Chapter 148
**Chapter 148: A Morning Greeting**
A few days ago, when the Yan Wang was present, the Wang Fei did not require Shen Wei to come for her morning greetings every day. Now that the Yan Wang was out inspecting the waterways, unable to protect Shen Wei, the Wang Fei sent Liu Mama to the Liuli Pavilion. The Wang Fei wanted Shen Wei to understand that even though she had become a side consort, in this vast Yan Wang Fu, the Wang Fei was still the only true mistress.
Shen Wei said, “I naturally accept the ancestral rules. However, Liu Mama, there are other side consorts in the Yan Wang Fu. Should the other three side consorts also come to pay their respects to the Wang Fei tomorrow?”
Liu Mama replied calmly, “You need not worry about that, Shen Zhuzi. When the other three side consorts first entered the residence, they also had to pay their respects morning and evening. After some time, the Wang Fei saw that they were quite sensible, and thus she exempted them from daily greetings.”
Shen Wei lowered her gaze. “I understand.”
Liu Mama conveyed the Wang Fei’s words, snorted lightly, and gave Shen Wei a once-over before turning haughtily to leave.
Cai Lian and Cai Ping followed Shen Wei back to the courtyard of the Liuli Pavilion. Shen Wei sat beside the infant cradle, where the two-month-old Xiao Le You had just woken up, his chubby little hands reaching for the rattle in the nurse's hand, making cooing sounds.
Cai Ping brought Shen Wei a cup of tea, muttering, “Mistress, the Wang Fei surely has ill intentions. Let’s endure for a few days, and when the Wang Ye returns, we can ask him to speak on your behalf.”
Having spent time with Shen Wei, Cai Lian and Cai Ping had gradually learned many good ways to navigate the world.
Cai Ping’s plan was to seek the Yan Wang’s protection for Shen Wei.
Shen Wei took a sip of tea, a faint smile gracing her lips. “The waterways are long, and the inspections are arduous. It will be at least five days, or as long as half a month, before the Wang Ye returns.”
During the Yan Wang’s absence, Shen Wei still had to rise early every day to pay her respects to the Wang Fei, enduring humiliation for too long. She had no desire to suffer unnecessarily. Moreover, every time she faced difficulties, seeking help from the Yan Wang felt stifling. Now that she was a side consort, her position was relatively stable, and she could use her own means to break the deadlock.
After pondering for a moment, Shen Wei said to Cai Lian, “Tomorrow is the fifteenth, the day the Wang Fu distributes the monthly silver. The steward Fu Gui has been overworked lately. Cai Lian, please take some calming and restorative medicine to him and ask him to rest for a few days.”
Cai Lian nodded eagerly. “I’ll take care of it right away.”
As Cai Lian went to the storeroom for the medicine, Cai Ping tilted her head in confusion. “Mistress, aren’t you going to ask the Wang Ye for help?”
Given Shen Wei’s current favored status, if the Yan Wang intervened, the Wang Fei would surely not dare to pressure Shen Wei any further.
Shen Wei picked up the rattle, teasing the baby in the cradle, and replied, “In the Wang Fu, the Yan Wang is like the heavens. I can rely on him, but I cannot depend on him every time.”
The Yan Wang was a virtuous and wise prince, concerned for the common people. His world was not confined to the small confines of the Wang Fu; he could not focus all his thoughts on the disputes among his wives and concubines.
Shen Wei’s next goal was to take away the Wang Fei’s authority over the household, to render her powerless. Therefore, she needed to rely on her own abilities to solve problems and showcase her independence and intelligence.
Cai Ping nodded, though she seemed only half-understanding.
“Cai Ping, come here. I have something for you to do.” Shen Wei reached out to Cai Ping.
Cai Ping lowered her head respectfully, listening attentively to Shen Wei’s instructions.
...
The next morning, before dawn had even broken, Shen Wei yawned as she got out of bed. After a simple breakfast and some grooming, she stepped into the morning mist on her way to the Kun Yu Courtyard.
The morning air was chilly, the cold mingling with the heavy incense from the Kun Yu Courtyard, making it dizzying to breathe.
With a swish, Liu Mama lifted the door curtain, standing under the eaves and looking down at Shen Wei. “Shen Zhuzi, the Wang Fei has not yet risen. Please wait in the courtyard for a moment.”
