...
As soon as Prince Yan left, Chen Wei in Fangfei Garden slowly put down the medicine bowl and stretched.
Shen Wei admired her own acting skills, which were becoming more and more superb.
Even though she only has half a love for King Yan, she can interpret it as full of love. Thinking of the sour lines she had just said, Shen Wei suddenly got goose bumps on her shoulders.
This is also Shen Wei's brilliance.
She did not take the initiative to tell King Yan about the ghost story, allowing him to discover it himself. In this way, in the heart of King Yan, she is a tolerant, pitiful and sensible woman.
Can get more love (money) from King Yan.
As for Prince Yan’s boots—the black boots embroidered with gold and with scratches on them, Shen Wei had secretly scratched them with a knife this morning.
As for the work of making boots for the King of Yan, as well as making clothes, shoes, and sachets, it was contracted to Cai Lian and Cai Ping. With a generous bonus, the two maids were happy to do it.
"Now, we're just waiting to move to a bigger house." Shen Wei's smile widened, and she was quite grateful to Zhang Yue.
If Zhang Yue hadn't played tricks, Shen Wei's plan to move to a bigger house wouldn't have been brought forward.
In life, is there anything happier than getting a promotion, a pay raise, and a bigger house?
...
Fugui was worthy of being the chief steward of the palace. He was extremely efficient and soon found out that it was Zhang Yue from the Rose Garden who was playing tricks.
When a living person pretends to be a ghost, there are traces to be found.
Fugui was about to tell Prince Yan about this when Madam Rong blocked his way. Rong Mama took Fugui to a corner of the garden and said earnestly, "Master Fugui, we can't find the real culprit in this haunted incident."
Fugui raised his eyebrows and said unhappily, "Who said we can't find the real culprit? It's obviously Qiangweiyuan who is behind this."
Aunt Rong gave him a meaningful look and said, "My master said that the real culprit cannot be found."
As she spoke, Rong Mama stuffed an expensive enamel snuff bottle into Fugui's hand.
Fugui was stunned. He looked down at the snuff bottle, then looked up at Rong Mama who was so close to him.
Fugui's eyes rolled around, and he immediately reacted. Fugui smiled and played with the snuff bottle in his hand: "Oh, Madam Rong, what is Master Shen planning again?"
Madam Rong smiled and said, "How can this servant interfere in the master's affairs? Just wait and see what happens."
Fugui put away the snuff bottle, and the two of them completed the transaction tacitly.
...
The news of the haunting of Fangfei Garden also reached the ears of the princess. The princess is supervising her two sons to complete their homework.
The princess had also experienced cruel palace fights in her early years, so she naturally knew the little tricks of "playing tricks" in the backyard.
"Princess, should we punish Zhang Yue?" Nanny Liu asked the princess for her opinion.
The princess shook her head lightly. She didn't need to think too much as she had already guessed the direction of the next plot.
It was nothing more than Zhang pretending to be a ghost to tease Shen Wei, Shen crying and complaining to the prince, and finally the prince punished Zhang, and the matter was just passed over lightly.
Such despicable means of vying for favor are like a child playing house and are not worthy of being displayed in public.
The quarrel between Zhang Yue and Shen Wei was actually meaningless. They were just two low-ranking concubines without children. They were fighting each other to gain the false favor.
"Don't interfere, just let it go." The princess didn't care and continued to supervise the two children doing their homework.
Seeing her eldest son dozing off while holding a brush, the princess angrily slapped her son’s palm with a stick and said, “You didn’t finish your homework, and you’re actually lazy and sleeping in the daytime!”
The eldest son, Li Chengke, was only ten years old. He said aggrievedly, "Mother, I only slept for less than three hours last night. I am really tired."
The princess's eyes were sharp, and her tone became more serious: "When your royal grandfather was ten years old, he could recite the Four Books and Five Classics by heart. You are also ten years old, why can't you do it?"
