Chapter 50: Do You Have Any Brains!

With the passing of two days, the Pavilion of Striving Spring remained as tranquil as ever, yet within the prime minister’s mansion, a storm had already begun to brew.

After all, Meng Zhenzhen was still a lady of status, and now, having been sent back to her parents’ home, this matter not only stirred varied thoughts among the people in the mansion but also became the talk of the town in the capital.

“This really puts the Meng family at odds with the prime minister!” someone in the teahouse laughed. “They’ve relied on being the prime minister’s in-laws to do all sorts of underhanded things without consequence. There were even complaints of corruption against them before, but nothing ever came of it. I wonder if, with this new development, old cases might finally see the light of day?”

Someone riding past the teahouse overheard this and halted their horse to ask, “What old cases?”

The speaker turned around and saw an ordinary passerby. He spoke brazenly, “What else could it be? It’s the case of building the horse ranch. People died from exhaustion at the construction site. Not only were there no compensations, but the wages were pitifully low. A laborer accused Meng Taipu of lining his own pockets, and the buildings at the horse ranch were shoddy. However, the case was suppressed and couldn’t reach the emperor’s ears.”

“So that’s what happened,” Zhan Lu said with a smile. “Good deeds bring good rewards, and evil deeds bring evil consequences—it’s just a matter of when they come.”

After saying that, he continued riding toward the prime minister’s residence.

Shen Zaiji already had evidence of Meng Taipu colluding with Prince Yu for embezzlement. However, when and how to expose it required careful consideration.

Zhan Lu returned and directly relayed the news he had overheard on the streets to him. At the end, he clasped his hands and said, “This servant had already gone to the horse grounds earlier. The people there remained tight-lipped, but it seems many in the common folk know about this case.”

“That’s actually quite good.” With a slight smile, Shen Zaiye stroked the letter on the desk: “Since heaven is lending a hand, we should follow the will of heaven as well.”

Zhan Lu also smiled and was about to speak again when the door was suddenly pushed open.

“Master!” Jiang Taohua was wearing a gradation pink peach blossom dress today, looking brilliantly radiant as she fluttered in like a butterfly: “Borrowing your place to take refuge for a bit!”

A faint twitch tugged at the corner of his mouth, Shen Zaiye’s expression darkened slightly: “Did I not say that the study is forbidden from being barged into?”

After closing the door, Peach Blossom turned to look at him with an innocent expression: “Not at all.”

“……”

Letting out a long sigh, Shen Zaiye said helplessly: “Well, listen carefully from now on. You must have my permission to enter the study. You can’t just barge in like this.”

“Got it.”

Glancing outside, Peach Blossom quickly turned and ran toward him. Shen Zaiye, swift-eyed and quick-handed, immediately gathered everything on the desk clean.

“What are you hiding from?” he asked, his tone feigning calmness.

Jiang Taohua didn’t pay him any mind either, panting lightly as she said, “Where could I possibly hide? Your concubines and attendants all want to chat with me. Wherever I hide, they’d find me. After thinking about it, only your place seems safe.”

A bit surprised, Shen Zaive glanced at her. “Why hide from chatting?”

“That depends on what they want to talk about!” Mentioning this, Taohua’s anger flared up even more: “I’m an innocent victim here! Isn’t it enough to just let me rest quietly for a couple of days? No need for comfort, but they keep coming over stirring trouble, telling me who’s dissatisfied with me, urging me to plan ahead. Oh my god, what else can I plan? Am I supposed to grab a knife in the middle of the night and cut down everyone who threatens me?”

Zhanlu was stunned, looking at her in shock.

“Just kidding, don’t take it seriously.” She grinned at him, Peach Blossom naturally sat down beside him, picked up the tea on Shen Zaiju’s desk and took a sip. “I’m just hiding for half an hour, I won’t bother you at all. Please, continue with your work.”

