Chapter 188
**Chapter 186: The Duke of Zhen Nan's Residence**
She had walked through the gates of hell, and yet the first thing she said upon waking was, “I’m hungry.” The Yan Wang gently brushed a strand of hair from Shen Wei's forehead, his eyes filled with an unmistakable tenderness. “First, take your medicine, then you can eat.”
“Your Highness, the medicine should be taken while it’s warm,” Cai Ping said, bringing over a bowl of freshly brewed herbal soup.
The Yan Wang personally fed Shen Wei, spoonful by spoonful. The medicine was bitter, and Shen Wei scrunched her brows in distaste. After a few sips, she found it unbearable and considered lying back down to feign sleep.
“Be good and finish your medicine,” the Yan Wang said firmly, not indulging her. He made sure she drank the rest of the bowl, which was still more than half full.
The bitterness made Shen Wei feel nauseous.
After spending some time with her, the Yan Wang finally left to attend to state affairs when someone from the East Palace came to summon him.
Once the medicine was finished, Shen Wei felt dizzy and lay in bed for half the day. It wasn’t until dusk that she fully regained her senses. She called for her wet nurse to bring over the two children.
The twins, having just been fed, were sleeping soundly in their swaddles. Shen Wei leaned in to take a look; indeed, newborns were not particularly attractive...
Two boys, one chubby and the other thin.
Looking at the thinner child, Shen Wei expressed her concern, “This one is too skinny. What did the physician say after examining him?”
Cai Ping reassured her, “Don’t worry, Your Highness. It’s normal for twins to have one fat and one thin. The physician said they’ll both be fine after a few months.”
Only then did Shen Wei feel at ease.
The wet nurse took the children back to care for them. Shen Wei drank another bowl of herbal soup. Her body still ached, but it was a bit more bearable than the pain of childbirth.
Giving birth to two children was truly excruciating; at the time, Shen Wei felt like she could have smashed her head against a wall.
The 麻沸散 (ma fei san, a traditional anesthetic) she had prepared was not very effective, and she could hear the sound of flesh tearing. Shen Wei closed her eyes and let out a long sigh of relief; thankfully, she had made it through.
After hardship comes ease; surely good days were ahead!
As Shen Wei rested in bed, she listened to Cai Ping recount all the news from the past two days. The Yan Wang had returned from the Empress's birthday banquet and had almost always stayed by her side, even bringing his official documents into the room to handle.
The Empress had personally visited the Yan Wang’s residence yesterday, but Shen Wei had been unconscious and unaware. The Empress brought a mountain of gifts and was particularly fond of her two newborn grandsons, spending the entire afternoon in the nursery next door before leaving.
With the Empress placing such importance on Shen Wei’s children, the ladies of the court quickly expressed their congratulations, sending a flood of gifts to the Yan Wang’s residence.
After pondering for a moment, Shen Wei asked Cai Ping, “Has the Duke of Zhen Nan sent any gifts?”
Cai Ping shook her head dismissively. “The Duke of Zhen Nan is notoriously stingy. That Ping Yang County Princess is as tight-fisted as they come; don’t expect anything from her.”
Shen Wei chuckled softly; the Duke of Zhen Nan’s residence was becoming more and more lively.
...
At the Duke of Zhen Nan’s residence.
In the afternoon sun, Zhao Qing lounged in a beautiful silk dress, lazily resting in a rattan chair. On the small huanghuali wood table beside her were two plates of exquisite pastries, freshly bought from Wei Yan Ji, the cloud cake deliciously sweet.
The Emperor had gifted Zhao Qing four personal maids. In the courtyard, two maids were tidying up the beds inside, while the other two were trimming the flowers in the garden.
Zhao Qing basked in the rare good sunlight.
However, her enjoyment was short-lived as she heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from outside. Shangguan Xuan, dressed in a red official robe, strode into the courtyard.
Seeing him, Zhao Qing couldn’t be bothered to lift her eyelids, nor did she bother to greet him.
Shangguan Xuan was seething with anger and questioned her, “A Qing, the Yan Wang’s concubine has given birth to twins. You should send a small gift.”
