A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 101

Prince Yan felt a faint pang of melancholy in his heart.

That evening, Prince Yan went to dine with the Princess Consort. Though he no longer held any affection for his wife, he occasionally granted her the dignity befitting her status.

At the dinner table, the Princess Consort was preoccupied with thoughts of how to dispose of the elderly nanny, her mind wandering. Prince Yan and the Princess Consort exchanged barely a word throughout the meal, leaving only the cold clinking of chopsticks and bowls echoing across the vast table.

The meal brought Prince Yan no joy, and he naturally chose not to stay the night in the Princess Consort’s quarters.

Fatigued from his journey on horseback, Prince Yan returned to his own chambers to rest. Though weary, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

The pillow he lay upon was an artemisia pillow gifted by Shen Wei—fragrant and soft. The summer quilt covering him was also sewn from fine fabric Shen Wei had personally selected, and traces of her presence lingered throughout the room.

Prince Yan missed the sweet softness of Shen Wei’s hands, her clear, bright eyes, and most of all, her delicate, graceful form...

Tomorrow, Shen Wei was supposed to return from the Luoyue Lake villa. With this thought, Prince Yan slowly closed his eyes and drifted into a relatively peaceful slumber.

The next morning, Prince Yan visited the Eastern Palace to inquire after the Crown Prince’s health. By the time he returned to the Prince's Mansion, it was already afternoon. Out of habit, he glanced beneath the eaves—but they were empty, devoid of the familiar figure he sought.

Shen Wei had not yet returned.

Prince Yan summoned Steward Fugui, frowning as he asked, “Still no word from the Luoyue Lake villa?”

Steward Fugui offered an awkward smile. “Your Highness, the Zhao Yang Princess sent a message. She claims to be in low spirits recently and has asked for Shen Wei to stay a few more days at the villa.”

Inwardly, Fugui sighed.

The Prince's Mansion housed many wives and concubines, yet only the mistress of Liuli Pavilion—Shen Wei—could stir such longing in the Prince’s heart.

Prince Yan scowled. “Zhao Yang is being utterly unreasonable!”

After five days away, the one he had missed most was Shen Wei. Yet Zhao Yang had the audacity to keep her at the Luoyue Lake villa!

“Your Highness, shall this servant go to Luoyue Lake and bring Shen Wei back?” Fugui ventured cautiously.

Prince Yan fell silent for a moment. His intelligence network was well-informed, and he was already aware of Zhao Yang’s recent experiences.

After some consideration, he reluctantly waved his sleeve. “No need. Let Weiwei stay with Zhao Yang for two more days.”

Soon, two days passed.

At Luoyue Lake, the sky stretched blue above, the white moon hanging high as rows of emerald lotus leaves spread across the water. The Princess’s painted pleasure boat glided slowly across the surface, with Shen Wei seated in a wicker chair at the bow, accompanying Zhao Yang Princess in admiring the lotus blossoms.

The wounds of heartbreak were the hardest to heal, and Zhao Yang had been in low spirits these past few days.

Shen Wei took a sip of tart citron water, savoring the cool breeze brushing against her face. She adored this kind of leisurely, tranquil life. One day, after retirement, she would buy a grand pleasure boat of her own and spend her days traveling the lakes and mountains.

As the boat docked at the pier, Shen Wei and the Princess disembarked. Yun'er, a maid from the villa, came running to report, “Princess, Prince Yan has sent Steward Fugui to fetch Shen Wei back to the Prince's Mansion.”

Zhao Yang reacted as if facing an enemy, immediately tightening her grip on Shen Wei’s arm. “No! Weiwei promised to go fishing with me tonight! Yun'er, go tell Fugui that Weiwei will stay with me for two more days. The villa’s scenery is splendid—perfect for nurturing the body and spirit.”

Yun'er: “...”

Zhao Yang added, “And tell my second brother that I’ve been crying day and night, miserable and unable to sleep! Only with Shen Wei by my side can I find peace.”

