The two people in the room were startled. Jiang Taohua instinctively moved to push Shen Zaiye out the window, but Shen Zaiye, his face darkening, grabbed the window frame and swiftly leaped onto the roof beam.
“Impressive skills!” Taohua marveled, realizing that the sword in the study’s hidden chamber wasn’t just for show.
“Meng’er?” Mu Wuyin had already pushed open the door. Taohua quickly regained her composure and stepped forward to bow, “Greetings, Your Highness.”
“There’s no need for such formalities when it’s just the two of us,” Mu Wuyin sighed, sitting down in a chair by her bed. He looked up at her and said, “I’ve already spoken to Lady Li, telling her not to give you any more trouble.”
Taohua’s lips twitched as she forced a dry laugh, thinking to herself, “You’re truly straightforward, aren’t you? Saying such things directly to Lady Li will only make her target me more.” In matters of balancing relationships between women, the Crown Prince was still inexperienced. He should learn from Shen Zaiye – knowing who to punish and who to protect, all while maintaining a poker face.
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness,” she said aloud, despite her inner thoughts. Gratitude was still necessary.
Mu Wuyin gazed at her, his eyes soft and affectionate. “You’ve truly been wronged.”
She’s been wronged? Shen Zaiye, perched on the roof beam, scoffed inwardly. He, a dignified Chancellor, was forced to crouch in such a place – he was the one who had been wronged! Couldn’t the Crown Prince say whatever he wanted during the day instead of in the middle of the night, alone with a woman?
“To receive Your Highness’s favor is this servant’s blessing. There’s no need to speak of being wronged,” Taohua replied submissively. “Your Highness bears the weight of the realm; you needn’t concern yourself with this servant at every moment.”
After studying her intently for a while, Mu Wuyin smiled gently. “I always feel that you’re different from other women.”
How is she different? Does she have an extra eye or ear? Shen Zaiye sneered. Why do men always use such lines to flatter women? It’s both old and cliché!
Taohua lowered her head shyly, speaking softly, “Your Highness shouldn’t tease this servant.”
“I’m not teasing,” Mu Wuyin’s face was full of sincerity. “You truly are different. Other women cling to me when they see me. Only you have eluded me several times, causing me to think of you day and night.”
Shen Zaiye and Jiang Taohua’s lips twitched simultaneously.
Aren’t men just despicable? If things go smoothly, they might not even cherish it. They only find it precious when the process is full of twists and turns!
“So if this servant had happily agreed to be Your Highness’s consort, would you not have liked me?” Taohua asked with a smile.
Mu Wuyin looked at her seriously and shook his head. “That’s not true. I like you very much – the kind of like where I want to grow old with you. No matter what happens in the future, I will always treat you well and never let you down!”
Taohua wanted to simply agree with his words and express her gratitude. However, after holding back for a long time, she couldn’t help but ask, “Isn’t it too vague for Your Highness to speak of a lifetime now? It’s such a long time.”
Do men think women are so easily fooled? Without a written contract or security for the future, is a glib tongue really that impressive? Coincidentally, there are women in this world who fall for such tactics, foolishly entrusting their entire lives to mere words.
Mu Wuyin was stunned, probably not expecting her to ask such a question. After a while, he said, “How could it be vague? Isn’t a union based on love more likely to last than one arranged by parents and matchmakers?”
“This servant is not sure which of these situations lasts longer,” Taohua frowned slightly. “But what this servant can be certain of is that love is just the beginning of a life together. Relying solely on that to spend a lifetime together seems a bit absurd.”
Shen Zaiye listened with furrowed brows, wondering what this woman took the Crown Prince for, daring to lecture him like this. Men dislike greedy women the most. Who would want to spend a lifetime with someone who brings this up right from the start…
“You make a good point,” Mu Wuyin pondered for a while, then nodded seriously, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. “Indeed, you are different from other women. No one has ever said such things to me before.”
Shen Zaiye: “…”
After speaking, Jiang Taohua felt some regret. Why did she say such things to the Crown Prince? She was just a palace maid after all.
However, seeing Mu Wuyin’s reaction, she suddenly felt somewhat emotional. “It’s rare to find a man as understanding as Your Highness in this world.”
Squinting at the two people below, Shen Zaiye thought that Jiang Taohua’s earlier imitation of a dog’s bark wasn’t without reason. She must have been warning him that a pair of lovebirds was about to appear.
How considerate! So considerate that it made him want to eat dog meat!
“I’ve never asked you,” Mu Wuyin looked at Taohua carefully, “How did you end up unconscious on the road, and how did you survive after being in Chancellor Shen’s hands?”
“It’s a long story,” Taohua glanced casually at the roof beam, then pursed her lips and said, “I was poisoned by that person last time, but I didn’t swallow it. I spat it out later and saved my life. But I was unfortunate in marriage; the man I married was a beast in human clothing. He not only schemed against me but also tried to kill me. I had no choice but to escape again.”
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened. “It’s that man you married again. The last time I saw you, you were being chased by his concubine. This time, he’s directly trying to kill you.”