The Duke of Zhen Nan’s residence and the Yan Wang’s residence rarely interacted, often standing on opposing sides. Yet, the customary courtesies still needed to be observed; otherwise, they would be the subject of gossip.
Zhao Qing lifted her eyelids and retorted, “The treasury is empty; what should I send? The old lady has plenty of gold and silver trinkets; would she be willing to part with one or two as a gift?”
Shangguan Xuan was momentarily speechless, raising his voice, “You are the mistress! How can you expect the old lady to bear the burden?”
Zhao Qing shot him a glare, cursing, “Go take a look on the streets of Yan Jing. Is there another mistress as pathetic as I am? If I had known your Duke’s residence was just a hollow shell, I wouldn’t have married you last year!”
At the time, the Duke of Zhen Nan’s residence had clung to Sun Qingmei like a leech, barely maintaining a facade of prosperity in Yan Jing. After Sun Qingmei divorced Shangguan Xuan, she took her substantial dowry with her, leaving the Duke’s residence a mere shell.
Zhao Qing had thought she would live a life of luxury after marrying into the Duke’s residence. But when she opened the treasury, it was empty, with hardly any money left. The Duke’s residence was broke, yet the old lady and the second and third branches were used to a life of luxury, demanding the best in everything.
A clever woman can’t cook without rice; Zhao Qing soon realized she had been deceived. Unlike Sun Qingmei, who was patient and enduring, Zhao Qing directly dismissed most of the servants in the Duke’s residence, choosing to live her own life without caring about the old lady or the second and third branches.
With the gold and silks gifted by the Emperor, along with her monthly stipend as a county princess, Zhao Qing lived a life of indulgence, free from worries about food and drink.
As for the old lady and the others, their lives became increasingly difficult, with their food and clothing growing poorer. The elders tried to assert their authority, demanding that Zhao Qing use her hidden gold to support the household, only to be met with a torrent of abuse.
She wouldn’t give a single coin to outsiders.
Shangguan Xuan’s face turned red with anger, and he said disdainfully, “Not only are you shirking your responsibilities as the mistress, but you also flaunt your wealth while my mother and sister eat plain meals. That’s unfilial!”
Zhao Qing, born in the countryside, had a naturally fiery temper. Initially, she had pretended to be gentle and obedient to climb the social ladder. But after years of scheming, only to end up as the empty mistress of a hollow noble house, how could she not be furious?
She was done pretending.
Zhao Qing spat, “Filial piety, my foot! Your mother, your sister, and all your uncles and aunts are no good people. I’m not Sun Qingmei; I won’t endure humiliation and be drained dry.”
Shangguan Xuan’s face flushed, disappointment evident in his voice. “You... you’re so selfish.”
Zhao Qing rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’m selfish. If you can’t stand me, let’s just get a divorce. What do you think you are, Shangguan Xuan? You’re hypocritical and cold, selfish to the core. The most selfish and heartless person in the Duke of Zhen Nan’s residence is you.”
Shangguan Xuan was left speechless, a lump in his throat, unable to utter a word.
It dawned on him that Zhao Qing was not a suitable match at all. She was selfish and hypocritical, greedy for wealth, embodying the avarice and arrogance of a country girl. At that moment, Shangguan Xuan recalled the merits of Sun Qingmei, a well-trained lady from a prominent family who could have upheld the dignity of the Duke’s residence.
But Shangguan Xuan found himself unable to divorce Zhao Qing.
After their wedding last year, he had stayed in Yan Jing for two months before requesting to go to Liangzhou to fend off external threats. However, the Emperor had refused, instead assigning him to train the Imperial Guards.
Training the Imperial Guards was almost a sinecure, indicating that the Emperor had no intention of sending Shangguan Xuan to Liangzhou, quietly suppressing the Duke’s residence.
Taking a deep breath, Shangguan Xuan forced a smile. “A Qing, let’s put the gift aside for now. His Highness, the Heng Wang, has asked you to design a powerful weapon. Please draw up the blueprints in the next couple of days.”
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