Chapter 75
**Chapter 75: Improving the Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law Relationship**
The princess stood in a daze for quite a while before recalling the events of years past.
When she first married the Yan Wang, the Empress treated her well, often sending her gifts. The Empress's generosity was abundant, and after years of caring for her children, the princess hardly remembered a jade ruyi from a decade ago.
“Mother... I know I was wrong,” the princess thought, feeling wronged. A mistake made by the servants had fallen squarely on her shoulders as the mistress of the household.
The Empress pierced through her facade: “You say you acknowledge your mistake, but deep down, you’re probably still blaming me. Dan Tai Shu Ya, if you had paid a little more attention and checked the records in the storeroom before sending gifts, this oversight wouldn’t have happened.”
But the truth was, the princess hadn’t cared at all about Zhao Yang’s birthday gift.
With her head bowed deeply, she clutched the string of prayer beads hidden in her sleeve.
An old matron brought her a cup of cool tea, and the Empress drank nearly half of it before managing to suppress the anger boiling within her.
Changing the subject, the Empress brought up Shen Wei’s pregnancy, warning the princess: “If anything goes wrong with Shen’s child, I will hold you accountable.”
The princess pursed her lips, feeling a sense of injustice. After all, the Empress had summoned her to Kun Ning Palace for the sake of Shen Wei’s pregnancy.
What right did a lowly concubine have to draw the Empress’s attention?
Did Shen Wei even deserve it?
The Empress coldly stated, “You need to rein in your thoughts. I know very well why Liu Qiao’er had a difficult labor, why Zhang Miao Yu gained weight, why Liu Ru Yan has a cold constitution that makes it hard for her to conceive, and why those sons of the other concubines are timid and weak.”
The princess’s face turned pale, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, leaving her numb.
A single thought echoed in her mind: Mother, you actually know everything.
The Empress, filled with disdain, ordered, “Go kneel in the courtyard of Kun Ning Palace. You may not leave until dark. If anything happens to Shen’s child, I can easily replace you as the Wang Fei.”
Numbly, the princess stood up and left the main hall, her spirit shattered.
In the sweltering summer heat, the courtyard of Kun Ning Palace was still unbearably hot. The princess knelt stubbornly at the entrance. The Empress, still somewhat considerate of her dignity, had the palace maids and eunuchs leave the courtyard.
Yet even without witnesses, the princess felt her pride trampled underfoot.
She asked herself honestly: she had indeed made many mistakes in the power struggles of the household. But those were her means of self-preservation; if she didn’t act, others would harm her and her children.
But the Empress couldn’t see her difficulties, only blaming her for being jealous and ruthless.
Gradually, resentment towards the Empress grew in the princess’s heart.
Under the blazing sun, sweat trickled down her forehead as she numbly clutched the prayer beads in her sleeve. One bead at a time, she squeezed them, trying to dissolve the surging hatred within her.
...
Inside Kun Ning Palace, after reprimanding the princess, the head matron brought over the accounts for the summer celebrations in the imperial harem. As the head of the harem, the Empress had little leisure time.
In the mornings, she had to receive the greetings of the concubines, then serve the Emperor, check on the Empress Dowager, review the daily expenses of the harem, manage the palace staff, and preside over celebrations during festivals... Each day was truly busy.
That’s why the Empress was even more worried about the Yan Wang Fei.
Once the Yan Wang ascended to the throne, with the princess’s temperament, the harem would surely be in chaos. When favored concubines rose to power, would Dan Tai Shu Ya be able to maintain her position as Empress?
The Empress rubbed her weary brow, her fingertips brushing against the wrinkles forming there.
She toiled daily, exhausting herself for the future of her children, leaving her no time to care for her own health. Sometimes, when she looked in the mirror, she could see the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and the strands of white hair that couldn’t be concealed.
Fortunately, the Emperor and Empress shared a deep bond; he understood the hard work she put into managing the harem and didn’t resent her aging appearance.
As the Empress caressed her face, she thought of the birth mother of the Heng Wang, “Qian Gui Fei.” Even as she aged, Qian Gui Fei remained as beautiful as a flower, charming and well-maintained.
Looking at her own aging and fading face, the Empress sighed deeply.
Just then, the matron who had gone to deliver supplements to Shen Wei returned.
“Your Highness, the supplements have been delivered to Shen. She is grateful for your kindness and has sent a beauty recipe for anti-aging and wrinkle removal,” the matron said respectfully.
The Empress paused in her account review, surprised: “A recipe for anti-aging and wrinkle removal?”
“Rest assured, Your Highness, I’ve already had the Tai Hospital verify it. The ingredients in the recipe are all effective for women’s beauty and anti-aging, and the proportions are excellent. Even the Tai Yi praised it, saying it’s a marvelous beauty recipe.”
The Empress’s spirits lifted.
Her fondness for Shen Wei increased by another degree.
Holding the beauty recipe, the Empress pondered, “This Shen Wei comes from humble beginnings. I thought she was timid and weak, but it seems she’s quite perceptive. Qian, what do you think of Shen Wei?”
After years of navigating the harem, the Empress saw through this beauty recipe the cleverness of Shen Wei’s character.
The matron replied honestly, “I visited Shen Wei’s Liuli Pavilion, and the courtyard was vibrant and lively. The maids and eunuchs there were all sharp and capable. Clearly, Shen Wei has some skills.”
Even the matron praised Shen Wei, which spoke volumes about her abilities.
The Empress set down the beauty recipe and gazed out through the carved pearwood window. In the courtyard, the sun blazed down, and the princess knelt alone in the center. Her gaze was downcast, her sleeves slightly billowing, kneeling at an angle, her body askew.
Even in punishment, she knelt askew.
This showed that deep down, the princess still harbored resentment and defiance towards the Empress.
Disappointment filled the Empress’s heart as she slowly shook her head: “Let’s observe for a few more years. If Dan Tai Shu Ya proves useless, I will naturally support a newcomer to replace her—only then can the harem be peaceful, and the court be stable.”
A parent’s love for their child is profound and far-reaching.
The Empress hoped that the Yan Wang would one day secure the throne, and to ensure that, she must guarantee peace in his harem and the success of his offspring.
“May Shen Wei give birth to a son,” the Empress murmured to herself, “With a wise mother, the child won’t be dull.”
...
The princess knelt until dark before she was helped by Liu Momo, limping as they left the palace.
The carriage of the Yan Wang Fu moved slowly.
Inside, Liu Momo tenderly applied medicine to the princess’s wounds: “My lady, it’s all my fault... I didn’t check the records of the jade ruyi carefully, causing you to suffer this unwarranted disaster.”
The princess’s knees were bruised and swollen.
Her eyes reddened, tears of resentment welling up: “It’s not your fault. The Empress is determined to find my mistakes, and I can’t guard against them all.”
The princess truly couldn’t understand why the once kind and dignified Empress had turned so sharp-tongued and harsh in just a few years.
She was treated harshly, scolded, and insulted.
After all, she was the second daughter of the Dan Tai family, raised in luxury and deeply loved by her parents, living a carefree life. Who would have thought that after marrying, she would encounter a cold and indifferent husband and a harsh mother-in-law...
Fortunately, she still had three children.
As long as her sons could achieve success and inherit the Wang Fu, then the hardships she endured now would not be in vain.
Liu Momo reminded the princess: “My lady, Shen Wei is now pregnant and has the Empress’s favor. If she gives birth to a son, we must be on guard.”
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