<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 12: Playing Weak to Outsmart the Strong
The North Gate Pavilion was already arranged early in the morning, so there shouldn\u2019t be any need to worry. However, for some reason, on this rare day off, Shen Zaiye didn\u2019t go anywhere and simply lay on the recliner in the courtyard, lost in thought.
Zhan Lu stood to the side, glancing at his master\u2019s absent gaze, and softly coughed. \u201cThe weather is rather pleasant today; perhaps you\u2019d like to visit the palace for a look?\u201d
His gaze sharpened into focus. Shen Zaiye turned his head, the loose strands of his dark hair obscuring half his eye, giving him an utterly languid appearance.
\u201cI\u2019m tired, I don\u2019t want to move.\u201d
From getting up until now, all I\u2019ve done is escort someone to the Spring-Contending Pavilion. What\u2019s so tiring about that? Zhanlu couldn\u2019t understand and couldn\u2019t help but reach out to feel his master\u2019s forehead.
Are you alright\u2026
Shen Zaifei frowned and pushed his hand away. \u201cIf you have time to stand there, you might as well go see how things are going.\u201d
\u201cMaster, rest assured,\u201d Zhan Lu replied. \u201cEverything is proceeding according to plan. Lady Jiang is completely unsuspecting. Once she consumes the specially prepared meal at noon, it will be time for her to depart.\u201d
\u201cWhat if she doesn\u2019t eat it?\u201d
\u201cIt\u2019s unlikely. The household deliberately didn\u2019t prepare any breakfast for Lady Jiang, and with Prince Jing present at the table, even if just for appearances, she will certainly take a few bites. Even if she truly refuses, the maid standing nearby will feed it to her.\u201d Zhan Lu pondered for a moment, then added, \u201cBut she should eat it on her own.\u201d
\u201cIs that so,\u201d Shen Zaidi nodded, lying back down to gaze at the clouds in the sky, letting out a soft sigh.
To others, this sigh seemed unremarkable, but to Zhan Lu, it was startling. His pupils contracted slightly as he cast a suspicious glance at him.
Zhan Lu had been by Shen Zaiye\u2019s side for so long that he could detect shifts in his emotions through the nuances of his tone. The last time he had sighed like this was two years ago, upon leaving that place. It was heavy, tinged with regret, but as the final note fell, it carried a resolute and unwavering resolve, as if he had made a difficult yet inevitable decision.
For two years, the master\u2019s emotions had never again experienced such a profound fluctuation. How could today\u2026
Frowning, Zhan Lu pursed his lips, took a few steps back, and gestured to the person standing at the courtyard gate. He asked, \u201cHow are things at the North Gate Pavilion?\u201d
The servant looked panicked, hesitating for a long time before saying, \u201cJust now, the Kyoto magistrate\u2019s office sent word that the Prime Minister\u2019s carriage was ambushed on the road\u2026 They are currently investigating the situation.\u201d
What happened? Zhanlu was startled and quickly turned to report the situation but almost bumped into Shen Zaiye\u2019s chin.
\u201cIf something happened, why didn\u2019t you report it earlier?\u201d Shen Zaiye stood right behind Zhanlu, his expression somewhat grim. \u201cIf I hadn\u2019t asked, were you planning to keep it hidden all along?\u201d
The servant\u2019s face turned deathly pale, and he immediately knelt to the ground, saying, \u201cYour Excellency, please understand\u2014the news just arrived, and I was about to go in and report it\u2026\u201d
\u201cHow long has this been going on?\u201d Shen Zaive impatiently cut him off and asked.
\u201cAbout\u2026 half an hour.\u201d
\u201cWorthless!\u201d
Angrily yanking his cloak, Shen Zaijie stormed out with a darkened expression: \u201cWhen did the news within the Prime Minister\u2019s residence become so slow?\u201d
Zhanlu hurried after him, whispering, \u201cYou only shut down the Wind Catcher Hall two days ago.\u201d
The people in the Wind Catcher Hall were responsible for relaying messages within the Prime Minister\u2019s residence. However, due to the presence of a traitor, Shen Zaijie had furiously ordered its closure. For now, no one could deliver news back as swiftly as they once had.
