Shen Wei personally went to the gates of Yongning Palace to welcome her guests.
As soon as Zhao Yang appeared, she happily spread her arms to embrace Shen Wei, beaming with joy. "You're finally back! It seems my imperial brother still has a conscience."
Shen Wei invited the two inside.
Zhang Miaoyu curiously glanced around, taking in the familiar furnishings of Yongning Palace—almost identical to the Glazed Pavilion in Prince Yan's Mansion.
Rumors had been swirling through the palace, claiming that Shen Wei's return was solely due to her brother, a powerful general commanding troops. But seeing the meticulous recreation of her old residence, Zhang Miaoyu realized the rumors were false.
The Emperor had long intended to bring Shen Wei back—otherwise, why would he have gone to such lengths to restore Yongning Palace?
Zhang Miaoyu was genuinely happy for Shen Wei. She leaned in, chattering excitedly, "Sister Shen, do you have lotus flower pastries, fried dumplings, mint tea, and chilled milk pudding?"
Compared to the Emperor’s elusive favor, Zhang Miaoyu much preferred the delicacies in Shen Wei’s courtyard.
Love couldn’t hold a candle to good food.
Shen Wei smiled. "Of course, but don’t overindulge."
The spring air was stuffy indoors, so Shen Wei led Zhang Miaoyu and Zhao Yang to the waterside pavilion. Cai Lian and Cai Ping brought out exquisite pastries and tea.
A gentle breeze stirred the pavilion’s gauzy curtains, and lotus leaves had begun to peek through the pond’s surface. Occasionally, fish darted beneath the water, their silver flashes vanishing in an instant. Amid the serene scenery, Zhang Miaoyu savored the treats while Zhao Yang sipped her tea contentedly.
Zhao Yang sighed in satisfaction. "Nowhere feels as comfortable as your place."
There was something inexplicably soothing about Shen Wei’s courtyard—every time Zhao Yang stepped inside, her spirit seemed to unwind.
Shen Wei asked, "How have you been these past three years, Your Highness?"
Zhao Yang set down her delicate porcelain teacup, her face alight with happiness. "After taking your advice three years ago, I immersed myself in understanding the people’s hardships and aiding the poor. Bringing them relief has brought me great fulfillment."
Petty romance paled in comparison to the welfare of the people.
Zhao Yang’s heart belonged to the masses.
This left Shen Wei stunned. She frowned in confusion. "I... gave you advice?"
She didn’t recall any such thing.
Zhao Yang eagerly explained, "Don’t you remember? Three years ago, I sneaked off to Donghua Mountain to seek you out, searching for life’s true meaning. You told me to walk among the common folk, to understand their struggles."
A vague memory surfaced in Shen Wei’s mind. She asked incredulously, "I told you to go buy eggs at the market... and that somehow led you to enlightenment?"
Zhao Yang nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly!"
Shen Wei was speechless.
That hadn’t been her intention at all. At the time, she’d just been brushing Zhao Yang off with a flippant remark.
Imagine this: you’re toiling away in the remote mountains, exhausted and scheming for your future, when a privileged noblewoman suddenly appears, lamenting how bored she is and how burdensome her wealth feels.
What would you think?
You’d probably assume she had too much free time...
Back then, Shen Wei had snapped, "If you’re so idle, go buy eggs at the market."
Who could’ve guessed that Zhao Yang—this earnest fool—would actually do it? And from that simple errand, she’d somehow grasped the weight of her royal duty.
Zhao Yang sighed, her brow furrowing with sorrow. "Over these three years, I’ve taken in hundreds of orphans, sending them to study. If any of them grow into capable individuals, they’ll serve Great Qing Kingdom. I used to believe our nation was prosperous and strong, but I never imagined so many still suffered... Alas, I can only do what little I can to help."
Her heart ached for the people’s struggles, yet her power was limited.
Shen Wei praised her sincerely. "Your Highness, you’ve already done more than enough."
Just then, Zhang Miaoyu—mouth still full of pastries—leaned in, her plump face creased with worry. "Have you heard about the Yue Kingdom envoy? Their new emperor wishes to marry a princess from Qing."
Great Qing had no shortage of princesses, but Zhao Yang was the only one of marriageable age.
Zhao Yang took a slow sip of tea, her lashes fluttering slightly. "I’ve heard whispers of it."
The newly crowned Emperor of Yue was said to be a man of remarkable talent and vision. He had voluntarily ceased hostilities, proposing a century-long peace treaty with Qing.
A royal marriage would be the perfect seal on this alliance.
Noticing Zhao Yang’s silence, Zhang Miaoyu offered comfort. "Don’t fret. The imperial clan has many eligible young women. They could choose one of exceptional beauty and talent, confer upon her the title of princess, and send her in your stead."
