He was no longer the tireless wolf of Prince Yan's Mansion from the past. Burdened with court affairs and lacking exercise, he had developed... problems in that area.
No wonder, in the three years since the emperor ascended the throne, only two or three concubines in the harem had conceived. It wasn’t that the concubines weren’t trying—it was the plowing ox that had failed.
Shen Wei grew anxious, her mind racing for solutions. Should she discreetly inform the imperial physicians to prepare tonics for the emperor?
Then again, perhaps it was better left untreated. If the emperor remained impotent, no more concubines would bear children. On the path to the throne, her son would have fewer potential rivals.
Lost in thought, Shen Wei gradually drifted into slumber.
...
The next day, as dawn barely broke.
Shen Wei forced herself out of bed, stifling a yawn as she attended to Li Yuanjing’s robes. She had slept late and was utterly exhausted. Li Yuanjing bent slightly, pinching her fair, rounded chin between his fingers, studying her drowsy face.
Utterly enchanting.
None of the other concubines would dare doze off while dressing the emperor. But after years in high status, surrounded by masked faces and false affections, his Weiwei always showed her truest self.
The more Li Yuanjing looked at her, the more he adored her. Unable to resist, he pressed her against a pillar and kissed her until her drowsiness vanished.
Shen Wei: ...
He hadn’t even rinsed his mouth yet, and he still went for it.
“I must attend court now. I’ll visit you this afternoon,” Li Yuanjing said tenderly.
Shen Wei nodded with a bright smile.
In the courtyard of Yongning Palace, Ji Xiang was directing eunuchs to uproot the rose bushes. The roses bloomed lushly, and Li Yuanjing frowned in surprise. “Weiwei, why remove the roses?”
He had a fondness for roses.
During the three years Shen Wei was away from the palace, he had ordered roses planted along the walls—a way to see her in their blooms. Gradually, the court learned of the emperor’s preference, and roses sprouted in every concubine’s courtyard, even in the gardens of many officials.
Shen Wei replied, “At Donghua Mountain, the thorns pricked my hand, and a splinter lodged deep. Even Le You cut herself picking them. I don’t like flowers with thorns.”
It was all an excuse.
She hated roses.
Because when she had tried to abandon her husband and child, the thorns had snagged her skirt, stealing away her freedom forever.
Li Yuanjing nodded thoughtfully. “Thorns are indeed troublesome.”
No need to seek solace in flowers anymore—his rose had returned.
After Li Yuanjing left for court, Shen Wei returned to her chambers for breakfast. Just as she finished, Cai Ping entered. “Mistress, the Empress Dowager summons you to Cining Palace. The imperial edict for your title has been issued.”
Without delay, Shen Wei freshened up and headed to Cining Palace with her attendants.
Along the way, she pondered what title Li Yuanjing had chosen for her.
Consort Xian? Consort De? Consort Hui? Or perhaps a unique character of his own devising?
Cining Palace gleamed with solemn grandeur.
Shen Wei entered the main hall on Cai Ping’s arm, finding the Empress, Consort Shu, Zhang Miaoyu, and others already present.
The moment she appeared, countless scrutinizing eyes turned toward her.
Consort Shu, Lu Xuan, observed Shen Wei through half-lidded eyes. Shen Wei looked well—her skin fair, her posture unstrained. Lu Xuan relaxed slightly. Judging by Shen Wei’s condition, she likely hadn’t shared the emperor’s bed the previous night.
After such a long separation, if there had been no intimacy, the emperor’s affection for Shen Wei couldn’t be that deep.
Shen Wei curtsied gracefully. “This humble one greets the Empress Dowager and the Empress.”
Then, turning slightly, “Sisters, I hope you are well.”
The Empress Dowager spoke warmly, “Rise. No need to sit yet—Nanny Qian, summon the Ministry of Rites to announce the imperial decree.”
Nanny Qian hurried to fetch them.
Soon, the Minister of Works and a Grand Secretary entered with the decree, followed by Eunuch Zhou holding the edict. After paying respects to the Empress Dowager and Empress, Eunuch Zhou began reading:
“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Lady Shen of Yongning Palace, virtuous and noble in bearing... By the grace of the Empress Dowager, is hereby conferred the title of Consort Chen, with the accompanying seal and treasures. So it is decreed.”
