Shen Zaiye paused, his expression darkening slightly. He stood up, opened the door, and looked outside, saying, “Since when did it become your place to decide where I should be?”
Yue Tao was startled and quickly knelt, frowning as she said, “Please don’t be angry, my lord… This servant was just anxious. Hasn’t anyone informed you about Lady Gu’s pregnancy when you returned?”
Of course, someone had told him. Zhan Lu had mentioned it as soon as he entered the mansion.
Shen Zaiye pursed his lips, not answering her. He slowly stepped out and said, “Come, let’s go see her.”
“…Yes, my lord.”
Yue Tao stood up and glanced inside the room. The table was covered with an array of exquisite jewelry, presumably gifts the lord had just bestowed.
She thought to herself, “Our mistress is pregnant, yet he doesn’t reward her. Instead, he comes straight to Zhengchun Pavilion upon his return and lavishes gifts on Lady Jiang. How can he be so biased? Lady Jiang isn’t even pregnant!”
Though indignant, Yue Tao didn’t dare voice her thoughts. She quickly followed the lord to Wenqing Pavilion.
Taohua didn’t go with them. She called Qing Tai in to put away the items and lock them in the cabinet.
“My lady, there are many people at Wenqing Pavilion now,” Qing Tai said. “Is it alright if we don’t go?”
“Have the Madam and Lady Qin gone?” Taohua asked.
Qing Tai shook her head. “I heard the Madam and Lady Qin are reciting sutras at Jingye Hall, praying for the lord’s offspring.”
“Well, there you have it,” Taohua smiled. “The Madam herself acknowledged Lady Gu’s pregnancy, but now finds an excuse not to visit. Why should we go join the crowd?”
Qing Tai couldn’t understand the implications of these words. Wasn’t a pregnancy good news? Wouldn’t it be beneficial to build good relationships now?
However, since her mistress had spoken, she decided to stay quiet. With so many women gathered there, trouble could easily arise.
At Wenqing Pavilion, Gu Huairou had put on a coquettish smile again. She sat on the bed, cradling her belly, and looked at Shen Zaiye, saying softly, “I never imagined I’d have the fortune to carry your first child, my lord.”
Shen Zaiye gazed at her tenderly and said, “Now that you’re with child, take good care of yourself.”
Was that all he had to say? Gu Huairou felt somewhat dissatisfied. She had heard this same phrase too many times already. This child was at least going to be the firstborn, if not the eldest son. Even if the lord didn’t offer any rewards, couldn’t he at least say something nice?
Feeling displeased, she allowed a hint of grievance to show on her face and sighed lightly, “My lord, have I already lost my place in your heart?”
“Why would you think that?” Shen Zaiye replied. “If it weren’t for you, how could this child have come from the heavens?”
The others in the room laughed. Madam Meng dabbed her handkerchief and said gently, “Women with children tend to overthink things. My lord should spend more time with Lady Gu to comfort her.”
“State affairs have been quite demanding lately,” Shen Zaiye said. “Huairou will need more care from all of you.”
Madam Meng pursed her lips, glanced at Gu Huairou, and said softly, “My lord’s words might make Lady Gu overthink even more. You’ve always been busy, yet you spend so much time at Zhengchun Pavilion. Even when you just returned to the mansion, you went straight there without asking about anything else.”
Shen Zaiye frowned slightly and looked up at Meng Zhenzhen.
He disliked women trying to dictate his actions.
Startled by the lord’s gaze, Madam Meng quickly lowered her head and didn’t dare to speak further, fidgeting nervously with her handkerchief.
Observing this, Gu Huairou felt even more disheartened. Had the lord’s protection of Lady Jiang reached such a level? Others couldn’t even speak about it? Would there be any place left for anyone else in this household in the future?
“I’ll have someone send over some tonics and medicinal herbs later,” Shen Zaiye stood up and looked at Lady Gu. “Rest well. If you truly give birth to the eldest son of the Shen family, there will be substantial rewards.”
“…This concubine bids farewell to my lord,” Gu Huairou lowered her head, listening to his departing footsteps, which showed no hesitation. Her heart felt heavy with disappointment.
As the room was left with only women, Yue Tao approached the bed and whispered, “This servant feels for you, my lady. The lord returned and immediately bestowed a heap of treasures on Lady Jiang, while you only received some medicinal herbs. Lady Jiang isn’t even pregnant, you are! How can the lord be so unfair…”
Listening to this, Lady Gu’s grip tightened. “Stop talking,” she said.
“It’s better to pretend we don’t know some things, to live more happily,” Meng Zhenzhen said coolly. “Isn’t it just asking for trouble to compare oneself with the person closest to the lord’s heart?”
Gu Huairou looked up at her and sneered, “Since when did Lady Meng start acknowledging others as closest to the lord’s heart?”
“Some things don’t change even if we refuse to acknowledge them,” Madam Meng sat down nearby and sighed. “Can’t you see? With the lord so focused on Lady Jiang now, even if you truly give birth to the eldest son, it won’t change much. Those who are favored will continue to be favored, and those who have lost favor will remain out of favor. The eldest son might gain the lord’s affection, but not necessarily the mother of the eldest son.”
Gu Huairou’s heart sank, and she bit her lip.
How could she resign herself to this fate? She finally had a trump card in her hand, but if she was still overshadowed by Jiang Taohua, her entire life would be ruined!
