Shen Zaiye’s brow furrowed deeper as he took a deep breath. His hands moved swiftly and precisely, stitching Taohua’s wound with just a few sutures, jolting her awake from the pain.
“If you want my life… there’s no need to torture me like this,” Jiang Taohua murmured, her eyes half-open. She felt dizzy and weak, barely able to lift her hand or speak.
Despite her condition, she managed to pinch Shen Zaiye’s arm, twisting with all her might.
Shen Zaiye didn’t even flinch. His needle continued to pierce her flesh with ruthless precision. Feeling her painful tremors, he smiled, “So you can feel pain after all.”
Who wouldn’t feel pain? Jiang Taohua was furious. Sweat and tears streamed down her face as she rested her chin on his shoulder, deliberately soiling his clothes.
In truth, Shen Zaiye felt somewhat nervous. This was his first time stitching a wound and on a conscious woman at that. He could hear her muffled whimpers caught in her throat.
However, remembering her actions, his eyes darkened. He felt not an ounce of sympathy for her!
“I’m curious about something,” Shen Zaiye spoke casually, his hands covered in blood. “How did you know what I was planning?”
Taohua, rolling her eyes in pain, retorted, “Do you… think I can give a lengthy explanation now?”
The needle pierced her flesh, followed by the thread pulling through the wound. This sensation wasn’t fleeting; it persisted, one stitch after another, each more painful than the last. The agony was relentless, gnawing at her very core.
This was far worse than setting bones. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably, her lips turning pale. She no longer had the strength to pinch Shen Zaiye.
“If you can’t explain at length, then listen as I ask slowly. You can answer when you have the energy,” Shen Zaiye said, pursing his lips as he continued stitching. “You inflicted this wound on yourself, didn’t you? It’s your own doing. But what made you so certain that the Prince Nan would save you?”
This was what puzzled him most. He had shown no particular favor towards the Prince Nan, adhering to normal etiquette. How had Jiang Taohua been so sure about the Prince’s actions?
The woman on top of him had fallen silent, likely delirious from pain.
Looking at the wound, Shen Zaiye sneered, “Regardless, you’ve won this round. Prince Nan no longer trusts me and is determined to protect your life. He said that if you die, no matter by whose hand, he’ll hold me responsible and part ways with me.”
“Jiang Taohua, your reckless gamble has given you a powerful advantage. It makes me want to kill you immediately, yet I’m utterly powerless to do so. I can only surrender.”
Taohua’s mind was blank, but she could still hear his words. She couldn’t help but curl her lips into a slight smile.
She had won. Her gamble hadn’t been in vain. Though it nearly cost her life, she had managed to preserve half of it.
This meant that Shen Zaiye not only couldn’t kill her now, but he had to do everything in his power to keep her alive. For someone as calculating as him, being suddenly outmaneuvered must be infuriating.
No wonder he was being so ruthless with her now.
Thinking this, Taohua felt the pain of the stitches was bearable. She even managed a soft laugh while lying on his shoulder.
Narrowing his eyes, Shen Zaiye turned his head and whispered in her ear, “Don’t be too smug. All you’ve managed to keep is your life.”
She was still in his mansion. Having offended him first, what good days could she expect?
Jiang Taohua remained silent, but inwardly, she was unconcerned. The journey was to be taken one step at a time. She had successfully taken the first step; the rest would be easier.
After completing the final stitch, Shen Zaiye cut the suture and put away the needle. He glanced at the ghastly wound and remarked, “After today, you needn’t serve me in bed anymore. The sight is revolting.”
Sweat and tears trickled down her nose. Taohua had no strength left to retort. As soon as she left his embrace, she collapsed onto the bed, furrowing her brow as she fell into a deep sleep.
Twenty-eight stitches without a single cry of pain. Was this woman even human? She seemed more like a monster.
Shen Zaiye stood up, using hot water brought by Qing Tai to wring out a cloth. He wiped the blood from her body, then washed his hands before leaving the room.
Mu Wuxia had been waiting outside, beginning to wonder if Taohua had died, given the lack of sound.
However, when Shen Zaiye emerged, he smiled at Mu Wuxia and said, “The wound is stitched. Call for a female doctor to apply medicine and take care of her.”
Mu Wuxia was stunned. He turned to look at the female doctor, who quickly bowed and entered the room.
“You stitched it yourself?” he asked.
Shen Zaiye nodded, meeting the young prince’s suspicious gaze openly. “Since Your Highness has tied her life to mine, I naturally take responsibility for her.”
“That’s good,” Mu Wuxia said, his expression relaxing as he sighed. “If you had done this from the start, we could have avoided all this trouble. Even the most perfect lie can be exposed eventually. Why not be honest with me from the beginning?”
Shen Zaiye smiled, his handsome features appearing incredibly gentle in the sunlight. “Everything this humble servant does is for Your Highness’s benefit. As for how it’s done, Your Highness need not worry.”
The implication was clear: this attempt at deception failed due to bad luck, but next time it would be more flawless. The young prince’s brow furrowed again. “If you want me not to interfere, then do things that don’t concern me. Once it involves me, and you continue to deceive me and implicate innocent people, don’t blame me for cutting off your options myself.”
