Mu Wuxia nodded and quickly ran out. Mu Wuyin watched him, his eyes filled with affection: “He’s the only one in the palace who makes me feel at ease.”
Jiang Taohua was startled and asked curiously, “Why does Your Highness say such things?”
“What I tell you is naturally from my heart,” Mu Wuyin said, pulling her to sit beside him. “Among all the princes now, only the Prince Nan seems most sensible and courteous. He doesn’t play with power, so I naturally like him the most.”
In other words, it was because the Prince Nan posed the least threat that he could speak to him so kindly.
After a pause, Taohua cautiously asked, “What if one day the Prince Nan also participates in the struggle for succession?”
Mu Wuyin’s expression changed slightly as he pressed his lips together: “Then he would naturally be no different from the other princes.”
Nodding, Jiang Taohua understood. The Crown Prince’s kindness towards the Prince Nan wasn’t due to blood ties at all. In the end, it was because their interests didn’t conflict, so they could coexist peacefully. Mu Wuyin might be sincere towards her, but towards others… he was still full of calculations and wariness.
Mu Wuxia walked out of the Eastern Palace before opening the paper Taohua had given him.
“This concubine knows that Your Highness is unwilling to take improper paths or step on others to rise. However, the struggle for the throne has always been bloody. This concubine has betrayed the Prime Minister to support the Crown Prince with a plan, not out of a desire to oppose the Prime Minister or Your Highness. If Your Highness can regard this concubine as one of your own and persuade the Prime Minister to abandon his murderous intentions, this concubine will fully support Your Highness with unwavering loyalty.”
Slightly startled, Mu Wuxia frowned. After all, Jiang was just a woman, yet she dared to actively involve herself in the struggle for succession. Wasn’t that seeking death?
However, judging by what was written, even if she wasn’t seeking death, it seemed Shen Zaiye wouldn’t spare her. A married woman turning to another man’s embrace – Shen Zaiye certainly wouldn’t swallow this anger, so taking action was understandable. Jiang had anticipated this outcome, so she pledged allegiance to him, declaring her stance and asking him to persuade Shen Zaiye.
What a mess! Mu Wuxia sighed, carefully tucking the paper away. Looking at the sky, he said, “I suddenly feel it’s better not to grow up, so I don’t have to face these matters of the heart.”
The guard beside him was startled: “Your Highness, in two years you should be establishing your primary consort.”
Giving him a strange look, the young prince said seriously, “Look at your Prime Minister Shen. Such an intelligent person has lost half his life to matters of the heart, yet you still have the heart to let me establish a consort?”
“That’s not how it works, Your Highness. Establishing a consort is necessary to…”
“Shut up!” Mu Wuxia said very seriously. “With these two as examples, I’d rather die than establish a consort!”
The guard fell silent, thinking they needed to have a good talk with the Prime Minister about this. If the prince doesn’t establish a consort, what about future heirs?
Shen Zaiye soon received what the Prince Nan had sent. Looking at the words, he laughed coldly: “Well done, Jiang Taohua. You’re truly formidable.”
She had so quickly figured out his next move and even grasped the Prince Nan as a trump card! Remarkable, truly remarkable.
“What do you want to do?” Xu Yangui glanced at the contents of the letter. “I think what she says makes sense and could indeed help Prince Nan quite a bit.”
“Haven’t you seen through this woman’s intentions yet?” Shen Zaiye sneered. “She’s just seeking shelter under the Prince Nan’s tree. After helping him succeed, she’ll naturally make other demands for him to satisfy. In the end, she just has her agenda and needs to use the Prince Nan’s path.”
Xu Yangui was startled. After careful consideration, he said, “So what? Our goals are the same anyway. As for what each of us wants after achieving the goal, we can discuss that when the time comes.”
The Crown Prince had already been established. For the series of plans to follow, having Jiang Taohua by the Crown Prince’s side would save them a lot of trouble. This deal was completely worth it.
Shen Zaiye felt somewhat irritated, clutching the note as he said, “Are you suggesting we truly let her use her feminine charms on the Crown Prince?”
“That depends on what she decides to do,” Xu Yangui shrugged. “You can treat her as if she’s already dead. After all, you were planning to kill her anyway.”
How could that be the same? Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes, pointing at his head: “Do you see the green light here?”
“I see it. It looks quite nice,” Xu Yangui nodded seriously.
Seeing his master’s expression change, Zhanlu quickly darted out the door, leaving Xu Yangui to be chased around the room, begging for mercy: “I was joking! Can’t you just have Jiang Taohua remain faithful to you? This can be negotiated!”
Has that woman remained faithful? Shen Zaiye laughed coldly. He’d have better luck getting a rabbit to eat meat!
With his sword at Xu Yangui’s neck, Shen Zaiye suddenly remembered something. He withdrew his sword and raised an eyebrow: “This might not be impossible after all. Given the current situation, things can’t get much worse. That woman hates me to the bone and certainly won’t return to the manor. Since that’s the case, let her stay by the Crown Prince’s side.”
“You’re not jealous anymore?” Xu Yangui was a bit surprised.
“Who’s jealous?” Shen Zaiye frowned, his face darkening as he said, “This is a matter of male pride. It has nothing to do with jealousy.”
Xu Yangui clicked his tongue twice, shaking his head and sighing: “When it comes to stubbornness, you and Lady Jiang truly are a match made in heaven.”
