Chapter 189
**Chapter 187: Assassination**
The Hou residence in the south had already fallen under the command of Prince Heng, who valued Zhao Qing's exceptional weapon-making skills. Recently, Prince Heng had been urging Zhao Qing to develop a large-scale destructive weapon.
Feigning calm, Zhao Qing picked up a piece of pastry from the table. "I'm not in the mood to draw plans," she said.
Without the "Taihua Notes," Zhao Qing couldn't come up with any ideas for weapon production. A vague premonition gnawed at her: her good days were likely coming to an end.
Unable to salvage her situation, she resigned herself to indulgence, making the most of her remaining days. One more day alive was still a day.
"Ah Qing, please help me," Su Guanxuan said softly, trying to coax her. "If Prince Heng succeeds, our Hou residence will surely regain its glory."
Zhao Qing swallowed her pastry, completely uninterested in helping Su Guanxuan. "Do you think inspiration grows on trees? I'm just not in the mood to design weapon blueprints."
Su Guanxuan clenched his fists, disappointment washing over him as he gazed at the woman before him. He felt utterly disheartened. How could he have been so blind to marry such a difficult woman?
With nothing more to say, he stormed off in anger.
Zhao Qing didn’t even lift her eyes, continuing to leisurely enjoy her snack. After a while, Su Guanqian burst in, fuming.
Upon seeing Zhao Qing in her expensive silk dress, adorned with a beautiful white jade hairpin, Su Guanqian's eyes turned red with jealousy.
"Sister-in-law, I'm going to the Prince Heng's residence tomorrow to enjoy the flowers. Can you give me some silver? I want to buy some new makeup from Qixiangzhai," she said sulkily.
Zhao Qing replied flatly, "No."
Su Guanqian stomped her foot in frustration. "The Emperor rewarded you with so much gold; what's the harm in giving me a little? You're being so selfish! Do you believe I could convince my brother to divorce you?"
Zhao Qing rolled her eyes. "I’d be more than happy to divorce Su Guanxuan. Do you think you're a princess or a queen? Why should I just hand you money? What do I get in return? Only beggars ask others for money."
Su Guanqian's face flushed, as if she had been slapped hard. "You, you..."
Her dislike for Zhao Qing deepened. If only Sun Qingmei were still in the Hou residence, she would never speak to her so harshly.
Zhao Qing found Su Guanxuan infuriating and snapped, "Useless waste. If you weren't born into the Hou family, you'd have been sold off long ago."
With tears brimming in her eyes, Su Guanqian left in shame and anger.
After being disturbed during her afternoon rest, Zhao Qing's good mood evaporated. She increasingly wanted to escape this den of wolves. After some thought, she instructed her four maidservants, "Pack up; I'm going to the countryside for a couple of days. Bring all my silver to avoid being robbed by those ungrateful wolves."
The foxes in the Hou residence were all eyeing Zhao Qing's purse.
The bags were quickly packed, and the carriage left the Hou residence through the back door.
Inside the carriage, Zhao Qing counted the little gold she had left. As they turned a corner, the horse suddenly let out a sharp neigh.
"Madam, Prince Heng requests your presence," came the cold voice of a guard from outside.
Zhao Qing's hand, clutching the gold, froze. After a moment, she managed a bitter smile, a mix of resignation and acceptance.
Wealth gained through deceit must eventually be repaid. All the gifts fate bestows come with hidden costs.
...
...
At the Yan Wang residence, in the Kunyu Courtyard.
The princess had been in a terrible mood these past few days. She never expected that Shen Wei would be so fortunate, giving birth to a daughter first, and then two sons in her second pregnancy!
Crash—
A vase in front of the altar shattered on the floor, the broken porcelain cutting the princess's hand. The maidservants entered with their heads bowed, skillfully sweeping up the shards.
"Two sons... two sons," the princess slumped to the ground, her disappointment palpable as she gazed at the white jade statue of the Buddha, tears streaming down her face.
In less than three years since Shen Wei entered the Wang residence, she had captured the Yan Wang's favor and safely delivered one daughter and two sons. With three children by her side, Shen Wei's position in the Wang residence was unassailable.
In fact, if the Yan Wang ever had a change of heart, he could elevate Shen Wei to the status of the primary wife. Shen Wei's sons would eventually grow up to replace the princess's own son as heirs to the Yan Wang residence.
"Princess, please don't be sad," Liu Mama said as she entered, her eyes filled with both pity and helplessness.
Liu Mama helped the princess to her feet and offered her a cup of warm tea, soothingly saying, "You are the legitimate daughter of the Dantai family; no one can shake your position. Old Madam Dantai even sent a message for me to convey to you."
The princess looked up. "What message?"
Liu Mama replied, "【Be patient and wait】."
The princess smiled, tears of disappointment still glistening in her eyes. "Wait? My mother truly cares for me. I've been oppressed by that Shen woman, unable to lift my head for a whole year! And she wants me to wait? Wait for what? For my corpse to be carried out of the Wang residence? For that wretched Shen Wei's sons to inherit the throne?"
Liu Mama patiently said, "Old Madam has a broader perspective; her words surely come with her own considerations."
The princess shook her head in disappointment.
She could no longer afford to wait. The longer she waited, the more Shen Wei's two sons would grow.
Relying on her family was useless; she had to find a way to resolve her predicament herself.
