Chapter 29: The Side Consort Who Slept Like a Log

Secondly, this lord had no awareness at all that she was an injured person with limited mobility. He lay there like a corpse, motionless.

She now had two options:

One, go to bed to rest, but due to the wound on her waist, she could only press against Shen Zaije and crawl in, with the consequence being she might get beaten up.

Two, grab a quilt and sleep on the floor, but if someone came over to her place to rest and she ended up sleeping on the ground, the consequence might also be getting beaten up.

Since she was bound to get beaten either way, Jiang Taohua instantly let go of her worries, lifted her foot, and stepped right onto Shen Zaije’s body!

“……”

The reclining Prime Minister Shen slowly opened his eyes, his gaze growing even more unfriendly as he looked at her. “Are you thinking of rebellion?”

“I was hoping to get into bed to sleep,” Peach Blossom said innocently, looking at him. “But I couldn’t get in.”

If she didn’t have an injury on her waist, she might have been able to slip in like a cat without disturbing him. But she was injured now! She couldn’t make any big movements, and if her wound tore open again, it would only bring more suffering upon herself!

His eyes filled with malice, Shen Zaijuo sat up, drew his long legs together, and made a small gap for her. Gratefully smiling, Peach Blossom tiptoed into the bed, obediently curling up against the wall.

“You’re not even taking off your outer robe?” Shen Zaije looked at her disdainfully and tugged at her belt, “Aren’t you uncomfortable sleeping with it on?”

Startled like a plucked sparrow, Peach Blossom nearly leaped up. The belt was undone, and her outer robe slipped down, revealing a thin sleeping garment underneath.

“I sleep very restlessly at night,” she whispered in explanation. “For your sake, it’s better if I keep my outer robe on.”

Giving her a sidelong glance, Shen Zaiye didn’t bother arguing. “Take it off,” he said. “If you’re not uncomfortable, I am.”

Looking down at her robe, Peach Blossom gave him a pleading look. “Since you’ve already undone the belt, why not help me take the robe off as well?”

Shen Zaiye: “…”

Who has ever seen such a woman? It’s one thing not to help him change his clothes, but he, a distinguished prime minister, is now expected to serve her instead?

Seeing the murderous look in the man’s eyes, Jiang Taohua quickly pretended to be pitiful: “My back hurts, it’s killing me! Wailing and sobbing!”

Serves you right if it hurts!

Cursing inwardly, Shen Zaiji’s gaze fell on her back. Still kind-hearted, he helped her take off her robe and threw it outside the bed curtains.

“Thank you, Master!” Lying down obediently, Peach Blossom didn’t make a fuss this time, immediately closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

Shen Zaiye had previously said that because her scars were ugly and disgusting, he would not favor her again, so he came here tonight probably just to find a place to sleep. With that thought, Peach Blossom also put away any ideas of doing anything to him and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Once asleep, unless she fell off the bed, Jiang Peach Blossom wouldn’t wake up.

Before at Spring Contention Hall, Shen Zaiye had always spent the night in the side hall, so he really didn’t know much about Peach Blossom’s sleeping habits. In any case, it took him a long time to fall asleep, spending much of that time with his eyes closed, deep in thought, so he naturally assumed the person beside him wasn’t asleep either.

Just as he was pondering about Prince Yu, the person beside him suddenly moved closer, wrapping their arms and legs around him without warning.

Frowning slightly, Shen Zaiye softly said, “Sleep properly.”

Your wounds haven’t fully healed yet, what kind of flower do you think you’re going to make a fuss about?

The peach blossom slept peacefully, utterly oblivious to the words spoken. Holding something in her arms, she nestled against it contentedly, her warm body squirming softly a couple of times.

That’s right, she loves to hold something when she sleeps. Before, when sleeping alone, she would hug a pillow. Now that the extra pillow is being used by someone else, she can only hold a person instead.

Feeling her restless hand slipping into his sleep robe, Shen Zaiye’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, and he finally opened his eyes to glare at her. “What do you want to…”

The words “do” did not come out, as he met Jiang Taohua’s peaceful sleeping face.

Although he didn’t particularly like this overly clever woman, she was truly beautiful when asleep. Her face was as tender as moonlight softening jade, with a slender and straight nose and plump lips. Long eyelashes beneath her eyes resembled two small fans, and her chin was neither too pointed nor too round, while her forehead was full. If a fortune teller saw her, they would likely say she possessed an exceptionally auspicious countenance.

Only, her earlobes were somewhat small—people like this often endure many hardships in their youth.

Unconsciously, he found himself staring at her for a long time. When he snapped back to reality, Shen Zaiye asked discontentedly, “Even with your eyes closed, you can still use your seductive arts?”

Naturally, Peach Blossom couldn’t answer him. Even in her dreams, all she felt was that what she was holding tonight was rather nice—though a bit hard, it was warm and cozy, so comfortable that she couldn’t help but wrap her legs around his, pressing her body even closer, allowing their body heat to meld together through the thin sleeping garments.

In the darkness, someone’s breathing suddenly grew noticeably heavier.

“Are you truly asleep, or are you pretending?” a hoarse male voice murmured softly.

The room was silent and still, the moonlight seeping in through the window, clearly illuminating the complex expression on his face.

“Prime Minister?” someone called softly from the shadows, and then the thick curtain by the window was drawn shut.

Shen Zaixiang thought to rise, yet after a moment of hesitation, he said, “Never mind, go and rest well. She’s injured.”

