The Liuli Pavilion was a courtyard reserved for concubines of lower status.
It had been built just last year, situated close to Prince Yan's study, but no one had ever lived there, leaving it vacant.
Prince Yan affectionately tapped Shen Wei's nose and said, "Fangfei Courtyard is too remote. You should live in Liuli Pavilion, closer to me."
Shen Wei's rosy lips curved slightly as she hesitated, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I am of lowly status... Fangfei Courtyard is tranquil and serene, and I am quite content there."
Though her heart leaped with joy, she still had to maintain a facade of modesty.
The more Shen Wei refused, the more Prince Yan's heart ached for her.
Without giving her a chance to decline, Prince Yan leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Be good," he murmured.
Shen Wei blushed and nodded silently.
Her patron had rewarded her with a grand residence, and naturally, she had to show her gratitude.
Her slender, pale arms wrapped around Prince Yan's neck as she gazed at him shyly, her eyes filled with trust and adoration—her golden mountain, her silver treasure, how she adored him!
The warm glow of the candles illuminated the scene, the air filled with the faint scent of mugwort incense. Prince Yan's heart stirred, and he leaned closer...
Hand in hand, they entered the silk curtains, shyly blowing out the lamp.
Gentle touches and soft caresses, her delicate face flushed like a blooming flower adorned with golden hairpins.
...
While Shen Wei and Prince Yan were conducting their "clothing separation experiment," over in Qiangwei Courtyard, Zhang Yue sat on her bed with a sullen expression.
The buzzing of mosquitoes filled the air, and the pungent smoke from mosquito coils lingered. Upon learning that Prince Yan had once again spent the night in Fangfei Courtyard, Zhang Yue's mood turned sour.
With Prince Yan around, she dared not have Fang'er play the ghost to torment Shen Wei.
Only when Prince Yan was gone could she act.
Zhang Yue had been observing Shen Wei from the shadows and noticed that she had been restless these past few days, her appetite waning, her complexion growing paler and her frame thinner.
"Who would have thought that my ghostly prank would go unnoticed?" Zhang Yue thought smugly.
She had assumed Shen Wei was formidable, but it turned out she was just a weakling.
She hadn't even seen through the ghostly trick—how foolish.
Such a brainless woman, even if she gained Prince Yan's favor, wouldn't last long. Zhang Yue planned to continue haunting Shen Wei until she scared her to death.
Once Shen Wei was gone, Zhang Yue would have her chance to rise.
Feeling satisfied, Zhang Yue lay down on her small bed, ready to sleep. But the summer night was filled with mosquitoes, their incessant buzzing driving her mad. Many of them slipped through the mosquito net, leaving Zhang Yue covered in itchy red bites.
She endured silently, dreaming of the day when she would gain favor and the imperial household would send her the finest mosquito nets and coils.
The next morning, Zhang Yue was awakened by the commotion from the neighboring courtyard.
Irritated, she pushed aside the bed curtains and called out to Fang'er, who was on night duty outside. "What's going on in Fangfei Courtyard? Why is it so noisy this early in the morning?"
Fang'er hurried in, casting a quick, resentful glance at Zhang Yue before lowering her head. "My lady, this morning Prince Yan ordered Shen Wei to move into Liuli Pavilion. She's currently having the servants move her furniture, which is causing the noise."
Zhang Yue's mind went blank.
What?
Moving to Liuli Pavilion!
Zhang Yue had heard of Liuli Pavilion. It was a newly built pavilion last year, close to Prince Yan's study, originally intended as a summer retreat for the prince.
Who would have thought that such a fine courtyard would be given to Shen Wei, a lowly concubine!
Zhang Yue's eyes glazed over as she unconsciously gripped the bed curtains. Things were spiraling out of her control.
Soon, a wave of intense jealousy washed over her. She grabbed a small celadon vase by her bedside and smashed it to the ground.
Clenching her fists, Zhang Yue gritted her teeth. "Shen Wei, do you think moving to Liuli Pavilion will keep the ghosts away?"
Ghosts, after all, are always lurking in the shadows.
...
...
