Chapter 182
**Chapter 181: The Parchment**
Both Prince Yan and Prince Heng sought to bring Shen Mieyue under their command. However, Shen Mieyue's mind was solely focused on military strategy; he remained loyal only to the current emperor and resolutely refused to engage in the power struggles among the princes. Wealth, beauty, and power held no allure for him.
Shen Wei nodded, half-understanding: “I see, my lord.”
She instinctively thought that Prince Yan wanted to win Shen Mieyue over to serve the crown prince. For the crown prince to ascend the throne smoothly, he needed military power in hand to secure his position.
As night fell, just like any other day, Shen Wei shared the bed with Prince Yan.
Winter had arrived, and the snow danced gently in the night air. When Shen Wei awoke the next morning, a thin layer of white snow blanketed the courtyard.
Prince Yan rose early, first heading to the nursery to hear the baby call out “Huwang” several times before he felt satisfied enough to attend court.
Shen Wei got up a bit later and had her breakfast in the warm chamber. Prince Yan rarely returned to the palace during the day; after morning court, he often went to the Eastern Palace to assist the crown prince with state affairs.
Cai Ping served Shen Wei a bowl of hot soup: “Don’t worry, my lady. I’ve heard that the crown prince’s health has greatly improved; he can even attend court now. Once he fully recovers, the prince will be less busy.”
“Is the crown prince getting better soon?” Shen Wei asked.
Cai Ping nodded: “Yes, that’s what everyone is saying. Most of the court physicians stationed at the Eastern Palace have returned to the palace, which shows the crown prince’s condition is improving.”
Shen Wei didn’t know much about the crown prince, only that he had been ill for a long time and had even invited the renowned healer, Mo Shenyi, to treat him last year. With Mo Shenyi’s miraculous skills and the careful attention of the palace physicians, the crown prince’s chronic ailment should have been cured by now.
Shen Wei felt a secret joy in her heart. The crown prince and Prince Yan shared a deep bond; the crown prince’s recovery was a good thing. Once the crown prince ascended the throne smoothly, Prince Yan would surely be favored.
With Prince Yan’s position secure, her own future as a concubine would also be bright and prosperous. Life seemed to be unfolding according to her plans, and Shen Wei felt quite pleased as she finished a bowl of rich bone soup.
...
Time flew by, and soon the wedding day of the Marquis of Zhen Nan and the Princess of Pingyang arrived. With Prince Yan busy with state affairs and the princess “seriously ill,” Shen Wei had to attend the banquet at the Marquis’s residence.
As a concubine of a prince, her status was not low; her name was recorded in the royal genealogy, making her a sort of daughter-in-law to the royal family.
To avoid gossip, Shen Wei decided to bring along Li Yao, the legitimate daughter of the Yan Wangfu.
News of Shen Wei taking Li Yao to the banquet reached the princess in her Kunyu Courtyard’s Buddhist hall.
The princess lit three sticks of incense and reverently placed them in the altar. Coldly, she remarked, “A mere peasant girl like Shen dares to replace me at the Marquis’s wedding banquet. Am I dead?”
Liu Mama, standing nearby, calmly replied, “Your Highness, you are unwell. It’s too cold outside; it’s not suitable for you to move around.”
The princess scoffed.
She wasn’t sick; the so-called “serious illness” was merely an excuse to suppress her.
With a long sigh, she gazed at the statue of the Bodhisattva, slowly curling her lips into a sickly smile: “Let Shen enjoy her moment for a few days.”
There was still plenty of time ahead, and the future was uncertain.
The princess was no longer alone; she had allies now. Once the opportunity arose, she would find a way to send Shen Wei and all the obstacles in her path to the underworld.
...
Fresh snow had just fallen, and the red silk of the Marquis’s residence contrasted beautifully with the white snow. Guests arrived one after another, creating a lively atmosphere.
