Chapter 26
### Chapter 26: Concern for Shen Wei
In the outskirts of Yanjing, the Confucian Temple housed a dozen impoverished scholars. As dawn broke, Shen Mu sat under the eaves weaving cloth, the old loom creaking rhythmically.
Shen Mu was getting on in years, managing to weave only four feet of fabric each day, and she saved every coin she earned from selling it.
She had already made plans: if Shen Wei were to die in the Wang residence, she would kneel before the princess to beg for her daughter's body. With her hard-earned savings, she would buy a good plot of land to bury Shen Wei.
This was the only thing a mother could do for her daughter.
“Mother, I’m stepping out for a bit. I’ll be back by noon,” Shen Xiuming said as he emerged from the house, stretching lazily.
Shen Mu paused her weaving, realizing with a heavy heart that her son was not as resolute as she had hoped. After being humiliated in the inn's back alley, Shen Xiuming had vowed to study hard and improve himself.
But after just over ten days of effort, he began to show signs of losing steam, falling into a pattern of neglecting his studies and wanting to gamble instead.
Shen Mu felt a wave of disappointment wash over her.
She had scolded him and even resorted to beating him, but changing a person’s temperament in such a short time was no easy feat.
“Auntie, I’ve come to collect the cloth,” a cheerful voice called from outside. It was the cloth merchant.
Seeing her, Shen Mu quickly instructed Shen Xiuming to bring out the fabric he had woven over the past few days. As the merchant counted the pieces, she chatted with Shen Mu about the latest gossip: “Auntie, I went to the Yan Wangfu yesterday to deliver cloth. The maid there said the Yan Wang has taken a new favorite concubine.”
Shen Mu’s expression froze, her grip tightening on her sleeves.
Shen Xiuming, who had been about to slip away from the Confucian Temple, suddenly halted.
The merchant continued her gossip: “The women in the back courtyard of the Yan Wangfu have it rough. Those who have fallen out of favor, even the maidservants, live worse than commoners, wearing the poorest quality fabric. A few months ago, one concubine, unable to bear the pain, jumped into the river to end her life.”
Shen Mu felt as if a knife had pierced her heart; her third daughter was one of those suffering concubines in the Wangfu.
Shen Wei was barely hanging on, driven by the hope that Shen Xiuming would rise to greatness and rescue her from her plight.
Shen Xiuming was acutely aware of his sister’s expectations, and thinking of his recent laziness filled him with guilt.
“This is two taels of silver,” the merchant said after inspecting the cloth, praising Shen Mu’s weaving skills.
Shen Mu accepted the two taels, politely seeing the merchant off. Just as she closed the door, a plain carriage pulled up at the entrance of the Confucian Temple.
The curtain lifted, and Mama Rong strode in confidently. Spotting Shen Mu weaving under the eaves, she snorted derisively.
Shen Mu was taken aback. “You... what are you doing here? Where’s my third daughter? Has something happened to her?”
Shen Xiuming, who had been studying inside, was alerted and rushed out, positioning himself protectively in front of Shen Mu.
Mama Rong clicked her tongue, speaking in a mocking tone, “Just passing by the Confucian Temple, sent by the Shen family to deliver some money.”
She opened her purse and tossed a tael of silver onto the stone steps. The coins clattered and scattered across the ground.
“This is the monthly allowance from the Shen family. Make sure to keep it safe,” Mama Rong sneered. “That Shen family is so naive—an useless mother, a worthless brother, and they still dream of him achieving something. What a pipe dream.”
Mama Rong played the role of a domineering matron from the Wangfu to perfection.
Shen Xiuming clenched his teeth, the sound echoing in the tense air.
Mama Rong let out a sharp, mocking laugh and sauntered away.
In the courtyard of the Confucian Temple, tears streamed down Shen Mu’s face as she knelt to gather the scattered coins.
Both mother and son understood that Mama Rong had certainly withheld Shen Wei’s allowance. But how could Shen Wei, a concubine who had fallen out of favor, dare to resist?
Even in her own suffering, Shen Wei was still concerned for her mother and brother.
Wiping away his tears, Shen Xiuming’s eyes filled with determination as he turned back to the house to study!
...
After leaving the Confucian Temple, Mama Rong climbed back into the carriage. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she thought to herself how difficult it was to play the role of a cunning villain.
