Chapter 3: The Great Wei Prime Minister, Shen Zaoye
Qing Tai replied, “I’ve already inquired about him. Prime Minister Shen is twenty-six years old, has countless concubines, but no offspring. It seems he is deeply trusted by the emperor, holds a high position with great power, and wields considerable influence in the court.”
Jiang Taohua’s eyes suddenly lit up. She blinked and asked,
“Is this Prime Minister’s influence even greater than the Southern King’s?”
“That’s for sure,” Qing Tai nodded. “King Nan is too young and holds no power or influence. He only has the title of prince, and among the imperial sons, he is the least favored.”
In other words, she missed out on a prince but ended up with an even more formidable prime minister?
That’s not a bad deal at all!
Jiang Taohua immediately perked up, chuckled twice, and began looking around the room.
“Go find me a rope.”
“Princess?” Qing Tai frowned. “What do you plan to do?”
“Don’t be nervous,” Peach Blossom said casually. “I’m just hanging myself.”
Moss: “…”
“Hey, don’t press down on me, it hurts!”
Seeing how her maid had immediately pounced on her in a panic, Peach Blossom felt both amused and exasperated.
Pinned tightly against the bed, she finally seized an opportunity to speak.
“I don’t want to die, really! But right now the situation is that I, your princess, have been wrongly married. If I don’t hang myself, others will think I’m trying to take advantage and curry favor with the prime minister—that I’m just someone who climbs the social ladder!”
Moss stopped moving and gave her a strange look.
Understanding her gaze, Peach Blossom slyly chuckled and patted her shoulder kindly.
“Little girl, you still have a long way to go learning from your princess. If you want to stay alive, you’ll have to hide what’s on your mind and act your part properly, understand?”
“…This servant will go find some rope.”
“Good girl.”
Sitting up from the bed, Jiang Taohua immediately got into character.
She hurried to the dressing table, applied powder to her face, and put on a sad, pitiful, and weary look.
Then she took the rope Qing Tai had found and threw it over the roof beam.
“Go wait outside and let me know when someone’s coming.”
“Yes,” Qing Tai replied, glancing at her with concern. “Princess, that rope…”
“Don’t worry, it’s a slipknot,” Taohua reassured her confidently as she stepped onto the stool.
Moss nodded and went out.
As soon as she closed the door, someone announced outside,
“The Prime Minister has returned to the residence!”
“Ah, so fast?”
Startled, Moss hurriedly shouted into the room,
“He’s here!”
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Taohua grabbed the rope, slipped her head into the noose, kicked her feet, and began swinging.
However, after swaying back and forth three times, her face flushed red—but no one pushed the door open.
What’s going on?
Struggling to hold on, Peach Blossom could no longer catch her breath. She quickly loosened the knot and collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air.
At that very moment, the door was pushed open.
Peach Blossom raised her head in disbelief and found herself staring wide-eyed at a man.
Though she had never seen this face before, she could intuitively guess who it was.
“Prime Minister Shen?”
The man raised his eyebrows slightly.
His features were sharp and distinct—brows straight as swords, nose high and refined. His phoenix eyes carried a natural softness, yet his bearing was overwhelming. Though a faint smile rested on his lips, it sent a chill down the spine, like being watched by a beast.
There was no denying he was handsome.
But he was clearly not someone to be trifled with.
As he stepped closer, Jiang Taohua instinctively retreated.
“Our last meeting was rushed and awkward, so I did not properly greet you,” he said gently, leaning down.
“Now, we finally meet formally.”
A faint glimmer flickered in his eyes.
“Grand Wei Prime Minister Shen Zaoye, at your service, Princess.”
Shen Zaoye.
Peach Blossom forced a smile.
“Greetings, Prime Minister Shen. Could you allow me to rise first?”
“Of course.”
Quite polite.
Is this the same person as that beast from last night?
However, after speaking, Shen Zaoye reached out and lifted her into his arms.
His eyes locked onto hers.
“Was the princess just trying to end her life?”
