“I don’t want to say more,” Mu Wuxia declared. “You can’t change my mind, and I can’t change your decision. Let’s each do our own thing.”
Stubborn! Shen Zaiye shook his head helplessly, bowed to him, and truly went out to make his arrangements.
The gongs sounded for the attack on the city.
When Jiang Taohua heard the news, Shen Zaiye and his troops were only ten miles from the capital. Chang Jue was still hurriedly replenishing supplies, with a transport line crossing the path Shen Zaiye’s forces would take. If they encountered it, that large batch of supplies would be wasted.
“What should we do?” The court officials panicked, surrounding Taohua – Chang Jue had already gone outside the city, and they couldn’t reach him.
Taohua remained silent, glancing at Leng Fengchang while calmly drinking her tea.
“We just need to delay them for half an hour to let the transport team enter the city quickly,” Leng Fengchang said anxiously, looking at her. “Second Princess, after all, you are the Prime Minister’s wife. Do you have any way to stop him?”
“No,” Taohua shrugged. “When Prime Minister Shen sets his mind to something, no one can stop him.”
“That can’t be,” Leng Fengchang frowned. “This official has heard that Prime Minister Shen greatly dotes on the Princess.”
“So you mean for me to lead troops to stop him?” Taohua raised an eyebrow, pointing at herself. “Me, a woman, while you bunch of men hide behind me?”
Everyone was taken aback by these words. Leng Fengchang laughed awkwardly, “That’s not what I meant. Now that we face danger, we can’t consider other matters. If the Princess could exert effort for Zhao… we would surely be extremely grateful. But if the Princess is unwilling to oppose her husband, then consider my words unsaid.”
These words implied that if she didn’t go, it was because Shen Zaiye was her husband. Quite a big hat to put on her head. Taohua laughed coldly, “Since Lord Leng is so hopeful for me to go, I’ll go then. However, if I can’t stop them, don’t blame me.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Leng Fengchang hurriedly bowed.
Taohua rose, taking Qingtai and some elite soldiers to join Chang Jue. Chang Jue was on the outskirts and frowned upon seeing her arrive. “Imperial Sister, why have you come?”
“Lord Leng wanted me to come, so I came,” Taohua smiled lightly, looking at him deeply. “I’ll go to block Shen Zaiye. You go support that transport team.”
Chang Jue was stunned. Meeting his sister’s meaningful gaze, he could only nod reluctantly.
“I’ll go with you,” a voice sounded behind Taohua.
Looking back, it was Li Jin in plain clothes with a white belt. Taohua raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t seen him for a long time since Jiang Suheng’s death, and now he suddenly appeared.
“No need,” Taohua said. “I can go alone.”
“I’m not at ease,” Li Jin frowned. “Don’t mind me, I’ll just follow behind you.”
Taohua was displeased but had no time to argue with him. She mounted her horse directly, looking at Chang Jue, “Master is guarding the city. If anything happens, send up a signal flare, and he’ll control the people inside.”
“Alright,” Chang Jue nodded, watching her ride off with Li Jin silently following.
Ten miles from Zhao’s capital, Shen Zaiye halted his march, as if waiting for them, leisurely observing the surrounding scenery.
His vanguard had 3,000 men; Taohua brought only 300. It wasn’t overconfidence, but since they couldn’t stop them anyway, there was no need for unnecessary casualties. Fewer people could retreat faster.
It had been a long time since she’d seen Shen Zaiye, and she never imagined their next meeting would be like this. With troops arrayed in the distance, Jiang Taohua reined in her horse and called out to the man at the front, “Prime Minister Shen!”
His eyebrow twitched, and Shen Zaiye’s expression was extremely unpleasant. He sneered, “You still dare to appear before me.”
Why wouldn’t she dare? Taohua chuckled, “How have you been lately?”
“Very well!” Shen Zaiye said coldly. “Since you’ve already betrayed me, there’s no need for false sentiments now. I’m going through it. If you don’t want to die, step aside.”
Li Jin was stunned for a moment, frowning as he whispered, “How did he become like this?”
Even if he hadn’t truly cared for Taohua before, he wouldn’t have been so fierce towards her.
Jiang Taohua seemed quite accustomed to it, smiling, “I can’t let you pass. If the Prime Minister wants to go through, why not trample over this wife’s corpse?”
“You think I don’t dare kill you?” Shen Zaiye scoffed.
Her heart tightened, but Taohua nodded, “Of course you dare. Didn’t you kill me before?”
Shen Zaiye paused, turning his head away. “If I could have killed you completely then, there wouldn’t have been so many issues later.”
“Do you regret it, my lord?” Taohua smiled lightly. “Didn’t you say you wanted to save me?”
“I lied to you,” Shen Zaiye reached for the great bow on his back, taking out an arrow. “If you don’t move aside, I really will kill you!”
His words were hurtful, but for some reason, Taohua felt something was off. A woman’s intuition told her Shen Zaiye didn’t truly want to kill her.
Unfortunately, they were now opponents. Even after a long separation, she couldn’t rush into his arms for an embrace.
Taking a deep breath, Taohua covered her stomach and shouted at him, “If you have the guts, shoot and let me die with two lives!”
Shen Zaiye paused, the bowstring he was pulling slackening slightly. Even knowing there was no child in her belly to miscarry from shock, he still seriously considered for a moment before calmly saying, “Very well. Farewell.”
The bow was fully drawn, and the arrow flew. Before that arrow shot towards Jiang Taohua, Li Jin never thought he would do it. But the fact was before their eyes – Shen Zaiye truly wanted to kill Jiang Taohua!
The cold arrow flew past her ear, raising goosebumps on half her body. Taohua covered her ear, looking at the man opposite in some bewilderment.
Had her intuition been wrong? Was he serious?
“Will you move aside?” Shen Zaiye asked coldly.
Of course, she would move now; she wasn’t stupid! Although she hadn’t delayed for half an hour, two incense sticks’ worth of time had passed. She had done her best.
“This wife thought too highly of herself,” Taohua pulled the reins, pouting. “I thought I could chat with the Prime Minister a bit longer. I didn’t expect you to have not a shred of care for me in your heart, even wanting to take my life.”
Her words were soft and coquettish, but her eyes showed true hurt, a sheet of ice.
Shen Zaiye paused, clenching his hand. “Your life has always been mine. I can take it whenever I want.”
Taohua nodded, “As long as you’re happy. Do you want to take it now?”
Shen Zaiye snorted lightly, about to say something when his gaze fell behind her. He suddenly tensed, without thinking, immediately drew a second arrow and shot it!
(End of Chapter)