The person in the shadows was taken aback, and only after a long pause did they respond, “Alright.”

After a few noises, the doors and windows closed once again. Shen Zaiye took a deep breath and finally reached out to pull this troublemaker into his embrace.

He was a normal man, not Liu Xiahui nor a monk who had renounced the world. With such a lively and enticing person beside him, acting so boldly, there was no way he could restrain himself.

Bending down to get closer to her, Shen Zaiye had flashes of certain images in his mind. With a darkening gaze, he opened his mouth and gently took her earlobe between his lips.

Startled awake from her slumber, the sleeping peach blossom shivered, pushing him away and shrinking to one side like a snail retreating into its shell.

Thinking of running away now? Isn’t it a bit too late? He sneered, pulling her back into his arms, deliberately blowing warm breath into her ear, teasing her with seductive kisses. Unable to resist, his hands undid her nightgown and caressed her smooth skin.

Her skin truly felt as smooth as jade—what on earth did this woman eat while growing up?

After wrestling for quite a while, just as Shen Zaizhe felt he could no longer hold back, he suddenly heard Taohua mumble twice in her sleep, smacking her lips.

His movements halted abruptly. He reached out and pinched her chin: “Don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen asleep.”

Who could possibly sleep through such a commotion? Even if she had dozed off earlier, she should’ve woken up by now!

Yet, Jiang Taohua was truly in a deep slumber, with no intention of acknowledging him at all.

After a moment of silence, Shen Zaixia got out of bed and drew the curtains open a bit.

The room brightened, revealing the person on the bed with half-exposed, fragrant shoulders, red silk strings scattered about, and an innocent face tinged with a faint blush.

This was the look of deep sleep—impossible to fake.

Frowning darkly, Shen Zaixia had a strong urge to shake this person awake and demand answers! As a concubine, she ought to know her duties; what did it mean to fall asleep before him?

“Jiang Taohua, you truly have nerve.” He gritted his teeth as he spoke, the veins on the back of his hand faintly bulging. After suppressing his anger for a long while, he finally calmed down. He reached out to pull the quilt over her, then turned and threw on his clothes before heading out the door.

“Master?” Zhan Lu, who was standing guard outside, was stunned: “You’re still here?”

“Go to the side hall.”

“…Yes.”

A quiet and uneventful evening passed, and no one knew what had happened within the Contending Spring Pavilion.

Jiang Taohua slept exceptionally well that night. When she woke, she felt that the sunlight outside must be very warm.

“Qing Tai, let’s go bask in the sun.”

Qing Tai, who had just come in with water, sighed repeatedly: “Mistress, haven’t you noticed that there’s one less person in this room?”

Huh? After a moment of careful thought, Peach Blossom remembered to ask, “Has the Minister gone to court?”

“He has already returned from court.”

“Oh, that’s good.” Nodding, she slowly sat up, about to say she wanted to get dressed when she noticed Qingtai’s face blushing.

“Master…”

What? Following her gaze, Peach Blossom looked down at herself. Her nightgown was open, and the inner top wasn’t properly worn either, with a few scattered red marks below her collarbones.

No way? She was still injured, and Shen Zaoye actually behaved like such an animal? After a moment of stunned silence, Peach Blossom was furious: “That’s utterly inhuman! He just can’t keep his word! We agreed he wouldn’t favor me, so what was that all about? Does he have to guard every possible opportunity so tightly, not giving me even a single chance?”

Even if he wanted to do that with her, he could at least have told her in advance, so she could have been prepared. What’s the point of being so sneaky about it!

Qingtai was dumbfounded: “So… you’re angry because the Prime Minister didn’t give you a chance to tempt him?”

“Otherwise?” Rolling her eyes, Peach Blossom said: “I am his person anyway, should I wake up screaming in the morning, covering my chest like a chaste woman who was violated? Don’t be ridiculous.”

Qingtai: “…” That actually makes sense too.

After washing her face and applying her makeup, Peach Blossom still felt a bit puzzled inside. Women who had served the emperor’s bed often experienced some lingering aftereffects, but aside from this mark, she had nothing at all. What exactly happened yesterday?

That little doubt vanished the moment she laid eyes on Shen Zaoye.

Facing his face full of ferocity, Jiang Taohua gave a guilty smile, thinking there was no need to ask further. She must have carelessly embraced him in her sleep, offending this lord without properly attending to him, so now he was here to settle accounts.

“Your lordship doesn’t look too well,” she said with a chuckle, “Come have some Longjing tea—freshly brewed!”

“I want to drink bitter buckwheat tea.” Shen Zaiye looked at her with a forced smile.

Peach Blossom promptly gave the order: “Qingtai, make some tea!”

“Not her, you do it yourself.”

A chill ran down her spine, and Peach Blossom looked at him cautiously. “Master, I still have injuries.”

“Does being injured make you something special?” Shen Zaiye scoffed coldly: “If you’re not dead, then make the tea.”

“Yes!” Without hesitation, Peach Blossom grabbed the teapot and turned to leave the room.

The whole room was blazing with anger, utterly terrifying. She had just failed to serve him properly once, why such a fuss? In principle, Prime Minister Shen shouldn’t be someone so obsessed with appearances, otherwise why would he have wanted to kill her back then?

Lost in thought, she had already reached the small kitchen, where a maid standing at the door smiled and took the teapot from her hands: “Please rest, mistress. I’ll brew it for you.”

“Alright.” Still deep in thought, Peach Blossom didn’t pay much attention and simply stood at the door, waiting.