“The time is ripe,” Shen Zaiye smiled. “Don’t you have confidence?”
Mu Wuxia frowned, giving him a complex look before turning to leave. Shen Zaiye didn’t pursue him, simply watching as he exited Zhilan Palace and encountered Jiang Taohua at the gate.
“Your Highness,” Taohua smiled. “Where are you heading?”
Seeing her improved Mu Wuxia’s mood slightly, though his voice remained gloomy: “The conversation was unproductive, so I thought to take a walk.”
“Don’t be hasty,” Taohua said. “The Zhao envoys are still in the palace. As the only Prince, how can you abandon this situation and leave?”
Prince Nan frowned, turning back to look for Shen Zaiye, but found the man had mysteriously vanished.
“…Very well,” he said. “I’ll sit in the side hall for a while, waiting for the Zhao envoys to awaken.”
Taohua nodded, following him to the side hall. She served him tea and water, looking at him with a nurturing expression. Mu Wuxia sensed something amiss and asked, “Does Sister Jiang have a request?”
“Your Highness is perceptive,” Taohua set down the teapot and knelt before him. “This concubine wishes to implore Your Highness not to attack Zhao under any circumstances.”
Mu Wuxia was startled, looking at her in surprise: “Did Shen Zaiye tell you?”
This had just been discussed; how did she already know?
“This concubine guessed,” Taohua said earnestly. “I feel there’s no need to attack Zhao now.”
“I think the same,” Mu Wuxia frowned slightly, sighing. “But Father Emperor doesn’t see it that way. I’m afraid I’m powerless in this matter.”
“Does Your Highness remember touring the capital with me before, seeing the poor?” Jiang Taohua asked. “Do you still feel the same way you did then?”
Mu Wuxia was taken aback, recalling the blood-soaked ground and the dying child asking for two steamed buns. His heart grew heavy.
He aspired to bring peace and prosperity to all under heaven, where the elderly were cared for, the young educated, and at least everyone could eat their fill without risking their lives for basic survival. Now he was a step closer to this goal, but… he still couldn’t control the world.
“Sister Jiang’s meaning is…” Mu Wuxia pressed his lips together, lowering his gaze. “You want me to listen to the Chancellor and follow the same path as the Crown Prince?”
“With the Chancellor present, you won’t become a second Crown Prince,” Taohua shook her head. “You’ll be a wise ruler. If there are matters requiring someone to bear infamy, the Chancellor will do it for you.”
Mu Wuxia chuckled lightly, supporting his forehead with his hand: “Why don’t you understand? It’s precisely because I don’t want him to do such things that I’m unwilling to listen to him.”
Jiang Taohua was startled, looking up at him with surprise.
“‘A general’s success is built on ten thousand bones.’ But rising to power by sacrificing those who helped you, wouldn’t that feel lonely? Looking back and seeing nothing left, he did it for your benefit but is cursed by millions, yet you can’t say a word in his defense.” Mu Wuxia shook his head, smiling. “I don’t want to reach that point with Chancellor Shen. He’s a good teacher and friend. Though we disagree on some views, he’s always acted in my best interests. How heartless would I have to be to watch him bear the world’s condemnation for my sake?”
He knew everything! Jiang Taohua was dumbfounded, momentarily at a loss for words.
She had thought the young prince would be easily swayed, but the Prince Nan’s eyes saw even more clearly than Shen Zaiye’s. He understood Shen Zaiye’s thoughts and intentions, which was why he refused to cooperate, insisting on his path.
Earlier, Shen Zaiye had indeed discussed rebellion with her – first killing the Emperor, then having the Prince Nan execute them as traitors, ascending the throne before allying with Zhao, supporting Jiang Changjue, and attacking Wu.
Given the current situation in Great Wei, this plan was feasible. The only one who needed persuading was the Prince Nan. Shen Zaiye worried he was too benevolent to harm Emperor Mingde’s life, which was why he sent her as an intermediary.
However, unexpectedly, this was how the Prince Nan thought.
After a pause, Taohua frowned and asked: “What do you intend to do? Time waits for no one. Surely you can’t truly wait for the Emperor’s natural passing – that would be far too late.”
Zhao would certainly fall before Wu.
“I will use my methods to achieve what the Chancellor desires, without necessarily harming Father Emperor,” Mu Wuxia raised his eyes, his gaze suddenly resolute. “He merely wants Father Emperor to agree to ally with Zhao and attack Wu. I will do my utmost to try.”