Li Chengke was crying with grievance, holding the brush in his hand, feeling restless and uneasy.
...
The news of the haunting in Fangfei Garden naturally reached the ears of several concubines.
In Mingyue Courtyard, Liu Qiaoer was having breakfast. Liu Qiao'er's family background was ordinary. After she fell out of favor, her status as a concubine was downgraded to that of a concubine. Her breakfast consisted of a plate of stir-fried vegetables and a bowl of very thin rice porridge.
Liu Qiaoer ate a simple breakfast and casually asked the maid, "How is Shen Wei?"
The maid replied, "I heard that Shen was extremely frightened, and she couldn't sleep or eat well, and she lost a lot of weight."
Liu Qiaoer smiled and shook her head.
See, this is what happens when you seek attention. The more glorious you are, the more you will become a thorn in the eyes of others.
Liu Qiaoer finished the last mouthful of cold porridge. The rice porridge tasted terrible, but at least it filled her stomach.
Mosquitoes buzzed in my ears. The maid said, "Master, the weather is getting hotter and hotter. The mat sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs is too worn out and the mosquito smoke is unpleasant... How about taking advantage of the recent downturn of the Shen family and finding a way to meet the prince?"
Liu Qiaoer could tolerate simple meals, but the maid couldn't.
Liu Qiaoer's allowance was reduced, and the maid's monthly salary was also reduced. This amount of money was not enough to cover the maid's family expenses.
The three concubines in the palace were all out of favor. Liu Ruyan and Zhang Miaoyu came from wealthy families, so they naturally had no shortage of food and clothing. The only exception was Liu Qiaoer, whose mother's home was far away in Lingnan and whose father was just an ordinary seventh-rank official and could not provide Liu Qiaoer with supplies.
The maid hopes that Liu Qiaoer can work harder and win the favor of King Yan again. After all, the two of them can be considered childhood sweethearts. As long as Liu Qiaoer gives in a little, she will definitely win the love of King Yan.
But Liu Qiaoer just shook her head calmly: "Simple food can fill your stomach and bring you a peaceful life; fine clothes and delicious food may seem glamorous, but you won't be able to enjoy them in your life."
The maidservant had no expression on her face as she slapped a mosquito to death on her arm.
I kind of want to find another master.
The same situation was also happening in Liu Ruyan's Qixue Pavilion. After learning that Fangfei Garden was haunted, the maid Xuemei knew that her opportunity had come.
Shen Wei was devastated, so the other wives and concubines naturally took advantage of the situation.
Xuemei encouraged Liu Ruyan: "Master, if Shen is scared to death by a ghost, our chance will come."
Liu Ruyan, dressed in white as white as snow, was sitting in the study painting plum blossoms. Liu Ruyan came from a prominent family. Although she was not favored by the prince, she was able to live a life of ease and comfort.
Liu Ruyan put down her brush and looked at the lifelike white plum blossoms on the scroll. She said softly, "That female ghost is also a pitiful person. She didn't get the prince's love when she was alive, and she still feels resentful after her death. Alas, beautiful women have always had a short life."
When Liu Ruyan thought about her past with King Yan, tears fell down.
She had looked forward to making tea, appreciating flowers, sightseeing, and playing the zither with the King of Yan every day. However, being a couple for a lifetime is ultimately just a mirage.
Liu Ruyan thought sadly, if she, Liu Ruyan, died one day, would the prince shed tears for her?
Xuemei was speechless.
Is this the time to sympathize with the female ghost? Is now the time to shed tears?
...
At night, Prince Yan returned to the palace after finishing his official business. He summoned Fugui and asked about the results of the investigation into ghosts.
Fugui knelt down and pleaded tremblingly: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. That Fangfei Garden is really strange and it doesn't seem to be man-made. I have sent people to Qingcheng Mountain to ask a Taoist priest with profound cultivation to come and perform a ritual."
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