Only demons never lose their youthful beauty.
Granny Liu remarked, "Shen Wei resides on Donghua Mountain. The mountain's spiritual energy must be abundant, which is why her appearance hasn't aged a single day."
The Empress was deeply troubled, rubbing her temples wearily. The faces of Shen Wei's three children flashed before her eyes—each one fair as jade, lively, and healthy. The Emperor's gaze when looking at Le You brimmed with paternal affection.
As for the two boys, despite their young age, they were robust and unflinching even in grand settings.
A sense of alarm stirred in the Empress' heart.
Shen Wei had two sons. What if the Emperor chose one of them as his heir? The Empress dared not dwell on the thought.
She had to suppress Shen Wei and find a way to eliminate her children. After a moment's deliberation, the Empress instructed Granny Liu, "In two days, summon Shen Wei and her three children to pay their respects to me."
Granny Liu felt a pang of distress. Was the Empress planning to act against Shen Wei again?
She had advised against it time and again, but the Empress refused to listen. That woman Shen Wei was no easy target—she was not to be trifled with!
Granny Liu could only reply, "Your Majesty, this servant has already inquired. The Empress Dowager has taken a liking to the children and brought them all to Cining Palace."
Under the Empress Dowager's protection, who in the palace would dare harm Shen Wei's children? If the Empress wished to see them, she would have to go to Cining Palace herself.
Fury simmered in the Empress' chest as she clenched her jade prayer beads. "Her Majesty is truly losing her wits! I am the Emperor's rightful wife. She pays no mind to her legitimate grandchildren yet dotes on the offspring of a mere concubine!"
Granny Liu lowered her head and remained silent.
The Empress pressed further, "The Emperor still hasn't granted Shen Wei a title. Where will she stay tonight?"
Granny Liu answered, "Yongning Palace."
The Empress tightened her grip on the beads, her heart gnawed by jealousy. "The Emperor actually bestowed Yongning Palace upon her. General Shen Mieyue's influence must be immense indeed."
Granny Liu poured another cup of tea and offered it to the Empress. The Empress ignored it, her fingers unconsciously twisting the prayer beads.
Since moving into Kunning Palace, the Empress had nearly abandoned her incense-burning and prayers, no longer habitually fingering her beads. But today, Shen Wei's grand return with her three children had stirred an inexplicable dread within her.
Once again, she found herself clutching the beads.
Her eyes icy, the Empress spoke in a shrill voice, "I have been Empress for three years. Even Lu Xuan couldn't bring me down—how could a newcomer like Shen Wei possibly threaten me? Granny Liu, order the palace maids in Yongning Palace to keep a close watch on Shen Wei!"
Among the existing servants in Yongning Palace were the Empress' spies. She needed to monitor every move, leaving Shen Wei no chance to rise again.
Granny Liu sighed inwardly. Every time the Empress encountered Shen Wei, she lost all rationality.
Some people were determined to throw themselves into the fire, and no warning could stop them.
...
It wasn't just the Empress who viewed Shen Wei with wariness. In Changxin Palace, Noble Consort Lu Xuan was equally on edge.
As dusk faded and darkness crept in, Lu Xuan sat by the window, removing hair ornaments before her mirror, her brows tightly knit.
Her personal maid, Little Qin, entered and began helping her remove her makeup while reporting, "Your Highness, Qi and the others have gathered news. The Emperor has settled Shen Wei in Yongning Palace, while her three children are staying with the Empress Dowager. Tonight, His Majesty will be lodging in Yongning Palace."
Lu Xuan sighed. "It seems the Emperor still harbors lingering affection for that woman."
Little Qin reassured her, "It's merely the novelty of reunion. Once the excitement fades, Shen Wei's favor won't compare to yours, Your Highness. You've enjoyed the Emperor's exclusive devotion for two years—no one else comes close."
Lu Xuan exhaled slowly.
True, the Emperor's feelings for Shen Wei were likely just a fleeting fascination.
If he truly loved her, why hadn't he granted her a title? A ruler's affection had its limits—emperors were never known for constancy.
Yet, watching him lavish attention on another woman still made Lu Xuan's heart ache dully.
"That Shen Wei is rather surprising," Lu Xuan mused, pulling out a white jade hairpin. "Born a peasant girl, yet she's as radiant as a maiden untouched—hardly like a mother of three."