“Yes, fortunately, he’s dead now,” Taohua smiled with narrowed eyes. “He died a terrible death, killed by assassins and torn apart by five horses!”
Shen Zaiye’s eyelid twitched.
Mu Wuyin was stunned and lowered his head in thought. “Such a horrific crime happened in the capital recently?”
“Your Highness is busy with state affairs, so naturally, you wouldn’t know,” Taohua’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly added, “My husband didn’t live in the capital.”
“I see,” Mu Wuyin nodded, looked at her, and suddenly reached out to hold her hand.
Taohua stiffened slightly, looked at his action, and said somewhat awkwardly, “Your Highness?”
“I was afraid you couldn’t forget him, but now it seems you can accept me wholeheartedly, right?”
There was no movement from the roof beam. Taohua looked at the Crown Prince, who was getting closer to her, and said softly, “I can accept… but shouldn’t we wait until after the mourning period? Has Your Highness forgotten?”
Wrapping his arm around her waist, Mu Wuyin pursed his lips slightly, his eyes deep, “I’m finding it hard to hold back.”
Jiang Taohua: “…”
She had anticipated this situation and had a solution – to lure him in and then use her charms to make him fall asleep directly. However, with Shen Zaiye on the roof beam, she feared that if she made a move, he might jump down and split her in two! After all, even if one were to cuckold someone, it should be done secretly. Doing it so blatantly in front of the person made her very nervous.
“Your Highness,” she gently pushed him away, forcing a smile, “You must obey the Emperor’s orders.”
“Mm,” Mu Wuyin nodded, holding her gently, “Just let me stay like this for a while.”
Expressionless, Shen Zaiye pulled out a face veil and put it on. He took off his outer robe, wearing only the black inner robe underneath. With a deep, cold gaze, he looked down once more before leaping from the roof beam.
The Crown Prince had his back to him and couldn’t see, but Jiang Taohua was startled and cried out, staring wide-eyed at the black-clothed, masked figure. “You…”
Mu Wuyin was stunned and about to turn around when his collar was suddenly yanked. Then, a heavy punch landed squarely on his face!
Who is it?
Covering his face and turning back, Mu Wuyin hadn’t even had time to cry out when another punch struck his other cheek. The assailant was extremely vicious, pressing down on his shoulder and kneeing him hard in the stomach, then executing a shoulder throw that nearly smashed him into the floor tiles! Before he could call for help, the attacker grabbed both his hands, twisted them behind his back, and wrenched them hard!
Two cracking sounds were heard as if something had dislocated.
“Ah!” It took a moment for the pain to register. Mu Wuyin was skilled in martial arts, yet he was completely helpless against this person. After a moment of realization, he finally understood what had happened and quickly shouted, “Assassin!”
Shen Zaiye sneered coldly, his eyes as frosty as if they had been frozen for twenty years. He glanced at Jiang Taohua before directly breaking through the window and escaping.
Taohua stood dumbfounded, forgetting even to help the Crown Prince up.
His skills were so impressive! Wasn’t it a waste for him to be a civil official?
“Your Highness!” The guards outside rushed in, hurriedly lifting Mu Wuyin and anxiously inquiring, “Where’s the assassin?”
His face gradually swelled, and Mu Wuyin was furious. “You dare ask me? He’s long gone. Why aren’t you pursuing him?”
“Yes, sir!”
Coming to her senses, Jiang Taohua quickly put on a concerned face and went to fetch the medicine box. Looking at Mu Wuyin, she asked softly, “Are you alright?”
How could he be all right after being beaten so severely in front of a woman? Mu Wuyin was seething with anger but couldn’t vent his frustration on her. Trying his best to suppress his anger and endure the pain, he said, “It’s nothing. Once they catch the assassin, he will certainly be torn apart by five horses!”
Taohua nodded seriously, “Absolutely!”
However, despite saying this, both of Mu Wuyin’s hands had been dislocated by Shen Zaiye. When the imperial physician arrived, the matter could no longer be suppressed, and the entire Eastern Palace suddenly became bustling with activity.
Lady Li had already rushed to the Empress to complain. Taohua knelt outside the main hall, feeling oddly satisfied. Although she didn’t know why, she felt that tonight’s events were truly interesting.
With an assassin in the palace, the entire harem and Eastern Palace were put under strict guard. The next day, after the morning court session, civil and military officials came to the Eastern Palace one by one to express their concerns.
“How did the Crown Prince end up injured like this?” Shen Zaiye asked the person next to him with an angry expression. “Has the assassin been caught?”
The guard beside him lowered his head in shame. “The assassin’s martial arts were too advanced. We’ve searched the entire palace but couldn’t find any trace.”
“Useless!” Shen Zaiye frowned, then turned to comfort Mu Wuyin. “Your Highness, don’t worry. I will certainly inform His Majesty and have the Three Excellencies temporarily handle affairs while you recover.”
Mu Wuyin frowned. “How can it be handed over to the Three Excellencies?”
Everyone in the room was stunned. Shen Zaiye’s eyes flickered. “What does Your Highness mean…?”
“It can be entrusted to you alone,” Mu Wuyin said seriously. “I don’t trust anyone else. I only trust you.”
(End of Chapter)