You can hear a pin drop in the room.
The queen still had a kind smile on her face, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
But Shen Wei knew that this was a fatal question! It’s like you are a new employee in a company, and the chairman (queen) comes to you and asks you solemnly if you want to kick out another female director (princess) and replace him.
Can you answer “yes”? Of course not!
The princess was born into the Tantai family, a century-old family. Shen Wei, a small peasant girl with no background or support, could never replace the princess.
But if you answer "I don't dare to dream", you will be belittling yourself too much.
Chen Wei's heart was beating fast, her brain was thinking fast, she put on a courageous look, and said neither servilely nor arrogantly: "Chen Wei's family is poor, fortunately the prince has mercy on her, so she can live a life without worries. I love the prince, and I just want to accompany the prince for my whole life, give birth to children for the prince, take good care of them, and let the prince have no worries. As for the rest, I really don't want to think too much."
She did not answer the Queen's question directly, but mentioned her love for Prince Yan indirectly.
She was hinting to the Queen that as long as she could stay with Prince Yan, she would be willing even as a concubine. She only has King Yan in her heart and doesn't care about her position. What the Prince of Yan's mansion lacks most is a woman who can take care of the Prince of Yan wholeheartedly and manage the mansion.
It's quiet inside.
The queen looked at Shen Wei for a moment, then gently put down the celadon teacup and said with a faint smile: "She is a smart person."
Shen Wei bowed her head: "Your Majesty, your praise is too great."
The Queen asked, "Can you write?"
Shen Wei: "I know a little. The prince taught me how to write."
Queen: "Can you read the account book?"
Shen Wei: “I understand a little bit.”
Queen: "The maids and eunuchs in your courtyard are loyal. Aren't you afraid that they may harbor ulterior motives?"
Shen Wei replied: "Don't employ people you doubt, and don't doubt people you employ."
There was admiration in the queen's eyes.
The queen slowly raised her hand, and Nanny Qian beside her quickly helped her up.
The Queen is leaving.
Chen Wei led everyone from Liuli Pavilion and escorted the queen all the way to the gate of the courtyard. The queen had a hidden message in her words, telling Shen Wei: "Take good care of your pregnancy and give birth to a healthy child for the prince. After you give birth smoothly, I will reward you."
Shen Wei knelt respectfully and raised the corners of her lips: "I thank the Queen for her teachings. I will work hard and live up to her grace."
When smart people communicate, they don’t need to say much and can complete the transaction in just a few words.
The queen had to visit Prince Yan again, so she stood up and left slowly, and the guard of honor disappeared from Shen Wei's sight.
Instead of riding in a sedan chair, the queen took a slow walk in the palace garden. At the end of summer, the lotus flowers in the lotus pond in the palace garden are in full bloom.
Madam Qian supported the Queen's hand and whispered, "Queen, although Shen is capable of management, people's hearts are hidden. Who knows if she really loves the prince?"
The queen glanced at the lush green lotus pond and smiled faintly, "I don't need to think about Shen's sincerity. She is willing to do things and does them well, which is already rare."
The other wives and concubines in the palace all claimed that they loved Prince Yan. But their love is all in their hearts and all in their mouths. Once their love is not reciprocated, they begin to complain and feel sorry for themselves.
Shen Wei is completely different, she can think of everything and put it into action.
Judge by actions, not by heart; no one is perfect when it comes to heart. Being able to get things done is rare.
Shen Wei not only works seriously, she also knows how to control people's hearts. Li Yao, several old maids, and the wealthy butler, all of them had their hearts on her side.
Chen Wei is smart, ambitious, scheming, and knows how to hide her shortcomings. In the lifeless Prince Yan's Mansion, Shen Wei is the most enthusiastically blooming flower, full of vitality.
Nanny Qian was secretly surprised to see that the Queen valued Shen Wei so much. The good days of the Shen family are still to come.
Madam Qian asked, "Madam, should we directly raise Shen's status and make her a concubine?"
The queen shook her head: "No hurry, wait until she gives birth to the baby."
A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Raising Chen Wei's position now will only make her a target of public criticism.
After Shen Wei gave birth to a child and grew up, the queen supported Shen Wei to become the manager of the royal palace's harem, replacing the princess in managing the harem.
Being a concubine is not enough, at least Chen Wei should be promoted to a concubine to stop the gossips. Chen Wei was born in a humble family, without a large family to rely on, so she would cling tightly to the big tree of King Yan and dare not have any second thoughts.
As for the empty-headed Princess Tan Tai Shu Ya, the Queen will keep her position as the principal wife for the sake of the Tan Tai family, and make the Princess a mere empty shell just to show off.
"For Yuan Jing, and for the stability of the Qing Kingdom's former dynasty and harem, I must prepare for a rainy day."
The queen sighed deeply and left the lush garden of the palace.
...
Glazed Pavilion.
After the queen left, Shen Wei returned to the courtyard with the maids and eunuchs.
Cai Ping's heart was beating fast with nervousness, and she was still in fear: "Master, you scared me to death! The Queen is so majestic, I dare not even breathe, for fear of making mistakes."
It was also the first time for Caiping and the others to serve the Queen at close range. Their hearts were pounding nervously, and they tried hard to remain calm.
Shen Wei sat down and drank a sip of tea to moisten her throat.
Cai Ping added: "I never thought that the Empress, who is worth so much, would come to our place."
Shen Wei smiled brightly and was in a good mood: "It can be considered a test from the Queen."
We are all smart people, and Shen Wei guessed the purpose of the Queen's visit - an interview.
The princess managed the harem in a mess, with countless mistakes. The queen had long been dissatisfied and wanted to support a newcomer to the throne. The queen personally investigated Shen Wei's talents, and Shen Wei also demonstrated her abilities perfectly.
Opportunities always favor those who are prepared.
Shen Wei stroked her belly which had not yet shown any signs of pregnancy. After the baby was born, she would definitely get a promotion and a raise, and her small treasury would be filled with gold, silver and treasures.
The Queen intended to let her manage the harem, and Chen Wei lived up to the Queen's trust, managing the palace in an orderly manner, taking good care of Prince Yan, and being a perfect "virtuous wife".
However, by then, she and the princess will officially fall out and become open enemies.
But so what?
Shen Wei is never afraid of difficulties, she always becomes more courageous as she faces more setbacks.
Shen Wei didn't want to be a princess, and she knew it would be difficult to replace the princess given her background. She only wanted to gradually sideline the princess, become the real power manager of the harem, and keep wealth and freedom firmly in her hands.
...
After the Queen visited the King of Yan, she left in a sedan chair. The princess led the concubines to see him off at the door. Only after the phoenix chariot disappeared from her sight did the princess put away the fake smile on her face.
On the way back to Kunyuyuan, Nanny Liu told the princess that the queen had gone to Liuli Pavilion.
Aunt Liu was worried: "Princess, the Queen seems to think highly of Shen, we have to be on guard."
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