Shen Wei did not respond, but Cai Lian spoke up beside her. “Liu Mama, it’s cold outside. May I let my mistress in to wait?”
Liu Mama smiled. “The Wang Fei is the mistress, and Shen Zhuzi is a concubine. When the mistress has not risen, how can a concubine sit in the main house?”
Cai Lian silently ground her teeth.
Shen Wei remained calm, quietly waiting in the courtyard while contemplating her plans for expanding the business in Yan Jing.
As dawn broke, the candlelight extinguished, and the maidservants of Kun Yu Courtyard entered the Wang Fei’s bedroom with wash water and mouthwash.
After waiting for more than half an hour, the Wang Fei finally rose slowly, taking a long time to groom herself.
By the time the Wang Fei, supported by Liu Mama, walked into the main house, the sky was already bright. Only then did Liu Mama come over to let Shen Wei enter and pay her respects to the Wang Fei.
The main house was solemn and imposing, with a large painting of “The Crane Holding a Peach” hanging on the wall. The Wang Fei wore a dark embroidered gold robe, her hair styled high and adorned with numerous gold and jade ornaments. In her left hand, she held a string of deep green, round Buddhist beads, exuding an air of authority.
In the gilded incense burner, fragrant smoke curled upwards.
The Wang Fei, holding the beads, scrutinized Shen Wei as she entered. For a moment, it seemed she recalled the first time Shen Wei had come to Kun Yu Courtyard a year ago, when Shen Wei had been charming and beautiful, youthful and innocent, her eyes betraying unmasked ambition.
At that time, the Wang Fei had thought Shen Wei would lose favor within a month. Who would have guessed that this girl, of humble origins and lacking in literary and ceremonial knowledge, would capture the Yan Wang’s heart?
The Wang Fei clenched the beads, her heart churning. She had raised a fiercely ambitious tiger.
“I pay my respects to the Wang Fei,” Shen Wei knelt, her etiquette flawless.
The Wang Fei replied coolly, “This Wang Fei is thirsty.”
Liu Mama immediately presented a tea tray, with a steaming cup of tea. The implication was clear: Shen Wei was to serve tea to the Wang Fei.
The tea was scalding hot, and the cup was too.
The Wang Fei deliberately made Shen Wei serve the tea with both hands, hoping to scorch her ambition.
The main house was silent, all eyes fixed on Shen Wei. Cai Lian quietly took out a pair of thick sheepskin gloves from her sleeve and handed them to Shen Wei. In front of everyone, Shen Wei calmly put on the gloves, lifted the hot tea, and presented it to the Wang Fei.
The Wang Fei’s face turned ashen.
Liu Mama, furious, exclaimed, “Shen Zhuzi, serving tea while wearing gloves shows you have no respect for the Wang Fei! A concubine defying the mistress is punishable by family law!”
Shen Wei raised an eyebrow, calmly asking, “Is there a rule in family law that prohibits serving tea to the mistress while wearing gloves?”
Liu Mama was momentarily speechless. “You—”
They held their ground for a moment.
The Wang Fei slowly rose, not accepting the hot tea offered by Shen Wei. She said, “You are late today. Come earlier for your morning greetings tomorrow.”
The Wang Fei did not care about a cup of hot tea. There were many ways to grind down Shen Wei’s ambition. For instance, she could make Shen Wei rise even earlier tomorrow and stand in Kun Yu Courtyard for an entire morning, which would be more effective than any verbal dispute.
Or she could have Shen Wei copy several volumes of Buddhist scriptures, testing her will.
With the Wang Ye absent, the Wang Fei was the queen of the inner court. No matter how much Shen Wei stirred things up, she was still just a lowly concubine.
“Go to the study.” The Wang Fei turned to leave. She had spent a large sum acquiring several ancient texts for her two sons to study.
As the day brightened, Shen Wei left Kun Yu Courtyard.
Today, Shen Wei wore a dress with wide sleeves, deliberately hiding her hands within them. Instead of returning directly to the Liuli Pavilion, she took a long detour around the front and back courtyards of the Wang Fu.
The busy servants of the Wang Fu, up early, all noticed Shen Wei with her hands hidden in her sleeves, her brow furrowed in worry.
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