Taohua felt at a loss. She knew how unbearable the gu poison was and couldn’t bear to watch such a small child suffer that torment.
“If I live, must she die?” she asked softly.
Shen Zaiye closed his eyes. “We can always have another child.”
He was truly poor at comforting others. After saying this, he didn’t know what else to say, so he could only hold her and let her cry.
The little one in the swaddling clothes seemed to sense her mother’s sadness and began to wail as well. As soon as she cried, Taohua hurriedly stopped her tears and gently soothed the baby, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”
Having never been a mother before, Taohua felt anxious and heartbroken seeing the child cry but didn’t know what to do. As she awkwardly tried to comfort the baby, the little one gradually stopped crying and peacefully fell back asleep.
Taohua, with reddened eyes, dared not cry anymore and looked pitiful. Shen Zaiye could only stroke her hair helplessly.
Due to the poison in the womb, the baby’s body was purplish. But strangely, aside from this, everything else seemed normal. She could eat and sleep well, though being premature, she looked a bit small.
After nervously caring for her for a few days, Taohua noticed no signs of the gu poison acting up. Still worried, she planned to take the child to see Master Xue once the confinement period was over.
However, her master seemed to have a sixth sense and arrived at their doorstep.
“How are you?” Qian Baimei asked with a smile.
“I’ve managed to survive,” Taohua said, her eyes reddening at the sight of him. She handed over the swaddled baby. “Master, please help save her.”
Taking the baby, Qian Baimei looked at the little one with deep eyes. “When Lü died, she must have still hated you. So she only told you that the gu poison made conception difficult, but didn’t mention that once pregnant, the poison could be resolved. I spent three months traveling in Miao territory and finally learned this, so I rushed back to see you.”
“There’s a cure?” Taohua grew excited. If Shen Zaiye hadn’t been holding her, she would have jumped out of bed. “Master, do you mean she can be saved?”
“The gu poison transferred from you to her,” Qian Baimei explained. “The transferred poison has a three-year dormant period. During these three years, let her come with me to Miao territory and soak in Wanling grass water. Perhaps we can save her life.”
“Three years?” Taohua frowned, reluctant. “Does it need to be that long?”
“You should be grateful she has three years to try,” Qian Baimei lowered his gaze. “Others don’t even get a chance.”
“Others?” Taohua was stunned, instinctively asking, “Has someone else been poisoned too?”
Qian Baimei smiled, holding the baby with one hand while gently stroking Taohua’s hair with the other. “There’s no one else. I was just speaking hypothetically. Will you wait here in the mountains for these three years until I return?”
Taohua hesitated. “Do I have to stay here the whole time? But what about my lord…”
“I have nothing else to do,” Shen Zaiye said. “We can stay here as long as needed.”
Taohua paused, then smiled and nodded to Qian Baimei. “Alright then, I’ll wait here.”
“Keep your word,” Qian Baimei smiled. “Otherwise, I might not return this child to you. She seems to have good potential. It wouldn’t be bad to raise her as another disciple.”
Taohua laughed helplessly. “I understand, Master.”
Qian Baimei stayed for two days. Looking at the peach blossoms covering the mountains, he said to Shen Zaiye, “You’ve gone to great lengths.”
Shen Zaiye’s attitude towards him had improved considerably. He nodded, “Even without you, I could have given her a peaceful life. But tell me, why do you want her to stay here for three years?”
Qian Baimei lowered his gaze. “If she leaves and returns to the chaos, it won’t be good for her.”
“Are you worried that Great Wei will eventually attack Zhao again?” Shen Zaiye asked.
“They won’t need to attack,” Qian Baimei shook his head. “Within a year, Zhao will naturally fall into Great Wei’s hands.”
Confused by his meaning, Shen Zaiye didn’t understand. Qian Baimei looked at him and smiled, “That little one has already suffered too much and worried too much in the first half of her life. From now on, just live peacefully here with her and don’t ask about worldly affairs. If you ever receive any news, think of her and keep it from her. That would be best.”
With an uneasy feeling in his heart, Shen Zaiye didn’t voice his suspicions. He simply nodded.
When it came to being good to Jiang Taohua, the two men could always cooperate.
As Qian Baimei left with the child, Taohua frowned, hugging a few books. “We still haven’t decided on a good name for her before she left.”
“Let’s leave the name to fate,” Shen Zaiye said. “Your intention is enough. There’s no need to force a perfect name from classical references.”
Taohua sighed. Shen Zaiye put his arm around her and chuckled softly, “When you’re fully recovered, let’s have another child.”
“Mm,” Taohua nodded, suddenly remembering something. “Many people in the world probably think I’m dead, including Changzhe. That child will surely be very upset. Shall we send a letter to let him know?”
“Alright,” Shen Zaiye lowered his gaze. “I’ll write it for you. You should rest well.”
