Gu Huairou didn’t believe Jiang Taohua. She felt Taohua might simply be unwilling to tell her the truth. After all, Taohua was so capable that Gu thought even Lady Mei might not be as clever, especially after this recent incident. Moreover, with the master still favoring her, how could Taohua not find a way to turn things around?
Since Taohua wouldn’t say, Gu saw no point in pressing further. Surely things would improve.
The two women exchanged pleasantries, with Gu Huairou constantly looking at Taohua with respect, all her previous wariness and suspicion gone.
Taohua quickly understood from Gu’s intense gaze that she had truly submitted. This time, Gu had chosen to trust and follow her wholeheartedly, without leaving herself an escape route.
As she escorted Taohua out, Gu Huairou said, “Please rest well, Lady Jiang. Once my confinement period is over, I’ll certainly visit you in Zhengchun Court.”
“Alright,” Taohua nodded, smiling as she left with Qingdai.
As spring deepened, more people were moving about the inner courtyard. Passing through the garden, Taohua noticed an unfamiliar woman.
“Who’s that?” she asked.
Qingdai looked up and replied, “It must be Lady Duan. People often say she loves flowers but has poor health and doesn’t like socializing.”
Lady Duan? Taohua raised an eyebrow, quickly recalling the roster she had reviewed.
Duan Yunxin, daughter of an official in charge of granaries. Taohua remembered seeing this name before. When Shen Zaiye initially tried to provoke jealousy towards her, he canceled the visitation rights of two women. One was Meng Zhenchen, and the other was Duan Yunxin.
While Meng Zhenchen had reacted strongly, immediately confronting her, Duan Yunxin hadn’t. She hadn’t even formally greeted Taohua, and during several gatherings where they’d crossed paths, she’d never directly looked at her.
Was she someone who avoided trouble?
After some thought, Taohua headed towards the garden with Qingdai. As they were all part of the inner court, it was proper to greet each other.
Duan Yunxin walked slowly, supported by her maid, admiring the garden flowers and speaking softly. As Taohua approached, she heard Duan say:
“Spring is deepening, and the flowers in the courtyard are becoming more diverse. The master is allergic to some flowers. When you go back, take a bottle of the newly made medicine to him.”
The young maid agreed, saying quietly, “Tonight the master is resting in Haitang Pavilion. That lady has always been difficult to deal with. Should we perhaps wait until tomorrow to deliver it?”
“It’s fine,” Duan Yunxin said, pursing her lips. “It’s for the master’s benefit, so the sooner we give it to him, the better. Now that Lady Meng is gone, Lady Qin may not be as hostile towards us. At worst, you can apologize profusely and ask for her understanding.”
Hearing this, Taohua stopped and moved behind a nearby rockery.
“My lady?” Qingdai whispered. “What’s wrong?”
“They’re discussing private matters. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to approach now,” Taohua said, pursing her lips. “Moreover, it seems Lady Duan was once close to Lady Meng, which could make things awkward with me.”
Meng Zhenchen had previously been accused of framing Jiang Taohua. Even after the truth about Gu’s false pregnancy came to light, the Meng family suffered, and Shen Zaiye never cleared her name, implicitly accepting the accusation. Although it wasn’t Taohua’s fault, Meng’s friends likely wouldn’t view her favorably.
It was better not to greet them after all.
“Let’s go back,” Taohua said, waving her hand once the others had walked away. “There are still some snacks left in the room.”
“Yes.”
Zhengchun Court was quiet. Taohua entered, sat down, and looked at the plate of snacks. She pursed her lips, picked one up, and ate slowly.
Shen Zaiye was probably enjoying himself in Haitang Pavilion now. Given his rough behavior, Lady Qin likely wouldn’t be able to attend morning greetings at Linghan Court tomorrow.
It would be a lie to say she felt no discomfort at all. Although Taohua knew her relationship with Shen Zaiye wouldn’t end well, they were still together now. To be intimate with her for a while, then turn to be with someone else – it left a bad taste in her mouth, like swallowing a fly.
It wasn’t exactly jealousy, just a feeling of disappointment. Shen Zaiye’s heart was truly cold. All the women in the inner court were his, yet he never seemed to have genuine feelings for any of them. He could discard or harm them at will. What kind of mindset did he have when favoring them?
As darkness fell, Qingdai came in from outside and said, “My lady, Haitang Pavilion has lit its lamps.”
Lighting the lamps signaled the time for serving the master in bed. Taohua nodded, yawned, and lay down. Qingdai followed and said, “This servant feels that what Lady Duan said in the garden today might upset Lady Qin.”
“How so?” Taohua asked with her eyes closed. “It’s just delivering something. What’s there to be upset about?”
“But her timing is off,” Qingdai explained. “Haitang Pavilion is preparing for the master’s visit now. They certainly won’t attend to her maid. Standing outside for long will displease Lady Qin. It’s like a vulture eating with another vulture watching nearby.”