With a cold snort, Shen Zaiye mounted his horse and, without a word, rode off toward the North Gate Pavilion.
The officers from the capital\u2019s yamen were monitoring the situation at the street corner. Recognizing the carriage as belonging to the prime minister\u2019s residence, none dared to act rashly. However, the three individuals lying nearby were all unconscious, and the carriage was empty. If someone of importance had been abducted, it could spell serious trouble. Thus, the city officials frantically deliberated on a course of action, yet hesitated to immediately inform the prime minister\u2019s estate.
Traffic at this intersection was sparse, with no witnesses to shed light on the incident. Investigating the matter would prove exceedingly challenging.
The constable was lost in thought, staring blankly at the carriage, when he was abruptly startled by the whinny of a horse behind him. Before he could even turn around, he felt someone yank at the collar of his robe.
\u201cWhere is the person?\u201d
Shen Zaive\u2019s expression was relaxed, as if he had just casually asked the question, but the chill in his eyes made the young constable\u2019s legs go weak. The constable hastily replied, \u201cI don\u2019t know, sir! It seems something happened here, the person in the carriage is gone\u2026\u201d
Frowning slightly, Shen Zaisong released him, gently patting his clothes: \u201cIf someone is missing, won\u2019t you go look?\u201d
\u201c\u2026Yes!\u201d The chief constable shuddered and quickly waved his hand, sending the constables present scattering in all directions, dispatching people to chase down every street.
What could possibly be caught like this? Suppressing the anger in his heart, Shen Zaisong lifted the carriage curtain to look around, then glanced at the three people lying nearby.
\u201cZhanlu, wake them up.\u201d
\u201cYes.\u201d
Fetching a basin of water and splashing it onto the three faces, two of them immediately woke up.
\u201cPrime Minister!\u201d The two guards knelt in panic.
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Shen Zaiju glanced down at them coldly. \u201cDid you have no means to resist at all?\u201d
Startled, the guards quickly explained, \u201cIt wasn\u2019t that we didn\u2019t resist, but we were caught off guard. Someone struck us from behind, knocking us unconscious before we could react.\u201d
From behind? Shen Zaiji was stunned, then glanced around again: \u201cHow many people did you bring out?\u201d
\u201cAnswering Your Excellency, four.\u201d
Four? Tightening his lips, Shen Zaiji narrowed his eyes slightly.
There were no signs of a struggle in the carriage, and two guards were missing. Compared to being kidnapped, the possibility that the woman had taken people and run away on her own was greater, wasn\u2019t it?
But why is she running? Could that silly, dull person actually have sensed danger ahead?
\u201cZhan Lu, you go first to calm Prince Jing.\u201d After a moment of thought, Shen Zaicheng lowered his voice and instructed: \u201cI will go back to change clothes and then keep the appointment. The rest of you, return to the Prime Minister\u2019s residence to check the number of people. If two guards are missing, immediately search all parts of the capital. If none are missing\u2026 then have the Kyoto magistrate\u2019s office look for them.\u201d
\u201cYes!\u201d Everyone present sprang into action, carrying out their assigned tasks according to the instructions.
Shen Zaizie remounted, holding the reins as he pondered for a moment, then gently shook his head before whipping his horse to gallop back at full speed.
I hope it\u2019s not as he suspects, Jiang Taohua is already dangerous enough; if she\u2019s also intelligent, then we\u2019ll truly be in trouble.
It was not yet noon, yet the sky had inexplicably grown overcast. The sun vanished, and the wind picked up even more. The side gate of the Southern Prince\u2019s manor was half-open, and before long, someone came running out.
\u201cLady Jiang?\u201d
Gazing at the person leaning against the door, Mu Wuxia\u2019s face was filled with shock: \u201cYou, how could you\u2026\u201d
Jiang Taohua\u2019s plain skirt was stained with a gruesome amount of blood, leaving her complexion pale and ashen, as if she had suffered severe injuries.
