Moxun gave an awkward smile, gazing pleadingly at Shen Wei: "Imperial Consort Chen, we were once acquainted in the past, and I was as close as brothers with your younger brother—could you help me?"
Cai Lian quickly lowered her head and walked to the chamber entrance, leaving the space to Shen Wei and the renowned physician Moxun.
Inside the room, incense smoke curled from the bronze burner, filling the air with a faint, pleasant fragrance. Shen Wei gestured for Moxun to take a seat.
Without hesitation, Moxun plopped onto a nearby rosewood chair and got straight to the point: "I won’t hide it from you. For years, I’ve been imprisoned in the Yue Kingdom. This time, I sneaked into the Yue envoy’s delegation to reach Yanjing. Now that the delegation has left, I stayed behind in secret."
"I’ve offended the Yue Kingdom’s Grand Preceptor, and he’s hunting me relentlessly. I had no choice but to take refuge in the imperial hospital. Today, when Cai Lian came to fetch a physician, I seized the chance to come to Yongning Palace."
"I’ve thought it through—the safest place for me is within the Qing State’s palace. No matter how far the Grand Preceptor’s reach extends, he wouldn’t dare infiltrate here. Imperial Consort Chen, please help me stay in the imperial hospital. Let me hide here for a year or two, get some proper sleep."
Moxun was truly desperate.
No matter where she hid or how well-concealed her location was, the Grand Preceptor, skilled in divination, always found her with ease.
Her only hope was to seek help from Imperial Consort Shen Wei.
Shen Wei took a sip of warm spring tea and smiled. "Since fate has brought us together again, I’ll help you stay in the imperial hospital."
Shen Wei had been troubled by the lack of her own people in the imperial hospital.
What luck—just as she was in need, the famed physician Moxun had delivered herself to her doorstep. Shen Wei wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
She had to secure Moxun’s loyalty.
Moxun clasped her hands together in gratitude, deeply moved. "I’m endlessly grateful! From now on, I’ll take care of your health. I can’t promise immortality, but I guarantee you’ll live peacefully to eighty."
Shen Wei’s lips curved upward, her mood brightening.
Moxun added, "Later, I’ll return to the imperial hospital and prepare a special antidote. Within ten days, I’ll ensure the poison in your system is completely purged—without His Majesty ever noticing you were poisoned."
Shen Wei set down her teacup and replied leisurely, "I nearly died from poisoning. His Majesty must know. In fact, I want him to investigate and uncover the mastermind behind it."
Moxun’s eyes widened. Was that even possible?
...
...
In Changan Palace, Li Yuanjing was reviewing memorials when the Tiger Guard entered silently and knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty, among the Yue Kingdom’s envoys, a delegate named Moxun has separated from the group and infiltrated the imperial hospital."
Li Yuanjing paused mid-motion.
He knew of Moxun—the famed physician. Over the years, the Yue Kingdom’s Grand Preceptor had expended considerable effort to capture her.
Yet Moxun was cunning and resourceful. Every time she was caught, she managed to escape unnoticed after some time.
"Your Majesty, shall we apprehend her?" the Tiger Guard asked.
Li Yuanjing shook his head. "Not yet. Wait until the Yue Kingdom’s Grand Preceptor offers something in exchange."
Setting aside the memorial, Li Yuanjing took a sip of tea. The Tiger Guard continued his report: "Several individuals spreading rumors have been interrogated under torture. They confessed, but the mastermind behind the slander against General Shen Mieyue—claiming his achievements overshadowed the throne—remains unknown. One had a Yunzhou accent."
Li Yuanjing’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Yunzhou... the Duke of Lu’s territory.
After ascending the throne, Li Yuanjing had deliberately empowered regional noble families to counterbalance the entrenched aristocratic factions in the capital, pitting them against each other.
The Lu family, a once-glorious lineage, had declined in recent decades. However, since Imperial Consort Lu Xuan entered the palace, the family had regained prominence.
