The Empress stood before the Buddhist altar, gazing blankly at the misty sky.
The Emperor's heart was ruthless. Back then, he had relied on the Tantai Family's support to secure his throne. Now that his power had grown, he had begun purging the old noble families who once aided him.
With her family annihilated, the Empress was left utterly alone.
Leaning against a pillar, she thought to herself—the edict to depose her would likely arrive soon.
Once she fell, the position of the Six Palaces' sovereign would lie vacant. Shen Wei and Lu Xuan would surely fight tooth and nail for the title of Empress, and the harem would once again be thrown into turmoil.
Wild chrysanthemums swayed in the courtyard breeze, their scent mingling with the heavy incense from the altar.
The Empress clenched her prayer beads, suddenly smiling. "The seat of the Six Palaces' sovereign is not an easy one to hold. Shen Wei, Lu Xuan, Concubine Lan—sooner or later, they will become the next me."
Though the Emperor now doted on Shen Wei, it was merely an illusion.
In the future, if the Shen family threatened imperial authority, the Emperor would not hesitate to eliminate her.
Before imperial power, there was no such thing as familial love or romance.
...
...
Autumn was the season for crabs.
Shen Wei had the imperial kitchen steam several plump ones and packed them into a food box. She then headed to Cining Palace to deliver them to the Empress Dowager and the children as a treat.
Today was a day of rest, so the children had no studies.
Le You and Li Nanzhi sat around a stone table, carefully crafting Mid-Autumn lanterns under Zhang Miaoyu's guidance.
Chengtai and Chengyou, dressed in simple short robes, wielded wooden practice swords as they sparred in the courtyard, testing the martial arts techniques their instructor had taught them.
Li Wan'er accompanied the Empress Dowager, admiring the blooming chrysanthemums in the garden.
As soon as Shen Wei arrived, the children swarmed around her. Glancing around, she noticed Li Yao was missing and asked Le You, "Has your sister Yao not recovered from her illness yet?"
Le You, clutching a crab leg, frowned slightly. "Sister Yao is better, but she doesn’t like going out. Once I finish this lantern, I’ll take it to her."
Shen Wei patted her daughter’s cheek in praise before turning toward Li Yao’s chambers.
The door was ajar.
Li Yao’s room was neat and tidy. At that moment, she sat by the latticed window, her face pale and thin, staring blankly outside. Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying.
Shen Wei approached teasingly, "What’s on my little princess’s mind?"
Li Yao turned her head dazedly.
Her nose stung, and she lowered her gaze, murmuring, "N-nothing."
Shen Wei placed the food box on the table and took out the fattest crab. She deftly snipped off the legs and handed the succulent meat to Li Yao.
Li Yao held the crab leg and whispered a quiet "thank you."
Shen Wei sat beside her, silently watching as Li Yao ate. The girl’s appetite was poor—after a few bites, she stopped.
Only then did Shen Wei speak softly, "You’re grieving for the Empress, aren’t you?"
Ever since the Tantai Clan was purged, rumors had spread through the palace that the Emperor would soon depose the Empress. Li Yao, sensitive by nature, had inevitably heard them.
Li Yao lifted her head. At thirteen, she was already strikingly delicate. In two years, she would come of age, and the Emperor would begin considering her marriage.
Muffled, she said, "Consort Chen... Mother has done wrong. She harmed my brother and poisoned you... Now, everyone says Father will execute her."
Her voice cracked.
Tears welled in her reddened eyes. "I know it’s wrong to say this... but Yao-er wishes Mother could live."
No matter how flawed the Empress was, she was still Li Yao’s birth mother.
With her brothers gone one after another, Li Yao couldn’t bear to lose her mother too. Her heart ached unbearably.
Shen Wei smiled gently. "You’re a filial child. That’s good."
Li Yao’s eyes brimmed with tears.
Shen Wei dabbed them away with a handkerchief. "Dry your tears. Change your clothes—later, I’ll take you to plead with the Emperor for mercy."
Li Yao stared as if hearing a fantasy. "B-but Mother hurt you."
Shen Wei stroked her hair. "I’m standing here unharmed, aren’t I? Go and get ready."
Li Yao brightened and rushed to her inner chamber. Her maid, Little Yan, helped her into a fresh gown and styled her hair simply.
Half an hour later, Li Yao emerged in a pale golden brocade dress, a small gold hairpin adorning her hair.
Shen Wei took her delicate hand. "Let’s go to Chang’an Palace and beg your father for leniency."
Li Yao nodded firmly. "Yes!"
...
...
The autumn air was crisp, and chrysanthemums lined the palace pathways.
Lu Xuan, her belly prominently rounded, had dressed meticulously. She brought her one-year-old son to Chang’an Palace.
"Remember to greet your father properly, understand?" she reminded him again.
Li Chengjue, not yet two, toddled obediently beside her, his chubby face cherubic. "U-understood," he lisped.
Lu Xuan arrived at Chang’an Palace.
Eunuch Deshun announced them, then returned with a smile. "Consort Shu, Young Prince, please follow me."
It was a rest day, so Li Yuanjing had little paperwork and was relatively free.
Lu Xuan entered, her pregnancy evident as she curtsied gracefully. The Emperor granted her a seat.
"Your Majesty, Chengjue kept begging to see you. I had no choice but to bring him," she explained tenderly, gazing at the sovereign.
Li Yuanjing set down his memorials and beckoned the toddler. "Come here, son."
Fearless, Li Chengjue waddled over on stubby legs.
The Emperor lifted him. "You’ve grown heavier."
Li Chengjue giggled, babbling, "Father! Father hold!"
Lu Xuan watched the heartwarming scene from her chair, warmth swelling in her chest.
Though the Emperor’s affection for her had waned, he cherished their child deeply.
Once Chengjue grew older and began his studies, he would surely rival Consort Chen’s sons.
Softly, she asked, "Your Majesty, shouldn’t you rest on your day off?"
Li Yuanjing replied, "There are loose ends to tie up after the Tantai Clan’s purge."
Seizing the moment, Lu Xuan fluttered her silk fan casually. "I heard the Tantai Clan was corrupt and insolent toward the throne. The people praise Your Majesty’s wisdom for eradicating them. As Empress, she failed to restrain her family—that was her mistake."
The Emperor’s gaze turned sharp.
Since the Tantai Clan’s fall, the harem had grown restless, with concubines vying to trample the Empress.
Clearly, Consort Shu also coveted the throne.
