Was it just an accident? Yang Wanqing pressed his lips together, glanced at the empty doorway, and said nothing before returning to his room.
Shen Zaiye returned to the Chancellor’s mansion in an excellent mood. Seeing Jiang Taohua still crouching by the gate, he picked her up. “Have you eaten?”
“I have,” Taohua replied grumpily. “But why is there still no news? Weren’t they supposed to arrive today?”
“I told you they’d arrive very late,” Shen Zaiye glanced at her. “Instead of waiting here, you should prepare yourself. Don’t embarrass me tomorrow.”
“Oh.” Deflated, Taohua let Shen Zaiye set her on the couch and curled up, her eyes full of worry.
Shen Zaiye’s mood soured seeing her like this. “What exactly are you anticipating? Someone you’re waiting for?”
“Yes, yes,” Taohua nodded dejectedly.
If they didn’t come soon, what if she died?
Narrowing his eyes, Shen Zaiye stared at her for a long time before finally asking, “What do you like about Li Jin anyway?”
“Hm…huh?” Taohua was stunned. When she realized what Shen Zaiye had said, she turned to him in shock. “My Lord?”
How did he know Li Jin’s name?
Shen Zaiye looked at her displeased. “Didn’t you say he abandoned you? Now he’s Chancellor and has the Crown Princess’s favor. Why are you still thinking about him?”
Gaping at him for a while, Taohua suddenly understood. “You’re deceiving me, aren’t you? The Zhao envoys arrived early this morning, and Li Jin is among them, right?”
Shen Zaiye’s silence was as good as confirmation.
Laughing helplessly, Taohua sat up and studied him for a moment. “You’ve already had someone investigate my past in Zhao?”
“I just had them ask around casually,” Shen Zaiye looked away. “Nothing too detailed.”
“I guess you didn’t ask too much,” Taohua chuckled. “Otherwise, how could you think I was waiting for him?”
She wanted nothing more than to kill that beast now. What was there to wait for?
Shen Zaiye paused, his face expressionless as he looked at her, silently urging her to explain.
Sitting cross-legged, Taohua cleared her throat. “At this point, there’s nothing to hide. When I was young, I was betrothed to Li Jin. We were to marry when I turned fifteen.”
“We grew up together. He was like a brother, always taking care of me and covering for me when I got into trouble. I used to think he was a good person. But when I turned thirteen, the new Empress ascended, my sister became the Crown Princess, and my hardships began.”
Remembering that time, Taohua smiled wryly. “It wasn’t too bad. I just lost the luxuries of a princess, lived among servants, and was sent to the edge of the palace. As long as they didn’t mistreat Chang Jie, I thought life was bearable.”
Unfortunately, they had no intention of letting them off easily. Chang Jie, a prince, was ordered around like a servant. Some even dared to beat him, forcing her to fight back. But what could two children do? Their father ignored it, and the servants only refrained from killing them, not from beatings.
It was then that Chang Jie had his ribs broken by a eunuch. She ran helplessly to Li Jin for help, only to be locked out. Jiang Suhe seized the opportunity to have her captured, accusing her of sneaking out of the palace. She was given twenty lashes. She and Chang Jie both fell ill with fever, locked in a woodshed without medical care. If not for her master’s later rescue, they both would have died there.
Later, she was told that Li Jin had attached himself to the Crown Princess, set to become the consort and emperor’s husband, so he no longer wanted her. Jiang Taohua was furious, trembling with rage, tasting betrayal for the first time.
What was more hateful was that thinking back now, being actively abandoned by someone like Li Jin was a great shame and humiliation! She wanted nothing more than to cut him down in her dreams to avenge this deep grudge! So for a long time, she kept dreaming of chasing Li Jin with a large cleaver.
“But come to think of it, I haven’t had such dreams for a long time,” Taohua mused, rubbing her chin. “Maybe it’s because I’m married now. I don’t hate him as much anymore. After all, one can’t hold grudges against animals.”
Shen Zaiye listened in stunned silence, his expression highly amusing.
“What?” Taohua looked at him oddly. “I’m telling the truth. Don’t disbelieve me.”
Rubbing his brow, the usually brilliant Shen Zaiye suddenly felt that his actions today in provoking someone were incredibly foolish.
He absolutely couldn’t let her know!
“If you hate him so much, why were you so eager for his arrival today?” he asked guiltily, still somewhat angry. If she hadn’t seemed so anxious, he wouldn’t have misunderstood!
Taohua looked at him strangely. “My Lord, I didn’t know who was coming from Zhao. You and the Prince Nan were reviewing the list, and you didn’t show it to me. Don’t you remember?”
