In the past, the four elderly maids sent by the Empress had shown some leniency, not enforcing strict control over the Princess Consort. Thus, the Princess Consort could still see and teach her children daily.
But now, the Empress had made up her mind—the two children must not meet their mother too often. One takes on the color of what they associate with, and the eldest son of Prince Yan had grown wayward. Measures had to be taken to correct him.
The Princess Consort’s mind buzzed in shock, unable to process what was happening.
The Empress declared, "You are gravely ill and unfit to manage the household. Shen Wei of Liuli Pavilion is intelligent and capable—the authority over the household shall be handed to her."
At this, the Princess Consort finally snapped back to reality.
Not only was she forbidden from caring for her two sons, but her household authority was also cruelly stripped away. What kind of mistress of the house would she be then? The entire Yan capital would surely laugh at her!
And to give that authority to that lowborn Shen Wei?
The Princess Consort’s heart twisted in agony! Shen Wei, a mere peasant girl who knew nothing of accounts or literature, had the audacity to seize the household authority from the rightful mistress—all because she had Prince Yan’s favor.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness—you cannot do this to me!" the Princess Consort cried out in despair, her voice shrill with panic.
The Empress’s elderly maids stepped forward, gripping the Princess Consort’s arms with firm hands, escorting her back to Kunyu Courtyard.
After leaving the inner hall, the Empress and Prince Yan walked toward the main chamber.
A maid served calming tea before quietly retreating. The Empress took a sip, but the warmth of the tea did little to soothe the bitterness in her heart.
Her brows furrowed with worry as she spoke guiltily to Prince Yan, "I blame myself. Back then, I only sought to win over the Tantai family. Who would have thought that the dignified second daughter of the Tantai family would turn out to be such a useless fool..."
The Tantai family was a prestigious century-old lineage, known for its strict discipline. The eldest daughter had married the top scholar of the imperial examinations, and the couple was harmonious—she was praised far and wide for her household management skills. The Empress had assumed the second daughter would be no less capable.
Yet her judgment had failed. Elevating Tantai Shuya into Prince Yan’s Mansion had led to a series of grave mistakes.
For Prince Yan, the Empress would always carry regret.
In his childhood, she had not given him enough care. When he married, she had not been diligent in selecting a suitable wife, leading to the chaos in the inner quarters of Prince Yan’s Mansion.
A disordered household meant an unstable future.
Prince Yan lowered his gaze. "Your Majesty has already done so much for this child. Do not blame yourself."
The Empress set down her teacup but could not hold back. "Tantai Shuya is at fault, but so are you! I know you are burdened with duties, but no matter how busy, you must find time to see your children. Had you shown even a little concern for your sons—summoning them once a month to check on them—this tragedy might have been avoided."
A shadow of sorrow crossed Prince Yan’s expression, and he remained silent for a long while.
The room fell quiet. The Empress pressed her fingers to her temples, massaging them gently. "There is no use dwelling on past mistakes. What matters now is the present and the future—we must not let history repeat itself. Let Shen Wei manage the household for now. If she proves capable, you will at least have one less worry."
Prince Yan nodded. "This child understands."
The room was still. The Empress studied Prince Yan’s weathered face, darkened by the sun.
While inspecting riverways and waterworks on behalf of the Crown Prince, he had toiled day and night, braving wind and rain. By the time he returned to the capital, dust had settled on his weary frame.
Seeing the exhaustion etched on his face, the Empress swallowed further reproach.
The Crown Prince was gravely ill. The Emperor was unwell. The Empress herself was aging, her energy waning. With the court in turmoil, Prince Yan already bore immense pressure on his shoulders.
Right and wrong were tangled beyond unraveling.
...
...
With swift and decisive action, the Empress overturned the order of Prince Yan’s Mansion, restructuring the inner household entirely. Disobedient servants were punished severely, and many troublemakers were expelled. Even the Princess Consort’s maids were dismissed—only two elderly maids and four serving girls remained.
After the Empress departed, Prince Yan made a brief stop at Liuli Pavilion to see Shen Wei and Little Leyou before rushing off to the Ministry of War for discussions.
Prince Yan was no idle noble. He was a prince who carried the expectations of his parents and elder brother—he could not afford to pause his steps.
It was late into the night when he finally returned to Prince Yan’s Mansion under the moonlight. Shen Wei had prepared warm water for him to wash away his fatigue.
After bathing and changing, they retired to bed. The night was deep, the quiet broken only by the faint chirping of insects outside. Pale moonlight filtered through the window screen, casting soft light into the room.
Prince Yan slept lightly, and in the haze between dreams, he heard murmurs from the woman beside him.
Shen Wei seemed to be having a nightmare.
She whispered, "Leyou... don’t..."
Her eyes flew open, and she clutched at her pounding heart. Prince Yan took her hand gently. "A nightmare?"
Her gaze darted around before settling on him in the moonlight. She exhaled heavily, relief washing over her. "Yes... just a bad dream."
The faint scent of lotus blossoms lingered in the room. Summer was approaching, and buds had begun to bloom in the pond. Shen Wei had instructed the maids to place cut lotus buds in vases, filling the chamber with their delicate fragrance.
Perhaps it was the calming scent, or perhaps the presence of the man beside her—but Shen Wei nestled into Prince Yan’s embrace, her voice muffled. "I dreamed... that I never became your concubine. Leyou was given to the Princess Consort to raise. Then... he fell ill and died young. I searched everywhere for you, but I couldn’t find you..."
A deep pang of pity flashed in Prince Yan’s eyes.
The Princess Consort’s incompetence and neglect had led to the death of a child.
No wonder Shen Wei was plagued by fear, her worries manifesting in dreams.
A trace of dread crept into Prince Yan’s heart. Had Little Leyou truly been entrusted to the Princess Consort, that lively child might have met the same fate.
"Do not fear. Dreams are the opposite of reality," Prince Yan murmured, pulling her slender frame closer. "I have confined that woman. From now on, the household is yours to manage."
Shen Wei’s heart leapt with secret joy.
But she feigned concern, asking tentatively, "Your Highness, I am only a concubine. Would it not harm your reputation if a concubine were to manage the household?"
Even now, she carefully wove her words, subtly emphasizing her devotion to him.
Prince Yan was moved, his expression softening. "The Princess Consort is ill and cannot oversee the household."
Her "illness" would last a lifetime. Prince Yan had lost all faith in her and resolved to strip her of power, leaving her with nothing but an empty title.
Shen Wei nodded as if understanding, though she first gave him fair warning. "I am willing to share your burdens. But I have never managed a household before—if I make mistakes, you must not blame me."
Prince Yan chuckled. "Of course not."
Only then did Shen Wei allow a bright smile to surface. She leaned in and kissed his cheek, her voice tender with sincerity. "For you, I will take on this responsibility. You have the weight of the world on your shoulders—I cannot bear to see you troubled by trivial household matters."
Between her words, she conveyed one clear message: She was doing this for him. Not for status, not for wealth—only for him.
The moonlight spilled over the bed curtains, illuminating Shen Wei’s fair face and dark, adoring eyes—as if he were her entire world.
Prince Yan gazed at the beauty before him, his heart softening.
And so, they drifted to sleep in each other’s arms.