Turning his head away, Shen Zaiye snorted coldly and walked out the door.
Taohua had been given quite a few tonics in the palace, and her health had improved somewhat. Mu Wuyin looked at her with satisfaction and said softly, “After a couple more days of recuperation, you’ll be able to serve in my bedchamber.”
Her body stiffened slightly, and Taohua gave a dry laugh. Although she was annoyed with Shen Zaiye, her body was her own. She couldn’t mistreat herself to anger him, nor did she have any intention of serving two masters. She would have to deal with this situation as it arose.
They were discussing matters in the study, and Mu Wuyin didn’t ask her to leave at all, allowing her to stand by his side. The advisors had some misgivings, but Mu Wuyin said, “It’s fine. She’s illiterate and won’t gossip outside.”
Taohua tried her best to appear illiterate, but her eyes saw what was laid out in front of him.
A map of the Prince of Yu’s manor.
An advisor said in a low voice, “Your Highness, this matter is of great importance. The fewer people who know about it, the better. This palace maid…”
Mu Wuyin said helplessly, “Just pretend she doesn’t exist.”
Taohua smiled and bowed politely: “This servant won’t disturb you. I’ll go prepare lunch. Your Highness and the officials, please continue your business.”
“You don’t need to leave,” Mu Wuyin pressed his lips together, speaking quite seriously. “I trust you.”
This man truly has the poor judgment of character, as always, Taohua thought, shaking her head. She smiled, bowed, and retreated. Mu Wuyin watched her, looking quite disappointed. It took him a while to resume discussions with the others.
Mu Wuyin was already the Crown Prince, yet he still wanted to eliminate the Prince of Yu. This bad idea must have come from Shen Zaiye. The Prince of Yu no longer posed much of a threat, but once Mu Wuyin made his move, he would bear the crime of harming his brother. This crime might not be enough to have him deposed, but the Emperor would certainly take note of it.
Just as she was thinking about this, a palace servant passed by her side and said in a low voice, “The Prime Minister has agreed. Miss, please wait patiently.”
Smiling lightly, Jiang Taohua continued walking without showing any reaction. Setting aside matters of the heart, she and Shen Zaiye truly were the best partners. They understood each other and were equally ruthless. Working together, they were quite formidable.
In the evening, Mu Wuyin sat in her room as usual, keeping her company. Taohua looked at him for a while before saying softly, “Your Highness doesn’t look well. Is there something troubling you?”
Mu Wuyin frowned and said, “I… want to go to a place, but that place is heavily guarded and has many martial arts experts. What should I do?”
Taohua smiled, “Why not hire an even more skilled martial arts expert?”
“That’s easier said than done. I don’t know any formidable martial arts experts,” Mu Wuyin said, troubled. “If we fail on the first attempt, the consequences would be endless.”
Looking at him seriously for a moment, Taohua asked, “You must go to this place?”
“Yes,” Mu Wuyin nodded without hesitation. “If I don’t go, the consequences would also be endless.”
He truly has the ruthlessness of an emperor. They’re blood brothers, and he’s already secured his position as Crown Prince, yet he’s still unwilling to give others a chance to live. Such a person is suited to be an emperor, but won’t be a good one. Taohua smiled lightly, pretending to understand nothing as she said softly, “This servant is just a woman and doesn’t know what to do. If Your Highness is truly troubled, isn’t the Prime Minister still there?”
Right, there’s still Shen Zaiye! Mu Wuyin’s eyes lit up as he rose to tuck her blanket in. “You sleep first. I’m returning to the main hall.”
“Alright,” Taohua nodded, watching him hurry out before yawning and closing her eyes to sleep.
She didn’t even need to guess the outcome of this matter. With Xu Yangui by Shen Zaiye’s side, capable of coming and going without a trace, once it was in his hands, the Prince of Yu was certain to die.
Indeed, it was certain death. Before noon the next day, terrible news came from outside the palace – the Prince of Yu had passed away.
The ill Emperor was furious and immediately sent people to seal off the Prince of Yu’s manor and investigate the culprit. Mu Wuyin had left the palace early in the morning to console the people at the Prince of Yu’s manor. As for Shen Zaiye, he took this opportunity to enter the palace and place some fragmentary evidence on the Emperor’s table.
“This subject dares not speak rashly, but these items were found in the Prince of Yu’s manor. As for who is responsible, that requires further investigation.”
A sheepskin map, clearly from the palace, bore the seal of the Ancestral Temple. When a prince left the palace to establish his household, the maps of his residence were kept in the Ancestral Temple and not easily taken out. The killer had obtained this map, allowing them to easily enter the Prince of Yu’s manor to commit the murder.
After coughing violently twice, the Emperor looked at Shen Zaiye: “Who does my beloved official think could have taken this map from the palace?”
Shen Zaiye lowered his head and remained silent.
The Emperor’s question was merely casual; he knew the answer very well in his heart. The Crown Prince was overseeing state affairs and resided in the Eastern Palace. Only he had the ability and opportunity to take this out.
Laughing softly, the Emperor’s eyes were full of sighs: “I tried so hard to protect Wuyu, but I didn’t expect him to still be unwilling to let go. Having such a prince, is it a blessing or a misfortune for our Great Wei?”
(End of Chapter)