How crucial is a woman’s beauty? With her face in such a state, how could Shen Zaiye possibly remain close to her? Without favor in this courtyard, what was the point of living?
Taohua hesitated, reaching out to lift the veil covering Gu Huairou’s face. However, Gu recoiled as if terrified, repeatedly backing away. “Everyone, get out!”
“My lady,” Doctor Li frowned, “Let this servant stay and care for her. Lady Gu is emotionally unstable now; too many people won’t help. You can return when she’s calmer.”
“Alright,” Taohua stood up, taking a deep breath. “I’ll make sure the lord severely punishes that maid. Don’t worry.”
Gu Huairou wept loudly, her voice filled with despair, causing others to tremble. Qingtai quickly pulled her mistress out. In the courtyard, Shen Zaiye had just arrived with Mei Zhaoxue.
“Where’s that maid?” Shen Zaiye asked sternly. “Such a serious incident can’t be dismissed as a mere accident.”
Taohua pressed her lips together, glancing at Madam Mei before gesturing for someone to bring the maid forward.
“Prime Minister, spare me!” The young maid trembled in fear. “This servant truly didn’t mean to!”
“Didn’t mean to?” Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes. “Such scalding water, you couldn’t feel it as you carried it? Yet you poured it over your mistress! If this wasn’t intentional, what is?”
The maid cried, “This servant was distracted and picked up the wrong bucket…”
“This maid looks familiar,” Mei Zhaoxue suddenly interjected. “But I can’t recall where I’ve seen her. Do any of you remember?”
She directed the latter part of her question to Lady Qin, Lady Nangong, and others nearby. Lady Qin innocently shook her head, while Nangong Qin hesitated before also shaking her head.
“No one recognizes her?” Mei Zhaoxue frowned slightly. “How strange. If the mistresses don’t know her, do any of the other maids? Who does this girl usually associate with?”
Fengping, standing behind her, quickly spoke up. “This servant remembers! A few days ago, when madam was strolling in the garden, she was nearly bumped into by two maids at a corner. One was this girl and the other… I believe it was Bihe, Lady Nangong’s maid.”
Taohua was startled. She turned to look at Bihe, who stood nearby. Bihe’s face turned pale with fright, and she quickly knelt. “Madam, please understand. This servant has no association with Lianyi. We merely happened to be walking together that day.”
“Is that so?” Mei Zhaoxue smiled. “Then I must have overthought it. Since it’s Lianyi’s crime, and she’s caused Lady Gu to lose her beauty, my lord should punish her severely.”
Shen Zaiye looked at her for a moment before saying gravely, “Take her away and give her a hundred lashes.”
A hundred lashes! It was clear that Lianyi wouldn’t survive this punishment. However, considering that Gu Huairou had nearly lost her life, this punishment seemed fitting. Taohua didn’t intervene, watching silently as Lianyi was dragged away, wailing.
Yet, even knowing she was facing death, Lianyi didn’t reveal any useful information, making it seem like it truly was an accident.
However, due to Mei Zhaoxue’s earlier words, Qin Huaiyu kept glancing at Nangong Qin, whispering, “Are you sure you’re not involved?”
Nangong Qin frowned and shook her head. “How could I be involved? I have no grudge against Lady Gu. Why would I harm her like this?”
“Well, didn’t I hear that her father took the position of Minister of the Imperial Clan from your brother?” Qin Huaiyu blinked. “Aren’t you two at odds now?”
“That’s nonsense,” Nangong Qin trembled with anger. “Please don’t spread baseless rumors, Lady Qin. If someone takes it seriously and pins this crime on me, wouldn’t that be unjust?”
Shen Zaiye glanced in their direction, his brow furrowing slightly.
Meeting his gaze, Nangong Qin was startled. The Prime Minister’s eyes held suspicion; did he also think she was responsible? Feeling wronged, she knelt. “My lord, please believe me. This truly has nothing to do with me!”
It was an awkward situation. There was no evidence to prove she had done it, yet everyone seemed to suspect her. Nangong Qin felt incredibly frustrated. With nothing to explain, she could only grow teary-eyed with distress.
Shen Zaiye waved his hand. “If you didn’t do it, then that’s that. Everyone, disperse. I’ll go see Lady Gu.”
“My lord,” Taohua frowned. “Lady Gu is emotionally unstable right now. You’re probably the last person she wants to see. It’s best if you don’t go in. Perhaps just speak to her from outside the door.”
Realizing she had a point, Shen Zaiye nodded with a sigh. He dismissed the others and stood at the door to speak with Gu Huairou inside.
Leaving Wenqing Pavilion, Jiang Taohua pondered carefully. Wasn’t this sequence of events a bit too coincidental? Gu Huairou’s father had just taken the position meant for Nangong Jiu, and immediately afterward, Gu Huairou met with misfortune, somehow implicating Nangong Qin.
“Lady Nangong,” Taohua called out, noticing Mei Zhaoxue was about to catch up with Nangong Qin ahead.
Nangong Qin turned back, her eyes red. Madam Mei paused for a moment, then continued walking as if nothing had happened.
“Do you also suspect me, Lady Jiang?” Nangong Qin frowned.
“No,” Taohua shook her head. “I don’t think it was you.”