Taking a deep breath, Shen Zaiye lowered his gaze to look at him. “What benefit does Your Highness gain from opposing this humble servant?”
“None,” Mu Wuxia replied, standing with his hands behind his back, meeting Shen Zaiye’s gaze openly. “But it allows me to have a clear conscience, which is no harm to me either.”
Their goals were aligned, but their methods differed. Shen Zaiye had always tried to pull Mu Wuxia onto his path, while Mu Wuxia insisted on walking on his own.
This divergence has given Taohua the chance to survive today.
Taking another deep breath, Shen Zaiye maintained his cultured smile. “This humble servant understands. Once the carriage from the mansion arrives, I’ll take Lady Jiang back to the residence.”
“Good,” Mu Wuxia nodded. “However, I will visit Lady Jiang at your residence frequently in the future.”
“Your Highness is welcome anytime,” Shen Zaiye said, pursing his lips. “Just be mindful of your movements.”
“Understood.”
Zhan Lu parked the carriage at the side gate of the Prince Nan’s mansion. In front of the prince, Shen Zaiye gently carried Taohua into the carriage.
As soon as the curtain fell, Jiang Taohua was roughly thrown onto the cushions.
She let out a muffled groan but didn’t wake. Shen Zaiye closed his eyes briefly, then opened the side window of the carriage and smiled at the Prince Nan. “Your Highness, please don’t see us off.”
Mu Wuxia nodded, standing at the gate as he watched the carriage disappear down the official road before turning back.
“Master,” Zhan Lu, riding beside the carriage, asked in a low voice, “Since the plan has changed, how should we handle the matter with Prince Jing?”
Rubbing his brow, Shen Zaiye instructed, “First, go to the mansion and inform the steward to request a royal physician from the palace. Say that Lady Jiang is injured.”
Zhan Lu was puzzled. “But the lady’s wound is already…”
“Do as I say.”
“Yes, sir.” Zhan Lu lowered his head without further questions and rode ahead to the mansion.
Taohua lay on Shen Zaiye’s lap, her brow furrowing unconsciously, perhaps sensing she was being manipulated again.
Shen Zaiye looked down at her, his finger lightly tracing her face. His deep eyes glinted with an unreadable light as he spoke softly, “Since you’re so clever, there’s no need for courtesy anymore.”
The calm waters of the mansion had long needed someone to stir them up. Since she had fallen into the water and survived, why not create some more waves?
In her dream, Jiang Taohua couldn’t hear Shen Zaiye’s words. She was walking on a vast expanse of water, ripples spreading with each step.
“Where is this?” Taohua wondered, perplexed. The wound on her waist still ached, yet her entire being felt as light as if she were flying.
In the distance stood a magnificent palace, its glazed tile eaves adorned with guardian beasts. A white jade staircase extended from the palace gates to the water’s edge.
“This is the imperial palace,” a voice told her. “If one day you can step in here and win the heart of the most powerful, then all of the Great Wei will be yours!”
“All mine?” Taohua’s eyes sparkled. “I can do whatever I want?”
“Yes,” the voice answered. “All your wishes can come true.”
That’s wonderful! Taohua was overjoyed. She lifted her skirts and began to run, but after just a few steps, the pain in her waist became unbearable. She had to stop, frowning as she looked ahead.
“Before running over there, staying alive is the priority,” the voice said. “Taohua, are you disregarding your life again?”
Of course not, when had she ever? But that tone sounded so familiar… Jiang Taohua frowned, looking around. “Whose voice is that?”
The speaker paused, and then suddenly a basin of water was thrown at her!
“Ah!” Startled by the cold, Jiang Taohua quickly opened her eyes, her consciousness hazy as she mumbled, “Even if I don’t remember your name, you don’t have to throw water at me!”
The room was quiet for a moment, then Qing Tai’s stern voice rang out, “Lady Gu!”
Gu Huairou stood by the bed holding a water basin, her expression caught between a smile and a frown. “Oh my, I… I just wanted to help wipe Lady Jiang’s body, but you kept pulling my hand… Lady Jiang, are you alright?”
A cold breeze blew in from the window, causing Taohua to shiver. She instantly became alert, feeling the water on her face and body. She turned her head to look at the person standing by the bed.
The woman wore a purple upper garment paired with a yellow embroidered long skirt. The pattern was exquisite but featured small flowers and leaves, suggesting a status similar to her own. Her face was thin, almost cone-shaped, with a pointy chin that made her eyes appear large, though her eyebrows were so thin they were barely visible.
Her gaze suggested she wasn’t easy to get along with. Taohua wondered what she had done to offend this woman, for her to come and throw water so directly.
“Who is this?” Taohua asked.
Qing Tai frowned, wanting to lash out but constrained by her position. She could only suppress her anger and say, “This is Lady Gu from Wenqing Palace, she holds the same rank as you.”
The same rank as a concubine, yet there was no reason for her to be bullied like this, was there?
(End of Chapter)