Chapter 91
**Chapter 91: A Trip to the Lake**
The princess was kneeling in the Buddhist hall, reciting scriptures.
Li Yao wanted to enter the small hall but was stopped by Liu Mama, who stood beside the princess. Liu Mama spoke in a flat tone, “Little Miss, the princess is paying her respects to the Buddha. You mustn’t disturb her. If you anger the princess, you’ll surely be scolded.”
Li Yao thought for a moment and handed Liu Mama two pieces of peach blossom pastry wrapped in a handkerchief. “Mama, Mother must be very tired from her prayers. I specially brought her favorite peach blossom pastries. Could you please take them to her?”
Liu Mama replied dismissively, “Fine.”
Li Yao turned back three times, leaving in a huff.
Just as her small figure disappeared, the door of the Buddhist hall creaked open, and the princess, dressed in a gray long robe, slowly stepped out. There were faint dark circles under her eyes; the recent struggles with the old mama from the palace had left her both physically and mentally exhausted.
The hall was not soundproof, and the princess naturally heard Li Yao’s words.
Liu Mama handed over the handkerchief containing the pastries. “Princess, this is from the little miss.”
The princess glanced at it with a flicker of disdain in her eyes. “Throw it away.”
Liu Mama felt a pang of sympathy and tried to speak well of Li Yao. “The little miss is thinking of you, which shows her heart isn’t bad.”
The princess scoffed, “If it weren’t for her eating that moldy pastry, would I be in this situation? After carrying a child for ten months, I ended up with such a foolish thing.”
If it weren’t for Li Yao causing the scandal of poisoning, the princess would still be able to raise her two sons.
She was deeply disappointed in Li Yao and didn’t want to see her for a while; out of sight, out of mind.
With no other choice, Liu Mama tossed the two pieces of peach blossom pastry into the stone fish tank. The pastries splashed in the water, and the fish scrambled to snatch them up.
“Let’s go to the study. The monthly exam at the Guozijian is approaching; we can’t let a few old maids delay the children’s education.” The princess took a deep breath and strode toward the study.
Her sons were her future support.
The candlelight in the Buddhist hall flickered, illuminating the long-enshrined statue, which still bore a compassionate expression. Hiding in the corner, Li Yao drooped her little head and quietly stepped out, leaning over the edge of the fish pond.
She tried to fish out the peach blossom pastries.
Her small hands stirred the water, but the two pieces of pastry had already been devoured by the fish, leaving only a few crumbs floating on the surface.
The eight-year-old girl felt a pang in her nose, and tears of grievance began to fall.
...
There’s no wall that doesn’t let the wind through; the open conflict between the princess and the old mama had reached the ears of several concubines.
Liu Qiao’er didn’t think much of it.
In her past life, the princess and the empress had a tumultuous relationship, with a terrible mother-in-law and daughter-in-law dynamic. If it weren’t for the face of the Dantai family, the empress would have long since arranged for the princess to “pass away.”
In Qixue Pavilion, Liu Ruyan slowly sipped her tea.
The cool evening breeze ruffled her dark hair, and she gazed out at the moonlight, cold as frost, her eyes filled with a hint of sympathy. “The prince doesn’t care about his children at all. He sent away my Nanzhi and forced the princess to separate from her child... The prince is ultimately heartless.”
Xue Mei stood silently beside her, feeling compelled to refute.
The prince doesn’t care about his children? Impossible.
In Liuli Pavilion, Master Shen was pregnant, and the Yan Wang sent people to deliver supplements and clothing every few days. Every ten days, the palace’s physician would come to check on Master Shen’s health.
Wasn’t that a sign of caring for the child in Shen’s womb?
Currently, Liuli Pavilion was far more luxurious than the other concubines’ quarters, only slightly less than the princess’s courtyard. Xue Mei even secretly speculated that with Shen Wei’s current level of favor, she might become a concubine in the future.