Taohua nodded, washed her hands and face, then went back to sleep.
When sending the letter, Shen Zaiye instructed Zhanlu, “Don’t show the reply to my wife right away. Bring it to me privately first.”
Zhanlu agreed.
However, unexpectedly, by the time the reply to this letter arrived, it was already the beginning of the second year. During this year, Taohua ate and slept well, quickly regaining her fair and tender appearance under Shen Zaiye’s care.
As peaches ripened in the mountain, children from the village below often came to pick them. They thought they might be scolded, but instead found the owner to be a sister as beautiful as a fairy. She gently told them they could pick freely and even sell the peaches, as long as they helped maintain the orchard.
The children grew close to her, often coming to play. The once quiet mountain became lively.
Taohua spent much of her time with Shen Zaiye, quarreling, bantering, and then making up with coquettish behavior. She learned to cook many dishes and made many clothes for Shen Zaiye. He finally became gentle and considerate. Although his smile sometimes still looked mischievous, she knew his heart was filled with love for her.
Shen Zaiye felt he could live like this forever, at peace and content, away from worldly affairs.
However, Jiang Changzhe’s reply came like a knife, cutting a deep wound in this tranquil life.
“By the time you receive this letter, I will likely no longer be in this world. Zhao has no one to entrust it to. Under heaven, besides Mu Wuxia, there is no wise ruler. Therefore, Zhao is willing to submit entirely. I ask brother-in-law to please entreat the Emperor of Great Wei to treat the people of Zhao kindly.”
Shen Zaiye’s heart sank as he instantly understood the meaning behind Qian Baimei’s words.
He had known all along that Jiang Changzhe would die and had insisted on keeping it from Taohua.
Jiang Changzhe was a remarkable child. Despite his young age, he had managed to gradually restore Zhao’s prosperity over the past year. Although still unable to rival Great Wei, Zhao was no longer to be underestimated.
Submitting the entire country seemed rash, but it was the most correct decision. Mu Wuxia was destined to unify the world sooner or later. Without Changzhe, Zhao had no one to rely on and was doomed to be surrounded by war. But if they submitted, Mu Wuxia would not incite conflict and would even treat Zhao’s officials and people well.
Truly a decision made with the world in mind.
“What are you reading, my lord?” Taohua asked with a smile as she pushed open the door.
Shen Zaiye lowered his eyes, discreetly placing the letter between the pages of a book. He smiled and said, “A letter from Xu Yangui. He says he has married Lady Gu.”
“What?” Taohua’s eyes widened. “And they didn’t even invite us to the wedding?”
“I sent a gift. We don’t need to attend the wedding,” Shen Zaiye said. “Life here is peaceful. Why go out?”
“That’s true,” Taohua nodded and walked to his side. “Has there been no letter from Changzhe yet?”
“Not yet,” Shen Zaiye replied. “He’s probably too busy with state affairs to write back.”
“As long as he’s doing well,” Taohua nodded and sighed. “I have no other wishes now, except for our daughter to return safely and to see Changzhe with many descendants.”
Shen Zaiye nodded. “It will come true.”
Taohua smiled, gave him the peach pastry in her hand, and then ran out excitedly to play with the children.
“Big sister,” Little Hu ran over with a tree branch and said, “Why don’t you go down the mountain to look? It’s very lively recently!”
“What’s the excitement about?” Taohua asked gently. “Is there a celebration?”
“I don’t know exactly, but they say the Emperor has granted a general amnesty and is celebrating with the people. The government is even distributing money and grain!”
Mu Wuxia was a good emperor. After Great Wei expanded its territory, there were no uprisings, and people’s lives improved. No wonder Shen Zaiye chose to assist him; he was indeed a talented ruler.
“A general amnesty must be for something good,” Taohua smiled. “Remember to go collect your share of money and grain. You can buy new clothes.”
“Okay!” The children responded in unison, then ran off giggling. She stood up, looked at the setting sun, and decided to make pork rib soup for Shen Zaiye that night.
However, for some inexplicable reason, even though nothing had happened, she felt an unexplained heaviness in her heart. After standing at the courtyard gate for a while, Taohua tiptoed back to the study.
Shen Zaiye and Zhanlu were talking inside.
“The Emperor is going to choose an Empress,” Zhanlu said. “It’s about time, but he doesn’t seem to like any of the selected ladies. The Minister of Rites suggests he marry a princess from Zhao. This would help pacify the people of Zhao.”
“Has the transfer of power already begun?” Shen Zaiye asked.
“Yes, Great Wei sent people to the capital of Zhao a month ago to temporarily take over all affairs.”
“Then let someone advise His Majesty again,” Shen Zaiye said. “In his position, it’s impossible for everything to go as he wishes.”
(End of Chapter)