Chapter 193
**Chapter 191: Shen Wei's Escape**
The Liu brothers were left dumbfounded.
What prince?
In the kitchen, Shen Wei silently set down the half-kneaded dough. Five days of idyllic rural life had finally come to a close.
She thanked Granny Liu for her hospitality and left the Liu family courtyard. Outside, a dark mass of Tiger Guards stood, clad in iron armor, their imposing presence under the bright sun as fearsome as the demons of hell.
What a formidable sight.
Without a carriage, Shen Wei had no choice but to mount the horse of Prince Yan. In the courtyard, Prince Yan told the still-dazed Liu brothers, “Come back to Yanjing in three months to serve as city guards. There will be no bribery involved.”
The Liu brothers remained in a daze.
Prince Yan instructed the Tiger Guards to leave behind some silver, then mounted his horse.
The five days spent recuperating in Liu Village had left a deep imprint on Prince Yan’s heart. Yet he knew it was not the time to indulge in comfort; the weight of his responsibilities for the country still rested heavily on his shoulders.
“Giddy up—”
Gripping the reins, Prince Yan held Shen Wei close as they galloped away, dust swirling around them as the troop quickly vanished from sight.
In the courtyard, Liu Erniu stammered, “Brother, Mother, was that really His Highness the Prince?”
Granny Liu, still holding the un-kneaded dough, smiled, “The dough isn’t even ready yet. If I had known, I would have hurried and made him a bowl of noodles before he left.”
...
Shen Wei wasn’t particularly fond of riding; the jolting motion was uncomfortable. She looked down at her palms, still dusted with flour.
She felt a twinge of regret—this was her first time kneading dough, and she wished she could have at least had a bowl of noodles before leaving.
The wind howled, and Prince Yan noticed her small gesture. He leaned in and whispered, “Not ready to leave?”
In truth, Shen Wei was quite ready to go.
Though rural life had its charms, the bed was too hard, the nights were plagued by mosquitoes, and the food was simple. She preferred the comforts of a wealthier life.
But on the surface, she maintained a reluctant tone, nodding gloomily, “I’m a bit reluctant. But Your Highness, you’re not an ordinary commoner; the people of the world need you. These five days have been the happiest of my life, and I will always cherish them.”
Prince Yan’s heart stirred.
Having faced life and death together, those five days of recuperation were, in his heart, the most beautiful moments as well.
He pulled Shen Wei closer, urging his horse onward, the towering gates of Yanjing coming into view in the distance.
...
Upon returning to Yanjing, Prince Yan did not take Shen Wei back to the royal palace but instead settled her in a secluded courtyard outside the city.
Shen Wei understood his reasoning.
There might still be assassins lurking in the palace; returning now could be dangerous. After a bumpy ride, she felt unwell and a bit dizzy.
Prince Yan took her hand, “Wei Wei, stay here for a while. Once the situation stabilizes, I will come to fetch you.”
Shen Wei nodded, still a bit dazed, not fully grasping the deeper meaning of “once the situation stabilizes.” She quickly put on a concerned expression, “Your Highness, please be careful. I’ll wait for you to come home.”
Prince Yan hugged her tightly once more before leaving with the Tiger Guards. Shen Wei, feeling exhausted, stumbled into the bed in the courtyard and fell into a deep sleep.
Shen Wei was particularly happy.
This misfortune had turned into a blessing; she and Prince Yan had forged a bond through shared trials. From now on, she had firmly rooted herself in his heart, becoming the most important woman in his life.
Rolling over in bed, Shen Wei blissfully thought that in a few years, she could retire as the royal matriarch, enjoying a peaceful and beautiful life! After retirement, she would travel the mountains and rivers, exploring the world freely.
She slept soundly.
When dawn broke, Shen Wei stretched and got out of bed. In a good mood, everything around her felt pleasant. The morning sun was gentle, the roses blooming beautifully along the courtyard walls, and the breeze was refreshing.
This courtyard was secluded, with few servants—only an elderly, limping woman was in the kitchen cooking. Shen Wei found it odd that Prince Yan hadn’t sent Cai Lian and Cai Ping over.
“Your Grace, please don’t wander around,” the limping woman approached to pay her respects, speaking earnestly, “The Heng Prince has rebelled, and the city is in chaos. It’s very safe here.”
Shen Wei froze mid-stretch, thinking she must have misheard, “Who has rebelled?”
