Li Yuanjing's movement of supporting his waist stiffened, a hint of discomfort flashing across his handsome face.
His waist did indeed have a slight strain.
When Shen Wei got jealous, the consequences were severe. Li Yuanjing closed his eyes, recalling that unforgettable night.
Shen Wei was like a seductive enchantress from an illustrated tale—clingy, bewitching... From sheer bliss to barely being able to straighten his back, Li Yuanjing had to lean against the wall the next morning as he walked.
An emperor, trained in martial arts since childhood, had actually been left sore by a single woman like Shen Wei. After much reflection, Li Yuanjing concluded that his recent preoccupation with state affairs and lack of exercise had led to the stiffness.
Thus, he carved out time to strengthen his body.
"The affairs of state are demanding, and sitting for long hours reviewing memorials has strained my waist." Matters of masculine dignity were at stake, so Li Yuanjing naturally couldn’t reveal the real reason to his son and instead offered an excuse to brush it off.
Li Chengyou’s little brows furrowed in concern. "Mother Consort said prolonged sitting harms the body. Imperial Father, you should stand and walk around after reviewing memorials for a while, or else you might develop chronic back pain in the future."
Li Yuanjing replied, "I know what I’m doing. Go back to practicing archery."
Li Chengyou nodded obediently before dashing off like a lively little top to the archery range.
Li Yuanjing returned to rest under the shade of a pavilion, where De Shun promptly served him a soothing cup of tea.
De Shun said, "Your Majesty, Lady Xue requests an audience."
Li Yuanjing paused mid-sip. "Who?"
Preoccupied with court affairs these past few days, he genuinely couldn’t recall who Lady Xue was.
Fortunately, De Shun was quick-witted and elaborated, "Five days ago, during the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, a young lady from the Tantai Family performed on the guqin. Your Majesty granted her the title of Lady Xue and assigned her to reside in Huayang Palace."
Only then did Li Yuanjing remember—she was the new woman the Tantai Family had sent into the palace.
Li Yuanjing took another sip of tea, his mind elsewhere. "Let her in."
Moments later, a delicate fragrance wafted through the air as a graceful figure in pale purple approached. Tantai Yinxue, accompanied by a young palace maid, walked toward the pavilion where the emperor was resting.
She curtsied softly. "This humble one greets Your Majesty."
Li Yuanjing remained distracted, his gaze drifting toward the archery range where his sons were practicing. "Rise," he replied absentmindedly.
Tantai Yinxue straightened elegantly.
Her jet-black hair was coiled into an elaborate updo, adorned with a single begonia blossom. Her skin was as fair as snow, her eyes shimmering with emotion, and she wore a flowing pale purple gown with wide sleeves, paired with embroidered slippers. Every detail of her appearance was meticulously arranged—beautiful yet not overly ostentatious.
Especially striking were her long, alluring eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, brimming with seduction. She was the kind of woman who could effortlessly captivate.
Yet Li Yuanjing merely sipped his tea, his attention fixed on the archery range, leaving Tantai Yinxue standing there awkwardly.
Biting her lip lightly, she stepped forward. "Your Majesty, summer is approaching. I specially prepared a tonic to nourish the heart, calm the mind, and aid digestion and sleep. Would Your Majesty care to try it?"
Her voice was sweet and coquettish.
Li Yuanjing finally glanced at her. As expected of a beauty handpicked by the Tantai Family—up close, her features were indeed exquisite.
Sensing the emperor’s scrutiny, Tantai Yinxue blushed faintly, lowering her lashes in a demure manner.
"Leave the tonic here," Li Yuanjing said flatly.
Disappointment flickered in Tantai Yinxue’s heart, but she still managed to say shyly, "Your Majesty, the weather is quite warm today. May I stay and attend to your tea? Tonight... I wish to serve Your Majesty."
She longed for more time alone with Li Yuanjing, to lure him into her bed and gradually win his favor.
But Li Yuanjing had no intention of summoning any concubines to his chambers. His waist still ached from the wild night with Shen Wei.