Yun'er: “...Understood.”

Zhao Yang had grown quite fond of Shen Wei.

Whenever Zhao Yang was troubled by matters of the heart, Shen Wei always had the wisdom to guide her out of confusion and heartbreak.

Beyond that, Shen Wei was skilled at flower arrangement, fishing, gardening, makeup, and skincare. Spending time with her every day left Zhao Yang feeling refreshed, carefree, and utterly content.

Zhao Yang lifted her chin. “If my brother dares to take her away, I’ll complain to Mother Empress!”

Helpless, Yun'er relayed the Princess’s words to Steward Fugui.

By nightfall, Shen Wei and Zhao Yang returned from fishing by the lake, their haul plentiful. Zhao Yang, in particularly good luck, had caught a five-pound fish and laughed heartily in delight.

She had once believed that after letting go of Yan Yunting, her life would lose all color. But now she realized the world was vast and full of wondrous, joyful things.

Without Yan Yunting, she was happier than ever.

Before parting for the night, Zhao Yang cheerfully said to Shen Wei, “Weiwei, tomorrow morning we’ll make fish soup! It’ll be the first time I’ve ever tasted a fish I caught myself!”

Shen Wei nodded. “Goodnight, Princess.”

Returning to her room, Shen Wei removed her makeup, exercised for half an hour, then bathed and prepared for bed.

Cai Ping spread fresh bedding over the mattress and asked, “Mistress, the Prince has already sent someone twice to fetch you, but the Princess refuses to let you go. Shouldn’t you ask the Princess yourself to return to the Prince's Mansion?”

Cai Ping worried that if Prince Yan went too long without seeing Shen Wei, he might summon another concubine to his chambers.

Shen Wei lay back on the bed, smiling. “No need to rush.”

In dealing with Prince Yan, Shen Wei knew she had to assert her individuality and uniqueness—to make her presence felt.

She was his woman, not his servant. If she rushed to his side the moment he returned, fussing over him with excessive eagerness, it would only diminish her worth.

If she were endlessly submissive, always at his beck and call, never leaving his side, even Prince Yan would eventually grow bored.

She, too, needed to “leave” him for a few days—to let him experience the torment of longing.

In short, it was a game of “playing hard to get.” The longer he went without seeing her, the more restless he would become, the more his desire would grow.

“Have you done what I asked?” Shen Wei inquired as she lay in bed.

Cai Ping smiled. “Rest assured, Mistress. When Steward Fugui came this afternoon, I already passed him the food box.”

Shen Wei’s lips curved upward. “Good. It’s late—you should rest as well, Cai Ping.”

Cai Ping gently drew the bed curtains, extinguished the candles, and tiptoed out.

Shen Wei soon fell asleep, but in the Prince's Mansion, Prince Yan lay awake, restless.

That ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‍afternoon, he had sent Fugui to Luoyue Lake to bring her back, only to be dismissed again by Zhao Yang’s words. Yet Shen Wei had not forgotten him—she had prepared a bowl of “lotus seed and corn spare rib soup” and a box of lotus blossom pastries for Fugui to deliver to him.

As Prince Yan sipped the sweet broth and savored the crisp pastries, his longing for Shen Wei only deepened.

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The next morning, Shen Wei was roused early by Zhao Yang. The Princess had the kitchen prepare a fresh perch and water shield soup, which they enjoyed together.

The two had become inseparable companions, eating, drinking, and playing to their hearts’ content.

In the afternoon, after their meal, Shen Wei and Zhao Yang strolled along the picturesque shores of Luoyue Lake. The distant mountains loomed faintly on the horizon, while the shimmering lake stretched before them. Zhao Yang exclaimed excitedly, “Weiwei, the vegetables in my estate are thriving! Come visit one day, and we’ll pick them together—”

Before she could finish, the clear neigh of a horse rang out.

A lavishly decorated carriage, bearing a black banner embroidered with a golden character for “Yan,” came to a stop by the lakeside.