Leaving the study, Shen Wei returned to her bedroom to continue her exercises. After three years of careful recuperation, her body, weakened by childbirth, had fully recovered. With her beauty and skincare regimen, her complexion had also been restored. Indeed, a woman who didn’t have to raise children or work overtime, who ate well, slept well, and enjoyed life, would naturally maintain good health.
Her condition was excellent now—it was time to return to the palace.
The court was stable, and Li Yuanjing had not taken any new concubines into the palace. The Qing State’s harem was now tranquil, with Lu Xuan still favored but no longer as prominent as in previous years. The other concubines also received little attention, making the harem feel somewhat lifeless.
The Empress and Lu Xuan were evenly matched, jointly managing the harem. Though there were still subtle power struggles, the conflicts were nowhere near as intense as they had been two years prior. It was reminiscent of the once-dreary atmosphere of Prince Yan’s Mansion.
Shen Wei sensed that Li Yuanjing would soon summon her back to the palace—he just needed a suitable pretext.
The fifth day of the fifth month was the Empress Dowager’s birthday, as well as the birthday of her two sons. Li Yuanjing would likely use this occasion to bring Shen Wei back.
...
Shen Wei’s guess was correct.
Li Yuanjing was contemplating issuing an edict, planning to use "inviting the Empress Dowager back to the palace for her birthday celebrations" as the reason to bring both the Empress Dowager, who had been recuperating outside the palace, and Shen Wei back.
By now, the internal and external troubles of the Great Qing Kingdom had been resolved. The ninth prince of the Yue Kingdom, Tuoba Hongchuan, had ascended the throne and sent envoys to Yanjing to sign a peace treaty to cease hostilities. The Yue Kingdom’s envoys were being escorted back to the capital by General Shen Mieyue himself.
"Vivi," Li Yuanjing murmured, standing by the latticed window of Chang'an Palace, gazing at the vibrant spring scenery outside.
Clusters of roses bloomed luxuriantly, swaying and stretching in the spring breeze.
Three years had passed—three springs of blossoms and withering.
During these three years, the harem had been filled with stunning beauties, each vying for favor and love. Yet, through their tainted eyes, Li Yuanjing always saw souls brimming with ambition.
Though these women were beautiful, their gazes were clouded with worldly desires. Every radiant maiden eventually dulled, becoming just another ordinary concubine in the colorless harem.
If there was one who stood out slightly, it was Lu Xuan. When she first entered the palace, her eyes had been full of innocence, somewhat reminiscent of Shen Wei. But after Lu Xuan gave birth to a prince, no matter how well she concealed it, Li Yuanjing could still discern her ambition and schemes—discovering that she had been secretly selling official positions to benefit her clan.
These women entered the palace burdened by their families’ interests, each seeking to cling to the emperor and extract benefits.
Only Shen Wei was different. For three years, every letter she sent was filled with care and affection. She never mentioned her official brother, nor did she ask the emperor to promote him. Her world revolved solely around Li Yuanjing and their children.
The eunuch De Shun approached respectfully to report, "Your Majesty, General Shen has sent word that the Yue Kingdom’s envoy he is escorting will soon reach Jiangnan. They are expected to arrive in Yanjing in half a month."
After a moment’s thought, Li Yuanjing ordered, "Have Jiangnan’s Vice Commissioner Shen Xiuming receive the envoy."
Shen Xiuming was Shen Wei’s younger brother. Three years ago, he had been demoted to guard grain warehouses in the south, but due to his outstanding governance, he had been promoted last year to the sixth-rank position of Vice Commissioner in Jiangnan.
Having Shen Xiuming host the envoy would earn him merit for "receiving foreign dignitaries," which could then be used as justification to recall him to Yanjing for an official post.
Shen Wei was always considerate, never exploiting the emperor’s favor to seek advancement for her brother. Li Yuanjing decided to quietly assist him.
"This servant will see to it immediately," De Shun replied with a bow before leaving to deliver the imperial decree.
After De Shun departed, Li Yuanjing gazed at the flourishing roses for a while longer before returning to Chang'an Palace to continue reviewing memorials.
Inside the hall, the gilded bronze incense burner emitted a delicate, soothing fragrance—a scent Shen Wei had secretly sent to him. Its aroma was refreshing and helped alleviate fatigue.
Three years had passed without them meeting, yet traces of Shen Wei were everywhere.
"Your Majesty, Consort Shu has arrived," a eunuch announced softly, bowing as he entered.
