Chapter 161
**Chapter 161: A Transformed Wangfu**
...
In the Yan Wangfu, at the Liuli Pavilion.
Shen Wei struggled to open her eyes as noon approached. After a night of heavy drinking, her head throbbed painfully. Dazed, she stared at the fragrant silk curtains, trying to piece together the memories of the previous day.
“Cai Lian, Cai Ping!” Shen Wei exclaimed.
Footsteps approached from outside, and Cai Lian entered with a basin of water for washing, while Cai Ping carried a bowl of revitalizing soup.
Shen Wei lifted the curtain and asked, “Where’s the Wangye?”
Cai Ping smiled coyly, “The Wangye went to the East Palace this morning.”
Shen Wei tightened her grip on the curtain, cautiously inquiring, “Did I say anything foolish after drinking last night?”
Drinking could indeed lead to misunderstandings. A wave of anxiety washed over Shen Wei; if she had drunkenly revealed her true feelings, the Yan Wang might see through her long-standing facade.
Cai Ping giggled, “Last night, you were in the Wangye’s arms, whispering sweet nothings for quite a while. You said you only loved the Wangye and wanted to strip him bare. It made our ears burn, and the Wangye was laughing too.”
Shen Wei let out a heavy sigh of relief in her heart.
Thank goodness, no foolishness.
After getting out of bed and freshening up, Shen Wei changed into a brand-new summer dress and solemnly instructed Cai Lian and Cai Ping, “If I ever get drunk again, find an excuse to send the Wangye away—never mind, I should just drink less in the future.”
Drinking less and avoiding drunkenness would eliminate potential crises at the root.
Once sober, Shen Wei had her lunch, played with the baby in the cradle, handled a few matters concerning the inner court of the Wangfu, and sent two toys to Li Yao... Shen Wei’s day passed quietly and peacefully.
As she grew more adept at managing the household, with capable subordinates like Rong Mama assisting her, Shen Wei didn’t find the role of housekeeper too burdensome.
As night fell, the summer night was filled with the croaking of frogs from the pond, with lotus flowers hiding at the edges of the leaves. Lanterns lit up the water pavilion, where the Yan Wang was cooling off, while Shen Wei practiced her calligraphy nearby.
The Yan Wang leaned closer to examine Shen Wei’s writing, a smile dancing in his handsome eyes. “Very good, Wei Wei, your calligraphy has improved greatly.”
Shen Wei was not particularly skilled in calligraphy. Her initial attempts were akin to a dog’s paw prints, but under the Yan Wang’s guidance, she gradually transformed her writing into neat and elegant characters. The Yan Wang was quite pleased, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Shen Wei held the brush tightly and flashed a bright smile at the Yan Wang. “With you supervising me so often, how could I dare to slack off?”
A maidservant brought in a plate of freshly washed cucumbers.
These cucumbers had been personally planted by the Yan Wang. He had set up climbing frames in the vegetable garden, and the cucumber vines had climbed up, blooming delicate yellow flowers. Recently, the flowers had withered, and the cucumbers had slowly ripened.
On this scorching summer day, taking a bite of the crisp cucumbers he had grown himself was a delightful experience for the Yan Wang.
After Shen Wei finished her writing, the Yan Wang also finished his cucumbers.
Shen Wei pulled the Yan Wang back to their room to rest, the luxurious silk curtains falling around them.
Candles burned in the lamp, casting a dim yellow light.
On the bed, the Yan Wang teased Shen Wei, “You wanted to strip me of my clothes when you were drunk, but now that you’re sober, you’ve become so well-behaved. Where did your courage go?”
Shen Wei: “…”
Inside, Shen Wei was silently complaining. Heaven could bear witness; she only wanted to take advantage of the Yan Wang, to seize treasures and riches, not to strip him of his garments.
A vigorous man was indeed hard to deal with.
With nothing more to say, Shen Wei took the initiative to grasp the Yan Wang’s hand; the night was still long...
