The turmoil caused by the discovery of an ominous object in the imperial harem soon subsided, and the palace returned to its superficial tranquility.
In Huayang Palace, Concubine Lan spent her days in restless anxiety, fearing that her misdeeds would come to light. She felt as though a sharp sword hung over her head, ready to fall at any moment.
Three days passed without incident.
Concubine Lan remained despondent, barely touching her midday meal. She paced back and forth in the courtyard of Huayang Palace, where vibrant chrysanthemums bloomed brilliantly, yet she paid them no heed.
Her gaze drifted across the square courtyard, its carved railings and jade pavilions framing a sliver of sky hemmed in by palace walls.
She recalled the days before entering the palace, when she would ride horses with her mother in the autumn countryside, admiring the wild chrysanthemums. The open sky stretched endlessly, with rolling mountains in the distance and geese flying in formation overhead.
But since entering the palace, she had never seen such scenery again.
"My lady, a letter has arrived from your family," a palace maid announced as she entered the courtyard, handing the letter to Concubine Lan.
Overjoyed, Concubine Lan hurriedly opened the letter as she retreated to her inner chamber.
The letter was brief.
Her father wrote that the matter of the bronze plaque had been his oversight—he had sent one that was too old. He also instructed Concubine Lan to burn all correspondence from the Xie Family to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
Additionally, he confided that he was under immense pressure from the family elders, who were forcing him to send another Xie daughter into the palace to compete for the emperor's favor.
Reading this, Concubine Lan felt as though a bucket of icy water had been poured over her, chilling her to the bone.
So, the Xie elders were truly pressuring her father!
She closed her eyes, suppressing her fury. Turning to her maid, she asked, "Tong'er, has there still been no word from my mother?"
Concubine Lan had written countless letters home.
Most were addressed to her mother, yet not a single reply had ever come.
In the nearly four years since entering the palace, she had only seen her mother twice—during her brief promotion to consort. After being demoted to concubine, her mother had never visited again, nor sent any letters.
"No," Tong'er replied with a frown.
Concubine Lan sighed. "My father is truly inconsiderate. Every time I ask about Mother in my letters, he ignores it. Tong'er, I fear he won’t withstand the family’s pressure—he’ll send a new girl to replace me..."
Tong'er pressed her lips together, about to offer a word of caution, when a eunuch’s voice rang out from outside—
"Noble Consort Chen has arrived."
Concubine Lan froze, nearly dropping her teacup. Noble Consort Chen never visited without reason—what could she want now?
Hastily stuffing the letter into a box on the desk, Concubine Lan rushed out to greet Shen Wei.
Outside Huayang Palace, the grand procession of Noble Consort Chen’s entourage made an imposing sight.
Shen Wei wore an elegant chrysanthemum-embroidered gown, her hair styled in an intricate updo. Radiant as autumn’s finest blooms, she exuded grace and nobility.
Leaning lightly on her maid’s arm, Shen Wei smiled warmly. "The autumn air is refreshing. I was on my way to admire the flowers in the imperial garden and thought I’d stop by to see you."
Concubine Lan inwardly scoffed—Huayang Palace was nowhere near the imperial garden. This was no casual visit.
Outwardly, however, she remained deferential, ushering Shen Wei inside.
Once seated in the main hall, Shen Wei waved her embroidered fan, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Concubine Lan, were you just reading a letter from home?"
Instantly, Concubine Lan’s blood ran cold.
Had someone seen Tong'er delivering the letter?
Shen Wei gestured with her fan toward the desk, where a corner of the letter peeked out from beneath the box.
Flustered, Concubine Lan forced a laugh. "Noble Consort Chen must be mistaken. That’s not a letter—just some calligraphy I practice daily."
Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
If Shen Wei ordered the box opened now, her conspiracy with the Xie Family to frame Consort Mei would be exposed—with unthinkable consequences.
But Shen Wei seemed uninterested in the box and didn’t press further. Soon, Tong'er served tea.
Shen Wei took a sip, praising its rich aroma. Concubine Lan’s heart pounded—she had no idea why Shen Wei had come, and the uncertainty gnawed at her.
Setting down her cup, Shen Wei suddenly remarked, "The bronze plaque dug up in Yuxiu Palace wasn’t buried by Concubine Yun all those years ago."
A cold sweat trickled down Concubine Lan’s temple.
Shen Wei continued leisurely, "Bronze buried for long periods leaves traces of verdigris in the surrounding soil. Yet the soil where the plaque was found showed almost none. That means someone recently buried it there—to frame Consort Mei."
Concubine Lan felt as though she were being roasted over flames.
Every word from Shen Wei made her pulse race. Gulping her tea nervously, she stammered, "Noble Consort Chen is most discerning. You should present this truth to His Majesty. A lowly concubine like me has no influence."
Shen Wei arched a brow. "A lowly concubine who dared frame Consort Mei—how bold."
Clatter—
Concubine Lan’s porcelain teacup slipped from her fingers, shattering on the floor.
The scent of tea filled the room.
"N-Noble Consort Chen, you wrong me," she stuttered.
Shen Wei rested her chin on her hand. "Then prove it. Hand over the letter in that box."
Concubine Lan fell silent.
Cold sweat drenched her back.
When Shen Wei first entered the palace half a year ago, Concubine Lan had dismissed her as a mere farmer’s daughter. But after witnessing Shen Wei outmaneuver the empress and other consorts to take control of the harem, she knew better than to underestimate her.
Today, Shen Wei’s every word was a needle, piercing Concubine Lan’s defenses.
The room was deathly quiet.
Concubine Lan’s nails dug into her palms.
Shen Wei remained composed. "Why did you frame Consort Mei? I want the truth."
After a long pause, Concubine Lan surrendered. "I couldn’t stand her false purity. Liu Ruyan holds the rank of consort, entitled to meet her family once a year—yet she takes it for granted. I long to see my mother, but my pleas go unanswered.
"I am a noble daughter of the Xie Family. I refuse to remain a mere concubine. Without the emperor’s favor, I bring no benefit to my family. Sooner or later, my father will send another girl to replace me... So I sought to rise in rank, to reclaim some dignity."
Shen Wei studied her.
Xie Fanglan—Concubine Lan—was beautiful and well-born, but not particularly clever. The Xie Family must have known Li Yuanjing would never favor her, yet they sent her anyway.
The Xie Family’s schemes ran deep.
"Framing Consort Mei was my mistake," Concubine Lan admitted bitterly. "This was my doing alone. The Xie Family had no part in it. I’ll bear the punishment."