Li Yuanjing frowned, a flicker of displeasure crossing his eyes. "Let her in."
Moments later, the graceful figure of Lu Xuan entered Chang'an Palace. She had dressed meticulously today, her hair styled in an elegant Lingxu updo, clad in a light green cloud-patterned palace gown, exuding charm.
She curtsied and said with a bright smile, "As the spring grows warmer, I prepared silver ear and lotus seed soup for Your Majesty."
Li Yuanjing motioned for a eunuch to bring the bowl to his desk but did not drink it immediately, nor did he engage in further conversation with Lu Xuan.
A faint shadow of disappointment and sorrow crossed Lu Xuan’s eyes before she curtsied again. "I shall take my leave."
When Lu Xuan first entered the palace, she had carried her family’s expectations. Yet upon meeting the emperor, she had unwittingly fallen for him—his handsome features, dignified bearing, diligence in governance, and compassion for his people made him a rare and exemplary ruler, as well as a husband.
Lu Xuan had been ambitious, certain she could win the emperor’s love.
She was beautiful and talented, surpassing all other women in the harem. Surely Li Yuanjing would succumb to her charms.
Indeed, in her first year in the palace, Lu Xuan had received the most imperial favor. During their most intimate period, she had ground ink and burned incense for him, sharing moonlit nights and poetry.
That year had been like a dream—they had seemed like a devoted couple, and Lu Xuan had lost herself in the illusion.
But two years later, even the most fervent passion had cooled.
Lu Xuan could feel the emperor’s affection for her waning, bit by bit.
She couldn’t understand why. Was she not beautiful? Was she not gentle? She possessed all the virtues a woman should have—grace, virtue, talent, and beauty—yet the emperor’s feelings for her continued to fade.
No matter how hard she tried to salvage their relationship, she could only watch helplessly as his heart drifted away.
Walking through the imperial garden, gazing at the roses blooming along the walls, Lu Xuan sighed deeply. "The emperor is truly fickle..."
Her maid Xiaoqin comforted her patiently, "My lady, which woman in the harem hasn’t gone through this? His Majesty spends four or five nights a month with you—you are already the most favored consort."
The emperor never indulged in sensual pleasures.
In the three years since his ascension, he had favored many concubines in succession.
When Lu Xuan first entered the palace, she had been wary of other favored consorts, secretly scheming to bring them down. But later, she realized she needn’t have bothered—these newcomers were all fleeting.
Because the emperor quickly lost interest in them.
Xie Fanglan of the Xie family, once the most favored, had been demoted to Consort Lan, with the emperor visiting her fewer than five times a year.
By comparison, Lu Xuan was the luckiest—in the desolate harem, she still received the most attention and favor.
"You’re right. I should be content. The emperor’s heart belongs to the realm—he won’t be tied down by a woman." Lu Xuan closed her eyes, masking her melancholy.
The emperor was heartless—one could not expect love from him. When Lu Xuan first entered the palace, she had scorned Liu Ruyan and Zhang Miaoyu, thinking them aimless and idle.
Now, she realized they weren’t wasting their lives—they had simply seen through the truth.
Lu Xuan decided she should no longer fixate on the emperor. She had a lively, healthy son now—he was what truly mattered.
For her child and her family, she had to find a way to pave his path to the throne.
Lu Xuan pondered in her mind. Currently, the only threat to her son was the Empress's son, Li Chengzhen. The sons of the other concubines were timid and ignorant, posing no danger.
Years ago, Lu Xuan had secretly orchestrated the death of the Empress's eldest son, Li Chengke. But the Empress had been vigilant, and Lu Xuan had failed to eliminate her younger son.
Yet as long as the Empress remained in power, Lu Xuan had to find a way to overthrow her and claim the throne for herself.
Lost in thought, Lu Xuan walked back to her palace with her personal maid, intending to bypass the imperial garden. As she strolled, a child suddenly dashed toward her and collided with her.
The boy was thin and small. Tilting his head up, he caught sight of Lu Xuan, dressed in dazzling finery, and recoiled as if he had seen a ghost. He burst into terrified sobs, crying out, "Mother! Wuwuwu..."
Lu Xuan's brow twitched slightly as she recognized the child—the seventh prince, Li Chengxun, son of Concubine Liu Qiao'er.
Hearing the cries, Liu Qiao'er, who had been in the imperial garden, rushed over in a panic. When she saw her son had bumped into the resplendent Lu Xuan, her face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat dripped down her back.