...
...
Since giving birth to two sons, Shen Wei had been feeling unwell.
In the days following her delivery, she experienced back pain, abdominal pain, and cold sweats in the heat, often waking up in the middle of the night to vomit inexplicably. The pain was unbearable, and her wounds felt like they were on fire, making her feel as if her spirit was about to leave her body.
Even after taking plenty of pain-relieving and restorative medicine, the effects were minimal.
After suffering for five or six days, her symptoms finally began to ease. Shen Wei tried to lean on her maidservants for support and attempted to get out of bed and walk. But she couldn't walk for long before the pain returned.
After enduring this agony for over half a month, Shen Wei's spirit finally began to stabilize. During her confinement, her two children grew lively and healthy, with the Empress sending physicians daily to check on them, and experienced wet nurses taking excellent care of the babies.
Two months after giving birth.
That night, the weather was unusually sultry. Since giving birth, Shen Wei's sleep quality had plummeted, and she lay awake for hours, staring at the plain bed curtains.
Her tossing and turning disturbed the Yan Wang, who was awakened by her restlessness.
He had witnessed Shen Wei's pain over the past two months and felt a pang of sympathy. Gently, he took her hand and said, "The physician said that after childbirth, women should soak in hot springs to warm the womb and promote blood circulation. Tomorrow, on your day off, I will take you to the hot spring resort in the countryside for a couple of days."
Shen Wei thought for a moment and nodded eagerly.
She hadn't been outside for two months, spending her days in the Liuli Pavilion recuperating and caring for the children. Now that her wounds had healed sufficiently, it was indeed time to go out, enjoy the hot springs, and breathe in the fresh air of the outside world.
By dawn, the Yan Wang seemed to have prepared in advance, having arranged for the carriage early. Cai Lian and Cai Ping packed their bags neatly and placed them in the carriage.
Not wanting to leave her children behind in the Wang residence, Shen Wei called for Rong Mama and several wet nurses. "Take the children to the palace and ask the Empress to look after them."
Currently, the person Shen Wei trusted most was the Empress.
When she had given birth, assassins had invaded the Wang residence. Although the attackers had been captured, Shen Wei still felt uneasy. Sending the children to the palace was the safest option.
Rong Mama nodded. "Rest assured, my lady. I will personally accompany them to the palace. You should focus on your recovery and regain your strength."
The servants in the Liuli Pavilion were efficient, and with the guards escorting the carriage, Shen Wei's three children were safely delivered to the palace. Only when news arrived that the children had been safely delivered did Shen Wei feel at ease to board the carriage and head to the hot spring resort in the countryside.
...
During her confinement, she had felt stifled and uncomfortable. Today, she could finally go out, and her spirits lifted as she listened to the lively sounds of vendors calling out from the streets outside the carriage, filling her with a sense of freedom.
So far, her life was unfolding according to plan.
Next, Shen Wei intended to raise her three children well, ensuring they grew up safely and smoothly inherited the Yan Wang's legacy.
In no more than twenty years, she would be able to enjoy a leisurely retirement, living freely as a royal concubine. Every working-class dream is to retire!
"Tanghulu~"
"Tanghulu, candied hawthorn~"
The sound of a vendor calling out from outside the carriage caught Shen Wei's attention. She lifted the curtain and had the guard buy two skewers of tanghulu. Handing one skewer to the Yan Wang, she smiled brightly. "Your Highness, try this; it's so sweet."
Shen Wei had recovered well after giving birth; her face had slimmed down, and her skin remained fair. Today, she wore a simple, thin outfit, with only a white jade hairpin in her hair, looking refreshingly elegant.
The Yan Wang smiled, a hint of indulgence in his eyes. "You're a mother now, yet you still eat like a child."
Shen Wei tilted her head, nonchalantly replying, "There are no outsiders here; I don't mind indulging."
Her words were filled with trust in the Yan Wang.
The warmth in the Yan Wang's gaze deepened.
He focused on Shen Wei, captivated by her every smile and movement, as if his heart were being brushed by soft feathers. When he first met Shen Wei in the Fangfei Garden, he never imagined that such a delicate woman would take root so deeply in his heart.
During the two months of Shen Wei's confinement, the court of Da Qing was rife with undercurrents. The Crown Prince and the Emperor were gravely ill, unable to rise, and would not last long.
A storm was brewing, and Yan Jing was about to face a bloodbath. The Yan Wang was most concerned about Shen Wei, and under the pretext of going to the hot springs, he sent her to the countryside for protection.
Once the crisis passed, he would bring Shen Wei back.
The carriage sped along, quickly leaving Yan Jing city and traveling along the spacious official road.
Halfway through their journey, the outline of the hot spring resort's mountain peaks came into view. Inside the carriage, the Yan Wang calmly told Shen Wei, "Wei Wei, I'm taking you to the hot spring resort today. You can rest there for a while, and after some time, I'll send someone—"
Before he could finish, the sound of arrows slicing through the air suddenly pierced the silence outside.
Thud, thud, thud—
Dark arrows struck, embedding themselves deep into the walls of the carriage. Shen Wei jumped in shock, her half-eaten tanghulu falling to the ground with a thud.
Assassins?
Before Shen Wei could react, the Yan Wang leaned closer and whispered, "Stay in the carriage and don’t run around."
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