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

...

As soon as Prince Yan left, Shen Wei in Fangfei Courtyard slowly put down her medicine bowl and stretched lazily.

Shen Wei admired her own acting skills, which were becoming more and more masterful.

Even with only half-hearted affection for Prince Yan, she could still portray it as wholehearted devotion. Thinking of the melodramatic lines she had just delivered, Shen Wei couldn't help but shudder.

This was Shen Wei's brilliance.

She didn't actively bring up the ghostly disturbances to Prince Yan, letting him discover it on his own. In his eyes, she appeared as a patient, pitiful, and understanding woman.

This would earn her more affection (and money) from Prince Yan.

As for Prince Yan's boots—the black embroidered ones with scratches—Shen Wei had secretly used a knife to make those marks earlier that morning.

As for making boots, clothes, shoes, or sachets for Prince Yan—those tasks were delegated to Cai Lian and Cai Ping. With generous bonuses, the two maids were more than willing to take on the work.

"Now, all that's left is to wait for a bigger house," Shen Wei thought, her smile widening. She was even somewhat grateful to Zhang Yue.

If it weren't for Zhang Yue's ghostly antics, Shen Wei's plan to move into a larger residence wouldn't have been expedited.

In life, is there anything more satisfying than a promotion, a raise, and a bigger house?

...

Fu Gui, the chief steward of the prince's residence, lived up to his reputation. He quickly uncovered that Zhang Yue from the Rose Courtyard was behind the ghostly disturbances.

A living person pretending to be a ghost leaves traces.

Just as Fu Gui was about to report this to Prince Yan, Nanny Rong intercepted him. She led Fu Gui to a secluded corner of the garden and spoke earnestly, "Steward Fu, the ghostly matter cannot be traced back to the culprit."

Fu Gui raised his eyebrows, annoyed. "Who says we can't find the culprit? It's clearly the Rose Courtyard causing trouble."

Nanny Rong gave him a meaningful look. "My mistress has said that no culprit can be found."

With that, she slipped an expensive enamel snuff bottle into Fu Gui's hand.

Fu Gui was stunned. He looked down at the snuff bottle, then up at Nanny Rong standing so close.

His eyes darted around, and he quickly understood. Smiling, he played with the snuff bottle in his hand. "Oh, Nanny Rong, what is Mistress Shen planning now?"

Nanny Rong chuckled. "How could a servant like me question my mistress's affairs? It's best to just watch and wait."

Fu Gui pocketed the snuff bottle, and the two completed their unspoken transaction.

...

The ghostly disturbances in Fangfei Courtyard also reached the ears of the Princess Consort. She was overseeing her two sons' studies at the time.

Having experienced the harsh realities of harem struggles in her younger years, the Princess Consort was well aware of the petty tricks like "pretending to be a ghost."

"Princess Consort, should we punish Zhang Yue?" Granny Liu asked for her opinion.

The Princess Consort shook her head dismissively. Without much thought, she could already predict how things would unfold.

It would simply be Zhang Yue pretending to be a ghost to frighten Shen Wei, Shen Wei tearfully complaining to the prince, and the prince punishing Zhang Yue. The matter would then be brushed aside.

Such lowly tactics for winning favor were like children playing house, utterly beneath her notice.

Zhang Yue and Shen Wei's petty squabbles were ultimately meaningless. They were merely low-ranking concubines without children, fighting over fleeting and superficial affection, like dogs biting each other and ending up with nothing but fur in their mouths.

"Let it be. Don't interfere," the Princess Consort said indifferently, turning her attention back to her sons' studies.

Seeing her eldest son, Li Chengke, drowsily clutching his brush, the Princess Consort smacked his palm with a ruler in frustration. "You haven't finished your studies, yet you dare to nap in broad daylight!"

Li Chengke, only ten years old, said tearfully, "Mother, I only slept for less than three hours last night. I'm exhausted."

