A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 80

Shen Wei had long considered this.

Initially, she had chosen the name for her shop rather casually, picking "WeiXue Ice City" over "Tea Thousand Paths." But upon further reflection, she realized that opening a shop in ancient times required a name that fit the local customs.

For instance, modern foreign brands like McDonald's had adapted by renaming themselves "Golden Arches" in the domestic market—a perfect example of localization.

Beyond that, renaming was also a precaution against unforeseen risks. Shen Wei had transmigrated into this world after a car accident, and there might be other transmigrators here as well. If someone else saw the sign for "WeiXue Ice City," it could bring unnecessary trouble upon her.

Tapping her fingers on the table, Shen Wei ran through a list of potential names in her mind:

WeiXue Studio, Swallow's Rest House, Capital Flavors Pavilion, YanWei Studio... After a moment of contemplation, she finally spoke:

"*Alone, a man stands amidst falling petals; in light rain, swallows fly in pairs.* How about... **WeiYan Studio**?"

First, the name suited the stylistic conventions of the era.

Second, it contained the characters "Wei" and "Yan." If word ever got out that Shen Wei was the shop’s hidden owner, the Prince of Yan would surely be deeply moved.

After all, Shen Wei loved him so much that she had secretly woven their names into the shop’s title!

Ye Qiushuang also found the name fitting and nodded in approval. "I’ll have the carpenter remake the shop’s signboard when I return today."

Shen Wei added another reminder: "The pastries in the shop should also be renamed."

Something like "Mint Sago Jelly" was too long and hard to remember—it needed a simpler or more auspicious name.

The task of renaming the desserts was left to Ye Qiushuang. Shen Wei paused before continuing meaningfully, "From now on, as we work together in business, we must always uphold the principle of **integrity as our foundation and righteousness as our profit**. In business, we must not chase only immediate gains—our vision must be long-term."

Ye Qiushuang and Zhang Boss both nodded in agreement.

Zhang Boss, in particular, was quietly impressed. The principles of "trust and righteousness" in business were profound—many seasoned merchants never fully grasped them.

The young proprietress before him, however, seemed to understand them instinctively.

With the discussion concluded, Shen Wei rose and took her leave.

A small dessert shop was merely the first corner of her commercial empire. She intended to accumulate capital slowly, expanding into tea, timber, cotton textiles, ceramics, inns, and taverns—step by step, she would grow her enterprise.

She even had ambitions of trading salt and iron.

In ancient times, salt and iron were the most lucrative industries, but they were tightly controlled by the imperial family. Given her current low status and lack of powerful backing, Shen Wei knew she couldn’t touch those ventures—not yet.

"Ma’am, shall we return to the estate?" Nanny Rong asked softly inside the carriage, seeking Shen Wei’s plans.

Glancing ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‍at the bright daylight outside, Shen Wei thought for a moment before inquiring, "Nanny Rong, has the merchant woman you stationed at the Temple of Literature been delivering messages regularly?"

Nanny Rong nodded. "Rest assured, ma’am. That merchant visits the temple periodically to collect fabric and has grown quite friendly with your mother."

Aside from Nanny Rong’s monthly visits to the temple to keep Shen Xiuming in check, the fabric-buying merchant had also been bribed by Shen Wei.

Shen Wei not only pushed herself relentlessly but also covertly pressured Shen Xiuming. As a former gambler, he needed constant discipline to shed his bad habits and focus on his imperial examinations.

The ancient civil service exams were no simple matter. Memorizing the Four Books and Five Classics was merely the foundation. The spring examinations would be far more demanding.

To put it in perspective:

One might assume the exam question would be a simple fill-in-the-blank—*"When spring waters warm, (?) knows first."*

But in reality, the exam question would be more like:

*"An ancient poem states: ‘When spring waters warm, the duck knows first.’ This year, the weather in Jiangnan has been peculiar, with heavy rains causing river breaches. Examinees must analyze—from the perspectives of Qing State’s national conditions, economy, politics, diplomacy, and people’s welfare—how to scientifically prevent floods in Jiangnan."*

The spring examinations required candidates to write seven or eight essays in one sitting, along with legal judgments, official documents, and political commentaries. The difficulty was staggering.

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Shen Wei lowered the carriage curtain. "Back to the estate."

A little pressure on Shen Xiuming was necessary—but not too much. Too much pressure could break him.

...

At the Temple of Literature in the outskirts of the capital, the faint creak of a loom echoed in the air.

Inside one of the temple’s rooms, Shen Xiuming was bent over his desk, brush in hand, filling sheet after sheet with neat, meticulous characters. He worked with intense concentration.

Outside, Shen’s Mother wove cloth while chatting with the merchant woman.

The merchant, a frequent visitor who came to purchase fabric, had gradually become friendly with Shen’s Mother over time. Eager to learn about her daughter’s circumstances, Shen’s Mother had confided in her.

The merchant sighed. "Auntie, I only just found out that your daughter is Consort Shen in the prince’s estate. Ah, yesterday when I went to deliver fabric, I heard she’s with child!"

Shen’s Mother’s hands stilled on the loom. "P-pregnant?"

A wave of bitter sorrow welled up in her heart. Her husband had died young, her eldest son had fallen in battle, her eldest daughter had suffered at the hands of her in-laws, and now her second daughter endured hardship in the prince’s estate... She had done no wrong in her life—why was Heaven punishing her so?

The merchant spoke bluntly, "Auntie, forgive my plain words, but in the prince’s household, aside from the princess consort and secondary consorts, low-ranking consorts like your daughter are little more than tools for bearing children. Now that she’s pregnant, her life might improve slightly. But given her status, even if she bears a child, she won’t be allowed to raise it herself. She’d just be giving someone else a gift."

Shen’s Mother wiped away silent tears.

It was true—a consort in the prince’s estate held no real standing. Even if Shen Wei was pregnant, her life wouldn’t necessarily become easier.

"But Auntie, don’t despair too much. If your son succeeds, your daughter’s position in the estate will surely improve," the merchant consoled gently.

Shen’s Mother dried her tears and glanced at Shen Xiuming, who was studying diligently inside.

The temple’s walls were thin, and their conversation had reached his ears. Gripping his brush tighter, Shen Xiuming redoubled his efforts.

*Third Sister, wait for me.*

*I will pass the exams. I won’t let you remain a breeding tool in that estate...*

Just as Shen Xiuming buried himself in his books, a gaunt, disheveled figure stumbled through the temple gates.

The woman, her hair unkempt and her face hollow, wandered in a daze until her eyes landed on Shen’s Mother at the loom. As if grasping at her last hope, tears streamed down her face.

"Mother..." she choked out—before collapsing, darkness swallowing her vision.