A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 99
...
At the Moonfall Lake Villa, Shen Wei still resided temporarily, spending her days comforting the heartbroken Zhao Yang Princess. Together, they strolled by the lake and indulged in delicacies, trying to soothe the princess’s wounded spirit.
One evening, after taking her prenatal medicine, Shen Wei lay down to rest.
As Cai Ping lowered the bed curtains, she muttered, "My lady, walls have ears. Though the common folk may not hear of the princess’s misfortune that night, the Empress surely has by now."
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The guards at the villa had all been assigned to Zhao Yang by the Empress for her protection. Now that the princess had suffered such an ordeal, the Empress must already know.
Shen Wei let out a delicate yawn and said leisurely, "The Empress learning of Zhao Yang’s plight is actually to my advantage."
Cai Ping’s pretty face wrinkled in confusion.
Shen Wei smiled. "The Yan Princess Consort has made a mess of managing the household. The Empress has long been displeased. If I demonstrate my own managerial skills, she will see me as someone worth nurturing."
In the current Prince Yan’s household, the wives acted unlike wives, and the concubines unlike concubines—everyone was shirking their duties. Only Shen Wei remained competent and worthy of cultivation.
Cai Ping’s eyes lit up in realization.
Shen Wei’s guess was correct. The turmoil at Moonfall Lake Villa had already reached Kunning Palace. Yun’er knelt in the inner hall with her head bowed, recounting every detail of the incident to the Empress.
The Empress’s heart ached as she listened. "That Yan Yunting is truly despicable! How dare he toy with my daughter like this!"
Both the Empress and the Emperor had long harbored grievances against Yan Yunting. But Zhao Yang had adored him, shielding him at every turn, leaving the Empress helpless.
Yun’er quickly reassured her, "Your Majesty, rest assured. The princess has now seen the light and has completely let go of Yan Yunting."
The Empress sighed in relief. Though Zhao Yang had endured a fright, this ordeal had at least brought her to her senses.
As the Old Matron presented a cup of chilled tea, the Empress took a sip to soothe her throat before recalling the pregnant Shen Wei. She asked, "Yun’er, is it true that Lady Shen remained unshaken in the crisis?"
Yun’er didn’t hold back, praising Shen Wei’s composure and recounting how she had calmly orchestrated everything, leaving no detail overlooked.
The Empress nodded repeatedly in approval.
Who would have thought that a woman of humble origins could face danger without fear, arranging everything methodically? Such capability was rare indeed.
The Empress thought of the headache-inducing Yan Princess Consort, Tantai Shuya. Though she held the title of principal wife, she lacked managerial skills—neither virtuous as a spouse nor kind as a mother—leaving the household in chaos.
Shen Wei, on the other hand, possessed remarkable administrative talent. She had cared for Zhao Yang with devotion and held deep affection for Prince Yan. Should Prince Yan ascend the throne in the future, she could manage the imperial harem with competence.
The only issue was Shen Wei’s lowly background. Without noble lineage, commanding respect in the harem would prove difficult.
After much deliberation, the Empress decided to wait until Shen Wei gave birth before devising a way to elevate her status.
The transition of imperial power was also a struggle between new and old nobility. Raising Shen Wei’s family to prominence, turning them into a newly favored aristocratic house, was not an impossible feat.
...
In the distant Yunzhou City, night had fallen, and the temperature had plummeted. A biting wind howled through the streets.
Inside his official residence, Prince Yan sat in his study reviewing documents. The incense burner emitted a fragrant haze, but the chill seeped in through the windows.
The prince sneezed.
The Little Eunuch attending him noticed and quietly slipped out. Moments later, he returned with a thick robe in his arms, bowing respectfully. "Your Highness, the night is cold. May this servant help you change into warmer attire?"
Prince Yan set aside the dossier and glanced at the dark silver-patterned coat. As a man, he paid little attention to the clothes packed for his travels—such matters were usually handled by the household’s mistress.
He asked casually, "Did the princess consort prepare this?"
The Little Eunuch answered truthfully, "Your Highness, the princess consort has been occupied lately. These garments were prepared by Lady Shen of the Glazed Pavilion. According to her maid Cai Lian, Lady Shen inquired about Yunzhou’s climate and spent an entire night preparing warm clothing, cold medicine, mosquito-repelling mugwort, and spare boots—all stored in the carriage."
After changing into the warmer robe, the Little Eunuch also brought ginger tea and soothing incense to ward off the chill and pests.
Though Yunzhou was freezing, warmth spread through Prince Yan’s heart.
In the vast household of Prince Yan’s estate, only his Weiwei would spare such meticulous care for every trivial detail.
After days away, gripping the dossier, Prince Yan found himself missing Shen Wei—a sensation he had never experienced before. The longing crept over him like the tide in the silent night, slowly eroding his thoughts.
In previous years, he had never felt such tender yearning during his travels. But now, with Shen Wei in his life, Prince Yan was like a kite with someone holding its string—he had a home to return to.
A royal guard entered the study, presenting a letter marked with a special seal.
"Your Highness," the guard saluted, "Mo the Divine Physician has been taken away by Yue Kingdom’s National Preceptor. Before leaving, the preceptor left this letter."
Prince Yan unfolded the letter, scanning its contents swiftly.
His eyes narrowed, sharp and cold. "Yue Kingdom isn’t as unshakable as it seems. Their emperor is tyrannical and warmongering, and the people suffer immensely."
Qing State and Yue Kingdom had been locked in years of conflict, with frequent skirmishes at the border. Initially at a disadvantage, Qing State had turned the tide thanks to the Marquis of Southern Garrison’s strategist, who designed firearms. The Qing army, armed with these weapons, had won repeated victories, vastly improving their combat strength.
Yet Yue Kingdom refused to retreat, stubbornly holding their ground with geographical advantages. The only way to end the war was to replace Yue’s warmongering emperor with one who favored peace.
Prince Yan had allied with an ambitious Yue prince and the National Preceptor to orchestrate this scheme. However, as he read the letter’s final lines, he frowned in puzzlement.
The recently returned Yue prince, Tuoba Hongchuan, had expressed his desire to marry Zhao Yang once their plan succeeded.
"Tuoba Hongchuan wants Zhao Yang?" Prince Yan’s eyebrows rose.
After a long pause, he chuckled silently.
Holding the letter over a candle’s flame, he watched as the paper blackened and turned to ash.
