Shen Wei cast her bait and finally hooked the big fish—Dr. Yang. She imdiately instructed Nanny Rong to relay a ssage to Shopkeeper Ye, informing him that she would visit Dr. Yang the next day.
The following day, Shen Wei discreetly changed into a plain-colored gown and left the Prince's Mansion through the back courtyard with Nanny Rong.
In the rear garden of the mansion, Xiang'er, a concubine standing by the pond, watched Shen Wei with venomous eyes, like a snake lurking in the shadows.
Xiang'er muttered, "Why is Shen Wei leaving the mansion again? Could she be up to sothing unsavory outside?"
Her maid cautioned, "My lady, be careful with your words."
Xiang'er froze, then glared at her maid in disbelief. "You're my maid! Why are you siding with Shen Wei?"
The maid didn’t respond, nor did she care to. Shen Wei was now pregnant, yet the prince’s favor toward her hadn’t waned in the slightest—he still spent most of his nights in Liuli Pavilion.
Though Shen Wei enjoyed the prince’s utmost affection, she was neither arrogant nor domineering. Instead, she treated the mansion’s servants with kindness.
Born into a peasant family, Shen Wei had once worked as a maid in the mansion and knew the hardships of those at the bottom. During the scorching sumrs, she would have the kitchen prepare a large vat of chilled plum soup every ten days, placing it in a shaded corner of the garden for the servants to enjoy, distributed by the maids Cailian and Caiping.
Though the mansion’s Steward Fugui would allocate so funds each sumr for the servants to buy cooling treats and mats, the money was whittled down through layers of corruption, leaving barely enough for the low-ranking maids and servants. Shen Wei’s plum soup, though humble, was practical—sothing they could actually savor.
Grateful for her generosity, the servants held Liuli Pavilion in high regard, so even vying for a chance to work there. Deep down, they wished for Shen Wei’s continued favor, and so even hoped she would rise higher, bringing them more benefits.
"Shen Wei left the mansion last month, and now she’s doing it again—there must be sothing fishy going on!" Xiang’er grew increasingly suspicious.
These days, Xiang’er’s life was miserable. The prince had forgotten her entirely, never stepping foot in Fangfei Courtyard again. The mansion’s servants, ever the opportunists, no longer sided with her. Her parents had written several tis asking for money, but with her own purse empty, their letters had dwindled.
Both peasant-born, yet Shen Wei now wore silks and jewels while Xiang’er’s own clothes were worn and tattered. The injustice gnawed at her.
"Co, we’re going to report this to the princess consort," Xiang’er declared, her eyes darting cunningly. Life in the mansion’s cutthroat environnt had eroded whatever innocence she once had, leaving her sharp-tongued and spiteful.
Before her maid could stop her, Xiang’er dashed toward Kunyu Courtyard.
Unsurprisingly, she didn’t even make it past the gate before being shooed away by the maids there.
A worthless concubine had no right to see the princess consort.
Undeterred, Xiang’er decided to take her grievances to the other consorts. She hurried to Liu Qiao’er’s Mingyue Courtyard, where she breathlessly recounted Shen Wei’s suspicious outings to the consort, who was calmly embroidering.
Liu Qiao’er remained unfazed, her needle moving steadily as she replied, "That’s none of my concern."
Xiang’er pressed, "What if she’s eting a lover outside?"
Liu Qiao’er shrugged. "What does that have to do with ?"
She had no interest in the petty squabbles between concubines. To her, staying out of trouble was the wisest path—only by avoiding conflict could one ensure a peaceful life.
Xiang’er was promptly chased out by Mingyue Courtyard’s maids.
Refusing to give up, she next sought out Zhang Miaoyu in Huaxiang Courtyard.
The scent of roasting at wafted through the courtyard, making Xiang’er’s mouth water. She hadn’t tasted at in ages.
Zhang Miaoyu was enjoying the al with her maid, Xiang Yu. After hearing Xiang’er’s accusations, she tilted her head and scoffed, "Sister Shen Wei would never do such a thing. You’re just jealous she’s pregnant and trying to sar her na. How vile."
Cornered, Xiang’er stamred, "Lady Zhang, you misunderstand! I only thought her behavior was odd—"
Zhang Miaoyu cut her off. "I’ve left the mansion twice this month—more than Shen Wei. Why aren’t you accusing of eting a lover? Face it, you’re just a coward who picks on those of your own standing while groveling to your betters."
Xiang’er flushed red, speechless.
Disgusted, Zhang Miaoyu waved her off. "Xiang Yu, throw her out. She’s ruining my appetite."
Xiang’er was ejected from the courtyard, fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Her maid watched coldly, as if observing a clown.
"There’s still Consort Liu Ruyan," Xiang’er muttered, nearly delirious with frustration. She rushed to Qixue Pavilion without pause.
Peering into the courtyard, she saw Liu Ruyan standing beneath a tree, clad in a flowing silver gown, staring blankly at the withered lotus leaves in the pond.
The autumn wind lifted her sleeves and skirts, making her seem ethereal, as if she might ascend to the heavens at any mont.
The sight was beautiful yet eerie. Swallowing hard, Xiang’er quietly retreated.
None of the mansion’s noblewon would lift a finger to help. Seething, Xiang’er couldn’t understand why fate favored Shen Wei so—both peasant girls, yet their lives couldn’t be more different.
The flas of envy burned hotter as she plotted Shen Wei’s downfall. Wandering aimlessly, she suddenly spotted Steward Fugui approaching with two young eunuchs in tow.
The steward rubbed his sore neck, having slept poorly the night before.
"Steward Fugui!" Xiang’er hurried over.
If the noblewon wouldn’t listen, perhaps the mansion’s powerful head steward would.
Fugui, with his sharp mory, recognized the disheveled woman before him. Wearily, he asked, "What is it?"
Xiang’er relayed Shen Wei’s repeated outings.
Fugui studied her briefly before replying flatly, "I’ll take note."
Thinking she’d succeeded, Xiang’er eagerly added, "That Shen Wei acts high and mighty just because she’s pregnant. She must have a lover outside—who knows, maybe the child isn’t even the prince’s!"
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