A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 146
In the rear chambers of the Prince's Mansion, Shen Wei had eyes and ears everywhere—even the maidservants attending the Princess Consort had been bribed by her.
The daily rituals of morning and evening greetings were never simple. The Princess Consort would inevitably assert her authority as the primary wife, taking the opportunity to reprimand Shen Wei thoroughly.
Shen Wei took a sip of light tea and smiled faintly. "Morning and evening greetings—what an inconvenient custom."
Already exhausted from serving Prince Yan daily, she had no intention of sparing extra effort for the Princess Consort.
Setting down her teacup, she exhaled softly, already devising a countermeasure.
As the sun dipped westward and stars dotted the night sky, the quiet chirping of insects filled the courtyard of Liuli Pavilion. Prince Yan, still delayed at the Eastern Palace, had yet to return. After finishing her evening meal, Shen Wei strolled to aid digestion, practiced the Eight Brocades exercises, and spent half an hour in the study practicing calligraphy.
The night deepened, but Prince Yan remained absent. Shen Wei, too weary to wait any longer, instructed Cai Lian and Cai Ping to prepare her bathwater, scattering red petals across the surface. Shedding her robes, she leisurely sank into the wooden tub.
After a long day, nothing was more soothing than a warm bath in the orchid-scented bathing chamber before bed.
Ding-ling-ling—
The crisp, rhythmic chime of a bronze bell outside the chamber signaled someone's arrival.
Shen Wei sighed inwardly. Tonight, she would surely suffer. A man brimming with energy and long deprived of satisfaction was the most terrifying of all.
Creak—the door swung open, and a tall, imposing figure gradually materialized beyond the sheer silk curtains.
The curtains parted, releasing a swirl of steam.
Shen Wei turned slightly, the water rippling as damp red petals slid from her shoulders.
Amid the fragrant mist, her slender, pale hand rested on the edge of the tub. Her damp eyes lifted, a blend of shyness and allure in her gaze.
Gazing at the man now standing mere inches away, she murmured softly, "Your Highness, your concubine is still bathing..."
Prince Yan had returned late, still clad in his court robes.
His eyes lingered on Shen Wei, her wet black hair clinging to her delicate shoulders under the flickering candlelight—shy yet seductive, like a bewitching fox spirit.
Splash—
Deep into the night, the sound of water in the orchid chamber showed no sign of ceasing.
Only after a long while did silence finally return.
...
The next morning, the piercing cry of an infant echoed outside. The wet nurse hurried to tend to the little master in the nursery, while Cai Lian and Cai Ping carried basins of washing water to the bedchamber.
Normally, by this hour, both master and mistress would already be awake.
But as they approached the door, the two maidservants caught the unmistakable sounds of intimacy from within.
After eavesdropping for a moment, their cheeks flushed crimson. Cai Lian cleared her throat and whispered, "Cai Ping... let’s come back later. Leave the water here and check if the congee in the kitchen is ready."
Cai Ping, red-faced, nodded. "Right."
Their wait stretched until the sun hung high in the sky.
Even Nanny Rong was startled, sighing at the firmly shut bedchamber doors.
Prince Yan, in the prime of his vigor, possessed stamina none of his concubines could endure—except Shen Wei, whose body and heart matched his perfectly, allowing them to indulge without restraint.
During Shen Wei’s pregnancy and the months of recovery afterward, Prince Yan had restrained himself. Now, after half a year of patience, Shen Wei bore the brunt of his pent-up desires.
At last, the bedchamber doors swung open. Prince Yan, impeccably dressed, stretched lazily and strode out with radiant satisfaction etched across his handsome face.
"Your Highness, will you take lunch at Liuli Pavilion?" Nanny Rong inquired.
In high spirits, Prince Yan declined. "No need. Tend to your mistress."
With that, he departed Liuli Pavilion, his guards in tow.
...
Once Prince Yan had left, Cai Lian and Cai Ping hurried inside to attend to Shen Wei.
Cai Ping opened the windows to let in the cool breeze and arranged fresh pink roses in a vase, while Cai Lian helped Shen Wei dress for another bath.
Sinking into the soothing hot water, Shen Wei fought back tears... She really needed to strengthen her endurance.
