“Clatter clatter—”
As the sound echoed through the study, only three words flashed through Jiang Taohua’s mind—
We’re doomed!
Without even looking down, she could see lively pearls rolling in under the tablecloth, stopping right beside her. Prince Jing’s gaze must be on the floor now. She absolutely couldn’t flick the pearls out against their natural rolling direction, or he would discover something amiss under the table.
But what if the prince suddenly decided to crouch down and pick up the pearls?
Shen Zaiye was also momentarily stunned, staring blankly at the gleaming pearls scattered across the floor. After a while, he finally reacted, stepping out to grab Prince Jing’s arm and say, “Your Highness, please leave quickly!”
Prince Jing was about to bend down to pick up the pearls when he was unexpectedly pulled out of the study by Shen Zaiye. He looked at him in confusion, “What’s wrong? Chancellor, you seem rather strange today.”
“This humble one is merely concerned that Your Highness might slip on the pearls,” Shen Zaiye smiled, turning to instruct Zhan Lu, “Go in and have someone clean up. Not a single pearl should be missing.”
“Yes!” Zhan Lu responded, quickly finding maids to go in. Shen Zaiye led Prince Jing away, saying as they walked, “Your Highness should return soon. There are still matters to attend to.”
Mu Wuyin raised an eyebrow, glancing at Shen Zaiye’s expression before stopping and saying, “In the two years this prince has known the Chancellor, I’ve never seen you so flustered… Is there something you’re hiding from me?”
“No,” Shen Zaiye smiled. “Your Highness is overthinking.”
“Though Wuyin may be foolish, I still have this much intuition,” the prince narrowed his eyes, looking at him before chuckling lightly and shaking off Shen Zaiye’s hand to return to the study.
“Your Highness!” Shen Zaiye clenched his fist, “What do you mean by this?”
Prince Jing ignored him, his gaze sweeping around the study before finally landing on the area under the desk.
Shen Zaiye’s pupils contracted slightly, and he reached out to stop the prince, but he was a bit slower. As if discovering something, Prince Jing rushed over and lifted the tablecloth in one swift motion!
The study fell silent. A spring breeze blew in through the window, passing through the space under the desk, and out through another window.
Shen Zaiye felt his heart stop for two beats, and it took a moment for his eyes to focus clearly. When his brain finally registered that there was no one under the desk, his heart began to beat rapidly again.
“Prince Jing?”
Mu Wuyin looked somewhat embarrassed. He reached under the desk to pick up a few pearls, then slowly lowered the tablecloth, smiling as he said, “I saw some pearls roll under the table earlier. I thought the maids in the Chancellor’s household might not be so meticulous, so it would be better for me to pick them up personally.”
Shen Zaiye’s face showed a hint of displeasure, but he seemed to be holding it back as he stepped aside and gestured “please” towards the exit.
Laughing dryly, Mu Wuyin followed him out, lowering his voice to say, “This prince has always been somewhat paranoid. The Chancellor shouldn’t take it to heart.”
“I understand,” Shen Zaiye looked up at the sky, appearing world-weary as he said, “Even if I were to place my loyal heart, dripping with blood, before you members of the royal family, you would still harbor doubts, thinking the blood too warm.”
“The Chancellor’s words are too heavy!” Mu Wuyin was startled and quickly cupped his hands, bowing deeply, “Wuyin has no doubts about the Chancellor’s loyalty. The Chancellor wholeheartedly assists me, how could Wuyin not know? My heart is filled only with gratitude, how could there be any other thoughts?”
Shen Zaiye sighed, responding “I understand” verbally, but the hurt in his eyes deepened.
Mu Wuyin grew anxious and blocked his path, saying, “This prince is willing to promise that as long as I ascend to the Eastern Palace, I will consult the Chancellor on all matters, big and small, to show my trust!”
Slightly taken aback, Shen Zaiye lowered his eyes and cupped his hands, “This Shen lacks virtue and ability. How could I be worthy of such an important task?”
“There is no one in this world more suitable than the Chancellor!” Mu Wuyin said, “As long as the Chancellor truly assists me, when I ascend the throne, I will surely grant the Chancellor glory for a hundred generations, blessing your descendants!”
Smiling slightly, Shen Zaiye returned his bow, “Glory is but fleeting clouds, this Shen may not value it much. However, that Your Highness can trust this Shen so, does comfort me. Your Highness, please take care on your way.”
Seeing that he seemed to have let go of his concerns, Mu Wuyin also relaxed. After nodding and bowing, he strode out of the Chancellor’s mansion.
Hearing the sound of the carriage departing, Shen Zaiye finally pressed his hand to his chest and turned back to the study.
“Jiang Taohua!” After glancing around to ensure no one was nearby, Shen Zaiye shouted angrily.
A head popped out from outside the window. Taohua giggled a couple of times, looking at him with an expression seeking praise, “After watching Moss and Eaves for so many years, this concubine’s agility is still quite good! How about it? Do I get a reward for averting disaster?”
Exhaling the pent-up frustration in his heart, Shen Zaiye reached out and pulled her in. His gaze fell on her face as if contemplating something.
