Chapter 34: The Established Rules

When she was in the State of Zhao, her sense of hierarchy was quite weak; she was used to getting along with palace attendants as equals. Who would have known that here, she couldn’t even slip a preserved fruit into his mouth? It wasn’t poison!

With a light snort, Shen Zaizhe opened his mouth, intending to spit out the preserved fruit. Yet somehow, a moment of carelessness led to it slipping right down his throat!

Jiang Taohua obediently cupped her hands in front of him, gesturing for him to spit it into them so she could dispose of it properly.

“Master?”

Shen Zaiye looked at her hand in silence.

This really was the first time he encountered such an awkward situation. He had already swallowed it—how could he spit it out? But if he didn’t spit it out, wouldn’t his loud shouting just now have been in vain?

“Go and have someone prepare the evening meal first,” he said with a composed expression.

Peach Blossom was taken aback, giving him a strange look before turning to glance at the sky outside: “It’s just past the hour of the goat—you want to eat the evening meal already?”

Didn’t we just finish lunch? Is he a bottomless pit or something!

Shen Zaiye frowned, “It’s still so early, then go and have someone prepare some snacks.”

Truly a bottomless pit. Peach Blossom pursed her lips, stood up, and looked at him, saying, “Then you should spit out the preserved fruits; I’ll take them out along with the rest.”

Shen Zaiye: “…”

What’s with this woman having such a good memory? Couldn’t she just forget about the preserved fruits in his mouth? Irritated, Shen Zaiye said with a dark expression, “They’ve already dissolved in my mouth; don’t worry about it.”

Huh? Melted? Glancing at him in astonishment, Tao Hua then looked at the remaining candied fruit beside her. Good heavens, these are all made of peach flesh—how on earth could he have dissolved them in his mouth so quickly?

As her mind raced, she sensed something was off. Teasing him with a sly glance, she chuckled, “Could it be that Your Lordship said he doesn’t like them, yet his throat honestly swallowed them down instead?”

The room fell into a moment of silence. Shen Zaìyě lifted his head with a strained smile and looked at her: “Suddenly, I feel that your blood might be better suited for tempering a new blade. Shall we go give it a try?”

“Your Lordship, please take good rest! This humble one will go arrange for some refreshments!” Her expression instantly turning serious, Tao Hua curtsied with a bow and immediately turned to dash outside.

Shen Zaiye stared coldly at her retreating figure, snorted, then glanced over at the preserved fruit resting beside him.

Actually… it’s not as unpleasant to eat as I imagined. After the initial cloying sweetness, a lingering fragrance remains in the mouth, truly masking the medicinal taste entirely.

He pursed his lips, pulled out the booklet from under the pillow, and continued reading.

As darkness fell, Shen Zaiye prepared to head to the study. Before leaving, he dragged Jiang Taohua over and earnestly emphasized several times: “Stay and rest in the side hall tonight, don’t go out.”

“I understand,” Taohua nodded. “Actually, I am a bit tired today, so I thought I would go to bed early.”

“Hmm, go ahead.”

“Yes.”

Exiting the main room dutifully, Taohua then rolled her eyes.

If he hadn’t said it like that, she might have truly known nothing and gone to bed early. But with such a serious warning, it was hard for her to suppress her curiosity.

“Moss, go keep watch by the courtyard gate, and don’t let anyone spot you.” After entering the side hall, she whispered, “If anyone enters this courtyard tonight, you don’t need to do anything—just come back and report to me.”

“As you command.”

Having given her instructions, Peach Blossom went back to looking over the estate’s roster, waiting as she read.

Just after midnight, Moss returned without a sound.

“Your Grace, someone has indeed arrived, wrapped in a cloak. Judging by the figure, it’s a man, somewhat plump.”

Peach Blossom listened, resting her chin on her hand, and asked, “Headed to the study?”

“Yes.”

In the dead of night, Shen Zaiye wasn’t meeting a beauty but rather a portly man? What kind of taste is this!

In the study.

Shen Zaiye watched the Minister of Imperial Stables, Meng Taipu, before him with an impassive expression. The latter kept wiping the sweat from his forehead, appearing somewhat flustered and uneasy.

Under normal circumstances, Lord Meng wouldn’t have been so flustered, after all, with Prince Yu backing him and a powerful in-law like Prime Minister Shen, he was usually the one giving others a hard time.

But now, he has offended none other than Shen Zaïye, which is even more terrifying than offending Prince Yu. And if it were just a minor issue, it might have been different, but his own daughter, in a bid to compete for favor, nearly took the prime minister’s life!

Isn’t this dragging the entire Meng family to their deaths with him!

“I am not unreasonable, but given the severity of your daughter’s transgression this time, keeping her in the residence might very well cost Shen his life someday.” Shen Zaikai spoke, his tone utterly devoid of emotion. “When you sent the Meng girl to my Prime Minister’s residence, sir, you seemed to have said that if she were to make a mistake, you would certainly take her back and discipline her strictly.”

That was just talk! If he really took his daughter back from the prime minister’s residence, wouldn’t it make the entire court laugh at him? Prince Yu would not let him off either!

“Prime Minister, this humble official knows well that Zhenzhen’s crime is unforgivable, but could you… give this humble official a chance to redeem his mistakes by doing meritorious deeds?” Minister Meng rubbed his hands together and said: “This humble official is willing to serve you like a loyal dog or horse!”

Glancing at him sidelong, Shen Zaijue said indifferently: “Your Excellency, you should be loyal to the Emperor; what does that have to do with Shen?”

“Though that’s how it’s said.” Minister Meng took two steps forward and whispered: “But besides being loyal to the sovereign, this humble official can still do other things. The court has recently purchased two thousand horses and plans to build horse ranches. The funds have already been allocated. If you, Prime Minister, are willing, this humble official will send the finest horses, along with thirty percent of the allocated profits, to your residence.”

