Chapter 42
**Chapter 42: Shen Wei's Affair?**
Cai Ping turned back and glanced, spotting two maids at the entrance of the Liuli Pavilion, sneaking around with anxious expressions.
She recognized them as Fang'er and Cui'er, who served Zhang Yue at the Qiangwei Courtyard.
“Cai Ping, sister! Zhang is back at the Qiangwei Courtyard and she’s pregnant! What are we going to do?” Fang'er exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency.
They had thought Zhang Yue was finished, but who would have guessed she was expecting? With a child on the way, Zhang Yue had a chance to make a comeback. Given her petty and calculating nature, if she gained favor, Fang'er and Cui'er would be the first to suffer.
Desperate, Fang'er and Cui'er had come to seek Cai Ping's help.
Cai Ping furrowed her brows, wanting to send the two troublesome maids away. But then, Shen Wei's words echoed in her mind—“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Having followed the clever Shen Wei, Cai Ping's intelligence and observational skills had sharpened. She recalled Rong Mama's earlier remark—“Zhang's pregnancy is indeed suspicious.”
So, Cai Ping led the two maids to a corner and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. My mistress will surely find a way to protect you. But you need to show your worth.”
Fang'er and Cui'er exchanged glances, then both knelt down, “Please, Cai Ping, show us a way out.”
Cai Ping helped them up and said gently, “You’ve served Zhang Yue for a long time. She’s frail and has only been with the prince a few times. How could she easily become pregnant?”
Fang'er racked her brain, and suddenly her eyes lit up.
“Cai Ping, I remember! Zhang Yue has an old acquaintance among the stable hands. That man often brings vegetables to the Qiangwei Courtyard. A few days ago, after Zhang Yue was punished by the prince and beaten, I saw that stable hand sneaking into the woodshed to visit her.”
Cai Ping's smile widened.
Ah, a loophole had just appeared.
In a hushed tone, Cai Ping began discussing strategies with Fang'er and Cui'er.
...
At the Qiangwei Courtyard, Zhang Yue lay weakly on her bed. Though she had endured beatings these past few days, she had managed to pull through thanks to San Lang’s daily care.
Now that news of her pregnancy had reached the princess, Zhang Yue was spared from punishment and returned to the Qiangwei Courtyard to recuperate.
Lying on the bed, Zhang Yue swore bitterly, “Shen Wei, with a child, let’s see how you compete with me.”
If luck was on her side and she bore a son, her later years would be filled with endless wealth and glory.
Zhang Yue weakly caressed her belly, a smile creeping onto her lips. Just then, the window creaked open, and a lithe figure slipped inside.
“San Lang.” Upon seeing him, hope ignited in Zhang Yue’s eyes.
San Lang, dark-skinned and the stable hand responsible for the carriages in the prince's residence, had always loved Zhang Yue, and they had once been betrothed.
He approached the bedside and placed a bottle of ointment on the table. “Xiao Yue, haven’t you always wanted to bring down Shen Wei? I’ve got something on her that can definitely drag her into an abyss from which she can never return.”
Zhang Yue was taken aback. “What does she have? Could it be that she, like me, has a lover?”
San Lang nodded, his tone smug. “This morning, Zhang Wu was driving a carriage, taking Rong Mama from the Liuli Pavilion. He saw her holding a pair of men’s boots and sneaking into the Confucian Temple on the outskirts of the city. Zhang Wu watched from a distance. Inside, a scholar accepted the boots and handed a letter to Rong Mama to pass on to Shen Wei.”
Zhang Yue was overjoyed.
A woman giving a man boots was a sign of a secret affair!
Who would have thought Shen Wei was secretly involved with someone behind Prince Yan’s back?
And she had even used Rong Mama as a go-between to exchange messages.
Zhang Yue stroked her belly, her eyes gleaming with unmasked malice. “San Lang, keep an eye on her. This time, we must ensure Shen Wei can never rise again!”
The two of them whispered and plotted for a long time before San Lang finally climbed out the window.
Meanwhile, outside the Qiangwei Courtyard, Fang'er and Cui'er, who had been hiding in the shadows for a while, clearly saw San Lang’s retreating figure.
...
After a long journey, the grand royal hunting party finally arrived at Dongshan.
In the spacious clearing, servants from various households began to set up camp, while the imperial guards patrolled the area.
Tents of all sizes were quickly erected. The tents for the Crown Prince, Prince Yan, Prince Heng, and Princess Zhaoyang were positioned in the most spacious central area, facing south to signify their esteemed status.
“Master, everything has been moved into the tent,” Cai Lian directed the guards as they finished setting up Prince Yan’s tent.
Shen Wei entered the tent to inspect.
Though it was summer, the temperature at Dongshan was not high, and the nights were cold and windy. Shen Wei did not want to catch a cold, so ensuring warmth was essential.
She carefully checked the corners of the tent to make sure there were no drafts. The interior was cozy and elegant, with beds, tables, food, and clothing all in place.
“Sprinkle some sulfur in the corners to ward off snakes, and use mugwort powder to keep the mosquitoes away,” Shen Wei instructed.
Cai Lian immediately took two guards to start spreading the powder.
As the tents for the officials were completed, the hunting would officially begin the next day, and tonight everyone was busy preparing for dinner. The royal princes and princesses naturally had the chefs from the imperial kitchen preparing their meals.
As dusk fell, the Crown Prince, Prince Yan, and Prince Heng returned from warming up on horseback.
The Crown Prince, being frail, returned to the tent early to rest. Shen Wei accompanied Prince Yan outside the tent for dinner, with a bonfire burning in the center, the cool night breeze gently blowing, and the food delicious, leaving Shen Wei feeling at ease.
“Oh, Second Brother only brought one beauty?” A teasing voice came from the opposite tent.
The tent of Prince Heng was very close to that of Prince Yan, just across from it.
Shen Wei looked up to see the flamboyant Prince Heng lounging on a soft couch, dressed in a striking red robe. His long black hair fell loosely over his shoulders, adorned with a white jade hairpin, and his elegantly upturned eyes held a hint of mischief.
He had a beauty nestled on his left and a handsome young man at his right, while two beautiful maids massaged his shoulders, and a lovely woman poured tea and wine for him.
He looked quite pleased with himself.
Shen Wei silently derided Prince Heng. A grown man dressed in such gaudy red may be strikingly handsome, but he lacked a certain masculinity.
Prince Yan, on the other hand, was handsome and dignified, with features like a jade crown, and he was quite capable. Sitting beside him gave Shen Wei a sense of security akin to being near Mount Tai.
Prince Heng took a sip of fine wine, his gaze landing on Shen Wei. He had a good memory and recognized her as the little maid who had kicked him during the Spring Banquet.
Deliberately provoking, Prince Heng said, “Second Brother, one woman isn’t enough for you. Qiong Zhi, go and serve Second Brother well.”
The woman named Qiong Zhi stood up with a smile, swaying her graceful figure as she walked towards Prince Yan.
Qiong Zhi was naturally charming and exceptionally beautiful. She knelt before Prince Yan and said in a soft, alluring voice, “I am Qiong Zhi, paying my respects to His Highness, Prince Yan.”
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