A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 148
A few days ago, while Prince Yan was present, the Princess Consort had not required Shen Wei to come daily to pay her respects. Now that Prince Yan had left to inspect the river channels and waterworks, leaving Shen Wei without his protection, the Princess Consort sent Granny Liu to the Glazed Pavilion. She intended to make Shen Wei understand that even as a concubine now elevated to the rank of side consort, within the vast Prince Yan’s residence, the Princess Consort remained the sole mistress.
Shen Wei replied, "I naturally abide by ancestral customs. However, Granny Liu, I am not the only side consort in Prince Yan’s residence. What of the other three? Will they also be required to pay respects to the Princess Consort tomorrow?"
Granny Liu answered smoothly, "That is no concern of yours, Lady Shen. When the other three side consorts first entered the residence, they too observed morning and evening courtesies. Only after some time, when the Princess Consort saw their proper conduct, were they exempted from daily attendance."
Shen Wei lowered her eyes. "I understand."
Having delivered the Princess Consort’s message, Granny Liu gave a light, disdainful sniff, appraised Shen Wei from head to toe, and then turned away with an air of superiority.
Cai Lian and Cai Ping followed Shen Wei back into the courtyard of the Glazed Pavilion. Shen Wei sat beside the infant’s cradle, where two-month-old Little Leyou had already awoken, his chubby hands reaching eagerly for the rattle in the wet nurse’s grasp, babbling sweetly.
Cai Ping brought Shen Wei a cup of light tea, muttering under her breath, "My lady, the Princess Consort surely has ill intentions. Let us endure for a few days. Once His Highness returns, we can ask him to intervene on your behalf."
Having served Shen Wei for so long, both Cai Lian and Cai Ping had learned much about navigating the intricacies of courtly life.
Cai Ping’s solution was to seek Prince Yan’s protection.
Shen Wei took a sip of tea, a faint smile touching her lips. "The river channels are long, and the inspection is arduous. At the earliest, he will return in five days, but it may take half a month."
In the meantime, Shen Wei would have to rise early each morning to pay respects to the Princess Consort, enduring humiliation for far too long.
She had no intention of suffering needlessly.
Moreover, relying on Prince Yan for every difficulty was frustrating. Now that she held the rank of side consort, her position was relatively secure—she could employ her own methods to break free from this predicament.
After a moment’s thought, Shen Wei said to Cai Lian, "Tomorrow is the fifteenth, the day the residence distributes monthly allowances. Steward Fugui has been overworked lately. Cai Lian, take him some calming and restorative herbs, and suggest he rest for a few days."
Cai Lian nodded eagerly. "This servant will see to it at once."
As Cai Lian went to retrieve the herbs from the storeroom, Cai Ping tilted her head in confusion. "My lady, do you not plan to seek His Highness’s help?"
Given Shen Wei’s current favor, if Prince Yan intervened, the Princess Consort would not dare pressure her further.
Shen Wei picked up the rattle and teased the child in the cradle before answering, "In this residence, Prince Yan is the heavens. I may rely on him, but I cannot depend on him for everything."
Prince Yan was a virtuous and wise ruler, devoted to the welfare of his people. His world was not confined to the petty squabbles of the inner court, and he could not be expected to focus entirely on the conflicts among his wives and concubines.
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Shen Wei’s next goal was to strip the Princess Consort of her authority over household affairs and render her powerless. To achieve this, she needed to solve problems independently, proving her intelligence and capability.
Cai Ping nodded, though not entirely comprehending.
"Cai Ping, come here. There is something I need you to do." Shen Wei extended a hand toward her.
Cai Ping bowed her head respectfully, listening to Shen Wei’s instructions.
...
The next morning, before the first light of dawn touched the horizon, Shen Wei rose, stifling yawns. After a simple breakfast and dressing, she stepped into the misty morning air and made her way to Kunyu Courtyard.
The cold morning air mingled with the heavy scent of incense from Kunyu Courtyard, dizzying in its intensity.
