A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 196

After finalizing the "White Moonlight" plan, Shen Wei soon "fell ill."

The news quickly reached Prince Yan's ears. During the transition between old and new rulers, there were always countless matters to attend to. At this moment, Prince Yan was still in the Qing State palace, discussing coronation affairs with his trusted ministers.

"Ill?" Prince Yan's heart tightened.

With a mountain of documents piled on his desk, Prince Yan hesitated for a moment but decided to return to his residence to check on her personally. Just as he stood up, a palace attendant announced that the Empress had arrived.

Prince Yan temporarily dismissed his confidants.

The winter grew colder, and the Empress was dressed simply. As she entered the hall, she raised her hand, and the attending eunuchs and maids silently withdrew.

"Mother." Prince Yan stepped forward to support her arm and helped her sit. "The winter chill is harsh, and your health has always been frail. You should rest in your palace."

The Empress replied, "The winters in Yanjing are bitter, and the springs are windy. I plan to leave for the Donghua Mountain retreat in a few days to recuperate for two or three years."

Prince Yan was stunned.

The Empress smiled faintly and took a sip of warm tea to soothe her throat. "I know that once you ascend the throne, your new policies will face opposition from many old ministers. By leaving the palace temporarily, those ministers will have no one to complain to and will have to swallow their grievances."

The Empress's departure served two purposes: to live in peace and to spare Prince Yan political complications.

During the transition of power, Prince Yan's newly appointed ministers would inevitably encroach on the influence of the old guard. The Empress came from the prestigious Xie Family, a representative of the old faction, who would surely seek her intervention.

But how could her maternal family compare to her own son? The Empress chose to leave the palace and stay out of court affairs.

"Mother, you've suffered for my sake." Prince Yan was deeply moved by her consideration.

The Empress set down her teacup. "Going to Donghua Mountain alone would be too dull, so I intend to take Shen Wei and your three children with me."

Prince Yan had not expected this. Instinctively, he refused, "Mother, no!"

In his plans, he intended to bring his wives and concubines into the palace after his coronation. He wanted to confer the title of Consort upon Shen Wei and keep her by his side at all times, just as she had been in his residence.

He could no longer bear to be apart from her.

The Empress sighed and advised, "Today, the imperial physician reported that Shen Wei has been suffering from heart palpitations, night sweats, and abdominal pain that keeps her awake. A woman risks her life in childbirth—she bore you three children, and just two months after delivering twins, she nearly died from an assassin's arrow. Her body has been worn down by hardship. Donghua Mountain has a mild climate year-round, perfect for her recovery."

Prince Yan fell silent.

He didn’t want to be separated from Shen Wei. "Mother, don’t worry. I will take good care of her."

The Empress shook her head. "You’ll be swamped with court affairs—how can you tend to her properly? Eighty years ago, Emperor Mingzu doted solely on Consort Zhen. She conceived seven times in ten years and died before turning thirty. Do you want Shen Wei to meet the same fate?"

Prince ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍Yan opened his mouth but said nothing. He thought of Shen Wei’s chronic back pain. Once vibrant and healthy, she had been left with lingering pain after giving birth to the twins, often tossing and turning sleeplessly at night.

The toll of childbirth was irreversible.

The Empress continued earnestly, "Once you become emperor, you’ll have to take new consorts to stabilize the court. If you favor Shen Wei exclusively, won’t that make her a target? How will the old and new factions react? What will the common people think?"

"If you wish to cherish her, wait until the court is stable. When your power is absolute, who would dare defy you?"

Prince Yan lowered his cold gaze. His mother spoke wisely.

He had not yet secured his throne, yet he already wanted to monopolize Shen Wei—this would only push her into danger. But the thought of parting with her felt like a knife twisting in his heart.

He couldn’t bear it. He didn’t want to let go.

Yet in the end, Prince Yan nodded silently and agreed to the Empress’s proposal.

...

...

That night, snow fell over Yanjing, and by dawn, the entire residence was blanketed in white. Several carriages waited at the back gate as maids loaded packed belongings.

Shen Wei, who feared the cold, wrapped herself in a thick fox-fur cloak—a gift from Prince Yan. The snow-white fur was lined with crimson silk, keeping her warm.

"Must you go?" Li Yao clutched Shen Wei’s cloak, her face streaked with tears. "I’ll beg Father not to let you leave."

Of everyone, Li Yao was the most reluctant to see her go.

Shen Wei gently wiped the girl’s cheeks and smiled. "Don’t cry. I’ll return once I’m well. When you become a princess in the palace, no one will dare bully you."

