Chapter 16: Don’t Blame Me for Being Impolite


Frowning even more tightly, Shen Zaive took a deep breath, his movements swift and precise. After just a few stitches, Taohua was jolted completely awake by the pain.

“If you want my life…there’s no need to torment me like this.” With her eyes half-open, Jiang Taohua felt dizzy and her head throbbing, so much so that she couldn’t even lift her hands, and even speaking required great effort.

Despite this, she still reached out to pinch his arm, twisting it with all her might.

Without even batting an eyelid, Shen Zaijia continued with his precise and ruthless needlework. As the needle passed through her skin and flesh, sensing her painful flinch, he actually smiled and said, “So you do feel pain after all.”

Who doesn’t feel pain? Jiang Taohua was furious, sweat on her forehead mixing with tears streaming down her face, her chin resting on his shoulder as she simply rubbed it all over his clothes.

Shen Zaiye was actually a bit nervous inside, after all, sewing up someone’s wound was his first time doing it, and the other person was a conscious woman, her sobs suppressed in her throat, all of which he could hear.

But as he thought about this woman’s actions, his eyes darkened; he truly felt not the slightest bit of pity for her!

“There’s something I’m quite curious about,” Shen Zaizhe asked carelessly, his hands covered in blood. “How did you know what I wanted to do?”

Tao Hua was in so much pain that she rolled her eyes. “Your Majesty… do you think your humble concubine can manage a lengthy explanation right now?”

The needle pierced through her flesh, and the thread at the back tugged at the wound—this torment wasn’t something that ended in an instant. One stitch, two stitches, three stitches; just when she thought the pain had peaked, it grew even more unbearable, unending and excruciating, clawing at her heart and lungs.

This was far less effortless than setting a bone had been. Her whole body was trembling uncontrollably, her lips turning pale, and she didn’t even have the strength left to pinch Shen Zaiji.

“If you can’t manage a long explanation, then listen to me ask slowly. Once you have the energy, you can answer all at once.” Shen Zaiji pursed his lips, speaking while he sutured. “This wound was your own doing, wasn’t it? You brought it upon yourself. But why were you so certain that the Southern Prince would definitely save you?”

This was what he was most curious about. He clearly hadn’t shown any special favor toward the Southern Prince; everything had been conducted according to proper etiquette. So how had Jiang Taohua managed to pin the Southern Prince down?

The person lying on him made no further sound, likely already delirious from the pain.

Shen Zaizhe looked at the wound and sneered, “Anyway, you’ve won this round. The Southern King no longer trusts me and insists on protecting your life. He said if you die, no matter who kills you, he will blame it on me and part ways with me.”

“Jiang Taohua, you blindly stumbled upon an incredible weakness, making me want to kill you right now, yet leaving me completely helpless, forced to surrender.”

Taohua’s mind was completely blank, but she could still hear his words and couldn’t help curling the corners of her mouth into a faint smile.

She had won. She hadn’t made the wrong bet. Although half her life was gone, at least half still remained.

So it seems that Shen Zaijie not only cannot kill her now, but must instead spare no effort to keep her safe. For someone so adept at scheming, being tricked by her all of a sudden must have stirred up quite a bit of anger, right?

No wonder he is now dealing with her so ruthlessly.

With that thought, even the pain of the piercing felt like nothing to Peach Blossom. Resting her head on his shoulder, she even let out a light chuckle.

Squinting his eyes slightly, Shen Zaice tilted his head, leaning close to her ear and whispering softly, “Don’t get too full of yourself. The only thing you can keep is your life.”

If she offended him while still residing in his prime minister’s residence, what kind of good days could she possibly have ahead?

Jiang Taohua didn’t say a word, but deep down, she didn’t really care. The journey ahead had to be taken one step at a time. She had successfully taken the first step, and the ones that followed would be much easier to navigate.

As the final stitch was sewn, Shen Zaice cut the catgut and withdrew the needle. Glancing at the gruesome wound, he remarked, “Starting today, you don’t have to serve me anymore. Just looking at it is nauseating.”

Sweat and tears streamed down the bridge of her nose. Peach Blossom had no strength left to argue with him; as soon as she slipped from his arms, she collapsed onto the bed, frowning as she drifted into unconsciousness.

Twenty-eight stitches, and not a single cry of pain—how could such a person be a woman? She was practically a monster.

Shen Zaiye stood up, wrung a towel with the hot water brought by Moss, wiped the blood off her body, washed his hands, and then walked out.

Mu Wuxia had been waiting outside, even suspecting for a moment that Peach Blossom had stopped breathing—otherwise, why would there be absolutely no sound from within?

But when Shen Zaiye emerged, he smiled and said to him: “The wound has been stitched. Have the medic apply the medicine and provide care.”

Mu Wuxia was taken aback, turned to glance at the medic, who promptly bowed and entered the room.

“You finished stitching her?”

Shen Zaiye nodded, meeting the young prince’s skeptical gaze with composure: “Since Your Highness has bound her fate to this humble official’s, naturally, I shall take responsibility for her.”

“That’s good.” With a relaxed expression, Mu Wuxia sighed softly, “If you had been like this from the start, there wouldn’t have been all this trouble. No matter how perfect a lie is, it will eventually be exposed. Why didn’t you just be honest with me from the beginning?”

Shen Zaije smiled, his handsome features looking incredibly gentle under the sunlight. “Everything I do is solely for Your Highness’s benefit. As for how I go about it, you need not worry.”

