A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 175

Shen Wei was stunned.

Sun Qingmei had already left the capital?

Zhao Yang recounted the entire sequence of events to Shen Wei.

Three days prior, Sun Qingmei had obtained an imperial decree to annul her marriage with Shangguan Xuan. She had stayed at the princess’s residence for two days, during which she calmly calculated her dowry and tallied the ten thousand taels of silver the marquis’s household owed her.

With Zhao Yang’s assistance, Sun Qingmei ensured that the South Garrison Marquis's Mansion would repay the debt. Then, taking only a modest sum of silver, she and her maidservant rode out of the capital at dawn, galloping toward Liangzhou City.

In Liangzhou City, there were former subordinates of her father. There, she might find refuge.

In short, the seemingly delicate Sun Qingmei had left without hesitation, cutting all ties cleanly.

Princess Zhao Yang remarked with admiration, "Madam Sun said this is called 'speed is the essence of warfare.' Rather than entangling herself further with those people in the marquis’s household, it was better to sever ties completely and be done with it."

Shen Wei was deeply impressed.

Sun Qingmei was far stronger and more decisive than Shen Wei had imagined. In just three days, she had completely let go of the past, making a clean break without compromising or enduring humiliation.

Zhao Yang added with a smile, "As for the dowry the marquis’s household owes Madam Sun, I will personally ensure it’s repaid! If they refuse to honor this debt, I’ll take the matter to my father and mother. Using a woman’s dowry—how despicable."

Lowering her voice, Zhao Yang continued, "The reason His Majesty agreed so swiftly to annul Sun Qingmei and Shangguan Xuan’s marriage isn’t just because the Sun family once did him a favor, but also because he intends to suppress the South Garrison Marquis's Mansion."

The ancestors of the Shangguan family had once defeated the bandits of the Southern Chu Kingdom, earning them the title of "South Garrison Marquis."

When the current emperor was still a prince, the South Garrison Marquis's Mansion had supported a different contender for the throne. After the emperor’s ascension, the marquis’s household had been suppressed into decline.

Now, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍with Shangguan Xuan’s recent military achievements, the once-fallen marquis’s household showed signs of resurgence. With Prince Yan and Prince Heng vying for power, the emperor feared the South Garrison Marquis's Mansion might involve itself in the princes’ struggle. Thus, he permitted Sun Qingmei’s annulment to tarnish the household’s reputation.

As for the Princess of Pingyang, with her exceptional talent for crafting weapons, the emperor would never allow her to leave the capital—she had to remain under his watchful eye.

Zhao Yang clicked her tongue in disdain. "In this recent victory over the Yue Kingdom’s invaders, the true credit belongs to General Shen, not Shangguan Xuan. General Shen didn’t even ask for rewards, yet Shangguan Xuan had the audacity to use his so-called military merit to pressure His Majesty into demoting his wife to a concubine. How shameless."

Upon reflection, Shen Wei realized this was indeed the case.

Shangguan Xuan’s return to the capital had been marked by arrogance. And the prouder a person grew, the harder they fell.

"Did General Shen truly refuse all rewards?" Shen Wei was intrigued by this General Shen.

Zhao Yang nodded. "I heard from my father that General Shen Mieyue of Liangzhou City is a natural military genius, a master of strategy. When His Majesty offered him a noble title, he outright refused, petitioning instead for more winter clothing, provisions, and medicine for the border troops. His Majesty holds him in high regard—"

Just then, Zhao Yang’s personal maidservant, Yun'er, entered the warm chamber. She whispered to Zhao Yang, "Your Highness, the South Garrison Marquis and the Princess of Pingyang request an audience."

Zhao Yang arched a brow and replied bluntly, "If he’s here to repay the dowry debt, I’ll see him. If he’s here to stir trouble, have him thrown out."

Yun'er accepted the order cheerfully.

Moments later, she returned to report, "Your Highness, the South Garrison Marquis claims to have an important letter. He says if you refuse to see him, he’ll discard it."

Zhao Yang’s interest was piqued.

What letter could be so significant? With nothing better to do, she instructed Yun'er, "Let them in."

