Seeing his expression, Xu Yangui couldn’t help but shudder. “Although Zhanlu and I have been trying to make you smile lately, you shouldn’t start grinning so… exuberantly.”

Like the blossoming of spring flowers?

Shen Zaiye glanced at him sideways and said, “Go check on Zhanlu’s progress. As soon as you find the Qingtai, bring it back immediately.”

“Alright, alright.” Xu Yangui raised his hand to cover his eyes. “Do whatever you want. I won’t look. I’m leaving.”

Who’s doing what? Shen Zaiye frowned, watching him disappear through the doorway with disdain before turning his cold gaze back to Jiang Taohua.

It was rare to see her in such agony. She looked as if she had been pulled from the water, her breathing growing weaker by the moment.

“Don’t fall asleep,” he said, squeezing her shoulder. Shen Zaiye sat on the edge of the bed, cradling her upper body in his arms. He spoke softly, “If you sleep, I can’t give you medicine. If you die here, the Crown Prince will hold me accountable.”

Hearing these words in her hazy state, Taohua managed a weak smile and replied faintly, “Wouldn’t my death be exactly what you want?”

“…If you’re going to die, then die quickly. Stop moaning,” Shen Zaiye frowned. “It’s noisy.”

Taohua gritted her teeth and truly fell silent. However, her body grew colder from her hands down, chilling Shen Zaiye so much that he couldn’t help but shiver. He angrily asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

How could anyone have such symptoms and still survive?

Taohua ignored him, only registering his earlier words about not being able to take medicine if she fell asleep. She closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and endured while waiting for the Qingtai to arrive.

Shen Zaiye pressed his lips together, looking at her with displeasure for a long while before finally removing his outer robe and lying down on the bed. As soon as he settled, Jiang Taohua burrowed into his embrace, pressing her hands against his body and entwining her feet with his, desperately seeking warmth.

“Just like a fox spirit lacking yang energy,” he grumbled. Yet, he didn’t move away. Shen Zaiye looked down at the person in his arms and muttered quietly, “If it were Mu Wuyin, he might not go this far.”

There was no one else in the room, and Taohua didn’t hear the Prime Minister’s childish remark. She felt as if she were dying, with endless pain and cold threatening to engulf her. Dark hands seemed to reach up from the underworld, trying to drag her down the path to the Yellow Springs!

Save me…

“Master!” Qingtai burst in from outside, looking disheveled. Seeing the scene before him, he froze momentarily.

“You have time to daydream?” Shen Zaiye’s lips had turned white from the cold. He glared and shouted, “Hurry and save her!”

Snapping back to his senses, Qingtai quickly took two pills and put them into Taohua’s mouth. Jiang Taohua struggled to swallow the medicine before finally relaxing her body, allowing herself to sink into a murky abyss.

“Can you explain?” Shen Zaiye propped himself up against the headboard, frowning as he looked at the person in his arms. “What poison did she take?”

Qingtai lowered his gaze, wringing his skirt nervously. He bowed his head and said, “This isn’t poison. It’s just an old ailment of the mistress. As long as she takes her medicine on time each month, there won’t be any major issues.”

“What medicine is this?” Shen Zaiye reached out to take the medicine bottle from his hand, but Qingtai dodged quickly. Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes. “Is it something that can’t be seen?”

“No,” Qingtai said softly. “This is a very precious tonic. I’m afraid if something goes wrong, it won’t be good for the mistress.”

After looking at him for a moment, Shen Zaiye asked, “How many pills are left? Is it enough for her to keep taking?”

If he said it wasn’t enough, wouldn’t this master take the medicine to research and create a new one? If the Prime Minister of Great Wei truly learned about Zhao’s country’s charm bug, she wouldn’t be able to complete her mission upon returning.

Qingtai kowtowed and said earnestly, “There’s enough medicine, Your Excellency. You need not worry.”

