a good mood. He took a stack of official documents, flipped through them, and raised an eyebrow slightly. “The Emperor has sent Prince Heng to inspect the newly built temporary palace in the suburbs?”
“Yes,” Zhanlu said. “While you were on leave, the Emperor suddenly issued an edict. The Crown Prince only found out yesterday and was quite angry.”
How could he not be angry? Just when Prince Yu had finally died, who knew there was still a Prince Heng behind him? Shen Zaiye chuckled lightly, closed the documents, and said calmly, “Aren’t there quite a few vacant positions for concubines in the household? Promote Gu Qingying and Nangong Qin to concubines.”
“This servant understands.”
Prince Heng, Mu Wuhen, had always been low-key and steady. Emperor Mingde, stimulated by Mu Wuyin killing Prince Yu, inevitably wanted more options. Come to think of it, he now found Mu Wuhen more pleasing to the eye than Mu Wuyin.
In the Eastern Palace.
Mu Wuyin had already discussed this with his advisors and was now lying on the soft couch, pondering with a headache. Taohua walked over and asked softly, “What’s troubling Your Highness?”
“I suddenly feel that having many offspring is truly not a good thing,” Mu Wuyin said flatly. “When one is gone, there’s always another. This position of Crown Prince is surrounded by people eyeing it covetously. It’s extremely uncomfortable.”
“With His Majesty having so many children, it’s only natural that some would covet power,” Taohua knelt beside the soft couch and smiled. “This servant doesn’t understand such matters, but I often hear scholars say that the best way to eliminate enemies is to turn them into friends.”
Slightly startled, Mu Wuyin opened his eyes to look at her: “That’s an interesting saying. What does it mean?”
“This servant doesn’t remember clearly,” Taohua thought carefully and said, “But it should mean that rather than worrying about someone becoming your enemy in the future, it’s better to make them your friend first. This way, you won’t be enemies in the future.”
Become friends? Mu Wuyin sighed, “Which prince can truly be friends?”
“Didn’t you praise the Prince Nan earlier?” Taohua asked curiously. “Is he not reliable?”
Prince Nan? Mu Wuyin fell silent for a moment, thought carefully, and then said softly, ” Prince Nan was a hostage in the Wu Kingdom before, so Father has never liked him much. However, that child is righteous and reliable, but being friends with him doesn’t seem to benefit me much.”
Taohua smiled and reached out to light some calming incense nearby. “This servant doesn’t understand the thoughts of you important people, but if it were me, I would be willing to help Prince Nan in advance to seek his support in the future. After all, he doesn’t sound like a suitable candidate for Crown Prince and poses no threat to your position. Rather than giving him to others, it’s better to keep him for yourself.”
His eyes suddenly lit up, and Mu Wuyin sat up, lightly patting his leg. “That’s right! How could I not have thought of such a simple principle?”
Then, looking at Taohua with delight, he said, “Although you don’t understand anything, you’ve enlightened me this time. I’ll have someone send you rewards later!”
Taohua looked innocent, watching him leave before covering her face with her hands.
After dealing with someone like Shen Zaiye for so long, she realized how others seemed so foolishly easy to deceive. It made her feel almost embarrassed!
Prince Nan himself had done nothing wrong, but unfortunately, no one around the Emperor had ever spoken well of him, causing the Emperor to always have misgivings. In the current situation, Shen Zaiye couldn’t openly support Prince Nan. The best method was to have the Crown Prince help him first.
(End of Chapter)