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

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sound of galloping horses echoed from the eastern mountains, accompanied by the stirring blare of horns that pierced through the wilderness, startling flocks of birds into flight. The hunting party returned, laden with their spoils.

Shen Wei stood outside the tent, ready to greet them. Prince Yan rode back under the golden glow of the setting sun, his handsome face framed by the evening breeze as his horse galloped forward, exuding an air of triumph.

Seeing that Prince Yan was unharmed, Shen Wei let out a deep sigh of relief.

Thankfully, Prince Yan had returned safely; otherwise, she would have already started considering a change of employment.

"My lord, you’ve finally returned. I’ve been so worried about you," Shen Wei said as she stepped forward, standing on tiptoe to wipe the sweat from his forehead, her eyes brimming with joy and concern.

Prince Yan wrapped an arm around Shen Wei’s waist. "Don’t worry, I’m fine."

Having trained in martial arts for years, Prince Yan naturally returned with a bountiful haul. Shen Wei gazed at the rows of pitiful rabbits, pheasants, and a few deer, her admiration evident. "My lord, you’re incredible! I’ve never seen so much game before!"

When men returned from a successful hunt, it was only natural for Shen Wei to shower them with praise and subtly express her adoration.

Prince Yan, clearly pleased, gently tapped Shen Wei’s nose. "We’ll have roast meat tonight."

Shen Wei smiled sweetly. "Of course! My roasting skills are second to none."

As night fell, a roaring bonfire was lit in the center of the camp, and the young men who had participated in the eastern mountain hunt began feasting on their spoils.

The Crown Prince, Prince Yan, Prince Heng, and Zhao Yang Princess sat at the most prominent seats. Chefs brought out the prepared game.

Shen Wei sat beside Prince Yan, tending to the roast. Prince Yan, meanwhile, chatted casually with the Crown Prince, their brotherly bond as strong as ever.

Shen Wei’s gaze swept across the gathering, landing on Prince Heng, who was surrounded by beauties, and Zhao Yang Princess, whose eyes were red-rimmed.

Zhao Yang seemed to have quarreled with Yan Yunting again, leaving her in a sullen mood as she drank alone.

Prince Heng lounged lazily on a soft couch, dressed in a flamboyant red robe, his silk-like black hair cascading over his shoulders as he leisurely sipped wine. The beauties attending to him carefully roasted and sliced the meat, feeding it to him with tender care.

Prince Heng was in high spirits, savoring each bite. But suddenly, his nose twitched as he caught a whiff of an exceptionally rich aroma of roasted meat. It was far more enticing than the usual fare, a scent that seemed to hook everyone present without a sound.

The source of this divine aroma was the roasting rack in front of Prince Yan.

"Vivi, this roast smells amazing," Prince Yan remarked, captivated by Shen Wei’s cooking. Having tasted delicacies from across the land, he had never encountered such an extraordinary fragrance before.

The charcoal fire burned steadily, and on the wooden rack, a deer leg sizzled as its juices mixed with the marinade, releasing a mouthwatering aroma.

The deer leg’s skin had turned a crispy golden brown, its enticing color impossible to resist.

"This ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‍is a roasting method from my hometown. My lord, please try it," Shen Wei said as she sliced a few pieces of the deer leg, sprinkled them with sesame seeds, and handed them to Prince Yan with a smile.

For this outing, she had specially brought her secret marinade and a bottle of honey to enhance the flavor.

The honey was the soul of the dish, giving the meat an unparalleled taste.

Prince Yan eagerly took a bite. The deer meat, roasted over charcoal, was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, bursting with juices.

Delicious!

Absolutely exquisite!

"My lord, wrapping the roast in a lettuce leaf makes it even better," Shen Wei suggested, using a fresh lettuce leaf to wrap a piece of roast and handing it to him.

The crisp, refreshing lettuce perfectly balanced the richness of the roast.

Prince Yan couldn’t stop indulging, thoroughly enjoying every bite.

The aroma of the roast was so irresistible that even the officials present, though too timid to ask for a taste, couldn’t help but stare longingly.

Zhao Yang Princess, still upset after her argument with Yan Yunting, couldn’t resist the tantalizing smell either. She immediately sent her maid to ask Shen Wei for a plate of the roast.

Cai Lian prepared a plate and delivered it to Zhao Yang Princess.

Even the Crown Prince couldn’t hold back, clearing his throat to subtly remind Prince Yan. "Yuan Jing, this roast looks quite impressive."

Prince Yan shook his head, his expression serious. "Elder brother, the imperial physician said your illness isn’t fully healed yet. Your diet should be light and less greasy."

