Chapter 27
**Chapter 27: Poisoning Shen Wei**
Zhang Yue was dressed to the nines today, wearing a dark green Shu brocade dress adorned with scattered flowers. Her exquisite hairdo was embellished with a red hairpin, and she looked radiant as she gazed at the Yan Wang (Prince Yan).
Ever since she received the fourteen bottles of wound medicine from the Yan Wang, rumors had spread throughout the Wangfu (Prince's residence) that Zhang Yue had gained favor while Shen Wei had fallen out of grace.
In the five days since the Yan Wang had left, Zhang Yue was on cloud nine. The Wangfei (Princess) had gifted her some jewelry and fine silks, and the servants in the Wangfu were all eager to please her.
Zhang Yue felt as if she were floating on air, reveling in the joy of being adored.
She gradually convinced herself that she was different from the other women in the Wangfu. As long as she worked hard, she would surely win the Yan Wang's long-term affection. Once she bore him a son or daughter, her future wealth and glory would be assured.
The Yan Wang must have her in his heart; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come straight to the Rose Courtyard upon his return.
“Your Highness, I’ve brewed some hot tea. Would you like to have some?” Zhang Yue said sweetly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the Yan Wang.
The maidservants Cui'er and Fang'er were secretly delighted.
Though they had often been tormented by Zhang Yue in recent days, if she gained favor, they would naturally benefit as well.
The Yan Wang furrowed his brows, sizing up the woman before him.
Only one thought occupied his mind: Who is she?
Fu Gui, who had been serving the Yan Wang the longest, quickly sensed his confusion and stepped forward to explain, “Your Highness, this is Zhang Yue from the Rose Courtyard. She was granted residence here by the Wangfei a few days ago. Have you forgotten?”
The Yan Wang truly had forgotten.
He had no interest in Zhang Yue and walked straight toward the Fangfei Courtyard. Zhang Yue watched helplessly as his tall figure receded, feeling as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her from head to toe.
Her heart sank.
How strange; how could the Yan Wang not remember her?
Zhang Yue felt a surge of anxiety. She rushed to block Fu Gui, asking urgently, “Chief Fu, the Yan Wang personally sent me fourteen bottles of wound medicine. How could he forget me?”
Fu Gui replied with pity, “Miss Zhang, let me tell you the truth. Those fourteen bottles of medicine were of average quality and were originally meant to be discarded. The Yan Wang couldn’t bear to waste them, so he ordered us to deliver them to you. The medicine given to Miss Shen, though only one bottle, was carefully prepared by the Imperial Medical Bureau and is of the highest quality.”
Zhang Yue stood frozen, unable to process this information.
...
The Yan Wang could hardly wait to step into the Fangfei Courtyard.
The lanterns hanging from the eaves had been replaced with beautiful lotus lanterns, casting a soft glow. The garden was lush with blooming gardenias and crape myrtles, and a delicate pavilion had been added by the water's edge.
Three sides of the pavilion were draped with white curtains, while one side faced the water. A gentle breeze stirred the curtains, revealing Shen Wei’s slender figure, appearing and disappearing like a wisp of smoke.
“Your servant pays her respects to Your Highness,” Mama Rong led the maidservants and eunuchs in greeting.
Hearing the commotion, Shen Wei joyfully lifted the curtain, her eyes sparkling like stars. “You’ve returned, Your Highness! I’m here to greet you!”
The Yan Wang stepped forward, gently supporting Shen Wei’s delicate arm.
As the weather warmed, Shen Wei had changed into a light green dress embroidered with lotus patterns. Her dark hair was styled in a beautiful cross bun, adorned with two translucent green jade hairpins. She looked like a pure lotus flower, elegant and ethereal.
Shen Wei gazed at the Yan Wang with concern, saying, “Have you had dinner yet, Your Highness? You’ve been so busy with official duties these past few days; I can see you’ve lost weight. Once the lotus seeds in the pond are ripe, I’ll have someone make lotus seed and pork rib soup to nourish you.”
The Yan Wang felt a warmth in his heart.
He held Shen Wei’s slightly warm hand and walked into the charming pavilion. Inside, there was a soft couch and a writing desk.
The desk was equipped with brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone. Shen Wei had been practicing her calligraphy in the pavilion. The Yan Wang casually picked up a piece of rice paper, which bore Shen Wei’s copy of “Spring Banquet.”
Her handwriting was still quite ugly, but the improvement was evident.
“During my absence, you didn’t neglect your calligraphy, Wei Wei. Not bad,” the Yan Wang said, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Shen Wei, like a child eager for praise, beamed and replied, “I want to become a master of calligraphy and not embarrass you, so I practice every day.”
The Yan Wang playfully pinched Shen Wei’s small nose, feeling a wave of tenderness wash over him.
After finishing dinner with Shen Wei, the Yan Wang continued to practice calligraphy with her in the pavilion.
The moonlight slanted down, and the fragrance of the blooming lotus wafted through the air. The Yan Wang gazed at Shen Wei, who was focused on her writing, her features like a painting, her lips rosy and inviting.