Though the Lu family had reclaimed their former glory, their arrogance had resurfaced—colluding with Lu Xuan to sell official positions, placing incompetent relatives in key roles, and sowing discord between the emperor and his new ministers.
"The Lu family..." A flicker of killing intent passed through Li Yuanjing’s eyes.
The decaying noble houses hindering Qing State’s progress would be uprooted, one by one. The Lu family was no exception.
The Tiger Guard withdrew silently.
Shortly after, Chief Eunuch De Shun entered to announce, "Your Majesty, Imperial Consort Shu requests an audience."
Li Yuanjing frowned slightly. "Send her away."
As De Shun turned to relay the message, Li Yuanjing suddenly changed his mind. "Let her in."
Moments later, Imperial Consort Lu Xuan glided into the hall. She was radiantly dressed in a pale pink cloud-patterned ruqun, draped with a delicate brocade vest, her dark hair styled in a cascading chignon adorned with a floral hairpin.
Like a peony in full bloom, her beauty was dazzling.
With graceful deference, she curtsied and lifted her eyes, smiling sweetly. "With summer approaching, my father gifted me a box of triple-sleep silkworm thread. I had the court seamstresses craft a sheer gauze robe, which I’ve brought especially for Your Majesty."
The sheer robe was light and breathable, perfect for the summer heat.
Li Yuanjing nodded. "You are thoughtful, Imperial Consort Shu."
Lu Xuan’s heart ached faintly.
She saw no joy in Li Yuanjing’s expression—only indifference.
At some point, his address for her had shifted from the affectionate "Xuan’er" to the distant "Imperial Consort Shu." It was as though their once-harmonious days existed only in her memories.
Forcing a smile, Lu Xuan ventured, "Your Majesty, I’ve prepared a chess game in Changxin Palace tonight. Will you come?"
Li Yuanjing did not commit, replying flatly, "Return to your palace first."
Lu Xuan’s disappointment was palpable. She suspected His Majesty would likely spend the evening with Imperial Consort Chen in Yongning Palace.
Since Shen Wei’s return, the emperor had mostly stayed with her, occasionally visiting Changxin Palace or Kunning Palace.
Changxin Palace had grown increasingly desolate.
Lu Xuan curtsied again, her eyes betraying sorrow and bitterness. "This concubine takes her leave."
Imperial Consort Chen’s return was still recent—the emperor’s fascination with her would likely last only a few months.
Lu Xuan still believed no woman could hold an emperor’s heart forever.
With a heavy heart, she departed, her hand resting on her still-flat abdomen. She planned to announce her pregnancy during the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration.
She would use this child to reclaim the emperor’s favor from Shen Wei.
...
After Lu Xuan left, Li Yuanjing lost interest in reviewing memorials. He headed to the palace training grounds, instructing De Shun to summon his two sons, Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou.
Li Yuanjing taught the boys archery.
The children’s bows and targets were small, but after consistent practice, their skills had improved significantly.
Pleased, Li Yuanjing patted their heads and praised them warmly.
Li Chengyou puffed out his chest proudly. "It’s all because of you, Father! You’re the greatest hero in the world!"
The boy’s genuine admiration drew a rare chuckle from the emperor.
After an hour of training, dusk fell. Li Yuanjing sent his sons back to Cining Palace and proceeded to Yongning Palace to accompany Shen Wei.
As night deepened, lanterns illuminated the palace rooftops. Servants knelt in reverence as the imperial procession passed. Along the way, Li Yuanjing caught a faint medicinal scent and spotted Cai Ping, Shen Wei’s maid, kneeling nervously with a package from the imperial hospital.
Li Yuanjing’s gaze sharpened. "Is Imperial Consort Chen unwell?"
Cai Ping shook her head, her expression flustered. Suddenly, she clenched her teeth stubbornly, her body trembling. "N-no... Consort Chen is perfectly fine. This medicine is for me. Last night, I... I suddenly came down with a high fever, so I went to the Imperial Hospital to get some medicine."
The lie was painfully obvious.
Li Yuanjing said coldly, "Tell me the truth."
