Chapter 124
**Chapter 124: Complaints After Complaints**
Shen Wei cast her bait and finally hooked the big fish, Dr. Yang. She immediately instructed Mama Rong to relay the message to Manager Ye that she would be meeting Dr. Yang the next day.
The following day, Shen Wei discreetly changed into a simple, elegant long dress and left the Wang residence with Mama Rong through the back courtyard.
In the back garden of the Wang residence, a maid named Xiang'er stood by the pond, her eyes glinting like a venomous snake, watching Shen Wei intently from the shadows.
Xiang'er murmured, "Why is Shen out of the residence again? Is she up to something shady outside?"
The maid behind her replied, "Mistress, be careful with your words."
Xiang'er was taken aback, staring incredulously at the maid behind her. "You’re my maid! How can you side with Shen Wei?"
The maid said nothing, too weary to respond. Now that Shen Wei was pregnant, the prince's affection for her had not waned; in fact, she spent the most nights in the Liuli Pavilion each month.
Despite being favored by the prince, Shen Wei was neither spoiled nor arrogant; instead, she treated the servants in the residence with kindness.
Coming from a farming background, Shen Wei had once been a maid in the Wang residence herself and understood the hardships faced by the lower-ranking servants. So, during the sweltering summer days, she would have the kitchen prepare a pot of refreshing sour plum soup every ten days, storing it in a large wooden barrel in a cool corner of the garden for the lotus and apple-picking maids to distribute among the lower servants.
Although every summer, the steward Fu Gui would allocate a small amount of money for cooling refreshments, the funds were often siphoned off through layers of exploitation, leaving the lower maids and servants with barely enough to scrape by. The sour plum soup Shen Wei provided, while not expensive, was practical and genuinely enjoyed by the lower-ranking maids and servants.
Gratitude ran deep among these servants, who felt a strong sense of appreciation for the Liuli Pavilion. Many even hoped that Shen Wei would continue to be favored, with some wishing for her to rise to an even higher position to benefit everyone.
"Shen went out once last month and is out again this month—there must be something fishy going on!" Xiang'er thought, growing increasingly suspicious.
Xiang'er’s life had become unbearable. The prince had completely forgotten her, never visiting the Fangfei Courtyard, and the other servants had turned their backs on her. Her parents had written several times, asking for money, but Xiang'er, with her empty pockets, could not help them, and their letters had dwindled.
As a fellow farmer's daughter, it was hard for Xiang'er to accept that Shen Wei was adorned in gold and silver while she herself wore tattered clothes.
"Let’s go to the princess and complain," Xiang'er said, her eyes darting with cunning. Living in the shadows of the Wang residence had stripped her of her innocence, leaving her sly and bitter.
The maid tried to stop her, but Xiang'er had already dashed toward the princess's Kunyu Courtyard.
As expected, Xiang'er didn’t even make it through the door before the maid at the entrance impatiently shooed her away.
A worthless concubine had no right to see the princess.
Unwilling to give up, Xiang'er decided to seek out the side concubines in the residence to lodge her complaints. She hurried to the Mingyue Courtyard of Concubine Liu Qiao'er and recounted Shen Wei's strange behavior of frequently leaving the residence to the embroidering Liu Qiao'er.
Liu Qiao'er remained unfazed, her movements slow as she continued to stitch. "It has nothing to do with me."
Xiang'er, anxious, pressed, "Who knows if Shen is sneaking out to meet a lover?"
Liu Qiao'er replied coolly, "And what does that have to do with me?"
The power struggles among the concubines were of no concern to Liu Qiao'er. To her, the best strategy was to keep a low profile and live a quiet life, ensuring her own peace and safety.
Xiang'er was soon chased away by the maids of Mingyue Courtyard.
Not one to back down, Xiang'er ran to Huaxiang Courtyard to complain to Zhang Miaoyu.
Inside the courtyard, the enticing aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air. The scent of the barbecue drifted into Xiang'er’s nostrils, and she couldn’t help but swallow; it had been ages since she had eaten meat.
Zhang Miaoyu was enjoying roasted meat with her maid, Xiangyu. After hearing Xiang'er’s accusations, Zhang Miaoyu tilted her head and replied, "Sister Shen Wei is not that kind of person. You, on the other hand, are just jealous of her pregnancy and are trying to smear her name. You really have a wicked heart."
Xiang'er felt her thoughts laid bare and desperately tried to defend herself. "Mistress Zhang, you’ve misunderstood me. I just think Shen Wei’s behavior is strange—"
Zhang Miaoyu interrupted her impatiently, "I’ve left the residence twice this month, more than Shen Wei. Why don’t you suspect me of meeting a lover? The truth is, you only bully those beneath you and dare not confront those above you."
Xiang'er’s face flushed, left speechless by the retort.
Zhang Miaoyu scoffed, "Xiangyu, get rid of her. I can’t eat with her around."
Xiang'er was expelled from Zhang Miaoyu's courtyard.
Fuming, Xiang'er clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The maids watched her with cold indifference, as if she were a mere clown.
"And then there’s Concubine Liu Ruyan," Xiang'er muttered to herself, nearly losing her mind. She hurried to Liu Ruyan’s Qixue Pavilion.
Standing at the entrance of Qixue Pavilion, she peered inside. A sea of white greeted her; Liu Ruyan, dressed in a shimmering silver gown, stood beneath a tree, gazing blankly at the pond filled with withered lotus leaves.
The autumn breeze rustled her long skirt and sleeves, as if she were about to ascend to the celestial realm.
Though the scene was beautiful, it was also somewhat eerie. Xiang'er swallowed hard, feeling a pang of fear, and silently turned to leave.
The mistresses of the Wang residence were all blind and oblivious, none capable of taking charge. Xiang'er was filled with rage, unable to comprehend why, as fellow daughters of farmers, Shen Wei’s luck was so much better than hers.
Seeing Shen Wei thriving only fueled the flames of jealousy within her. Xiang'er racked her brain, plotting how to bring Shen Wei down. As she walked, she inadvertently caught sight of the approaching steward, Fu Gui.
Fu Gui was followed by two young eunuchs. He hadn’t slept well the night before and was rubbing his sore neck as he walked.
"Steward Fu Gui!" Xiang'er rushed to greet him.
Finding no success with the mistresses, she figured it would be better to complain to Fu Gui. After all, this plump steward was the head of the household and wielded considerable power.
Fu Gui recognized the weary woman before him as Xiang'er. He forced a smile, "What is it?"
Xiang'er informed him about Shen Wei’s repeated outings from the residence.
Fu Gui scrutinized Xiang'er for a moment before responding nonchalantly, "I understand."
Xiang'er thought she had struck gold and cheerfully added, "Shen Wei is getting arrogant, flaunting her pregnancy. She keeps leaving the residence; she must have a lover outside. Who knows, the child in her belly might not even be the prince's!"
Table of Contents