Nangong Qin’s brow relaxed slightly, and tears began to fall. “I thought since you and Lady Gu are close, you’d come to accuse me.”
“How could I?” Taohua pressed her lips together, watching Mei Zhaoxue walk ahead. She lowered her voice, “But why was your maid with Lianyi, and why did the madam happen to see them together?”
Bihe, standing nearby, quickly said, “It was just a coincidence!”
“The madam seems to have read too much into it,” Taohua glanced at her. “Have you offended the madam recently?”
Nangong Qin frowned, thinking for a moment before replying, “Lady Gu has been trying to get me to visit Linghan Pavilion these past few days, but I’ve declined.”
With Taohua’s prompting, she realized that this small slight might have offended the madam, leading to today’s attempt to implicate her.
How could the primary wife be so petty?
“Since someone is trying to smear your reputation, it’s best if you stay in your quarters and avoid coming out for a while,” Taohua advised. “As for Lady Gu, I’ll find the best doctors and medicines for her.”
“Alright,” Nangong Qin nodded, bowing to Taohua before returning to her courtyard with a furrowed brow.
Shortly after her return, another invitation came from Linghan Pavilion. Nangong Qin scoffed, refusing to see anyone and claiming illness.
Mei Zhaoxue frowned slightly. “That woman is truly stubborn.”
Gu Qingying smiled apologetically. “She’s just ignorant. Isn’t that why she’s in trouble now? Lady Gu is ruined, and Lady Jiang must be upset too. She probably won’t have time to compete with you anymore, right?”
“I doubt she’ll be idle,” Mei Zhaoxue chuckled softly, fingering her handkerchief. “Recently, many servants have been complaining to the lord about my cost-cutting measures, saying they can barely manage their work.”
Gu Qingying was startled. “These servants are so bold?”
“It’s because they have someone backing them,” Mei Zhaoxue pressed her lips together. “Since that’s the case, there’s no need to cut costs anymore. Use what you need, and if you lack anything, just get it from the accounting office.”
“Thank you, madam,” Gu smiled. “Lady Jiang is too naive. She wants to win people’s hearts, but you still control the household expenses.”
Mei Zhaoxue pursed her lips, still not looking particularly pleased. She ignored Gu’s chatter, leaning by the window to watch the gloomy sky outside.
Another rainstorm was coming.
With the household expenses loosened, Taohua didn’t hold back. She brought the best doctors and most expensive medicines from Xuanhu Hall into Wenqing Pavilion.
After a day of calming down, Gu Huairou finally came to her senses. She allowed the doctors to examine her properly and diligently took her medicine, hoping to find a way to remove the scars on her face and body.
Taohua sat in the outer room, watching with a heavy heart. A woman’s life was truly pitiful. It was bad enough to live at the mercy of men, but to think that without a pretty face, death seemed the only option.
The doctors who came out all shook their heads, quietly telling her, “Even with the best scar-removing ointment, it will take three to five years for these scars to fade.”
Taohua frowned, asking Qingtai to escort the doctors out to receive their rewards. She then sat by Gu Huairou’s bedside and said, “How about I make you a beautiful mask for tomorrow?”
Gu Huairou remained silent. The room was quiet, and just as Taohua thought she wouldn’t speak, Gu Huairou said softly, “This wasn’t an accident. I can feel it. Someone deliberately harmed me.”
Taohua paused briefly, frowning. “But Lianyi has already…”
“Been beaten to death, right?” Gu Huairou laughed coldly, leaning against the headboard, the black veil on her head swaying slightly. “I don’t know if it was to silence her, but I’m ruined, and whoever was behind this has likely succeeded.”
“Lady Jiang, you’re very clever. Can you help me get revenge? If you can, I’ll serve you like an ox or a horse to repay your kindness.”
Taohua pressed her lips together. “Since you’ve asked, of course, I’ll help you. But right now, I don’t know where to start investigating.”
“Lianyi’s parents are still alive. Her father is bedridden, and they live in a town on the outskirts of the capital,” Gu Huairou said. “If you’re willing, you could send someone to investigate, see if there are any clues. If there’s no way… then I’ll have to rely on my intuition to seek revenge.”
“Don’t be rash,” Taohua held her hand. “I’ll investigate this thoroughly for you.”
The case seemed to have no leads, but a woman’s intuition was often accurate. Jiang Taohua decided to trust her this time.
When she returned to Zhengchun Pavilion, Shen Zaiye was already waiting inside, looking displeased.
“My lord?” Taohua looked at him. “Are you upset about Lady Gu’s situation?”
“No,” Shen Zaiye rubbed his brow. “The Emperor went to inspect the embankments in disguise today. Upon his return, he lavishly praised the Prince Nan.”
Isn’t that a good thing? Taohua looked at him, puzzled. “Then why are you unhappy?”
“Along with the praise, His Majesty also assigned him the task of inspecting the military camps,” Shen Zaiye frowned. “That fool agreed so quickly, I couldn’t even stop him.”
Inspecting the camps? Taohua rubbed her chin. “It sounds like a tough job, but isn’t it good? It allows the Prince Nan to familiarize himself with the people in the military camps.”
“It’s a thankless task that brings more trouble than it’s worth. Why bother?”
(End of Chapter)