“But…” Taohua was extremely worried. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust the Prince Nan, but what could this child accomplish without Shen Zaiye? The Emperor’s mind was unfathomable. What if he failed to achieve this, and Emperor Mingde had already ordered an attack on Zhao?
“Sister, why not trust me this once?” Mu Wuxia stood up. “The Zhao envoys rarely visit. You should chat with them properly. As for the rest, it’s a matter for men to worry about.”
Caught between laughter and tears, Taohua rose to look at him: “Your Highness’s words are truly powerful.”
But telling her not to worry was impossible. When someone wants to kick down your door and you’re standing right in front of them, how could you not be nervous?
During the afternoon garden party, Li Jin had sobered up. He wandered through the Imperial Garden with the Prince Nan, Shen Zaiye, and Taohua, seeking an opportunity to speak with Jiang Taohua. However, in such a public setting, only pleasantries could be exchanged.
“Second Princess, rest assured, Changjue is doing well in Zhao,” he looked at Taohua. “He often mentions you.”
“Mm,” Taohua nodded, looking at the autumn flowers indifferently. “If he can establish merit and achieve success, I have nothing to worry about.”
Li Jin hurriedly said, “Changjue has already become a centurion, with considerable prestige in the military.”
Prince Nan was startled upon hearing this: “The person Chancellor Li speaks of, is it Zhao’s Third Prince Jiang Changjue?”
“Indeed.”
The others couldn’t understand: “A royal prince, even if joining the military, how could he be merely a centurion?”
Surely he’d be given at least a general’s title for the sake of appearances?
Taohua’s eyes cooled as she glanced at Li Jin. He averted his gaze, vaguely saying, “Zhao’s situation differs from your esteemed country. They can’t be compared.”
Indeed, the situations were different. Taohua nodded. In Great Wei, to become a chancellor like Shen Zaiye required exhaustive scheming and calculation. In Zhao, it was much easier – one only needed to associate with the eldest princess.
“There’s not much scenery worth seeing further ahead,” Shen Zaiye spoke up. “Let’s end here for today. Everyone should rest early. The envoys will stay in the capital for several days. Perhaps you could take a walk outside the palace another time.”
“By rights, we should also visit the Chancellor’s residence,” Li Jin frowned, looking at him. “Would that be convenient?”
“Naturally, it’s convenient. I’ll inform His Majesty shortly and invite Chancellor Li and Lord Yang to my residence tomorrow,” Shen Zaiye nodded gracefully.
Yang Wanqing watched from the side, thinking it was no wonder Jiang Taohua had moved on. With such a good husband, how could past matters still be of consequence?
Everyone agreed. Li Jin and the others were to return to the guesthouse, while Shen Zaiye took Taohua back to the Chancellor’s residence. As they parted at the palace gates, Shen Zaiye reached out and lifted Taohua into the carriage. After tucking her inside, he turned back to bow to Li Jin: “We’ll take our leave first.”
Nodding with a complex expression, Li Jin watched the carriage depart, his face turning ashen and his lips gradually whitening.
“Since she has moved on, why do you continue to torment yourself?” Yang Wanqing shook his head. “Consider this trip as merely coming to see Great Wei’s landscapes.”
“The poison in her body hasn’t been cured,” Li Jin lowered his gaze. “I’m afraid if I can’t get the antidote, she’ll truly…”
Yang Wanqing felt both angry and amused, suddenly feeling Jiang Taohua’s words earlier were correct: “It was you who decided to give up on her back then. What use is doing all this now? She won’t be moved or grateful. What are you doing this for?”
“I…” Li Jin frowned. “I can’t just watch her die.”
“Enough,” Yang Wanqing lowered his voice. “When she was near death before, didn’t you also ignore her? In the end, if she were still in Zhao now, not married far away, not having met a man like Shen Zaiye, would you still regret so much?”
Li Jin was stunned, his expression becoming even more difficult.
Yang Wanqing turned to leave: “Let’s return to the guesthouse. We should carefully consider how to speak with the people of Great Wei.”
Standing in place for a long while, Li Jin finally followed and boarded the carriage. Throughout the journey, he couldn’t help pondering this question.
Was he regretting because Jiang Suxue wasn’t good enough, or because Jiang Taohua had married a better man?
People often have this mentality: when something of theirs is tucked away in a corner, they might not pay attention to it or particularly like it. But once someone takes that thing away, they become uncomfortable. This discomfort can be understood as a momentary sense of loss, but more extreme individuals might turn it into jealousy, misinterpreting it as the flavor of love.
