A Concubine’s Competitive Life in the Prince’s Household

Shen Wei handed the child over.

The baby was just half a month old, her formal name yet to be decided, but her nickname was Duo Duo—a fitting name for the season, as March was when flowers bloomed in abundance.

From the moment Shen Wei became pregnant, Prince Yan had taken care of her diet. When the baby began to kick in the womb, he often listened to the movements. Naturally, he had developed a deep affection for this newborn daughter.

Without much thought, Prince Yan gently and somewhat clumsily cradled the infant in his arms.

Then something miraculous happened.

The baby, who had been crying incessantly, suddenly quieted the moment she was in Prince Yan’s embrace. She stretched out her tiny, soft hands, grasping at him, and babbled sweetly.

Gazing at his daughter’s adorable face, Prince Yan felt as if his heart had been brushed by the softest feather. They say sons take after their mothers, and daughters their fathers—this little girl’s eyes bore a striking resemblance to his own.

"Impossible!" Shen Wei huffed beside him. "I carried her for nine months, and when I hold her, she only cries—Your Highness, let me try again."

Seemingly unwilling to accept this, Shen Wei carefully took the baby back into her arms.

The moment the infant returned to her mother, her pink lips parted, and she let out a loud wail.

Shen Wei froze in panic.

Prince Yan burst into laughter and took the crying child back. Almost instantly, the baby stopped fussing, waving her little hands and staring up at him with big, dark eyes like polished gemstones.

"It seems our daughter prefers me," Prince Yan remarked smugly, a surge of pride swelling in his chest.

His fondness for the child grew even stronger.

He held her for a while longer, and she remained perfectly content. Only when it was time for dinner did the wet nurse arrive, bowing respectfully before taking the baby away to be fed.

During ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‍the meal, Shen Wei was clearly still troubled. Sipping her fragrant fish soup, she muttered, "Your Highness doesn’t visit Duo Duo often, so why does she stop crying only for you?"

Prince Yan replied triumphantly, "When she was still in your womb, I spoke to her every night through your belly. Of course, she’s attached to me."

Prince Yan had several children, but only Shen Wei’s daughter had shown such immediate closeness to him from birth. When the tiny girl stretched her arms and nestled trustingly against his chest, even a hardened man like him couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming rush of tenderness and joy.

The sensation was new, and it filled him with delight.

Shen Wei pouted, sulkily drinking her soup to regain her strength. That night, Prince Yan naturally stayed in her chambers.

Under the soft glow of candlelight, Shen Wei, dressed in dark red sleepwear, looked radiant, her beauty tinged with an irresistible allure. Prince Yan gazed at her fair, supple skin and curvaceous figure, desire stirring within him. But remembering she hadn’t fully recovered, he restrained himself.

Once she was well again, he’d make up for lost time.

They slept side by side, but in the middle of the night, Prince Yan drowsily noticed Shen Wei slipping out of bed and tiptoeing toward the nursery. She returned shortly after.

"Where did you go?" he murmured sleepily, pulling her back into his arms.

Shen Wei yawned. "I went to check if the baby was still breathing."

Prince Yan chuckled.

Shen Wei nudged him with her elbow. "Don’t laugh. I was just worried."

As a new mother, she wasn’t yet accustomed to the child’s presence, her maternal instincts still developing. With wet nurses and maids attending to the baby, Shen Wei’s postpartum days were leisurely. But sometimes, when she didn’t hear the baby cry at night, an inexplicable anxiety crept in.

So she’d sneak out, pressing a finger under the baby’s nose to feel for breath.

It was silly, but she couldn’t help it.

Shen Wei soon drifted back to sleep. Prince Yan held her close, but hours later, he abruptly woke—he hadn’t heard the baby cry in a while. A flicker of concern arose.

Beside him, Shen Wei slept soundly, her face serene. Careful not to disturb her, he quietly made his way to the nursery.

A maid stood watch by the cradle.

Prince Yan motioned for her not to bow and approached the crib. Duo Duo lay nestled in soft silk bedding, her cheeks plump and fair, her lashes long. Her chubby little fingers clutched her clothes, looking utterly endearing.

Prince Yan studied her for a long moment. When she didn’t stir, he hesitantly reached out, placing a finger beneath her nose.

Gentle, steady breaths—she was alive.

He exhaled in relief, stroking her round cheek with a tender smile before retreating, leaving the maid wide-eyed.

The next morning, Prince Yan rose refreshed. After breakfast, he visited the nursery to dote on his daughter, inspected the newly planted vegetables in the courtyard, and then left for court in high spirits.

Shen Wei saw him off before returning to her meal.

"Your Highness adores the little one," Cai Lian remarked as she served steaming fish soup.

Shen Wei smiled, sipping the warm broth. "When a child shows affection, how could a father not love her?"

A crying child gets the candy; one who expresses love receives the most devotion.

The baby’s attachment to Prince Yan was no accident. Every time she saw him, she’d reach out with a sweet smile, as if he were her sole anchor. Behind this behavior lay Shen Wei’s careful planning.

Before each feeding, she’d let the baby catch a whiff of "spikenard incense"—the very fragrance Prince Yan used to scent his robes. Its elegant, soothing aroma was unique to him in the entire estate.

Gradually, the baby formed an instinctive association: the scent meant nourishment.

So whenever Prince Yan, carrying that familiar fragrance, held her, she’d eagerly stretch her arms, believing it was feeding time.

Suppressing a smirk, Shen Wei leisurely finished her soup.

With Prince Yan’s love, this child’s future was bright.

Outside, Cai Ping hurried in. "My lady, Zhao Yang Princess and Lady Sun have come to visit!"