A Concubine's Competitive Life in the Prince's Household-Chapter 200

Lu Xuan focused her thoughts—with the new emperor ascending the throne, the imperial harem would inevitably be flooded with fresh faces, all vying for favor. Concubine Shen, who had once enjoyed immense favor in the prince’s mansion, would become the prime target of the newly arrived consorts.

Yet, at this critical juncture, the Shen Clan had been "banished from the palace."

It was highly suspicious.

"Miss, should we send someone to investigate Donghua Mountain?" the maid Little Qin suggested proactively.

Lu Xuan gazed at the white chess piece in her hand, then shook her head after a moment. "The Donghua Mountain retreat is where the Empress Dowager recuperates. The security is tight. Our Duke’s household lacks the means to investigate. If we alert the Empress Dowager and she traces it back to us, the consequences would outweigh the gains."

Little Qin frowned with worry. "But what if the Shen Clan returns to the palace later and monopolizes the emperor’s favor? What then?"

Lu Xuan’s red lips curved slightly. "The Shen Clan comes from humble origins, with a sparse family lineage. Even if she returns to the palace, without the backing of a powerful family, relying solely on the emperor’s fleeting affection, she won’t last long."

The imperial family valued a consort’s talents, but they valued her family background even more.

Besides… the Shen Clan had already borne three children. Childbirth took a toll on a woman’s body, draining her youth and beauty. What man wasn’t drawn to beauty? Once the Shen Clan lost her former allure, how long could the emperor’s love endure?

Lu Xuan set down the chess piece gently, studying the vast board before her. "The court only rejoices at the arrival of new favorites; who mourns the abandonment of the old? An emperor’s love is fleeting. Prolonged separation would erode even the deepest affections."

The harem was filled with beauties as radiant as flowers, each surpassing the next in charm and talent. How could the emperor remain faithful to just the Shen Clan?

Lu Xuan would rely on her own beauty and intellect to gradually win the emperor’s favor and bear his child early. With new consorts in his arms, how could he possibly remember the old, discarded Shen Clan from his princely days?

Little Qin smiled brightly. "Miss, you outshine all others in beauty and talent. Surely, you will earn the emperor’s exclusive favor in the future."

Lu Xuan chuckled lightly. "Never underestimate your opponents."

Every rival was a threat not to be taken lightly.

Little Qin brought over a cup of hot tea. Lu Xuan blew away the tea foam, savoring the rich fragrance that unfurled. Suddenly, she thought of her younger sister, who had been ill, and asked, "Has Yun’s fever subsided? Was her medicine delivered on time?"

Little Qin replied, "Rest assured, Miss. This morning, the Second Young Lady’s high fever broke. She should be resting in the warm pavilion by now."

Lu Xuan relaxed slightly.

Just then, lively footsteps echoed outside. The beaded curtain parted like flowing water as a young girl dashed in.

"Sister~"

Lu Yun, the youngest daughter of Duke Lu, had just come of age at fifteen. Her delicate face still carried the softness of youth, her features not yet fully matured.

She bounded into the room and plopped onto the cushion beside Lu Xuan, wrapping her arms around her sister’s arm affectionately. Her large, bright eyes blinked playfully. "Sister, Father said you’re going to the palace to become an imperial consort. I want to go too! Take me with you when you enter the palace!"

Lu Xuan reached out, her slender fingers brushing against Lu Yun’s forehead. The fever had indeed subsided.

She poked her sister’s cheek teasingly. "The palace is no place for you. Once you step through those gates, the sea of intrigue is endless. Stay home and let Father arrange a good marriage for you."

Lu Yun pouted, whining like a child. "No! I heard being a consort is glorious! If I bear a prince, my son could even become the crown prince!"

Listening to her sister’s naive words, Lu Xuan could only laugh inwardly.

Children in the palace rarely survived to adulthood, and becoming crown prince was no simple feat. Lu Xuan alone would shoulder the burden of elevating their family’s status. There was no need to drag her innocent sister into this web of schemes.

All she wanted was for Lu Yun to find a good match—a loving husband, a peaceful life, far from the machinations of power.

Lu Xuan patted Lu Yun’s head gently. "Don’t be silly. It’s cold, and you’ve just recovered. Go back to the warm pavilion and rest."

Lu Yun pressed her lips together, casting a meaningful glance at her sister before maintaining her childish tone. "Fine, I’ll go drink my medicine. I’ll visit you again soon!"

She released Lu Xuan’s arm, her eyes flickering over the chessboard on the table. Then, like a petulant child, she stomped away in mock anger.

