“Shouldn’t you be the one to answer that?” Shen Zaiye spoke gravely, his expression extremely serious. “Don’t you know what you’ve done?”
Taohua was startled and quickly kowtowed, pleading innocence: “How would this concubine know? I’ve never even been to Wenqing Pavilion, precisely to avoid trouble. How could this still be blamed on me?”
Her tone was as pitiful as could be.
Shen Zaiye angrily swept the nearby teacup to the floor, shouting, “You dare to quibble!”
With a loud crash, ceramic shards flew, and tea splattered everywhere. Everyone was silenced by his anger. Even Madam Meng stopped her fake crying, staring at him in shock.
They all found it strange. When Lady Gu was pregnant, the lord didn’t seem to care much, but now that the child was lost, he was very angry.
On second thought, they realized the lord was a deep person. Perhaps he just couldn’t express himself well but had cared deeply for the child.
If he cared so much, Madam Jiang would surely suffer this time.
Mei Zhaoxue glanced at the kneeling Taohua and said softly, “My lord, shouldn’t you give Madam Jiang a chance to explain herself?”
Shen Zaiye sneered, “Huairou ate the plums she sent. Now the child is gone. What explanation could she possibly have?”
“Plums?” Taohua quickly responded, “I did send plums to Wenqing Pavilion, but it was on the madam’s orders!”
Hearing this, Mei Zhaoxue hastily knelt as well: “I have something to say about this matter. Some time ago, Lady Gu came to my quarters complaining that Madam Jiang was arrogant and indifferent to her pregnancy, not even sending a congratulatory gift. I thought this improper, so I asked Madam Jiang to prepare some plums for Lady Gu as a gesture of goodwill. As for where these plums came from and how they were delivered, I know nothing.”
Look at how cleanly she shifted responsibility, as spotless as freshly washed dishes from the kitchen!
Taohua blinked and continued, “The madam speaks the truth. I simply followed her instructions to buy the plums. I didn’t open them at all, just sent them to Wenqing Pavilion in the packaging from the dried fruit shop.”
“Are you suggesting that there was nothing wrong with the plums, and it was Lady Gu’s problem?” Shen Zaiye raised an eyebrow.
As soon as he said this, Gu Huairou rushed out from the inner chamber, wrapped in clothes, tears streaming down her face: “My lord, I beg you to do justice for me!”
Everyone was startled. Yuetao quickly moved to support her, helping her kneel beside the lord’s chair.
“My precious child, so hard to come by!” Gu Huairou cried hysterically, clutching Shen Zaiye’s robe. “Gone just like that, after eating just two plums! How can I accept this? How can I find peace?”
“Don’t be anxious,” Shen Zaiye frowned, helping her up. “Your body is still weak. Go back and rest properly.”
“How can you ask me to rest easy?” Gu Huairou’s tears fell like rain. “You’ve always favored Madam Jiang. She’s so silver-tongued. If you let her off with a few words, how can I face the child who died in my womb?”
This wail of a mother who lost her child was truly heartbreaking. Shen Zaiye’s expression darkened further, his gaze on Jiang Taohua growing sharper.
“Rest assured, if we truly find the culprit, regardless of who it is, there’s only one outcome – expulsion from the household,” he said. “Even if it’s Madam Jiang!”
Taohua trembled, pouting, “But I’m truly innocent. The plums were bought from Liu’s Dried Fruit Shop and were in Qingta’s hands the whole time, unopened. How could I have tampered with them?”
At the mention of “Liu’s Dried Fruit Shop,” Meng Zhenzhen’s brow twitched, and she glanced at Taohua in surprise.
Shen Zaiye frowned, “Is there anyone who can prove you didn’t open them?”
“Yes,” Taohua pointed beside her. “Qing Tai”
“She’s your maid. She can’t be a witness,” Shen Zaiye sneered. “No one else?”
Furrowing her brow, Taohua slumped down, her face pale. “There’s indeed no one else, but…”
“Enough, say no more,” Shen Zaiye stood up, scanning the women in the room. He said sternly, “This matter concerns my first offspring. We must get to the bottom of it. No one will be wrongly accused, nor will anyone be easily let off. Since the doctor is still examining what was in those plums, let’s confine Madam Jiang to Jingye Hall for now.”
Madam Mei was startled, “Confine her directly?”
“Yes,” Shen Zaiye said. “Also, send people to investigate the dried fruit shop, and question all the maids in Wenqing Pavilion. We’ll discuss further once there’s progress.”
Then, looking at Gu Huairou, he said, “You rest well.”
Jingye Hall, though called a Buddha hall, was often used to confine concubines who had erred. At night, it was cold and terrifying, even servants were reluctant to pass by. The truth hadn’t come out yet, but the lord was sending Madam Jiang there – truly impartial.
Lady Gu was satisfied hearing this. She bowed to him, then turned to watch Jiang Taohua being led away by servants.