Feeling a chill down her spine from his stare, Taohua quickly covered her face with her hands, peeking at him through her fingers, “My lord, please don’t think of ruining this concubine’s face. I rely on it to make a living!”
“Don’t you rely on me to make a living?” Shen Zaiye smiled, “Sacrificing a little something shouldn’t matter, right? I’ll always feed you.”
Shaking her head like a rattledrum, Taohua’s face turned pale, “You can’t do this! Today was just an accident. It won’t happen again. This concubine promises Prince Jing will never discover any trace again!”
“I don’t like having uncertain dangers buried around me.” Prying her hands away, Shen Zaiye leaned in close and lightly kissed her cheek, “Your life or your face, choose one?”
Her heart felt incredibly heavy. Although they were both smiling, Jiang Taohua understood that Shen Zaiye wasn’t joking. He was seriously considering altering her appearance to make her unrecognizable to Prince Jing.
Her throat tightened slightly. Taohua felt that men were truly the most fickle creatures in the world. One moment they could be intimately entangled, the next they could coldly contemplate destroying her.
Such a person couldn’t be trusted with one’s heart.
“My lord…” she said softly, “Could you bear to do it? This concubine’s face is so beautiful, that you couldn’t find another like it in all three kingdoms. What you hold is a priceless treasure! Wouldn’t it be a shame to destroy it so casually?”
His left hand still gripping hers, Shen Zaiye raised an eyebrow slightly. Looking at the bright smile on her face, then feeling the sweat in her palm, somehow his heart softened.
Look how frightened she was.
The corners of his mouth curved up slightly. He pulled her into his arms, lowering his head to whisper in her ear, “Don’t be nervous, I was just joking.”
That joke wasn’t funny at all! Shuddering slightly, Taohua wrapped her arms around him, her eyes reddening a bit.
To an outsider, she might have looked like a young girl startled by a joke, seeking comfort in someone’s embrace. Only Taohua herself knew that she was feeling the relief of a narrow escape, her heart still pounding.
The body in his arms trembled slightly, feeling thin and fragile. Shen Zaiye pressed his lips together, sighing softly before tilting her chin up and kissing her.
Tears suddenly streamed down her cheeks. Taohua choked out between sobs, “You used to always think I was dirty, why do you keep kissing me now…”
“Not dirty,” Shen Zaiye’s eyes softened as he held her gently, comforting her like a child, “Your lips are the softest, like sweet rice cakes, fragrant and sweet.”
Teardrops rolled down in strings. Taohua pouted but still managed to blush a little for show. Shen Zaiye looked down at her, reaching out to wipe the tears from her face, but somehow the more he wiped, the more tears fell.
“Stop crying.”
Taohua’s eyes and the tip of her nose were pink. Although she nodded in response, the tears kept falling.
Feeling inexplicably agitated, Shen Zaiye picked her up in one motion and pressed her against the bookshelf behind them. “If you keep crying, you won’t be leaving this courtyard today!”
“My lord, are those words meant to encourage me to cry, or to stop crying?” Taohua asked, her eyes still brimming with tears.
Shen Zaiye laughed, using both hands to part her legs and wrap them around his waist before lowering his head to kiss her.
Glancing at the half-open window, Taohua blushed a little. However, with a beast like Shen Zaiye, no one would likely dare to approach within ten feet, so she focused all her attention on how to seduce him.
As their clothes loosened and skin touched skin, Jiang Taohua’s tear-stained eyes looked like a clear pond after rain, drawing people in.
Shen Zaiye gazed into her eyes, thinking that perhaps her shameless words earlier weren’t entirely without merit. Her face was indeed rare among the three kingdoms, and he should indeed be reluctant to part with it.
“My lord, do you truly mean to spare this concubine?” Taohua suddenly asked gently.
Normally, Shen Zaiye wouldn’t answer such a question. But somehow, looking into her eyes, he found himself speaking, “I do, as long as you serve me.”
It was his voice, yet it didn’t feel like his own words.
His heart tightened. Shen Zaiye gritted his teeth and took out a dagger hidden on the bookshelf, cutting his finger.
His vision instantly cleared. The woman before him, with her jade-like shoulders exposed, looked pitiful and innocent as she gazed at him:
“My lord, what’s wrong?”
Damn it, she had taken advantage of him again!
His eyes narrowed as Shen Zaiye grabbed her wrist, pressing her firmly against the bookshelf. Through gritted teeth, he said, “You woman, why can’t you ever let me have peace of mind?”
She had promised not to use her charm techniques on him again, yet she dared to do so!
Pouting, Taohua snorted, “You’re allowed to joke, but this concubine isn’t?”
“…”
Fine, she had a point. That mouth of hers was indeed formidable. He just wondered when she would be equally formidable in bed, instead of always looking like a bullied rabbit with those pure and innocent eyes that made him want to crush her!
Pressing his lips together, Shen Zaiye picked her up and turned to close the windows on both sides before pressing her against the window, passionately entangling with her.
Pearls were scattered all over the room, not yet cleaned up. The maids no longer dared to linger in the area, dropping the pearls and running away.
As the sun gradually set and the moon rose, Shen Zaiye opened the window.
In the moonlight, the pearls glowed softly, looking just like Jiang Taohua’s skin.
(End of Chapter)