Shortly after, Shangguan Xuan and Zhao Qing entered the warm chamber. Due to propriety between men and women, a translucent jade screen separated them, allowing only vague silhouettes to be seen.

Shangguan Xuan bowed to Zhao Yang, then glanced up. Through the screen, he noticed a feminine figure beside the princess.

Assuming it was Sun Qingmei, he wasted no time and stated directly, "Your Highness, this humble official has come for two matters. First, to request my wife’s return to the marquis’s household. Second, to deliver an important letter to Your Highness."

The past few days had been chaotic for the marquis’s household—one disaster after another.

Shangguan Xuan had never expected Sun Qingmei to rush to the palace overnight and secure an annulment decree. He was shocked, but more than that, furious.

How dare she disregard his dignity and make their private affairs public?

He had intended to speak with her calmly, but she refused outright, abandoning her duties in the household and taking refuge in the princess’s residence instead.

With Sun Qingmei gone, the marquis’s household descended into disarray. The grand sixtieth birthday celebration for the matriarch turned into a farce, leaving her bedridden with rage. The storeroom’s precious medicinal herbs—originally part of Sun Qingmei’s dowry—had been confiscated by the princess’s envoys.

With no one left to manage the household, the uncles of the second and third branches stood by indifferently. Only then did the matriarch recall Sun Qingmei’s virtues, but no one could swallow their pride to fetch her back.

Finally, the matriarch summoned Shangguan Xuan and advised, "Women are soft-hearted. You brought Zhao Qing home, and Sun Qingmei was upset. Apologize to her first and coax her back. Once the household stabilizes, you can always divorce her later."

Reluctantly, Shangguan Xuan arrived at the princess’s residence.

Zhao Yang took a sip of warm wine. "Madam Sun has already left the capital. She is no longer here. The marquis’s household must repay her dowry within the month—I will personally oversee it."

Shangguan Xuan frowned. "Your Highness, isn’t that my wife beside you?"

Shen Wei coughed lightly at the opportune moment.

Zhao Yang scoffed. "The woman beside me is Prince Yan’s concubine. South Garrison Marquis, your eyesight is truly remarkable—you can’t even recognize your own wife."

Shangguan Xuan froze.

Sun Qingmei had left the princess’s residence?

Impossible. A delicate woman like her, with no family or connections—how could she abandon the comforts of the marquis’s household to wander the world alone?

"Accompany me to the study to draft a repayment agreement for the dowry debt," Zhao Yang said, rising slowly. "Bring that letter of yours. I’d like to see what makes it so important."

Shangguan Xuan had no choice but to comply.

Before following Zhao Yang out, he stole another glance behind the screen. There sat the beautiful Shen Wei—not Sun Qingmei.

For some reason, a pang of disappointment struck him. He had always assumed Sun Qingmei was the epitome of a docile noblewoman, meek and enduring. Yet her boldness in storming Kunning Palace that night had revealed a fearless courage he never knew she possessed.

Such bravery was rare—even Zhao Qing lacked it...

"Ah Qing, wait here for me. I’ll return shortly," Shangguan Xuan said softly to Zhao Qing.

Zhao Qing nodded obediently.

After Shangguan Xuan and Princess Zhao Yang departed, the warm chamber was left with only Shen Wei and Zhao Qing. The maids removed the tall white jade screen that had been shielding them, revealing Shen Wei’s radiant beauty to Zhao Qing’s gaze.

Zhao Qing felt a pang of inadequacy in comparison.

This concubine of Prince Yan was like a peony in full bloom—utterly captivating, impossible to look away from.

Zhao Qing couldn’t help but indulge in a fantasy: if she were to become the mistress of a noble household one day, adorned in gold and silver, dressed in resplendent finery, surely she too would be as breathtaking as the concubine before her.

"Princess of Pingyang, have some wine to warm yourself," Shen Wei said with a light chuckle as a maid presented Zhao Qing with heated wine from the princess’s estate.

Zhao Qing held the delicate cup in her hands, inwardly marveling. The princess’s household was indeed extravagant—even the wine cups were crafted from the finest white jade.

The warmed wine carried a fragrant, fruity aroma.

Just as Zhao Qing was about to take a sip, she suddenly heard Shen Wei speak: "The imperial jade nectar wine."