Chapter 55

Chapter 55: The Price That Must Be Paid

Buying jewelry in the woods on the outskirts of the city? Shen Zaiju sneered and strode out with a flick of his sleeves, asking Zhanlu on the way, “Do you know what’s going on?”

“No news has come back yet, but from what I know, Miss Qingtai used your name to gather people at the government office early this morning.” Zhanlu frowned and said, “Since she already gathered people, why would she need to trouble you to go there yourself?”

Shen Zaiju fell silent, his mind racing until he suddenly remembered something—it seemed Prince Jing had gone to survey the western hills outside the city today.

His face darkened as he muttered quietly, “Surely they didn’t run into each other?”

He definitely did not want these two people to run into each other. Yet, apart from King Jing, he couldn’t think of anyone else who could leave her so helpless that she would need to send for him. If there had been even the slightest chance of turning the situation around, with Jiang Taohua’s quick wit, she would surely have escaped on her own.

Striding out the door, Shen Zaiye didn’t even glance at the carriage by the gate. He mounted his steed and galloped toward the outskirts of the city.

Prince Jing couldn’t hold back any longer, and directly picked Peach Blossom up, placing her onto his own horse.

“Noble sir!” Peach Blossom became a bit anxious. “This counts as forcibly abducting a respectable woman, isn’t it rather improper?”

Prince Jing turned and sat behind her, smiling as he drew her into his embrace. “Is it a forceful seizure? Are you unwilling to be with me?”

“Although you, honorable one, appear to wield great power and influence, likely belonging to the esteemed class of a prince,” swallowing a gulp, Peach Blossom pleaded pitifully, “but this humble woman only wishes to lead a simple and uneventful life.”

“This is indeed rare,” Prince Jing chuckled softly, leaning close to her ear. “If it were any other woman, she would have been overjoyed by now. But I just happen to admire your indifference to wealth and status.”

“……” Alright, I’ll change! Inside, Peach Blossom was screaming, struggling desperately, but with King Jing being so strong and robust, she was no match for him at all.

Moss watched anxiously, hiding behind the stone pile, stomping her feet in frustration. She even felt like throwing a stone at King Jing’s hand, but since he held her mistress in front of him, she dared not act recklessly.

Why hasn’t the Prime Minister arrived yet!

Just after cursing him inwardly a couple of times, she heard the sound of galloping hooves approaching rapidly from behind. Moss turned around and saw Shen Zaijie, his robes fluttering fiercely, riding like the wind. He swiftly passed by her, heading straight for King Jing’s direction.

The commotion was not small, drawing the attention of everyone on Prince Jing’s side, including Jiang Taohua, who all turned their heads to look at him.

“Prime Minister?” Prince Jing was somewhat surprised. Seeing this person rein in his horse before him, he couldn’t help but ask, “Why have you also left the city today?”

With a sweep of his eyes over the two people sharing the horse, Shen Zaiju’s gaze darkened slightly as he clasped his hands and said, “Shen has come solely to help guide Your Highness onto the right path to the summit.”

“What do you mean by that, Prime Minister?” Prince Jing frowned. “Is there something amiss in this king’s path to the summit?”

Shen Zaiye narrowed his eyes and looked at the woman in his arms: “Not before, but there is one now.”

Peach Blossom blinked, not daring to show any recognition of Shen Zaiye, yet her body trembled slightly in spite of herself—excitement at seeing a savior.

However, as she trembled, the King of Jing actually wrapped his arms around her belly and whispered softly, “Don’t be afraid. This is the Prime Minister of the court, not a bad person.”

Where did you get the idea that the Prime Minister isn’t a bad person? Peach Blossom couldn’t help but roll her eyes, but when she looked up, she saw Shen Zaiye’s face darken even more.

“Your Highness,” he said with a somber tone, “a woman of unknown origins, if you bring her back to the royal mansion, firstly, it will disappoint the princess consort, and secondly, if someone informs His Majesty, he will surely be displeased. The gates of the royal mansion are not meant for just anyone to enter.”

“She is not a woman of unknown origins,” Prince Jing frowned. “I’ve been looking for her for a long time. Ever since we parted ways at the casino last time, I haven’t been able to sleep soundly for half a month. She’s not a bad person and harbors no ill intentions.”

How could this naive fool think everyone he meets is a good person? Shen Zaixi and Jiang Peach Blossom exchanged a glance, both sharing the same thought—Prince Jing seemed to be missing a string when it came to judging people’s character!

“So you’re saying, this girl is the very one who caused you to be heavily punished by His Majesty last time?” Shen Zaijie was annoyed: “How can you be so stubborn, bewitched once wasn’t enough—haven’t you suffered enough?”

Prince Jing was taken aback for a moment, his lips pressed together slightly. “That was an accident last time, I was too impulsive. It won’t happen again. I will take her back to the palace and take good care of her.”

Irritated to the core, Shen Zaijie was itching to step forward and pull that foolish prince’s hand away, but reason told him it wasn’t the time yet.

He glanced down at Jiang Taohua, his eyes conveying a fierce warning: Stop using your seductive charms!

Tao Hua replied with tears she could no longer shed: “I am already of no use, yet this person remains so stubbornly misguided. How can this be my fault?”

Useless? If she was useless, how could the King of Jing be like this? Shen Zaixie didn’t believe it and opened his mouth to ask him, “Which aspect of this woman caught your attention?”

The King of Jing was startled, feeling a bit embarrassed. He lowered his head to look at the person in his arms and said, “This prince has never seen a woman as fresh and touching as her. Her eyes are too clear, making people can’t help but want to get close…”

“Your Highness!” Seeing this man’s head leaning in again, Tao Hua quickly covered her ears, her face slightly flushed.