The limping woman sighed, “The Heng Prince and Concubine Qian poisoned His Majesty and assassinated the Crown Prince. The prince is currently leading troops to quell the rebellion; Yanjing is in turmoil. You needn’t worry, Your Highness; Prince Yan will surely restore order.”
Shen Wei’s head buzzed.
Each word from the limping woman struck her like thunder, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.
“Please rest; the rice porridge will be ready soon,” the woman advised before returning to the kitchen.
Shen Wei stood dazed in the courtyard; the sunlight no longer felt warm, the roses no longer smelled sweet, and the breeze was no longer comfortable. After the assassination attempt at the hot spring resort, she had thought it was just an ordinary attack, as Prince Yan faced assassination attempts from time to time.
But now, reflecting on it, the assassin was most likely sent by the Heng Prince.
With the Crown Prince dead and the Emperor gone, only Prince Yan and the Heng Prince remained in the grand scheme of things. The outcome could only lead to two possibilities—Prince Yan ascending the throne, with Shen Wei becoming a palace consort; or the Heng Prince taking the throne, with Shen Wei becoming a casualty.
“Are you sure Prince Yan can win?” Shen Wei rushed into the kitchen.
The limping woman smiled, thinking Shen Wei was worried about Prince Yan, and gently reassured her, “Don’t worry, Your Grace. The prince has long been planning this; his disappearance for five days was part of his strategy. Only with his absence would the Heng Prince reveal his true colors...”
Shen Wei could no longer absorb the rest of the words; her mind was a tangled mess.
Since her arrival in this world, Shen Wei had envisioned a life plan—to become a retired matriarch. Everything had been proceeding according to her plan, but she never expected that Prince Yan might become emperor!
Why would he want to be emperor?
The unexpected turn of events was too swift; the royal palace was about to transform into an imperial court, and her private life was about to become a complex affair.
Sitting on the stone steps of the courtyard, Shen Wei realized her carefully crafted life plan might be on the verge of collapse.
If she had known from the start that Prince Yan would become emperor, she would never have revealed her talents so early. With the new emperor on the throne, beautiful women would flood into the palace; they would have backgrounds and connections, unlike the likes of Liu Ruyan and Zhang Miaoyu, who were mere fish out of water. They would do everything to vie for favor.
As a favored consort with children, Shen Wei would become their target.
Shen Wei thought seriously.
If she were to fake her death and escape to the southern mountains to find Shen Qiang, hiding for a while to avoid the storm, would that be better?
If she didn’t run now, there would be no turning back. The royal palace and the imperial court were two entirely different battlegrounds.
The courtyard gate stood wide open, the bright sunlight glaring. The limping woman was busy, and Prince Yan was still quelling the chaos in Yanjing. During this time of power transition, everyone was bustling about; if Shen Wei were to run now, it wouldn’t attract much attention. Even if Prince Yan realized she was missing, he wouldn’t have the time to send someone to look for her—after all, the country was more important than Shen Wei.
Sitting on the stone steps, with the courtyard gate wide open, the vast world outside seemed to beckon her, silently enticing her to abandon everything and run toward freedom.
Shen Wei quickly devised a plan in her mind. She could fake her death, first escape to the southern mountains to find Shen Qiang, and lay low for a while. After changing her appearance, she could transfer her assets in Yanjing and leave with a fortune.
Shen Wei closed her eyes; she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life trapped in the imperial palace. No one was more important than herself.
Shen Wei had never been one to hesitate. She sat on the stone steps for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before making up her mind to escape. From then on, there would be no more Consort Shen, only the businesswoman Shen Wei.
In the kitchen, the limping woman was still cooking porridge. Shen Wei suddenly stood up and strode toward the world outside the courtyard. She saw the Moonlit Lake beyond the courtyard and the rolling green mountains in the distance.
As she reached the courtyard gate, her skirt was suddenly caught by a thorn from a rose bush. Annoyed, she grabbed the hem of her skirt and tugged hard, but it wouldn’t budge. The roses were blooming beautifully, their petals plump and vibrant, but Shen Wei had no heart to admire them.
After a moment of struggle, Shen Wei bent down and forcefully tore the part of her skirt caught by the thorns.
With the light-colored hem torn away, she broke free and dashed out of the courtyard, the refreshing wind blowing against her face, lifting her dark hair. A new journey seemed just within reach—
“Wei Wei!”
A hurried voice called out.
Shen Wei felt a hand grasp her arm. Turning around, she saw Prince Yan’s anxious face.
Shen Wei knew she had no way out now.
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