He suddenly pulled her arm, drawing her into his embrace, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered hoarsely, “Let’s go inside.”
Shen Wei’s cheeks flushed. “It’s stuffy inside; it’s not good.”
She leaned closer to the Yan Wang’s ear and shyly whispered a few words. The Yan Wang’s eyes widened in surprise, and he chuckled, “Now that’s a good idea.”
The pavilion swayed gently in the breeze, and the water rippled in the pond.
Fu Gui and a few maidservants and eunuchs hid at a distance, not daring to look up. The cool night breeze occasionally lifted the white curtains of the pavilion, revealing two entwined figures, barely visible.
The green lotus leaves collected droplets of water, bending under the weight, and the drops fell with a soft plop, creating ripples on the surface.
It was deep into the night when the Yan Wang finally carried the limp Shen Wei out of the pavilion. She was wrapped in his black embroidered gold-patterned cloak, and on her exposed fair neck were faint red marks.
Cai Lian and Cai Ping had already prepared hot water in the room.
The bathing process was not smooth; the Yan Wang hadn’t indulged in meat for several days, and with Shen Wei being so in tune with him, he couldn’t help but take her twice.
By the time they changed into comfortable nightclothes in the early hours, Shen Wei, though exhausted and on the verge of collapsing, still remembered to have Cai Lian and Cai Ping bring two bowls of medicine.
One bowl was her contraceptive soup.
The other was the Yan Wang’s cold remedy.
Shen Wei, her voice hoarse, handed a bowl to the Yan Wang, saying, “It’s chilly outside. I’m worried you might catch a cold and have a headache tomorrow, so I had the maidservants brew this cold remedy for you.”
The joy of the pavilion was exhilarating, but it was still outside. If the Yan Wang truly fell ill, the responsibility would naturally fall on Shen Wei.
She had to take precautions.
“You’re so thoughtful, Wei Wei,” the Yan Wang said, caressing Shen Wei’s face, his heart warming.
No matter when, his Wei Wei always had him in her heart, caring for his every move, worrying about his health and safety.
They fell asleep in their clothes, the Yan Wang holding Shen Wei close, his heart brimming with happiness.
...
Shen Wei and the Yan Wang slept soundly, while in the neighboring Rose Courtyard, Zhang Yue was so furious that she couldn’t sleep all night.
She smashed every vase and teacup in her room, venting her anger.
Zhang Yue realized she had become a complete joke; the Yan Wang didn’t even remember who she was, yet she was still dreaming of rising to greatness.
“Miss, don’t be angry. Perhaps one day the Yan Wang will tire of Miss Shen and remember you,” the maidservant Fang’er tried to console her.
But as soon as she finished speaking, a teacup came crashing down on Fang’er’s head.
Fang’er cried out in pain, clutching her forehead, blood seeping through her fingers.
Zhang Yue cursed, “Get out! All of you, get out!”
Fang’er suppressed the fleeting hatred in her eyes, bowed her head, and exited the chamber. Zhang Yue curled up on the bed, staring at the wreckage around her, the dim room feeling as desolate as a grave.
Zhang Yue hugged her arms tightly, sensing her bleak future—she would become a lonely concubine in the Wangfu, living in a tomb-like courtyard, slowly wasting away, turning into a mere shell of a person.
For a moment, Zhang Yue felt a twinge of regret.
She wasn’t cut out for vying for favor; why had she envied Shen Wei?
If she had continued as a maid and married the stable boy she admired, perhaps she would have been better off...
But Zhang Yue knew there was no turning back for her now.
In the following days, after finishing his official duties, the Yan Wang would occasionally rest with the Wangfei and several other concubines. But most of the time, he stayed in the Fangfei Courtyard.
Zhang Yue was naturally unwilling to accept this.
She tried hard to win his favor, deliberately dancing or pretending to trip in the Yan Wang’s path, hoping to catch his attention.
Occasionally, she succeeded, managing to lure the Yan Wang to the Rose Courtyard for a night.
But the Yan Wang’s heart still belonged to Shen Wei. Shen Wei remained the most favored concubine, basking in glory.
Zhang Yue lived in the Rose Courtyard, just a wall away from the Fangfei Courtyard. On her side, it was cold and desolate, while on Shen Wei’s side, it was lively and bustling.
At night, Zhang Yue lay alone in bed, hearing the laughter from the neighboring courtyard and smelling the aroma of hot pot.
Zhang Yue was filled with resentment.
She knew all too well that she was merely a tool for the Wangfei to balance Shen Wei. If Zhang Yue failed to prove her worth, she would soon be discarded by the Wangfei...
After some thought, a cruel idea popped into Zhang Yue’s mind.
She called for the maidservant Fang’er and handed her a packet of rat poison. “Find a way to pour this into the water tank in the Fangfei Courtyard.”
Since she couldn’t compete with Shen Wei, she might as well poison her.
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