The Princess Consort's gaze turned sharp, her tone growing sterner. "By the time your grandfather was ten, he could recite the Four Books and Five Classics from memory. You're also ten—why can't you do the same?"

Tears streamed down Li Chengke's face as he gripped his brush, his heart filled with frustration and unease.

...

The ghostly disturbances in Fangfei Courtyard also reached the ears of the other concubines.

In Mingyue Courtyard, Liu Qiao'er was having her breakfast. Liu Qiao'er came from a modest family, and since falling out of favor, her allowance had been reduced to that of a low-ranking concubine. Her breakfast consisted of a plate of stir-fried greens and a bowl of watery rice porridge.

As she ate her simple meal, Liu Qiao'er casually asked her maid, "How is Shen Wei doing?"

The maid replied, "I heard Shen Wei is terrified, unable to eat or sleep. She's lost a lot of weight."

Liu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‍Qiao'er shook her head with a smile.

This was the price of seeking attention. The more one sought the spotlight, the more one became a target for others.

Liu Qiao'er finished the last sip of her cold porridge. The taste was unpleasant, but at least it filled her stomach.

A mosquito buzzed near her ear, and the maid said, "Mistress, the weather is getting hotter. The mat sent by the inner court is too worn, and the mosquito repellent smells awful... Why don't you take advantage of Shen Wei's recent troubles to try and see Prince Yan?"@@novelbin@@

Liu Qiao'er could endure plain food, but her maid could not.

With Liu Qiao'er's reduced allowance, her maid's monthly salary had also been cut. The meager pay wasn't enough to cover the maid's household expenses.

Among the prince's three concubines, Liu Ruyan and Zhang Miaoyu came from wealthy families and lacked for nothing. Only Liu Qiao'er, whose family was far away in Lingnan and whose father was a mere seventh-rank official, had no one to provide for her.

The maid hoped Liu Qiao'er would make an effort to regain Prince Yan's favor. After all, they had grown up together, and if Liu Qiao'er simply softened her stance, she could surely win back his affection.

But Liu Qiao'er merely shook her head. "Plain food can fill my stomach and buy me a peaceful life. Luxuries may seem glorious, but they're not worth risking my life for."

The maid expressionlessly swatted a mosquito on her arm.

She was starting to think about finding a new mistress.

A similar scene unfolded in Liu Ruyan's Qixue Pavilion. Upon hearing about the ghostly disturbances in Fangfei Courtyard, the maid Xue Mei saw an opportunity.

With Shen Wei in disarray, the other concubines had a chance to make their move.

Xue Mei urged Liu Ruyan, "Mistress, if Shen Wei is scared to death by the ghost, our opportunity will come."

Liu Ruyan, dressed in pristine white, was painting plum blossoms in her study. Though she lacked Prince Yan's favor, her noble background ensured she lived comfortably.

Liu Ruyan set down her brush and admired the lifelike white plum blossoms on the canvas. Her voice was soft and melancholic. "That ghost is a pitiful soul. In life, she couldn't win the prince's love, and in death, her resentment lingers. Ah, how tragic it is to be a beauty in this world."

Liu Ruyan thought of her own past with Prince Yan, and tears began to fall.

She had once dreamed of spending her days with Prince Yan, brewing tea, admiring flowers, traveling the mountains, and playing music together. But the dream of a lifelong love was nothing more than a fleeting illusion.

Liu Ruyan thought sadly, "If I were to die one day, would Prince Yan shed tears for me?"

Xue Mei was speechless.

Was this really the time to sympathize with a ghost? Was this really the time to cry?

...

That night, after finishing his official duties, Prince Yan returned to the residence. He summoned Fu Gui to inquire about the investigation into the ghostly disturbances.

Fu Gui knelt down with a thud, trembling as he begged for forgiveness. "Your Highness, please forgive me. Fangfei Courtyard is truly strange. It doesn't seem to be the work of a human. I've already sent someone to Qingcheng Mountain to fetch a skilled Taoist priest to perform a ritual."