Prince Yan placed the rattle-drum in front of the child and gave it a gentle shake. The little one waved his tiny hands excitedly, growing even more animated.
After playing with the child for a while, Shen Wei had the wet nurse take him away to be fed. A maid served Prince Yan a cup of hot tea, which he sipped leisurely. Shen Wei, meanwhile, sorted through a pile of fresh fabric, holding it up against Prince Yan’s frame to measure.
"Your Highness has lost some weight—the waistline of this robe will need to be taken in," Shen Wei remarked, pinpointing the exact adjustments needed.
A warmth spread through Prince Yan’s heart as he smiled. "No one else but Weiwei would notice that I’ve grown thinner."
The early spring had been busy, with matters of waterworks, military affairs, agriculture, and countless documents requiring discussions between Prince Yan and the Crown Prince. The workload had indeed worn him down.
Shen Wei gazed at him with concern. "You’ve been working too hard. I’ve asked the kitchen to prepare nourishing soup—please have more later."
She handed the fabric to Cai Lian. Having not fully recovered her strength after childbirth, Shen Wei left the actual sewing to the palace seamstresses.
There was no need for her to personally craft every garment for Prince Yan—it would be too time-consuming. Making three or four pieces a year was enough to convey her affection.
The spring night carried a slight chill, and clusters of yellow winter jasmine blossoms weighed down the branches in the courtyard. After dinner, Prince Yan and Shen Wei strolled through the garden before returning to the nursery to play with their child. When it was time to retire, they bathed and lay down to sleep side by side.
Shen Wei nestled into the silk pillow, fast asleep.
The soft glow of candlelight filtered through the bed curtains, casting a gentle radiance inside the canopy bed. Prince Yan’s dark eyes opened, resting on Shen Wei’s peaceful face as he listened to the faint chirping of insects outside. A deep sense of contentment washed over him.
Only with Shen Wei did he truly feel at ease. This was the tranquil life he had longed for all these years.
...
Time flew, and nearly two months passed in the blink of an eye. The bustling imperial examinations finally concluded. This year, a great number of candidates had participated, and when the final rankings were posted outside the Ministry of Rites, the list bore the names of three hundred successful scholars.
These scholars were now eligible for official appointments.
After the examinations, they attended the palace test, where the Emperor of Qing Kingdom personally set the questions, evaluated the candidates, and ranked them accordingly.
As soon as the top three names from the palace test were announced, the results were delivered to Prince Yan. In high spirits, he went to the palace to pay his respects to the Empress.
Meanwhile, in Kunning Palace, the Empress was preoccupied with concerns over Shen Wei’s promotion. Nearly two months had passed since Shen Wei gave birth, yet no full-month celebration had been held. The Empress wished to elevate Shen Wei’s status but knew she would face resistance—especially from Concubine Qian, Prince Heng’s mother, who would surely seize the opportunity to undermine the Empress’s reputation for virtue.
"Never mind. For Yuan Jing’s future, I can endure a little hardship," the Empress murmured, tightening her grip on her handkerchief as she resolved herself.
Just as she rose to discuss the matter with the Emperor, a tickle rose in her throat, and she broke into a soft cough. "Cough, cough..."
Nanny Qian hurried forward, patting the Empress’s back gently before offering her a bowl of pear soup to soothe the irritation.
The Empress had suffered a winter chill, and though she had recovered, the cough lingered. During the day, it was mild, but at night, lying down would trigger relentless fits.
The imperial physicians’ remedies had proven ineffective.
Amid her coughing, a young maid announced from outside, "Your Majesty, Prince Yan has arrived."
The Empress brightened. "Quick, let Yuan Jing in. Nanny Qian, bring the freshly made cherry pastries from the imperial kitchen—let him try some."
Prince Yan entered the main hall and bowed to the Empress.
She stepped forward to raise him, studying him with maternal concern. Noting his sharp features and robust frame, she smiled. "I thought you’d be worn thin from all your duties, but today you look even sturdier than before."
In the past, Prince Yan had often returned from military training or imperial inspections in the south noticeably thinner, taking months to regain his strength.
Now, despite the endless demands of court affairs alongside the Crown Prince, he had not wasted away—much to the Empress’s surprise.
With a hint of pride, Prince Yan replied, "While busy at the Eastern Palace, Shen Wei sends over soups and meals. Eating well keeps me from losing weight."
The Empress was pleased. As a mother, she wanted her son to be well cared for, and clearly, Shen Wei was doing an excellent job.
Seating herself, the Empress had the freshly baked cherry pastries served to Prince Yan before asking, "With the palace test results out, shouldn’t you be recruiting talents for your faction? What brings you here instead?"
Instead of answering directly, Prince Yan gestured for his attendant to present a lacquered box.
Inside lay dried tangerine peel, red dates, and other ingredients.
"Some time ago, I mentioned to Shen Wei in passing that Your Majesty coughs frequently on spring nights," Prince Yan explained. "It was an idle remark, but she took it to heart and prepared these remedies, hoping to present them to you."
He paused before continuing, "Her rank is too low to enter the palace, so she entrusted this box to me, asking that I offer it in my name whenever I visited."
The small gesture spoke volumes of their care for the Empress.
Touched, the Empress grew even fonder of Shen Wei.
Wise and considerate—such a woman would make an excellent partner for Prince Yan, capable of navigating the intrigues of the inner court.
Having set the stage, Prince Yan cut to the chase. "Mother, I wish to elevate Shen Wei to the position of secondary consort. I seek your approval."
The Empress was taken aback. She had kept her own intentions well-hidden—only her closest attendants knew of her desire to promote Shen Wei.
Yet here was Prince Yan, voicing the same wish. It was a testament to Shen Wei’s quiet influence, winning the favor of two powerful figures without fanfare.
"Shen Wei is clever and has borne you a child. Of course I support raising her status," the Empress said after sipping her pear soup. "But her humble origins as a farmer’s daughter may invite criticism."
Prince Yan smiled. "No need for concern. Her younger brother, Shen Xiuming, is this year’s second-ranked scholar in the palace test. Moreover, he is a disciple of Yang Xuanji—giving him ties to the scholar faction."
Court officials were divided into factions: the conservative nobility, the rising aristocratic families, and the scholars from modest backgrounds. The latter, though few in number, remained neutral. By favoring Shen Xiuming, Prince Yan could also win over this faction.
The Empress gasped. "Second rank?"