In Kunyu Courtyard, the Princess Consort was inspecting a batch of newly purchased leather.
She had specially commissioned these from the south, intending to make new shoes for her two sons.
Upon hearing that Shen Wei had moved into Liuli Pavilion, the Princess Consort's hand paused, and a look of disbelief crossed her face.
Granny Liu lowered her voice and bowed slightly. "Princess Consort, Prince Yan's decision to let Shen Wei live in Liuli Pavilion shows his favor toward her. If this continues, Shen Wei's influence will only grow."
The Princess Consort pondered for a moment before shaking her head calmly. "Prince Yan has never been one for lasting affections. Shen Wei is merely a tool he's using to provoke me, a reminder for me to be a proper wife and mother."
The Princess Consort speculated that Prince Yan was dissatisfied with her cold treatment of the concubines and was deliberately using Shen Wei to make a point.
She scoffed, "When Prince Yan gave Qixue Pavilion to Liu Ruyan, everyone thought she would take my place as Princess Consort. But look at Qixue Pavilion now—desolate and cold. How often does Prince Yan even step foot there?"
Even the stunningly beautiful Liu Ruyan couldn't secure his undivided attention, let alone Shen Wei, a lowly concubine with no family background or connections.
The Princess Consort remained convinced that Shen Wei had never truly captured Prince Yan's heart.
Despite being favored for three months, Shen Wei was served contraceptive tea after every night with Prince Yan, and she had yet to conceive. This, the Princess Consort believed, was the clearest proof.
The Princess Consort instructed Granny Liu, "Since Prince Yan has granted the Liuli Pavilion to Shen Wei, I, as the mistress of the household, cannot remain indifferent. Granny Liu, fetch ten bolts of fine silk and a hundred taels of silver from the treasury as a gift for Shen Wei. She has been unsettled by the ghostly disturbances, and as the lady of the house, it is only right that I offer her some comfort."
Prince Yan wanted her to be a diligent and responsible mistress, didn’t he?
Well, she would play the part and put on a show for Prince Yan.
"When will the girl from Jiangnan arrive in Yanjing?" the Princess Consort asked, thinking of the new concubine she had prepared for Prince Yan.
Granny Liu replied, "She will arrive in half a month."
The Princess Consort smiled faintly. "Excellent."
This girl from Jiangnan was clever and cunning, far superior to the useless Zhang Yue.
The Princess Consort was certain that this girl’s arrival would overshadow Shen Wei completely and soon bear a child for Prince Yan.
...
The Liuli Pavilion was located in the southern part of the Prince’s residence, adjacent to Prince Yan’s library and study.
The servants had already cleaned out the Liuli Pavilion and moved Shen Wei’s belongings from Fangfei Courtyard. Shen Wei stepped into the Liuli Pavilion, which was much larger than Fangfei Courtyard, with six rooms and a beautiful two-story wooden pavilion at its center.
The courtyard was surrounded by lush greenery, with a crescent-shaped pond winding from the front to the back of the yard. A small stream trickled down a rockery, giving the entire Liuli Pavilion an elegant and serene atmosphere.
Shen Wei was very pleased with the spacious new residence.
After moving into the Liuli Pavilion, Prince Yan sent Shen Wei a generous amount of medicinal herbs and fine silks to console her for the hardships she had endured.
The Princess Consort also sent Shen Wei some medicinal herbs and silver, urging her to take good care of her health and avoid further disturbances from ghosts.
Shen Wei was delighted to receive money from both Prince Yan and the Princess Consort. Her personal treasury was now overflowing. When the time was right, she planned to buy some shops and farmland in Yanjing to grow her wealth even further.
Shen Wei walked around the Liuli Pavilion, taking in the full layout of the courtyard, and then called her staff together for a meeting.
The first order of business after moving into a new home was always to spruce up the place.
Shen Wei took a sip of tea to moisten her throat and began making plans. "Clean the moss and debris from the pond, and move in lotus flowers, leaves, and fish. Build a larger waterside pavilion by the pond, and place a large bed inside."
"We must plant mugwort outside the courtyard to keep mosquitoes away in the summer."
