Chapter 28: This Is the Prime Minister’s Mansion

Glancing at the painting and then at Shen Zaiye, Jiang Taohua asked with a half-smile, “What is this? Why wasn’t I informed?”

Lady Meng pursed her lips, giving Taohua a peculiar look, then glanced back at the painting in her hands. She remained silent for a moment.

Taohua knew that Lady Meng, too, must have noticed how poorly it resembled him and was hesitating. Nevertheless, she ultimately placed the painting before Shen Zaiye.

“Recently, there have been rumors circulating outside that a painter from West Street fell in love at first sight with a woman in a painting and has been searching everywhere for her with a portrait. My maid happened to see it on the street and thought it bore some resemblance to Madam Jiang. Recalling the recent gossip about Madam Jiang going out alone to secretly meet someone, I felt it necessary to bring this to your attention, so that you can clarify the matter. It wouldn’t be fair to wrong Madam Jiang.”

Shen Zaive nodded in full cooperation, raising his eyes to look at Taohua as he asked, “Do you have anything to explain?”

“I have never secretly met anyone, nor do I know any painter,” Taohua said, her eyes filled with undeniable innocence. She pouted and asked, “Do you think the person in this painting resembles me?”

“No, she doesn’t.”

“That must be Madam Meng overthinking things,” Peach Blossom smiled, her gaze resting on Meng Zhenzhen. “However, Madam Meng is actually quite different from what I imagined—much more delicate and tender.”

To put it nicely, she’s delicate and tender; to put it less nicely, she comes across as a bit petty. One would have thought that as the legitimate daughter of the Tai Pu’s family, even if not as distinguished as the head of the Nine Ministers, the Feng Chang, she would still carry some noble bearing. Yet, she looks more like a resentful wife, with her brows perpetually furrowed, the corners of her eyes drooping, and her overall complexion not even as good as Peach Blossom’s.

So there’s some truth to the saying that one’s appearance reflects their heart. Someone who seizes on the slightest hint of a rumor to come to her door and cause trouble—such a person’s heart can’t be all that good either.

Madam Meng felt a bit lacking in confidence. Before coming, her maidservant had told her that the portrait closely resembled Madam Jiang, which was why she dared to bring her husband. But upon actually meeting her, she never expected that Madam Jiang would be so… beautiful. Not an aggressive kind of glamour, but like dewdrops on flower petals—radiant and clear, not at all off-putting.

It’s nothing like the portrait at all; did those maids even bother to look at her face properly?

“Lady Jiang is also different from what I imagined,” Meng Zhenzhen said with pursed lips. “It seems I’ve been jumping to conclusions. Since it’s a misunderstanding, and you trust her, the rumors in the mansion should be put to rest, lest they tarnish your reputation.”

“You’re always so considerate,” Shen Zaiye said with a gentle smile, showing no trace of blame, his expression exceedingly warm. “Consider today as your chance to meet Lady Jiang. She entered the mansion later, so you’ll need to look out for each other in the future.”

“Naturally,” Madam Meng nodded, forcing a smile toward Taohua. “Lady Jiang won’t hold a grudge against me, will she?”

Peach Blossom shook her head and smiled, saying, “You helped clarify the rumors for me, how could I ever dislike you? I appreciate it more than words can express.”

Both women wore hollow, forced smiles, sending a chill down Shen Zaiye’s spine. Disdainfully, he brushed off his sleeves and said, “Since everything’s settled, we should leave now. Let Lady Jiang rest properly.”

“Yes.” Lady Meng nodded, her face slightly flushed, most likely from embarrassment. Not daring to look at Peach Blossom again, she clutched the portrait and hurried away.

Jiang Taohua watched them leave, thinking to herself that such minor troubles and trivial schemes were far too weak. Things she could resolve even while lying down were not even worth calling troubles.

With her heart settled, she continued to rest and recuperate from her injuries. After waking from an afternoon nap, she found another person standing by her bedside.

“I came to see you, Lady,” Gu Huairou said with a smile, studying her for a moment. “Your complexion looks much better, no wonder our master keeps sending all the best herbs to the Rival Spring Pavilion.”

No one visits without a reason. Since Gu Huairou had intended to distance herself, why would she come now? Taohua looked at her curiously. “Did something happen?”

“Don’t worry, Lady, nothing major,” Gu Huairou replied with a smile. “It’s just some usual minor squabbles—nothing that will trouble your Rival Spring Pavilion.”

Then there’s been trouble after all, Peach Blossom slowly sat up a bit, smiling as she asked, “What’s all the fuss about?”

“You aren’t very familiar with the situation in this mansion, so I made a special trip today to ensure you don’t get caught up in any unnecessary trouble.” Madam Gu said, “I don’t know why, but just now Madam Meng and Madam Qin clashed again. These two are naturally at odds—one is rigid, the other is gentle—they argue like clockwork every once in a while.”

So intense? Peach Blossom was taken aback. She had met both Madam Meng and Madam Qin, and Madam Qin was clearly the tougher opponent. With Madam Meng’s shallow scheming mind, how had she even managed to survive?

“Newcomers in this mansion, no matter how favored by the master, are just fleeting trends. But Lady Qin has been favored for a long time, and together with Lady Gu and Lady Wan, they have formed a faction that is at odds with another faction led by Lady Meng. The disputes among others are trivial; after quarreling once, they might reconcile the next time. But these two sides act as if they share an irreconcilable hatred, constantly scheming against each other, and there have even been deaths.”

Her brow twitched, and Taohua suddenly asked, “Which side are you on?”

Lady Gu cast an unhappy glance at her: “Not everyone has to take sides. I don’t rely on anyone; I live my own life.”

