People are naturally inclined to hide their true feelings, keeping many inappropriate thoughts to themselves. However, once they lose their inhibitions, those hidden thoughts can slip out, causing serious consequences.
For instance, as her mind grew increasingly hazy, Jiang Taohua hung onto Qingtai, pointing at the moon and cursing loudly, “That good-for-nothing Shen Zaiye! It’s bad enough he’s always flicking his snake tongue, but he doesn’t even treat women as human beings! He thinks he’s the biggest in the world – why doesn’t he just go be the emperor?”
Qingtai and Gu Huairou turned pale with fright, hurriedly trying to cover her mouth.
However, the drunken Taohua was surprisingly strong. She shook them off and staggered, saying, “Don’t stop me! I’m going to castrate that son of a bitch! Aren’t there enough women in his household already? He keeps adding more – isn’t he afraid of overindulgence? Is his chest filled with a jade disc like this?”
She formed a circle with her hands to demonstrate the shape of a jade disc, squinting as she added, “The kind with a hole in the middle.”
Gu Huairou was dumbfounded, immensely grateful that they had already left the banquet. No one should have heard these words, given that the area was deserted. However…
Qingtai asked in confusion, “Does a jade disc need a hole in the middle?”
“Of course it does,” Taohua grinned. “That’s the only way the comparison works. Because he’s also lacking in a certain area!”
Gu Huairou grabbed her, torn between laughter and tears. “Everyone thinks you’re the master’s favorite. How can you harbor such resentment?”
Stumbling forward, Taohua waved her hand. “Only the fish knows if the water is cold or warm… only I know…”
There are too many couples in this world who appear to be perfect matches to outsiders, but only those involved truly know how their days are spent.
Meanwhile, in the bridal chamber, Shen Zaiye entered to find Qin Huaiyu already prepared to serve him for the night.
“If this concubine does anything wrong in the future, please don’t hesitate to correct me,” Qin Huaiyu said playfully, sticking out her tongue. “I’m quite prone to making mistakes.”
“It’s fine,” Shen Zaiye said, lowering his gaze as he sat on the bed. “You’re unfamiliar with this household, and Jieyu has been imprisoned for her crimes. If you need anything, you can directly approach the mistress or Madam Jiang.”
“My sister has been imprisoned?” Qin Huaiyu was startled. “Why?”
She had been busy preparing for various rituals all day and hadn’t heard about this.
“Because she killed someone before and now attempted to kill again,” Shen Zaiye explained. “She’s getting what she deserves.”
“I see,” Qin Huaiyu nodded quickly. “She’s done many terrible things before. If she’s getting her just deserts, then let’s not concern ourselves with her. Shall we retire for the night?”
Not concern ourselves? Shen Zaiye paused, looking up at her. Qin Huaiyu didn’t seem to find anything wrong with her words. She climbed into bed, gazing at him with a mix of shyness and anticipation.
With Xu Yangui still in prison, Shen Zaiye had originally planned to try being intimate with another woman today, to avoid becoming too fixated on Jiang Taohua alone.
However, the person before him was unsuitable. Regardless of any grudges, to throw one’s own family under the bus in front of others – how could anyone expect you to be a good person? There were countless ways to phrase things, yet Qin Huaiyu had chosen the most foolish one.
She wasn’t a clever person. Such individuals were better suited to be placed on the chessboard with others, not in his bed.
“Let’s drink this wedding wine before sleeping,” he said, handing her a cup from the table.
Qin Huaiyu was surprised. “I’m just a concubine, not the main wife. Should I drink the wedding wine with you?”
“Consider it a sign of my special fondness for you.”
Hearing this, Qin Huaiyu was overjoyed. She took the cup, clinked it with Shen Zaiye’s, and drank it all in one gulp.
Shen Zaiye stood calmly by the bed, watching her fall into a deep sleep. After a while, he changed his clothes and left through the window, melting into the night.
At Zhengchun Pavilion, Taohua lay restlessly on the couch. Her embroidered shoes had been kicked off, her clothes were in disarray, and her face was flushed red.
“My lady,” Qingtai brought some sobering tea, speaking softly. “Madam Gu has already returned. Would you like to drink some tea and then retire?”
Mumbling, Taohua turned over, ignoring her. Her collar loosened, revealing her delicate, fair shoulders.
Sighing, Qingtai set down the tea and was about to reach out when she was suddenly grabbed from behind and pulled out of the main room.
The main door closed, and Qingtai was startled. She was about to resist when she heard Zhanlu’s apologetic voice: “Miss Qingtai, let’s step aside for a moment.”
Qingtai turned her head, staring at him for a while. “What are you doing here?”
Dragging her to a secluded corner, Zhanlu frowned. “Madam Jiang is so clever, why are you so slow? If I’m here, it means the master is here. Why else would I bring you out?”
The master? Qingtai realized and gasped. “No, the mistress is drunk. Quick, tell the master to leave!”
