A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household

The Princess Consort knelt in the Buddhist hall, reciting scriptures.

Li Yao wanted to enter the small prayer room but was stopped by Granny Liu, the Princess Consort's attendant. Granny Liu spoke impassively, "Young Mistress, the Princess Consort is in prayer—you must not disturb her. If you anger her, you will surely face reprimand."

Li ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‍Yao hesitated, then handed Granny Liu a handkerchief-wrapped bundle containing two peach blossom pastries. "Granny, Mother must be weary from her devotions. Yao’er brought her favorite peach blossom pastries. Could you deliver them to her?"

Granny Liu replied dismissively, "Very well."

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Li Yao lingered, glancing back repeatedly before trudging away with a heavy heart.

The moment her small figure vanished, the door of the Buddhist hall creaked open. The Princess Consort, clad in a gray robe, stepped out slowly. Dark circles shadowed her eyes—the past few days of strife with the old maids sent from the palace had left her exhausted in body and spirit.

The hall was not soundproof, so the Princess Consort had heard Li Yao's words.

Granny Liu extended the handkerchief bundle. "Princess Consort, the Young Mistress brought these for you."

The Princess Consort cast a fleeting glance, her eyes flashing with disdain before she said coldly, "Throw them away."

Granny Liu hesitated, sympathy stirring in her heart. "The Young Mistress thinks of you—it shows her nature is not unkind."

The Princess Consort sneered. "If not for her foolishness in eating that moldy cake, would I be in this predicament? Ten months of pregnancy only to birth such a witless creature."

Had Li Yao not caused the scandal of poisoning herself, the Princess Consort would still be raising her two sons.

Disappointed and unwilling to see her daughter, the Princess Consort preferred to keep her out of sight.

With a resigned sigh, Granny Liu tossed the two pastries into a stone fishpond. The treats splashed into the water, and the fish swarmed to devour them.

"To the study. The monthly Imperial Academy examinations are approaching—I won’t let a few meddling old women hinder my sons' studies." The Princess Consort took a deep breath and strode toward the study.

Her sons were her future pillars.

Inside the Buddhist hall, candle flames flickered before the statue of the Buddha, its face eternally serene. Hidden in a corner, Li Yao crept out, her small head drooping. She leaned over the pond, her tiny hands stirring the water as she tried to salvage the pastries.

But the fish had already nibbled them away, leaving only crumbs floating on the surface.

The eight-year-old girl's nose stung, and tears of hurt rolled down her cheeks.

...

No secret stays hidden forever. The Princess Consort’s covert battles with the palace maids soon reached the ears of the concubines.

Liu Qiao'er paid it no mind.

In her past life, the Princess Consort and the Empress had also been at odds, their relationship fraught. Were it not for the Dantai family’s influence, the Empress would have long arranged for the Princess Consort to "succumb to illness."

In Qixue Pavilion, Liu Ruyan sipped her tea unhurriedly.

A chilly night breeze rustled through, lifting the dark strands at her temples. She gazed at the frost-like moonlight outside her window, a faint sympathy in her eyes. "The Prince cares nothing for his children. He sent away my Nan Zhi, forced the Princess Consort to be separated from hers... In the end, the Prince is heartless."

Xue Mei stood silently in attendance, inwardly disagreeing.

The Prince didn’t care for his children? Impossible.

When Shen Wei of Liuli Pavilion was with child, Prince Yan sent nourishing delicacies and fine garments every few days. Every ten days, the imperial physician would visit to check on her health.

Was that not proof of his concern for the child in her womb?

Now, Liuli Pavilion rivaled even the Princess Consort’s residence in luxury, surpassing the concubines’ quarters. Xue Mei secretly wondered—given Shen Wei’s current favor, might she one day rise to the rank of a secondary consort?

At first, everyone had assumed Shen Wei’s favor would be fleeting. Yet months later, she had weathered every trial, quietly securing Prince Yan’s undivided affection.

"Madam," Xue Mei ventured, "I heard the Princess Consort erred gravely, provoking the Prince’s wrath."

The tale of Li Yao’s punishment—how hunger drove her to eat the spoiled cake—had spread among the servants. Everyone had their own judgment of right and wrong.

In this matter, the Princess Consort was at fault.

But Liu Ruyan lowered her eyes and said softly, "Why dwell on blame? The sun and moon are lofty yet distant; husband and wife, intimate yet estranged. The Princess Consort and I are much the same."

Xue Mei: "..."

In their treatment of their daughters, Liu Ruyan and the Princess Consort were indeed alike.

...

At dawn in Liuli Pavilion, Shen Wei saw Prince Yan off.

"I leave to inspect Yunzhou and should return in five days," the Prince said, clasping her hand, reluctance in his eyes.

Yunzhou lay a hundred *li* away. Shen Wei fretted, "Your Highness... This consort wishes to accompany you."

Touched yet helpless, Prince Yan replied, "You are with child—travel would be unwise. Rest well, and mind your diet. No cold foods."

Shen Wei nodded obediently, watching him depart with longing.

Ever since she had vowed to him, *"In life and death, I will not leave you,"* she had sensed a deeper attachment in Prince Yan. He was more attentive, more affectionate.

Even amidst his busiest duties, he would dispatch guards to deliver tonics and remedies for her pregnancy.

A blessing, yes—but also a trial.

Rubbing her still-aching wrist, Shen Wei sighed. Though intimacy was forbidden in early pregnancy, his nightly presence left her hands and legs sore...

Now, with him gone for five days, she could finally rest.

Returning inside, she instructed Nanny Rong to prepare the Prince’s clothes and medicines for colds. Words of care were not enough—she must show it in action.

Yunzhou was chilly; sending warm garments and remedies was her way of saying *"I love you."*

Nanny Rong set to work efficiently. Meanwhile, Shen Wei stretched lazily, preparing for a slow jog around the courtyard.

Halfway through, Cai Ping hurried over. "Madam, the Zhao Yang Princess’s carriage is at the gate. Sister Yun has come on Her Highness’s orders to fetch you."

Shen Wei raised a brow, surprised. "For what reason?"

Cai Ping replied, "The lotuses at Luoyue Lake are in full bloom. Her Highness invites you to admire them with her."

A royal summons could not be refused. Shen Wei had Cai Ping and Cai Lian pack swiftly before boarding the Princess’s carriage.

The ride was smooth, the carriage well-made. Shen Wei dozed lightly until, half an hour later, they halted by the lakeshore.

With Cai Ping’s support, she alighted carefully. Guided by maids, she boarded an ornate pleasure boat moored at the pier.

Inside, Zhao Yang Princess and Sun Qingming awaited.

"Shen Wei, you’ve arrived!" The Princess, resplendent in a vermilion phoenix-patterned gown and gold hairpins studded with white jade, greeted her warmly.

When Shen Wei moved to bow, the Princess hastily stopped her. "No, no—you carry my brother’s child. No grand gestures. He leaves for Yunzhou today to inspect the granaries, but yesterday he sent word for me to bring you to my lakeside villa for a few days."

Shen Wei froze.

Prince Yan’s arrangement?