Glancing at her, Shen Zaiye rubbed his forehead with a headache, wondering why on earth such a troublemaker existed. With her here, how could he possibly focus on his tasks with peace of mind?

“Zhan Lu, you should go out first and continue gathering things.” With a sigh, Shen Zaiye acquiesced, instructing Zhan Lu before locking everything in his hands into the box. Only then did he look up to deal with the person before him.

“There’s not even a single cabinet in this study. If they come searching, you won’t have anywhere to hide.”

“It’s all right,” Taohua replied. “Isn’t it your permission that allows entry here? If you don’t allow them in, they won’t come.”

Quite right. A light chuckle escaped Shen Zaïye as he was about to compliment her on her intelligence when, surprisingly, Zhan Lu returned.

“Master!” His voice tinged with slight panic, Zhan Lu pushed open the door and announced, “Prince Jing is visiting!”

What?

Startled, Shen Zaïye instinctively glanced at the person beside him. “Go quickly!”

Peach Blossom also jolted in alarm, hastily gathering her skirts to dash out. Zhan Lu’s face paled, urgently calling out, “He has already entered the estate, Lady Jiang! Please don’t run about recklessly!”

This fast? Peach Blossom slammed on the brakes right at the gate of the Linwu Courtyard, sticking her head out to take a look.

The steward led the man, bypassing the garden in the front courtyard, and was already heading this way.

“Get inside!” With a low shout, Shen Zaoye grabbed Peach Blossom, lifting her up with ease, and tossed her behind him in a swift motion!

He then straightened his robes and calmly walked toward the approaching Prince Jing.

Mu Wuyin seemed to be in a good mood today, wearing a kind smile on his face. As soon as he saw Shen Zaiye, he clasped his hands in greeting: “Prime Minister, I apologize for arriving unannounced. I hope I haven’t disturbed you?”

As if he hadn’t!

Shen Zaiye smiled, returning the gesture with a clasp of his hands: “How could it be a disturbance? Your Highness’s presence alone illuminates this humble residence. Please, come in.”

Mu Wuyin nodded and stepped into Linwu Courtyard, lifting his foot as if to head straight for the main chamber.

Shen Zaiji’s heart skipped a beat, suspecting that Jiang Taohua was likely hiding in the main room. He quickly stopped him and said, “Your Highness, there is something in my study that I need to show you. How about we move there first?”

“Alright.” Sensing nothing unusual, Mu Wuyin smiled as he entered the study and took a seat in the guest chair beside the desk.

As the maid served tea, Shen Zaiji breathed a sigh of relief. Just as the stone in his heart was about to settle, his foot, tucked under the desk, seemed to have kicked against something—or rather, someone.

With a thud in his heart, Shen Zaiji’s body stiffened as he looked down.

With a reckless disregard for life, Jiang Taohua lifted the tablecloth to reveal her face, offering him a sheepish smile.

“……”

How foolish must one be to ignore the vast space of the main hall and instead hide under a table? What was that sphere on her neck even for? She’s sharper than anyone when she shouldn’t be, but when she actually needs to use her brain, it’s as if it’s been crushed in a door?

If circumstances permitted, Shen Zaizhe truly wished he could reach out and strangle her!

“Prime Minister, you mentioned earlier that you had something to show Wuyin.” Prince Jing spoke up, looking at him curiously. “What is it that has you looking so serious?”

Taking a deep breath, Shen Zaǐyě forced a smile, not daring to stand up, and simply reached out to open the box beside him, handing it over: “Your Highness, please take a look.”

Prince Jing was taken aback for a moment, quickly accepting it and flipping through the contents carefully.

Seizing this moment, Shen Zaǐyě lowered his head, narrowed his eyes at the troublemaker, and mouthed a silent message.

You’re done for!

Tao Hua’s face fell, and with a look of utmost innocence, she silently mouthed back to him: Who knew you would come straight to the study? Usually, guests are entertained in the outer rooms of the main house, aren’t they?

