Taohua slept so well that when she woke up, she felt refreshed and warm all over.
“My lady,” Qingtai, who had been standing by the bed, sighed deeply when she saw her wake up.
Taohua blinked, looked at the blankets tucked tightly around her, and then felt her forehead which was at normal temperature. She immediately sat up and glared at Qingtai. “Why did you come to cover me with blankets?”
Qingtai was silent for a moment before replying, “You wrapped yourself in the blankets, my lady. I tried to pull them off three times, but couldn’t overcome your grip.”
Jiang Taohua was speechless.
Well, she did have a habit of pulling blankets over herself. If she wanted to blame something, it should be that she didn’t hide the blankets in the cabinet last night, resulting in her cold water bath being in vain.
“Is it too late to bribe the doctor now?” Taohua asked desperately.
Qingtai shook her head. “We’re unfamiliar with this place. We can’t rashly try to buy someone off.”
So there’s no way out? Falling back onto the bed, Taohua sighed. “Heaven gives great responsibility to this person, first it must strengthen their resolve and exhaust their bones and sinews… Since struggling is useless, let’s go meet Prince Nan. Based on what you’ve found out, Prince Nan is young and naive, so he shouldn’t give me too much trouble.”
“Yes, my lady. Please get dressed first,” Qingtai responded, turning to fetch a large cloak.
They were still in Shen Zaiye’s courtyard. Everything had been calm when they came yesterday, so no one had noticed. While it was still dark, it would be best to quickly sneak back.
Wrapped in the cloak and accompanied by Qingtai, Jiang Taohua ran frantically. As she crossed the threshold of Linwu Courtyard, she didn’t notice the two little maids hiding nearby.
“Follow her. I’ll go find Sister Yuetao,” one said.
“Alright,” the other replied.
The little maid who had been on watch all night quickly went to Wenqing Chamber and whispered urgently to Yuetao. Yuetao turned and whispered to her mistress, Gu Huairou.
“I thought the master was acting strange yesterday. Sure enough, there’s something fishy going on in that courtyard,” Gu Huairou snorted coldly. “Have someone continue to watch and see which rule-breaker is trying to go against our Wenqing Chamber.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The rear courtyard of the Prime Minister’s mansion seemed peaceful and fair on the surface, but many wanted to break this peace and gain more for themselves. It all depended on which unfortunate soul would make the first move.
The unfortunate Jiang was still oblivious as she got dressed.
Since Prince Nan was young, she couldn’t use too seductive makeup. She just washed her face, applied a little powder, and left her face looking clean and fresh.
She chose an outfit suitable for a concubine in the Prime Minister’s household and picked out a few simple hairpins. Jiang Taohua looked in the mirror and smiled very kindly.
“My lady,” Qingtai couldn’t bear to watch anymore. “Are you planning to treat Prince Nan like a child?”
“He’s only sixteen. What else would he be but a child?” Taohua said, puzzled. “He’s the same age as Changjue.”
“He’s indeed the same age as the Third Prince,” Qingtai glanced at her. “But you’re only eighteen yourself.”
You’re only two years older! What’s with this elder’s expression?
Jiang Taohua frowned, lowered her head, and thought seriously for a while before realizing, “Oh, I’m only eighteen.”
Year after year had passed, and she thought she was well into her thirties.
Qingtai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Are you still not fully awake?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just used to treating Changjue like a child,” Taohua sighed. “I hope Prince Nan isn’t as difficult as Changjue.”
This was a heartfelt wish. Zhao’s Third Prince, Jiang Changjue, was quite a stubborn fellow. Once he made up his mind about something, he wouldn’t change course even if he hit a wall. He wouldn’t take the easy path and insisted on dragging her along some righteous road, often resulting in both of them suffering.
To educate her brother on human nature and worldly affairs, Jiang Taohua had put in no small effort, but to no avail. When faced with such an uncompromising, stubborn person, she was at her wit’s end.
“Miss Jiang,” a maid came in from outside and looked Taohua over. Seeing her complexion was normal, she breathed a sigh of relief. “Since you’re feeling better, please hurry to the garden to prepare. The master said the guest would arrive after breakfast.”
“Understood,” Qingtai responded, her brow slightly furrowed. She was about to mention that her mistress hadn’t eaten breakfast yet but then saw the person at the dressing table stand up naturally and lead her out.
“My lady,” she said worriedly, “aren’t you hungry?”
“The Prime Minister told us to go to the garden immediately. How can we talk about being hungry?” Taohua said with a righteous expression as she strode out the door.
“But…” Following behind and glancing at the direction her mistress was walking, Qingtai said with a strange expression, “The garden is in the other direction.”
“I know. I’ve seen the mansion’s layout.”
“Then why are you walking this way?”
Taohua turned back, gave her a look, and said in a low voice, “You are foolish. The act is for others to see, but the stomach is our own. It’s still early, so we might as well stop by the kitchen and grab something to eat on the way!”
Qingtai was speechless. Didn’t she say they were going to the garden immediately?
Her mistress truly didn’t need anyone to worry about her. The calculations in her mind were probably more numerous than the hairs on her head.
In the kitchen, people were hurriedly preparing breakfast. Chef Zhang had just placed a plate of custard buns on the stove, but when he turned around to get a food box, the plate was suddenly empty!
