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

Fang Er's hands trembled as she fell to her knees in fear, pleading, "This servant... this servant dares not. Please, spare me, mistress."

Zhang Yue grew increasingly irritated.

She was the mistress, and Fang Er was merely a servant. How dare this foolish servant disobey her master?

Zhang ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‍Yue slapped Fang Er hard across the face, her voice laced with impatience. "Do it discreetly. Who will know it was you?—Be obedient, or I'll carve up your face."

A red mark bloomed on Fang Er's cheek, the pain bringing tears to her eyes.

Her resentment toward Zhang Yue deepened.

Trembling, Fang Er clutched the packet of rat poison, her heart cold with dread. She wiped away her tears, resolving to sneak into Fangfei Courtyard under the cover of night to carry out the deed.

That evening, Prince Yan had dinner with Shen Wei but did not stay the night, instead retreating to his study to attend to official matters. Moonlight slanted across the courtyard as Fang Er hid in the shadows, observing Fangfei Courtyard. Two eunuchs stood guard at the entrance, taking turns on night duty.

Fang Er waited for a long time, her ankles and wrists covered in mosquito bites, but she found no opportunity to slip into the courtyard.

Reluctantly, she decided to try again at dawn.

After a restless night, Fang Er returned to Fangfei Courtyard at first light. Ji Xiang and De Shun were carrying water buckets, heading to the well in the estate to fetch water.

The morning air was fresh, and birds chirped noisily in the trees. De Shun lifted the well cover and lowered a small bucket to draw water.

Seizing the moment, Fang Er approached with a forced smile and greeted them, "Ji Xiang, De Shun, fetching water so early?"

The servants in the estate were all familiar with one another. Ji Xiang smiled and said, "Oh, it's Fang Er. That mark on your face—did Mistress Zhang hit you again?"

Fang Er nodded sheepishly.

Zhang Yue hadn't completely fallen out of favor yet, so Fang Er dared not resist.

Fang Er stepped closer, pretending to admire the wooden water bucket. "Ji Xiang, your Fangfei Courtyard's buckets are so lovely—"

Before her hand could touch the bucket, De Shun darted forward and stopped her. "Don't get too close."

Startled, Fang Er protested, "I was just looking."

De Shun shook his head firmly. "Not even close. My mistress has ordered that fetching water and delivering food must always be supervised. No outsiders are allowed near. After all, my mistress is in favor now. If some bold person were to poison the water, she wouldn't want to die from it."

Fang Er, who had been about to carry out the poisoning, fell silent.

She didn't know that Shen Wei was extremely cautious.

Every day, the water in Fangfei Courtyard was tested for poison before being consumed. Ingredients brought from the kitchen were also closely monitored by maids to ensure no one tampered with the food along the way.

Every five days, Shen Wei would summon a royal physician to take her pulse and inspect the plants and trees in the courtyard for anything harmful.

She also had the courtyard searched regularly for wooden voodoo dolls, as witchcraft accusations in ancient times could easily implicate entire families.

Moreover, Shen Wei frequently held meetings with the servants of Fangfei Courtyard, urging them to stay vigilant, speak carefully, and leave no room for others to exploit.

Over time, the eunuchs and maids in Fangfei Courtyard had become as shrewd as foxes.

De Shun fixed Fang Er with a meaningful look and added, "The water from Fangfei Courtyard is occasionally consumed by Prince Yan himself."

A cold sweat broke out on Fang Er's back.

Yes, Prince Yan also drank from the water in Fangfei Courtyard.

If she accidentally poisoned the prince, the entire Rose Courtyard would likely be executed.@@novelbin@@

Fang Er seethed with anger, cursing the foolish Zhang Yue in her heart. Zhang Yue acted on whims without considering the consequences, a thoughtless idiot.

Ji Xiang, perceptive as ever, saw through Fang Er's thoughts and comforted her gently, "We servants are human too. If our mistress treats us as such, we'll be loyal. If not, we'll wait for her to fall from grace and then trample her slowly."

Fang Er remained silent, her head bowed.

Having failed to carry out the poisoning, Fang Er returned to Rose Courtyard, where Zhang Yue berated and beat her mercilessly.

As the blows rained down, Zhang Yue finally realized how foolish it would have been to poison Shen Wei.

If Prince Yan had been harmed, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

But seeing Shen Wei basking in favor, Zhang Yue's frustration festered. When one plan failed, she hatched another. Her eyes gleamed with a new scheme to target Shen Wei.

...

On a cool summer night, Prince Yan stayed with the princess consort. Shen Wei, left to her own devices, enjoyed her freedom. She exercised, practiced calligraphy, applied a face mask before bed, and then lay down on her large pearwood bed, ready to sleep.

As she drifted off, Shen Wei suddenly heard the sound of sobbing.

It seemed to be a woman weeping.

"Wuwuwu... I can't rest in peace..."

"I died so tragically..."

"I'm so full of resentment..."

The eerie cries and wails sent shivers down Shen Wei's spine on the summer night. Slowly, she opened her eyes and glanced toward the window, where a white figure flashed past.

It looked like a ghost, a specter.

"Mistress! Mistress!" Cai Lian and Cai Ping rushed in, their faces pale with fear.

Cai Lian said nervously, "Mistress, strange crying sounds are coming from the courtyard. Ji Xiang and De Shun are already searching for the source. Don't be afraid."

But Cai Lian noticed that Shen Wei's delicate, beautiful face showed no trace of fear—only annoyance at being disturbed.

