The words were sharp, leaving people unsure how to respond. Taohua sighed, gave Qin Niang a respectful bow, and returned to the main house.
The list of medicine attendants was to be arranged by the Madam. Shen Zaiye, having just woken up, was unaware of this matter. Taohua was innocently caught in the crossfire, without even a chance to argue her case. It was best to quietly serve the master without fuss.
No one in this courtyard truly dared to take Shen Zaiye’s life, so despite the poison sounding severe, after drinking a bowl of medicine, his complexion improved considerably.
Taohua obediently got into bed, lying beside him and massaging his forehead. As she did so, she stared at him and asked, “If it’s discovered that Madam Meng was behind this, what do you plan to do?”
“How could such a viper-hearted woman continue to stay in the household?” Shen Zaiye said with his eyes closed. “Once the charges are confirmed, I’ll have Lord Meng come and take her back.”
Taohua raised an eyebrow.
In an ordinary family, a married daughter being sent home in disgrace would at most bring shame to her family. But who was Shen Zaiye? The current Prime Minister, head of the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers. Lord Meng was one of the Nine Ministers. If his daughter was divorced for attempting to murder the Prime Minister, it wouldn’t just be a matter of losing face. The family could be ruined, and they certainly wouldn’t want the matter to escalate.
Perhaps this situation might develop in unexpected ways.
In the evening, after Shen Zaiye had rested enough, he had Madam Mei bring Meng Zhenzhen to Linwu Courtyard.
“My lord!” As soon as she saw him, Madam Meng burst into tears. “I’ve been wrongly accused!”
Still somewhat pale, Shen Zaiye lay on his chair with a stern face, glancing at her coldly. “The doctor said if I had taken more than one sip, this mansion would now be hanging white banners of mourning.”
“I don’t know who would be so bold, but I would never harm you, my lord!” Meng’s eyes were full of urgency. “You believe me, don’t you?”
Shen Zaiye didn’t answer. Beside him, Madam Mei said softly, “Lüming has confessed everything, and the poison was found in her room. The evidence is conclusive.”
Meng Zhenzhen’s eyes widened. “My lord, that maid is just from the outer chambers. She has no close relationship with me. Her actions can’t be pinned on me like this!”
“Are you suggesting that if a laundry maid in the household killed you, I wouldn’t need to answer to Lord Meng?”
Hearing this, Madam Meng’s heart sank. She stared blankly at Shen Zaiye, tears streaming down her face. “My lord… Didn’t you used to dote on me so much? How can you now refuse to believe me at all?”
“If I’ve spoiled you to the point where you dare to poison me, then I deserve to go to the Hall of Silent Night to reflect on my mistakes after I recover.” Shen Zaiye’s tone was icy, his gaze equally cold. “No matter how much I doted on you before, after committing such a grave error, I cannot continue to tolerate you.”
“My lord!” Meng was on the verge of a breakdown. “I truly am innocent!”
“If you are innocent, then produce evidence to show who has wronged you,” Mei Zhaoxue said softly. “If you can’t, your wailing is useless.”
Meng froze, looking towards Shen Zaiye. His expressionless face seemed to confirm Madam Mei’s words.
Where could she find evidence at such short notice? She had been set up and was still completely in the dark!
However, there was one thing she was certain of: “The only one in this courtyard who wants to harm me is Madam Qin!”
“Are you saying that Lüming was bought by Madam Qin to deliberately harm the Prime Minister and frame you?” Mei Zhaoxue smiled lightly. “But as far as I know, you two have been watching each other closely. If your maid had met with Madam Qin, wouldn’t you have known?”
Meng Zhenzhen panicked, her eyes darting left and right as she thought carefully.
Indeed, Lüming couldn’t possibly have met anyone from Madam Qin’s side. If she had, Meng would certainly have known. Recently, her courtyard had been favored, and Madam Qin had only come to make a scene a few times. Apart from that, not even her maids had come around.
What was going on?
“Tomorrow morning, I will attend the early court session,” Shen Zaiye said coolly. “If you can’t clear yourself or prove someone else’s guilt before then, I’ll have no choice but to ask Lord Meng to take you back home.”
“My lord…” Meng cried, her eyes swollen. “You’re taking my life!”
“Weren’t you trying to take mine?” Closing his eyes tiredly, Shen Zaiye said, “That’s all there is to say on this matter. You may go now. Zhaoxue, assign more people to watch over Ruanyu Pavilion tonight. Make sure nothing goes wrong.”
“Yes, sir.” Mei Zhaoxue nodded, then turned to see Madam Meng still kneeling motionlessly, showing no intention of leaving. She immediately had someone escort her out.
Jiang Taohua, who had been watching this fascinating drama unfold, sighed after everyone had left. “My lord, you’re so ruthless. After all, you’ve shared a bed with her for so many years, yet you discard her so easily.”
Shen Zaiye glanced at her sideways and sneered, offering no further explanation. He got up and had Zhanlu prepare the evening meal, adding a comment to Taohua:
“You’re not to return to your quarters tonight.”
Taohua was startled, her face quickly reddening. “Isn’t my lord still weak? How can you ask me to serve you in bed?”