Seated at the table for noblewomen, Shen Wei carried herself with grace, leaving no room for criticism. With Prince Yan’s favor and the support of the Empress and Princess Zhaoyang, the other noblewomen dared not show disdain; instead, many approached her with flattering words.
Shen Wei chatted effortlessly with them.
Pregnant and unable to move around much, she remained seated. Guests flocked to the entrance to watch for the arrival of the Princess of Pingyang.
Although Zhao Qing had been granted the title of princess, for some reason, the emperor had yet to bestow her a residence. Thus, Shangguan Xuan rented a large courtyard in Yanjing for Zhao Qing to prepare for her wedding.
“Cai Ping, sister!” a young maid rushed over, her face filled with urgency.
Shen Wei recognized her as one of Zhao Qing’s maids. Without needing a prompt, Cai Ping instinctively pulled the maid aside.
The maid anxiously said, “Sister Cai Ping, you have to help me! The other day, a South Sea pearl fell on the ground, and one of them has a blemish that I can’t remove no matter what.”
Cai Ping comforted her: “Don’t worry, let me take a look.”
Zhao Qing was still waiting to be married in the courtyard outside and hadn’t returned yet.
The maid led Cai Ping back to the Falling Fragrance Courtyard, where she opened the makeup box and took out a pearl: “The bride’s phoenix crown used ten pearls, and there are two left. One of them developed a black stain this morning, and I can’t get it off.”
If Zhao Qing returned and discovered the pearl had suddenly developed a black spot, she would surely scold the maid.
Worried, the maid sought Cai Ping’s help.
Cai Ping pretended to examine the pearl and smiled: “It’s just a little stain; it can be removed with salt. Go fetch me some coarse salt, dear sister.”
The maid, not suspecting anything, hurried off to the kitchen for the salt. Meanwhile, Cai Ping seized the opportunity to slip to the corner, retrieving the hidden parchment and quickly replacing it with a forged one.
As Cai Ping was about to set up the oil to create the illusion of an “accidental fire” in Zhao Qing’s room, a clear voice called from outside: “Cui’er, I heard your sister has South Sea pearls in her makeup box. Bring them out for me to see!”
Cai Ping was startled, quickly hiding the parchment in her bosom and climbing out through the nearby window to watch the unfolding events.
Footsteps approached the door, and the flamboyantly dressed Shangguan Qian entered. The maid who had gone to fetch salt hurried back upon hearing the commotion.
Shangguan Qian walked straight into the room.
Her gaze swept around, landing on the two round South Sea pearls on the dressing table. Shangguan Qian’s eyes lit up; they were indeed treasures, unlike any pearls she had ever seen.
If made into hairpins, they would surely shine brilliantly.
The maid rushed back, trying to dissuade her: “You can’t touch the princess’s things!”
Shangguan Qian retorted, “Zhao Qing is my sister-in-law. If I take two pearls from her, she won’t blame me.”
When Sun Qingmei was at the Marquis’s residence, Shangguan Qian often claimed her jewelry as her own, and Sun Qingmei never complained.
After all, they were family; what were two pearls?
The maid’s eyes turned red with anxiety, but she stubbornly insisted: “The princess instructed me to keep a close watch on the room and not let anyone touch anything inside.”
Ignoring her, Shangguan Qian grabbed the two pearls and started to leave. But she fumbled, and one of the smooth pearls slipped from her fingers, rolling across the floor and toward the wall.
“Ugh, it’s all your fault, you little wretch! You made me drop the pearl!” Shangguan Qian exclaimed, rushing forward to pick up the pearl.
As the pearl rolled to the corner, while Shangguan Qian bent down to retrieve it, her hand accidentally brushed against a brick.
The brick was unstable, and with a thud, it fell to the ground, kicking up a bit of dust that stained the hem of Shangguan Qian’s expensive silk dress.
Thud—
The hidden parchment also fell to the ground.
Shangguan Qian picked up the pearl and glanced at the floor with annoyance: “What a filthy book, it got my dress dirty.”
She bent down to pick up the parchment.
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