Cai Ping, more timid, whispered, "Mistress, I heard that a concubine who lived in Fangfei Courtyard years ago drowned herself after falling out of favor... Though it was three or four years ago, still..."

Her body trembled slightly, too frightened to continue.

Shen Wei rubbed her temples. She didn't believe in ghosts—only people pretending to be ghosts.

Even if ghosts did exist, Shen Wei wasn't afraid.

The bitterness of a palace worker like her was heavier than any ghost's!

"Mistress," Nanny Rong entered the room. As an old-timer in the estate, she had seen it all.

Nanny Rong whispered to Shen Wei, "Mistress, Ji Xiang and De Shun just searched the courtyard and found rope marks on the wall. This ghost business is likely the work of Rose Courtyard next door."

The enmity between Zhang Yue and Shen Wei was well-known.

This was almost certainly Zhang Yue's doing, an attempt to break Shen Wei's spirit.

Cai Lian clenched her fists, fuming. "Mistress, when Prince Yan visits tomorrow, we must expose Rose Courtyard's misdeeds! Pretending to be ghosts in the middle of the night—they're up to no good!"

Prince Yan doted on Shen Wei. If she spoke up, even without evidence, he would punish Zhang Yue severely.

Shen Wei leaned back on her bed, her beautiful eyes thoughtful. "Simply reporting this won't get me what I want."

Merely complaining to Prince Yan would make the matter pass lightly. As the victim, Shen Wei might earn a bit of his sympathy, but nothing of real value.

She needed to escalate the situation.

Shen Wei touched her chin, a faint smile playing on her rosy lips. "Our courtyard is a bit small. I'd like to move to a larger one."

The next day, rumors of the ghostly disturbances in Fangfei Courtyard began to spread, though they hadn't yet reached Prince Yan's ears.

In the following days, Prince Yan continued to visit Shen Wei's courtyard. But he gradually noticed that her complexion grew paler, and she seemed as skittish as a frightened deer.

After their nightly intimacy, Shen Wei became clingier, insisting on nestling in his arms before falling asleep.

During the day, as she practiced calligraphy, her mind would wander, and her brush strokes grew erratic.

Sensing something amiss, Prince Yan wrapped an arm around Shen Wei's slender waist. "Have I been too demanding lately, my dear? Are you tired?"

Shen Wei's cheeks flushed as she shook her head gently. "No, Your Highness, don't think too much of it—it's almost time for court. You should go."

Her rosy lips parted as if she wanted to say more, but she held back.

Prince Yan, ever astute, noticed the hesitation.

If Shen Wei wouldn't bring it up herself, he would investigate.

After leaving Fangfei Courtyard, Prince Yan summoned Fu Gui. "Find out what's been happening in Fangfei Courtyard recently."

Fu Gui sighed and reported honestly, "Your Highness, these past few days, Fangfei Courtyard... has been haunted. When you're present, all is calm. But when you're gone, strange things happen, even during the day."

"Mistress Shen has been hiding this to avoid troubling you, alas."

Prince Yan paused in his steps, his embroidered black boots turning back toward the direction of Fangfei Courtyard. De Shun and Ji Xiang from Fangfei Courtyard were about to greet him, but a single glance from Prince Yan silenced them.

As he was about to enter the room, he suddenly overheard Shen Wei and Cai Lian conversing inside.

Cai Lian, her voice choked with tears, said, "My lady, why don’t you tell Prince Yan about the ghostly disturbances in Fangfei Courtyard? These past few days, you’ve been so unsettled, unable to sleep or eat properly. You’ve lost so much weight."

Shen Wei sipped a bitter medicinal brew and sighed softly. With a gentle tone, she replied, "Prince Yan is burdened with countless responsibilities. He’s already exhausted. How could I trouble him with such trivial matters?"

Cai Lian’s voice was filled with concern. "This Fangfei Courtyard... the concubine who lived here before drowned herself. Perhaps her lingering resentment is targeting you, my lady, out of jealousy for the prince’s favor. Maybe I should secretly visit the temple and fetch a talisman to ward off evil spirits."

Shen Wei nodded. "That might be best. Let’s hope the temple’s talisman works. Cai Lian, could you fetch me some leather? I noticed this morning that the prince’s boots have a small tear. I’d like to make him a new pair."

Cai Lian sighed in exasperation. "My lady, you’re always so attentive to Prince Yan, thinking of him in every little thing."

Shen Wei smiled faintly. "Prince Yan is my husband, the one I hold dear in my heart. To have his love is already a blessing from heaven. Naturally, I want to do everything I can to care for him."

Inside the room, the mistress and servant continued their casual conversation.

Outside, Prince Yan’s handsome face revealed a mix of emotions—touched, tender, and a hint of quiet joy.

Shen Wei truly cared for him, even when facing her own troubles, she refused to burden him. Instead, she was thinking of making him a new pair of boots.

Prince Yan glanced down at his feet, his embroidered black boots with gold threads. On the left boot, a small tear had gone unnoticed, revealing the golden embroidery beneath.

Even Prince Yan hadn’t noticed the damage to his boots, yet Shen Wei had.

A wave of emotion washed over him. Without disturbing Shen Wei, he quietly left Fangfei Courtyard with Fu Gui.

Prince Yan instructed Fu Gui, "The ghostly disturbances must be someone targeting Fangfei Courtyard. Investigate this matter."

Fu Gui bowed respectfully. "I will see to it at once, Your Highness."

Prince Yan glanced down at his embroidered black boots once more, a faint smile of contentment curving his lips. In high spirits, he left for court.