After all the commotion, Jiang Taohua was certainly unable to sleep. When Shen Zaiye entered, he saw her blinking her large eyes at him.
“What are you thinking about now?” Shen Zaiye sat down on the edge of the bed and naturally opened her collar to examine the wound on her shoulder.
Taohua tilted her head and said, “Madam Gu had little influence in this household. She never chose sides between Madam Qin and Madam Meng, so why did you plan to abandon her from the beginning, my lord?”
Shen Zaiye chuckled lightly, “She was born into a noble family and entered the Prime Minister’s residence on her father’s merit. Now that her father has committed a crime and is about to be executed, why should I keep her and implicate the household?”
Slightly stunned, Taohua asked, “The authorities knew about the counterfeit banknotes a month ago?”
“No, it was just discovered a few days ago.”
“Then…” Why did he prepare so early?
She didn’t need to ask this aloud. Thinking about it, besides the gods of death, the only one who could predict that a perfectly healthy person would soon die would be the murderer.
Perhaps Minister Gu had offended Shen Zaiye somehow? This was a harsh move. After all, Gu Huairou was once his favored woman, and now he planned to treat her family this way.
As Shen Zaiye unwrapped the bandage on her wound, carefully changed the dressing, and gently wrapped it again, he glanced at her and said, “Don’t move around too much these next few days. Stay in Zhengchun Pavilion to recover. I’ll be very busy and might not return at night.”
Taohua nodded. Convicting Prince Yu would certainly involve a tug-of-war between Prince Jing and the Emperor, with Shen Zaiye inevitably mediating and playing the good guy. She would take this opportunity to have Qingtai gather information from outside.
Counterfeiting currency had existed since ancient times, but the Great Wei Dynasty had strict laws, and civilians lacked the ability and channels. Thus, fake bank notes were mostly circulated through officials to the public. After all, many people wouldn’t dare to question the authenticity of notes given by officials. Using fake notes to exchange for real ones allocated by the court was also a means of embezzlement.
Gu Huairou’s father was the Langzhong Ling, a military official in charge of palace guards. Who would have thought he’d engage in such schemes? Although Shen Zaiye might have set a trap, if he hadn’t been greedy, he wouldn’t have fallen for it. This retribution wasn’t entirely undeserved.
However, Taohua felt that Gu Huairou’s recent actions didn’t seem like something she would come up with on her own. After all, she was impulsive and simple-minded, unlikely to devise such a vicious plan to harm others.
Who could be watching all this from the shadows?
The next morning, Shen Zaiye left, and soon after, Zhengchun Pavilion received a visitor.
“I’m worried about you, madam. How do you keep getting injured?” Qin Jieyu covered her mouth, looking at her and sighing, “Indeed, a beautiful woman’s life is full of twists and turns. Some people can’t bear to see you well.”
Smiling slightly, Taohua looked at her innocently and said, “Madam Qin is also a rare beauty, yet you haven’t experienced such hardships. It seems it has little to do with appearance and more with people’s hearts.”
Qin Jieyu paused briefly, glanced at her, and chuckled lightly, “You’re right, madam. Fortunately, Madam Gu will be leaving soon. Staying in this household for a few more days won’t change much.”
“Madam Qin has been in this household much longer than I have,” Taohua looked at her curiously. “You must know Madam Gu’s character better than I do, right?”
“Of course,” Qin Jieyu sneered. “She’s just like her father, pretending to be aloof, usually unwilling to socialize with us sisters. But in front of the lord, she’s coquettish and seductive.”
“Oh?” Taohua caught the key point, “Madam Gu is very similar to her father?”
“Naturally, like father, like daughter,” Qin Jieyu said disdainfully. “Among us in the rear court, whose family isn’t of high official or noble status? Because we’ve become in-laws, we all show great respect to the Prime Minister. Only her father, merely a Langzhong Ling, repeatedly confronts the Prime Minister in court and does foolish, harmful things. Her being divorced now is well-deserved.”
Minister Gu had such a personality? No wonder Shen Zaiye acted as he did. Taohua pressed her lips together. Shen Zaiye’s temperament was clearly “prosper if you submit, perish if you resist.” Those who stood against him would never fare well.
However, Qin Jieyu and Madam Gu didn’t seem to have any deep grudges, and they had little interaction. Now that Madam Gu had fallen, Qin Jieyu’s words seemed unnecessarily harsh.
“When Madam Gu was most favored in this household, what was her situation like?” Taohua asked. “Could she leave the residence freely?”
“That’s impossible,” Qin Jieyu scoffed. “No matter who is most favored in this courtyard, to leave the residence, one must get a token from the Madam. Even when maids go out, their destination and reason must be recorded. This is the rule.”
“I see,” Taohua nodded. “Rules should be followed.”
Qin Jieyu looked at her for a moment and smiled, “However, if you want to leave the residence, just inform the Madam. She would allow it.”
“Can I go out for a walk even without important business?” Taohua raised an eyebrow.
“I can’t guarantee for others, but you certainly can,” Qin Jieyu patted her hand. “Our Madam likes you very much.”
