Cai Ping turned her head and glanced back, spotting two maids at the entrance of the Liuli Pavilion, acting furtively and looking nervous.
Cai Ping recognized them—they were Fang Er and Cui Er, the maids who served Zhang Yue in the Rose Garden.
“Sister Cai Ping! Zhang Yue has been taken back to the Rose Garden, and she’s pregnant! What are Fang Er and Cui Er supposed to do now?” Fang Er was frantic.
They had thought Zhang Yue was as good as dead, but who could have guessed she was pregnant?
With a child on the way, Zhang Yue still had a chance to make a comeback.
Given Zhang Yue’s petty and vindictive nature, if she regained favor, Fang Er and Cui Er would be the first to suffer.
Out of desperation, Fang Er and Cui Er had no choice but to seek Cai Ping’s help.
Cai Ping frowned slightly, tempted to shoo the two troublesome maids away. But then, Shen Wei’s teachings flashed through her mind—“The enemy of your enemy is your friend.”
Having served under the clever Shen Wei, Cai Ping’s intelligence and observational skills had greatly improved. She also recalled Nanny Rong’s recent words—“Zhang Yue’s pregnancy is highly suspicious.”
So, Cai Ping led the two maids to a secluded corner and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. My mistress will definitely find a way to protect you. However, you’ll need to prove your worth first.”
Fang Er and Cui Er exchanged glances before dropping to their knees. “Sister Cai Ping, please show us a way out.”
Cai Ping helped them up and spoke gently, “You’ve served Zhang Yue for a long time. She’s frail, and the number of times she’s attended to the prince can be counted on one hand. How could she possibly get pregnant so easily?”
Fang Er racked her brains, and her eyes suddenly lit up.
She grabbed Cai Ping’s hand. “Sister Cai Ping, I remember now! Zhang Yue is acquainted with a groom in the mansion who often delivers vegetables to the Rose Garden. A few days ago, after Zhang Yue was punished by the prince and beaten daily, I saw the groom sneaking into the woodshed to visit her.”
A sly smile spread across Cai Ping’s lips.
Well, there’s the loophole.
Cai Ping lowered her voice and began discussing a plan with Fang Er and Cui Er.
...
In the Rose Garden, Zhang Yue lay weakly on her bed. Despite the beatings she had endured over the past few days, Sanlang had come daily to apply medicine, and she had managed to endure.
Now that news of her pregnancy had reached the princess consort, Zhang Yue was spared further punishment and allowed to recuperate in the Rose Garden.
Zhang Yue lay on the bed, seething with hatred. “Shen Wei, with this child, let’s see how you can compete with me.”
If she was lucky enough to give birth to a son, she would enjoy a lifetime of wealth and luxury.
Zhang Yue gently touched her belly, a smile playing on her lips. Just then, the window creaked open, and a nimble figure slipped inside.
“Sanlang,” Zhang Yue’s eyes lit up with hope at the sight of him.
Sanlang, with his sun-tanned skin, was the mansion’s groom and had long been in love with Zhang Yue. The two had even been engaged at one point.
Sanlang walked to the bed and placed a bottle of medicinal ointment on the table. “Xiao Yue, didn’t you always want to bring down Shen Wei? I’ve got a piece of dirt on her that could ruin her forever.”
Zhang Yue was shocked. “What dirt? Don’t tell me she has a lover too, just like me?”
Sanlang nodded smugly. “This morning, Zhang Wu was driving Nanny Rong from the Liuli Pavilion when he saw her carrying a pair of men’s boots and sneaking into the Wen Temple in the outskirts of the city. Zhang Wu watched from a distance and saw a scholar inside accept the boots and hand a letter to Nanny Rong, instructing her to deliver it to Shen Wei.”
Zhang Yue was overjoyed.
A woman giving a man boots was a sign of secret affection!
Who would have thought that Shen Wei was secretly carrying on an affair behind Prince Yan’s back?
And using Nanny Rong as a go-between to exchange letters!
Zhang Yue stroked her belly, her eyes filled with undisguised malice. “Sanlang, keep watching. This time, we’ll make sure Shen Wei never rises again!”
The two whispered for a long time before Sanlang slipped out the window.
Outside the Rose Garden, Fang Er and Cui Er, who had been hiding in the shadows for some time, clearly saw Sanlang leaving.
...
After a long and arduous journey, the royal hunting convoy finally arrived at Dongshan.
On the spacious clearing, servants from various mansions began setting up camp, while the imperial guards established patrols and lookout posts around the perimeter.
Tents of all sizes were quickly erected. The tents of the Crown Prince’s residence, Prince Yan’s Mansion, Prince Heng’s Mansion, and Princess Zhaoyang’s Mansion were positioned in the most prominent central area, facing south to signify their high status.
“Mistress, everything has been moved into the tent,” Cai Lian directed the mansion’s guards as they finished setting up Prince Yan’s tent.
Shen Wei stepped inside to inspect the tent.
Although it was summer, the temperature at Dongshan was not high, and the nights were cold and windy. Shen Wei didn’t want to catch a cold, so she made sure the tent was well-insulated.
She carefully checked the corners of the tent to ensure there were no drafts. The interior was cozy and elegant, with a bed, a desk, food, and clothing all in place.
“Sprinkle some sulfur in the corners to keep snakes away, and some mugwort powder to repel insects,” Shen Wei instructed.
Cai Lian immediately took two guards and began scattering the powders.
As the sun set, the Crown Prince, Prince Yan, and Prince Heng returned from their horseback warm-up.
The Crown Prince, being frail, retired to his tent early. Shen Wei accompanied Prince Yan for dinner outside their tent. A bonfire burned in the center, and the cool night breeze gently brushed past. The delicious food and pleasant atmosphere put Shen Wei in high spirits.
“Oh, Second Brother, you only brought one beauty with you?” a teasing voice came from the opposite tent.
Prince Heng’s tent was located right across from Prince Yan’s.
Shen Wei looked up and saw Prince Heng, dressed flamboyantly in a striking red robe, lounging casually on a soft couch. His long, dark hair was loosely tied with a white jade hairpin, and his sharp, upturned eyes exuded a mischievous charm.
He had one arm around a beautiful woman and the other around a delicate young man. Behind him, two pretty maids massaged his shoulders, while another woman poured tea and wine for him.
He looked utterly carefree.
Shen Wei silently scoffed at Prince Heng. A man dressed in such a flashy red, though undeniably handsome, lacked the rugged masculinity she admired.
Prince Yan, on the other hand, with his dignified features and strong presence, made Shen Wei feel safe, as if she were leaning against a mountain.
Prince Heng took a sip of wine and his gaze fell on Shen Wei. He had a good memory and recognized her as the concubine who had kicked him at the Spring Banquet.
He deliberately provoked, “Second Brother, one woman isn’t enough to serve you. Qiongzhi, go and attend to Prince Yan properly.”
The woman on his left, Qiongzhi, stood up with a graceful smile and swayed her way toward Prince Yan.
Qiongzhi was naturally seductive and strikingly beautiful. She curtsied to Prince Yan, her soft, alluring voice drifting over. “Your humble servant, Qiongzhi, greets His Highness, Prince Yan.”
