A Willing Mistake, My Lady – Chapter 76
by Little PandaOut of Prison
Trading a Father for a Favor
In the main hall of Hua Manor, Hua Rong noticed his daughter’s unnatural expression as she looked at him, clearly wanting to say something but hesitating. He sent Madam Hua to prepare the meal.
Madam Hua turned and left the main hall with obvious reluctance.
“She’s gone. Just tell me what’s on your mind—you rarely come to see your father.” Hua Rong looked at Jiang Chenyu.
“Dad, I’ve never asked you for anything since I was little. Consider this one favor—help me this once, and I’ll look after my younger siblings when they grow up.” Jiang Chenyu’s expression carried a hint of pleading. For Ah Tang, what was a little humility?
“Hasn’t your husband’s matter already been resolved? What’s making you so anxious?” Hua Rong didn’t know Shen Hetang still hadn’t returned home. He only knew that General Shen’s affair had passed without real danger, and he had just breathed a sigh of relief.
“But His Majesty still hasn’t released her! How can I not be anxious? And they haven’t even said when she can come home—that’s what terrifies me most!” Jiang Chenyu’s face paled with worry.
“Don’t worry. Your husband commands a major army—he’s half the pillar of the imperial court. His Majesty will release him sooner or later.” Hua Rong didn’t yet grasp the severity of the situation.
“But Ah Tang is the commanding general. Even if this wasn’t her fault, something still happened, and it involves the First Prince. I think His Majesty is blaming her—using her as a scapegoat for his anger.” Jiang Chenyu’s eyes were full of worry as she looked at her father with grievance.
“Then what do you want me to do, Ah Yu? I can’t petition His Majesty directly—I probably can’t even get an audience!” Hua Rong thought his daughter wanted him to beg the Emperor for mercy, but his official rank was too low to have any influence.
“If you can’t, there’s someone who can act as a mediator. You just need to go and ask that person for me!” Jiang Chenyu stared at her father with bright, sparkling eyes.
“Who do you want me to go to?” Hua Rong had a bad feeling. He didn’t know many officials in the capital, and even fewer who would listen to him.
Looking at his daughter, whose features were almost identical to his own, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse outright. The reverse pressure of blood ties, combined with his existing guilt, made Hua Rong always want to make up for his past neglect.
“I heard that before your promotion, Father, you once helped Princess Shunhe escape danger. I want… I want you to go to Princess Shunhe and ask her to do Ah Tang a favor. Ah Tang is your son-in-law—our fortunes rise and fall together. You understand that principle better than I do.” Even though it was hard to say, she forced the words out.
The expression on Hua Rong’s still-handsome face froze instantly. Princess Shunhe… Did he really have to go?
“All these years, other children had fathers. I only had my aging grandfather. I know asking a princess for a favor isn’t easy, but for the sake of never having raised me, please help me just this once! I can’t keep waiting like this!” Her Ah Tang was a woman! She had been locked up for nearly twenty days already. Without any news, how could she bear it?
“Alright, alright, I promise you. I’ll go to the princess’s mansion in the next couple of days. If she agrees, good. If she doesn’t, at least I’ll have tried my best.” Watching his daughter sit there crying, Hua Rong had no choice but to agree. Even though he felt his son-in-law would be released sooner or later, since Ah Yu was so anxious, he would swallow his pride and pull some strings.
As for Princess Shunhe… Sigh. He would do his best and leave the rest to fate. After all, they were truly tied together.
If his son-in-law’s matter was resolved quickly, he would face fewer cold remarks in court. With that thought, he felt less resistant.
“Since you’ve agreed, I feel much better.” Jiang Chenyu wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Given Hua Rong’s former nature, this kind of social climbing shouldn’t be too difficult for him. The only drawback was that the princess wasn’t particularly attractive. But she was a princess after all. Dad, Ah Yu is sorry. I’ll make it up to you later. You have to do your best! She silently prayed.
After Jiang Chenyu left, Hua Rong composed himself. The next day, he went to the princess’s mansion.