Shen Wei kowtowed in acceptance.
Her maids, Cai Ping and Cai Lian, received the seal and golden insignia.
Eunuch Zhou smiled at Shen Wei, offering congratulations before withdrawing respectfully.
Once back inside, Shen Wei thanked the Empress Dowager with perfect etiquette. Offered a seat, she accepted tea served by swift-handed palace maids.
The Empress frowned inwardly. She had expected the emperor to name Shen Wei “Consort De” or “Consort Hui.”
Instead, he had chosen “Chen”—a character of immense significance, another name for the North Star.
Ancient texts proclaimed: The heavens move endlessly, yet the pole star remains unmoved. Like the North Star, it reigns while all others revolve around it. By granting Shen Wei this title, the emperor had made clear her standing in his heart.
From her seat, the Empress Dowager instructed calmly, “Empress, Consort Shu, as overseers of the inner court, ensure tonight’s banquet proceeds flawlessly.”
The Empress and Lu Xuan rose in unison. “We shall not disappoint.”
“The hour grows late. You may all retire.” The Empress Dowager massaged her temples. “Consort Chen, remain.”
The concubines departed one by one, their gazes lingering on Shen Wei—some pleased, some indifferent, some burning with envy or wariness.
Lu Xuan, however, remained composed. Flowers could not bloom forever. Temporary favor meant little. She wouldn’t act against Shen Wei yet—the harem was vast, and others would surely try.
Like Consort Lan, Xie Fanglan.
Of the Xie family, the Empress Dowager’s own niece, Xie Fanglan’s fortunes were sure to rise now that her aunt had returned.
...
Once the concubines had gone, Shen Wei sipped her tea as Le You and Li Chengyou dashed in from the rear courtyard, throwing themselves into her arms.
Le You chirped sweetly, “Mother, I want to sleep with you tonight!”
Li Chengyou protested at once, “Father will be with Mother. We’ll sneak in when he’s away.”
Le You pouted. “Fine...”
She toddled to the Empress Dowager and clambered into her lap, hugging her arm. “If Mother has Father, I’ll stay with Grandmother and make her happy every day!”
The Empress Dowager’s wrinkles deepened with delight.
Shen Wei cuddled her younger son. “Where’s Chengtai?”
Li Chengyou answered obediently, “Elder Brother is reading. Grandmother’s study has so many books—he wants to live there!”
Shen Wei worried. Her eldest son was too diligent for his age, already caught in the grind of relentless study.
“Mother, please have someone watch him. He’s too young—don’t let him ruin his eyes,” Shen Wei urged.
The Empress Dowager smiled kindly. “I’ve assigned two nannies to limit his reading to two hours daily. The kitchen prepares eye-nourishing fruits and soups for him.”
That her grandson loved learning so fiercely without prompting filled the Empress Dowager with pride.
Shen Wei pondered for a moment before speaking: "Empress Dowager, Chengtai is still young and cannot yet attend the Imperial College or Anguo Temple. Since he loves reading, why not hire a learned scholar to teach him daily?"
The Empress Dowager had the same thought.
But who should be chosen as Chengtai’s tutor?
Shen Wei had already made up her mind. She told the Empress Dowager, "Old Master Yang Xuanji is erudite, upright, and has mentored countless students. He was also my younger brother’s teacher. Empress Dowager, do you think he would be suitable?"
The Empress Dowager cast a faint glance at Shen Wei. "You’ve planned far ahead. When did you set your sights on Yang Xuanji?"
Shen Wei smiled sheepishly and confessed honestly, "To be frank with you, Empress Dowager, I had already decided to ask Yang Xuanji to be the children’s tutor when Chengtai and Chengyou were just born."
A look of admiration flickered in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. Truly, parents who love their children plan for their future.
But Shen Wei’s calculations were too meticulous—she had even chosen a tutor for her children the moment they were born.