“My lord!” Taohua made a token struggle, her expression miserable. “You don’t believe me? Does all the affection between us these days mean nothing?”
The echo of her words reverberated through the courtyard.
Shen Zaiye turned away, not looking at her, his face cold and stern.
Everyone watching understood that the Chancellor truly didn’t care about anyone. When there was no trouble, he showered them with affection, but once something happened, he discarded them without mercy.
Such a heartless man.
Mei Zhaoxue stood up, gesturing for Yuetao to help Lady Gu inside, then looked at Shen Zaiye and said, “My lord, you needn’t be too heartbroken. There will always be more children.”
“How can I not be heartbroken?” Shen Zaiye frowned, his eyes full of grief, as he strode out with a swish of his sleeve.
Madam Qin watched, shaking her head, “To think such a thing happened in our household. No wonder the lord is angry. If the culprit is Madam Jiang, I wonder if her backers in Zhao can save her.”
Mei Zhaoxue sighed softly, “How could they save her now? At most, they might overlook it for the sake of the alliance between the two countries. If it were anyone else, their entire family would surely be implicated.”
Meng Zhenzhen seemed distracted. Hearing this, her small face paled, and she unconsciously clutched her handkerchief tightly.
“What’s wrong with Madam Meng?” Qin Jieyu looked over, curiously examining her. “You don’t look well today. You’re even sweating.”
“…It’s a bit hot,” Meng lowered her head, quickly saying, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. I have some embroidery to finish in my room.”
Madam Mei nodded, watching her leave, and said lightly, “She seems almost guilty.”
The group watching agreed. Earlier, Madam Meng had been enjoying the spectacle, but now she seemed panicked.
Jiang Taohua was led by servants to Jingye Hall.
As the main door closed, Qing Taicalmly began tidying the room to prepare for her mistress’s night’s rest.
“Why aren’t you asking me why today?” Taohua looked at her maid with interest.
Qing Taireplied, “Everything is within the mistress’s expectations anyway. Even if I ask, it would be pointless. I might as well just do my duty.”
“You’ve finally become a bit smarter,” Taohua nodded approvingly. “We’ll stay here for two days. After that, we can go back.”
Even this could be predicted? Qing Taipaused, still unable to resist turning back to ask, “Why?”
Taohua chuckled, picking up a nearby cushion to sit on, and said softly, “Because your mistress has nothing behind her, but others might not be so fortunate. The Chancellor has something he wants, but he can only take it from others, not from your mistress.”
Qingta: “…” It was as if she hadn’t asked at all.
There was only one bed in the side hall of Jingye Hall. Qing Taiwas a bit worried about where she should sleep at night.
However, her mistress efficiently moved all the cushions from the main hall, arranging them to the size of a bed, stuffing broken cloth strips in between, and covering them with a cotton quilt. It was soon ready.
“Mistress,” Qing Taiwas deeply moved. “You’re so considerate of this servant…”
“Don’t think too much, this is my bed,” Taohua winked. “That wooden bed is too hard. I’m not used to it. You go sleep there.”
What? Qing Taiwas stunned, looking at the fine bed nearby. “Surely it’s not hard?”
“It’s not hard, but your mistress prefers something softer,” Taohua rolled onto the cushions, bouncing a couple of times, and said with narrowed eyes, “This will do.”
Qingta: “…”
What a strange habit.
Shen Zaiye sat in Linwu Court, listening to Zhanlu’s report on the situation at Jingye Hall. He couldn’t help but smile, “Send her a couple more quilts. It’s still a bit cold at night.”
“I understand,” Zhanlu nodded. “But how long do you plan to confine Madam Jiang?”
“Two days will suffice,” Shen Zaiye said. “Go take care of some matters. After two days, this crime should be pinned on someone else.”
Zhanlu accepted the order and withdrew, still feeling a bit strange.
It seemed his master and Madam Jiang hadn’t discussed much beforehand, yet they acted as if they knew each other’s thoughts, in perfect sync.
As if they were naturally of one mind.
At Ruanyu Pavilion, Meng Zhenzhen sat restlessly, calling over a maid to ask, “Didn’t Liu’s shop send some preserved fruits a few days ago?”
The maid nodded, “Yes, didn’t you ask this servant to put them away?”
“You all can eat them,” Meng said irritably. “I feel like something’s going to happen there. The sooner they’re eaten, the better.”
“I understand,” the maid responded, happily going to fetch the preserved fruits and distributing them as favors.
A day later, these favors reached Zhanlu.
“Where did these come from?” Zhanlu asked.
The little maid smiled sweetly, “Our mistress bestowed them. Try a couple, they’re quite tasty.”
Holding the preserved fruit, Zhanlu smiled, rolled it between his fingers for a moment, then reached out and popped it into the little maid’s mouth. “I’m busy and can’t eat these. You all enjoy them.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
The little maid blushed, watching Zhanlu’s back for a while before returning to her room.
(End of Chapter)