The princess’s mansion was as elegant and luxurious as she was, exuding grandeur and opulence in every corner.
After the servant announced him, he waited nervously to the side. Before long, Princess Shunhe walked in with slow, measured steps, parting the beaded curtain. She tilted her head to look at the tall, elegantly poised man inside, a smile in her eyes. “Oh my, what wind has blown Lord Hua to my humble abode today?”
Princess Shunhe was in her forties, about three or four years older than Hua Rong. She had a rounded figure and a face like a silver platter, exuding an air of noble prosperity. She was straightforward and direct in manner. Though she lived a secluded life in her inner chambers, her past marriages and unshakable status meant she still drew many eyes whenever she appeared.
“May the princess be blessed with ten thousand fortunes. This humble official should have visited your mansion earlier to thank you for your patronage, but my eldest daughter’s wedding delayed me. I hope the princess will not hold it against me.” Seeing the princess arrive, Hua Rong bowed and spoke.
“Is that the striking young lady who looks a bit like you, Lord Hua?” Recalling their chance encounter, she could still remember the girl’s face. At the time, she had been truly blind and foolish.
“My eldest daughter does bear some resemblance to me.” Hua Rong kept his head slightly lowered as he replied respectfully.
“Let’s sit and talk. There’s no need to be so formal, Lord Hua. Caiwei, serve tea.” Princess Shunhe instructed the maid behind her.
“Thank you, Princess!” Hua Rong still didn’t dare to be too casual. He was no longer the ambitious social climber he once was, and besides, Princess Shunhe really wasn’t his type.
They had met a few times before, and the princess had always been polite. He had pretended not to notice her interest, hoping to slip by unnoticed. Who would have thought he would now be the one coming to her door? What a sin!
In the end, Lord Hua couldn’t leave the princess’s mansion. Fortunately, he had prepared an excuse before leaving home, so his overnight absence didn’t arouse much suspicion.
The night was long. Lord Hua had suffered a work-related injury for his daughter’s sake.
The princess had a son with her second husband, but mother and son no longer lived together. The vast princess’s mansion had only Princess Shunhe as its sole master.
And the princess had more than one close male confidant in private. The give-and-take between adults was always an unspoken understanding. The princess also kept her son’s reputation in mind, never causing any public scandal.
The next day, Lord Hua was quietly sent back to Hua Manor in a carriage. After dropping him off, the carriage quietly departed.
Things went smoothly. The Emperor, having wronged General Shen, specially compensated him with gold, silver, and jewels. But for his dereliction of duty, he was also docked half a year’s salary—a small punishment to serve as a warning.
Jiang Chenyu stood anxiously outside the prison, waiting for the person inside to come out.
After more than twenty days of confinement, Shen Hetang could finally see the light of day again. But the sunlight was so blinding that she quickly raised her hand to shield her eyes, peering through her fingers at the figure not far away.
Jiang Chenyu saw her emerge from the prison gate and immediately ran over, throwing herself into her arms and holding on tightly.
“Wah… You’re finally out. You scared me to death… Ah Tang…!” Jiang Chenyu cried with grievance, the taut string of her heart finally snapping. Her arms hung around Shen Hetang’s neck like chains, and teardrops the size of beans wet Shen Hetang’s cheek.
Shen Hetang had been inside too long. The sun was making her vision darken. Seeing Jiang Chenyu clinging to her like a fluffy pet, she raised a hand to comfort her. “It’s okay. Don’t cry. Can we hug when we get home?”
Hearing this, Jiang Chenyu lifted her face to carefully examine Shen Hetang. Her complexion was pale and translucent, her lips not as rosy as before. She must have suffered a lot inside.
“Mm. Let’s go home first. There’s lots of good food prepared. I’ll make sure you get properly nourished.” With that, she helped Shen Hetang toward the carriage.
Ye Huaiqing, who had been watching from behind, quietly slipped away when he saw the person emerge.
