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

...

In the laundry room at the back of the Prince's Mansion, Zhang Yue was washing clothes for the masters. As she washed, she tenderly stroked her hands with pity.

She was a merchant's daughter, accustomed to a life of comfort and plenty since childhood. If not for the decline of her family, she would never have fallen into the lowest rank of servant in the Prince's Mansion.

Originally, she could have quietly accepted her fate as a servant, but Shen Wei's rise to prominence was like a thorn piercing her heart.

Zhang Yue stared at her hands, murmuring to herself, "Once, my hands were as tender as green onions... but now, they are full of coarse calluses."

As she was lost in thought, the wooden gate of the courtyard slammed open with a bang. Granny Liu, who served the Princess Consort, entered with two burly guards in tow.

Granny Liu's sharp gaze swept across the room, landing on Zhang Yue washing clothes. Granny Liu barked harshly, "Arrest her and give her twenty strokes of the cane."

Before Zhang Yue could react, she was already dragged by the guards and thrown onto the punishment bench.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Sticks as thick as bowls slammed down on Zhang Yue's body.

Zhang Yue screamed in pain, "Granny Liu, why are you beating me?"

Granny Liu replied coldly, "You spoke words you should not have spoken; it's only right that you die from this punishment."

Zhang Yue couldn't defend herself. Another solid strike landed, and she gasped in searing pain, drenched in cold sweat, before fainting abruptly.

When Zhang Yue woke up again, it was late at night.

She lay in the shed, bloodied and torn, her back sticking to her clothes and ruined flesh. Every bone in her body felt like it was breaking, and the pain twisted her face.

A sense of bitterness welled up within her.

As a servant, her life and death were in the hands of her masters, where human lives were as cheap as straw.

The door of the shed creaked open, and Granny Liu in gray stepped in with a bowl of medicinal soup. Moonlight cast Granny Liu's pale face, making her look like the white reaper of death.

Zhang Yue trembled with fear.

Granny Liu sneered, "Lucky you, not dead yet. Then drink this bowl of medicine and meet your end. The fact that the Shen Clan took contraceptive medicine will rot in hell along with your death."

Granny Liu was about to force poison down Zhang Yue's throat.

Desperate to survive, Zhang Yue shook her head frantically, her mind racing for a way to stay alive.

Seemingly thinking of something, Zhang Yue clutched at her last lifeline, sobbing, "Granny Liu, don't kill me! I'm willing to serve the Prince Yan! I’m willing to be the Princess Consort's loyal dog! I'll be more obedient than Shen Wei!"

Granny Liu seemed to ponder her words.

She set down the poison and reached out her bony fingers to pinch Zhang Yue's delicate chin.

Her features were exquisite, a beauty indeed.

Granny Liu had been recently collecting young and beautiful women to fill the Prince's Mansion. Zhang Yue had a leverage in the Princess Consort's hands. If she could be of use to the Princess Consort, she would make a good tool in the future.

"You're lucky to have a pretty face," Granny Liu chuckled, flipping over the poison bowl. "I'll assign you a small courtyard to stay in for now. Rest and recover; better days are ahead."

Zhang Yue sobbed tears of gratitude, "Thank you, Granny Liu!"

Granny Liu moved fast, ordering the guards to carry Zhang Yue to a modest courtyard and arranging for a doctor to attend to her.

Zhang Yue had cheated death and regained a sliver of life.

After applying medicine, Zhang Yue lay painfully on the bed of the small courtyard, staring out at the moonlit sky, her face growing darker and colder as she dug her nails into her palms.

"Shen Wei, just you wait."

"If you could rise up, so can I."

"What's so hard about competing for favor?"

...

The night enveloped Fangfei Courtyard as Shen Wei was doing Pamela's workout routine.

The Prince's Mansion's Spring Banquet was approaching, and although Shen Wei was the lowest-ranking concubine, Prince Yan had made an exception to allow her to attend.

Shen Wei had heard that in previous years, the Spring Banquet at the Prince's Mansion had been quite well-organized. However, Prince Heng had persistently criticized it, sardonically mocking the women of the Prince Yan as dressed like mourners, tarnishing its reputation.

As an employee, Shen Wei understood how to cater to the boss's wishes. Prince Yan likely wanted Shen Wei to make an appearance, aimed at putting Prince Heng in his place.

The king of internal competition, Shen Wei, would not let her boss down. She diligently trained, maintaining her figure and enhancing her charm, aiming for a grand debut at the Spring Banquet.

"Master, I’ve gathered news about Zhang Yue." Cai Ping, the gossip guru, quietly slipped into the main room and detailed the situation about Zhang Yue to Shen Wei.

Shen Wei, while exercising, commented, "Twenty strokes and then suddenly sent to a distant place to recover... it seems they're preparing to cultivate Zhang Yue as a concubine."

