Chapter 21
**Chapter 21: Beaten by the Prince Until Midnight?**
The next morning, before breakfast was served, Shen Wei had already begun grinding ink and practicing her calligraphy. She hung the original manuscript of "Spring Banquet," written by the Yan Wang, on the wall and sat at her desk, diligently practicing her writing.
"Wei Wei is quite diligent," the Yan Wang remarked, feeling a swell of pride as he watched Shen Wei's earnest efforts.
Shen Wei, holding the brush, smiled brightly and replied, "Your Highness is a good teacher; I cannot be a bad student."
The Yan Wang felt a stir in his heart. Indeed, in a way, he was also Shen Wei's teacher. Coming from a noble background, he had never been in the position of teaching anyone else, and this feeling was quite novel.
Shen Wei continued to focus on her calligraphy. Each stroke was still a bit crooked, and the Yan Wang frowned as he observed her. He patiently guided her until breakfast was finally served.
After breakfast, the Yan Wang, accompanied by his entourage and guards, headed to court. Shen Wei stood at the entrance of the Fangfei Courtyard, watching his departing figure. Then, she turned her gaze toward the nearby Rose Courtyard.
"Master, Zhang Yue moved in yesterday," Cai Ping whispered, sharing the latest gossip with Shen Wei.
Shen Wei shrugged it off. The royal residence was like a large company, and the concubines and maids were akin to employees in the palace. It was common for new hires to come in and vie for attention; there was no need to panic or feel threatened.
As a semi-veteran employee, Shen Wei's task was to enhance her own skills and work harder than Zhang Yue to earn her place.
She began jogging around the courtyard to exercise, determined not to neglect her health.
Just as she was working out, Cai Lian returned from the outside, having gathered news.
"Master, I've found out," Cai Lian said softly, "Your mother and brother have arrived in Yan Jing and are currently staying at an inn. This morning, they had a quarrel. Your brother went to the gambling house, while your mother stayed behind to embroider handkerchiefs to sell."
Shen Wei stopped jogging and took the towel Cai Ping handed her to wipe her sweat. "Help me get ready; I want to see my mother."
In the royal residence, concubines and their family members held a low status, and the relatives of concubines were not allowed to visit. Thus, Shen Wei could only leave the palace to visit her family, but she still needed to seek permission from the Wang Fei.
Fortunately, the Wang Fei did not make it difficult for her, allowing Shen Wei to return before noon.
This time, Shen Wei left without Cai Lian or Cai Ping, taking only the fierce-looking Mama Rong and two young eunuchs, Ji Xiang and De Shun.
Before departing, Shen Wei deliberately changed into her oldest clothes, smeared her face, and donned a white veil to conceal her features, exiting the palace through the back door with Mama Rong.
Ji Xiang and De Shun drove the carriage, and Shen Wei rode toward the inn.
Inside the small carriage, Mama Rong was adorned in gold and silver, clearly a wealthy matron from the palace. In contrast, Shen Wei looked quite shabby. Mama Rong tightened her grip on her handkerchief and couldn't help but ask again, "Master, are we really going to put on an act?"
Shen Wei nodded. "Of course."
She wanted to test her mother's character.
Thus, Shen Wei planned to "play the victim." She was no longer the illustrious Shen Wei of the royal residence but rather a bullied, weak, and pitiful concubine.
When the carriage arrived at the inn, Shen Wei and Mama Rong got off and discreetly entered a modest room. Shen Wei knocked on the door, and a gentle voice from inside responded, "Coming."
With a creak, the wooden door opened.
Shen Wei looked up to see a middle-aged woman in coarse cloth, thin and with graying hair at the temples. This woman was none other than Shen Wei's biological mother.
Holding an unfinished piece of embroidery, Shen's mother looked at her with confusion and caution. "Who are you?"
Shen Wei removed her white veil, revealing a delicate and ethereal face. However, the bruises at the corners of her mouth, the swelling at her temples, and the redness in her eyes told a different story.
She looked as if she had been mistreated.
The unfinished embroidery fell from Shen's mother's hands as she trembled, saying, "Third girl... my third girl..."
Shen Wei's eyes turned red as she called out, "Mother."
Shen's mother pulled Shen Wei into the room. "Come, child, sit down. It's been months since we last met; you've lost so much weight."
Seeing Shen Wei's bruised face, Shen's mother felt her heart ache.
With trembling hands, Shen's mother opened her bundle and pulled out a money pouch, crying, "Third girl, I borrowed ten taels of silver from the villagers to redeem you. Come home with me; we won't suffer as servants anymore."
When Shen's mother had fallen ill, Shen Wei had been forced to sell herself into servitude for money.
Worrying day and night, Shen's mother worked hard in the fields, weaving and embroidering, and borrowed money from the villagers until she finally gathered ten taels of silver.
She had traveled overnight to Yan Jing, hoping to rescue Shen Wei from the palace.
