Chapter 21: Each Takes What They Need


After some thought, Yaotao whispered softly, “In this servant’s humble opinion, if you wish for her assistance but do not want to be implicated by her, simply form a private alliance without causing her harm. As for on the surface, just maintain appearances, not letting the master think you are too close to her.”

“So you mean, I just have to do nothing?” Gu Huairou pondered for a moment. “That deal seems quite profitable.”

Jiang Taohua likely intended to find allies in this inner courtyard. Since she was so shrewd in her calculations, she must not be allowed to take advantage of her. Otherwise, she might end up serving as a mere stepping stone for others without any way to extricate herself.

Having made up her mind, Madame Gu returned to Wen Qing Pavilion and found a red sachet, then sent Jin Yu to take it to Zhen Chun Pavilion.

Peach Blossom had just finished a bowl of donkey-hide gelatin chicken soup and was chewing on red dates as a snack when she saw Qing Tai come in holding the sachet.

“Her response was quite swift indeed.” Peach Blossom reached out, took the sachet, and examined it with a light laugh. “Qing Tai, what do you think Madame Gu means by this?”

Qing Tai gave her mistress a puzzled look. “What else could it mean? Didn’t you just say that if Madame Gu agreed with you, she would send this? Now that she has sent it, it must surely mean she agrees.”

Even though she was still feeling unwell, Taohua managed to roll her eyes with effort and said, “If everyone had such simple thoughts as yours, the phrase ‘a person’s heart lies hidden behind their chest’ would never have existed in this world.”

“…Could it be that she has some other hidden meaning?” Qingtai didn’t quite understand, glancing at the sachet twice: “How did you figure that out?”

“It’s quite clear that Lady Gu wants me to lend her a hand but is also afraid of getting dragged down by me. So, she plans to form an alliance by sending this sachet, hoping to enjoy my protection without actually having to do anything for me.”

Reaching out to set the sachet aside, Taohua chuckled lightly: “That way, she only stands to gain without any losses, which is why she made the decision so quickly to send the sachet over. Otherwise, she would have taken longer to think it through.”

Qing Tai twitched at the corner of his mouth. “You… even calculated this?”

“Of course.” Rubbing her forehead, Tao Hua wearily lay down. “I knew from the start she wouldn’t help without hesitation, so I never intended to truly board the same boat with her. Judging by Shen Zaoye’s initial move to target her, it’s unlikely she’ll have an easy time in the future. As long as she doesn’t make things difficult for me and we don’t drag each other down, that’s fine by me.”

Moss: “…”

This master’s lips are still pale now, and judging by her expression, she’s not feeling too good either. Yet she still has the energy to spare to think so much—it’s simply terrifying.

“You should lie down for a while first,” she whispered softly. “We still have to change the bandages later.”

Each time the gauze was peeled off to change the medicine was pure torture. Hearing this, Peach Blossom quickly closed her eyes to rest, but even with them closed, she didn’t forget to give an order: “Go and find out about the daily supplies and expenses in this estate.”

“Yes.”

The long-quiet backyard of the Prime Minister’s residence finally saw some commotion. Shen Zaijie stayed at the Contending Spring Pavilion for three days, summoned an imperial physician for Jiang Taohua, and severely punished Lady Gu who had come to cause trouble. These pieces of news spread like wildfire through every courtyard in no time.

“This is going to be quite a show.” Madam Qin, sitting beside Mei Zhaoxue, cracked a melon seed and remarked: “Lady Gu is sharp-tongued and willful. Being punished like this, she’ll surely feel her pride is wounded and will definitely make things difficult for Lady Jiang. Tonight was supposed to be Lady Meng’s turn to attend to the master, and tomorrow night it’s Lady Duan’s. Both of them are of the same rank as Lady Jiang, and in terms of seniority, they’re even more established than her. Yet, Lady Jiang has snatched away their favor twice in a row. The grudge is bound to run deep.”

Mei Zhaoxue chuckled softly, fiddling with the tea set in front of her: “As long as it doesn’t involve us, we can just enjoy the show. Neither Lady Meng nor Lady Duan is easy to deal with. We’ll just keep our distance and make sure not to get any blood on our skirts.”

Qin Jieyu nodded, her face beaming with a bright smile. Her lips moved slightly as she spat a melon seed shell far away.

Shen Zaixue acted as if he knew nothing at all. During the day, he attended court and handled his duties, and at night, he went to the Contending Spring Pavilion to personally feed Taohua her medicine.

Jiang Taohua looked at him with a smiling expression, refusing to open her mouth.

“This is a blood-supplementing medicine,” Shen Zaiye said with a smile. “I’m personally feeding you, and you still won’t take it?”

Resolutely shaking her head, Taohua smiled and reached out to Qingtai, saying, “Silver needle.”

Qingtai respectfully handed it over, and Taohua took the needle, placing it into the medicine to test it.

Squinting, Shen Zaiye still wore a smile on his face: “Are you worried that I might poison you?”

“This concubine isn’t worried about you, my lord.” Seeing that the silver needle was fine, Tao Hua smiled as she took the medicine and leaned against the bedside, saying, “Didn’t the Southern Prince say it? This concubine’s life is entrusted to you, and you cannot kill me. But with so many people in this courtyard, it’s inevitable that someone might accidentally use the wrong medicine. There’s no harm in trying it out.”

Watching her drink the medicine spoonful by spoonful herself, Shen Zaiye chuckled, “You certainly are cautious.”

“To live under your watchful eye, it’s hard not to face hardship,” Peach Blossom bowed her head towards him, wearing an obedient expression. “But now that I belong to you, my lord, why must you always think of giving me a hard time?”