Giving her a look, Shen Zaiye smirked. “I’m not asking you to serve me in bed. I just think the side hall of Linwu Courtyard is quite comfortable. Go stay there for a few days and attend to my medicine.”
Jiang Taohua: “…”
What was wrong with him? He was feeling unwell, yet he wanted to trouble her too. She hadn’t done anything to offend him, so why should she sleep in the side hall for no reason?
After glaring for a while, Taohua had no choice but to instruct Qingtai to fetch some things from Zhengchun Pavilion.
“Look at this, the lord has thoughtlessly kept Miss Jiang in his courtyard,” Qin Jieyu said with a vicious smile, slowly tearing the paper in her hands. “Why bother writing any list? The lord’s heart isn’t with us!”
Mei Zhaoxue calmly arranged the tea set, smiling slightly. “Madam Meng has fallen to such a state, yet you still haven’t learned to keep your composure?”
“Her misfortune is of her own making. She deserves what she’s getting!” Qin said, though her tone softened a bit. “But tell me, what was she thinking? Although Madam Jiang is favored, she has no background in Great Wei. Meng still has the Grand Chariot Minister behind her. Why be so petty as to fight with a newcomer?”
“I haven’t figured it out either,” Mei Zhaoxue shook her head. “It’s not worth it. For the sake of dealing with Madam Jiang, she’s implicated herself and possibly the Meng family. Is it worth it?”
“Perhaps her mind has gone bad,” Qin sneered. “That Meng Zhenzhen has always been gloomy and vicious. Maybe she thought her plan was foolproof, not knowing that Madam Jiang has such a good memory and managed to catch that maid.”
“You and I need to be more careful from now on,” Mei Zhaoxue said calmly, looking at the trees outside. “This Madam Jiang is truly formidable.”
Qin Jieyu pursed her lips and snorted lightly, but still nodded in agreement.
Night had fallen, and being unable to leave Ruanyu Pavilion so late, Madam Meng could only vent her anger in her room. She was more upset about the viciousness of the women in the courtyard, never considering why someone from her household would harm her like this.
At daybreak, Taohua yawned as she went to the main house to attend to Shen Zaiye. The lord had risen early today, without needing to be called. He was already fully dressed in his court robes.
“So handsome.”
Hearing this rare, heartfelt compliment, Shen Zaiye turned around, raising an eyebrow at Jiang Taohua. “Handsome?”
“Mm!” Staring at the cranes embroidered on his robe hem, Taohua smacked her lips. “The embroidery is exquisite.”
Of course, it was exquisite – court robes were embroidered by palace seamstresses. He had thought she was complimenting him, but it turned out she was talking about the clothes.
Pursing his lips, Shen Zaiye said flatly, “You can continue resting here. I’m off to court.”
“Respectfully seeing my lord off,” Taohua curtsied, watching him leave with Zhanlu into the morning light. Suddenly, she felt that this man’s back view was truly handsome, like a clean and slender young man, rather than the cunning and shrewd Prime Minister.
The cunning and shrewd Prime Minister stepped into the court, standing in the first position to the right of His Majesty.
“What’s wrong with you, beloved minister?” Emperor Mingde noticed Shen Zaiye’s unusual complexion immediately. “Are you ill?”
Shen Zaiye turned his head, glancing at Lord Meng across from him, and bowed, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am not seriously ill.”
Seeing this look, Lord Meng felt very puzzled and couldn’t help but worry.
Could it have something to do with Zhenzhen?
The morning court proceeded normally. Thanks to Shen Zaiye’s memorial, Prince Jing was allowed to continue attending court, naturally feeling both grateful and reliant on him. So after the court session, Prince Jing intended to approach Shen Zaiye to say a few words.
However, before he could get there, Lord Meng rushed ahead of him, bowing repeatedly to Shen Zaiye and asking something with a sincere expression.
Frowning slightly, Mu Wuyin thought for a moment. This Lord Meng seemed to have been promoted by Prince Yu, and he had a daughter in Shen Zaiye’s household.
Such nepotistic relationships were usually only dared to be discussed in private. Why was he so urgent today, directly intercepting someone in front of the hall?
“Prime Minister Shen!” Lord Meng’s plump body was like a round ball, bowing and walking backward in front of Shen Zaiye. “Please be magnanimous. My daughter has made a mistake, and I am willing to make amends!”
Glancing at the sweat on his forehead, Shen Zaiye said coolly, “It’s fortunate that I’m here to give Lord Meng a chance to make amends.”
“Don’t say that… I’m ashamed of my failure to teach my daughter properly! But Zhenzhen has been in your household for a year now. Surely you can show some leniency. What happened earlier was indeed her fault, but please give me a chance…”
Without stopping, Shen Zaiye no longer looked at him and walked straight ahead. “Chances are not given here. Please stay back, Lord Meng.”
Slightly stunned, Lord Meng pondered the meaning of these words. He immediately became overjoyed, but after glancing around, he cautiously refrained from showing it, keeping his head low as he left the palace.
Prince Jing watched from the side, frowning. He called over a guard and instructed, “Go back and prepare some gifts to send to those few households under my command.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Shen Zaiye was too deep and unfathomable. Mu Wuyin wasn’t confident he could fully control him, but the man just liked women. There was no need for him to exert effort in other areas.
(End of Chapter)