The sound of curtains being drawn aside—
Granny Liu stood beneath the eaves, looking down imperiously. "Lady Shen, the Princess Consort has not yet risen. You may wait in the courtyard."
Shen Wei remained silent, but Cai Lian spoke up. "Granny Liu, it is cold outside. Might my lady wait indoors?"
Granny Liu smirked. "The Princess Consort is the mistress; Lady Shen is a concubine. It is improper for a concubine to sit in the main hall while the mistress still sleeps."
Cai Lian gritted her teeth in secret.
Shen Wei, however, showed no impatience. She waited quietly in the courtyard, her mind occupied with plans for expanding her merchant ventures in the capital.
By the time the sky lightened and the candles in Kunyu Courtyard were extinguished, maids carrying basins of wash water and mouth rinses filed silently into the Princess Consort’s bedchamber.
Shen Wei waited for over an hour before the Princess Consort finally rose at a leisurely pace, then took her time with her morning ablutions.
When the Princess Consort finally emerged, leaning on Granny Liu’s arm, the sun was already high. Only then did Granny Liu return to summon Shen Wei inside to pay her respects.
The main hall was solemn and imposing, its walls adorned with a grand painting of Cranes Bearing Peaches. The Princess Consort wore a dark gold-embroidered robe, her hair coiled high and studded with jewels of gold and jade. In her left hand, she held a string of deep green prayer beads, her entire presence exuding authority.
Incense smoke curled from the gilded burner.
The Princess Consort fingered her beads, studying Shen Wei as she entered. For a fleeting moment, she recalled Shen Wei’s first visit to Kunyu Courtyard a year ago—how youthful and dazzling she had been, her ambition undisguised in her eyes.
Back then, the Princess Consort had assumed Shen Wei would fall from favor within a month. Yet against all expectations, this woman of humble origins, lacking refinement and etiquette, had somehow captured Prince Yan’s exclusive affection.
Clenching the beads, the Princess Consort seethed inwardly—she had nurtured a tiger with insatiable ambition.
"This humble one pays respects to the Princess Consort." Shen Wei curtsied, her manners flawless.
The Princess Consort said coolly, "I am thirsty."
Granny Liu immediately presented a tray bearing a steaming cup of tea. The implication was clear—Shen Wei was to serve the tea.
The tea was scalding, the cup searing hot.
The Princess Consort intended for Shen Wei to hold the cup bare-handed, to burn away her ambition.
The hall fell silent, all eyes fixed on Shen Wei. Without a word, Cai Lian retrieved a pair of thick lambskin gloves from her sleeve and handed them to her mistress. In full view of everyone, Shen Wei donned the gloves with perfect composure, lifted the cup, and presented it to the Princess Consort.
The Princess Consort’s face darkened.
Granny Liu snapped, "Lady Shen! Wearing gloves to serve tea shows blatant disrespect for the Princess Consort! A concubine defying the mistress warrants household punishment!"
Shen Wei arched a brow. "Do the household rules specify that gloves may not be worn when serving tea?"
Granny Liu faltered. "You—"
A tense silence followed.
Finally, the Princess Consort rose slowly, refusing to accept the tea. "You arrived late today. Tomorrow, come earlier."
A cup of hot tea was inconsequential. There were far more effective ways to crush Shen Wei’s ambition—like making her rise even earlier tomorrow, forcing her to stand in Kunyu Courtyard all morning. Such methods were more potent than verbal sparring.
Or she could assign Shen Wei to copy Buddhist scriptures, wearing down her will.
With Prince Yan absent, the Princess Consort ruled the inner court. No matter how resourceful Shen Wei was, she remained nothing more than a lowly concubine.
"To the study," the Princess Consort declared, sweeping away. She had spent a fortune acquiring rare texts for her sons’ education.
By the time Shen Wei left Kunyu Courtyard, the day was bright.
Her sleeves were deliberately wide, and she kept her hands concealed within them. Instead of returning directly to the Glazed Pavilion, she took a long detour through the front and rear courtyards of the residence.
The early-rising servants all noticed Shen Wei’s hidden hands and her troubled expression.
