Shen Zaiye finally showed a slight smile as he looked at Prince Jing. “If Your Highness understands that I act in your best interest, then taking this life wasn’t in vain.”
Prince Jing nodded. “I certainly understand the Prime Minister’s intentions. However, doesn’t your household also have many beauties? Aren’t you also indulging in female charms?”
“That’s why I can only be a minister, serving others,” Shen Zaiye replied calmly. “If Your Highness feels I’m being too harsh in demanding something I haven’t achieved myself… perhaps we should both remain loyal ministers, faithfully assisting others to the throne?”
Prince Jing quickly shook his head and chuckled. “I understand the Prime Minister’s meaning.”
Losing one beauty was regrettable, but if he could ultimately ascend the throne, he would surely encounter many more beauties.
“Come to think of it, I never learned that girl’s name,” Prince Jing sighed wistfully, gazing at the now-empty road ahead. “I won’t even be able to call out to her in my dreams.”
Glancing at him, Shen Zaiye turned his horse around. “Don’t forget, Your Highness came to survey West Mountain today. It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb you further. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Safe journey, Prime Minister.”
As hoofbeats faded, Shen Zaiye calmly rode away from Prince Jing’s sight. Once inside the city, however, he spurred his horse into a gallop.
At the Prime Minister’s mansion, Taohua felt trapped in a dark void, struggling to see light. She briefly wondered if Shen Zaiye had truly poisoned her, but decided to wait a bit longer before expecting to see the netherworld.
Someone tried to pour something into her mouth, but in her unconscious state, she refused to open it.
“What did the Prime Minister give her?” Qing Tai asked anxiously. “If it’s poison, we can’t administer the antidote.”
“It’s not poison, just a common sedative,” Shen Zaiye said calmly, sitting by the bed. “To wake her quickly, we need to give her cool water. Otherwise, she’ll sleep for half a day.”
Relieved, Qing Tai clutched her chest. “Then let her sleep. We can’t make her open her mouth anyway.”
Frowning at this bad habit, Shen Zaiye took a mouthful of cool water and pressed his lips to Taohua’s, forcing her mouth open.
Qing Tai quickly turned away, thinking the Prime Minister showed little consideration for others’ feelings.
As their lips entangled, Shen Zaiye glared at the woman on the bed, finding her as stubborn as when he had stitched her wound. The more tightly she kept her mouth closed, the more forcefully he tried to pry it open, finally managing to create a small gap and pour the water in.
In her unconscious state, Taohua frowned and turned her head, spitting out everything she had just swallowed.
“Jiang Taohua!” Shen Zaiye grew annoyed. “Try spitting again!”
Startled, Qing Tai hurriedly explained in a low voice, “My mistress fears someone might give her harmful drugs while she’s unconscious, so she developed this habit.”
“In your Zhao Kingdom, who would dare harm a princess?” Shen Zaiye frowned. “She doesn’t act like royalty at all. It’s as if she grew up in prison, so guarded.”
Qing Tai hesitated, unable to respond. Her mistress’s upbringing might not have been much better than prison.
After several failed attempts, Shen Zaiye gave up. Wiping his mouth, he ordered, “Zhanlu, bring my official documents here.”
“Yes, sir.” Zhanlu left to fetch them.
Qing Tai was surprised to see the Prime Minister lie down on the bed. Her mistress naturally embraced him as soon as she felt his presence.
The scene looked… oddly warm and intimate.
Shaking her head, Qing Tai quickly retreated, closing the door behind her. She rubbed her eyes, certain she must have been seeing things. Her mistress had said the Prime Minister was cruel and vicious. How could he be so gentle?
Jiang Taohua’s return to the mansion caused panic among several people.
Gu Huairou hurried to find Qin Jieyu but was blocked by a closed door.
“What does this mean?” Gu Huairou stomped her foot. “She told me to do this, and now that it’s failed and the person has returned, she won’t even discuss what to do next?”
Yue Tao frowned. “Miss Jiang was brought back by Zhanlu. We don’t know exactly what happened. But since the Prime Minister is watching over her, the situation must be serious. Miss Qin probably wants you to take the blame.”
“Me? Take the blame?” Gu Huairou laughed bitterly. “How can I? She set the trap and hired the people. I only spoke a few words in Zhengchun Pavilion.”
Yue Tao sighed. “But others can’t prove who set the trap or hired the people. All they know is that Miss Jiang got into trouble after you visited Zhengchun Pavilion. When she wakes up, she’ll surely say you told her to leave the mansion.”