The Crown Prince: ...

But he really wanted a taste!

While Prince Yan and Zhao Yang enjoyed the feast, Prince Heng, sitting not far away, suddenly found the roast in front of him less appealing.

But Prince Heng, being thick-skinned, sent someone to ask for a portion. Naturally, Prince Yan refused, and the messenger returned empty-handed.

Prince Heng pouted, muttering sourly, "It’s just ordinary roast. It’s not like I’m missing out."

Yet the irresistible aroma lingered, making his mouth water.

Prince Heng couldn’t help but wonder where his second brother had found such a talented concubine who could roast meat so well.

Shen Wei discreetly scanned the scene, noticing the longing looks of the officials.

The entrepreneurial genius in her began to consider opening a roast meat shop in Yanjing.

...

After the feast, Prince Yan went to the Crown Prince’s tent to discuss official matters. Shen Wei, accompanied by Cai Lian, took a stroll by the stream to aid digestion. After practicing a round of Ba Duan Jin, she returned to her tent.

Back in the tent, Shen Wei, ever the diligent one, didn’t rest immediately. Instead, she continued practicing her calligraphy, ensuring that Prince Yan would see her engrossed in her studies upon his return.

Prince Yan would undoubtedly be pleased.

After all, Prince Yan still believed that Shen Wei practiced calligraphy solely for his sake.

Under the soft glow of the candlelight, Shen Wei sat at her desk, diligently practicing her writing. She had even changed her hairstyle, letting her silky black hair cascade over her shoulders, removing her hairpins. The lantern on her right cast a gentle light, perfectly accentuating the delicate curve of her profile.

Every detail was carefully crafted.

She aimed to always present her most beautiful side to Prince Yan, ensuring he remained captivated by her.

"Whoosh—"

The tent flap opened, and Prince Yan stepped in under the moonlight, greeted by the sight of Shen Wei engrossed in her calligraphy.

The candlelight illuminated her as she held the brush, her expression focused. Her long, silky hair flowed over her shoulders, and she wore a pale silver nightgown, looking like a dream.

Hearing the noise, Shen Wei looked up, her bright, lively eyes filled with joy. "My lord, you’re back."

Her voice was soft and sweet, her porcelain-like face glowing with happiness.

Prince Yan walked over to the desk and picked up a sheet of paper to examine. Though Shen Wei’s handwriting was still rough, her progress was remarkable, proving she hadn’t neglected her studies.

"Very good," Prince Yan said, satisfied.

Shen Wei beamed with pride. "With a few more years of practice, I’ll surely become a master calligrapher."

Prince Yan chuckled, taking her hand and guiding her strokes as they practiced together.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Wei casually mentioned her younger brother. "My lord, my younger brother Shen Xiuming is also quite skilled in calligraphy, though his writing is more neat and orderly, unlike your bold and powerful style."

In Shen Wei’s plan, her younger brother Shen Xiuming would one day become Prince Yan’s right-hand man.

Thus, she occasionally brought him up in conversation, laying the groundwork for the future.

"How old is your brother?" Prince Yan asked casually.

Shen Wei smiled. "He’s eighteen now, still studying at the temple. I used some leftover fabric from making your boots to make him a pair as well."

Prince Yan chuckled, gently tapping her nose. "You shouldn’t use scraps for your own brother. He’s family."

Though his tone held a hint of reproach, it was mostly affectionate.

Shen Wei pouted. "My brother’s tough. He should be grateful just to have new boots."

Shen Wei understood Prince Yan well.

Prince Yan was a man with a strong sense of possessiveness. He wanted his wives and concubines to revolve around him, placing him above all else. But the princess was preoccupied with her son, Liu Ruyan longed for a monogamous relationship, Zhang Miaoyu was gluttonous, and Liu Qiao'er was lazy...

None of them met his expectations, so Prince Yan naturally distanced himself from them.

Shen Wei, however, was different. She always seemed to prioritize Prince Yan, making him feel deeply cherished.

Even her own brother took a backseat, only deserving scraps for his boots—a subtle way of showing her devotion to Prince Yan.

After practicing calligraphy and retiring for the night, Shen Wei awoke the next morning to another day of hunting. Zhao Yang Princess and a few other women, dressed in riding attire, joined the hunting party.

While Prince Yan attended to his duties, Shen Wei focused on her own tasks.

Shen Wei was in her tent, practicing calisthenics and performing the Eight-Section Brocade exercises while pondering over the business proposal for creating "Wei Xue Ice City."

As noon approached, shocking news suddenly spread among the imperial guards outside the tent.

Prince Yan had gone missing!