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

The next morning, the chirping of colorful parrots greeted the dawn outside the window. Prince Yan had the habit of waking up early, and he naturally opened his eyes.

In his arms was something warm.

He looked down and saw Shen Wei, who was nestled in his embrace, sleeping soundly. Her black hair spilled over her rounded shoulders, and her pointed nose tipped down to slightly swollen lips.

Prince Yan couldn't help but gently clasp Shen Wei's waist. Such a slender waist, yet it had endured him... He couldn't help but feel a pang of tenderness.

Still half-asleep, Shen Wei felt a sudden weight pressing down on her. She opened her eyes in a daze, and Prince Yan's handsome face filled her vision.

She paused for a moment, then her fair face flushed with a tinge of red as she shyly said, "To wake up and see Your Highness immediately fills me with joy."

Her eyes were pure, filled with unconcealed love.

Eyes cannot lie.

Prince Yan, who had seen countless people, could naturally see that the fervor and affection in Shen Wei's eyes were not an act. She truly felt happiness, and she truly adored him.

It had been a long time since Prince Yan had witnessed such pure affection.

He didn't want to disappoint her, so he leaned down and kissed her forehead: "I still have official duties. I'll come back to see you tonight."

Shen Wei shyly burrowed herself under the quilt, only revealing a pair of round, glossy eyes, and eagerly said, "Then... I'll wait for Your Highness. Your Majesty has promised, so you can't go back on your word."

Seeing her expectant gaze, Prince Yan couldn't help but laugh heartily.

The maids entered the room to help Prince Yan change his clothes, and he soon left the Fangfei Courtyard.

On the bed, Shen Wei sat up with a grimace, her whole body aching.

Did Prince Yan think she liked him?

Tsk tsk, eyes can also deceive.

Shen Wei hugged Prince Yan as if he were a golden ingot shining with brilliance. She didn't love Prince Yan, but she loved gold ingots with all her heart and soul!

For the next three consecutive nights, Prince Yan stayed in the Fangfei Courtyard.

In no time, Shen Wei's prominence in the inner mansion soared.

...

In the Kunyu Courtyard, Granny Liu accompanied the Princess Consort in embroidery.

Granny Liu, while helping the Princess Consort sort out the embroidery threads, muttered, "Your Highness, His Highness has spent three nights in Shen Wei's room... Should we send her some contraceptive medicine?"

The Princess Consort was embroidering chrysanthemums—white petals and tender green leaves, with elegant chrysanthemums blooming on the handkerchiefs.

Like a chrysanthemum, she was light and serene, unassuming and uncompetitive—this was the Princess Consort's current demeanor.

The Princess Consort said indifferently, "It's unnecessary; let nature take its course."

Flowers do not bloom forever; they wither in no time. Over the past ten years, the Prince Yan's mansion had seen many women like Shen Wei.

Everyone thought they could monopolize His Highness's favor, but in the end, they gained nothing.

"Just watch it as a joke," the Princess Consort said with a mocking smile.

Even if Shen Wei was lucky and conceived Prince Yan's child, given her lowly birth, she wouldn't be qualified to raise the child—unless Shen Wei managed to become a concubine.@@novelbin@@

Unfortunately, with her humble origins, Shen Wei's highest position would only be that of a lesser concubine.

...

In the Qixue Pavilion, Concubine Liu Ruyan was reading a book.

Maiden Xue Mei was whispering in her ear: "My Lady, I hear His Highness stays in Shen Wei's place every night... Shall we think of a way to summon His Highness here?"

Xue Mei genuinely had Liu Ruyan's best interests at heart.

However, Liu Ruyan was indifferent and easygoing, much like a chrysanthemum.

Liu Ruyan spent her days reading books, playing the qin, and occasionally collecting fallen flower petals, digging a hole to bury them, and penning memorial verses for the petals.

"Serving with beauty can only last for so long," Liu Ruyan said calmly, still engrossed in her reading. "That Shen Wei is also pitiful. She's in a situation akin to being boiled in oil, yet she thinks she's living in a world of blooming flowers. Alas."

Liu Ruyan felt sympathy for Shen Wei.

Xue Mei: ...

I don't think Lady Shen is pitiful at all!