Her heart skipped.
Jiang Taohua turned away and, remembering her role, quickly covered her face and began to sob.
“At this point, if Taohua were to go on living, how could I face the people of the world?”
“What happened yesterday was truly a misunderstanding.”
Shen Zaoye sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, still holding her.
He glanced toward Qing Tai at the doorway.
The door closed obediently.
“I was drinking with Prince Jing at the Hefeng Pavilion. He mentioned presenting a beauty to me. I graciously accepted his kindness. Little did I expect that person would be…”
He paused.
“Last night, when we entered the palace, Prince Jing was severely punished. His Majesty bestowed the princess upon me. I wonder if the princess could endure this humiliation for the sake of Zhao Kingdom and live well?”
Jiang Taohua frowned.
“That can’t be right. How could Prince Jing mistake me for a beauty? I am a princess.”
“After encountering the wolf pack, the princess fled and lost her phoenix crown and embroidered gown,” Shen Zaoye explained calmly.
“Without proof of identity and mistakenly entering Hefeng Pavilion, it was natural to be mistaken.”
Taohua nodded at first—
Then paused.
“Wait. How did you know I lost my phoenix crown and robe?”
Shen Zaoye smiled faintly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Because the servants found them while searching.”
It sounded plausible.
Peach Blossom glanced at him and lowered her voice.
“The emperor has given me to you. What about Prince Nan?”
“Prince Nan is only sixteen. There is no need to rush his marriage.”
His tone was calm, almost gentle.
“I have already compensated him.”
So, aside from the unlucky Prince Jing, everyone seemed satisfied.
Peach Blossom pondered briefly.
Then suddenly clutched Shen Zaoye’s leg.
“From now on, this humble concubine belongs to you, Prime Minister!”
Shen Zaoye raised an eyebrow, glanced at the rope still hanging from the beam, then at the excited woman at his feet.
A faintly sarcastic smile curved his lips.
“Good. From today onward, Princess, you are a lady of this Prime Minister’s residence.”
“Thank you—wait.”
Something felt off.
“What do you mean by ‘lady’? Shouldn’t the legitimate wife be called ‘Furen’?”
“Hm. The legitimate wife is indeed called Furen.”
He looked at her evenly.
“Unfortunately, I already have one. His Majesty understands this well. I can only ask the princess to be slightly wronged and become a second-tier Niangzi.”
Jiang Taohua: “…”
He looked regretful.
His tone did not.
She suppressed the urge to slap him.
After thinking carefully, she understood the reality.
Her marriage had been Zhao’s desperate attempt to secure favor.
Wei had never truly intended to accept.
Now, becoming a secondary lady in the Prime Minister’s residence was, in truth, more advantageous than marrying the unfavored Prince Nan.
There was no better option.
“Thank you for your kindness, Prime Minister.”
She bowed.
“You’re excused,” Shen Zaoye replied.
“A steward will teach you the rules. Learn well.”
“I understand.”
She watched his back disappear from the courtyard.
Only after he left did she pull Qing Tai inside and lock the door.
“Princess?” Qing Tai asked. “Wasn’t everything going smoothly?”
Peach Blossom sat heavily on the bed.
“We may have fallen into a trap.”
“Trap?” Qing Tai looked startled. “Isn’t this better for you?”
Shaking her head, Jiang Taohua narrowed her eyes.
“Shen Zaoye feels like a poisonous snake. He lied.”
Qing Tai froze.
“How do you know?”
“Because I have a good memory.”
Her voice lowered.
“Even under the influence of the potion yesterday, I remember telling him my identity. His first reaction was to cover my mouth.”
An ordinary person would laugh it off.
But a court official aware of the marriage alliance?
He would not ignore it.
Yet Shen Zaoye stopped her from speaking further.
He wasn’t drunk.
He heard her clearly.
Which means—
When he claimed ignorance, that Prince Jing had mistakenly captured her—
That was a lie.
Shen Zaoye had known all along that she was the princess of Zhao.
And still, he chose to take her.
Why?
