“Everything is understood,” Xu Yangui said. “My people will arrive at the Zhao capital before them. By then, their emperor and crown princess can ‘die from illness’ first, leaving the empress for you to deal with.”
Frowning slightly, Shen Zaiye said, “You probably won’t be able to pull it off.”
“Why not?” Xu Yangui raised an eyebrow. “I’ve arranged everything. They’re all people close to the Zhao emperor, so it will be easy to make a move.”
“Qian Bai Mei has returned to Zhao,” Shen Zaiye lowered his eyes. “Can your people beat him?”
Looking at him in surprise, Xu Yangui couldn’t understand. “Why would he return to Zhao at this time?”
“Taohua said he was homesick.”
“Yeah, right!” Xu Yangui glared. “What home does Qian Bai Mei have? He’s always been alone!”
Shen Zaiye looked up, calmly saying, “That’s why I said there would be variables. You don’t need to act so early.”
A retainer who had been listening in confusion frowned and asked, “So what should we do now? Wait until His Majesty reaches the Zhao capital before making a move?”
“Yes, that’s the most thorough approach,” Shen Zaiye said. “Wait until we capture their empress, then imprison the Zhao emperor and crown princess. In the chaos that follows, we’ll seize the opportunity to put Jiang Changjue on the throne and make Zhao a vassal state. As long as Jiang Changjue isn’t a fool, he’ll agree to these terms.”
Everyone nodded and immediately began discussing the details. Xu Yangui pulled Shen Zaiye aside and asked in a low voice, “Have you told Jiang about this?”
“No,” Shen Zaiye glanced at him. “Do you think I’m crazy enough to tell her these things?”
“But,” Xu Yangui frowned. “I feel like she’ll sense it even if you don’t tell her. It might be better to be upfront. Zhao is already in decline. Making it a vassal state would avoid war and allow the people of Zhao to live better lives. She should be able to understand that.”
Understand? Shen Zaiye laughed, looking at him. “If I tore down your house and made you live in a big shed with others, telling you the environment around the shed was better than your original house, would you be willing?”
Xu Yangui shook his head. “Of course, I’d still prefer my own house.”
“There you have it,” Shen Zaiye said. “The people of Zhao still have some pride. Don’t make assumptions. We’ll tell her about this after we’ve achieved our great victory. What you need to do is find every possible way to capture their empress for me.”
“Understood,” Xu Yangui nodded.
News of the great victory had already reached the Wei capital. Li Jin, Yang Wanqing, and others were preparing to return to Zhao. A few days before their departure, Li Jin invited Taohua for tea at the North Gate Pavilion.
“Prime Minister Shen is a formidable person,” he said, looking at the woman across from him. “I wholeheartedly accept defeat to him.”
Taohua rolled her eyes impatiently. “Prime Minister Li, you haven’t even touched the chessboard. Don’t talk about winning or losing.”
Li Jin paused, quite helpless. “You still resent me? I thought by agreeing to come out with me this time, you had more or less forgiven me.”
“Heh,” Taohua smiled insincerely. “Prime Minister Li, don’t think about anything else. I came today to discuss important matters of state with you, not personal affairs.”
State affairs? Li Jin frowned. “You’re a woman. Why concern yourself with these things?”
Taohua looked at him steadily, speaking coolly, “If the men of Zhao were all useful, it certainly wouldn’t fall to me to worry about this. The question is, Prime Minister Li, do you think you can protect Zhao’s sovereignty?”
Li Jin choked, lowering his head in embarrassment. “You know how I got this position as Prime Minister.”
“So, you need to help me,” Taohua said. “Zhao’s life or death now depends on your skills.”
Li Jin was slightly surprised. He looked up to see Jiang Taohua handing him something. After opening and looking at it, he frowned. “Are you sure you can do this?”
“I can,” Taohua said. “I don’t do things I’m not confident about. You just need to wait for me at the place marked with a red line.”
“…Alright.”
Taohua stood up, looking at him deeply. “This time, don’t betray me again.”
“You said it’s a matter of great importance. How could I betray you?” Li Jin said anxiously. “Trust me!”
Taohua looked him up and down, pursed her lips, and said nothing more. She bowed and put on her cloak before walking out.
“My lady,” Qing Tai came from outside to receive her, saying softly, “We’ve shaken off the followers halfway. I’ve checked carefully, there’s no one else around.”
“Very good,” Taohua got into the carriage. “Let’s go to the market.”
