Chapter 142
**Chapter 142: Taking the Child Away**
The guard hesitated, saying, “But this young master claims that the prince invited him.”
Liu Momo chuckled, shaking her head. “The prince is busy with state affairs; he wouldn’t have time to invite a country bumpkin into the palace. Shouldn’t you be sending him away? If you anger the prince and the princess, you’ll be in for a world of trouble.”
Liu Momo had spent too long in the inner chambers, cut off from the world, and had no idea that Shen Xiuming had just become the second place in the imperial examination.
Shen Xiuming felt a surge of anger. The Yan Wang had specifically sent someone to invite him to the palace for a banquet. He had come with his mother, hoping to support his sister, only to be stopped at the door.
“Are you daring to block me when the prince has invited me as a guest?” Shen Xiuming’s indignation grew.
He was already the second place in the spring examination, yet he was looked down upon by these lowly guards. How hard must it be for Shen Wei to be alone in such a vast palace?
Liu Momo rolled her eyes and snapped, “Get rid of them! All of them! From now on, if you see such filthy people, don’t let them near the palace gates.”
The guards had no choice but to step forward and politely escort Shen Xiuming and his mother away.
Shen Xiuming led his mother to a street outside the palace.
His mother’s eyes were filled with worry. “Could it be that the prince is toying with us? Today is the full moon celebration for the third girl’s daughter. I heard they plan to send the child to the princess for her to raise... The third girl must be in so much pain.”
Shen Xiuming comforted his mother, “Mother, you should return to the Wen Miao and wait for news. I’ll stay here at the palace gate. The Yan Wang is a man of his word; he wouldn’t play tricks on me.”
His mother reluctantly nodded, handing her bundle to Shen Xiuming. With a serious tone, she said, “These are the cotton shoes I made for your little granddaughter. If you can get into the palace, give them to your sister. Also, there are twenty taels of silver inside, saved by me and your second sister. Make sure to deliver it to your sister.”
Shen Qiang was currently helping manage the farmland in Nanshan. Last autumn, they had a bountiful harvest, and the owner rewarded her with quite a bit of silver.
Shen Qiang had entrusted the monthly silver to their mother for safekeeping, asking her to find a time to send it to the palace to support Shen Wei.
“Don’t worry, Mother. I will definitely see my sister today,” Shen Xiuming said, determination shining in his eyes.
His mother left, burdened with worries. Shen Xiuming turned back toward the Yan Wang’s palace. This time, luck was on his side; he ran into the prince’s secretary.
The secretary recognized Shen Xiuming and hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. “Scholar Shen! I sent someone to the Wen Miao to fetch you but couldn’t find you. I didn’t expect you to arrive at the palace early.”
In the surprised gazes of the guards at the door, Shen Xiuming was politely invited into the palace by the secretary.
...
Meanwhile, the full moon banquet at Liuli Pavilion was nearing its end.
The princess felt a lingering unease that wouldn’t dissipate. As the maids cleared the dishes, she couldn’t wait any longer. “Your Highness, the banquet is over; I should take the child away now.”
Only by quickly taking Shen Wei’s child could her anxiety be eased.
After a pause, the princess turned to Shen Wei with a bright smile. “Shen, I come from a prestigious family and am well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I will certainly fulfill my duties as the mistress and take good care of this child, Le You.”
Shen Wei’s face turned as pale as paper, as if she had received a devastating blow.
Zhang Miaoyu, having wiped the grease from her mouth, rushed over. “Your Highness, I have no children of my own. I want to raise the child together with Sister Shen! The princess already has three children to care for, and there are several boys in the school to look after. With daily prayers and rituals, how can you find time to care for a little baby?”
Zhang Miaoyu had eaten her fill at lunch.
After a hearty meal, it was time to get to work.
She wanted to help Shen Wei out, to raise the child on the surface, of course, while secretly returning the child to Shen Wei.
“You’ve never had a child; how would you know the exhaustion of caring for a baby?” The princess shot a glare at Zhang Miaoyu.
Zhang Miaoyu rubbed her chubby fingers together, her round face breaking into a naive smile. “Your Highness, everything has a learning process. I’m clever; I’ll learn to take care of the child quickly.”
The princess couldn’t be bothered to argue with this chubby girl.
She was the mistress of the palace; Zhang Miaoyu could never take the child from her.
Liu Momo had returned, standing beside the princess, feigning a sympathetic demeanor. “Rest assured, Mistress Shen, the princess values the little master greatly. She has already sent this old servant to purchase all the necessary items for raising the baby, meticulously prepared, with no room for error.”
Shen Wei gazed at her daughter, peacefully sleeping in the cradle, her nose tinged with sadness, looking pitiful.
The Yan Wang held Shen Wei’s hand, smiling. “Wei Wei, don’t be sad. I have decided to let you raise Le You.”
Shen Wei was stunned, looking up in confusion.
The princess frowned and stepped forward. “Your Highness, the ancestral rules cannot be changed. Shen comes from a humble background. If you insist on letting her raise the child, it will reflect poorly on your reputation. Moreover, a concubine’s child will struggle to find a good match in the future.”
The Yan Wang cast a casual glance at the princess.
The princess barely cared for her own daughter, Li Yao; how could she genuinely care for Shen Wei’s child?
At the entrance of Liuli Pavilion, Mama Qian, the queen’s confidante, arrived with four palace maids, holding a bright yellow imperial edict.
The princess’s heart sank, her unease growing heavier. The queen’s edict was received with great respect.
Mama Qian stepped forward steadily, opening the edict. “By the queen’s command, Shen is intelligent and virtuous, dignified and kind... As proposed by the Ministry of Rites, she is to be conferred the title of concubine on an upcoming date.”
A gentle spring breeze swept through the courtyard, and suddenly, silence fell.
Everyone exchanged glances.
Until the loud cries of Li Le You echoed from inside, the maids hurried in to soothe the wailing baby.
Shen Wei’s face showed surprise, as if she had no idea what was happening. She held the bright yellow edict, staring blankly at the Yan Wang beside her. “Your Highness... I... I...”
Seeing her dazed expression, the Yan Wang couldn’t help but smile. “Wei Wei deserves this; there’s no need to be surprised.”
Shen Wei’s heart blossomed with joy. After a year of hard work and planning, she had finally reaped the fruits of victory today.
But on the surface, she still wore a mask of surprise, confusion, and gratitude. The first to react was Zhang Miaoyu, who exclaimed joyfully, “Congratulations, Sister Shen! Now that you’ve been promoted to concubine, you can raise your child yourself!”
Shen Wei still looked bewildered.
The princess’s expression was as if the sky had fallen.
Today, during Shen Wei’s daughter’s full moon banquet, the princess had intended to strike a blow against Shen Wei. But unexpectedly, it was she who was struck.
A mere farmer’s daughter, Shen Wei, had been exceptionally conferred the title of concubine. How could she deserve it?
The princess felt a mix of anger and frustration, her resentment toward the queen deepening. Surely, the queen had deliberately elevated Shen Wei to undermine her.
“Your Highness, this matter cannot stand!” The princess’s heart raced like a drum. She forced herself to remain calm, speaking patiently, “Shen has no family backing, has not given birth to a son, and is uneducated. To elevate her to a concubine is already a stretch. If she becomes a concubine now, how will the court officials view you?”
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