Watching her sister’s retreating figure, Lu Xuan smiled fondly and sighed. "Still so young, yet already dreaming of the palace. Truly a child."

Outside, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‍the winter air was biting. Clusters of red plum blossoms bloomed in the courtyard.

Once Lu Yun left her sister’s chambers, she stepped into the snow-laden plum grove. The youthful cheer on her face vanished, replaced by a shadowy gloom in her eyes.

At this moment, she no longer resembled a girl of fifteen. Her gaze was dark and venomous, like that of a bitter old woman.

Lu Yun yanked a plum blossom from a branch, crushing it violently in her palm. The delicate petals turned to pulp, staining her fingers crimson.

"A good marriage?" she muttered to herself, her voice dripping with resentment. "What kind of ‘good marriage’ did you arrange for me? Afraid I’d steal your favor, you forced me to wed a penniless scholar, leaving me to die a tragic death."

Slowly, she raised a hand to touch her own delicate face, recalling the nightmare from the night before.

In the dream, her sister Lu Xuan had entered the palace as a consort and swiftly won Emperor Qing’s favor, bearing him a son and a daughter. When the empress passed away, Lu Xuan was elevated to the position of the new empress, her son named crown prince, bringing unparalleled glory to the Lu family.

Overjoyed, Lu Yun had gone to the palace to visit her sister but had gotten lost in the sprawling gardens. There, amidst the snow-laden plum blossoms, she had encountered Emperor Qing admiring the scenery.

The red plums bloomed brilliantly against the white snow. The emperor, clad in dark robes, was strikingly handsome, his tall frame exuding power.

Lu Yun had been spellbound—she hadn’t expected Emperor Qing to be so breathtaking.

The emperor had studied her, a faint smile in his piercing eyes. "You must be the empress’s sister? You’re quite lovely."

Her heart had raced. She knew then that the emperor had taken a liking to her.

All her life, Lu Xuan had overshadowed her. The world knew only of Duke Lu’s eldest daughter, the peerless beauty, unaware that the younger sister was equally gifted in both looks and talent.

The thought of her sister’s husband desiring her had filled Lu Yun with a secret thrill. Her sister, aged and faded, while she remained youthful and radiant—finally, she would outshine Lu Xuan.

Ecstatic, Lu Yun had rushed to her sister, declaring her wish to enter the palace as a consort.

At that moment, the white porcelain teacup in Lu Xuan’s hand had shattered on the floor. Her face had paled, shock flashing across her weary features. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Lu Xuan had been frantic, clutching her chest as she coughed violently, even vomiting a mouthful of dark blood. "No! Absolutely not! Do you think the palace is some paradise? The emperor’s heart is fickle…"

She had looked exhausted, her eyes hollow, as if drained of all vitality, leaving behind only a lifeless shell.

Lu Xuan had refused her sister’s request outright.

She had immediately sent Lu Yun away and hastily arranged a marriage for her—to a destitute scholar from the imperial exams. Forced into the bridal sedan, Lu Yun had met her end when bandits attacked the procession, cutting her down in cold blood.

The dream had been vivid, every detail etched into her mind. Lu Yun closed her eyes. She believed this was a glimpse of the future.

"Sister… To monopolize the emperor’s favor, you pushed me to my death," she whispered, clenching her fists. This time, she would not tread the same doomed path.

She, too, would enter the palace as a consort!

If her sister could become empress, so could she!

A chilly breeze swept by, shaking the white snow from the branches of the red plum blossoms. Lu Yun gazed at the vibrant flowers, her lips curling into a confident smile.

...

...

Time flew swiftly—winter snow melted away, replaced by the gentle spring wind that coaxed wildflowers to bloom across the mountains and fields. In the blink of an eye, a year had passed.

Donghua Mountain lay a hundred miles from Yanjing City, a place of lush greenery and warm, inviting weather.

Nestled halfway up Donghua Mountain, an opulent imperial retreat stood gracefully against the landscape, embraced by hills and cradled by clear streams. The estate was elegantly adorned with pavilions and terraces, while delicate winter jasmine blossoms flourished along the winding waterways.

Shen Wei, dressed in a light spring gown with her dark hair pinned high, dashed around the courtyard ten full laps before stopping, breathless. Cai Lian hurried over with a handkerchief to dab the sweat from her brow.

"My lady, a letter has arrived from De Shun," Cai Lian announced from the pavilion, where she had prepared a soothing herbal tea.

Wiping her damp forehead, Shen Wei took a few sips of water to rehydrate. Her cheeks were flushed from exertion as she asked, "What does the letter say?"