"De Shun, escort her out of the training grounds," Li Yuanjing ordered.
De Shun immediately stepped forward, politely ushering Tantai Yinxue away. Her delicate face stiffened—she had never imagined the emperor would remain unmoved by her charms.
He hadn’t even bothered to exchange more than a few words with her.
A bitter sense of defeat welled up in her heart.
Reluctantly, she curtsied again and left, her mind heavy with worry. At the exit of the training grounds, her personal maid slipped a small pouch into De Shun’s hand.
De Shun pretended to refuse while pocketing it. "Ah, Lady Xue, this is unnecessary!"
Tantai Yinxue smiled gently. "Eunuch De Shun, you’ve served His Majesty for a long time. I’ve heard that new palace ladies are usually summoned to serve soon after entering the palace. Why is it that even after five days, His Majesty hasn’t called for me?"
De Shun accepted the pouch smoothly. "Lady Xue, you mustn’t overthink it. His Majesty has been preoccupied with state affairs these past few days. Just wait a little longer, and good fortune will surely come."
Tantai Yinxue could only console herself—the emperor was simply too busy to indulge in the pleasures of the inner palace.
She had no choice but to wait.
With a troubled heart, Tantai Yinxue departed. De Shun glanced at the small pouch in his hand, indifferent, and casually tossed it to a junior eunuch before returning to attend to the emperor.
The weather was splendid today. Aside from Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou, Li Chengzhen—the empress’s son—was also practicing archery in the training grounds.
Li Chengzhen was already twelve, tall for his age, and wielded a military-grade longbow.
However, he had neglected his training, and his archery skills were mediocre at best, rarely hitting the bullseye. With the empress currently under house arrest and no one pressuring him to study, Li Chengzhen had become like an unbridled wild horse, growing increasingly lax in both academics and martial training.
Meanwhile, little Li Chengtai, using a child-sized practice bow, consistently hit the target—even landing several arrows dead center.
Li Chengzhen frowned, a surge of irritation rising within him. How could he be outperformed by a mere child?
"Second Brother, Imperial Father says archery requires calm focus—you mustn’t rush," Li Chengtai said solemnly, gripping his small bow like a miniature adult.
Li Chengzhen scoffed. "You’re just a child playing with a toy bow. Hitting the target a few times doesn’t mean you’ve mastered archery. When you grow taller and use a real military bow, you’ll realize it’s no child’s play."
Li Chengtai couldn’t be bothered to argue. His mother had taught him never to waste time reasoning with fools.
Just then, Li Chengyou came running over, panting, clutching two golden loquats in his hands. "Second Brother! Eldest Brother! I brought you loquats—they’re super sweet!"
Li Chengtai set down his bow and accepted one plump fruit.
Li Chengzhen refused.
He disliked these two short, chubby brothers. His mother had always warned him that Consort Chen’s sons would be his greatest rivals in the future.
"I don’t want any," Li Chengzhen said coldly.
Li Chengyou didn’t press further, simply peeling his own loquat and savoring its sweetness.
After finishing one, he casually asked his brother, "Elder Brother, are you prepared for tomorrow’s session with Scholar Yang Xuanji?"
Yang Xuanji was a brilliant scholar personally selected by the Empress Dowager and Shen Wei to tutor Li Chengtai.
But the old man was eccentric—he refused to teach mediocrities.
If Li Chengtai performed poorly, Yang Xuanji would rather defy an imperial decree than waste his time.
"I’m ready," Li Chengtai answered seriously.
Li Chengyou’s eyes sparkled with admiration. "Elder Brother, you’re amazing! Once you pass tomorrow’s test, I’ll get two crabs from the imperial kitchen to celebrate!"
Every word of their conversation was overheard by Li Chengzhen, who continued practicing nearby.
Li Chengzhen turned around and said to the young Li Chengtai, "Yang Xuanji has an eccentric temperament. He wouldn’t even accept me as a disciple, let alone you."
