Shen Zaiye listened with furrowed brows, but still believed some of it. After all, Xu Yangui was a man who had been through countless romantic encounters, having seen more women than Shen Zaiye had eaten meals. His words must be the conclusion drawn from much experience.
So, according to what he said, was Jiang Taohua’s lack of reaction due to not liking him enough?
Shen Zaiye let out a cold laugh and waved his sleeve dismissively. “These matters between men and women seem to have little use. Don’t worry about it. Focus on doing something productive instead.”
“Productive?” Xu Yangui raised an eyebrow. “What productive things are there to do now? With Mu Wuxia ascending the throne, you have nothing left to worry about. If you don’t think about your lifelong happiness now, you might regret it later.”
“I have nothing to regret,” Shen Zaiye said. “Her feelings for me aren’t important. I don’t care either.”
Why are these two so similar in temperament? Xu Yangui shook his head as he listened. Since they both claimed not to care, there was no need for him to worry needlessly in the middle. Lu Zhilan was now technically a widow, so he should go comfort her properly, being a friend of many years after all.
Thinking this, he went into the main room. Shen Zaiye didn’t stop him, instead remaining seated in the courtyard, deep in thought.
The next day, the mansion was relatively peaceful. Shen Zaiye sat with Lu Zhilan in Linwu Court, waiting for people to come to pay their respects. Jiang Taohua, having slept and risen early, led the group of concubines in to bow with high spirits.
“This is Lady Lu,” Shen Zaiye said, looking at those before him. “You must get along well with her from now on.”
“I understand,” Taohua smiled. “My lord need not worry.”
Shen Zaiye pressed his lips together, looking deeply at her face. “There has always been constant strife in the mansion. It’s impossible for me not to worry. Lady Lu’s temperament isn’t exactly gentle. If she missteps somewhere, I hope the madam will be more understanding.”
Listen to that tone! He’s even calling her ‘madam’ now! Taohua clicked her tongue, wondering if she had suddenly become the cruel principal wife, while Lu Zhilan was the fragile new concubine, favored and easily victimized by jealousy.
She felt like she had seen this character dynamic somewhere before.
The others, like Gu Qingying, listened with discomfort. It was one thing for the lord to favor the madam, which everyone accepted. But what was this sudden appearance of Lady Lu about? It seemed she was to be placed above the madam.
“I understand,” Taohua nodded obediently. “If Lady Lu needs anything, she need only ask.”
Gracious and neither servile nor arrogant, she truly was an elegant and virtuous mistress of the house. However, Shen Zaiye didn’t seem particularly pleased. After looking at her for a moment, he turned to Lu Zhilan: “I can stay in the mansion to accompany you for the next few days, but when I’m not here later, if you need anything, let the madam handle it.”
Lu Zhilan raised an eyebrow, her eyes showing some surprise. Her gaze swept over Jiang Taohua before she smiled and nodded. “Alright.”
Shen Zaiye smiled slightly. “This mansion may not be as splendid as where you were before. Are you comfortable here?”
“Wherever my lord is, I’m naturally comfortable,” Lu Zhilan said. “What’s important is that you’re comfortable.”
The two spoke in circles, leaving the others confused. Jiang Taohua, however, didn’t raise her head, just sitting properly and quietly to the side.
Qin Huaiyu, unable to stand it any longer, couldn’t help but say, “This servant remembers being taught when first entering the mansion that the hierarchy here is most strict, and inferiors must not offend their superiors.”
“Indeed,” Shen Zaiye looked at her. “What do you want to say?”
“This servant wishes to say that Lady Lu seems to have taken our madam’s main seat,” Qin Huaiyu pointed to Lu Zhilan’s position. “The seat facing the door is for the host. Side by side should be the madam and my lord. Since when has a mere lady dared to squeeze the madam into a guest seat?”
Lu Zhilan raised an eyebrow and looked down. She had become accustomed to sitting in the main seat in the palace and indeed had sat in the wrong place this time. Just as she was about to stand up, her hand was pressed down by Shen Zaiye.
She turned to look at him in surprise, her face bewildered.
“Such small matters as seating arrangements need not be fussed over too much,” Shen Zaiye said expressionlessly. “Lady Lu arrived first. Letting her sit here is no great problem.”
Everyone fell silent. Taohua, however, let out a light laugh. “My lord speaks truly.”
Seating was indeed a small matter, but normally it was related to status and position, not to be transgressed lightly. Now, with Shen Zaiye personally breaking the rules, it was like when she had previously broken the rules of concubines serving in bed – special, and beyond reproach.
After all, this was his domain. As long as he was happy, that was what mattered.
Lowering her eyes as she sat in the guest seat, Jiang Taohua didn’t speak again, not even raising her eyelids. Naturally, she didn’t see the cool gaze Shen Zaiye cast upon her.
After the meeting dispersed, several concubines gathered around Taohua, their expressions as if attending a funeral, just short of kneeling in tears.
“What are you all doing?” she asked, caught between laughter and tears. “We’ve weathered great storms. How can you be upset over such a small matter?”
“Madam, aren’t you anxious?” Nangong Qin frowned. “This Lady Lu has the same momentum as when you first entered the mansion. It’s clear she’s also someone the lord holds dear. Today he even disregarded your face for her sake!”
