A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 151
The Princess Consort had thought that after resolving the issue of Yueyin, she could finally focus on taking care of her two children in peace. But she never expected that Steward Fugui’s illness still hadn’t improved!
Without Steward Fugui’s assistance, the Princess Consort had no capable people around her. The elderly dowry grannies were too frail to help her manage the endless trivial matters, and the eight maids sent by her natal family had long been dismissed by the Princess Consort years ago, fearing they might seduce Prince Yan.
The maids now serving the Princess Consort were inexperienced and couldn’t shoulder responsibilities.
Only then did the Princess Consort vaguely realize how crucial Steward Fugui had been.
Left with no choice, she had to brace herself and begin managing the chaotic affairs of the inner household. Prince Yan hadn’t returned yet, but if he came back to find the mansion in disarray, she knew she would face his scolding again.
Having been a hands-off mistress for years, the Princess Consort couldn’t possibly familiarize herself with the household affairs in such a short time.
As the primary lady of the house, her daily duties included overseeing the servants, managing estates and shops, and caring for the children of the concubines. On top of that, she had to handle external social obligations—such as deciding what birthday gifts to send when an elder from a prominent family in Yanjing celebrated their longevity.
It was exhausting.
The Princess Consort no longer even had time to check on her children’s studies, and even her time for Buddhist prayers had dwindled. Her heart felt as if it were being torn apart by invisible hands, and she was on the verge of breaking. She didn’t want this life of endless toil—she just wanted to secure her position as Princess Consort and raise her children without distractions.
That morning, the Princess Consort was frowning over the revenue reports from the estates and shops when Granny Liu hurried in.
"Princess Consort, Concubine Shen from the Glazed Pavilion has fallen ill."
"Send the mansion’s physician to treat her. There’s no need to bother me with such trivial matters," the Princess Consort snapped impatiently.
Granny Liu hesitated before adding, "Concubine Zhou has come again. She’s kneeling outside, weeping and begging to see you."
Overwhelmed with work, the Princess Consort had no patience for Concubine Zhou. Without even looking up, she said, "Drive her away."
Granny Liu went to shoo Concubine Zhou out.
Engrossed in her tasks, the Princess Consort quickly forgot about the matter.
That afternoon, while selecting gifts for an elder’s birthday in the storeroom, Granny Liu rushed in again, her face pale with panic.
"Princess Consort, a disaster has struck! Concubine Zhou—"
The Princess Consort, holding an ancient vase from a previous dynasty, cut her off irritably. "What now? Does she want to see her son again? I’ve already said Chengming is being cared for by the mansion’s physician at the academy. Nothing will happen to him."
Granny Liu trembled, her voice tight with fear. "Princess Consort... Chengming... he’s gone."
Clang—
The priceless antique vase slipped from her hands and shattered on the floor.
...
...
In the Glazed Pavilion, Shen Wei was weakly sipping medicine.
Summer was approaching, and two days ago, Shen Wei had indulged in too many cold treats, leading to severe stomach pains, vomiting, and diarrhea in the middle of the night. Even now, she could barely swallow anything.
After two days of suffering, she was still recovering, forced to drink bitter medicine daily.
"Next time I’m tempted to overindulge, remind me to stop," Shen Wei groaned, swallowing the foul-tasting concoction.
With Prince Yan away, she had let herself go a little too far. Now, she was paying the price.
She resolved to be more disciplined in the future.
Cai Ping handed her a piece of sugarcane sugar to ease the bitterness, sighing. "We tried to stop you, but you wouldn’t listen."
As Shen Wei sucked on the sugar, Cai Lian rushed in, her face tense. "Mistress, terrible news! I just heard—Concubine Zhou’s son has passed away!"
Shen Wei froze.
Passed away?
She immediately reached out to Cai Ping. "Help me up. I should go see—"
But just as her hand touched Cai Ping’s arm, she stopped.
Her expression darkened, and she withdrew her hand. "This isn’t a small matter. Have Nanny Rong handle it—make sure the servants don’t gossip. The Empress must have already been informed. She’ll deal with it."
Shen Wei was right. The Empress soon learned of the tragedy.
Furious, the Empress ordered a thorough investigation.
Li Chengming, only six years old, had died from suffocation caused by a coughing fit. That night, the two nannies assigned to care for him had been idly playing cards in the outer room. By the time they entered at dawn to give him medicine, the child’s body was already cold.
Terrified of punishment, the nannies had tried to dispose of the body in the water, hoping to fake a drowning. But they were caught in the act, and the truth quickly spread.
Further investigation revealed that the nannies had been embezzling the child’s food, leaving him malnourished, frail, and constantly ill.
The other three boys at the academy were also found to be thin, weak, and timid. Fearing another tragedy, the Empress ordered them returned to their birth mothers in the mansion for temporary care.
A dark cloud hung over Prince Yan’s Mansion that night, the air thick and stifling. Little Leyou wouldn’t stop crying, and no amount of coaxing from the wet nurse could calm her.
Shen Wei brought out the child’s favorite rattle drum, shaking it rhythmically until the little girl’s sobs gradually subsided, her chubby hands reaching for the toy.
Then Cai Ping rushed in, whispering urgently, "Mistress, another disaster! Concubine Zhou has taken Cheng Zhen hostage—she wants him to pay for Chengming’s death!"
Concubine Zhou had lost her only son.
Fearing a scandal, the Princess Consort had confined Concubine Zhou to her courtyard, forbidding her from making a scene or even seeing her dead child.
Driven to madness, Concubine Zhou had climbed over the wall and, in the mansion’s garden, encountered Li Chengzhen returning from the imperial academy. In a fit of rage, she had seized the boy.
Shen Wei’s face paled. Handing the rattle drum to the wet nurse, she hurried out with Cai Ping and Nanny Rong.
The night was windy, the sky choked with dark clouds.
Summer was near, and the mansion’s garden was lush and green. Lotus leaves on the pond swayed wildly in the gusts. Concubine Zhou stood like a vengeful ghost, her hair disheveled and robes torn, as if she had clawed her way out of hell.
Behind her was the inky black pond. In her arms, she clutched the young Li Chengzhen, a sharp dagger pressed to his throat. Blood trickled from the wound.
A crowd of servants had gathered to gawk.
Shen Wei gave Nanny Rong a look, and the old woman immediately summoned the mansion’s guards to disperse the onlookers.
In moments, the vast garden was empty save for Concubine Zhou, Li Chengzhen, the Princess Consort, Shen Wei, and their personal maids.
The Princess Consort’s eyes burned with fury. "You wretched woman! Release my child, and I’ll grant you a clean death!"
Shen Wei shot her a silent, exasperated glance.
Now was not the time for threats.
Concubine Zhou’s eyes were red-rimmed, her voice hoarse with grief. "Tantai Shuya, you’re unworthy of being Princess Consort! You took my son under your care, but you feared he would outshine yours, so you had the servants torment him! When he fell ill, you gave him the worst medicine... Your son’s life is precious, but mine was worthless?"
"I begged on my knees to see him just once—my forehead was bloody from kowtowing—but you dismissed me with a single heartless word! Now my son is gone, and you locked me away, denying me even the chance to see his body!"
"You call me a wretched woman? Then today, this wretched woman will make your son pay for mine!"