“Yes,” Qing Tai responded and drove the carriage towards the market. Taohua leisurely browsed items in a jewelry shop. After a while, the sound of horses neighing came from the street outside.
“My lord?” Taohua turned around, looking at him with a confused expression. “Why have you come?”
Shen Zaiye strode into the jewelry shop, looked her over, and then sighed in relief. “I didn’t see you when I returned to the mansion, so I came out to look for you.”
“Listen to you,” Taohua laughed, picking up a white jade hairpin and inserting it into his hair. “I just came out to choose a new hairpin for you. It’s not like I disappeared.”
Raising an eyebrow slightly, Shen Zaiye reached up to touch the object on his head, his eyes showing some pleasure. “You’re rarely so generous. You’re buying things for me now?”
“In your heart, am I such a stingy person?” Taohua pouted. “Before, I didn’t have enough money saved up. Now that I do, I’m buying the most expensive one for you. Are you mocking me?”
The most expensive? Shen Zaiye raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth turning up involuntarily. “You’re thoughtful.”
Taohua let out a light snort and had Qing Tai pay the bill. Then she took his arm and walked out. “Let’s go back to the mansion. I’ve prepared something nice for you.”
“Oh?” Shen Zaiye turned his head to look at her. “What’s gotten into you, suddenly wanting to please me?”
Taohua smiled, her eyes blinking. “Haven’t you already helped me greatly? It’s only right that I repay you.”
Is it this good? Shen Zaiye didn’t believe it, but when they returned to the mansion and he saw the table full of good food and wine, plus the new robe and cloak she presented him, his heart softened a bit. He embraced her and said, “If you had been this well-behaved earlier, you wouldn’t have made me angry so many times.”
Taohua pouted. “I’ve always been well-behaved. You just didn’t notice.”
Chuckling lightly, Shen Zaiye didn’t want to argue this point with her. He nodded his chin towards the dishes on the table. “I want to eat that.”
Taohua puzzledly took his hand and waved it in front of him. “Can’t you pick it up yourself?”
Taking back his hand and firmly wrapping it around her waist, Shen Zaiye said with a serious face, “My hands are busy.”
Jiang Taohua: “…”
When this person acts childish, he is like a little kid sometimes!
Laughing, she picked up food for him and fed it to his mouth. Then she had him try on the robe and cloak. Taohua stroked the intricate patterns on the collar, muttering, “I embroidered this for two solid months this time!”
Shen Zaiye nodded and said coldly, “Go to the accounting office later to collect your reward.”
Jiang Taohua: “…”
Angry, she turned to leave, but her waist was caught. Shen Zaiye’s voice sounded in her ear, so gently it gave her goosebumps. “I was just teasing. Don’t take it seriously.”
She stepped on his foot, hearing him grunt before she calmed down. “If you do this again, I won’t make anything for you in the future!”
Shen Zaiye responded softly. He embraced her from behind, pulling the cloak to cover them both, and said in a low voice, “Make one for me every year from now on, with different patterns each time.”
What a high demand! Taohua pursed her lips, but after thinking, she still nodded in agreement. After all, agreeing wouldn’t hurt her, and future matters could be dealt with later.
The two stood embracing, the atmosphere quite good. Suddenly, Shen Zaiye asked, “Isn’t it time for Li Jin and the others to return to Zhao?”
“Yes,” Taohua lowered her eyes. “Since the alliance has won, they should naturally return home. When it’s time to divide Wu, other envoys will bring official documents.”
“Do you want to see them off then?”
“No,” Taohua shook her head. “We’re not that close.”
Shen Zaiye nodded, about to say more when he heard an exclamation from the person in his arms: “It’s snowing!”
Slightly startled, he looked up to see fine snow falling from the sky.
Taohua was excited and reached out to catch the snow, but it melted as soon as it touched her hand. Shen Zaiye chuckled, using the cloak to shield her hand before lifting it to catch the snowflakes. The snow landing on the cloak allowed them to see its shape.
“It’s so beautiful,” Taohua stared unblinkingly at the six-pointed snowflake, unable to resist looking up at the sky curiously. “Do the gods work very hard to make such delicate snowflakes to throw down?”
Shen Zaiye laughed, gently tapping her head. “The gods are so busy, where would they find time to make snowflakes?”
“But look, it is so intricate,” Taohua stubbornly held the snowflake on the cloak up to his face. “Six angles, with so many patterns in the middle, even more ingenious than the most expensive hairpin at Zhenbao Pavilion.”
Blowing away the snowflake in one breath, Shen Zaiye reached out to touch her cold little face. “It’s too cold. You should go inside. You’ve been looking unwell lately. When you have time, you should see a doctor.”