Shen Zaiye: …

So it’s his fault? Who told her to do things so unpredictably! In such a panicked situation, thinking so much—if she had just dashed straight into the main house, wouldn’t everything have been fine?

Thankfully, the entire desk was draped with a cloth; otherwise, today would have truly spelled disaster.

Noticing the anger on his face, Taohua felt a bit scared. Placing her hands on his knees, she nuzzled her head against him and put on a pitiful, pleading expression: We’re both in a perilous situation, so why blame each other? Right? We’re in the same boat!

Who wants to be in the same boat with you! Shen Zaïye was so angry he wanted to curse, reaching out and pinching her face hard.

“Ah!” Caught off guard by his sudden move, Taohua instinctively let out a soft cry of pain.

“Hmm?” King Jing, deeply engrossed in his reading, looked up in confusion upon hearing the noise, turning his gaze toward Shen Zaixiang: “What was that sound?”

The man behind the desk smiled calmly and said, “I just sneezed, Your Highness. Please, don’t mind it.”

“Oh.” King Jing lowered his head, frowning as he continued reading.

Peach Blossom rubbed her face and pursed her lips; her feet had gone numb from crouching for so long, and she was itching to shift her position.

However, the table wasn’t large, and with any movement she risked bumping into the tablecloth and revealing her form. After a moment’s thought, she decisively reached out and pried Shen Zaiji’s firmly pressed legs apart with a swift motion.

“…” A shiver ran down his spine, and Shen Zaiji shot her a murderous glare from above.

Peach Blossom offered an apologetic smile, bracing herself against his legs before kneeling upright and bowing to him: This humble one simply couldn’t keep squatting steady any longer, please forgive me, forgive me.

The posture looked utterly bizarre no matter how one viewed it. Shen Zaiji closed his eyes, pressing a hand to his chest, thinking that after today, his life might well be shortened by two years.

“If these items were presented to His Majesty the Emperor, Prince Yu would be in serious trouble.”

After examining the contents of the box, Prince Jing’s expression grew solemn as well. Looking up, he asked, “Prime Minister, what do you intend to do?”

Shen Zaiye opened his eyes and lifted his head, smiling faintly as he replied, “What Shen intends to do will naturally follow Your Highness’s instructions.”

With a surge of delight, Prince Jing smiled and said, “The Prime Minister’s actions, so dedicated to the nation and its people, punishing evil and upholding justice, truly set an example for all officials. Even though Prince Yu is my own blood brother, there is no reason for me to shield him from the grave consequences of such heinous deeds. With the new horse ranch recently completed, I will persuade His Majesty to inspect it in person.”

“Good.” Shen Zaizhe nodded. “Since that’s the case, I now have a clear idea of what to do next.”

Prince Jing laughed heartily, stood up, and walked towards the desk. “Prime Minister…”

“Your Highness!” Shen Zaizhe called out sternly, raising his hand to stop the prince from approaching. “I have recently caught a chill. Please do not come too close.”

“Ah, I see.” Prince Jing nodded, looking at him with concern. “In that case, Prime Minister, you must take good care of yourself. I noticed earlier that your complexion was not looking well, and now it appears somewhat flushed—you may be running a high fever.”

“There will be a physician arriving shortly. If Your Highness has no further matters…”

“There’s one more thing.” The Prince of Jing smiled and waved for someone to bring in a box. “These are pearls freshly delivered from the Eastern Sea to the capital. I’ve heard your household has many ladies, so I’ll do you a favor and present them to the Chancellor.”

“Thank you!” Shen Zaoye smiled and stood up, wanting to take it.

However, his leg was still being touched by Jiang Taohua’s hand, preventing him from standing up immediately. Just then, Prince Jing had already handed the box over.

Their hands missed each other, and Shen Zaiye could only watch as that box of shimmering pearls from the East Sea scattered all over the ground like raindrops.