When working for people like this, there’s no need to emphasize how hard you’ve worked or how much effort you’ve put in. Just getting the job done is enough.
“You seem very confident,” Shen Zaiyu said, placing the porridge aside and looking at her. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you – Prince Jing is cautious and not easy to deal with.”
“Thank you for your concern, my lord. In two days, I’ll leave the mansion under the pretext of touring the capital. I hope you’ll allow it.”
“Very well,” Shen nodded, not asking further. He turned to have his breakfast at the table before heading to the palace.
Three days passed quickly, but Shen showed no intention of leaving Zhengchun Pavilion. He fed Jiang Taohua and gave her medicine every day, taking meticulous care of her.
On the third day, he issued an order not to deduct Wenqing Pavilion’s monthly allowance, but the matter of serving him in bed would still depend on his mood.
“What’s going on?” Qin Jieyu was surprised. “Not only did Lady Gu not make a fuss, but Jiang even pleaded on her behalf. Have they both lost their minds?”
Mei Zhaoxue, washing tea utensils, said softly, “Some people you think are foolish are quite clever. Lady Gu was punished once, perhaps she learned her lesson and yielded to Jiang.”
“So there’s no show to watch?” Qin was displeased. “Three days have passed, and there’s been no movement from Duan Yunxin or Meng Zhenzhen either. I got excited for nothing.”
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Mei Zhaoxue gently placed a white porcelain teacup on the table. “Tea should be savored slowly, and life should be lived the same way. There’s no movement now because the time isn’t right. When the time comes, the commotion won’t be small.”
Qin frowned, feeling impatient, but seeing her mistress so calm, she suppressed her temper and continued to wait patiently.
Lady Meng and Lady Duan, who had their favor stolen, weren’t without resentment. They just didn’t dare to act seeing how much the master valued Jiang now, and Jiang hadn’t made any mistakes.
Duan Yunxin, who had been in the household since its establishment, could keep her composure well. But Meng Zhenzhen, who had entered the mansion less than three months ago, was young and impetuous, inevitably venting her anger behind closed doors.
“Why does she deserve such favor from the master?” Meng Zhenzhen cried, clutching a handkerchief and looking at her maid. “I’ve only been here for such a short time. Am I already falling out of favor?”
Her maid, Cailing, gently patted her back to comfort her. “You haven’t fallen out of favor. It’s just that Jiang is skilled and has disrupted the household’s order.”
“Life was going so well, why did such a vixen appear!” Meng was extremely upset, her eyes full of resentment. “Have someone keep a close watch on that courtyard. If there’s any movement, tell me immediately!”
“I’ve already given the orders,” Cailing said. “Someone is watching even at night. You needn’t worry.”
Meng nodded, the handkerchief in her hand almost torn from her wringing. She stared at a corner of the room, her eyes unfocused but carrying a hint of viciousness.
Another day passed, and Jiang Taohua’s wound had finally scabbed over. She managed to get out of bed and take a few steps, but still felt dizzy and had to sit down.
“What have you found out about Prince Jing?” she asked.
Qingtai replied, “Prince Jing has an appointment with Prince Yu today. They’ll be at Floating Cloud Tower in the first quarter of the afternoon hour. The Chancellor has sent a map of the capital, and I’ve marked the route from Prince Jing’s mansion to Floating Cloud Tower for you to review.”
Taking the map, Taohua leaned over the table, her slender fingers tracing the line on the map, her eyes deep in thought.
“Help me change my clothes,” she said.
Qingtai was startled. “You can barely stand steadily. Do you plan to go out alone?”
“It wouldn’t be appropriate to take you along. If you’re worried, you can follow me from a distance,” Taohua smiled. “Just in case I die on the street, someone can collect my body.”
“Mistress!” Qingtai’s face darkened. “If you know it’s dangerous, why must you take this risk?”
“I’m joking, don’t be so tense, be good,” Taohua quickly took her hand, gently shaking it. “I definitely won’t die. These past two days of supplements have helped me recover quickly. I can manage for a few hours. If I don’t take risks, death is certain sooner or later, and I’d have to drag you down with me.”
“I’d rather die with you!” Qingtai’s eyes reddened. “It’s better than letting you struggle between life and death alone.”
Taohua laughed, looking at her with gentle eyes. “Silly girl, it’s good to value loyalty, but don’t put the cart before the horse. If we can both survive, why should we die together?”
Qingtai was at a loss for words, stamping her foot in frustration. “Fine, I can never win an argument with you!”
“Since you can’t win, just listen obediently,” Taohua said with a smile, moving to sit at the dressing table to apply makeup to her pale face. “Bring out that moon-colored lotus patterned dress.”
“…Yes,” Qingtai responded glumly, finding the dress and helping her mistress change after she finished her makeup.
“Can you tell I’m ill like this?” Taohua asked, spreading her arms and looking down at herself.
Qingtai shook her head. “No, your makeup is also very appropriate. You look like an ordinary civilian woman.”
“Excellent!” Nodding with satisfaction, Taohua turned and headed out.