What happened? Chef Zhang was bewildered. He looked around, took off his hat, and rubbed his bald head, staring at the plate with an incredulous expression.
Qingtai shared the custard buns with Taohua as they walked towards the garden.
“The chef’s skills in this mansion are not bad,” Jiang Taohua said with satisfaction. “We’ll eat well in the future.”
There were four custard buns in total, two for each of them. By the time they finished eating, they had arrived at the garden entrance.
“Miss Jiang,” a maid standing at the garden’s moon gate curtsied slightly to her. “The Prime Minister instructed that you should wait in the pavilion.”
“Understood,” Taohua nodded, looking around before walking in with Qingtai.
There were already many maids coming and going in the garden, and the pavilion was stocked with plenty of delicacies. It seemed Shen Zaiye truly liked this young prince. Although the prince wasn’t favored by the emperor, he was treated as an honored guest here.
Sitting down at the stone table, Jiang Taohua couldn’t help but rub her chin and say in a low voice, “Qingtai, do you think this young prince may be the Prime Minister’s illegitimate son?”
Qingtai almost choked on her saliva and stared at her wide-eyed. “My lady, the Prime Minister was only ten years old sixteen years ago.”
What an outrageous thought!
“Oh, I see…” Taohua nodded. “Then I must be overthinking it. But I don’t understand, would someone like Shen Zaiye, who is in such a high position and has such deep thoughts, truly be unconditionally kind to a prince just because he likes him?”
Qingtai thought for a moment and said, “It’s not that good. They don’t meet often. Perhaps because Prince Nan doesn’t have much influence, the Prime Minister finds it more relaxing to associate with him, so he treats him this way.”
When she went out to gather information, not many people thought the Prime Minister favored Prince Nan. He just wasn’t as cold towards him as he was to others.
Jiang Taohua narrowed her eyes and fell silent, rubbing her chin.
“You haven’t lied to me?” A somewhat immature young man’s voice suddenly rang out beyond the moon gate. Taohua’s sharp ears caught it, and she quickly craned her neck to look.
Shen Zaiye entered first, wearing a dark blue brocade robe, handsome and dignified. His face bore an inscrutable smile as he lowered his head and said, “When have I ever lied to Your Highness?”
The person next to him followed around the moon gate, wearing a white robe with blue trim and fine gauze sleeves, catching Taohua’s eye.
What a fair and handsome young man! Though said to be out of favor, he showed no sign of timidity or cowardice. His back was straight, exuding an air of righteousness. His eyebrows were like long boats cutting through waves, his eyes contained the clear light of a sunny day on blue waters. With a high, straight nose and delicate features, only his small mouth was tightly pressed.
“Haven’t you lied to me plenty of times?” Mu Wuxia said quite resentfully. “It’s just that your methods are so skillful that I can’t catch you out!”
This aggrieved appearance made him look like he had been bullied badly, arousing Taohua’s curiosity.
What kind of relationship did these two have? If they were truly close, why would Prince Nan have this attitude towards Shen Zaiye? If they weren’t close, why did Shen Zaiye care so much about Prince Nan?
“The person is right ahead. If Your Highness doesn’t believe me, you can go ask her yourself,” Shen Zaiye sighed rather helplessly, turning his head to look towards the pavilion.
Jiang Taohua quickly composed herself and smiled slightly at them.
Mu Wuxia followed his gaze and glanced at her, his delicate eyebrows furrowing as he looked warily at Shen Zaiye and said, “She has already been given to you by Father Emperor and is in your mansion. How could she possibly tell the truth?”
“Then what would make Your Highness believe me?”
“It’s simple. You shouldn’t be here. I’ll ask her alone,” Mu Wuxia pressed his lips together, his gaze resolute. “You’re not allowed to cheat!”
Listening to this, Taohua silently rolled her eyes. Children were so naive. People who cheated always did so in advance, behind the scenes. How could they possibly say anything in person?
“As you command,” Shen Zaiye nodded slightly, then turned and said gently to the pavilion, “Taohua, remember to take good care of His Highness.”
Though his words were gentle, his eyes carried a warning. Jiang Taohua shuddered and replied with a forced smile, “I understand.”
It was just a matter of helping him deceive a child, wasn’t it? This Prince Nan was so naive that it wouldn’t take much effort at all. Why was he so nervous?
Mu Wuxia stood in place watching Shen Zaiye leave. After making sure he had gone far away, he turned around, entered the pavilion with a serious expression, and stood in front of Taohua.
“Please sit, Your Highness,” Taohua smiled at him. “Have some tea first.”
Seeing her calm demeanor, Mu Wuxia’s brows immediately furrowed. “Is the Princess very happy?”
“Hm?” Taohua was taken aback.
“Unable to marry me, but married to Prime Minister Shen instead. You look very happy,” his eyes darkened slightly. “It seems the Prime Minister didn’t lie to me after all. The Princess willingly stayed in this mansion, without any grievances.”
This young prince might be young, but his thoughts were quite delicate and sensitive. Jiang Taohua blinked, then quickly reacted. She pinched her thigh hard under the table, causing tears to well up in her eyes.
(End of Chapter)