Chapter 39
**Chapter 39: Shen Wei, You Must Be Suffering Deeply**
On one side, Shen Wei and the Yan Wang were deeply in love, wrapped up in their own world, while on the other side, Zhang Yue's situation was dire.
The Yan Wang did not kill her outright; instead, he sent someone to beat her with twenty strokes every day. Zhang Yue lay weakly in the woodshed, her strength dwindling, parched and disoriented.
"Water... water..."
Zhang Yue called out helplessly.
After a while, the door to the woodshed creaked open, and two slender figures stepped inside. Zhang Yue struggled to open her eyes and saw her maidservants, Fang'er and Cui'er.
Fang'er held a bowl of water in her hands.
Zhang Yue was overjoyed; she never expected that in her dire straits, her two maidservants would remember her kindness and sneak in to bring her water.
Her voice hoarse, she pleaded, "Water... Fang'er, please give me water..."
Fang'er crouched down, holding the bowl of clean water, and softly asked, "My lady, do you want some water?"
Zhang Yue weakly replied, "Yes... good Fang'er, hurry, give me water..."
But in the next moment, Fang'er splashed the bowl of water right onto Zhang Yue's face.
With a sharp slap, Fang'er struck Zhang Yue across the face. "Ever since I came to Qiangwei Courtyard, you've treated me with nothing but beatings and scoldings, cutting my monthly pay and forcing me to do those vile things! Cui'er and I come to see you every day, and when you die, I’ll personally take you to the mass grave and let the wild dogs feast on you!"
All the pent-up anger from the past was unleashed that night.
Fang'er kicked Zhang Yue twice more, then spat at her. Fang'er and Cui'er continued to kick and hit her, causing Zhang Yue to curl up in pain, instinctively protecting her belly.
After a while, Fang'er and Cui'er finally left.
Dazed, Zhang Yue lay in the straw, unsure how much time had passed when the door to the woodshed opened again.
Someone sneaked in and poured medicine for her wounds into her mouth.
Zhang Yue opened her eyes and saw a familiar face, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You... you came... I’ve fallen so low, and you’re the only one who still remembers me... I regret it; I should have married you back then..."
The person’s eyes were filled with complex emotions.
In the end, they gently held Zhang Yue in their arms.
...
Since reconciling with the Yan Wang, Shen Wei had been showered with even more affection.
The prince spent most nights at the Liuli Pavilion, and their bond grew stronger.
As early summer approached, the Yan Wang was often busy with state affairs during the day, so Shen Wei didn’t stay at the Liuli Pavilion every day. After exercising, she would stroll through the back garden of the Wangfu, enjoying the fresh air and fishing.
In the back garden, there was a large lotus pond filled with delicate lotus flowers, and fish swam playfully among them. Shen Wei asked Cai Lian to fetch her fishing gear, and she settled by the pavilion at the pond to fish.
While fishing, she snacked on candied fruits, relishing the refreshing breeze that brushed against her face.
"My lady, Liu Ce Fei is here," Cai Ping whispered.
Shen Wei put down her candied fruit and greeted Liu Ce Fei as she passed by.
Liu Ce Fei paused in her steps.
Looking at the radiant Shen Wei, a hint of envy flickered in Liu Ce Fei's eyes. Shen Wei was now favored by the Yan Wang, and her attire reflected that. She wore a shimmering silver silk dress, the layers of the skirt glimmering like flowing water.
With a rosy complexion and vibrant energy, Shen Wei resembled a flower in full bloom.
Liu Ce Fei glanced at herself; although she held the title of a side consort, she wore the plainest of fabrics, with only a simple hairpin in her hair.
Sometimes, when Liu Ce Fei looked in the mirror, she saw her own weary eyes, filled with exhaustion.
"Are you fishing?" Liu Ce Fei asked.
Shen Wei smiled lightly and replied, "The prince has taken a liking to fish lately, so I thought I’d catch a big one for him myself."
Liu Ce Fei curled her lip in disdain.
Poor Shen Wei, completely deceived by the prince's false affection. One day, she would deeply understand how heartless men in the imperial family could be.
Liu Ce Fei shook her head secretly and left the garden with her maidservant.
Shen Wei returned to the pavilion, lazily continuing to fish. The cool breeze by the lotus pond and the fragrant lotus leaves made her drowsy. Cai Ping quietly reminded her, "My lady, Liu Ruyun is here."
Shen Wei opened her eyes. "What’s going on in the Wangfu today? Why are both of them out?"
According to Shen Wei's investigation, Liu Qiao'er and Liu Ruyun were both seasoned homebodies who wouldn’t leave unless it was for something important.
What was happening today? Shen Wei had unexpectedly run into two seasoned homebodies in a row.
Cai Ping said, "The Wang Fei seems to have something going on and sent for several side consorts to Kunyu Courtyard."
Shen Wei raised her eyebrows; so it was a meeting called by the leader.
Suppressing her emotions, Shen Wei walked over to greet Liu Ruyun. On this hot summer day, Liu Ruyun still wore a chillingly white long dress, with a pale green plum blossom hairpin in her hair.
Liu Ruyun stopped, her gaze sweeping over Shen Wei's beautiful face, and suddenly said with pity, "Shen Wei, you must be suffering deeply inside."
Shen Wei was taken aback. "Huh?"
Am I suffering?
I didn’t even know.
Liu Ruyun gently shook her head, her voice soft, "Every day is like walking on thin ice, sacrificing your own preferences and life for the prince's meager affection..."
Shen Wei was speechless.
Deep down, Shen Wei felt that her life was quite good. Her greatest hobby was making money, and her little savings had grown quite substantial. She enjoyed delicacies every day and wore fine silks and satins.
Living in a spacious house, she even had a handsome man to keep her company at night.
Wasn’t that great?
Liu Ruyun shook her head in pity. "You and I are both pitiful souls... Life is like a feather in the wind, joy is fleeting, and sorrow is fleeting."
After reciting the melancholic lines, Liu Ruyun's nose tinged with sadness, and tears rolled down her slender face.
With a heavy heart, Liu Ruyun departed.
Her close maid, Xue Mei, hurried to catch up with Liu Ruyun. Following behind, Xue Mei occasionally glanced back at the lotus pond pavilion.
There lay Shen Wei, reclining on a luxurious couch, a long fishing rod at her feet and several plates of delicious pastries beside her. Eating snacks and fishing, Shen Wei appeared content, showing no signs of pity.
Xue Mei truly didn’t understand why her mistress always thought Shen Wei was pitiful...
Xue Mei looked at the two maidservants behind Shen Wei—Cai Lian and Cai Ping. Both were glowing with health, their faces round and rosy, dressed in fine fabrics, with pearl hairpins adorning their heads.
When the mistress was favored, the maidservants also enjoyed a good life. It was said that Shen Wei was particularly generous, often rewarding her maidservants and eunuchs with silver, making all the servants in the Wangfu eager to work at the Liuli Pavilion.
Xue Mei looked at her own wrist, thin as a twig, marked with red welts from mosquito bites...
Oh, she was the truly pitiful one.
Shen Wei continued to fish, the fish still not biting, when Mama Liu from the Wang Fei's side hurried over. "Shen Wei, the Wang Fei requests your presence."
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