Chapter 61
**Chapter 61: The Terrifying Song**
Shen Wei's singing was like the gentle spring water of March, suddenly tainted by filth; it resembled the blooming lotus in a summer pond, abruptly crushed by a toad; it was akin to the birds preparing to fly south in autumn, shot down by a hunter's arrow; or like the red plum blossoms of winter, the entire tree buried under heavy snow, never to bloom again.
The mountains cracked open in an earthquake, the rivers overflowed in a storm, and on a clear day, thunder rumbled as if the heavens were collapsing, with ghosts wailing and wolves howling.
After singing a dozen lines, Shen Wei confidently paused, her large eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Was it good?"
Cai Lian and Cai Ping fell silent.
How could they gently remind their mistress that her singing was unbearable?
At that moment, Rong Mama hurried in, still holding an unpeeled peach in her hand. "Did a mouse sneak in here? I thought I heard the mistress screaming!" she exclaimed anxiously.
Now it was Shen Wei's turn to be silent.
There’s no difficulty in the world if one is willing to give up.
But Shen Wei didn’t want to give up. She couldn’t master the complex Kunqu opera, but she could learn some simple tunes. She didn’t need to be an expert, but at least she wanted to know how to sing.
With persistent practice, her singing would surely improve.
Not just singing, Shen Wei also wanted to continue learning the guqin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, to master palace etiquette, and to understand the customs and culture of the world. Learning was a lifelong journey, and she would always strive to improve.
"By the way, where is the prince staying tonight?" Shen Wei asked Rong Mama.
Rong Mama replied, "I heard from Steward Fu Gui that the prince will be dining with the princess tonight."
The princess was the legitimate wife of the Yan Wang (Prince Yan), and he had to visit her several times a month to maintain her dignity.
If the Yan Wang stayed with Shen Wei too long, he would earn a bad reputation for "favoring a concubine over his wife," and Shen Wei would become the target of scorn.
With the Yan Wang not coming to her tonight, Shen Wei could finally get a good night's sleep. She stretched and instructed Rong Mama, "Tell the kitchen I want stir-fried spinach, shrimp and kelp soup, and chicken with mushrooms for dinner."
As a favored concubine, she could eat whatever she desired.
The kitchen of the prince's residence never dared to skimp on her meals; they sent her all the delicious dishes, and her treatment was only slightly less than that of the princess.
...
As night fell, Shen Wei happily enjoyed her meal in the Liuli Pavilion. The Yan Wang returned under the cover of darkness, exhausted from a day filled with pressing matters: the tense situation at the border, floods in the south, and corruption scandals in the Ministry of Rites.
With the crown prince's poor health, the Yan Wang had to shoulder many of his duties, returning home only when it was dark, his stomach growling with hunger.
The oppressive heat only added to his frustration.
He planned to have dinner in the Kunyu Courtyard with the princess. Although he had no feelings for her, she was his lawful wife, and he still needed to give her the respect she deserved.
"Your Highness, these are fresh peaches sent by Mistress Shen. She said the hot weather makes them refreshing when chilled," Fu Gui said, approaching with a bowl of ice-cold peach slices.
The bowl contained three pieces of fresh peach, peeled and speared with toothpicks.
The Yan Wang took a bite; the peach was crisp and sweet, and the chill made it even more delightful. On this sweltering summer day, his irritation finally eased a bit.
Fu Gui looked at the delicious peaches, thinking how wonderful it would be to enjoy one on such a hot day.
But alas, as a servant, he had no right to indulge. Sigh.
"Go to the Liuli Pavilion and tell Wei Wei that I will visit her tomorrow," the Yan Wang instructed Fu Gui.
He stepped into the Kunyu Courtyard.
A strong scent of sandalwood incense filled the air, a bit overwhelming. The princess burned incense in the Buddhist hall every day, and over time, the entire courtyard became saturated with the heavy aroma of incense.
In the heat of summer, this scent was particularly stifling. The Yan Wang missed Shen Wei's courtyard, which always had a refreshing floral fragrance, making the summer palace feel cool.
"Your Highness, dinner is ready," the princess greeted him as she came forward.
The princess had prepared a lavish meal for the Yan Wang. The table was filled with braised pig trotters, sweet and sour ribs, lotus root and ham soup, shrimp, and more, all laid out generously.
The steam rose from the dishes.
The room was already hot, and with the steaming food on the table, eating in summer often made one sweat. After a few bites, the Yan Wang found himself sweating on his forehead.
He put down his chopsticks and asked the princess, "Have you prepared the birthday gift for Princess Zhaoyang?"
The princess froze, her hand pausing mid-air.
Only then did she remember that Princess Zhaoyang's birthday was approaching, and the Yan Wang's residence needed to prepare a gift. However, she had been busy overseeing the children's studies in recent days and had completely forgotten about it.
But she couldn’t show her negligence. Forcing a smile, the princess replied, "Your Highness, please rest assured. I am already preparing it and will ensure it is a gift that pleases Zhaoyang."
Gifts for the princess were usually gold, silver, and jade.
The treasury of the prince's residence was filled with treasures, and it wouldn’t take long to pick out a few items.
The Yan Wang didn’t press further and continued his meal. He particularly enjoyed the sweet and sour ribs, eating five or six pieces without stopping.
In the royal family, there were rules about dining, emphasizing slow and careful eating, and not consuming the same dish too frequently.
But after a long day of work, the Yan Wang was extremely hungry, so he ate quickly.
Perhaps due to her experience in managing children, the princess had a tendency to correct others. Seeing the Yan Wang eat in a manner she deemed improper, she couldn’t help but gently remind him, "Your Highness, eating too much meat can cause bloating. It’s better to eat more vegetables. Both meat and vegetables should be chewed slowly—someone, take the sweet and sour ribs away."
As she spoke, the princess personally used a spare pair of chopsticks to place some stir-fried greens in front of the Yan Wang.
This only fueled his irritation.
He slammed his chopsticks down. "I don’t need the princess to teach me how to eat."
The princess stiffened, a hint of grievance in her eyes.
She was only concerned for the Yan Wang’s health, not expecting him to dismiss her good advice so harshly.
With a bitter tone, she said, "Your Highness, I only have your best interests at heart. As the saying goes, 'Honest words may be hard to hear but are beneficial to one’s actions.'"
The Yan Wang was too weary to listen to her nagging, which only made his head spin.
He considered the princess's dignity; even though he favored Shen Wei, he still visited the princess a few times each month.
But every time he came, her every word and action seemed to hit his sore spots.
Unable to bear it any longer, the Yan Wang waved his sleeve and left.
Stepping out of the Kunyu Courtyard, the cool moonlight bathed him, and the heavy scent of incense dissipated from the air. The Yan Wang let out a long sigh of relief.
"To the Liuli Pavilion," he said, looking toward it. Shen Wei was on the second floor, hanging beautiful carp lanterns that stood out against the night sky.
In the otherwise lifeless prince's residence, the Liuli Pavilion was a breath of fresh air.
...
As the Yan Wang left, the princess weakly set down her chopsticks.
The table was filled with delicious dishes she had painstakingly prepared since the afternoon. Yet the Yan Wang hardly touched any of it, showing her no respect as he walked out.
Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, her heart aching.
Fu Gui entered the room, bowing respectfully. "Princess, the prince has a few reminders. Please prepare a birthday gift for Zhaoyang, and do not increase the academic burden on the two young masters. Also, regarding the spring harvest of the prince's estate, please check it with me."
The princess took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and her tone turned calm and indifferent. "As for the spring harvest, you have always handled it in the past. This year, you will continue to oversee it."
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