Chapter 111
**Chapter 111: The Prince's Recovery**
The Yan Wang paused for a moment, his gaze drawn to the pavilion not far away, where two figures—one large and one small—were rushing toward him. It was Shen Wei and Li Yao.
As the golden rays of the setting sun bathed them, the two girls fluttered toward him like golden butterflies. The Yan Wang felt a jolt in his heart, a sweet wave of emotion washing over him. Li Yao puffed and panted as she ran closer, lifting her little head to look at her father.
The once towering figure of her father now appeared weak, barely able to stand without the support of two guards.
“Father!” Li Yao cried out, her voice breaking. “Wuwuwu, you scared me to death!”
Shen Wei hurried forward, her eyes quickly scanning the Yan Wang. She noticed the white bandage on his shoulder, and her heart ached, tears welling in her eyes.
Seeing Shen Wei’s tear-streaked face, like a pear blossom in the rain, stirred a deep sense of affection within him. He took her hand gently and said, “I’m fine, don’t worry.”
Shen Wei tightened her grip on his hand, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Your Highness, let me accompany you back to your chambers to rest—”
Before she could finish, her frail body swayed as if she might faint. Cai Lian, standing nearby, quickly rushed to support her.
The Yan Wang’s expression changed. “Wei Wei?”
Shen Wei steadied herself and offered him a soft smile. “Your Highness, I’m alright. You’ve been poisoned, and I had the kitchen prepare the medicine according to the physician’s prescription. I’ll serve it to you shortly.”
Despite her words, her face was pale, and she looked unwell.
Li Yao tugged at the Yan Wang’s sleeve, her voice still quivering from her earlier tears. “Father, Shen Yi Niang has been waiting for you in the front courtyard since noon, just to see you return. She’s been waiting for hours! I told her to go back, but she wouldn’t leave until she saw you safe.”
Shen Wei silently gave Li Yao a thumbs-up in her heart. What a good girl, with a bright future ahead.
The Yan Wang was momentarily lost in thought, never expecting Shen Wei would wait for him for so long! His heart swelled with even more tenderness and affection for her.
His Wei Wei always drew his compassion. In Shen Wei’s world, he, Li Yuanjing, would always hold the most weight.
This realization filled the Yan Wang with satisfaction, joy, and deep emotion.
Noticing Shen Wei’s pale complexion, he instructed Cai Lian to take her back to the Liuli Pavilion.
Shen Wei was reluctant, her eyes glistening with tears. “Your Highness, I want to stay and care for you tonight, to be by your side at all times.”
The Yan Wang feigned a stern expression. “Wei Wei, you’re with child; don’t overexert yourself. Be obedient.”
With her eyes brimming with tears, Shen Wei could only nod reluctantly, not forgetting to remind him, “Your Highness, remember to take your medicine tonight, and keep your wound dry.”
She turned back three times, glancing until the Yan Wang’s figure disappeared from her sight.
Once back at the Liuli Pavilion, Shen Wei rubbed her sore waist. Sitting in the pavilion all afternoon had left her aching.
She understood that vying for affection was no easy task; effort was required to reap rewards. Opportunities wouldn’t just fall from the sky, and the Yan Wang wouldn’t shower love on a woman without reason. His affection needed to be earned bit by bit.
Little by little, grain by grain, there would come a day when Shen Wei would occupy the most significant place in the Yan Wang’s heart.
Cai Ping began to massage Shen Wei’s shoulders, easing her tension. “My lady, you’ve worked hard all day. You don’t need to practice writing or exercise tonight.”
Shen Wei waved her hand dismissively. “Success comes from diligence, not idleness. Cai Ping, go grind the ink; I need to write.”
Today, while pretending to wait for the Yan Wang in the front courtyard, she had also been brainstorming ideas for her rouge shop.
She already had a solid plan forming in her mind, and now she needed to put it on paper to send to Manager Ye through Mama Rong tomorrow.
...
After Shen Wei left, the Yan Wang had someone escort Li Yao back.
With tears in her eyes, Li Yao looked up at her father. “Father, I’ll come to see you again tomorrow. Shen Yi Niang taught me how to make lotus flower pastries the other day, and I learned really well. I’ll bring you a box of them tomorrow.”
The Yan Wang gently patted Li Yao’s head, his voice filled with affection. “Alright, I’ll try them tomorrow.”
After a pause, he added, “You used to be like a mouse in front of me, but lately, you don’t seem so scared anymore?”
Li Yao, being the Yan Wang’s first daughter, held a special place in his heart. Yet, she had always been timid, afraid to approach him.
With a sweet voice, Li Yao replied, “Shen Yi Niang said that no father in the world doesn’t love his child. Father, you are the prince of Qingguo, caring for the world, and that’s why we don’t spend much time together. But I know you care about me. I’ll work hard to grow up quickly and help you with your worries in the future.”
The Yan Wang was taken aback, emotions swelling within him.
Such heartfelt words from a little child were comforting and warming.
Li Yao sweetly said her goodbyes. “I’ll be going now. Take care of yourself, Father.”
With the help of the Tiger Guards, the Yan Wang returned to the main house. Inside the chamber, a faint scent of medicine lingered.
Fu Gui had arranged the evening meal. “Your Highness, dinner is ready. Please eat first. According to the physician’s instructions, you can take your medicine half an hour after dinner.”
The meal included bass milk soup, astragalus fish porridge, stir-fried vegetables, fish dumplings, and pigeon soup—all beneficial for wound recovery.
The Yan Wang was somewhat surprised.
Could it be prepared by the Wang Fei?
Fu Gui added, “Shen Zhuzi learned of your injury and instructed the kitchen to prepare a dinner that would aid in your recovery. I’ve been running around all day, and Shen Zhuzi even sent Mama Rong to help with your care.”
Mama Rong was experienced and organized; without her assistance, Fu Gui would have surely collapsed from exhaustion today.
Fu Gui felt immense gratitude toward Shen Wei.
“Wei Wei is so thoughtful,” the Yan Wang thought, warmth flooding his heart. He could always sense Shen Wei’s affection in the little things.
...
Meanwhile, the Wang Fei was in her study reviewing her son’s studies. Upon hearing that the Yan Wang had returned, she prepared to greet him immediately. But just as she took a few steps, she suddenly remembered something—she had forgotten to instruct the kitchen to revise the Yan Wang’s dinner menu.
With the Yan Wang injured, the original menu needed to be changed to something less oily and spicy, ideally a nutritious medicinal meal.
The Wang Fei instructed Liu Mama, “Go to the kitchen and have them prepare some light dishes. I’ll personally deliver them to the Yan Wang.”
When Liu Mama inquired in the kitchen, she learned that Shen Wei had already sent someone to instruct them to modify the menu. The dinner was now ready and had been served to the Yan Wang.
Liu Mama hurried back to inform the Wang Fei.
The Wang Fei’s expression changed dramatically, feeling her authority as the matriarch had been undermined. She clenched the prayer beads in her hand, fuming, “How dare that Shen woman! When did this Wang Fu become hers to command?”
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