The bountiful delicacies, exquisite silks, and jewels bestowed by Prince Yan filled the Fangfei Courtyard! Shen Wei was also very generous, not hoarding the treasures, generously rewarding Cai Lian and Cai Ping with numerous ornaments.

Xue Mei also wanted to receive her mistress's rewards!

But Liu Ruyan was uninterested in fame and fortune, shunning wealth. She never gave Xue Mei any rewards and even required Xue Mei to wear white while serving her.

Xue Mei, wearing white every day, felt like she was attending a funeral.

Poor Xue Mei had been serving Liu Ruyan for five or six years, yet her family's debts were still unpaid.

"Alas..." Xue Mei sighed in secret, wistfully thinking, "If only I could serve in the Fangfei Courtyard."

The Princess Consort and Liu Ruyan did not hold high hopes for Shen Wei, and all the lesser concubines and consorts in the inner mansion were waiting to see her fall from grace.

Shen Wei, however, was not foolish.

She had studied the situation in the Prince Yan's inner mansion and discovered that it was quite peculiar: there were no abortions, no frame-ups, and all the concubines, including the Princess Consort, were indifferent to favor, each lying flat like salted fish. Even the Princess Consort didn't consider Shen Wei a threat, completely disregarding her.

Everyone was eagerly waiting to watch her fail.

Shen Wei sighed: What a waste!

She was determined to outshine these lazy fish!

Who said pursuing favor was useless?

The newly planted rare green peonies in the garden, the golden sandalwood carved four-poster bed in her room, the pearls and ornaments in her treasure chest, the green flowing silk dress she wore... all these were the fruits of her efforts in pursuing favor.

Even the two maids serving her received raises in their basic salaries and bonuses.

How wonderful!

Serving with beauty indeed doesn't last long. But Shen Wei was determined to become the longest-serving veteran in Prince Yan's inner circle.

Veteran employees get used to each other over time, and Prince Yan would get accustomed to Shen Wei's presence. Even if new employees occasionally appeared, they wouldn't be able to shake Shen Wei's position.

Cai Lian, holding a towel, watched Shen Wei practicing the Eight Pieces of Brocade in the courtyard. Cai Lian couldn't help but remind her, "Your Ladyship now has undivided favor from His Highness... I humbly advise you to bear His Highness's child as soon as possible to secure your position."

Cai Lian, having received promotions and raises, was increasingly loyal to Shen Wei.

She didn't want Shen Wei to follow the path of other consorts, and thus offered her heartfelt advice.

"Don't rush," Shen Wei swung her arms, practicing the third movement of the Eight Pieces of Brocade. "My body is malnourished right now; it's not suitable for pregnancy."

The original owner of this body came from a poor family and was lean and slender.

Shen Wei needed to nourish her body before considering having a child. Otherwise, with her current frail frame and the primitive childbirth conditions in ancient times, she would likely suffer a difficult childbirth, even risking her life.

Her goal was to retire gracefully; she couldn't die early.

Cai Lian shook her head secretly.

Though her mistress was generous, being born into a farming family, she lacked vision and foresight.

His Highness's favor was fleeting; concubines without children lived worse than maids.

At dusk, Prince Yan entered the Fangfei Courtyard.

He didn't let his eunuchs announce his arrival, walking straight in. He happened to see Shen Wei squatting by the vegetable patch in the courtyard, holding a small hoe, apparently busy with something.

Prince Yan's brows furrowed.

From Shen Wei's posture, it seemed she was burying something. Prince Yan couldn't help but think of Concubine Liu Ruyan, who, every spring, had a peculiar hobby—burying flower petals.

Prince Yan truly did not understand, what was the point of burying fallen petals? Didn't they just rot in the dirt?

Could it be that Shen Wei was also like Liu Ruyan? Prince Yan's heart sank at the thought, and disappointment flickered in his eyes.

One Liu Ruyan was enough; he really didn't want to see a second one.

"Your Highness, you're here!" Apparently hearing the commotion behind her, Shen Wei happily ran over, her pretty face smudged with a bit of dirt.

Other concubines would only respectfully greet Prince Yan with "Paying respects to His Highness."

Shen Wei, however, was different. She would always joyfully greet him with "You're here," whenever she saw him.

The change of a few words carried profound meaning.

Shen Wei was subtly instilling in Prince Yan the idea that the Fangfei Courtyard was "home." Every time Prince Yan visited the Fangfei Courtyard, it was like coming home.