That beast of a man was utterly insatiable.
"Mistress, His Highness instructed Steward Fu Gui to deliver medicine for improving blood circulation and reducing bruising," Cai Lian announced, presenting two delicate, fragrant boxes.
After applying the ointment and eating lunch, Shen Wei remained listless all day, her legs trembling with every step.
When Prince Yan returned that evening to dine with her, Shen Wei picked at her exquisite dishes, glancing up to find his gleaming eyes fixed on her—not as if savoring the meal, but as if he wanted to devour her whole.
Shen Wei: "..."
The next three days passed in grueling endurance.
Not that Prince Yan could be blamed for his insatiability.
Shen Wei was simply too alluring—her post-childbirth grace, her porcelain skin, her slender waist, every glance and smile stirring his desire.
She was heaven’s gift to him, every inch of her perfectly attuned to him, and he was utterly intoxicated.
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Only on the fourth day, when Prince Yan was ordered to inspect riverworks in the coastal provinces, did Shen Wei secretly exhale in relief. Feigning reluctance, she bid farewell to her demanding lord, then collapsed into bed for a blissful nap.
By noon, she rose to freshen up. Today, she would leave the mansion to see off Shen Xiuming, who was departing for the south.
Under Prince Yan’s patronage, Shen Xiuming had secured an official posting in Jiangnan. Accompanied by Shen's Mother, he planned to set out at noon, traveling south via the main road.
The carriage rolled toward the city outskirts.
The road was quiet, and Shen Wei lifted the curtain, spotting a plain gray carriage waiting at the crossroads. Shen Xiuming and Shen's Mother had yet to depart, the latter anxiously scanning the distance.
"Third Daughter!" Shen's Mother rushed forward the moment Shen Wei stepped down, clasping her hands.
Shen Xiuming also called out, "Sister."
Clad in a modest silver-gray gown with white jade hairpins, Shen Wei gripped her mother’s hands, voice trembling. "Mother..."
"Child, why do you look so worn?" Shen's Mother frowned at the faint shadows beneath her daughter’s eyes, the chapped lips, the overall exhaustion—as if she had endured relentless torment.
Her heart ached.
Noticing the red marks around Shen Wei’s wrists—like rope burns—Shen's Mother stiffened.
Shen Wei tugged her sleeves down, forcing a smile. "I didn’t sleep well last night. Please don’t worry, Mother. Thanks to Xiuming, I’m now the Prince’s concubine. No one dares harm me."
Shen's Mother swallowed her grief.
She knew that despite Shen Wei’s status, her humble origins as a farmer’s daughter made her an easy target for the noble-born concubines and the Princess Consort.
For Shen Wei to secure her position firmly, she needed Shen Xiuming’s rise.
"Mother, where’s Second Sister?" Shen Wei glanced around, noting Shen Qiang’s absence.
Shen's Mother shook her head bitterly. "I forbade her from coming. She’s safer in the southern hills, where that Liu scoundrel can’t find her."
As it turned out, Shen Qiang’s ex-husband, Liu Boyuan, had squandered his fortune after his business failed. With the farmland neglected, last year’s harvest had been meager.
Only then did Liu Boyuan realize Shen Qiang’s worth, traveling all the way to the capital in search of her. But upon arrival, he learned that her brother, Shen Xiuming, had earned the rank of Jinshi, and her sister had become the Prince’s concubine!
Overjoyed, Liu Boyuan scoured the city, desperate to reconcile.
"Mother-in-law! Brother-in-law! At last, I’ve found you!" A shrewd, booming voice rang out.
Speak of the devil...
Shen Qiang’s ex-husband, Liu Boyuan, came running, panting heavily. He was slightly plump, with a thin mustache framing his shrewd, darting eyes. Ever since arriving in the capital, Liu Boyuan had been searching for traces of Shen Qiang, but the Shen family had kept her whereabouts tightly concealed. Left with no choice, he had resorted to shadowing the Shens.
With practiced courtesy, he bowed to Shen Xiuming, then glanced at Shen Wei and offered another respectful greeting, "Auntie, it’s been years. You’ve grown even more radiant—no wonder Prince Yan is so fond of you."