Cai Ping whispered, "Master, we need to be cautious."

Shen Wei smiled, taking a towel from Cai Ping to wipe her sweat, "Being a favorite concubine is not something everyone can achieve."

Zhang Yue was too naive, believing her beauty alone could captivate Prince Yan.

But being a favored concubine was a profession with many nuances.

After wiping off her sweat, Shen Wei sat down to sip some mint tea. "It's getting warmer; tomorrow, have Ji Xiang and De Shun plant lotus leaves in the pond at the back courtyard. Remove the roses along the wall and plant mugwort for pest control."@@novelbin@@

"Once most of the peach blossoms have faded, remove them all except for one flourishing tree, which we can harvest for peaches in summer. Replace it with crape myrtle and bougainvillea for summer. Also, change the rabbit lanterns outside the moon gate to floral lanterns. Erase the graffiti on the outer wall and paint it with a lotus and lotus leaf theme."

Cai Ping diligently recorded everything.

In addition to the courtyard's vegetation, bedroom bedsheets, curtains, and varieties of flowers on the table also needed frequent changes.

Shen Wei planned to renovate Fangfei Courtyard according to the seasons, keeping things fresh to maintain her boss, Prince Yan's, interest.

Cai ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‍Ping left the room, and Cai Lian entered with a letter, "Master, your mother has sent you a letter."

Shen Wei paused her tea-drinking, thinking, "My mother?"

Memories of the original owner surfaced in her mind—the original Shen Wei was born into a poor farming family. Her father had died early, and her mother had not remarried, struggling to raise four children.

Her eldest son, at eighteen, had joined the military on the frontier but disappeared during a war with Vietnam, most likely killed in action.

Her second daughter, Shen Qiang, had married a merchant in Sichuan five years ago, only to be bullied by her mother-in-law and endure a hard life, never having the chance to return and visit her mother.

Shen Wei, the third child, had sold herself into the Prince's Mansion as a servant to pay for her mother's medical treatment.

Her younger brother, Shen Xiuming, was only seventeen years old but showed promise as a scholar, having passed the imperial examinations at a young age. However, he was a troublemaker, indulging in drinking and gambling, even stealing his mother's medical funds to buy jewelry for a courtesan at a brothel.

Reviewing the original owner's background, Shen Wei sighed silently; the original Shen Wei was also pitiful. Shen Wei opened the letter from her mother and began reading.

The letter mentioned that Shen's Mother and her younger son would be coming to Yanjing next month, hoping to visit Shen Wei at the Prince's Mansion.

Shen Wei pondered, "Visiting next month..."

From her impressions, Shen's Mother had treated all four children fairly and had not displayed any signs of favoring males over females. However, with human intentions always uncertain, Shen Wei decided to first investigate the situation.

If Shen's Mother truly cared for Shen Wei, she could find ways to support the family.

If Shen's Mother sought to exploit Shen Wei for her younger son's benefit, then don't blame Shen Wei for being merciless.

For now, Shen Wei focused her efforts on the upcoming Spring Banquet.

...

As time flew by, it was soon the end of May, late spring.

The Spring Banquet at the Prince's Mansion was in full swing, carefully organized by the Princess Consort, who had the flower garden fill the venue with vibrant flowers.

Before the banquet even began, the Princess Consort was bustling about, ensuring everything was in place.

"Second Sister-in-law, is all well?" A teasing, slightly mocking voice came from behind the Princess Consort.

The Princess Consort's face darkened instantly.

The mere sound of that voice made her headache flare up.

Yet, the Princess Consort forced a smile and turned around, addressing the young prince holding a jade fan with a façade of delight, "Prince Heng, how nice of you to come. The banquet is not yet underway; please take a seat."

Every year, Prince Heng attended the Prince's Mansion's Spring Banquet first, mainly to nitpick and cause trouble for Prince Yan.

Prince Heng swirled his jade fan, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Recently, I acquired a piece of shimmering silk and had a new outfit made, specifically for this occasion."

Prince Heng was handsome, with slightly upturned phoenix eyes that exuded charm. Dressed in a silver, round-necked, wide-sleeve robe and a red jade belt studded with gold, he radiated nobility and wealth.

He was quite handsome but had a peculiar temper.

The Princess Consort forced a smile, "Please take a seat, Prince Heng."

Prince Heng flicked his white jade fan, chuckling, "Not in a hurry, not in a hurry. I've heard Prince Yan has a harem full of beauties—I wonder if I'll catch a glimpse of them today—"

Before he finished, three of the Prince's Mansion's concubines gracefully arrived at the Spring Banquet venue.

Prince Heng's eyes narrowed, and his gaze fell upon Liu Ruyan. He greeted her with a teasing smile, "Sister-in-law Liu, you still favor wearing mourning attire. I thought the Prince's Mansion was hosting a funeral every day."