Shen Zaimei raised an eyebrow, gazing at the pale neck she exposed as she lowered her head. He reached out to pinch her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

“Where do you see that I’m giving you a hard time? For your sake, I kept the imperial physician from returning to the palace all night.”

Meeting his deep, penetrating eyes, Peach Blossom replied calmly, “I heard you heavily punished Mistress Gu.”

“She was naive and ought to be punished.”

“My lord, aren’t you being a bit too harsh?” Peach Blossom smiled gently. “First, Lady Gu didn’t deliberately cause trouble for me, and second, she hasn’t caused any serious harm. Why should she be forbidden from serving in your chambers for half a year?”

“Are you pleading on her behalf?” Shen Zaiye was surprised. “With fewer nights for her, you’ll have more nights to serve. Aren’t you pleased about that?”

Who on earth would want to share a bed with a venomous snake? Jiang Taohua sneered inwardly, but on the surface, she remained gentle and soft-spoken. “I haven’t given it much thought. I simply feel that everything should be dealt with fairly. Not only is Lady Gu being harshly punished unfairly, but others in the courtyard might also think that my lord has been bewitched by me and is therefore showing favoritism, which would make them resent me. Isn’t this, my lord, making things difficult for me?”

She actually saw through it? Shen Zaiye lowered his gaze, reflecting on himself. Had he still underestimated this woman? Clearly, he had been showing favor towards her. In the case of anyone else, they would have been carried away by arrogance long ago. How could she remain so clear-headed, saying such things and even analyzing the drawbacks?

With a slight flicker in his eyes, Shen Zaiye said, “It seems I didn’t consider this thoroughly. But the rules have already been established. If I show leniency to Lady Gu now, it might make me appear unreliable. As for this matter…”

“This concubine has a solution.” Interrupting him, Jiang Taohua reached for the sachet by the pillow. “This is a small gift Lady Gu sent as an apology. To know one’s mistakes and correct them is the greatest good. It is said that Lady Gu has a proud nature, yet she was willing to lower her head and admit her wrongs. Why not be a little more forgiving, my lord, and gain a reputation for magnanimity?”

Shen Zaiye lifted his eyes, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment. “Lady Gu came to apologize to you?”

“Yes, it was nothing significant to begin with, yet she troubled herself to come and apologize. I truly feel embarrassed about it.”

Is this a lie? Shen Zaiye didn’t believe it. With Madam Gu’s temperament, she would definitely make a huge fuss—how could she possibly do nothing and even apologize to Jiang Taohua in return? She wasn’t that sensible.

He turned his head and glanced at Zhanlu. Zhanlu bowed and leaned close to his ear, whispering, “Madam Gu did come to the Spring Strife Pavilion this afternoon.”

“……”

Shen Zaiye remained silent, gazing at the pale-faced person before him who was forcing a smile. Only after a long while did he finally speak. “How did you do it?”

“What are you talking about, my lord?” Peach Blossom looked utterly innocent. “What have I done?”

“If you truly did nothing wrong, would the Gu family come to apologize?”

Blinking her eyes, with a clear and innocent gaze, Peach Blossom said, “I truly haven’t done anything. It’s likely that Madam Gu felt guilty and came on her own.”

This kind of excuse might fool outsiders, but to fool him? Shen Zaile chuckled, reaching out to take the bowl from which Taohua had just finished her medicine and placing it heavily on the nearby tray.

The clear, crisp sound made everyone in the room tense up. Jiang Taohua raised her eyelids and looked at him calmly: “It’s perfectly fine, my lord, why are you so upset?”

“I don’t like women who lie,” Shen Zaile said with a dark expression. “Especially those who think themselves clever enough to try and manipulate me.”

Taohua straightened up, frowning slightly before relaxing her brow, and looked at him calmly: “Please calm down, my lord. I am only trying to protect my life; it doesn’t directly conflict with you. Why bother caring so much?”

Was it her own presumptuous cleverness that angered him, or had she truly guessed his thoughts and provoked his shameful rage? Jiang Taohua could not be oblivious. This kind of intimidation might frighten other women, but she had grown up amidst fear—she was long past being afraid.

Shen Zaive’s eyes were like sharp swords, piercing her from head to toe. In the end, he seemed to notice she showed no trace of fear and finally abandoned his intimidation, directly asking:

“Is your true intention merely to preserve your life, or do you desire something else?”

Taohua smiled gently. “Rest assured, my lord, this humble servant only wishes to preserve her life—after all, without life, there is nothing. All other matters, this servant can cooperate with you, but those that place her in perilous circumstances—my lord must not blame her for prioritizing self-preservation.”

The meaning was clear—it didn’t matter how he stirred his backyard; as long as it didn’t threaten her life, she would comply obediently. That idea of temporarily lifting her to the heavens only to let her fall to her death—best not to bring it up again.

Shen Zaijing watched her quietly, his gaze filled with pressure. Jiang Taohua looked back at him gently, even with a smile.

The atmosphere in the room was tense, like a fully drawn bow—either the bow would break, or the arrow would be released. Qingtai and Zhanlu stood nearby, not daring to breathe heavily, their backs already damp with sweat.

After a long silence, Shen Zaije actually let out a light chuckle. He reached out and took her hand into his palm, saying, “If that’s the case, why don’t we cooperate properly, each getting what they need? What do you say?”

“What does Young Master want this humble concubine to do?” Peach Blossom asked playfully, tilting her head.

“Just act like an ordinary woman, do whatever you normally would in the rear courtyard.” Shen Zaije lifted his hand, gently smoothing her long hair. “As for your life, as long as I am here, it will not be lost.”

“And what will serve as assurance?” Peach Blossom said. “Young Master had also promised Nan Wang that this humble concubine’s life would be safe, but sadly, words were not matched by deeds. Without proof, this humble concubine dares not easily trust Young Master.”