A political marriage didn’t require the eldest princess.
Zhao Yang was the Empress Dowager’s own daughter, the Emperor’s full sister, and beloved by the people. Sending her to wed the Yue Emperor would be an injustice.
Court officials had already begun debating the matter, most agreeing that selecting a noblewoman as a substitute was the best solution.
Zhao Yang set down her cup, gazing at the budding lotus leaves in the pond. Softly, she murmured, "Every girl is her parents’ cherished child. For one to suffer in my place... I couldn’t live with that guilt."
Among the orphans she’d rescued, many had lost parents to border wars.
War tore families apart, leaving countless displaced.
Zhao Yang thought: if this marriage could secure peace, sparing Qing’s children the pain of losing their families, then it would be worth it.
She had been raised on the people’s labor—wasn’t it her duty to protect them in return?
Time slipped by as they chatted in the pavilion.
At dusk, Zhang Miaoyu and Zhao Yang reluctantly took their leave. Before departing, Zhang Miaoyu happily pocketed several boxes of pastries, thoroughly satisfied.
...
That night, the Emperor once again stayed at Yongning Palace.
For the next ten days, he remained with Shen Wei without fail. Such favor left the entire harem wide-eyed.
When Noble Consort Lu Xuan first entered the palace, the Emperor had stayed with her for six consecutive nights—already an unprecedented honor. Now, his devotion to Consort Shen showed no signs of waning, stirring unease among the concubines.
In Yongning Palace, vibrant crabapple blossoms adorned the courtyard. Shen Wei was reviewing the harem’s ledgers, analyzing expenditures, when Cai Lian approached respectfully.
"My lady, Eunuch De Shun has arrived with a gift from His Majesty—a dried fish imported from the Eastern Kingdom. It seems the Emperor wishes to dine on it tonight."
Shen Wei closed the ledger, sighing. "Must he come again...?"
If the Emperor wasn’t tired of it, she certainly was.
Cai Lian coughed lightly, tactfully reminding her, "My lady, mind your words. His Majesty’s heart belongs to you—naturally, he wishes to see you daily."
Shen Wei massaged her temples in despair.
They said absence made the heart grow fonder, but after ten straight days, even the freshest novelty should’ve worn off. Yet Li Yuanjing seemed insatiable—relentless in his nightly pursuits, sometimes even visiting her in broad daylight...
At this rate, her bones would soon turn to dust.
At this rate, her contraceptive concoctions would lose their effect.
At this rate, Noble Consort Lu and the Empress might unite against her, turning her into the harem’s prime target.
Shen Wei didn’t want the Emperor’s exclusive favor—just enough attention to secure her position.
Seven or eight visits a month would suffice. As for where he spent the rest of his time, she couldn’t care less.
She needed solitude—to strategize her merchant ventures in Yanjing, to master the intricacies of managing the imperial household.
Shen Wei rose to her feet, supporting her still-aching waist. "The Empress Dowager's birthday is approaching. I shall go to Cining Palace to accompany her and copy Buddhist scriptures for blessings."
By taking the initiative to leave, the Emperor surely wouldn't come demanding her presence at the Empress Dowager's quarters.
Cai Lian frowned slightly, noticing the dark circles under Shen Wei's eyes and the lingering bruises on her fair neck. In the end, she nodded. "This servant will make the arrangements immediately."
...
...
As dusk fell, Li Yuanjing habitually began walking toward Yongning Palace when De Shun, the chief eunuch, tactfully informed him that Shen Wei had been summoned by the Empress Dowager to copy scriptures.
A pang of melancholy struck Li Yuanjing—he hadn’t had his fill of tender moments with Shen Wei yet.
But after all, it was the Empress Dowager. He couldn’t very well barge into Cining Palace to demand her back. After a brief contemplation, Li Yuanjing decided to return to Xuanming Hall to rest.
After a few steps, he paused, realizing he hadn’t seen Consort Lu Xuan in quite some time. Lu Xuan, who assisted the Empress in managing the imperial harem, had kept the inner court relatively peaceful—a fact that pleased Li Yuanjing.
Lu Xuan hailed from the Duke of Guo's household, and the Lu family's influence had expanded rapidly over the past two years. Li Yuanjing couldn’t afford to neglect Consort Lu entirely; he had to visit her palace occasionally.
The imperial sedan chair moved along the palace path as Li Yuanjing sat deep in thought about the matter concerning the Yue Kingdom's envoy. As they passed by a palace courtyard, his gaze casually fell upon two children playing inside.
"Stop the sedan," he commanded.
