Chapter 50
**Chapter 50: Accusation of Infidelity**
Rong Momo nodded. "On the day I was sent to the Confucian Temple, your brother wrote a letter and asked me to deliver it to you. When I held that letter, the carriage driver looked at me in a strange way."
Rong Momo handed Shen Xiuming's letter to Shen Wei.
Shen Wei opened it and found words filled with concern. Shen Xiuming urged her to hold on; he would study hard and strive to rescue her from the flames of disaster. The sincerity in his words was palpable.
Shen Wei pinched the letter, pondering for a moment. "Rong Momo, I’ll write a letter to my brother later. You should go to the Confucian Temple again tomorrow to deliver it and see if anyone is following you."
"Understood," Rong Momo replied.
Shen Wei popped a couple of lotus seeds into her mouth. They weren’t particularly tasty—moist, crunchy, and a bit bitter. She set the lotus pod aside and began discussing the third matter. "The princess has chosen a girl from Jiangnan. Do we have any details about her?"
The princess had selected a merchant's daughter, and the intention was clear. Perhaps it was because Shen Wei had enjoyed the prince's favor for too long without becoming pregnant, so the princess sought a newcomer to share the attention.
To prevent the newcomer from rising too quickly, the princess deliberately chose a girl of the lowest social standing.
Shen Wei had never feared competition. If a new employee wanted to take the spotlight, so be it; everyone should rely on their own abilities.
In the hunt for opportunities, Shen Wei had already secured a place in the heart of the Yan Wang. But she wouldn’t slack off; she constantly reminded herself to strive and compete.
Cai Ping, with her keen memory, chattered excitedly, "My lady, I’ve gathered detailed information. The merchant's daughter is named Ye Qiushuang, and her family is in the silk business."
"Ye Qiushuang is quite pitiful, actually. Her family has fallen on hard times, and she’s the one keeping the business afloat. What was once a failing enterprise is now thriving under her management, yielding profits each year. But her brother is addicted to gambling and has squandered the family fortune."
"Ye Qiushuang is well-known in Jiangnan for her beauty and her exceptional skill with the pipa. She accepted the princess's invitation to become a concubine for the sake of her family. My lady, if she comes to the Wangfu, she will surely do everything she can to win favor."
Cai Ping was worried. Although Shen Wei was favored, she had yet to become pregnant. If the newcomer, Ye Qiushuang, were to conceive first, Shen Wei's position would be precarious.
Shen Wei remained calm, tossing the leftover lotus pod onto the table and seizing on the key point. "Ye Qiushuang is good at business?"
Cai Ping was taken aback, not expecting Shen Wei to focus on such details, but she answered, "It’s said that the Ye family is on the brink of collapse, and it’s Ye Qiushuang who has turned things around, putting the family business back on track. She has done so much for the Ye family, yet they have abandoned her..."
Shen Wei smiled.
Her dessert shop was in need of an excellent manager.
It seemed fortune was smiling upon her, as a capable manager was just what she needed.
Shen Wei instructed, "Cai Ping, keep an eye out. As soon as Ye Qiushuang arrives in Yanjing, let me know immediately."
Cai Ping nodded vigorously.
After their discussion, Shen Wei didn’t forget to reward Rong Momo and Cai Ping with ten taels of silver each. A good boss is a generous one, offering rewards to motivate employees and boost their morale.
Cai Ping and Rong Momo had worked hard to gather information, and they deserved their reward. The other employees at Liuli Pavilion would see this and be inspired to work harder.
Maintaining healthy competition among employees was beneficial for the company’s growth.
...
The next day, just as dawn broke, Rong Momo left the Wangfu dressed modestly. She claimed to be going out on business and had the Wangfu’s carriage driver take her to the Confucian Temple.
The driver was Sanlang, Zhang Yue's lover.
Sanlang kept his head down but caught a glimpse of the letter in Rong Momo's hand, which was addressed to "Xiuming."
He smirked inwardly, realizing that Shen Wei had sent Rong Momo as a messenger to deliver a letter to her lover.