Shen Zaixie’s jaw tightened slightly, and he let out a cold laugh, “I never expected Your Highness to also be someone infatuated with beauty. It seems Shen has misjudged.”

Startled, the King of Jing frowned and looked up at him: “What do you mean by that, Prime Minister?”

“Before His Majesty ascended the throne, he abstained completely from the company of women. It was only after his position was secure that he expanded his harem—a mark of a wise ruler.” Shen Zaïye’s gaze was icy, resting on the man’s hand as he continued, “But it seems Your Highness lacks the self-restraint to become a wise ruler. Therefore, I must take my leave, and from now on, we shall each go our separate ways.”

“Prime Minister!”

Horrified by these words, the King of Jing quickly urged his horse forward, blocking his path of departure, and anxiously pleaded, “Since you have already aided me this far, how can you abandon me now?”

“Your Highness, you refuse to heed counsel and instead dote on this seductive enchantress who bewitches her lord. I see no further need to assist you.” Shen Zaiye’s expression was stern and cold, his eyes brimming with disappointment as he looked at him. “While you embrace this woman, have you ever considered how those who stand behind you will view you?”

A sinking feeling settled in his heart. Prince Jing frowned and pondered for a moment, his expression twisted with conflict. He could not bear to part with this beauty, but even more, he could not bear to lose his kingdom.

“Can a kingdom and a beauty not be had together?” he asked unwillingly.

Shen Zaiye sneered coldly. “They can be had together, but one must first secure the kingdom before one is worthy of the beauty. The kingdom is not yet stable, yet you are already bewitched by a pretty face. Such a ruler, not to mention myself, I fear there are few among the civil and military officials in the court willing to pledge their loyalty.”

A cold sweat broke out on his back. The Prince of Jing released the peach blossom he had been holding and lowered his head in deep thought.

“If Your Highness is willing to turn back from the wrong path, Shen still has some confidence to continue protecting you on your way.” After giving him a glance, Shen Zaìyě’s expression finally improved a bit. He reached out and lifted the peach blossom in front of him onto his own horse.

Finally breathing a sigh of relief, Peach Blossom instinctively wanted to reach out and hug him, but with King Jing still nearby, she could only force herself to hold back, lifting her head to give him a pitiful glance.

Giving her an unamused glare, Shen Zaiye glanced at her and said to Prince Jing, “This woman has a sharp and mean face, clearly the look of one who would cause disaster to the country and misery to the people. Your Highness must not keep her by your side.”

With a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, Tao Hua reached up and touched his own face. How on earth could he bring calamity to the country! Or wreak havoc on the people! His features were actually quite auspicious for bringing prosperity to a husband, weren’t they?

Listening, King Jing still felt a hint of reluctance, his gaze lingering on her with longing.

Shen Zaiye scrutinized Taohua as if appraising produce in a market, turning her this way and that: “A nose too slender suggests poor fortune. A forehead too full might overshadow the husband’s blessings. Lips a tad thin are certain to be glib-tongued and crafty. How could the prince take a liking to such a woman?”

Jiang Taohua: “…”

Even though she knew it was just a temporary expedient to escape, she still felt like slapping him right in the face! Her features were widely regarded across the Great Wei as exquisitely refined and brimming with fortune—how did they become nothing but flaws when spoken from his mouth?

“Then how does the Prime Minister plan to deal with her?” The Jing Prince sighed as he asked.

Shen Zaijia narrowed his eyes: “Keeping this trouble in the world will surely keep Your Highness constantly worried. It would be better to kill her here, allowing you to continue with what needs to be done without any attachments.”

Sucking in a sharp breath, Tao Hua’s eyes widened: “I… this common girl is innocent! You officials can’t just treat human lives as trivial matters so easily!”

The Jing Prince was also startled: “Prime Minister, she has done nothing wrong. Killing an innocent person indiscriminately would be highly inappropriate.”

“From the moment she began to seduce you and drove you to distraction, she was no longer innocent.” Shen Zaiji snorted coldly, gesturing for the servant Zhulu behind him to pass over a small bottle.

Tao Hua didn’t recognize the bottle, but the Crown Prince was quite familiar with it. This “Leisure Powder” was commonly used by the royal family and officials. Despite its pleasant name, just one bottle could take a person’s life.

“Prime Minister…” The Crown Prince frowned as he looked at Tao Hua. “Don’t you feel it’s a pity to let such a woman die?”

“If you fail to secure the Eastern Palace’s position, that would be an even greater pity.” Pinching Tao Hua’s mouth open, Shen Zaiji lifted the bottle and poured its contents down her throat.

Peach Blossom struggled desperately, fearing that this venomous snake might actually end up killing her. Yet, when she looked into his eyes, she found a comforting calmness within them.

He said: Don’t worry, leave the rest to me.

Her heart stirred. Peach Blossom slowed her struggling, putting up just a token resistance before swallowing the contents of the bottle. Dizziness soon washed over her, and with one last look at King Jing, full of innocence and reluctance, she fell.

King Jing clenched his teeth, his eyes reddening as he watched the woman slowly collapse into Minister Shen’s arms. For a moment, he didn’t know how to react.

Is this the price that must be paid to ascend to the throne?

Shen Zaijie expressionlessly caught the peach blossom and handed it to his attendant behind him, Zhan Lu, saying, “Take it away and bury it, and make sure no one finds out.”

“This servant obeys.”

The pink skirt fluttered in the air, drawing a beautiful arc. Prince Jing watched that figure being taken further and further away. He glanced at the empty “Xiaoyao Powder” bottle thrown on the ground and couldn’t help but shed tears of extreme heartbreak.

However, after just a moment, he regained his composure, clasped his hands, and bowed to Shen Zaijie, saying, “Thank you, Prime Minister!”