“Mm,” Taohua followed him inside, closing the door and saying, “It’s nothing serious. I probably haven’t been eating enough lately. I just feel dizzy sometimes.”
“Why aren’t you eating properly?” Shen Zaiye frowned.
Taohua clung to him and pouted. “Because you haven’t dined with me in so long.”
“…I’ve been busy lately,” Shen Zaiye said. “Didn’t I accompany you today?”
Today was only because she had prepared everything in advance, and he had barely eaten two bites. Taohua sighed. “Can you dine with me tomorrow evening as well?”
“Alright,” Shen Zaiye nodded, feeling her cold hands and tucking her entire body into the bedding. “Take good care of yourself. Don’t hold me back.”
“I know,” Taohua covered herself with the blanket, revealing a pair of bright eyes as she asked him, “Are you going out again tonight?”
“Yes, I still have some matters to handle in the palace,” Shen Zaiye said. “You sleep first. You don’t need to wait for me.”
“Okay,” Taohua responded, obediently closing her eyes. Shen Zaiye sat by the bed watching her for a while. Seeing that she seemed to be asleep, he got up and walked out.
The door opened and closed. Taohua opened her eyes, waited for a moment, then called Qing Tai in.
“Is everything arranged?”
“Yes,” Qing Tai said nervously. “Thanks to Manager Xu for still remembering your kindness and willingness to help.”
“That’s good,” Taohua took a deep breath and said, “If anything unexpected happens tomorrow, don’t worry about it. Just take me to the North Gate.”
“I understand, my lady.”
Zhao needed time to catch its breath. As long as they were willing to show mercy, or if Changjue could muster the strength to resist them for half a year, there might still be hope. But this was easier said than done, almost impossible to achieve. She couldn’t stay here any longer, becoming Changjue’s concern and Shen Zaiye’s bargaining chip.
She had to go back. Perhaps she could become Shen Zaiye’s concern.
After all this time, she could feel that Shen Zaiye cared for her to some extent, though she wasn’t sure of the depth of his feelings. If his care was shallow, she needed to return to avoid being used to threaten Changjue in the future. If his care was deep… then she should return even more, perhaps able to exchange it for a glimmer of hope for Zhao.
That child Mu Wuxia wasn’t as ruthless as Shen Zaiye. If told to immediately turn and attack Zhao, he certainly wouldn’t agree. But the people around him might not be so certain. If they were to act against his wishes, the situation would be dire. If she could arrive in time to persuade him, at least during their passage through Zhao, it wouldn’t be so easy for them to start a war.
She had arranged to meet Li Jin at the North Gate. If she could smoothly bid farewell to Shen Zaiye and escape without arousing suspicion, all would be well. But there were many unknowns, and Jiang Taohua also worried about being seen through. If she were exposed during this last meal, all her efforts would be in vain.
She could have avoided this risk and left directly with Li Jin. But…
With a bitter smile, Taohua murmured, “It’s been almost a year after all. If we meet as enemies in the future, I should at least cook him one last good meal.”
Qing Tai looked at her and sighed silently.
The next day, everything was as usual. Jiang Taohua spent the morning in the kitchen, developing eight dishes and trying them out one by one. By the time she was satisfied with her cooking, it was already afternoon.
“Is everything packed?” she asked Qing Tai in a low voice as she raised her knife to chop the duck’s neck.
Qing Tai nodded. “Everything is ready, but the master hasn’t returned yet.”
He hasn’t returned? Taohua paused, feeling uneasy. “What is he doing?”
“I heard there was an incident in the palace,” Qing Tai said. “We don’t know when he’ll be back.”
“It’s alright,” Taohua said, breathing a sigh of relief. “It’s still early. We’ll wait a bit longer.”
By evening, she had placed all the prepared dishes on the table and even heated good wine, waiting. But until the wine grew cold, there was still no news from outside.
“My lady, it’s too late,” Qing Tai frowned. “The palace is still in chaos. The Prime Minister probably won’t be back for another two hours.”
Two hours? Taohua sighed. “Then it is too late.”
Glancing at the dishes on the table, she stood up and went to the inner room to change. Looking at her face in the mirror, she said helplessly, “I worried for nothing. If this meal can’t be eaten, then all is lost.”
Qing Tai said nothing, quickly helping her change into a maid’s clothes, then pulling her out of Zhengchun Pavilion towards the side gate of the Prime Minister’s mansion.
(End of Chapter)