When Shen Wei first gained favor, everyone thought she would soon lose it. But months passed, and she quietly weathered all trials, gaining the Yan Wang’s exclusive affection.
“Master, I heard it was the princess who made a mistake, which angered the prince.” Xue Mei couldn’t help but speak up.
Little Miss Yao was punished by the princess and, out of hunger, ate the moldy pastry; this incident had already spread among the servants. Everyone had their own sense of right and wrong.
In this matter, the princess had made a grave mistake.
But Liu Ruyan lowered her gaze and said lightly, “Why bother pursuing right and wrong? The sun and moon are supreme, and the closest and most distant are husband and wife. The princess and I are of the same kind.”
Xue Mei: “…”
In their attitudes toward their daughters, Liu Ruyan and the princess indeed seemed to be cut from the same cloth.
...
In the early morning at Liuli Pavilion, Shen Wei saw the Yan Wang off.
“I’m going to Yunzhou for inspections and should be back in about five days.” The Yan Wang held Shen Wei’s hand, his eyes filled with reluctance.
Yunzhou was a hundred miles away, and Shen Wei worried, “Your Highness... I wish to accompany you.”
The Yan Wang was both touched and helpless. “You’re pregnant; it’s not suitable for you to travel. Take care of yourself and avoid cold foods.”
Shen Wei obediently nodded, reluctantly sending the Yan Wang off.
Ever since that day when Shen Wei declared, “I will never leave you, through life and death,” she could clearly feel the Yan Wang was more attentive to her and more clingy.
Sometimes, even when the Yan Wang was busy with state affairs, he would still remember to send the guards to deliver things to help her maintain her pregnancy.
This was a good thing, but it was a bit taxing for Shen Wei.
She rubbed her still sore wrists; the Yan Wang slept beside her every night. Although they didn’t have to share a bed in the early stages of her pregnancy, her hands and legs were genuinely uncomfortable...
Now that the Yan Wang would be away for five days, she could finally relax a bit.
Shen Wei turned back into the room, instructing Rong Mama to prepare the Yan Wang’s clothes and some cold medicine. Since the Yan Wang was going on a journey, she needed to show her care not just in words but also in actions.
Yunzhou was rather cold, so sending him some clothing and cold medicine was also Shen Wei’s way of expressing her “love and concern.”
Rong Mama efficiently carried out the tasks. Shen Wei stretched and prepared to jog around the courtyard for some exercise.
Just as she had run halfway around, Cai Ping hurried over. “Master, the princess’s carriage is at the gate. Sister Yun is here to take you.”
Shen Wei raised her eyebrows, somewhat surprised. “What’s the occasion?”
Cai Ping replied, “The lotus flowers at Luoyue Lake are blooming beautifully. The princess invites you to enjoy the lake and the flowers together.”
An invitation from the princess was not something Shen Wei could refuse. She immediately instructed Cai Ping and Cai Lian to pack their things, and moments later, she boarded the princess’s carriage.
The princess’s carriage was of high quality, and it didn’t sway much as they rode. Shen Wei leaned back and closed her eyes for a brief rest. After about half an hour, the carriage stopped by the lakeside.
Shen Wei held Cai Ping’s hand, carefully stepping down from the carriage. Guided by the maidservants, she boarded the beautifully adorned boat moored by the lake.
The boat was exquisite, and both Princess Zhaoyang and Sun Qingmei were already on board.
“Shen Wei, you finally made it!” Princess Zhaoyang was dressed in a vibrant phoenix-patterned red gown, adorned with a white jade plum blossom hairpin, and greeted Shen Wei with a bright smile.
Shen Wei wanted to bow, but Princess Zhaoyang quickly stopped her. “No, no, no! You’re carrying the second brother’s child now, so don’t bow too deeply. The second brother is going to Yunzhou to inspect the grain supplies; he sent someone to find me yesterday, asking me to bring you to stay at the Luoyue Lake villa for a few days.”
Shen Wei was taken aback.
The Yan Wang’s suggestion?
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