Gu Huairou nearly fainted, trembling with anger. “That Qin woman planned to make me the scapegoat from the beginning!”
Yue Tao was also anxious, but in this situation, her mistress had no way out. They could only hope the Prime Minister would show leniency for old times’ sake.
The mistress and maid waited in Wenqing Pavilion, but even after Jiang Taohua woke up in the evening, there was no summons from the Prime Minister.
“What’s going on?” Gu Huairou was surprised. “What’s happening in Zhengchun Pavilion?”
If Jiang Taohua had woken up, she would surely have accused her. If she had, the Prime Minister would certainly have summoned her to answer for her crimes.
Yue Tao was also puzzled and quickly sent someone to investigate Zhengchun Pavilion.
Taohua opened her eyes, her mind was still foggy. After a while, she finally focused on what was before her.
Shen Zaiye held official documents in one hand while embracing her with the other, leaning against the headboard lost in thought. Sensing she was awake, he looked down and rolled his eyes. “Why didn’t you just sleep to death? It’s already dark!”
Blinking, Taohua stretched lazily and hugged him coquettishly. “Thank you for saving my life, my lord!”
“Don’t think this means I won’t punish you.” He glared at her sharply, setting aside the documents, still angry. “How did you end up in the woods outside the city?”
“Madam Gu tricked me,” Taohua smiled, tilting her head charmingly. “Someone in the household didn’t want me to accompany you on the spring hunt and was eager to take my life.”
His grip tightened as he frowned. “You’re a princess sent for a political marriage. How dare they?”
“What’s stopping them?” Taohua chuckled lightly. “If I died, wouldn’t you, as Prime Minister, help cover it up? It would be downplayed, eventually dismissed as death by illness, and no one would seek justice for me.”
She sighed, feigning distress. “Fortunately, I’m clever. Suspecting Madam Gu, I made preparations and gathered evidence to hand over to you. Who would have thought Prince Jing would appear, causing me to ‘die’ by your hand?”
His eyes flickered as he asked, “You now have all the evidence of Gu’s attempt on your life?”
“Yes,” Taohua smiled. “Both witness testimony and physical evidence. It’s up to you what to do with it.”
Shen Zaiye had long wanted to remove Gu, but with the Meng family matter unresolved, he had to wait.
“In that case, consider your merits offsetting your faults,” he said. “Give all the evidence to Zhanlu later.”
“Yes,” Taohua nodded, then realized something was amiss. “My merits are clear, but what faults?”
Glancing at her, Shen Zaiye said, “As my woman, you sat in another man’s arms right in front of me, and not for the first time! Isn’t that a fault?”
Shameless! Taohua was indignant. “I did all that for whom?”
“I’m not so incompetent as to need you to offer yourself to succeed,” he narrowed his eyes, his voice low. “You can bewitch and deceive people, but from now on, no matter the situation, don’t let anyone touch you again.”
Taohua was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond. Did his words imply… jealousy?
“It’s better to keep those messy thoughts to yourself,” Shen Zaiye said, looking into her eyes, his face darkening. “This is a matter of male pride, nothing else.”
“Oh… I understand,” Taohua nodded obediently.
Patting her head, Shen Zaiye stood up. “Since you didn’t die, prepare to accompany me to West Mountain. We’ll deal with Gu when we return.”
“Yes.”
Gu Huairou inexplicably escaped punishment. Sensing the situation had changed, Qin Jieyu visited Wenqing Pavilion.
“The Prime Minister didn’t punish you. Do you know what that means?” Qin smiled at Gu Huairou. “It means you’re more important to him than Jiang!”
Gu Huairou looked at her coldly. “You don’t need to say more. Just do what you promised me.”
“Don’t be angry,” Qin Jieyu said. “I was in a bad mood earlier and closed my door to visitors. It wasn’t directed at you. I’ve thought it through. As long as Jiang is alive, you’re not safe. So I need to make sure she keeps your secret and can never speak of it.”
Gu Huairou looked up at her. “How does helping me benefit you?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Qin smiled. “Getting rid of Jiang Taohua benefits everyone in the household. I just didn’t have a reason to act directly, but you do.”
“And if it fails again, do you still plan to let me take all the blame?” Gu Huairou sneered.
Qin Jieyu frowned. “That’s unavoidable. You have enough crimes to your name that your fate is uncertain anyway. Why not take a risk? What do you think?”
Gu Huairou scoffed and closed her eyes, no longer looking at her. “I’m tired. You may leave now, madam.”
(End of Chapter)