Prince Mu Wuxia was shocked. He opened his mouth to refute but seemed to remember something and lowered his head to think seriously.
Seeing his reaction, Taohua understood that she had likely guessed correctly about something. She continued, “Your earlier suspicions were not wrong. Due to pressure from Prime Minister Shen, I deceived you. The marriage was indeed deliberately disrupted by the Prime Minister. He forcibly married me, allowing you to receive compensation from the Emperor. Prince Jing was reprimanded by the Emperor, and you didn’t have to marry a powerless princess like me. It was a multi-pronged strategy.”
“Afterwards, you would surely face mockery from many people because I became the Prime Minister’s concubine. The Prime Minister feared you might harbor resentment towards him and wanted to spare you from criticism. So he planned to kill me today under Prince Jing’s name. This way, you wouldn’t suffer any loss, the Prime Minister’s Manor wouldn’t even need to hang white mourning banners, and Prince Jing would bear the consequences.”
“I never imagined Prime Minister Shen would use our marriage to orchestrate such an intricate plan from beginning to end. Even less did I expect that an innocent person like me would become a sacrifice offered to elevate you!”
Looking up at Mu Wuxia, tears streamed down Taohua’s face. “Doesn’t Your Highness think I’m innocent?”
Mu Wuxia’s brows were tightly knitted, his fists clenched. “Of course you’re innocent. The affairs of the Great Wei court have nothing to do with you!”
After a pause, he asked, “So these injuries were also caused by Shen Zaiye?”
“Yes,” Taohua pressed her lips together, lowering her head to gently smooth the edge of her sleeve. “Today, the Prime Minister pretended to let me keep the appointment with Prince Jing at the North Gate Pavilion, but he had assassins ambush me halfway, intending to take my life. Although loyal servants helped me escape, in this vast Great Wei where Prime Minister Shen holds sway, where could I find refuge? I was desperate, which is why I dared to trouble Your Highness.”
“I believe Your Highness is not someone who would kill innocents or climb over others’ corpses to advance. So I beg Your Highness, please save my life!”
Jiang Taohua’s guesses were mostly correct. Moreover, no one had ever discovered the relationship between Shen Zaiye and the Prince Nan. Hearing her explanation, the Prince Nan naturally believed most of it. The remaining doubt was dispelled when he saw her severe injuries.
“Shen Zaiye is indeed the world’s greatest deceiver!” Mu Wuxia was both angry and indignant. “What must I do to protect your life?”
“It’s simple,” Taohua looked at him earnestly. “Your Highness only needs to make it clear to the Prime Minister that you know of his plan and tell him not to endanger my life. Otherwise, you will no longer trust him. You hold a special place in the Prime Minister’s heart. If you say this, he will certainly not harm me again.”
“I understand,” the young prince nodded solemnly as he stood up. “Now I’ll go find a doctor for you and invite the Prime Minister over for a discussion!”
Jiang Taohua was delighted, but her joy was short-lived as her expression turned to worry. “Are you going to invite the Prime Minister over?”
“Of course,” Mu Wuxia said. “If he doesn’t come, how can I confront him?”
“Confrontation is necessary, but…” Taohua pressed her lips together, glancing at the Prince Nan and speaking softly, “You must be careful.”
“Why?”
“The Prime Minister is eloquent and holds high authority. He will likely place all the blame on me, accusing me of falsely accusing and framing him,” Taohua pouted, setting a trap with a guilty conscience. “With the Prime Minister’s ability to twist facts, he might even say he didn’t send anyone to assassinate me today and that I inflicted these injuries on myself.”
Mu Wuxia frowned, “Absurd. Who would harm themselves so severely? His silver tongue has deceived me many times, but this time I certainly won’t believe him.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Jiang Taohua looked at him gratefully. “For Your Highness’s help this time, Taohua will surely repay you in the future!”
Waving his hand, Mu Wuxia said nonchalantly, “You don’t need to repay anything. This is a matter of principle for me. I should thank you for giving me evidence. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known how to deal with that deceiver!”
With that, he swung his robe and rushed out.
What a righteous young man! Taohua felt she might have seen too many villains, as every time she encountered such a naive youth, she felt a bit sorry for them. They were too innocent.
It would be good if such people could remain innocent for life.
At the North Gate Pavilion, Shen Zaiye calmly dealt with Prince Jing for a while before excusing himself, saying he felt unwell and needed to return to his manor.
Today was originally just an appointment between the two of them, but Shen Zaiye had planned to replace himself with Jiang Taohua. After the deed was done, he would claim he was ill and Taohua had gone on her own accord.
Unfortunately, the plan failed, so he could only listen to Prince Jing talk for half a day before rushing back to his manor to assess the situation.
“Master,” Zhanlu frowned as he approached. “We’ve checked the manor. Two of Lady Jiang’s dowry guards are missing.”
Shen Zaiye paused, his expression turning grim as he remained silent.
“There’s another message,” Zhanlu lowered his head. “Word from the Prince Nan’s Manor. The young prince requests your presence for a discussion.”
Slowly closing his eyes, Shen Zaiye raised his hand to rub his brow.
“It’s been too long since I’ve encountered such a formidable woman,” he said softly. “I misjudged her, mistaking a fox for a rabbit.”
He had felt something was amiss from the beginning. Sure enough, it was because of Jiang Taohua. This woman had discovered his intentions early on and had been dismantling his plans step by step, ruining his schemes. And he had only just realized it!