"Mother... thank you." Seeing the ten taels of silver, Shen Wei's doubts quickly dissipated.
Shen's mother did not favor sons over daughters; she cared for each of her children with great attention.
However, Shen Wei lowered her head, wiping away her tears. "Mother... but I can no longer leave the palace. I have become the prince's concubine."
Shen's mother was taken aback.
She was unaware that Shen Wei had become a concubine in the royal residence. But she knew that being a concubine often led to a grim fate. Shen's mother vividly remembered the old landlord in their village who kept over a dozen concubines, all of whom suffered terribly at the hands of the main wife. It was not uncommon for the bodies of concubines, bloodied and lifeless, to be carried out, their deaths tragic.
Now that Shen Wei had become the prince's concubine, she would likely endure much suffering.
Shen's mother felt her heart wrench as tears streamed down her face. "What... what can we do? I... I will go and bow to the prince and the Wang Fei, begging them to release you from the palace..."
Before she could finish, a surprised voice came from outside, "What? Third sister, you became the prince's concubine?"
Shen Xiuming, who had been gambling, returned.
He burst in, unable to hide his excitement. "Third sister, being a concubine is great! That makes me the prince's brother-in-law! I can strut around Yan Jing from now on!"
Seventeen years old, Shen Xiuming was handsome but had a roguish demeanor. Who would have thought that he was once a well-known prodigy, having passed the imperial examination at a young age?
Now, however, Shen Xiuming was known for his love of wine, women, and gambling, becoming a laughingstock.
"Third sister, how much silver do you get as a concubine? Is it ten taels?" Shen Xiuming looked at Shen Wei with eager eyes.
But when he saw her tattered clothes and the lingering bruises on her face, he was momentarily stunned.
Shen Wei "awkwardly" pulled out the money pouch and handed it to Shen Xiuming, tears brimming in her eyes. "Sister only has one tael left; the rest was taken by the matron. But don't worry, brother, I will work hard to earn money. You will surely succeed in the imperial examination one day."
As she spoke, Shen Wei pressed the money into Shen Xiuming's hands, her eyes filled with concern.
The tattered pouch was stained with blood and had a strange odor.
Holding the money Shen Wei offered, Shen Xiuming suddenly felt it burn in his hands.
"You silly girl! Keep the money for yourself; don’t give it to that scoundrel!" Shen's mother exclaimed, snatching the pouch back and stuffing the ten taels back into Shen Wei's hands.
Tears streamed down Shen Wei's face as she clutched the silver. "Mother, brother... it’s really hard for me in the palace. The prince is fierce and often torments me to the brink of death; the other concubines bully me daily, the maids steal my things, and the matron often beats and scolds me... I knelt before the Wang Fei for two days just to get the chance to see you and brother."
Wiping her tears, Shen Wei's sleeve slipped down.
Her fair arms bore rings of red marks, bruises of various shades, looking quite alarming.
These were actually the marks left by the Yan Wang during their intimate encounters.
Shen Wei's skin was sensitive; even a light pinch would leave a mark. Her arms appeared severely injured, but in reality, there was no real damage.
"You... what happened to your hands?" Shen's mother gasped, horrified at the extent of her daughter's suffering.
Shen Wei quickly withdrew her hands, covering the "injuries" with her sleeves, forcing a smile. "Mother, brother, it’s nothing... I accidentally offended the prince last night and was beaten until midnight. This arm, and the cut from his knife..."
Shen's mother was shocked. The Yan Wang was known for his benevolence; she never expected him to be so cruel in private!
Shen Xiuming fell silent.
Though he was fond of wine and gambling, he still felt a brotherly bond with Shen Wei. When their mother went out to work, it was always Third Sister who helped him with his studies. When wild dogs chased him, it was Third Sister who protected him.
He had thought that his sister would live a good life as a servant in the palace.
But now, it was such a tragic situation.
With a bang, the closed door swung open again. Mama Rong appeared with a cold expression, her dark gaze sweeping over everyone in the room as if they were nothing more than lowly livestock.
Mama Rong said coldly, "Shen, your visiting time is over. Now come back to the palace with me. You still have two hundred pieces of clothing to wash today, so don’t think about slacking off."
Shen Wei, tears streaming down her face, fell to her knees, sobbing, "Mama, I haven’t seen my mother and brother in so long. Please, let me talk to them a little longer."
Mama Rong's eyelids twitched.
How could you kneel, my lady? I can’t bear that!
Mama Rong struggled to maintain her cold demeanor, playing the role of a cruel matron from the palace. "You are the prince's concubine; though you are not favored, you absolutely cannot meet with outside men."
Shen Wei rubbed her eyes, choking back her sobs. "He’s not an outsider; he’s my brother! He’s full of talent and will surely top the imperial examination one day—"
Mama Rong couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
She looked at the pale Shen Xiuming with disdain and contempt. "Him? A good-for-nothing who loves gambling and women, not even worth a lowly servant in the palace."
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