Chapter 108
**Chapter 108: After the Assassination Attempt**
The Yan Wang was the pillar of the royal residence, its very core. If anything happened to him, the relatively stable order of the entire household would face collapse.
Shen Wei quickly regained her composure.
She instructed Cai Lian, “You and Cai Ping go gather information. I need to know how the prince is doing.”
Cai Lian immediately set off to inquire.
Returning to the Liuli Pavilion, Shen Wei poured herself a cup of tea to calm her nerves while formulating a plan in her mind.
If the Yan Wang survived, she would perfectly play the role of a devoted wife, showing concern and warmth.
But if he died, the crown prince would surely inherit the title, and the Wang Fei would hold all the power, leaving Shen Wei in a precarious position. Without a strong family to back her, and with a child on the way, even her close ties with Zhao Yang wouldn’t protect her from the Wang Fei’s many schemes.
Without much hesitation, Shen Wei secretly resolved that if the Yan Wang truly died, she would have to “fake her own death in loyalty.” She would find a way to change her identity and operate her business in Yan Jing from the shadows.
“Master, I’ve found out!” Cai Ping rushed in, her forehead glistening with sweat. “The prince and Heng Wang were attacked on Chang Street, poisoned by a hidden arrow. His Majesty has sent nearly all the doctors from the Tai Hospital to treat him. The prince is currently receiving care at the Ministry of War and hasn’t regained consciousness yet.”
“I sneaked a look outside the Ministry,” Cai Ping continued. “By afternoon, most of the doctors had left, leaving only a few of the best. The ones who left looked relaxed, so I thought the prince’s condition must have improved, which is why they departed.”
Shen Wei secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, the Yan Wang hadn’t succumbed to the poison.
She glanced up at the sky. Autumn was approaching, and the weather was gradually turning cooler. Today, a breeze blew, making it feel less oppressive. “Let’s go to the front courtyard and wait for the prince’s return.”
Since the Yan Wang’s condition had improved, he would likely be sent back to the royal residence to recuperate soon. Deeply in love with him, Shen Wei was determined to make her presence felt and establish her image as a devoted wife.
...
The news of the Yan Wang’s assassination spread quickly through the royal residence, eliciting various reactions.
In the Qixue Pavilion, Liu Ruyan was painting in her study. The white rice paper was adorned with ink that spread beautifully, creating a vivid image of “Plum Blossoms in the Snow.”
Xue Mei burst into the study, breathless and anxious. “Master! It’s terrible! The prince has been attacked and is unconscious from the poison!”
Thud—
Liu Ruyan dropped her brush, the ink plum blossom she had just painted now distorted, the ink bleeding across the paper.
“Attacked?” Liu Ruyan’s mind buzzed, blank and unfocused.
Xue Mei was frantic. “Master, should we go out to see? If the prince sees you worrying for him, he’ll surely feel more affection for you.”
Liu Ruyan closed her eyes, tears slowly streaming down her cheeks, splattering onto the rice paper and ruining the plum blossom image once more.
She gently shook her head, as if she had seen through life and death. “Life is full of endless changes... Whether it’s a blessing or a curse, if it’s a curse, there’s no escaping it. If the prince dies, I won’t linger on. A white silk will follow him.”
Life and death are all fate.
Liu Ruyan sat dazed on the edge of her bed, gazing at the bright sunlight outside the window.
Xue Mei silently pinched herself.
...
In the Huaxiang Courtyard, Zhang Miaoyu was hiding in her room, secretly enjoying a bowl of icy, flaky dessert. Coming from a wealthy family, she had no shortage of money and had her maid, Xiang Yu, buy her treats from outside the royal residence every day.
Recently, Zhang Miaoyu had developed a fondness for the desserts from “Wei Yan Ji,” indulging in a bowl daily.
However, the prince had sent an old matron to supervise her weight loss, making Zhang Miaoyu sneak her sweets, fearful of being caught.
Xiang Yu slipped into the room and informed Zhang Miaoyu, “Master, I heard the prince has been attacked, and the situation is dire.”
Zhang Miaoyu paused mid-bite. “How could the prince be attacked again? He was attacked at the Spring Banquet, then again during the East Mountain hunt, and now in summer? Is he planning to be attacked every season?”
Xiang Yu: ...
Is that really the point? The important thing is that the prince is hurt!
Zhang Miaoyu asked, “Is the prince’s life in danger?”
Xiang Yu replied, “I don’t know.”
Zhang Miaoyu pressed on, “Have His Majesty and the Empress sent doctors to treat him?”
Xiang Yu shrugged, “I don’t know.”
Zhang Miaoyu continued, “When will the prince return to the residence?”
Xiang Yu scratched her head, looking sheepish. “I don’t know either.”
Zhang Miaoyu rolled her eyes and poked Xiang Yu’s head. “You’re completely useless! All you do is eat! You’re almost as fat as I am!”
Xiang Yu touched her increasingly round chin, feeling embarrassed and lowering her head.
Zhang Miaoyu sighed, a hint of melancholy crossing her chubby face. “Well, the prince is a lucky man; he has skilled protectors around him, so he’ll be fine. Even if he were to pass away, I have my family to back me, and the Wang Fei wouldn’t dare touch me.”
After thinking it over, Zhang Miaoyu realized the Yan Wang’s life or death wouldn’t significantly impact her, so she stopped worrying. She picked up her small bowl and resumed eating her icy dessert. “Xiang Yu, you should try some; the flaky dessert from Wei Yan Ji is really delicious.”
“Sure thing!”
...
In the Mingyue Courtyard, Liu Qiao’er, a side consort, was sewing clothes for her two children under the eaves. A maid rushed in to inform Liu Qiao’er of the Yan Wang’s assassination.
Liu Qiao’er’s expression remained cold as she calmly replied, “There’s no need to worry.”
She possessed memories from her past life.
She vaguely recalled that during this time in her previous life, both the Yan Wang and Heng Wang had been attacked by hidden arrows. But it was nothing serious; both were safe and sound. It was said that the assailants were from the Yue Kingdom, and the Yan Wang used this as an excuse to allocate a large sum of military funds to the border, boosting the morale of the Qing Kingdom’s army, which subsequently captured three cities from the Yue Kingdom.
A cold indifference flickered in Liu Qiao’er’s eyes. “Men like the prince, who play with power, are all heartless.”
Women kept in the inner chambers were merely tools for men to bear children.
Look at Shen Wei in the Liuli Pavilion, adorned in gold and silver, living a life of luxury. Yet in the Yan Wang’s heart, Shen Wei was nothing more than a toy.
The maid remained silent, her head bowed.
...
The news of the prince’s assassination reached the Wang Fei in her Kunyu Courtyard. At that moment, she was kneeling in the Buddhist hall, nearly fainting from shock.
“Quick! Call for a carriage! I must go to the Ministry of War!” The Wang Fei was frantic, clutching her prayer beads tightly, almost stumbling as she walked.
Liu Mama was quick to support the Wang Fei. “Your Highness, please don’t panic. The palace doctors have already gone to detoxify the prince.”
The Wang Fei’s eyes reddened, tears streaming down her face.
She and the Yan Wang had been young lovers, once sharing harmonious and loving moments. Although they had grown distant now, the Wang Fei still held feelings of marital affection for him.
With her husband’s life hanging in the balance, the Wang Fei choked out, “If anything happens to the prince, I... I truly don’t know...”
Suddenly, the Wang Fei froze in place.
A clear realization dawned on her mind: **If the Yan Wang were to die today, the title of the royal residence would surely pass to her son. All the side consorts and concubines in the household would have to look to her for survival.**
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