The carriage rolled through the empty streets of Qingcheng, arriving at the Confucian Temple half an hour later. Rong Momo entered the temple and was out in less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the letter mysteriously vanished from her hands.
Rong Momo returned to the Wangfu discreetly and instructed the driver Sanlang, "Tomorrow morning, my lady will be going to Baihu Temple to offer incense. Make sure to feed the horses well tonight."
Sanlang's mind raced, and he feigned respect as he replied, "I will ensure the horses are well-fed, so they can serve my lady properly tomorrow."
Rong Momo slipped a tael of silver into Sanlang's hand and whispered, "If you take good care of my lady, there will be benefits for you."
Sanlang's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, Rong Momo!"
Rong Momo turned to leave.
Sanlang squinted, a strange smile creeping onto his dark face.
Going to Baihu Temple to offer incense?
Surely, she was planning to meet her lover.
Sanlang tucked the silver into his pocket and headed to the secluded Rose Garden of the Wangfu to report back. On his way past Liuli Pavilion, he suddenly spotted Cai Lian, one of the maids, peeking around suspiciously.
Intrigued, Sanlang stealthily followed her.
He watched as Cai Lian reached a corner, lit a few pieces of paper, and hurriedly left. Sanlang rushed over to check, finding that the paper had been mostly burned, leaving only a small portion of a letter intact.
He recognized a few characters, reading phrases like "day and night I miss you, troubled and sleepless" and "wishing you peace from afar."
"Could this really be a love letter to Shen Wei?" Sanlang quickly pocketed the unburned paper and made his way to the Rose Garden.
...
In the Rose Garden, Zhang Yue leaned against her bed, slowly sipping the bitter miscarriage-prevention medicine.
She was feeling restless.
As soon as the Yan Wang returned to the Wangfu, he learned of her pregnancy. Zhang Yue had expected him to be overjoyed, rushing to the Rose Garden to visit her and shower her with gold and silver gifts.
But the Yan Wang showed no sign of interest, not even a token gift. Only the princess had made some effort, sending her the medicine daily and providing slightly better meals.
This was a far cry from what Zhang Yue had anticipated.
"Why doesn’t the prince dote on me now that I’m pregnant?" Zhang Yue pondered, perplexed.
Could it be that Shen Wei had persuaded the prince to stay away from her?
After all, it was Shen Wei who stood to lose the most now that Zhang Yue was pregnant.
Zhang Yue tightened her grip on the medicine bowl. She had to suppress Shen Wei! Only if Shen Wei lost favor would she have a chance to win the prince's affection.
As Zhang Yue was drinking her medicine, the window rattled, and Sanlang stealthily climbed in.
Sanlang recounted everything that had happened that day to Zhang Yue.
When Zhang Yue saw the partially burned letter, her spirits soared. Shen Wei was so foolish, thinking that by burning the love letter, no one would know about her sordid affairs?
Zhang Yue quickly tidied herself up and eagerly headed to the princess's Kunyu Pavilion to report.
Meanwhile, in the early morning at Kunyu Courtyard, the princess was sincerely burning incense in the Buddhist hall.
The national examination at the Guozijian was about to begin, and the princess hoped her two children would excel and bring her glory.
"Princess, Zhang from the Rose Garden is here," Liu Momo entered the small Buddhist hall, speaking softly.
The princess lit three sticks of incense, casually replying, "Send her back to the Rose Garden to rest."
Liu Momo said, "Zhang claims to have important matters to report to the princess. Perhaps we should see her?"
The princess placed three sticks of incense on the altar. "What could she possibly have that’s so important? I suspect it’s just some trivial matter of the inner courtyard."
Once the incense was burned, the princess leisurely returned to the main hall. Zhang Yue had been waiting inside. Though her pregnancy was not yet visibly apparent, her complexion had certainly improved.
The princess took her seat at the head of the table, accepting a cup of tea from Liu Momo and taking a sip before speaking coolly, "Zhang, what brings you to see me?"
Zhang Yue knelt gently, her expression resolute. "Your Highness, I accuse Shen Wei of infidelity, disrupting the Wangfu, a crime that cannot go unpunished!"
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