Taohua initially worried that Madam Li might still hold a grudge against her, considering how intensely she had hated her before. However, when their eyes met, Taohua noticed no hatred in Madam Li’s gaze. Instead, she saw a mixture of world-weariness and resignation.
Although Madam Li was only a few years older than Taohua, she looked as if she had aged significantly. Her features bore an indescribable sorrow. Was her life that difficult? Taohua instinctively glanced around the room, noticing that the furnishings were all of excellent quality. The living conditions didn’t seem austere at all.
Madam Li set down her teacup, curtsied slightly to everyone, and then withdrew. Mu Wuyin watched her leave, then turned back to address them: “I’ve heard that Great Wei has attacked Zhao. Yet here you two are, so calm and collected together. It’s truly admirable.”
Shen Zaiye looked at him and replied, “Your Highness’s ability to face us so calmly is equally admirable.”
Shen had expected Mu Wuyin to harbor more resentment – hatred towards him and perhaps conflicted feelings towards Jiang Taohua. But after half a year apart, Mu Wuyin seemed like a different person. He had become gentle and composed, his eyes no longer filled with arrogance and defiance.
Had he truly let go of the past?
Glancing at Jiang Taohua’s belly, Mu Wuyin pursed his lips and said, “At this point, any struggle on my part would be futile. Why not accept things as they are? Her heart has always belonged to you alone. As for me, she’s done more than enough.”
If not for her, he and Madam Li wouldn’t have survived. He wouldn’t have this peaceful life now. Though he sometimes missed the feeling of being in a position of power, his current life – just two people in a house – was tranquil and carefree. They ran a shop managed by others, providing a source of income. It was better than the constant scheming in the palace. This, too, was a kind of freedom.
Taohua let out a small sigh of relief and said, “If Your Highness can think this way, the rest of your life will surely be peaceful and worry-free.”
“This time, I’ll listen to your advice,” Mu Wuyin said with a light chuckle. “I didn’t before, and I paid a heavy price for it.”
Taohua smiled along with him, recognizing from his expression that he had indeed let go of his feelings for her. They could comfortably stay here for a couple of days.
“This house doesn’t have much, but it does have plenty of rooms,” Mu Wuyin said. “If you need to rest, I’ll have Madam Li prepare some rooms for you.”
He then looked at Shen Zaiye with some lingering concern: “I’m a commoner now. The Chancellor won’t still try to scheme against me, will he?”
“Your Highness worries too much,” Shen Zaiye replied. “I merely helped Your Highness leave a position that wasn’t suitable. Now that Your Highness is living peacefully, why would I cause any trouble?”
Taohua inwardly scoffed at Shen Zaiye’s shameless way of justifying his actions in usurping the position of Crown Prince. She nodded to Mu Wuyin and then left with Qing Tai and the others to find Madam Li and arrange for rooms.
“I have one more question,” Taohua suddenly said to Shen Zaiye as they walked. “Did you truly not know about my arranging an escape route for the Crown Prince?”
At the time, she thought her plan was flawless. But looking back, Shen Zaiye hadn’t seemed surprised at all to see Mu Wuyin alive. He must have known about it beforehand.
Yet, strangely, given his usual thorough nature, why hadn’t he sent assassins?
Shen Zaiye smirked and asked in return, “Why did you arrange an escape route for him? Because you felt indebted to him?”
Taohua hesitated, blinking repeatedly before answering, “That was part of it, but I also had some personal motives.”
“Oh?” Shen Zaiye stopped walking and gazed at her intently, placing his hand against the wall to trap her within his arms. “What personal motives? Do tell.”
Taohua coughed lightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable. “Promise you won’t think it’s stupid. I felt that you had accumulated too much negative karma, and I thought I could earn some merit on your behalf.”
Shen Zaiye’s expression softened immediately, his eyes twinkling with joy. “That’s not stupid at all. You did well.”
“Then why did you spare him?” Taohua asked, no longer needing to inquire about her first question.
Shen Zaiye took her hand and continued walking. He answered calmly, “Because you owed him a debt of gratitude and would feel uneasy if it went unpaid. At the time, I owed you, so I spared him to put your mind at ease.”
His words sounded noble, but in truth, Shen Zaiye simply didn’t want her to feel indebted to another man and think about him for the rest of her life.
Taohua nodded, touched. “So you do have a conscience after all!”
Just as she was feeling moved, her words irritated him. “Can’t you phrase that more nicely?”
What did she mean by “after all”? Did she think he had no conscience before?
Taohua shrank back, trying hard to think of a better way to express it, but couldn’t come up with anything. Shen Zaiye was both annoyed and amused. He suddenly picked her up, causing her to let out a surprised yelp. As they were playfully bickering, they ran into Madam Li after taking a few steps forward.
Seeing them like this, Madam Li was startled. In her mind, Shen Zaiye had always been an inscrutable figure, someone she feared talking to. She never imagined he could have such a side to him.
“The rooms are ready,” Madam Li said, lowering her gaze. “Please follow me.”
Taohua patted Shen Zaiye, signaling him to put her down. She then caught up with Madam Li and asked curiously, “This house is so big. Why don’t you hire some servants? Do you do everything yourself?”
Madam Li glanced at her and replied, “I think it’s fine this way. Having things to do keeps life from getting boring.”
In reality, it was because if servants did everything, Mu Wuyin would have even less reason to interact with her. Without servants, she could attend to his meals, clothes, and other needs herself. They would see each other often throughout the day, and perhaps one day he might truly fall in love with her.
She wasn’t afraid of dying with him; she also wanted to live a good life with him. Now that they had survived, she hoped he would truly see her and come to like her.
Who would have thought that fate would bring them face-to-face with Jiang Taohua again?
This woman was Mu Wuyin’s destiny, a hurdle he was meant to overcome. Madam Li had thought he could avoid it, but it seemed he couldn’t escape after all. She should hate this woman, but Taohua had saved their lives. She couldn’t even bring herself to dislike her.
Now, she only felt powerless – a sense of helplessness, knowing that no matter what she did, she could never win against this woman.
“I see,” Taohua nodded. “Then for these two days, let Qing Tai help out. Don’t worry too much about us; just continue your usual routine with His Highness.”
Madam Li looked at her with complex emotions, nodded, and led them to their rooms before leaving.
“My lord, have you noticed something strange?” Taohua sat down in a chair and tugged at Shen Zaiye’s sleeve, her expression gossipy. “There seems to be something odd between Madam Li and the former Crown Prince.”
(End of Chapter)