Before childbirth, Lu Xuan had once outshone all in the harem. But after bearing children, she could feel her beauty fading—her cheeks thinning, her eyes losing their luster.
No amount of beauty tonics could restore what time had stolen.
Seeing Shen Wei's glowing vitality today had made Lu Xuan feel dull in comparison.
At first glance, both Lu Xuan and Liu Ruyan were more beautiful than Shen Wei. Yet Shen Wei possessed an innate vibrancy, fresh and lively, like tender shoots breaking through spring soil.
Little Qin grumbled, "Your Highness, why keep praising Shen Wei? You're only boosting her morale while dampening your own."
Lu Xuan chuckled, tapping the maid's forehead lightly. "Acknowledging an opponent's strengths helps us recognize our own weaknesses."
Little Qin nodded, though only half-understanding.
Lu Xuan smirked. "Let's hold our ground for now. I'd like to see just how capable Shen Wei really is."
...
Meanwhile, following the Emperor's orders, Eunuch Deshun personally escorted Shen Wei to Yongning Palace.
"Yongning Palace? Isn't that where the Emperor goes fishing?" Shen Wei was taken aback.
This palace held special significance.
Originally, there had been a clear pond called "Yongning Pool," adjacent to the Emperor's private retreat, Xuanming Hall.
Li Yuanjing would occasionally fish there to pass the time. Eventually, he ordered the Ministry of Works to expand the site into a spacious detached palace, naming it "Yongning Palace."
Eunuch Deshun smiled warmly. "His Majesty arranged everything in advance for you to reside here."
He pushed open the palace gates.
The architecture closely resembled the Glazed Pavilion of the Yan Prince's estate—even the waterside pavilion was nearly identical. Only the vegetable garden was absent, replaced by beds of crimson roses.
Inside, the halls were fully furnished. Gilded incense burners wafted delicate fragrance, and the bedchamber's quilts were neatly arranged.
As night fell, lanterns illuminated Yongning Palace.
Long-unseen faces—Cai Ping and Nanny Rong—appeared, their eyes glistening. All the eunuchs and maids from the Glazed Pavilion days knelt in reverence, their voices trembling with emotion.
"Welcome back, Your Highness!"
Shen Wei smiled. "Rise, all of you."
Nanny Rong, a seasoned palace matron, had overseen palace maids, while Cai Ping had served as a culinary officer, gathering gossip from every corner. Upon Shen Wei's return, Li Yuanjing had reassigned them to her service.
As for Eunuch Deshun, his diligence had earned him the position of deputy chief eunuch—too senior to return as her personal attendant.
After exchanging pleasantries, Shen Wei wasted no time. "Cai Ping, dismiss all the original servants in Yongning Palace—not a single one stays. Nanny Rong, personally select a few clever and capable replacements."
"Ji Xiang, tomorrow take a few young eunuchs and uproot the rose bushes in the courtyard. From now on, no roses shall be planted in Yongning Palace. Instead, prepare a vegetable garden and flower beds—plant vegetables and flowers. Set up two archery targets in the backyard, and have the Palace Administration Bureau deliver a bow and arrows."
"Tomorrow, also remove the lanterns from the courtyard walls and replace them with festive flower lanterns. Every corner—front and back of the house, rooftops, underground, even the ponds—must be inspected three times over. Ensure nothing suspicious or harmful remains. The bedding inside the chambers is to be replaced with green satin covers... As long as you serve me well, I shall reward you handsomely."
Shen Wei issued her orders methodically, while Cai Lian and Cai Ping listened attentively, their brushes scratching swiftly across paper. Their eyes gleamed with barely contained excitement.
Cai Ping thought fervently, That familiar drive—it’s back!
In the lifeless confines of the imperial harem, only under Shen Wei’s leadership did they feel this exhilarating rush of purpose, this thrill of overcoming obstacles!
A new chapter had begun.
Night deepened, the crescent moon hanging high amidst a smattering of stars. The lanterns of Yongning Palace swayed in the evening breeze, and the copper wind chimes at the eaves tinkled softly.
After her bath, Shen Wei reclined at her rosewood desk, practicing calligraphy with deliberate, slow strokes. Just then, Eunuch Deshun’s voice carried in from outside:
"His Majesty has arrived."
