The Yü Prince’s faction was demoralized. Duan Shinan, having exhausted all other options, finally came to Shen Zaiyi secretly for help.
“I beg the Prime Minister to save my daughter’s life!” Duan Shinan pleaded earnestly. “If the Prime Minister assists just this once, I will serve you faithfully hereafter, without a trace of disobedience.”
Elegantly toying with his teacup, Shen Zaiyi didn’t even look at him: “Master Duan, your calculation is quite good. You want me to help save your daughter, and then protect you from the Crown Prince’s resentment in the future?”
Duan Shinan was Yü Prince’s man, and Mu Wuyin knew this. That’s why this judgment was so decisive and cruel, leaving no room for plea. The old fox Duan had seen the situation wasn’t favorable and came to seek refuge under the guise of pleading for his daughter, fearing the Crown Prince might cause him trouble later.
“This…” Duan Shinan pursed his lips. “My daughter has served the Prime Minister for so long. Surely there’s some sentiment?”
“Of course there is,” Shen Zaiyi smiled lightly, finally looking up at him. “I’m willing to help Master Duan with this sentiment. But it’s give and take. If Master Duan is willing to help me promote two people, I’ll ensure the safety of your entire Duan household.”
“That’s easy!” Hearing such a simple condition, Duan Shinan immediately agreed. “As long as it’s a position I can grant, whoever the Prime Minister names, I’ll give it to them.”
“Good.” Handing him a piece of paper with two names written on it, Shen Zaiyi looked at Duan Shinan and said, “If Master Duan is truly sincere, I can plead for the Duan family first. How our relationship develops afterward depends on Master Duan’s understanding.”
Duan Shinan, being shrewd and adaptable, immediately knelt to pay respects to Shen Zaiyi, took the paper, and retreated.
Watching him for a moment, Shen Zaiyi opened a booklet on the table.
The position of Grand Master of Remount was given to Qin Sheng, and he had placed his people in the position of Chamberlain for Ceremonials. With Duan Shinan’s allegiance, the position of Grand Marshal might need to be changed as well.
Among the Nine Ministers of the court, initially, the Jing Prince and Yü Prince’s people held the majority. Now that Jing Prince had become the Crown Prince, his subordinates were gradually coming under his control. The person wearing the four-clawed yellow robe, delighted with his new status, probably hadn’t even noticed this shift.
It was pitiful.
Mu Wuyin indeed hadn’t noticed. Not only that, he was lavishly praising Shen Zaiyi in front of the Crown Princess and others.
“If it weren’t for Prime Minister Shen, how could I have entered the Eastern Palace so quickly?” Looking at the palace servants busy moving furniture and ornaments, Mu Wuyin was in high spirits. “Brother Yü has been making covert moves, surely planning something to turn the tables. But there’s no chance now. The Crown Prince’s golden crown is mine!”
Crown Princess Li smiled and nodded: “Congratulations, Your Highness. I’ve prepared generous gifts, all chosen to please the Prime Minister and the ladies.”
“You’re thoughtful,” patting her hand, Mu Wuyin looked up at the sky, suddenly feeling sentimental. “If only she were still here.”
Lady Li was startled. Seeing Mu Wuyin’s expression, she knew he was thinking of that woman again.
Someone had told her that previously, His Highness had met a bewitchingly beautiful commoner woman outside the palace, even gambling recklessly because of her, incurring the Emperor’s rebuke. Later, that woman was personally killed by Prime Minister Shen. Although His Highness was grateful to the Prime Minister, he could never forget that woman, mentioning her every so often.
“The Prime Minister said that one should only indulge in beauty after achieving great things,” Mu Wuyin’s eyes were full of regret. “But now that I’ve achieved my goal, I can never meet such a woman again.”
Lady Li lowered her head silently, not particularly concerned. After all, it was a dead person. She wouldn’t compete with a ghost for attention.
In a certain household in the capital:
Jiang Taohua changed into ordinary clothes just bought by Qingcao, looking at herself in the mirror. A light yellow top, a vermilion short jacket, and a blue long skirt – this attire would quickly blend into the crowd on the street, avoiding unwanted attention.
“My lady,” Qingcao worriedly clutched the medicine bottle. “I’ve already sent word back to Zhao. You now need to take two pills when the illness strikes. If they don’t send medicine in advance, you’ll…”
“There’s still time,” Taohua waved her hand. “I already feel lucky to have woken up from this sleep, let alone have several more months to live.”
Yesterday, she had slept for a day, thinking she surely had no hope left. Who knew that when the charm venom acted up at night, after taking the medicine, she would be fine? However, with the poisons mixed in her body, the monthly suffering became twice as frequent. The year’s worth of medicine from the new empress would only last half a year now. Calculating the remaining medicine, she could hold on for three to four months.
It was enough. At least it gave her a chance to act.
“Are you alright?” Qingcao was still worried. “Why don’t you rest a bit more? Why the rush to go out now?”
“If I don’t go out tonight, there might not be another chance,” Taohua finished arranging her appearance and stood up. “I’m fine. If you’re worried, you can continue following me in secret. But no matter what happens today, don’t come out to save me.”
Qingcao frowned: “What are you planning to do?”
Taohua smiled, opening the door: “Shen Zaiyi’s path is no longer viable for us. Should our trip to Great Wei be in vain? Of course, we must find another path to walk.”
As always, not understanding, Qingcao could only conceal herself and follow as she watched her mistress leave.
Jiang Taohua walked as if she had no eyes, bumping into ox carts, getting covered in mud and grass, then colliding with waiters carrying dishes, spilling soup and oil all over herself. Her newly bought clothes instantly became dirty and tattered. If she didn’t raise her head, she looked no different from a beggar.
As night fell and households lit their lamps, Taohua wandered alone on the official road near the Prime Minister’s residence, quietly waiting.
Soon, the Crown Prince’s returning procession approached from afar. Hearing the sound, she chose an ideal position in the middle of the road and lay down like a corpse.
“Whoa!” The lead guard, seeing something ahead, immediately reined in his horse, signaling those behind to stop, and went forward to investigate.
“What’s happening?” Mu Wuyin, half-drunk and in high spirits, couldn’t help but lift the curtain to look out when the carriage stopped.
“Your Highness, a woman has fainted in the middle of the road. The carriage can’t pass,” the guard quickly reported. “What should we do?”
Laughing, Mu Wuyin raised an eyebrow and spoke drunkenly: “Is she beautiful? If not, we can just run her over!”
Everyone was startled. Taohua, listening, thought to herself how fortunate she was that her parents had given her good looks. According to him, the unattractive couldn’t even keep their lives!
Although knowing it was a joke, the guard still honestly reported: “This woman is quite beautiful.”
(End of Chapter)