Enough? Xu Yangui poked his head out from behind, raising an eyebrow. “If this medicine is so good and nourishing, why not send a couple of pills to Concubine Lan? Her heart condition hasn’t found a cure yet, and relying on poison isn’t a long-term solution.”

Qingtai was shocked and quickly shook his head. “This medicine doesn’t work for heart conditions.”

“Didn’t you just say it was a tonic?” Xu Yangui raised an eyebrow. “Were you lying?”

“…No.”

“Then is there not enough for Jiang shi to take?”

“…That’s not it either.”

Chuckling lightly, Xu Yangui snatched the medicine bottle from her and said, “If it’s neither this nor that, then you’re just being stingy as a maid.”

Saying this, he poured out two pills and held them in his hand before returning the bottle. “When your mistress recovers, she’ll surely be happy to have earned a favor from Concubine Lan.”

Qingtai was dumbfounded but didn’t dare show anything in front of Shen Zaiye. She could only take back the bottle and put it away, then lower her head and clutch at her clothes.

Two pills meant one month, and the people from Zhao country had no idea when they would come to Great Wei. If the medicine ran out… it could truly be a matter of life and death!

Shen Zaiye lowered his head to carefully check Jiang Taohua’s pulse and didn’t notice Qingtai’s expression. Feeling her pulse gradually stabilize, he finally let out a small sigh of relief.

Xu Yangui went straight to the palace to deliver the medicine. Zhanlu glanced at the two people on the bed and quietly asked his master, “Do you intend to send Miss Jiang back in a month?”

Giving him a strange look, Shen Zaiye asked seriously, “Do you think your master is a man of his word?”

“…” Zhanlu didn’t ask further and obediently took Qingtai back to tidy up Zhengchun Pavilion.

Shen Zaiye held the person in his arms, somehow feeling very drowsy. He immediately fell into a peaceful sleep.

However, as soon as the door to Zhengchun Pavilion opened, the mansion became lively. Gu Huairou and Qin Huaiyu, upon hearing the news, rushed over with a large group of people to ask:

“Has Miss Jiang returned?”

“Yes, she has,” Qingtai nodded, forcing a smile. “Thank you for your concern, ladies.”

“Where is she?” Gu Huairou grabbed her hand and started walking inside. “I haven’t seen her in so long, I have so many questions!”

Zhanlu cupped his hands and smiled, “The person has just returned after a long time away. Why don’t you let her have a good talk with the Prime Minister first? It won’t be too late to come later.”

His master truly had foresight in putting her in Linwu Court; it was much quieter.

Qin Huaiyu pouted unhappily, “As soon as Jiang Shi returns, the master seems to have found his interest. How long has it been since he last visited the back courtyard? Now he’s staying inside and not coming out.”

Gu Huairou frowned at her, “My lady, your words are too much. Miss Jiang has just recovered from a serious illness, so it’s only right for the master to keep her company. Let’s leave for now.”

The group behind them bowed and retreated. Qin Huaiyu pursed her lips, still somewhat unwilling to leave. Gu Huairou took her hand and pulled her out, saying displeased, “Don’t forget that Miss Jiang has been protecting you all along. How can you be dissatisfied with her now?”

“It’s not dissatisfaction, I just feel the master is too biased,” Qin Huaiyu muttered. “Don’t you think so? The master seems to have no true feelings for anyone, but he’s different from Jiang Shi.”

Gu Huairou was stunned, clutching her handkerchief without speaking.

She had the same feeling, but… who could truly understand the master’s thoughts? He appeared to favor Jiang Shi, but didn’t he still send her away to the mountains? After such a long time apart, it wasn’t inappropriate for the master to spend more time with Jiang Shi.

If Jiang Shi’s presence could make the master visit the back courtyard more often, that would be good for everyone.

As the sun set in the west, Shen Zaiye finally woke up. Having had a rare good sleep, he opened his eyes to see Jiang Taohua beside him on the pillow.