“Put harshly, it’s a matter of face. Looking at it lightly, it’s just that he favors Lady Lu more. It’s no big deal,” Taohua waved her hand. “The flowers in this back courtyard bloom and wither in their seasons. None can bloom from the beginning of the year to the end. Can’t the lord enjoy a different flower?”
The person most concerned seemed even more open-minded than them. How could they stir up trouble now? Gu Qingying gritted her teeth. “For the lord to have such a broad-minded wife as you, madam, is truly his good fortune.”
“You flatter me,” Taohua smiled. “I have some snacks in my courtyard. Would you like to come eat together?”
“No, thank you,” Gu Qingying and Nangong Qin bowed, and even Qin Huaiyu shook her head. “We have matters to attend to in our courtyards. Please go ahead, madam.”
“Alright, then I’ll enjoy them alone,” Taohua waved and continued walking with Qingtai.
Qingtai had remained silent all along. When there was no one around, she finally spoke softly, “Mistress, don’t you feel wronged?”
“Wronged about what?” Jiang Taohua strode forward. “Just because of a seating arrangement?”
“But you can see a lot from small things,” Qingtai frowned. “The lord… doesn’t care for you as much as before.”
“Let him be,” Taohua shrugged. “This is something I can’t control. If I had done something wrong, I could still change. But I’ve done nothing wrong; he just has a new love. I should make myself feel better.”
“How can the Prime Minister be so fickle?” Qingtai couldn’t help but complain. “He was so good to you before.”
Who can say when a man’s heart will change? That’s why it’s best not to eat pastries that might be poisoned.
Shaking her head, Taohua skipped back to Zhengchun Pavilion, continuing to review accounts and expenses, and mediating conflicts between concubines. Thus, another day passed.
Being the principal wife meant she couldn’t be as carefree and favored as a concubine. She wasn’t being magnanimous; she was just trying to think positively to make things easier on herself. Otherwise, stuck in this courtyard with no way out and suffering, how could she endure?
However, even though she had become so open-minded, Shen Zaiye still seemed to have no intention of letting her off easily.
“These days I’m free anyway, so I want to take Zhilan out for a stroll,” he said, looking at her. “Do you want to come along?”
What would be the point of going along? To watch them flirt while she pays the bills? Taohua lowered her head and rolled her eyes dramatically, but when she looked up, she was all smiles. “Where are you planning to go with Lady Lu, my lord?”
“She said she wanted to go to the Matchmaking Temple to draw a love fortune,” Shen Zaiye glanced at Lu Zhilan in the distance, his eyes quite tender. “I’ve never accompanied her before. I can’t refuse this request now.”
So now he’s granting her every wish? Taohua sneered inwardly. “Why don’t you change your name to Shen Guanyin?”
“What did you say?” Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes.
“Nothing, my lord must have misheard,” Taohua quickly smiled. “I just think my lord is so kind. Since Lady Lu wants to go, you two should go together. I…”
“Are you unhappy?” Shen Zaiye stared at her, suddenly asking.
Taohua paused, then shook her head. “No, why would I be unhappy?”
Their eyes met. His were full of inquiry, while hers were completely bewildered, without a ripple of emotion.
“Never mind,” Shen Zaiye closed his eyes. “You should come along too. The more people, the merrier.”
“…My lord,” Taohua looked at him with a complex expression. “Have you never reflected on why it’s so difficult for you to win a woman’s heart? When Lady Lu said she wanted to seek a love fortune, she surely meant to go with just you. What’s the point of bringing me along?”
“Enough of your nonsense!” Impatient now, Shen Zaiye grabbed her and dragged her toward Lu Zhilan.
Lu Zhilan was standing by the carriage. When she heard the commotion and turned around, she was startled.
Jiang Taohua, expressionless, was held in Shen Zaiye’s grasp. She waved her hand at Lu Zhilan. “Lady Lu, please don’t blame me. I didn’t want to go. The Prime Minister probably thought you needed someone to pay, so…”
Annoyed by her words, Shen Zaiye threw her into the carriage and then turned to Lu Zhilan. “You get in too.”
Nodding dumbly, Lu Zhilan took his hand and got into the carriage. Lifting the curtain, she saw Jiang Taohua sprawled inside in disarray and couldn’t help but laugh softly.
Taohua quickly sat up properly, striving to maintain the elegance befitting the principal wife, and smiled back at her.
Shen Zaiye entered and sat in the middle. The carriage swayed gently as it set off towards the Matchmaking Temple in the west of the city. Along the way, Shen Zaiye and Lu Zhilan chatted intermittently, while Taohua clung to the window curtain, watching the scenery outside.
“Pull your head back in,” Shen Zaiye rebuked lowly. “What kind of behavior is that!”
Taohua made an angry face with her head still hanging outside. Damn it, you two have been talking about things from ten years ago until now, and she can’t get a word in edgewise. Is it wrong for her to stick her head out for a bit?
However, hearing his words, she still obediently complied, turning back to smile at Shen Zaiye. “I just thought the houses along the way were quite nice. Why don’t you take a look too, my lord?”
(End of Chapter)