Chapter 140
**Chapter 140: The Full Moon Feast**
Although she now had a biological daughter, Shen Wei could not ignore Li Yao's presence. Shen Wei cared for Li Yao, perhaps more out of calculation, hoping to use Li Yao to solidify her position in the inner quarters. Nevertheless, at the very least, Shen Wei provided Li Yao with the maternal love she had been missing.
In the Peony Courtyard where Li Yao lived, the entire afternoon passed in a haze. While learning the art of tea from the old matron, her mind frequently wandered. The words of Liu Momo echoed in her head: *“Now that the Shen family has their own daughter, how could they care for you?”*
Li Yao felt troubled. She vaguely remembered that the princess had treated her well when she was younger. But after the princess had a son, the attention directed towards Li Yao diminished even more. Now that Shen Yiniang had her own daughter, she would surely love her sister more. Li Yao was not the daughter of the concubine; perhaps Shen Yiniang would no longer play with her...
She was about to become that unloved child again. With a heavy heart, Li Yao rested her head on the table, tears welling in her eyes.
“Little Mistress Yao.” A voice came from outside, and Cai Ping entered with a bright smile. “Little Mistress, this is a summer dress specially made for you by my mistress, along with two handkerchiefs.”
Li Yao sprang up like a fish leaping from water.
She ran over joyfully, “A dress made by Yiniang for me? Let me see!”
On the tray lay a beautiful light red dress adorned with gold embroidery, featuring patterns and colors that Li Yao adored, with tiny golden fish embroidered on the sleeves.
Her eyes sparkled with delight.
Since spring began, the princess had made many outfits for her two sons, but had not made a single new dress for Li Yao.
Cai Ping continued, “Tonight, my mistress has ordered the kitchen to prepare fresh flower cakes. Will you join us for dinner, Little Mistress Yao?”
Li Yao nodded excitedly, “Yes! I’ll definitely come tonight.”
All her worries vanished in an instant.
That evening, Li Yao changed into her new dress and happily ran to the Liuli Pavilion. Shen Wei, as always, waved at her with a warm smile, “Yao’er, come see your sister.”
Li Yao leaned over the cradle to peek inside.
Her sister was still asleep, her little face plump and fair, with eyelashes like tiny brushes, looking adorable in her slumber. Li Yao watched curiously for a while before looking up and asking, “Yiniang, how much longer will she sleep?”
Shen Wei smiled faintly, tiredly rubbing her temples, “She’ll wake when she’s hungry.”
Li Yao tilted her head to observe Shen Wei. After several days apart, Shen Wei looked a bit pale, with faint dark circles under her eyes, and her wrist wrapped in white bandages. Li Yao had heard from the old matron that newborns were particularly fussy and would cry at night.
It must be exhausting for Shen Yiniang to care for the baby.
A wave of guilt washed over Li Yao. Shen Yiniang was already tired from taking care of the child, and here she was, feeling jealous of her sister.
“You’re at the age where you’re growing, getting taller every day. Your dress needs to be made a bit larger each year,” Shen Wei said, holding Li Yao’s hand and examining her dress. “Is it still fitting? If it’s too small, I’ll have Cai Ping take it to the embroidery room to adjust.”
Li Yao nodded, touched, and obediently replied, “The dress fits perfectly, thank you, Yiniang.”
That night, Prince Yan was busy with official duties and did not return to the Wangfu. Li Yao had dinner with Shen Wei, enjoying delicious pastries, and helped Shen Wei look after her sister in the cradle.
When night fell, Li Yao reluctantly left, her heart filled with happiness.
Back in the Peony Courtyard, just as Li Yao was about to lie down to rest, she heard some commotion outside. Liu Momo, the princess’s confidante, entered her room.
“Little Mistress Yao, the princess sent me to bring you something,” Liu Momo said, holding a tray.
Li Yao, still in her nightgown, rubbed her sleepy eyes, “Mother sent me something?”
Liu Momo smiled, “As spring warms up, the princess specially had the embroidery room make you a spring dress.”
Li Yao froze, her hand still rubbing her eyes.
Liu Momo placed the tray on the table and said meaningfully, “Little Mistress, you are the princess’s own daughter; she naturally holds you dear. You go to the Liuli Pavilion every day, but now that Shen has her own child, how could she truly care for you? Ah, Little Mistress, think carefully about what I’ve said; I mean you no harm.”
As night deepened, Liu Momo continued to chatter for a while before slowly leaving.
Li Yao took the dress made by the princess and held it up against herself.
She lowered her gaze, feeling dejected, “It doesn’t fit at all...”
She had grown taller and gained weight this year. The princess had made the dress according to her measurements from two years ago, and it was far too small.
...
...
The next day, Shen Wei woke up early. As usual, she jogged around the courtyard before starting her breakfast.
The kitchen was already bustling with activity.
At noon, the feast for the child’s full moon celebration was set to take place in the front courtyard of Shen Wei’s Liuli Pavilion. The invited guests included only the princess, Prince Yan, Zhang Miaoyu, Liu Ruyan, Liu Qiao’er, and a few other concubines.
It was a small family gathering.
Before noon, Zhang Miaoyu was the first to catch a whiff of the delicious aromas and rushed to the Liuli Pavilion.
Zhang Miaoyu entered the room, holding a pink dress, and upon seeing the faint dark circles under Shen Wei’s eyes and the white bandage wrapped around her wrist, she gently comforted her, “Sister Shen Wei, don’t be sad. The prince dotes on you; if you ever want to see the child, it will surely be easy.”
The full moon feast was also a ceremony of transition for the child.
Separation between mother and child is one of life’s greatest sorrows.
Zhang Miaoyu wanted to help Shen Wei, but felt powerless. She rolled her eyes and took Shen Wei’s hand, “I don’t have any children; how about I ask the prince to let me raise your child? Then I can secretly return the child to you later.”
Shen Wei smiled, “Thank you, Sister Miaoyu. But there’s no need for you to worry; where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Zhang Miaoyu sighed, her gaze falling again on Shen Wei’s wrist, “Oh? Sister Shen Wei, did you injure your wrist?”
Shen Wei’s face flushed, recalling some unpleasant memories, “I sprained my wrist and am applying ointment.”
Since her pregnancy, she had not been intimate with Prince Yan very often; most of the time, they resolved things in other ways.
After giving birth, Shen Wei focused on recuperating, her face becoming round and fair, her figure increasingly graceful, which made Prince Yan’s eyes linger on her with desire.
But Shen Wei politely declined Prince Yan’s advances, knowing her body was her own, and she must not overstep during her confinement. Otherwise, it could lead to serious consequences.
Ah.
Shen Wei felt a pang of regret for her hand.
Time passed, and the feast was about to begin. Guests began to arrive one after another. Prince Yan was the first to return, still dressed in his splendid court attire, striding into the room where Shen Wei was bent over, gently wiping the child’s face with slow, careful movements.
Seeing Prince Yan, Shen Wei said, “Your Highness, you’re back.”
Noticing the dark circles under Shen Wei’s eyes, Prince Yan understood she hadn’t slept well the previous night. He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her waist, and said gently, “What is Wei Wei doing?”
Shen Wei forced a smile, “I’m wiping the child’s face, getting her ready to change into new clothes. Once she goes to the princess, I’m afraid I won’t be able to look after her every day.”
Shen Wei pretended not to know that her brother had already passed his examinations.
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