What illness? What stupidity? She must have been putting on an act for him all along, and he had believed it!
Absurd!
“To the Prince Nan’s Manor!” he growled through gritted teeth. Shen Zaiye mounted his horse, his usually impassive face now unable to conceal a layer of anger.
Jiang Taohua, oh Jiang Taohua! He had schemed against others for years, yet he never expected to stumble in a ditch, deceived by a woman! How could he quell the hatred in his heart without killing her?
“Hya!” Spurring his horse into a gallop, Shen Zaiye maintained a tense expression the entire way, with Zhanlu barely able to keep up behind him.
Arriving at the main courtyard of the prince’s manor, before Zhanlu could say anything, he saw a sword suddenly thrust towards his master.
Shen Zaiye paused, his body reacting before his mind. With a side flip, he dodged and grabbed the sword hilt with his hand.
Mu Wuxia, who was in a fit of anger, delivered a powerful kick, forcing him to release the sword hilt and take two of his moves.
The sword wasn’t sharpened and couldn’t cause serious injury, but it still stung when struck. Recognizing the sword-wielder, Zhanlu didn’t dare step forward to protect his master and could only watch anxiously.
How could the Prince Nan suddenly become so enraged?
Amidst the dodging, Shen Zaiye calmed down first. In the final move, he grasped the sword blade and chuckled lightly, “Your Highness’s swordsmanship has improved considerably.”
Mu Wuxia pressed his lips together, withdrawing his sword and looking at him. “This is the Sword of Cutting Treachery. You taught me this.”
To cut down all treacherous officials under heaven.
Scanning the surroundings, Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes and said, “Does Your Highness consider this humble official treacherous?”
Mu Wuxia frowned, standing upright with righteousness in his brow. “You said it yourself: a loyal official doesn’t deceive a young ruler, doesn’t go against the ruler’s wishes, doesn’t pay lip service while harboring other intentions. But what about you?”
Feeling utterly perplexed, Shen Zaiye smiled as he looked at him. “What has this humble official done?”
“I knew it. You’re the type who won’t admit to a mistake unless irrefutable evidence is right before your eyes!” Prince Nan was furious, his eyebrows almost standing on end. “When will you tell me the truth? I already know about your plan to kill the Zhao Kingdom’s princess and frame Prince Jing!”
Shen Zaiye nodded, glancing at the tightly closed door behind him, and calmly said, “I presume Lady Jiang has come to the Prince Nan’s Manor and accused me.”
“Shouldn’t she have?” Mu Wuxia glared at the man before him. “What did you promise me before? And what are you doing now? Jiang is just a weak woman, with no grudges against us. Why do you show such disregard for human life?”
He could acknowledge she was a woman, but was Jiang Taohua weak? Inwardly sneering, Shen Zaiye’s outward expression appeared exceptionally sincere. “This official thinks Lady Jiang may have misunderstood something and is being overly sensitive. I never had any intention of harming her.”
“Misunderstanding?” Mu Wuxia’s face darkened further. He bit his lip, not rushing to argue, but instead asked with folded arms, “What misunderstanding?”
“It’s only been a few days since the error with your marriage to Lady Jiang. During these days, Lady Jiang has been anxious in the Prime Minister’s Manor and even fell ill. Understandably, she might overthink things,” Shen Zaiye smiled slightly, speaking very calmly. “I also don’t know why she thinks I want to kill her and frame Prince Jing. Today, when Lady Jiang’s carriage encountered trouble halfway, I was quite worried and searched for her everywhere.”
“Oh?” The young prince raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying that you didn’t send assassins to attack Lady Jiang today and that her injuries are self-inflicted?”
Slightly taken aback, Shen Zaiye’s expression shifted subtly. “Lady Jiang is injured?”
“Yes, very severe injuries. She’s covered in blood,” the young prince said. “Whoever did it must have been ruthless.”
If he hadn’t checked on the guards in his manor, Shen Zaiye might have believed that Jiang Taohua had indeed been attacked today. But her people had helped her escape, so how could she be severely injured? If these injuries weren’t self-inflicted, he’d use his manor’s signboard as firewood!
“Your Highness,” he sighed and said in a deep voice, “You have limited experience in the world and a pure heart. You probably haven’t encountered many cunning, deceitful people who are full of lies, so you’re easily deceived. This official never sent anyone to assassinate Lady Jiang. How she got injured, perhaps only she knows.”
Just as Jiang Taohua had predicted, look at how cleanly he shifted the responsibility.
Mu Wuxia sneered, taking half a step back and looking at him askance. “Can Prime Minister Shen tell me why Lady Jiang left the manor today?”
“Today…” Shen Zaiye smiled, “Lady Jiang was bored in the manor and wanted to go out for a walk on her own.”
“Oh?” With a cold expression, Mu Wuxia took another half-step back. “I heard she was going to meet Prince Jing at the North Gate Pavilion?”
“Your Highness must be joking,” Shen Zaiye said. “Lady Jiang has already entered the Prime Minister’s Manor. How could she still go to meet Prince Jing?”
The young prince fell silent, looking at him with a deep gaze.
Shen Zaiye appeared completely at ease, full of righteousness, and not looking like he was lying at all.
However, not long after he finished speaking, someone came running over in small steps and knelt before Mu Wuxia, saying, “Reporting to Your Highness, Prince Jing has already left the North Gate Pavilion and just arrived at the palace gates.”
(End of Chapter)