This woman’s sleeping face still pleased him, though her lip color was poor, making her look ghostly.

After some thought, he got up and opened the door to instruct those outside, “Prepare some light evening meal.”

“Yes,” the servant responded, about to leave when he called them back.

“Remember to include some meat in the side dishes.”

The servant nodded, bewildered, thinking that the Prime Minister’s tone sounded as if he were going to feed some small animal.

The little animal Jiang woke up soon after. Her eyes were misty and confused as she looked at the person before her, “Who are you?”

“Your husband.”

Shen Zaiye picked her up and placed her in a chair by the table, putting chopsticks in her hand. “Eat your evening meal before resting again.”

Rubbing her eyes and finally recognizing his face, Taohua’s expression soured, “Why am I here?”

“If you weren’t here, you’d be in the underworld by now,” Shen Zaiye sneered, glancing at her sideways. “What? Still thinking about your Crown Prince?”

Frowning slightly, Taohua looked at him strangely and said, “We haven’t seen each other for over half a month. Where did you learn this sour tone, Prime Minister? You don’t even need to add vinegar to the sweet and sour cabbage anymore.”

Irritably picking up some sweet and sour cabbage with his chopsticks and placing it in her bowl, Shen Zaiye said, “Just eat your meal, don’t starve to death.”

Trying to pick up her chopsticks, Taohua found her hands still weak and powerless. She sighed, “You don’t know how to take care of people, my lord. I haven’t fully recovered yet, my whole body is weak. I can’t eat with chopsticks.”

“I apologize for not being gentle or considerate,” Shen Zaiye said coldly. “If you can’t eat, then don’t.”

Who cares? Snorting lightly, Taohua climbed down from the chair and started walking towards the bed. However, before she could take two steps, Shen Zaiye scooped her up by the waist and brought her back.

“Sit properly.”

Taohua was stunned, looking up at his chin in surprise.

It seemed like it had been a long time since they were this close, and the feeling was strangely unfamiliar. Shen Zaiye’s embrace was as stiff as ever, but he was willing to feed her.

One spoonful of rice with half a spoonful of vegetables, Shen Zaiye expressionlessly stuffed them into her mouth, saying as he did so, “If you want to sleep, eat your fill first. Your body is too weak.”

Not arguing with him, Jiang Taohua obediently chewed, occasionally reaching out to point at dishes on the table, “I want to eat that.”

Shen Zaiye was very displeased. He wasn’t a servant, why did he have to serve her food and feed her?

However, his displeasure was only in his heart. His actions didn’t falter at all, and he was even more meticulous than Qingtai.

After eating her fill, Taohua rolled onto the bed and looked at Shen Zaiye, saying, “Thank you for your grace, Prime Minister.”

Hearing these words, he knew she was still harboring resentment towards him. Shen Zaiye didn’t mind, simply taking some documents to read nearby, and leaving her to rest on the bed.

Lying down again, Taohua realized that the pillow was the one she had given him, filled with the fragrance of medicinal herbs that made one feel comfortable just by smelling it.

He hadn’t thrown it away?

She stretched her neck to look, but Shen Zaiye was seriously reading documents, not paying any attention to her.

Taohua pouted, thinking that this was indeed how people who mingled in the court behaved, always putting on a show. He had already decided to take her life, so why keep this pillow here pretending?

Reaching out to hug the medicinal pillow, Jiang Taohua wanted to say that she might as well take it back. But as she picked it up, she found something underneath.

A jade pendant broken into two pieces, one end still tied with a red string, somehow stained with mud, looking dirty.

Taohua was slightly stunned, staring at the object for a while. Her eyes flickered with emotion as she slowly put the pillow back.

“My lord, must I stay in the Prime Minister’s mansion from now on?”

“Where else do you want to go?” Shen Zaiye didn’t even look up, his voice tinged with mockery. “Still want to return to the Crown Prince’s side? No chance anymore.”

(End of Chapter)