She hoped that when Shen Langjun achieved great success in the future, he wouldn’t come looking for her to settle scores.
Just as Mama Rong was feeling anxious, a voice called out from outside the carriage. It was Fu Gui, the steward of the Wangfu.
“Mama Rong, where are you off to today?” Fu Gui asked with a cheerful smile.
Mama Rong stepped down from the carriage and saw Fu Gui, dressed in a brocade robe. They were of similar age and had worked together in the Wangfu for years, so they had a decent rapport.
Looking at Fu Gui, Mama Rong recalled Shen Wei’s request.
Shen Wei had once told her: “If necessary, you can mention Shen Xiuming in front of Fu Gui and the prince.”
Mama Rong smiled, saying, “I’m here on behalf of Lady Shen. Her brother is studying at the Confucian Temple, and she asked me to deliver some silver to support him.”
Fu Gui only knew that Shen Wei came from a farming background and was unaware that she had a scholarly brother.
Mama Rong casually added, “Lady Shen’s brother is quite young but has already passed the provincial examination. He’s currently staying at the Confucian Temple to prepare for next year’s imperial examination.”
Fu Gui was taken aback.
He hadn’t expected that Lady Shen’s brother was already a successful candidate! If he were to excel in the upcoming examination, wouldn’t Lady Shen’s status rise significantly?
Fu Gui realized that Shen Wei wouldn’t fall out of favor anytime soon; she was different from the other women in the Wangfu, as the Yan Wang had already taken a liking to her.
With the Yan Wang’s affection, once Shen Wei bore a child, and with her brother’s official position as protection, the position of a side consort would be within reach.
Fu Gui, being astute, immediately smiled and said, “In that case, let’s pay a visit to the Confucian Temple later.”
Mama Rong quickly interjected, “The scholar prefers a quiet environment, Steward Fu Gui. Please don’t disturb him. If we hinder Lady Shen’s brother’s studies, the consequences would be dire.”
After pondering for a moment, Fu Gui decided against visiting the Confucian Temple.
He chatted with Mama Rong for a while before they parted ways politely.
Fu Gui had come to the outskirts today to check on the income and expenses of the Wangfu’s farmlands. As he passed by the Confucian Temple, he couldn’t help but sneak a glance inside.
He happened to see Shen Xiuming studying by the window.
Shen Xiuming and Shen Wei were siblings, so they naturally resembled each other. Fu Gui noted Shen Xiuming’s tall stature and diligent demeanor, and he couldn’t help but be impressed.
The Yan Wang was in need of capable individuals, and he would naturally favor officials with familial ties. With Shen Xiuming’s ambition and hard work, he would surely achieve great things in the future.
The Yan Wangfu was bound to see significant changes.
...
At that moment, the Yan Wang was in the East Palace discussing border conflicts with the Crown Prince. The Kingdom of Qing was at war with the Kingdom of Yue, and the only generals available to Qing were Shangguan Xuan and Shen Xiuxing.
The new emperor of Yue had a valiant general under his command, skilled in warfare.
Currently, the two armies were at a stalemate.
The Crown Prince handed a confidential letter to the Yan Wang. “Yuan Jing, the South Marquis from the small town has sent word. He has found a way to break the deadlock.”
The Yan Wang opened the letter and read it quickly.
In the letter, Shangguan Xuan mentioned that both armies had suffered heavy losses during the conflict, with neither side gaining an advantage. However, he had recently recruited a strikingly handsome strategist who had devised a weapon called the “fire gun,” which was highly lethal.
Shangguan Xuan hoped to mass-produce this weapon to enhance the combat capabilities of the Qing army.
“Fire gun…” The Yan Wang furrowed his brow, having never heard of such a weapon.
The Crown Prince smiled, “I had someone secretly craft a fire gun. Yuan Jing, come with me to the courtyard to see its power.”
The Yan Wang and the Crown Prince made their way to the courtyard.
In the center stood a scarecrow dressed in armor, and the Tiger Guards used the fire gun to attack it. With a loud bang, the fire gun fired its projectile, piercing through the scarecrow’s armor.
The scarecrow ignited, the bright flames reflecting in the Yan Wang’s dark eyes.