However, if that thing were returned to its original place, people would pay attention to it for a while, but once it truly became the same as before, it would again gather dust in that corner.
Li Jin couldn’t grasp this principle, but Jiang Taohua understood it clearly. Her relationship with him completely ended when he chose Jiang Suxue. There was no reason for clarification or reconciliation years later. If he truly regretted it so much and liked her that much, how could they have reached this point today?
The idea of reconciliation after many years is merely time smoothing over the scars, with everyone forgetting the pain.
At this moment, Jiang Taohua had no mind to care about Li Jin’s thoughts. She was looking at Shen Zaiye on the soft couch with gleaming eyes.
Shen Zaiye said calmly: “If you keep looking at me like that, I’ll think you want to do something to me.”
Reaching for paper and brush, Taohua pulled him up and said seriously: “This concubine doesn’t want to do anything to you, my lord. I just want to ask if you’ve taken to heart what I said earlier about the Prince Nan’s thoughts?”
“I’ve taken it to heart, and then what?” Shen Zaiye chuckled lightly. “Does what he says necessarily make it so? ‘A general’s success built on ten thousand bones’ is the inevitable path for an emperor’s ascension. To abandon the direct route for a detour out of this bit of compassion – I won’t agree to it.”
“I’m so glad you think this way, my lord,” Taohua grinned, taking up the brush and drawing on the paper. “Then, according to the original plan, let me first tell you about the relationships within the Zhao royal family.”
“I already know all this,” Shen Zaiye looked at her perplexedly. “What’s there to say?”
Taohua shook her head repeatedly: “What you know can’t be clearer than what I know. Trust me, look here. Currently, the Zhao Emperor is recuperating in the inner palace, while the Empress and eldest princess control the court. If Great Wei wants to cooperate with Zhao, we can only negotiate with these two people.”
But these two people happen to be the ones least likely to let Jiang Changjue and her have an easy time. She worried her demands couldn’t be met.
“The eldest princess Jiang Suxue’s weakness is Li Jin,” Drawing two circles and connecting them with a line, Taohua said seriously. “Regarding Li Jin, Jiang Suxue will always choose to compromise. So whether to let Li Jin return this time depends on your decision, my lord. As for Empress Lü, she’s ruthless but of low birth. Her involvement in politics has always been resented. The Grand Marshal Wang Buqun is her nemesis. If we can first persuade Wang Buqun and unite the court’s opinions, Empress Lü will be powerless against you.”
Shen Zaiye listened quietly, watching her complete the diagram before looking up at her and chuckling softly: “The Zhao royal family seems to have many weaknesses. What about yours?”
A chill ran down her spine, and Taohua laughed dryly: “This concubine’s weakness is simply not being hungry or cold.”
It should be her precious brother, right? Sneering, Shen Zaiye didn’t say more. He took the brush from her hand, drew circles for her and Jiang Changjue, and said softly: “You mean the condition for the two countries’ alliance is to make Jiang Changjue the commander?”
“Yes,” Taohua straightened her back. “This way, Great Wei saves effort, and Zhao can be said to have contributed.”
“But,” Shen Zaiye glanced at her with a smile. “He’s currently only a centurion in Zhao. Suddenly making him commander seems unconvincing.”
This was why she had glared at Li Jin earlier! Taohua felt deflated. If they hadn’t deliberately made things difficult for Changjue, how could someone of his ability be just a small centurion? Now, promoting him would require more effort.
“It’s truly troublesome,” Shen Zaiye sighed.
Taohua crouched on the soft couch, scratching her head in distress and muttering softly: “There should be another way…”
“There is a way.”
Hearing this, Taohua’s ears perked up, and she immediately looked at Shen Zaiye: “My lord?”
Leaning back, Shen Zaiye reclined lazily on the edge of the soft couch, looking at her disdainfully for a moment before pointing at his cheek: “Here.”
Normally, Taohua might not understand what he meant, but today was a matter of life and death. Jiang Taohua’s quick wit kicked in, and she pounced forward, planting a kiss that left his face covered in saliva.
“Is there a way now?”
Wiping the saliva off expressionlessly, Shen Zaiye nodded: “You stay put. I’ll think of a way for you.”
The feeling of successfully gaining support was indeed good! Taohua felt like crying. In her lifetime, she had finally experienced the joy of being promoted through charm alone.
(End of Chapter)