“What?” Zhanlu was startled and quickly asked, “What happens when Madam Jiang is drunk?”
“…She talks nonsense,” Qingtai said vaguely. “She might say things opposite to what she feels. It’s best if the master leaves quickly.”
Zhanlu frowned, looking at the main room. “Then you go and ask the master to leave. I don’t have the courage.”
Qingtai: “…” She had even less courage!
Well, since asking the master to leave was impossible, Qingtai simply pulled Zhanlu close and emphasized seriously, “If the master gets angry, remember to speak up for my mistress. What she says isn’t her true feelings.”
“Alright,” Zhanlu nodded.
Inside the room, only one lamp was lit, casting a dim light. Yet the person on the couch seemed to glow, her exposed skin covered in a pearly, luminous sheen.
Shen Zaiye pressed his lips together, sat on the edge of the couch, and reached out to pull her collar closed. He asked gently, “Are you drunk?”
Her eyes shimmering, Taohua looked up at him, smiling like a bewitching spirit. “How could I be drunk?”
“Then do you know who I am?”
“Of course I do,” Taohua grinned. “You’re the Shen Viper. With that snake-tongue manner of speaking, there’s only one of you in the world, no other branches.”
“Jiang Taohua,” Shen Zaiye’s face darkened as he pulled her up, narrowing his eyes. “Are you drunk or pretending? Have you forgotten what I’ve told you before?”
She wrapped her arms around him, nuzzling his neck. Taohua slurred, “This concubine remembers everything you’ve said, very clearly – to understand the rules, not to disrespect superiors, not to ruin your affairs. You’re the most important in this household, and we must obey you.”
Her voice was soft and alluring. Shen Zaiye took a sharp breath, leaning back slightly with his hand supporting him on the couch. He felt as if the person in his arms was truly a snake spirit, boneless and soft, slowly coiling around him, boldly slipping her hand inside his clothes.
“Aren’t you curious why I’m here now?” he asked in a husky voice, glancing at her. “Daring to seduce me, aren’t you afraid of consequences tomorrow?”
Why try to restore rationality to someone drunk? Taohua didn’t understand what he was saying at all. She just mumbled to herself, “Master said this is the most effective way to deal with men.”
“Your master lied to you,” Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes. “This method only works on me. Others won’t fall for your trick.”
Taohua paused her movements, looking up at him in confusion. “Really?”
“Really,” Shen Zaiye nodded solemnly. “When have I ever lied to you?”
Her face fell, and Taohua pouted. “I don’t believe you. I’ll go try it on someone else right now…”
“You dare!” He pulled her back, his face darkening. “You’re already married. Adultery is punishable by drowning in a pig cage!”
Shrinking her neck, Taohua looked up at him, asking cautiously, “Then would you also be drowned in a pig cage if you committed adultery?”
Shen Zaiye: “…” What nonsense. The concept of adultery was created for women. How could men commit adultery?
The scent of wine mixed with Taohua’s fragrance was truly enticing. Shen Zaiye didn’t have the patience for long discussions anymore and decided to simply enjoy this intoxicated Taohua spirit.
However, Jiang Taohua had far too much to say tonight.
“My lord, you have to be intimate with so many women each month. Aren’t you tired? Does it hurt here?”
“My lord, can I raise rabbits in my courtyard?”
“My lord, haven’t you noticed that many things are missing from my room?”
Exasperated, Shen Zaiye lowered his head and bit her lip.
However, he was also curious about something. “Where did all the things in your room go?”
“Sold them,” Taohua grinned, pointing at her forehead. “Look, it’s written right here on my forehead: ‘Biting the hand that feeds.'”
Frowning slightly, Shen Zaiye pulled her hand down and pinned it to the side, asking softly, “What did you do with the money from selling them?”
“Do you know about the Changque Army in Zhao?” Taohua smiled. “I used it to support the army.”
His heart sank, and Shen Zaiye’s face darkened as he looked at her. “Jiang Taohua, do you know that this kind of behavior would surely anger me?”
Secretly selling all the things he had given her and sending the money back to Zhao to support their army? As if Zhao needed her small contribution.
“I know, that’s why I never intended to tell you,” she smiled mischievously, poking his stiff face and whispering, “Aren’t we in a dream right now? Don’t be so realistic. Come on, smile.”
Shen Zaiye: “…”
To think that even with their intimate contact, she still believed this was a dream?
“Ah!”
A scream echoed from the main room, startling Qingtai outside. She was about to rush in to check, but Zhanlu quickly held her back, instructing her to cover her ears with both hands.
How dare a servant interfere in the master’s affairs? Did she not value her life?
Qingtai was anxious, fearing her mistress might commit some grave offense. However, with Zhanlu blocking her, all she could do was wait.
As dawn broke and the surroundings brightened, Taohua finally saw clearly who was before her.
“My lord,” Jiang Taohua said in a hoarse voice, feeling somewhat devastated. “Shouldn’t you be with Madam Qin?”
(End of Chapter)