“Absurd!” Slamming the table in anger, Shen Zaiye looked furious. “As the minister in charge of horse administration, have you been embezzling like this all along?”

His legs trembling, Minister Meng hastily knelt and kowtowed, pleading, “Your Excellency, please see things clearly! Throughout the dynasties, every official who has held the position of Minister of Horse Administration has done the same. It’s not just me alone—everyone, from top to bottom, has tacitly agreed to this practice!”

When one person embezzles, it’s called corruption. When a group embezzles together, it’s called “the law does not punish the masses.” If everyone, from top to bottom, is embezzling, then it becomes an unwritten, accepted rule.

Shen Zaiye sneered inwardly. After staring at Minister Meng for a long while, he reached out to help him up, pursed his lips, and said, “I’ve only been in the court for two years, and there are still some matters I’m not fully aware of. I wronged you, Minister. Since it’s something tacitly accepted by everyone, it can hardly be criticized.”

The Minister of the Imperial Stud was delighted and immediately looked up at him, saying, “Would Your Excellency be willing to accept?”

His face filled with hesitation, Shen Zaiye lowered his head in silence, as if considering something.

“Your humble servant knows that Your Excellency has always been upright and does not wish to be criticized.” With a sudden flash of insight, the Minister of the Imperial Stud said with self-assurance, “Your humble servant has a way to keep Your Excellency completely free from any stain.”

“What method?”

“Every time a horse farm is established and horses are purchased, the lion’s share of the profits goes to the higher-ups,” Minister Meng explained. “This time, I will route the accounts through the top, bypassing the official ledger, and send the funds directly to the Prime Minister’s residence. That way, no one can trace where the money went.”

His eyes glinting slightly, Shen Zaiye gently curved his lips: “How ingenious of you, Minister.”

Judging by his expression, it seemed he had agreed. The Grand Steward Meng was overjoyed and quickly ventured to ask, “What about Zhenzhen’s matter…”

“Since Your Excellency is so sincere, I, Shen, am naturally willing to give her another chance.” Shen Zaiye said: “However, I must warn in advance that if your daughter commits such a mistake again in the future, even if you offer the entire horse ranch, I, Shen, will show no mercy.”

“Thank you, Prime Minister!” Grand Steward Meng hurriedly bowed: “This humble official will surely have my wife come to your residence to properly discipline Zhenzhen for two days. We will certainly not trouble the Prime Minister again in the future! The gifts of gratitude will be delivered shortly as well.”

“Hmm.” With a yawn, Shen Zaiye wearily said: “If there is nothing else, please take your leave, Your Excellency. I, Shen, need to rest properly for a couple of days to recover.”

“Yes… yes…” Meng Taipu responded repeatedly, hastily stepping back and nearly bumping his round figure into the doorframe.

Zhanlu shook his head as he watched, and after the man had left, he lowered his voice and said, “This man truly seems unfit for the job.”

“There are plenty of unfit people. The person isn’t the issue; the key is his position.” With a soft laugh, Shen Zaifan drew a checkmark in the ledger before him: “Zhanlu, you go and arrange the next steps.”

“Yes!” Zhanlu complied.

Hearing the faint sounds of people and footsteps in the courtyard, Peach Blossom knew that Shen Zaiye had probably finished his business. Without delay, she quickly lay down on the bed and pretended to be asleep.

“Has your master retired?” Zhanlu’s voice came from outside the door. Lichen responded, “She’s been resting for a while.”

Outside, it was quiet for a moment before the door was pushed open. Zhanlu stepped in, glanced at the bunched-up quilt on the bed, and then retreated with relief.

So cautious indeed, thought Peach Blossom, opening her eyes to gaze at the pitch-dark canopy overhead. What unscrupulous deed has Shen Zaijie done today?

At dawn the next day, Meizhaoxue and the others were summoned to Linwu Courtyard.

“How are you handling this matter?” Shen Zaiye held a sealed item, frowning as he looked at Mei Shi. “Wasn’t it said that Lü Ming was securely confined?”

Lady Mei was somewhat baffled: “Indeed, she was properly locked up, in the firewood shed in the backyard…”

“Then what is this?” He reached out and threw the letter over, Shen Zaida flared up: “A dignified prime minister’s residence, and yet people come and go as they please. If this gets out, where will I put my face?”

Mei Zhaoxue was startled and quickly took the letter to read.

“I, the humble servant Lüming, have been asked by someone to frame Madam Meng. However, my conscience has been uneasy for a long time, so I wish to inform you, Master, of the truth: poisoning was not ordered by Madam Meng, and I am not Madam Meng’s servant. Today I must flee, and I hope you, Master, in light of my honesty, will spare me and allow me to leave far away, and not pursue me any further.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Mei turned to ask the maid beside her, “Have you been to the woodshed to check?”

The maid whispered timidly, “I do not know.”

“……” Mei Shi frowned, and immediately turned to kneel before Shen Zaǐye: “It is my neglect. Please punish me, my lord!”

Shen Zaǐye rubbed his temples and let out a heavy sigh: “It’s been a long time since she ran away; chasing after her now is futile. Rather, it’s this letter…”

The letter stated that Lady Meng was wronged, so who should go to apologize and make amends now?

Mei Zhaoxue gritted her teeth: “Although the words in the letter are hard to verify, I am willing to go to the Soft Jade Pavilion to interrogate again. If there is no direct evidence that Lady Meng intended to harm the lord, then I will punish myself by forfeiting a month’s allowance and apologize to Lady Meng.”

She interrogated the person herself, and the judgment was her own decision; there was no way she could escape responsibility for this matter.