The guard hesitated, "But this young master claims that the Prince invited him."
Granny Liu burst into laughter and shook her head. "The Prince is occupied with state affairs—how could he possibly invite a country bumpkin to the mansion? Drive him away at once! If you provoke the Prince or the Princess Consort, you'll face dire consequences."
Granny Liu, confined to the inner quarters, was oblivious to the fact that Shen Xiuming had just earned the title of second-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations.
Shen Xiuming seethed with anger.
Prince Yan had specifically sent an invitation for him to attend a banquet at the mansion. Shen Xiuming had brought his mother along, hoping to lend support to his sister, only to be barred at the gates.
"The Prince invited me as a guest. How dare you obstruct me?" Shen Xiuming's indignation grew.
Even as a second-ranked scholar, he was being belittled by lowly servants. How much worse must life be for Shen Wei, alone in the vast Prince's Mansion?
Granny Liu rolled her eyes and snapped, "Drive them away! All of them! In the future, don’t let such filthy folk even approach the mansion gates."
The guards had no choice but to escort Shen Xiuming and Shen's Mother away, albeit with some courtesy.
Shen Xiuming led his mother to a street just outside the mansion.
Shen's Mother's eyes brimmed with worry. "Could the Prince be toying with us? Today is the full-month celebration of Third Daughter’s baby girl. I heard the child is to be given to the Princess Consort to raise... Third Daughter must be heartbroken."
Shen Xiuming reassured her, "Mother, please return to the temple and wait for news. I’ll go back to the mansion gates. The Prince’s word is as good as gold—he wouldn’t deceive me."
Shen's Mother reluctantly nodded and handed him a bundle. "These are cotton shoes I made for my little granddaughter. If you manage to enter the mansion, give them to your sister. Inside, there’s also twenty taels of silver—saved up by me and your second sister. Make sure your sister gets it."
Shen Qiang had been managing farmland in Nanshan, where last autumn’s bountiful harvest had earned her a generous reward from the landlord.
She had entrusted her earnings to Shen's Mother, instructing her to deliver them to Shen Wei in the mansion when possible.
"Don’t worry, Mother. I will see my sister today," Shen Xiuming declared with determination.
Shen's Mother left, weighed down by her concerns. Meanwhile, Shen Xiuming returned to the Prince's Mansion—this time, luck was on his side. He encountered the Prince’s chief clerk.
Recognizing him, the clerk hurried over with a respectful bow. "Scholar Shen! I sent someone to fetch you from the temple, but you weren’t there. I didn’t expect you’d arrive at the mansion ahead of time."
Under the astonished gazes of the guards, Shen Xiuming was ushered into the mansion with utmost courtesy.
---
Meanwhile, the full-month banquet in the Glazed Pavilion was nearing its end.
A sense of unease lingered in the Princess Consort’s heart, refusing to dissipate. As the maids cleared the dishes, she couldn’t wait any longer. "Prince, the banquet is over. It’s time for me to take the child."
Only by swiftly taking Shen Wei’s baby could she dispel this gnawing anxiety.
Pausing, she turned to Shen Wei with a saccharine smile. "Shen-shi, as a noblewoman well-versed in the arts, I shall fulfill my duty as the mistress and raise Le You with the utmost care."
Shen Wei’s face was deathly pale, as if struck by a devastating blow.
Zhang Miaoyu, having wiped the grease from her lips, dashed over. "Prince, I have no children of my own. I’d like to help Shen Wei raise hers! The Princess Consort already has three children to tend to, not to mention the boys in the academy. Between her daily prayers and scripture recitations, how could she possibly spare time for an infant?"
Zhang Miaoyu had eaten her fill at lunch.
A full stomach meant energy for action.
She intended to help Shen Wei by offering to "raise" the child—though in truth, she planned to secretly return the baby to her.
"You’ve never borne a child. What do you know about the toil of raising one?" The Princess Consort shot Zhang Miaoyu an irritated glare.
Zhang Miaoyu rubbed her plump fingers together and grinned innocently. "Your Highness, everyone must learn at some point. I’m quick-witted—I’ll master childcare in no time."
The Princess Consort couldn’t be bothered to argue with this plump fool.
As the mistress of the mansion, she wouldn’t let Zhang Miaoyu snatch the child from her grasp.
Granny Liu had returned and now stood beside the Princess Consort, feigning concern. "Rest assured, Mistress Shen. Her Highness treasures the little one dearly. She’s even sent me to procure the finest infant supplies—nothing but the best."
Shen Wei gazed at her peacefully sleeping daughter in the cradle, her nose tingling with suppressed tears, her expression heartbreakingly fragile.
Prince Yan took her hand and smiled. "Don’t grieve, Wei Wei. I’ve decided—you shall raise Le You."
Shen Wei stared blankly, lifting her head in confusion.
The Princess Consort frowned and stepped forward. "Prince, ancestral customs cannot be disregarded. Shen-shi is of low birth. If you insist on letting her raise the child, it will tarnish your reputation. Moreover, a child raised by a concubine will struggle to secure a good match in the future."
Prince Yan cast her a sidelong glance.
The Princess Consort had neglected even her own daughter, Li Yao—how could she possibly treat Shen Wei’s child with care?
At the entrance of the Glazed Pavilion, Nanny Qian arrived with four palace maids, holding an imperial decree in her hands.
The Princess Consort’s heart lurched. The Empress’s decree—her mounting dread now had a source.
Nanny Qian stepped forward solemnly and unfurled the decree. "By the Empress’s command: Shen-shi, wise and virtuous, dignified and kind... is hereby elevated to the rank of Secondary Consort, as decreed by the Ministry of Rites."
A spring breeze swept through the courtyard, and silence fell.
The crowd exchanged stunned glances.
Then, from inside the room, came the robust cries of Li Leyou. A maid hurried in to soothe the wailing infant.
Shen Wei’s face was a picture of astonishment, as if she couldn’t comprehend what had just happened. Clutching the decree, she turned to Prince Yan, stammering, "Prince... I... I..."
Prince Yan chuckled at her dazed expression. "You’ve earned this, Wei Wei. There’s no need for surprise."
Internally, Shen Wei was overjoyed. After over a year of careful scheming, she had finally claimed her victory.
Yet outwardly, she maintained an air of bewilderment—three parts shock, three parts confusion, and three parts gratitude.
Zhang Miaoyu was the first to react. "Congratulations, Sister Shen Wei! As a Secondary Consort, you can raise your child yourself now!"
Shen Wei remained in her carefully crafted state of innocent confusion.
The Princess Consort, however, looked as though the sky had collapsed.
Today’s banquet was meant to crush Shen Wei. Instead, the blow had landed squarely on her.
A peasant girl—now a Secondary Consort? How preposterous!
The Princess Consort seethed, her resentment toward the Empress deepening. This was clearly the Empress’s ploy to elevate Shen Wei and undermine her.
"Prince, this must not be allowed!" Her heart pounded, but she forced calm into her voice. "Shen-shi has no family backing, has borne no sons, and is illiterate. Making her a concubine was already excessive. If she becomes a Secondary Consort, what will the court officials think of you?"