Shen Hetang leaned back against Jiang Chenyu’s lap, closing her eyes to rest, letting Jiang Chenyu’s fingers trace gently over her face.
She thought that although she had been locked up for nearly a month, the results were worth it. That incompetent, meddlesome First Prince had been completely uprooted. The rest were still fledglings with undeveloped wings. They still had some breathing room.
Jiang Chenyu and the Heir’s Wife had kept it from Madam Shen, but she still caught wind of it within a few days. Fortunately, the Heir’s Wife reassured Madam Shen, guaranteeing that everything would be fine. And by then, the First Prince’s faction had already been exiled, which finally set Madam Shen’s mind at ease.
Once home, Shen Hetang was thoroughly examined by her mother before being allowed to bathe. Although she could wash up in prison, there was no way to take a proper bath in the dead of winter.
She also had to thank her considerate aunt for not showing up this time—otherwise, it would have been adding frost to snow. Although Shen Yunshu remembered she was a sister and thoughtfully sent cotton cloth in, she really didn’t want to meet her aunt in prison.
Perhaps due to all the worry, it really hadn’t come. Truly worthy of celebration!
The water in the bath was slightly hot, but Shen Hetang didn’t care. She got in first. When her tired body was soaked and rinsed by the hot water, it was truly refreshing—as if she had washed off several jin of dust.
Jiang Chenyu picked up the clothes she had taken off and tossed them aside, preparing a full set of new ones from the inside out. She came over and crouched beside her, washing her hair, working the fragrant hair powder into a lather on her long locks.
The face that had been unnaturally pale from being cooped up in prison now showed hints of pink. Steam slowly rose around them, and her originally rosy lips regained their luster. Her Ah Tang seemed to be recovering some vitality.
Jiang Chenyu imitated her movements, applying body oil to her skin and gently kneading her shoulders.
“If I’d known I could enjoy this kind of service, I would have gone to do hard labor long ago.” Shen Hetang sat half-leaning against the pool wall, relaxing and enjoying the beauty’s massage.
“Stop talking nonsense. If you stop scaring me, I’ll massage you every day—what does it matter?” Jiang Chenyu’s limpid eyes glared at her with grievance.
“Just joking. I won’t scare you again.” She replied with a gentle gaze.
“Pinky swear!”
“Alright!”
After the bath, the kitchen had just brought up the food. Shen Hetang, dressed in moon-white robes, led Jiang Chenyu to the main hall. There, Madam Shen, Concubine Ru, Shen Yunjie, and the cousin who hadn’t yet returned, Zhang Miaoyi, were all seated around another large table.
This time, however, Concubine Ru was much quieter. The only sound was Madam Shen constantly putting food on her plate. The others weren’t very lively either—probably still shaken by recent events.
“Mother, I can serve myself. Please take care of yourself.”
“My child, I can see you’ve lost weight. I personally brewed this nourishing soup—drink plenty!” Madam Shen still placed the soup bowl in front of her.
“Exactly. Second Young Master, you should listen to Madam and drink more. You’re the pillar of Shen Manor—you can’t fall!” The concubine, who hadn’t spoken for a while, chimed in.
“Concubine, you worry too much. I’m fine. Third Brother is also a pillar of Shen Manor. If I fall, there’s still Third Brother.” Shen Hetang replied matter-of-factly.
“Hehe… You should still take care of yourself… Your third brother is still young!” Concubine Ru laughed awkwardly.
“He’s not young anymore. Quickly find a suitable girl and settle the marriage! If there’s a candidate, I can go propose on his behalf.” Shen Hetang had finally figured it out. Unexpected storms in the sky, unforeseen disasters for man—one must always leave a backup plan. If Shen Yunjie could stand on his own, Shen Manor would have a reserve force.
“Oh my, that would be wonderful! Hurry up and thank your second brother!” Concubine Ru’s face creased with joy.
“Mm, thank you, Second Brother.”
“You’re thanking me a bit early. Let’s wait until it’s settled!”
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