Chapter 53
**Chapter 53: Complaining is a Child's Game**
The woodshed fell into a heavy silence.
The footsteps of the princess suddenly halted. She turned back, incredulously staring at Shen Wei.
A biological brother? Shen Wei has a brother?
Shen Wei felt a pang in her nose and continued to explain, “When I left the palace to visit my family, it was you, Your Highness, who personally granted me permission. I come from humble beginnings and worry about my brother, so I sneaked out to see him... I never expected to be misunderstood.”
The princess glanced at Mama Liu, who was equally astonished. About a month or two ago, Shen Wei had indeed requested permission from the princess to leave the palace for a family visit.
The princess narrowed her eyes. “Shen, is this true?”
Shen Wei’s eyes turned red. “I wouldn’t dare lie.”
Beside her, Shen Xiuming, tightly bound, made muffled sounds of protest. He longed to speak up for his sister, but his mouth was gagged, leaving him helplessly watching as she was bullied and falsely accused.
The princess’s expression shifted like the weather.
She scrutinized Shen Wei and Shen Xiuming’s faces, and upon closer inspection, she noticed a resemblance between the two!
A realization struck the princess like a thunderclap; she had made a grave mistake! The tranquility of the inner palace had lasted too long, and with the wives and concubines living in harmony, the princess was no longer as perceptive as she once was.
At that moment, the sound of the panting Steward Fu Gui came from outside the woodshed. “Your Highness, I heard you’ve detained Shen. I rushed over to check, hoping there’s no misunderstanding.”
Steward Fu Gui arrived, drenched in sweat.
He had been busy all day, inspecting the accounts at the palace’s shop, feeling dizzy from the workload. Normally, the responsibility of regularly checking the accounts would fall to the princess, the head of the household.
But the princess spent her days either burning incense and praying or focusing on her children’s studies, neglecting her duties as the matriarch.
As the steward of the palace, Fu Gui not only managed the servants and attended to the needs of the Prince of Yan but also had to shoulder the princess’s responsibilities, leaving him exhausted. Despite his hard work, his salary hadn’t increased, and Fu Gui felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction.
Upon returning to the palace, he learned that Shen Wei had been locked in the woodshed.
Without delay, he rushed over to assess the situation. Shen Wei was now the apple of the Prince of Yan’s eye, and there could be no room for error.
The princess, still shaken, said, “This…”
Fu Gui peered into the woodshed and was taken aback. Shen Wei and a young man were both tied up.
With his keen eyes, Fu Gui recognized the young man as Shen Wei’s brother, who lived at the Confucian Temple.
Fu Gui, being clever, quickly deduced the reason for Shen Wei’s predicament. He feigned surprise, “Isn’t that Shen’s brother? What is he doing here? Your Highness, there must be some misunderstanding.”
The princess’s face froze, and Mama Liu hurriedly asked, “Steward Fu Gui, do you know Shen’s brother?”
Fu Gui smiled, “Of course, I’ve seen him a couple of times by chance.”
At this moment, the princess’s heart sank. She had nearly made a monumental error!
Maintaining her composure, the princess approached Shen Wei and began to untie her. “Zhang is scheming against you. I will seek justice for you. Someone, untie Shen’s brother.”
The princess shifted all the blame onto Zhang Yue.
She held Shen Wei’s hand and said kindly, “As the matriarch of the palace, I was manipulated by a petty person and almost caused you harm.”
Shen Wei trembled, unable to meet the princess’s gaze.
The princess smiled, “You are favored by the prince, and there are many days ahead. This misunderstanding, I hope you can understand my predicament. First, send your brother away from the palace. It’s inappropriate for an outsider to remain here; it will only invite gossip.”
Her words carried an unspoken threat.
Shen Wei shivered and timidly nodded.
“I… I understand,” Shen Wei stammered.
Having been untied, Shen Xiuming looked at his sister with a bruised face and said angrily, “Third Sister, they’re going too far!”
The inner palace was a den of wolves, and every woman was formidable. Shen Xiuming looked at his frail sister, his heart aching.
How much suffering must Third Sister endure in the palace?
Shen Wei forced a smile, gazing sadly at Shen Xiuming. “Take care of yourself. I can’t send you boots and clothes anymore. You must leave quickly; the princess’s people are still watching.”
Not far away, Mama Liu was indeed keeping a close watch at the moon gate.
Shen Xiuming clenched his fists. “Third Sister, I’ll return to the Confucian Temple and study hard! Next spring, I’ll be your support!”
Seeing that her words had spurred him on, Shen Wei smiled gently. “I believe in you.”
Shen Xiuming and Shen Wei parted ways, his steps resolute as he left.
He would study; he would work harder than ever! He would rescue his sister from this sea of suffering!
After sending Shen Xiuming off, Shen Wei put on a gloomy expression and returned to the Liuli Pavilion, her heart heavy.
The woodshed, locked for half a day, remained eerily calm, as if nothing had happened. Inside the Liuli Pavilion, Cai Ping brought some ointment to apply to the rope burns on Shen Wei’s wrists.
Cai Ping was puzzled. “My lady, why did you reveal your brother’s identity?”
In Cai Ping’s mind, Shen Wei wouldn’t have voluntarily disclosed Shen Xiuming’s identity. The princess would keep them both locked up until the prince returned to decide their fate.
At that point, Shen Wei could reveal Shen Xiuming’s identity to the Prince of Yan, who would surely be furious, punishing Zhang Yue and the princess while showering Shen Wei with sympathy.
But Cai Ping hadn’t expected Shen Wei to take the initiative to disclose her brother’s identity.
Shen Wei rubbed her sore wrist and smiled faintly. “The princess may have silenced my brother, but she couldn’t silence me. If I had deliberately concealed it, the princess would suspect I was plotting against her.”
To speak the truth and choose not to; to wait for the prince’s return to reveal it—wasn’t that a clear scheme against the princess?
Shen Wei couldn’t take that risk.
Currently, in the princess’s eyes, Shen Wei was merely a beautiful but foolish woman, not a threat to her position.
But once the princess discovered Shen Wei’s cunning, she would certainly become wary.
At present, Shen Wei was just a lowly concubine, her wings not yet fully grown, unable to compete with the princess, who had children. Even if the princess were to kill Shen Wei today, the Prince of Yan wouldn’t divorce her for Shen Wei; at most, he would punish her with a few copies of Buddhist scriptures.
Cai Ping was indignant. “Then my lady, didn’t you suffer in vain today? When the prince returns, you must tell him!”
Shen Wei rested her chin on her hand and replied slowly, “I won’t complain first.”
Cai Ping looked confused.
If she didn’t complain, then hadn’t today’s ordeal been for nothing?
Shen Wei, with a knowing look, said meaningfully, “Complaining first is too deliberate. It’s better to let the prince notice it himself.”
Complaining is a child’s game. How could I, Shen Wei, be so petty?
I will only reveal some minor details and wait for the Prince of Yan to unravel the truth, discovering the great injustice I’ve suffered.
As for that maliciously slandering Zhang Yue, Shen Wei wouldn’t need to deal with her personally; the princess would take care of that problem.
Everything was in place, just waiting for the Prince of Yan to return.
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