...
...
In the courtyard, the lotus flowers bloomed vibrantly as time flowed quietly. Under the Yan Wang’s “guidance,” and with the help of Rong Mama and the capable steward Fu Gui, Shen Wei managed the inner court of the Yan Wangfu.
She even applied modern corporate management principles to the Wangfu. By offering bonuses and implementing an attendance system, she sparked the servants’ enthusiasm for work. Those who were capable earned more, and a healthy competition emerged.
With various incentives in place, the once stagnant inner court of the Yan Wangfu gradually came to life.
In Qixue Pavilion.
Xue Mei hummed a cheerful tune as she and two young maidservants worked together to take Liu Ruyan’s books outside to sunbathe.
On this sweltering summer day, there were plenty of mosquitoes. But Xue Mei was unafraid; she wore a lightly scented mosquito-repellent pouch at her waist, a summer supply provided by Shen Wei for all the first-class maidservants in the household.
With this pouch, Xue Mei no longer had to worry about mosquito bites in the summer. Moreover, the scent was so faint that Liu Ruyan couldn’t detect it.
One curious maidservant asked, “Sister Xue Mei, I heard Rong Mama say that if we work in the Wangfu until we’re sixty, we can still receive a monthly stipend after leaving. Is that true?”
Xue Mei nodded, “It should be true. Yesterday, I went to the farm to find Wang Mama. She entered the Wangfu at ten and is now sixty-five, bedridden, yet she still receives two taels of silver.”
The young maidservant’s face lit up with hope. “That’s wonderful! If I get too old to work in the future, I can still have money coming in.”
The maidservants exchanged secret smiles, feeling much more secure in their hearts.
...
In the Kunyu Courtyard, the Wangfei had waited several days but had not received news of Xiang’er’s suicide in the Liuli Pavilion.
The Wangfei sent Liu Mama to inquire and learned that Xiang’er seemed to have reached a state of enlightenment, quietly staying in her own courtyard, embroidering and weaving, never stepping outside.
“What a useless fool.” The Wangfei clenched the Buddhist beads in her hand, her teeth grinding in frustration.
Panic began to rise within the Wangfei.
She had thought that Shen Wei, a mere farmer’s daughter, could never manage the Wangfu well. But reality had slapped her in the face; even from her position in Kunyu Courtyard, the Wangfei could see the changes in the Wangfu.
Disobedient servants were sold off, troublemakers were expelled from the Wangfu, and the servants were becoming diligent, the atmosphere gradually transforming.
The Wangfei knew all too well that if this continued, she would only become a hollow shell of a Wangfei. Within the estate, the servants all looked to Shen Wei for guidance.
“I am the legitimate wife, the primary consort.” The Wangfei gripped the string of Buddhist beads tightly; she could no longer allow Shen Wei to run rampant.
But the Wangye protected Shen Wei, the Empress favored her, and even her own daughter, Li Yao, frequently visited Shen Wei’s courtyard. The Wangfei had only a few loyal servants like Liu Mama by her side, and their strength was too weak to help her.
At such a time, the only ones who could assist her were her family.
The Wangfei thought to herself, her parents cherished her, and the Dantai family had significant influence. If her parents knew she was being hindered in the Yan Wangfu, they would surely plead with the Empress on her behalf.
The Dantai family had supported the Emperor’s ascension to the throne, investing considerable resources and manpower, earning great merit. The Empress had no choice but to give the Dantai family face and return the management rights of the Yan Wangfu to the Wangfei.
Just in time, her mother’s sixtieth birthday was approaching.
As the biological daughter, the Wangfei could use this as an excuse to leave the Yan Wangfu, return to the Dantai family to celebrate her mother’s birthday, and take the opportunity to voice her grievances.
The Wangfei devised a plan in her mind and instructed Liu Mama, “Liu Mama, go to the storeroom and pick out two gifts for the birthday celebration. In three days, I will return to the Dantai family.”
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