Shen Zaiye: “…”
One can’t be smart all their life; there are always moments of foolishness. As long as one is rational most of the time, it’s fine. After comforting himself for a moment, Shen Zaiye composed himself and said seriously, “In that case, you should prepare even more carefully. The person you’re married to now is far more capable than him, understand?”
Jiang Taohua was silent for a moment before reaching out to feel his forehead.
“What?”
“My Lord seems a bit unclear-headed today,” Taohua frowned. “Your words are all strange. If I’ve married well, shouldn’t you be the one to show it? What do I need to prepare? I’m already married. Do you think I want to dress up to make him regret it? That’s silly. What does he have to do with me now? If he’s irrelevant, why care about his thoughts?”
Shen Zaiye was silent for a long time before slowly standing up. He calmly said, “It’s windy outside today. Rest well and don’t catch a cold.”
“Alright.” Watching him leave, Taohua immediately pulled Qingtai over and said seriously, “Go interrogate Zhanlu. Find out where the Lord went today.”
Qingtai was startled, her eyes darting around. “Zhanlu is tight-lipped. How could I…”
“If he won’t talk, beat him. I don’t believe he’d hit a woman,” Taohua made a throat-slitting gesture fiercely. “If he still won’t talk after a beating, bring him to me. I’ll kill him!”
“My Lady!” Qingtai was shocked. “You…”
After eyeing her maid for a while, Taohua laughed. “I’m joking. Just go ask. If he won’t say, plead with him nicely. You’ll probably be able to get him to talk.”
Qingtai hesitated before agreeing and walking out uncertainly. Two-quarters of an hour later, she ran back, her eyes full of amazement. “Zhanlu talked! He said the Lord went to receive the Zhao envoys at the guesthouse.”
“Thank you for your hard work.” Patting her shoulder, Taohua stretched and began changing for dinner contentedly.
Shen Zaiye had indeed met Li Jin, so his reaction today wasn’t strange. What surprised her more was that he had investigated her past in advance. Calculating the days, he must have started the investigation at least two months ago. Did that mean he had valued her so much for so long?
Clicking her tongue, Taohua shook her head as she changed into comfortable casual wear, drumming her fingers on the table while waiting for dinner.
With the Zhao envoys’ arrival, the Emperor would naturally bestow some gifts on Taohua in advance. After dinner, the rewards arrived at the mansion. Shen Zaiye coldly examined them for a while before picking out a gold-threaded robe embroidered with peonies and a long red skirt. He tossed them to her, saying, “You can wear this set tomorrow.”
Her jaw nearly hit the floor as Taohua looked at the intricate patterns and fastenings in horror. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” Shen Zaiye said. “If Qingtai doesn’t know how to fasten it, have another maid help.”
“But…” Taohua lifted the skirt. “Do you think this looks good?”
To be honest, it wasn’t very attractive, but it was an imperial gift and a symbol of nobility, suitable for tomorrow’s occasion. So Shen Zaiye nodded against his better judgment.
Unable to hold back her laughter, Taohua tossed the clothes aside and moved closer to Shen Zaiye. “My Lord should trust me. There’s no need to be so nervous.”
“Which eye of yours saw me being nervous?” Shen Zaiye frowned. “I’m doing this for your good.”
“Thank you for your kindness, My Lord,” Taohua hugged his waist coyingly. “But there’s no need to put so much thought into appearances. Firstly, Li Jin isn’t an important person. Secondly, these clothes might overshadow the Empress and Noble Consort Lan, which could invite resentment. If you trust me, why not let me decide?”
After staring at her coldly for a while, Shen Zaiye sighed. “As you wish.”
Watching her happily start to arrange things, he couldn’t help but ask another question. “You did like Li Jin before, didn’t you?”
Taohua stiffened, her face contorting as if she’d eaten a cockroach. She turned to look at him for a moment before saying, “Everyone has their youth. Young girls are easily fooled, thinking that a few warm words and some care mean they’ve found their destined partner. You can’t hold this against me. Even if I liked him before, I have no feelings for him now.”
“I’m not holding it against you,” Shen Zaiye lowered his gaze. “I’m just curious. A woman like you, what would make you fall for someone?”
“Is that even a question?” Taohua clicked her tongue. “Women are all the same. They like men who are good to them – gentle, considerate, reassuring. Unless they’re young girls, no one likes men like you who always wear a stern face and are fierce and…”
Before she could finish, seeing Shen Zaiye’s rapidly darkening expression, Taohua quickly changed tack. “Although you always wear a stern face and are fierce and harsh to others, I’m still a young girl!”
Snorting coldly, Shen Zaiye glared at her. “You don’t know what’s good for you.”
“Hehe,” Taohua hurriedly hugged his arm. “My Lord is the best. I know that. Don’t worry, in my heart, no one is better than you!”
(End of Chapter)