A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 136

The early spring sunlight was clear and bright, casting a warm glow over the courtyard. Zhao Yang and Lady Sun stepped into the Glazed Pavilion.

"Stay lying down—don’t get up," Zhao Yang said as she rushed forward, pressing Shen Wei back onto the daybed when she noticed her attempting to rise.

Shen Wei was still in her postpartum confinement period, spending most of her days resting. However, she disliked lying in bed all day, so she had Cai Lian and Cai Ping bring over a chaise lounge, covering it with thick blankets and cushions. Shen Wei reclined against it, reviewing account books and writing.

An exquisitely crafted cradle sat nearby, and Shen Wei occasionally rose to glance at her child.

Cai Ping and Cai Lian brought chairs for the guests.

Zhao Yang and Sun Qingmei took their seats, both brimming with curiosity about Shen Wei’s baby. They leaned over the cradle, gazing at the peacefully sleeping infant.

Zhao Yang gently poked the baby’s soft, fair cheek and exclaimed in delight, "So soft! Her skin is so pale, and her lashes are dark and long."

Sun Qingmei asked Shen Wei softly, "Lady Shen, may I hold her?"

Shen ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‍Wei nodded warmly.

Cai Ping stepped forward, carefully lifting the sleeping child and placing her into Sun Qingmei’s arms. In a hushed voice, she instructed, "Support her head in the crook of your arm, and cradle her back gently with your hand."

Sun Qingmei held the baby, studying her delicate little face, her heart melting with tenderness.

She longed for a child of her own.

Zhao Yang, noticing Sun Qingmei’s thoughts, teased, "Don’t be impatient. Once the Young Marquis of South Garrison returns from the border, you’ll have a child as beautiful as Duo Duo. Yesterday, when I went to the palace to pay respects to Father, he mentioned that the border conflicts have lessened and things are stabilizing. Perhaps the Young Marquis will return soon."

Sun Qingmei’s eyes brightened. "Princess, is this true?"

Zhao Yang nodded. "Last year, General Shen captured three cities along the Yue Kingdom’s border, dealing a heavy blow to their forces. With General Shen guarding the stronghold, the Young Marquis will have time to return to Yanjing for a visit."

A joyful smile spread across Sun Qingmei’s face.

Her husband had departed for war on their wedding night, and she had spent every day since in anxious prayer for his safety. After enduring countless battles, he remained unharmed—and now he might even return home. It was truly wonderful news.

The two women took turns holding the baby until the wet nurse entered the room and respectfully carried the child away to be fed.

Zhao Yang turned to Shen Wei. "Childbirth takes a heavy toll on a woman’s body. I’ve brought you some medicinal herbs to replenish your blood and qi. Brew them daily—either as a decoction or infused in water—to gradually restore your health."

Shen Wei’s gaze drifted outside, where Zhao Yang’s personal maid, Yun'er, was directing a few young eunuchs as they carried in two large chests. Inside were not only the tonics for Shen Wei but also clothes and toys for the baby.

Shen Wei’s expression softened further as she looked at Zhao Yang.

Sun Qingmei, however, seemed more troubled. She asked Shen Wei with concern, "Though you’ve been granted the title of Concubine, by custom, the child must be given to the principal wife to raise after the first month."

A concubine, after all, was merely a higher-ranking servant.

She had no right to raise her own child.

Zhao Yang frowned and smacked her forehead. "I nearly forgot about that! Maybe I could plead with Princess Consort Sister-in-law to let you keep Duo Duo?"

Sun Qingmei shook her head. "That won’t work."

While the two looked worried, Shen Wei remained composed as she sipped her ginseng tea. "There’s no rush. The Prince has already postponed the full-month celebration. The banquet might not happen until the baby is two months old."

The full-month banquet was, in truth, also a handover ceremony.

When the time came, mother and child would be separated, and the baby would be sent to the Princess Consort’s quarters to be raised. If Shen Wei wished to see her child, she would have to personally request permission from the Princess Consort.

Once the child was old enough to walk and run, boys would be sent to study in school, while girls would be taught by elderly governesses. The Princess Consort might occasionally check on their well-being, fulfilling her duty in a perfunctory manner.

Zhao Yang’s heart ached for Shen Wei—to endure the hardship of childbirth only to have her child taken away. She grumbled indignantly, "What kind of ridiculous rule is this? It’s utterly inhumane."

Sun Qingmei sighed. "There’s nothing to be done about it."

In noble households, the principal wife was typically of high birth, well-educated, virtuous, and refined. Concubines, on the other hand, were merely tools for bearing heirs—often of low status and illiterate. Entrusting them with raising children would hinder the children’s future prospects.

Thus, in the aristocratic families of the Great Qing Kingdom, the children of concubines were always given to the principal wife to raise. As long as the wife was responsible, she would ensure the children were properly brought up.

The room fell into a heavy silence.

"Madam," Cai Lian entered to announce, "the steward from the South Garrison Marquis's Mansion has arrived. He requests Lady Sun’s return to manage household affairs."

Sun Qingmei exhaled faintly and stood to bid farewell to Zhao Yang and Shen Wei. "I must take my leave now. Lady Shen, I’ll visit again another day."

The vast South Garrison Marquis's Mansion, with its hundreds of inhabitants, relied entirely on her to manage. She had barely settled in after making time to visit Shen Wei when the steward summoned her back.

After leaving her gifts, Sun Qingmei departed the Glazed Pavilion. As she passed through the courtyard, vibrant with life, her eyes shone with admiration.

She respected Shen Wei—despite her humble origins, Shen Wei never slackened, always striving to live well.

Not long after Sun Qingmei left, Zhao Yang also took her reluctant leave.

Once outside Prince Yan's Mansion, Zhao Yang boarded her carriage, which slowly made its way toward the imperial palace. As she sipped tea, she noticed her maid Yun'er acting strangely, furtively tugging at her sleeve.

"Yun'er," Zhao Yang narrowed her eyes, "what are you hiding in your sleeve?"

Yun'er flinched and stammered, "N-nothing."

Zhao Yang held out her hand. "Hand it over."

With a miserable expression, Yun'er reluctantly pulled out a crumpled letter from her sleeve.

Zhao Yang smoothed out the envelope.

On the front, in bold, elegant strokes, were the words: "For Zhao Yang’s Eyes Only."

She recognized the handwriting at once—it was Yan Yunting’s.

Yan Yunting had been dispatched to the border to assist General Shen in managing the frontier cities. Zhao Yang could no longer recall how long he had been gone, and her memories of him had grown increasingly faint.

The love that had once pierced her heart, the man she had sworn she would never let go—now, his name stirred nothing within her.

"Princess..." Yun'er glanced at her nervously, full of worry.

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For the past several months, Zhao Yang had never mentioned Yan Yunting. Yun'er feared this letter from the border might reignite her emotions, reminding her of what she had once felt for him.

Zhao Yang casually handed the letter back. "Throw it away. From now on, I don’t want to see anything like this."

Yun'er brightened. "Understood! I’ll burn it immediately!"