A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 102

Zhao Yang furrowed her delicate brows, assuming it was the steward of the Prince's Mansion who had arrived.

She scolded in a playful tone, "This princess still wishes to stroll with Weiwei. Go back and tell Second Brother to send someone in a couple of days. With so many concubines in the Prince's Mansion, why must Second Brother insist on taking *my* companion?"

The deep blue carriage curtain swayed as a pair of slender, well-defined fingers parted it.

Prince Yan stepped down from the carriage.

Clad in a black brocade robe, his face was as cold and unyielding as ice, his lips pressed into a thin line beneath his tall, straight nose. An aura of quiet authority emanated from his brow, inspiring awe in those around him.

When Prince Yan's gaze landed on Zhao Yang, she immediately felt the weight of it, as if an immense mountain had settled upon her shoulders.

Her heart pounded like a drum as she stammered, "S-second Brother..."

In the past, Zhao Yang had never feared Prince Yan—she had even dared to playfully tease him. But over the last two years, his "commanding presence without anger" had grown increasingly pronounced. At times, when she looked at him, she caught glimpses of their father, the Emperor, seated upon the dragon throne.

Prince Yan’s voice was icy. "You claimed to be weeping daily, drowning in sorrow? It seems you are doing just fine."

Zhao Yang choked on her words, unable to refute him.

A few days ago, she *had* been drowning in tears and melancholy. But under Shen Wei’s gentle and attentive care, she had recovered at lightning speed. Now, when she occasionally thought of Yan Yunting, there was only a faint twinge in her heart—nothing more.

Prince Yan’s eyes shifted to Shen Wei, who stood beside Zhao Yang.

Shen Wei wore a light green silk dress, her hair loosely tied with a few strands cascading by her ears. In her hand, she held a budding lotus flower, standing gracefully by the lakeside—fresh, elegant, and utterly enchanting.

"Your Highness." Shen Wei greeted him with a radiant smile, her eyes brimming with affection.

The hollowness that had lingered in Prince Yan’s chest for days was finally filled with calm. He stepped forward and took her hand.

Her fingers were cool and soft.

*Exactly as he remembered.*

Prince Yan led Shen Wei into the carriage, and the dark, stately vehicle turned and departed at a leisurely pace.

Only when the Prince's Mansion’s carriage had completely vanished from sight did Zhao Yang dare to stomp her foot in frustration, ordering her servants, "Let’s return to the princess’s residence!"

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The carriage swayed gently.

Shen Wei sat obediently beside Prince Yan, her beautiful eyes studying him carefully.

After a moment, she reached out and touched his handsome face, her voice laced with concern. "Your Highness, you’ve grown thinner. Did you not eat well in Yunzhou? Next time, let me accompany you."

Prince Yan’s heart melted.

The climate in Yunzhou was unpredictable, and the food did not suit his palate. During his military inspection there, he had worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, exhausted each day.

Only Shen Wei ever asked if he was weary or if his meals were adequate.

"I am well," Prince Yan murmured, pulling her into his embrace. The delicate scent of lotus blossoms drifted from her, faint yet intoxicating.

It teased his senses like a hook.

In Yunzhou, for efficiency, he had only taken his personal guards, which meant he had gone without a woman’s touch for quite some time. At his age, with her soft warmth in his arms, desire surged within him.

Shen Wei understood his thoughts perfectly. She leaned in, helping him remove his outer robe before wrapping her arms around his neck with a coy smile...

The carriage moved at a steady pace. Cai Ping walked alongside it. At first, she thought she heard an odd creaking—perhaps a loose wheel? But after listening closely, her face flushed crimson.

*In broad daylight… the master and His Highness are…!*

After a while, another worry struck her. *The master is still pregnant, barely two months along! The imperial physician warned that intimacy is forbidden in the first trimester.*

Anxious but powerless to interfere, Cai Ping could only clasp her hands and pray silently, her heart uneasy the entire way.

---

An hour later, the carriage finally arrived at the Prince's Mansion.