Prince Yan saw her rosy cheeks, charming yet innocent, and his disappointment faded, replaced by an uncontrollable sense of affection.

Prince Yan tenderly wiped the dirt off Shen Wei's cheek: "Weiwei, what are you doing?"

Shen Wei swung the hoe, her eyes crinkling into crescents: "Planting vegetables!"

Prince Yan was momentarily stunned. It took him a long while to process—planting vegetables?

Shen Wei took Prince Yan's hand, leading him to her newly created vegetable garden.

Prince Yan looked down at their intertwined hands—Shen Wei's hand was always warm, soft, and fragrant, and holding it felt very comfortable.

The other women in the Prince Yan's mansion were almost identical, always following protocol, restrained and reserved in bed.

Only Shen Wei was different. She would actively hold his hand, revere him, love him, and spare no effort in bed to please him.

Prince Yan: She truly loves me.

Shen Wei and Prince Yan arrived at the vegetable plot, a square piece of land with freshly turned spring soil. Shen Wei had already sown some green vegetable seeds, with unplanted pepper and eggplant seedlings nearby.

Shen Wei explained with a smile, "Coming from a humble background, I used to work in the fields with my siblings when I was young. Seeing this empty plot in the yard, I thought it would be a waste to plant flowers instead of vegetables."

Prince Yan, accustomed to a privileged life, was well-read, had ridden horses, fought in battles, written books, and accomplished many things.

But gardening? He had never done that before.

Shen Wei had analyzed Prince Yan's character—he had gone on a southern inspection for the crown prince, empathized with the people's conditions, and even gotten sunburned. This suggested he was not a frivolous playboy; he had political acumen and understood the importance of agriculture to the nation.

Therefore, Shen Wei planting vegetables would not provoke his dislike.

As expected, Prince Yan's interest was piqued: "How should we plant?"

Shen Wei picked up some bok choy seeds and scattered them into the soil: "First, scatter the seeds, cover them lightly with soil, and given the good spring weather, water and fertilize them. The vegetables will grow quickly. For these eggplant and tomato seedlings, dig a small hole..."

Shen Wei explained to Prince Yan in detail.

Finally, she handed two vegetable seedlings to Prince Yan with a bright smile: "Your Highness, why not try planting them yourself? It's quite fun."

Fu Gui, the eunuch behind Prince Yan, frowned inwardly. Madam Shen was indeed bold!

How dare she have the prince plant vegetables!

Such menial work was beneath the noble hands of a prince.

Fu Gui inwardly sighed, realizing how much the prince had indulged Madam Shen recently, letting her get away with so much.

"It does seem interesting," Prince Yan said, taking the eggplant seedling from Shen Wei and crouching by the vegetable plot.

Shen Wei surveyed the plot and used a wooden stick to mark a dividing line in the middle: "The left side of the plot will be planted by Your Highness. The right side will be planted by me—when my eggplants and tomatoes ripen, Your Highness mustn't steal my vegetables."

Prince Yan smiled faintly.

Do you think I, with my status, would steal your vegetables?

At this moment, Prince Yan's competitive spirit was roused. Shen Wei guided his hand and taught him how to use a hoe and dig holes.

Fu Gui watched from the side, his frown deepening further. Seeing the prince's noble hands clutching the hoe, Fu Gui felt like stepping forward to stop him.

"Chief Fu Gui," Cai Lian, observant as ever, quickly handed a tender eggplant seedling to Fu Gui, "Your Highness and Madam Shen are busy, why don't you try planting too? It's quite interesting."

Fu Gui waved his hands repeatedly: "I wouldn't know how."

Cai Lian smiled sweetly: "It's alright, Cai Lian can teach you!"

Cai Lian led Fu Gui to a small corner of the vegetable plot where she and Cai Ping had planted some tender green vegetables themselves.

Initially, when Shen Wei suggested that Cai Lian and Cai Ping also plant vegetables, the two maids didn't quite understand but still followed Shen Wei's instructions and planted some greens.

After these past few rainy days, the seeds had sprouted.

Seeing the vegetables they had planted with their own hands begin to grow, an inexplicable sense of fulfillment welled up in their hearts.

As Shen Wei put it—this was called "a sense of affiliation." Some organizations let their employees tend to cats, garden, or plant flowers to enhance loyalty and attachment.