After a brief consideration, the Empress Dowager said, "That Yang Xuanji has a peculiar temper. In a few days, I shall issue a decree ordering him to teach Chengtai. If the lessons prove unsatisfactory, we can always choose another tutor."
The atmosphere in Cining Palace was harmonious, with Shen Wei and the Empress Dowager getting along comfortably and at ease.
As Shen Wei leisurely sipped her tea, the Empress Dowager asked another question, "Do you feel slighted, having only been granted the title of Consort?"
Given Shen Wei’s status, she could very well have been named Noble Consort.
Shen Wei set down her teacup and replied with equanimity, "The higher one climbs, the harder one falls. As long as His Majesty holds me in his heart, titles and status are but fleeting illusions."
There was no need to rush—there would be plenty of time ahead.
Moreover, Shen Wei still harbored caution toward the Emperor and dared not act too boldly. For now, his favor toward her was merely out of nostalgia for their shared past in Prince Yan’s Mansion. Life was long, and dangers lurked everywhere. Shen Wei could not afford to let her guard down.
The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction. Shen Wei’s temperament was neither impatient nor impulsive; she considered matters thoroughly and always kept a long-term perspective. Such qualities were truly rare.
Were it not for the Empress’s formidable family background, the Empress Dowager would have even considered elevating Shen Wei to the position of Empress.
After spending some time in Cining Palace, Shen Wei reluctantly took her leave. Before she departed, the Empress Dowager instructed Nanny Qian to fetch a fresh, large pumpkin from the kitchen and give it to Shen Wei.
"A pumpkin?" Shen Wei was taken aback, wondering if she had misheard.
The Empress Dowager explained, "This is a golden-thread pumpkin, a tribute from Donglin State. It was delivered to Qing State with its vines and soil still attached. Take it back to your palace and have the chefs steam it, then drizzle it with honey. The taste is exquisite."
Silently, Shen Wei accepted the large pumpkin.
At times, Shen Wei truly felt that the Empress Dowager treated her like a daughter.
This was a reward she had earned. During their three years together on Donghua Mountain, Shen Wei had treated the Empress Dowager with sincerity, and in return, she had received the Empress Dowager’s genuine affection.
...
Carrying the large pumpkin, Shen Wei discreetly left Cining Palace. From behind a stone lion, Consort Lan, Xie Fanglan, emerged, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on Shen Wei and her entourage.
"So the rumors are false. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager doesn’t treat Consort Shen with any particular favor," Xie Fanglan gloated.
Her personal maid asked in confusion, "What makes you say that, Mistress?"
Xie Fanglan sneered, "Gifting a pumpkin—how laughable."
If the Empress Dowager truly valued Consort Shen, she would have bestowed gold, silver, or jewels, not something as worthless as a pumpkin.
Adjusting her expensive robes, Xie Fanglan strode haughtily into Cining Palace. As the Empress Dowager’s own niece, sharing the same lineage, she was certain the Empress Dowager would take her side and help her regain her former rank as Consort.
As she entered the front courtyard of Cining Palace, a nanny asked Xie Fanglan to wait while she went to announce her arrival. Bored, Xie Fanglan lingered in the courtyard, contemplating how to plead her case to the Empress Dowager, when a soft, sweet voice called out from the eastern side of the yard.
"Little brother, put down the date cake—you can’t eat any more!" Le You panted as she chased after her younger sibling.
Li Chengyou clutched the date cake and dashed away like a rabbit.
Le You toddled after him on her chubby little legs.
In her haste, she accidentally bumped into Xie Fanglan in the courtyard. Dizzy, Le You rubbed her forehead and apologized sweetly, "This Lady, it was all Le You’s carelessness—"
Xie Fanglan had dressed meticulously for her audience with the Empress Dowager, wearing an expensive thin silk embroidered robe over a wine-red ruqun with water-patterned embroidery. The collision nearly ruined her delicate outer robe.
With a scowl, Xie Fanglan shoved Le You aside. "What ill manners! You’ve nearly torn my gown!"
Le You was only four years old, small and fragile. Caught off guard by the push, her tiny body tumbled to the ground with a thud.