Shen Zaiyu had already permitted her to leave the mansion, so a carriage was waiting at the side gate. As soon as Jiang Taohua got in, a servant went to inform Shen Zaiyu.
Claiming he needed to attend court, this lord had stayed in the mansion. Upon hearing the report, he put on a cape and walked out. “Follow and keep an eye on her, just in case.”
Zhanlu asked in confusion, “Why do you need to go personally, my lord? I can send someone.”
“She’s going after Prince Jing,” Shen glanced at him. “What use would it be for you to watch? If something goes wrong, could you handle it?”
That made sense. Zhanlu nodded and obediently followed his master out.
Prince Jing’s carriage left the prince’s mansion a quarter before the afternoon hour. Taohua calculated the route, knowing he would have to pass through Echo Alley, so she waited at the entrance of the alley.
Echo Alley was in the southern part of the capital, mostly filled with brothels and gambling houses. The capital’s largest underground money house and gambling den were here, so the people coming and going were rather diverse.
As soon as this clear and beautiful young woman stood at the alley entrance, many eyes turned to her. Some bolder ones came forward to tease her:
“Little miss, are you short on money? Why don’t you come to have a drink with us brothers?”
Taohua looked up, her timid gaze particularly endearing. She shrank her shoulders, looking just like an innocent little white rabbit, and retreated to the side, clutching her skirt.
The onlookers’ hearts skipped a beat. A woman of such beauty, perhaps no less than the top courtesans of Hefeng Dance House, how could she be standing here alone?
“You… you stay away,” she said, her almond eyes wide and quickly filling with tears. Taohua stood against the wall, her face full of fear.
This scene would make anyone feel sympathetic, wanting to pull this girl into their arms and comfort her. People passing by had initially just wanted to take a look at the commotion, but anyone who glanced her way couldn’t look away. Such beauty, and so pitifully vulnerable, like a painting of a celestial maiden, captivating all who saw her.
“What skill,” Shen Zaiyu said coldly from the teahouse across the street, watching as more and more people gathered at the alley entrance, beginning to block the street. He held his teacup but didn’t drink.
Zhanlu tensed up, feeling that strange aura emanating from his master again. Looking at his expression, he couldn’t tell if he was pleased or displeased.
“What is Lady Jiang planning to do?” he asked carefully.
The teahouse was empty except for the two of them, so Shen spoke freely. “She’s trying to block Prince Jing’s path.”
Using her beauty to block someone’s way – such a bold and confident approach left him at a loss for words.
Prince Jing’s carriage would be surrounded. If he wasn’t made to get out, he certainly wouldn’t see her. Jiang Taohua’s actions made sense, but what intrigued him more was what she planned to do once she saw Prince Jing.
By the afternoon hour, Echo Alley’s entrance and the nearby streets were filled with men of all sorts, creating quite a spectacle. When some constables received news and came to disperse the crowd, Shen directly ordered Zhanlu to stop them.
Thus, Jiang Taohua successfully intercepted Prince Jing.
“What’s happening up ahead?” Mu Wuyin lifted the carriage curtain and asked with a frown.
His guard hurried forward to investigate and returned to report, “It seems these people are gathered around a woman, Your Highness.”
“What kind of woman is worth so many people blocking the road?” Mu Wuyin said impatiently. “Have someone clear the way. I’m on a schedule.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The guard agreed and was about to turn to give orders when he saw the crowd parting, and a figure stumbling out.
“Who goes there!” The guard in front quickly blocked her.
This shout caught the attention of Prince Jing, who was about to lower the carriage curtain.
Taohua shrank back, looking at the guard’s sword in panic before quickly retreating towards the crowd. As she retreated, the people behind tried to grab her.
“Please, let me go!” she sobbed, struggling. “This humble woman just came to find something. I bear no grudge against any of you…”
Her voice was as crisp as an oriole’s song in a valley, and her lotus-patterned dress was extraordinarily elegant. Prince Jing was startled and lifted the carriage curtain to step down.
“Who are you?”
The guards quickly made their way, and the surrounding crowd retreated. Taohua fell sitting on the road and looked up at his voice. “This… this humble woman is new to this place. I haven’t done anything wrong, I didn’t do anything…”
“Don’t be afraid.”
Her appearance reminded him strongly of the spotted deer he had chased in the hunting grounds last year – clear eyes full of panic, particularly heart-wrenching. Mu Wuyin’s expression immediately softened, and he bent down to look at her. “Where is your family?”
Taohua pouted, her voice choked with tears. “We got separated.”
“Where were you planning to go?”
Looking at him cautiously, Taohua pressed her lips together. “I was waiting here for my father. He took my hairpin into this alley and told me to wait here.”
Into the alley? Mu Wuyin looked up, momentarily angry, but didn’t say anything. He just gently helped her up. “Then I’ll… I’ll take you to find him, how about that?”
“…” Across the street in the teahouse, half a cup of tea was spilled.
Zhanlu looked at Shen Zaiyu in surprise, glancing at his expression. This time, he finally understood a little.
It seemed his master was angry, his face dark and unpleasant. Whether he was angry at his miscalculation or something else, Zhanlu couldn’t tell.
(End of Chapter)