\u201cYour Highness.\u201d At the sight of him, Peach Blossom\u2019s eyes instantly reddened: \u201cCould Your Highness possibly save my life?\u201d
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Mu Wuxia was extremely panicked, crouching down beside her with a furrowed brow: \u201cWounded like this, why didn\u2019t you tell Prime Minister Shen?\u201d
\u201cCan\u2019t tell him.\u201d Peach Blossom shook her head, gasping for breath as she said: \u201cFor the full details, Your Highness can listen to me slowly once we\u2019re inside the room. For now, I must ask you to think of a way to get me into your quarters without anyone noticing.\u201d
Mu Wuxia was stunned for a moment, then quickly calmed down: \u201cI understand.\u201d
Since she sent her maid to secretly enter the manor and deliver a message, she naturally did not want to be discovered by others. Mu Wuxia immediately went inside and shooed all the servants to the backyard, claiming he would address them later. Then, wrapping Peach Blossom in a cloak, he had Qing Tai carry her inside.
\u201cThe people in this mansion are all shrewd, I must first go and attend to them for a moment.\u201d
After settling her in the inner chamber of his own room, Mu Wuxia said, \u201cWait here for a moment.\u201d
\u201cAlright,\u201d Jiang Taohua nodded, watching Mu Wuxia depart.
\u201cMaster,\u201d Qingtai sat nervously by the bedside, \u201cWill the prince believe us?\u201d
\u201cOther princes certainly would not,\u201d Peach Blossom whispered, taking a soft breath and pressing a hand to her side, her lips pressed together. \u201cBut Prince Nan is different\u2014he\u2019s entirely youthful at heart, full of a sense of justice, and he already harbors doubts about Shen Zaijia.\u201d
As long as she guessed and pieced together even half-truths, he would undoubtedly believe her.
Green Moss sighed, unable to help muttering under her breath, \u201cI once thought marrying into Great Wei would be something good\u2014never imagined it would be a matter of life and death like this. If only I\u2019d known earlier\u2026\u201d
\u201cDon\u2019t talk about useless things,\u201d Peach Blossom retorted with a curl of her lips. \u201cFate is set by heaven\u2014no one has the right to know beforehand. Since we\u2019re already here, better think about how to live well.\u201d
She originally thought marrying the wrong person was a good thing, but she never expected to fall into an even bigger pit. Shen Zaiye was an utterly ruthless man, wasting his good looks for nothing. There was no need for her to hold any other expectations for him; it was time to resort to framing and plotting. Keeping her own life safe was what mattered most.
Moss remained silent, gazing at her with a look full of heartache. Peach Blossom, however, didn\u2019t seem too bothered. She waited for the Southern Prince to return while still lost in her own thoughts.
Mu Wuxia truly didn\u2019t stay away for long. Upon returning, he closed the door tightly, strode over to the bedside, and asked, \u201cAre you alright?\u201d
Jiang Taohua smiled, \u201cIt might not be great, but your trust in me truly surprises me. Aren\u2019t you afraid I might be a bad person?\u201d
\u201cThis prince\u2019s judgment of people is quite accurate.\u201d Pulling over a nearby stool and sitting down, the young prince raised his chin, speaking with great confidence, \u201cFrom our last meeting, I already knew you couldn\u2019t be a bad person.\u201d
Where on earth did he get the idea that she wasn\u2019t bad? Taohua froze for a moment, then glanced down at herself suspiciously.
\u201cYour injuries\u2014should you see a doctor first?\u201d Mu Wuxia frowned.
\u201cWait until I finish speaking, Master. If you believe me, then you can call a doctor. If not, there\u2019s no need to call one.\u201d Peach Blossom took a few shallow breaths, her gaze burning as she looked at him.
Slightly pausing, Mu Wuxia nodded. \u201cGo ahead, tell me what\u2019s really going on.\u201d
\u201cPrime Minister Shen wants to kill me.\u201d
\u201c\u2026\u201d Taking a soft breath, the young master\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cWhy?\u201d
\u201cBecause he wanted the Prince of Jing to take the blame for killing the princess of Zhao, thereby deepening the rift between the emperor and the Prince of Jing. And at the same time, he could also get rid of me, lest I stay in the Prime Minister\u2019s residence any longer and disturb his peace of mind.\u201d Staring directly at the Prince of Nan, Jiang Taohua spoke word by word:
\u201cThe most important reason is likely because of you. Killing me would benefit you the most, Prince of Nan.\u201d
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