However, what he didn’t understand was that Taohua’s quick forgiveness wasn’t due to Shen Zaiye’s bedroom skills, but because he wasn’t important enough to warrant her prolonged anger. After all, they were merely partners. She had been wrongly accused and suffered for it. As long as he recognized his mistake and offered compensation, life would naturally go on.
More importantly, Taohua believed Shen Zaiye’s compensation should be substantial.
As dawn approached, he looked down at the small head resting on his chest and gently nudged it. “Don’t sleep yet. I still have questions.”
“What is it?” Taohua opened her eyes halfway, looking at him drowsily.
“What’s going on between you and the Prince of Nan?” Shen Zaiye frowned slightly. “You even gave him a pillow?”
Taohua yawned, covering her mouth as she mumbled, “He resembles my younger brother. It’s natural to look after him a bit. I had nothing to do in the manor recently, so I embroidered a pillow for him.”
Shen Zaiye thought silently, “If she had nothing to do, why didn’t she embroider one for me? Even if she sees him as a brother, isn’t this going too far?”
Noticing his slightly gloomy expression, Taohua chuckled softly. “I haven’t even complained about my grievances yet. That day when the Prince of Nan and I were surrounded by poor people on the street, you didn’t offer a word of comfort. Instead, you sent me straight to Jingyetang to starve. At the very least, you respect the Prince of Nan. If not for my sake, then for his…”
“Wait,” Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean by ‘surrounded’?”
Taohua paused briefly, raising an eyebrow. “Surely you haven’t forgotten? It was the night I returned late. The Prince of Nan’s carriage passed through the slums and accidentally killed a child. We were surrounded by the poor. Didn’t you send people to rescue us?”
A storm brewed in Shen Zaiye’s eyes as he shook his head. “I didn’t know about this.”
Had he known, he wouldn’t have been angry enough to confine her.
Taohua was stunned, staring at him for a long moment before saying, “So even in this Prime Minister’s manor, there are matters beyond your control.”
When the Prince of Nan sent people to the Prime Minister’s manor for help, Shen Zaiye was there. Yet somehow, he hadn’t received the message, but the guards had gone to help. Who had been giving orders in between?
“In a large nest, other birds inevitably bring in their grass,” Shen Zaiye said casually, twirling Taohua’s hair. “If I were to manage every big and small matter flawlessly, I’d probably work myself to death like Zhuge Kongming. Since something has caused trouble, we’ll just deal with it when we find out what it is.”
“On what grounds will you punish the servants, my lord?” Taohua snuggled closer, asking curiously. “They surely have masters backing them. A trivial excuse won’t be enough to get rid of them, but a serious one doesn’t exist.”
“Let Banlu worry about that,” Shen Zaiye said, placing her head in the crook of his arm and closing his eyes. “Let’s rest for a while.”
“Oh,” Taohua nodded obediently, closing her eyes as she hugged his waist.
However, it didn’t take long for her to realize something. She propped herself up, glaring at the man beside her. “So you wrongly accused me again!”
Shen Zaiye kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. “What’s past is past.”
“That’s for the victim to say. You have no right!” Taohua said angrily, straddling him to try and wake him with her weight. “How could you not think it through? I’m such an intelligent person, how could I do so many foolish things?”
“Who knows?” Shen Zaiye gripped her waist, half-opening his eyes. “If you keep pressing on me like this, don’t beg for mercy later.”
Blushing, Taohua was both angry and amused. “You’re in the wrong and still trying to take advantage!”
Already at fault, what else could he do but act roguishly? Shen Zaiye pursed his lips, feeling the slender waist in his hands. His eyes darkened as he flipped her beneath him once more.
Taohua gritted her teeth, pushing against him while shouting as if she were on a battlefield. “You may control my body, but you can’t control my heart! This matter isn’t over. I won’t let it go easily!”
Shen Zaiye snickered and bit her lip, causing her to yelp in pain.
Xu Yangui, rarely dressed in casual clothes, was about to visit Linwu Yuan when he saw Banlu sitting at the courtyard entrance, covering his ears.
“What’s going on?”
Banlu looked up, quickly bowing when he saw who it was. “Master Xu, the master is occupied and can’t receive guests at the moment.”
“What business could he have that even I can’t see him?” Xu Yangui raised an eyebrow, but just as he chuckled, he heard soul-stirring sounds coming from the main house.
As an experienced player in matters of love, having encountered countless women, he naturally knew what was happening inside. Thinking about who Shen Zaiye might be within this courtyard, Xu Yangui raised an eyebrow. “Is Miss Jiang inside?”
Banlu looked at him in surprise and nodded. “Yes.”
“Don’t you think he’s treating her too specially?” Xu Yangui pressed his lips together, his expression serious. “Has he forgotten what he said before?”
Shen Zaiye had previously stated that he wouldn’t have intimate relations with any woman from Da Wei. He said that since humans aren’t unfeeling objects, once there’s a conjugal relationship, feelings are bound to develop, which could affect judgment. His role was crucial, and he would treat everyone as pawns, never letting a woman interfere with his plans.
“That’s what he said,” Banlu thought for a moment. “But Miss Jiang is from Zhao.”