The Yan Wang’s expression darkened as he fell into deep thought. This fire gun was a weapon of great lethality. If a battalion of fire guns could be prepared, they would surely sweep the battlefield.
“The blueprints for the fire gun are top secret and must not be leaked,” the Yan Wang exchanged a glance with the Crown Prince, having already decided to establish a fire gun battalion.
In the cool summer courtyard, the trees were lush, and the buzzing of mosquitoes filled the air. The Crown Prince’s hands bore several welts from mosquito bites.
Mosquitoes were equal-opportunity pests, biting both commoners and princes alike.
The Crown Prince waved his hand in frustration, leaning on the Yan Wang’s arm. “Let’s go inside to discuss matters; we shouldn’t let the mosquitoes bite us.”
The Yan Wang chuckled, “Brother, I haven’t been bitten by any mosquitoes.”
The Crown Prince was taken aback, noticing the Yan Wang’s unblemished hands and neck, realizing he truly hadn’t been bitten.
How remarkable!
The Yan Wang took off the sachet from his waist, a hint of pride in his voice. “I have a mosquito-repelling sachet; I’m not afraid of them.”
The sachet, made by Shen Wei, was exquisitely crafted and filled with mint, perilla, mugwort, clove, calamus, and angelica.
These were all natural mosquito-repelling herbs, exuding a pleasant fragrance.
“A mosquito-repelling sachet?” The Crown Prince was astonished.
The Yan Wang replied with a hint of smugness, “It was made by one of my concubines. Brother, hasn’t the Crown Princess made you a sachet?”
The Yan Wang envied the deep bond between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. She would make soup for him, sew his clothes, massage his shoulders, and add a touch of warmth to their relationship.
With such a brother as a role model, the Yan Wang naturally hoped that his future wife would be as virtuous and devoted as the Crown Princess.
Later, when the Yan Wang married the princess, they initially maintained a harmonious relationship. However, over time, the princess became increasingly rigid and harsh, showing less and less interest in the Yan Wang, and their conversations dwindled.
Concubines like Liu Ru Yan, Liu Qiao Er, and Zhang Miao Yu also became increasingly conventional and dull.
The Yan Wang felt troubled.
All he wanted was a woman who could love him wholeheartedly; was that too much to ask? Fortunately, Shen Wei later appeared, filling the void in his heart.
The Crown Prince seemed to ponder, “Could it be that Shen family again?”
The Yan Wang replied proudly, “It is her.”
The Crown Prince nodded slightly, leading the Yan Wang back inside as they walked. “A few days ago, I heard Zhao Yang mention that during the Spring Banquet, your concubine helped her avoid an assassination attempt. Next month is Zhao Yang’s birthday, and she plans to invite Shen Wei to the celebration.”
Though Shen Wei was a concubine, she was also the princess’s savior, so no one would question her attendance at the princess’s birthday banquet.
As the Crown Prince spoke, he suddenly coughed violently, his throat itching.
The Yan Wang was alarmed and quickly helped the Crown Prince sit down, handing him a cup of hot tea. “Brother, I’ve already sent someone to find the renowned physician Mo. He will surely be able to cure your illness.”
The Crown Prince took a few sips of tea, swallowing the blood from his throat slowly. “It’s nothing, just a minor ailment.”
He feigned nonchalance and continued discussing the fire gun with the Yan Wang.
Before they knew it, five days had passed.
During these five days, the Crown Prince, the Yan Wang, and their strategists had been busy discussing the secret production of the fire gun and the establishment of the fire gun battalion.
After finishing their official duties, on the evening of the fifth day, the Yan Wang finally left the East Palace and returned to the Wangfu.
Throughout those five days, the Yan Wang had been thinking of Shen Wei, longing for her company, eager to check on her progress in calligraphy, and curious about how the vegetables in her garden were growing...
He was also worried that Shen Wei might steal his eggplants; that little girl had been eyeing them for quite some time.
The Yan Wang could hardly wait to return home. He secretly planned that if he had to be away for an extended period again, he would take Shen Wei along with him.
Upon arriving at the Wangfu, the Yan Wang headed straight to the back courtyard.
It was already dark, and the guards lit the way with lanterns.
As he passed by the Rose Garden, Zhang Yue, who had been waiting, hurried over to greet him, bowing gently. “This humble servant greets the Wang.”
Table of Contents