Where did she see that the Madam liked her? Taohua smiled politely while inwardly questioning. She always felt that although Mei Zhaoxue appeared dignified and graceful, she was the most difficult person to deal with in this household.
“I came this time, firstly to visit you, madam. Secondly, I also wanted to pass on a message to you,” Qin Jieyu spoke softly, looking at her with meaningful eyes. “It’s not easy to survive in this courtyard. If you don’t quickly find a big tree to cling to, when the wind comes, you’ll be blown away like Madam Gu. Our Madam has taken a liking to you. If you’re willing, you might want to visit Linghan Courtyard more often.”
She came to recruit her? Taohua was surprised. She had always thought that Mei and Qin should be somewhat hostile towards her. A favored woman like her was already a big tree herself, why would she need to cling to others? And for a tree bigger than the Madam, there should only be one fate in this forest – to be cut down.
What were they planning?
After some thought, Taohua smiled and said, “I understand your meaning, madam. Let me think about it for a couple of days, and I’ll visit the Madam when my injury has healed.”
“That’s fine,” Qin Jieyu nodded, thought for a moment, then stood up and looked at her. “Madam Jiang is a clever person. I trust you won’t disappoint the Madam and me. Take good care of yourself.”
Taohua nodded slightly and politely saw her off. Then she quickly instructed Qingtai, “Help me check the household’s entry and exit records to see if anyone from Wenqing Pavilion went out in the past few days.”
“Yes,” Qingtai responded and immediately left. Soon, he returned with copies of the recent exit records.
Taking them and looking them over, Taohua narrowed her eyes. People from Wenqing Pavilion had only left to call for doctors a few times around the time of Madam Gu’s miscarriage. After that, during her recovery period, no one had left the residence.
This was interesting.
Late that night, a message came from the palace saying that the Prime Minister would stay in the palace for the night. The household members stopped waiting and retired to bed, extinguishing their lights.
The moon hung high, and Gu Huairou sat crying in the courtyard of Wenqing Pavilion.
She was reluctant to leave this place, and even more reluctant to leave Shen Zaiye. Unfortunately, time was running out, and she could only cherish every moment she had left to look around.
She never imagined that after more than a year in the residence, this would be her outcome. She regretted not listening to Jiang Taohua’s advice when she first noticed something unusual with her body. If she hadn’t been so eager to confirm her pregnancy, she wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.
Sighing deeply, Gu Huairou stood up, preparing to return to her room to continue packing her belongings. Suddenly, she heard the courtyard gate creak open.
Startled, she turned and shouted, “Who’s there!”
Only Yuetao and she remained in Wenqing Pavilion, without even a guard. So her shout wouldn’t be heard by anyone except the entering Jiang Taohua.
Removing the hood of her cloak, Taohua looked at her and gave a slight bow, “Don’t be alarmed, it’s me.”
Gu Huairou’s pupils contracted slightly, and she instinctively took two steps back, “What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
“Naturally, I have something to discuss with you, madam,” Taohua walked over naturally, took her hand, and led her towards the main room.
Gu Huairou’s hand was ice-cold, and the unexpected warmth, despite the wariness on her face, couldn’t help but make her feel a bit emotional. Since the lord had announced her divorce, her mother had left, and Yuetao could only cry. She had no one to talk to. The grievances and resentment in her heart truly had nowhere to be vented.
So as soon as she sat down, her tears couldn’t be held back. Looking at Taohua, she said, “I didn’t try to kill you.”
“I know,” Taohua smiled at her. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come here tonight.”
“Thank you,” Gu Huairou choked out. “In this world, there are many who add flowers to brocade, but few who send charcoal in snowy weather. Regardless of why you came tonight, Huairou is grateful for your kindness.”
Blinking, Taohua laughed, “Madam is so gentle and lovable now. If your heart was never bad, why did you abandon my side earlier?”
“I was foolish,” Gu Huairou closed her eyes. “If I had another chance, I would wholeheartedly follow you, madam, and not do such stupid things!”
“Then can you tell me now what happened?” Taohua asked. “I feel that the incident in the grove outside the city wasn’t arranged by you. Who was behind it, trying to harm you?”
Gu Huairou’s heart skipped a beat, and she looked up at Taohua, “Why do you think it wasn’t me?”
Even the Prime Minister had said it was her, and she had no evidence to prove otherwise.
“It’s simple. Your people didn’t leave the residence during that time. How could you have hired assassins?” Taohua pouted. “By carrier pigeon? There are no pigeons in this residence.”
Stunned, Gu Huairou’s eyes widened, and she stood up, slapping the armrest of her chair, “That’s right! There are exit records! I can prove my innocence to the lord!”
She was about to rush out.
“Calm down,” Taohua shook her head. “Such evidence can only convince those who already believe you, but it can’t persuade someone who doesn’t trust you.”
Gu Huairou’s body stiffened, and she turned back to look at Taohua, “The lord doesn’t believe me?”
“Can’t you see that?” Taohua sighed. “Ever since your father repeatedly defied him, he has never fully trusted you again.”
(End of Chapter)