The curtain lifted, and Shen Wei stepped out, her legs trembling so badly that she nearly stumbled. Prince Yan steadied her, his voice husky. "Slowly."

Shen Wei’s cheeks burned as she shot him a reproachful look. "This is all *your* fault."

Her face was flushed, her shy yet coy gaze reminiscent of a dew-kissed lotus after the rain—delicate yet alluring.

Prince Yan’s throat tightened, his eyes darkening once more with smoldering heat.

---

Back in Liuli Pavilion, Prince Yan and Shen Wei entered the bedroom, the door shutting firmly behind them.

*Reunion after separation was sweeter than the wedding night itself.*

Though consumed by desire, Prince Yan had not forgotten she was with child.

…

By noon, the bedroom door finally reopened. Prince Yan led Shen Wei out for the midday meal. Her throat was sore, her lips swollen, her wrists chafed, and her legs unsteady. She could only manage a bowl of porridge enriched with delicacies from land and sea.

Prince Yan, on leave today, stayed by her side in Liuli Pavilion, recounting Yunzhou’s customs, its drastic temperature shifts, and its strategic military advantages.

Most women would have dozed off listening to such topics.

But not Shen Wei. She feigned keen interest, praising him now and then, asking questions that kept him talking.

After their time apart, the two were inseparable, their affection seemingly endless.

Night soon fell. Shen Wei struggled to stay awake as Prince Yan spoke of borderland traditions. Suddenly, she felt a chill on her shoulder—her robe slipping, baring pale skin and a subtle fragrance.

When she looked up, she saw the rekindled fire in Prince Yan’s eyes.

Shen Wei: *"..."*

*Will this ever end?!*

Prince Yan’s stamina was formidable. By the time he was satisfied, it was deep into the night.

Before drifting into exhausted slumber, Shen Wei regretted her earlier coy games. *I should never have played hard to get.* She had successfully captured his emotions, but in the end, *she* was the one suffering the consequences.

---

Though lost in Shen Wei’s tenderness, Prince Yan did not neglect his duties.

The next morning, he rose refreshed and left for court. Before departing, he stopped by the garden, pleased to see the vegetables he had planted thriving—eggplants plump, tomatoes ripe, and pumpkins beginning to fruit.

Satisfied, he strode out with vigor.

Meanwhile, Shen Wei lay in bed a while longer before forcing herself up, her waist aching. She went through her routine: a light jog, breakfast.

Cai Ping brought ointment, applying it to her lips and wrists.

"While I was away at Luoyue Lake with the princess, was there any notable activity in the mansion?" Shen Wei had not forgotten to gather intelligence.

Her trip had been like an official assignment, and now that she was back, she needed to stay informed.

Nanny Rong replied, "My lady, the day before yesterday, I delivered the usual allowance to the Wen Temple. Your younger brother studies diligently, without slacking. As for your elder sister, Shen Qiang, she helps Lady Shen with weaving and has even cultivated a small vegetable plot outside the temple—planting greens and fruit trees. She works very hard. The garden is flourishing."

Shen Wei smiled and casually asked, "How good are the vegetables, to earn such praise from you, Nanny Rong?"

Nanny Rong replied, "The crops are thriving—the greens are lush and vibrant. Even the fruit trees nearby are pest-free and have adapted well to the new soil after being transplanted."

Shen Wei fell into thought.

Her elder sister seemed quite skilled at cultivation.

She vaguely remembered that Shen Qiang had married a merchant from Shu. The man was often away on business, leaving the family's vast hundred-acre farmland largely under Shen Qiang’s care, managed alongside the servants.

Shen Wei had opened a dessert shop and, to ensure the freshness of her ingredients, purchased a large plot of fertile land in the southern hills to grow fruits and vegetables. Entrusting such valuable land to outsiders made her uneasy—it would be far better to hand it over to family.

She would need to find time to leave the Prince's Mansion and visit Shen Qiang. After assessing her sister’s capabilities, she could then decide whether to entrust her with greater responsibility.

Turning ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‍to Cai Ping, Shen Wei asked, "Has there been any movement within the Prince’s Mansion lately?"