Xu Yangui frowned. “Does that make a difference? Neither is a woman he can safely develop feelings for.”
“This servant doesn’t know how to explain it,” Banlu pursed his lips and looked at him earnestly. “But since Miss Jiang arrived, the master has become more human-like and often smiles. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.”
“The behavior of your master and servant will eventually cause big trouble,” Xu Yangui shook his head and turned to leave. “I’ll go investigate Miss Jiang, but Zhao is far away, so it might take a month or two.”
Banlu respectfully bowed his head, watching him leave.
The various masters in the Prime Minister’s manor hadn’t been happy for long when, overnight, Jiang Taohua regained favor! Moreover, this time, it seemed the lord wanted to make amends. He sent all sorts of fine things to Zhengchun Pavilion and frequently had large meals prepared to dine with Lady Jiang.
“My lady, this is the red coral tree the lord has bestowed upon you,” a young maid respectfully had people bring a potted coral tree into Linghan Courtyard.
Mei Zhaoxue didn’t even look up, saying indifferently, “Thank the lord for his gift.”
The maid acknowledged and retreated with a bow. Beside her, Qin Jieyu looked at the red coral with curiosity and admiration. “This is indeed a treasure, clearly of great value. The lord is so generous, yet you don’t seem happy at all, my lady?”
Mei Zhaoxue chuckled lightly. “Things sent from someone else’s courtyard, not truly from the lord’s heart – what is there to be happy about? It’s just a decorative piece to be placed somewhere casually.”
Qin Jieyu was slightly stunned, pointing in the direction the maid had left. “Didn’t she say it was from the lord? What do you mean by ‘someone else’s courtyard’?”
“Can’t you see it yet?” Mei Zhaoxue looked up. “That maid is from Zhengchun Pavilion. This coral tree was most likely given to Lady Jiang by the lord. She’s afraid of offending me while in high favor, so she’s using this to curry favor.”
Shocked, Qin Jieyu stared wide-eyed at the red coral. “Such a precious treasure and the lord gives it to Jiang Taohua instead of you? What’s the meaning of this? Is she the legal wife now? The women in our rear court aren’t all dead yet!”
“Ah, men,” Mei Zhaoxue sighed. “Once they favor a woman, they shower her with all their love. How could they care about others? Our Lady Jiang is indeed formidable. In the future, this position of the legal wife might truly be hers to occupy.”
“That’s unacceptable!” Qin Jieyu slammed her armrest angrily. “What right does she have?”
Mei Zhaoxue smiled faintly, glancing at her. “Don’t just get angry. Think of a solution.”
Qin Jieyu paused, lowered her head in thought, then her eyes lit up. “Isn’t the tea-tasting gathering coming up soon?”
Mei Zhaoxue nodded, her gaze gentle as she said, “We don’t know who will win Orchid Consort’s favor this time. But speaking of which, another person from our courtyard is eligible to enter the palace this year.”
Qin Jieyu understood, smiling coyly as she grabbed her handkerchief and headed out.
“Tea tasting gathering?” Taohua looked at Gu Huairou, puzzled. “What’s that?”
“It’s an elegant gathering hosted by Orchid Consort where noble ladies enter the palace to brew and taste tea once a year,” Gu Huairou said seriously. “You’d better prepare in advance. Orchid Consort is currently the emperor’s favorite. Gaining her favor can only bring benefits, no harm.”
“Can concubines like us attend?” Taohua raised an eyebrow.
Gu Huairou shook her head. “This grand event doesn’t distinguish between main wives and concubines. As long as you’re a daughter of the three public and nine minister families, you can participate. My lady, being a princess of Zhao, naturally qualifies.”
“I see,” Taohua nodded. “Then do you know what kind of tea Orchid Consort likes?”
“No one knows,” Gu Huairou said with a strange expression. “The selected tea is different every year. Our lady has been practicing tea art for over a year to win her favor, but she’s probably still uncertain.”
So difficult? In that case, she might as well just go to join in the fun. There was no need to try and win Orchid Consort’s favor, especially since the atmosphere seemed off during their last meeting. It might be a bit challenging for her to like her.
Various courtyards in the manor seemed to be preparing for the upcoming tea-tasting gathering. Taohua went to the storehouse to select tea and ran into Lady Duan.
Duan Yunxin gently bowed to her with a smile. “It’s been a few days, and the lady’s complexion has improved greatly.”
“You flatter me,” Taohua nodded in return, holding a package of tea. “What tea does Lady Duan want to choose?”
“I’m not very good at brewing tea, so I’m just going to join in the fun,” Duan Yunxin smiled. “But I heard Orchid Consort likes bitter tea, so naturally, I should choose something more bitter.”
Taohua raised an eyebrow and nodded, exchanging a few more pleasantries before leaving with Qing Tai
Duan Yunxin’s expression remained unchanged as she leisurely selected her tea, only glancing in the direction Taohua had left after she was done.
“Lady Gu said no one knows Orchid Consort’s taste, so what does she mean by this?” Taohua shuddered, rubbing her arms while muttering, “Why do I always feel a chill all over when I get too close to her?”
(End of Chapter)