Li Yao lowered her head, her nose stinging. "I don’t want to be a princess... I want to go with you."

The palace walls were too high, too far from the lively markets of Yanjing. She wouldn’t hear the street vendors or see the spring scenery beyond the city. To her, the palace was vast and cold—a place she disliked.

"My health is poor, and I need to recuperate," Shen Wei reassured her. "I’ll write to you every month."

Sniffling, Li Yao nodded reluctantly. She had seen how frail Shen Wei had become—how she shivered in winter, how much thinner she was, how she drank medicine daily.

Shen Wei knelt and embraced her, patting her back gently. "Take care of yourself. Wear more in the cold, don’t overuse ice in the heat. If anyone mistreats you, don’t endure it—tell your father or Aunt Zhaoyang at once."

After repeating her advice, Shen Wei finally left with her maids.

Li Yao stood in the snow, watching her figure fade into the distance. The cold bit deep, and she could no longer hold back—bursting into loud sobs.

...

The residence’s carriages reached the royal road at the eastern gate, merging with the Empress’s procession. The morning was frigid, the snowfall heavy, and the gate stood deserted.

As the carriages prepared to depart, the distant sound of galloping hooves broke the silence. A figure in a black cloak—Prince Yan—rode through the snow on horseback.

He dismounted, his dark robes fluttering in the wind.

Shen Wei lifted the carriage curtain and, ignoring her maids’ protests, rushed toward him. "Your Highness!"

The snow was deep, but her smile was radiant as she ran to him. To Prince Yan, the world seemed to blur into whiteness—only she stood out, a vivid stroke of red against the snow.

He opened his arms, and crimson met black.

Shen Wei threw herself into his embrace, her voice soft. "Your Highness."

Snowflakes began to fall again.

Holding her close, Prince Yan murmured hoarsely, "Shen Wei, come back soon."

Her eyes reddened, her voice trembling. "While I’m away, take care of yourself. Wear more in the cold, don’t overuse ice in the heat."

Prince Yan replied, "I know."

Tears spilled down her cheeks. "When you become emperor, the world will care only how high you stand... but I—I only care if you’re weary. The higher you rise, the fiercer the storms you’ll face... and it breaks my heart."

Prince Yan’s chest ached.

Others would ask if he soared high enough. Only his Shen Wei would ask if he was tired.

His dark eyes burned with unrestrained love as he gazed at her.

"Father! Father!"

Not far away, the sweet, childish voice of Little Leyou suddenly called out.

Perhaps catching the scent of Prince Yan, Little Leyou, who had been sitting in the Empress's carriage, grew excited. Her chubby little hands pushed aside the carriage curtain as she eagerly peeked out, her dark, sparkling eyes darting around until they landed on Prince Yan standing in the heavy snowfall.

She called out sweetly, "Father! Father~~"

The voice of a one-year-old child was soft and tender.

Prince Yan's heart ached with reluctance.

But to protect Shen Wei and their young child, he had no choice but to let them go for now. Once the court stabilized, he would bring Shen Wei back. freeweɓnovel.cøm

"Weiwei, wait for me to bring you back to the palace," Prince Yan murmured, embracing Shen Wei once more before helping her into the carriage.

Amid the swirling snow, the procession of carriages gradually disappeared down the vast, white-covered road.

Inside the carriage, Shen Wei accepted the gilded bronze hand warmer passed to her by Cai Lian, warming her fingers before quickly taking a sip of ginger soup to ward off the cold.

Putting on an act of reluctant parting in such freezing weather was no easy feat. It was bitterly cold outside—her face stung from the frost.

Cai Lian lowered her voice and reported, "My lady, we’ve confirmed the details. After His Highness ascends the throne, both new and old courtiers will send their daughters into the palace. The most notable among them are the Xie Family and the Lu Family."

"The Xie Family is the Empress's maternal clan. They have an eighteen-year-old daughter, Xie Fanglan, a cousin of His Highness, who will undoubtedly enter the palace. As for the Lu Family, the granddaughter of the Duke of Lu, Lu Xuan, is renowned for her beauty. It’s said she could recognize characters at three, read poetry at four, and by five, she was already well-versed in ancient texts—a celebrated prodigy. These two are the most likely to win favor."

Shen Wei set down the ginger soup, lost in thought. "The Xie Family’s daughter, the Lu Family’s daughter..."

They might be formidable rivals, but for now, Shen Wei wouldn’t cross paths with them.

Mention of the Xie Family reminded Shen Wei of the Empress, and she asked, "The Empress is from the Xie Family. Why hasn’t she supported them?"