"Prepare two plots of land—one for vegetables and one for medicinal herbs. Clean out the small kitchen next to them."
"Plant two plum trees in the corner. When the plums ripen next year, I’ll make plum wine. Also, replace the furniture in the rooms with rosewood chairs... Hang Prince Yan’s calligraphy of *Spring Banquet* on the study wall, and prepare ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones... If we run out of funds, draw from my personal treasury..."
Shen Wei gave her instructions methodically, while Cai Lian, Cai Ping, Ji Xiang, De Shun, and Nanny Rong listened attentively, committing everything to memory.
Once the meeting ended, everyone went about their tasks.
Over time, Shen Wei had honed the maids and eunuchs in her courtyard into a highly efficient team. She could confidently delegate tasks to them, significantly lightening her own workload.
Shen Wei returned to her small study and began practicing her calligraphy.
Prince Yan always checked her progress in calligraphy whenever he visited. Shen Wei couldn’t afford to disappoint her "boss," so she worked twice as hard to earn his approval and, hopefully, a promotion.
As she wrote, Shen Wei paused and called out, "Cai Ping, come here for a moment."
Cai Ping wiped the sweat from her forehead and hurried in. "Yes, mistress? What do you need?"
Shen Wei said, "Tell Ji Xiang and De Shun to keep a close watch tonight. The ghost from Fangfei Courtyard might wander over to the Liuli Pavilion. If they see it, they should capture it immediately."
Cai Ping nodded eagerly. "Don’t worry, mistress. I’ll inform Ji Xiang and De Shun right away."
Shen Wei knew Zhang Yue’s petty and vindictive nature. Seeing Shen Wei move into such a luxurious courtyard, Zhang Yue would surely be resentful.
She would definitely cause more trouble.
Shen Wei gently pinched her brush. It was time to prepare a counterattack—one that would strike a decisive blow.
Shen Wei continued practicing her calligraphy until nightfall.
As darkness fell, Prince Yan did not come to spend the night with Shen Wei. He was still at the Eastern Palace, discussing state affairs with the Crown Prince. With frequent border conflicts recently, Prince Yan and the Crown Prince would likely be busy for several more days.
Shen Wei understood clearly that Prince Yan was not the type of man to indulge in pleasures. He was ambitious and driven, unwilling to waste time on romantic entanglements.
He spent most of his days attending to official duties, riding horses, and practicing archery. Only a small portion of his time was reserved for the women in his household.
What Prince Yan wanted was simple: after a long day of work, he wanted to return home to a warm, comforting presence and a peaceful place to rest.
Women like Liu Ruyan, on the other hand, dreamed of a lifetime with their beloved, spending every day together without separation. Naturally, this was an impossible dream—and the impossibility bred resentment, leading them to give up and become idle.
Shen Wei, however, would never harbor such resentment. Prince Yan could focus on his duties, and she would focus on hers.
When Prince Yan had time to visit her, Shen Wei would still be the woman who "wholeheartedly" loved him, fulfilling all his beautiful fantasies.
After finishing dinner and completing her Pamela workout, Shen Wei was drenched in sweat. She held a small embroidered fan and strolled through the courtyard of Liuli Pavilion.
The courtyard of Liuli Pavilion was spacious, and the newly planted flowers and greenery were exceptionally beautiful. Under the hazy moonlight, a gentle breeze carried waves of refreshing fragrance.
Cai Ping followed behind Shen Wei, chattering excitedly about the happenings at the border: "I heard that the Little Southern Marquis and General Shen have joined forces, pushing back the armies of the Yue Kingdom. The Little Southern Marquis is deeply devoted to the nation—he was even ordered to march to war on his wedding night, leaving behind his childhood sweetheart and newlywed wife."
"General Shen has served in the military for many years, rising from an unknown soldier to the rank of general with numerous military achievements. It is said that his mother, younger brother, and sister were all killed by the Yue Kingdom's army, so General Shen vowed to annihilate the Yue Kingdom to avenge his family."
Shen Wei listened with great interest: "General Shen? He shares my surname. What is his full name?"