So, does that mean this failed deception was just bad luck, and next time it will be even more seamless? The young prince’s brow furrowed once again. “If you want me to stay out of it, then do things that have nothing to do with me. But if it involves me and you try to deceive me again, dragging innocent people into it, then don’t blame me for cutting off your escape route with my own hands.”

Taking a light breath, Shen Zaixie lowered his gaze to look at him: “What good does it do Your Highness to make things difficult for your humble servant?”

“None.” Standing with his hands behind his back, Mu Wuxia met his gaze openly: “But it eases my own conscience, and it does me no harm.”

Their goals were the same, but the paths they took were different. Shen Zaixie had always strived to pull him onto his own path, but Mu Wuxia insisted on walking his own.

It was this very difference that gave Taohua the chance to survive today.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Zaiye continued to smile gently and elegantly: “I understand. Once the prime minister’s carriage arrives, I will take Madam Jiang back to the estate first.”

“Very well.” Mu Wuxia nodded. “However, from now on, this lord will often visit the residence to see Lady Jiang.”

“Your Highness is welcome to come by at any time.” Shen Zaiji pressed his lips together. “Just be mindful of your whereabouts.”

“Yeah.”

Zhanlu parked the carriage at the side gate of the Southern Prince’s residence. In full view of the Southern Prince, Shen Zaiye gently and tenderly carried Taohua into the carriage with his own hands.

The moment the carriage curtain fell, Jiang Taohua was roughly tossed onto the soft cushion.

She grunted but still did not wake. Shen Zaiye closed his eyes briefly before opening the carriage window beside him, smiling as he called out to the Southern Prince, “No need to see us off, Your Highness.”

Mu Wuxia nodded and stood at the gate, watching the carriage depart from the main road in front of him before turning back inside.

“My lord,” Zhanlu urged his horse alongside the carriage and spoke in a low voice, “Since the plan has changed, what should we do regarding Prince Jing?”

Rubbing his temples, Shen Zaive said, “First, go inform the manor. Have the steward fetch a royal physician from the palace, saying that Lady Jiang is injured.”

Zhanlu was puzzled: “But the lady’s injuries have already…”

“Do as you’re told.”

“Yes.” Lowering his head in response, Zhan Lu didn’t ask any further questions, spurring his horse to race ahead to the Prime Minister’s residence.

Lying on Shen Zaoye’s lap, Peach Blossom, as if sensing she was being schemed against again, unconsciously furrowed her brow.

Shen Zaoye lowered his head, his fingers gently tracing her face, deep in thought with an unfathomable glint in his eyes, whispering softly, “Since you’re so clever, then there’s no need to be polite.”

The quiet waters of the Prime Minister’s mansion had long needed someone to stir them up. Since she had fallen into the water and survived, it would be better to let her create a few more ripples.

Jiang Taohua in the dream naturally couldn’t hear Shen Zaiye’s words; she was walking on a vast expanse of water, where each step she took sent ripples spreading outward in circles.

“Where is this?” Taohua was astonished. The wound on her waist still hurt badly, yet her entire body felt as light as if she were flying.

In the distance stood a magnificent palace, with glazed tiles and soaring eaves adorned with mythical beasts meant to guard the roof. A staircase of white marble stretched all the way from the palace gates to the water’s edge.

“This is the Imperial Palace,” a voice told her. “If one day you can step inside here and win the heart of the highest among men, then all of Great Wei shall be yours!”

“Mine?” Peach Blossom’s eyes sparkled with excitement: “Can I really do whatever I want?”

“Yes.” The voice answered her: “All your wishes can be fulfilled.”

That’s fantastic! Overjoyed, Peach Blossom picked up her skirt and started running in that direction. But she hadn’t taken more than two steps before a sharp pain in her waist forced her to stop. Frowning, she stared ahead.

“Before you run off, keeping yourself alive should be the top priority.” The voice spoke again: “Peach Blossom, are you risking your life again?”

I do, when has she ever said no? But this tone sounds so familiar… Jiang Taohua furrowed her brow and looked around: “Your voice, who are you?”

The speaker paused briefly, and then a basin of water was suddenly splashed all over her!

“Ah!” Shivering from the cold, Jiang Taohua quickly opened her eyes, her consciousness blurrily muttering: “Even if I don’t remember your name, you can’t just splash water on me!”

The room fell silent for a moment, and then Qingtai’s stern and sharp voice was heard: “Lady Gu!”

Gu Huairou stood by the bed holding a water basin, her expression caught between a smile and not. “Oh, I… I just wanted to help wipe down Lady Jiang’s body, but you kept pulling at my hand… Lady Jiang, are you all right?”

A cold breeze blew in through the window, and Peach Blossom shivered, instantly wide awake. Feeling the water on her face and body, she turned her head to look at the person standing by the bed.

She wore a purple top paired with a yellow brocade skirt, the patterns exquisite but using small flowers and scattered leaves. It seemed her status was similar to Peach Blossom’s. Her face was thin and sharp like a cone, with a pointed chin, making her eyes appear large. Her eyebrows were so fine they were almost invisible.

From the look in her eyes, she didn’t seem like someone easy to get along with. Peach Blossom wondered how she had offended her, to warrant such a direct visit to splash water on her?

“Who is this?”

Qingtai frowned, wanting to flare up but held back due to her status. She could only suppress her anger and say, “This is Lady Gu from Wenqing Pavilion, she holds the same rank as you.”
    Since they share the same rank, there’s no reason for her to be treated like this, right?