That certainly makes things simpler. Jiang Taohua nodded: “Then I’ll stay well clear of it all and keep my distance.”

“You might as well enjoy these days of rest while you can,” Gu Huairong said with a dismissive glance. “Once Madam Jiang recovers, there’ll be plenty of drama to involve you in.”

Even if the new favorite isn’t much of a threat, a newly favored concubine like Jiang, whom the master holds in such high regard, is bound to be a headache for the senior mistresses. If they can trample her, they won’t hesitate to do so.

Originally, Gu Huairou had no intention of coming either. Seeing how things were going for Madam Jiang in the mansion recently, the situation didn’t seem promising. Although she had helped her before, staying uninvolved was the best way to protect oneself.

But today, even Madam Meng failed to gain any advantage here in the Spring-Striving Pavilion, and the master didn’t doubt Madam Jiang’s loyalty in the slightest. This forced her to come over and secure an escape route for herself. After all, one must know how to adapt.

Peach Blossom didn’t say much more, accepting this goodwill from her, and then began to enjoy the drama while nursing her wounds.

She might have underestimated Madam Meng—when it came to a fight, the lady was far from weak.

Shen Zaiye had been staying in the Gentle Jade Pavilion for six consecutive days. Whenever the Qin lady made a scene by kicking open the door, the Meng lady would burst into tears. She didn’t just cry on her own; she even called for her own mother to join her, and together they wept before the Grand Chancellor.

Jiang Taohua was overjoyed. Just thinking about Shen Zaiye having to face these women’s quarrels every day made her inexplicably gleeful. She hoped he’d be annoyed to death—the sooner, the better!

But Shen Zaiye was stubborn. The more the Qin lady made a fuss, the more determined he became to continue living in the Gentle Jade Pavilion. He even went so far as to move his official documents and writing brushes there, as if planning to stay forever.

Qin Jieyu was furious, yet she didn’t dare to say anything in front of the Grand Chancellor. So, she began to resort to underhanded tactics. With the Meng lady currently enjoying great favor, she grew increasingly arrogant, not only looking down on Qin Jieyu but even gradually neglecting to pay her respects when encountering the Lady of the house.

The household whispered disapprovingly, yet Shen Zaiye remained oblivious, spending ten full days in the House of Tender Jade.

In ten days, Peach Blossom’s injuries had improved significantly, and she was finally able to move around a bit. On this evening, she was in her room, happily trying to change her clothes on her own when, without warning, someone pushed the door open.

Her skin, fair as jade, was half-concealed, half-revealed. As she turned her face, her lips parted slightly, her shimmering eyes wide with astonishment

“Do you not knock before entering someone’s room?”

Shen Zaiye let out a light laugh, stepped in, and closed the door behind him. Glancing at her, he said, “This is the Prime Minister’s residence.”

In other words, this is my territory. Wherever I want to go, I go. Knocking? What’s that?

Taohua was momentarily speechless by his righteous attitude. Straightening her clothes, she obediently walked over to pour him tea: “Master, what brings you here tonight?”

“I’m tired of living here, I want to move somewhere else.”

“Want to make Meng Shi fall and get hurt?”

When smart people talk to each other, no extra explanations are needed. Shen Zaiye glanced at her, snorted, and that was his response.

Patting her chest with lingering fear, Tao Hua looked at him gratefully and said, “Thank you, Master, for sparing me. Otherwise, I might have ended up like Meng Shi later.”

Taking a sip of tea, Shen Zaiye frowned with disdain. “If you dare brew this coarse tea for me again, you’re not far from the same fate as the Meng family.”

Coarse?” Tao Hua took his cup and took a sip herself. “It’s buckwheat tea, and it tastes really good. Don’t you think so?

Giving her a deep look, Shen Zaiye said, “Only the servants in the mansion drink this kind of tea.”

“But good is good, so who cares who drinks it?” After gulping down the warm tea in one go, Tao Hua pouted. “If you’re not satisfied, please let me know in advance next time you visit, and I’ll prepare Longjing for you.”

“Mhm.” Shaking the tea off his hands, Shen Zaiye stood up, spreading his arms as he looked at her.

Peach Blossom was stunned. She glanced him up and down, hesitated for a long while, then walked over and reached out to hug him.

Shen Zaiye: “…”

“What I meant was for you to help me change my clothes,” he said, pulling her away from himself with a stern face. “Don’t you even understand such basic etiquette?”

Blushing instantly, Peach Blossom quickly reached out to undo his buttons.

But she’s clearly still a patient, right? Lifting her hand was hurting her waist so much, and it was already so difficult for her to dress herself earlier, and now she has to serve this lord by helping him change clothes?

Her eyes rolled around, and suddenly Peach Blossom exclaimed in surprise, “Who tied these buttons so tight?”

Shen Zaiye paused, reaching out suspiciously to undo a button near his neck. “Where is it tight?”

“This one.” Peach Blossom pointed to the button at his waist. Shen Zaiye reached out and undid it himself, frowning as he looked at her. “It’s not very tight at all.”

“If it’s not too tight, then please take off your clothes, the buttons are all undone.” Peach Blossom nodded.

The room fell silent for a moment. Shen Zaiye squinted his eyes, staring at her with an unfriendly gaze.

Peach Blossom forced an awkward smile, giggling a few times, then pretended to go call someone to fetch water and prepare for washing.

The room is only so big, and the two of them are still sharing a bed tonight. Where could she possibly hide? With a scoff, Shen Zaiye sat by the bedside. After washing up, he casually lay down on the outer side of the bed.

A sharp intuition told Taohua that tonight might not be easy. First of all, with Shen Zaiye sleeping by the edge of the bed, it would be quite difficult for her to get onto it.