Meanwhile, Shen Zaiye returned to Zhengchun Pavilion, where Taohua was already eating snacks while waiting for lunch.
“My lord has returned?” she smiled and welcomed him. “How is Lady Gu?”
“Nothing special, she’s resting well,” Shen Zaiye sat on the soft couch and said to Zhan Lu, “Bring a set of chess.”
Zhan Lu complied, and Taohua quickly waved her hands, “This concubine doesn’t know how to play.”
“I didn’t expect you to play with me anyway,” Shen Zaiye scoffed. “Sit there and continue eating your snacks. I have matters to consider, so it’s best if you don’t make a sound.”
“Alright!” Taohua agreed, sitting down across from him with her plate.
It seemed that the scholars of all three kingdoms were fond of playing chess. Looking at Shen Zaiye’s chess moves, although Jiang Taohua didn’t understand, she could sense the intensity.
He played the red side, moving his pieces strategically. In no time, he had captured two of the black pawns. Taohua noticed his eyes fixed on the black “chariot”.
However, he paused here, as if contemplating something. After a long while, he finally made a decision and continued to move, muttering, “It can’t be helped, I have to sacrifice it.”
Taohua curiously peeked over with her small head, “Sacrifice what?”
“Offering the cannon to take the chariot,” Shen Zaiye murmured, then looked up and glared at her. “You wouldn’t understand anyway, so why ask?”
Jiang Taohua: “…”
Fine, she knew he was skilled. She’d just be a quiet observer eating snacks.
The game wasn’t finished. After just taking one black chariot, Shen Zaiye stopped and looked up at the woman across from him, smiling slightly.
This sudden smile almost made Taohua drop her plate. She quickly shrank back a bit, looking at him warily, “What are you planning now?”
“Don’t be nervous, I just think your makeup looks very nice today,” Shen Zaiye smiled, waving for Zhan Lu to put away the chess pieces. He unusually opened his arms generously, “Come here.”
Taohua was stunned. She tossed the plate aside and immediately flew into his embrace, hugging him tightly. Then she looked up at him, “My lord, do you know? You look especially handsome when you’re deep in thought.”
“Really?” Shen Zaiye looked down at her. “Have I captivated you?”
“If you weren’t plotting something in your mind, then I truly would be captivated,” Taohua looked at him with a fawning expression. “This concubine serves you wholeheartedly and diligently, you mustn’t trick me again!”
Glancing at her sideways, Shen Zaiye said in a low voice, “I’m the one putting in all the effort.”
“…”
Why did he have to say such embarrassing things when they were calculating against each other? Taohua gritted her teeth and buried her head in his chest, nuzzling against him. “I don’t care, my lord must take good care of me. I’m just a weak woman!”
“If Prince Jing heard you say that, he might strangle you,” the voice above her head said flatly. “If a woman like you is considered weak, there are hardly any good men left in this world.”
“Thank you for the compliment, my lord!” Taohua smiled so widely that her eyes nearly disappeared. “But this concubine’s only wish is to spend her life peacefully in this courtyard.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you leave this courtyard,” Shen Zaiye said gently. “I keep my word.”
Jiang Taohua was stunned and looked up with a frown, “My lord, haven’t you heard that if men were reliable, pigs could climb trees?”
Shen Zaiye: “…”
“Jiang Taohua, do you feel uncomfortable if you don’t talk back to me for a day?”
She chuckled and hugged his arm, looking pitiful as she said, “This concubine is just an innocent person trying to survive in the cracks. Please be merciful, my lord…”
Despite her dramatic words, wasn’t she living quite well? Now she had fine clothes, delicious food, and all sorts of rewards, making the other women in the courtyard envious. Yet she still wasn’t satisfied.
Shen Zaiye snorted lightly and picked her up, setting her on the ground. “I have matters to attend to in the study. You stay here, and don’t go causing trouble at Lady Gu’s place if you have nothing to do.”
“Yes, my lord!” Taohua nodded quickly, watching him leave with long strides.
Her instincts told her that someone was about to face misfortune. But she didn’t know who it would be.
Due to Lady Gu’s pregnancy, the mansion’s attention had been focused on Wenqing Pavilion lately. The punishment Shen Zaiye had previously given to Gu Huairou seemed to have been forgotten. Mei Zhaoxue sent large quantities of tonics and medicinal herbs daily, occasionally accompanied by jewelry as rewards.
With the Madam taking the lead, the congratulatory gifts from others in the courtyard were not lacking either, which considerably improved Gu Huairou’s depressed mood.
“The warmth and coldness of human relationships are most evident at times like these,” Gu Huairou sneered as she walked in the garden, protecting her belly. “Those who care, even if they’re just going through the motions, know to send a bracelet. But look at the one in Zhengchun Pavilion, not a single gesture from her.”
Yue Tao pursed her lips and said, “It seems Lady Jiang truly doesn’t regard you at all, my lady.”
“With the lord’s favor, who would she regard?” Meng Zhenzhen came from another small path, hoping to meet them. She immediately said, “I heard she hasn’t paid respects to the Madam for quite some time. It’s only because the Madam is magnanimous that she hasn’t taken offense.”
Glancing at her, Gu Huairou nodded, “Is Lady Meng also so leisurely now?”
“How can I not be?” Meng Shi coldly laughed. “The lord hasn’t visited my courtyard recently either.”
(End of Chapter)