“That’s an apt comparison,” Taohua laughed. “But it’s not our concern. Let them deal with it. It’s late, you should rest too.”
“Yes.”
As the night deepened, the Chancellor’s mansion was quiet as usual. However, Shen Zaiye didn’t stay in the side hall as he normally would.
With the curtains drawn in the dark room, someone else took his place in favoring Lady Qin. He silently slipped to the back of the courtyard and asked with a frown, “What happened?”
Zhan Lu whispered, “Prince Yu was nearly assassinated. The Emperor summoned people to the palace in the middle of the night to inquire about the situation. Prince Jing is somewhat panicked.”
“He’s panicking over such a small matter?” Shen Zaiye’s face darkened. “I’ve overestimated him before.”
“It’s not Prince Jing’s fault. The Emperor is panicked, showing his deep affection for Prince Yu. Prince Jing inevitably worries that Prince Yu might use this opportunity to regain favor. They want you to go over secretly to discuss how to proceed. Action might be needed early tomorrow morning.”
Shen Zaiye pursed his lips slightly and nodded. No one would know where he went at night anyway.
“Go prepare, and be careful not to be seen.”
“Yes.”
Zhan Lu left, looking around. Everyone in the courtyard had retired, and no one dared disturb Lady Qin’s time with the master. Outside the courtyard was quiet too. So he went to prepare the carriage, then returned to escort Shen Zaiye out.
No one usually moved about the Chancellor’s mansion at night, so they didn’t look around carefully when leaving.
A young maid hiding in a corner, still holding a medicine bottle, watched in surprise as the Chancellor left, then looked back at Haitang Pavilion.
She had been waiting for a long time, but the people in Haitang Pavilion wouldn’t let her in. Following her mistress’s instructions, she had planned to deliver the medicine when the master rose at the third watch. Unexpectedly, she witnessed this scene. It wasn’t time yet, so why had the master left?
After some thought, the maid decided to wait and see when the master would return.
Taohua woke up at the third watch. She looked outside, turned over intending to sleep more, but found herself unable to fall asleep again.
Perhaps she had grown too accustomed to sleeping with someone else and now felt uncomfortable hugging just a pillow. After tossing and turning until the fourth watch, still unable to sleep, Taohua got up, put on some clothes, and decided to go for a walk.
Qingdai was still in deep sleep. The moonlight outside was bright and clear. Taohua took a deep breath, opened the courtyard door, and walked towards the garden.
They say many things in life are destined. Jiang Taohua had always slept well and had never woken up in the middle of the night before. Yet tonight she woke up, decided to go for a walk, and happened to encounter Shen Zaiye, who had just returned from outside, near the side gate.
Shen Zaiye rarely went out at night. To be safe, he would usually rest in the favored woman’s courtyard until the third watch before leaving. But tonight, an urgent matter had forced him to leave the mansion. The situation was complicated, keeping him out until the fourth watch. And by chance, he ran into the wandering Jiang Taohua upon his return.
They stared at each other, neither knowing what the other was doing. However, Shen Zaiye reacted faster, grabbing Taohua and pushing her into a nearby dark room.
“What are you doing here?” His voice was unprecedentedly tense as he stared at her, asking harshly.
Taohua was stunned. She blinked innocently and said, “I couldn’t sleep, so I came out for a casual walk…”
“Who do you think you’re fooling?” Shen Zaiye frowned. “When have you ever woken up in the middle of the night once you’ve fallen asleep? A casual walk? How did you end up at the side gate?”
Taohua felt truly wronged. “My lord, the side gate is on the way from Zhengchun Court to the garden!”
“…” Shen Zaiye pursed his lips and said, “You women make it hard for me to trust easily.”
“My lord, you’re the one who’s unbelievable!” Taking advantage of the darkness, Taohua finally dared to roll her eyes at him. “Shouldn’t you be in Haitang Pavilion at this hour? Why were you outside the mansion?”
“That’s none of your business, but there’s one thing you need to know.” Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, “My leaving the mansion is a secret. If you dare let anyone else know, you’re finished.”
Shrinking her neck, Taohua pouted, “Won’t Lady Qin know you’re gone?”
“You don’t need to worry about that,” Shen Zaiye said. “I have ways to keep her from knowing. If the news leaks, I’ll have to hold you responsible.”
“I understand,” Taohua said, raising both hands. “I swear I’ll keep your secret, my lord.”
Giving her a sidelong glance, Shen Zaiye nodded. “Don’t betray my trust in you.”
“Don’t worry!” Taohua yawned, her eyes teary. “I couldn’t sleep before, but somehow seeing you has made me sleepy again. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to rest.”
“Mm.” Shen Zaiye opened the door and left with Zhan Lu, moving even faster than her.
How strange, she thought.
(End of Chapter)