She was a daughter of the Xie Family, cherished by her father and mother since childhood. Her father had always taught her to prioritize the family above all else.
The weight of the family's future rested on her shoulders. Now that the scandal had come to light, Concubine Lan decided to shoulder all the blame to prevent the Xie Family from being implicated.
Her personal maid, witnessing this, immediately knelt and kowtowed, tears streaming as she pleaded for mercy: "Noble Consort Chen, please see reason! This is all this lowly servant’s fault! My mistress is inherently kind-hearted—it was I who fanned the flames and led her astray! I beg for your mercy, spare my mistress!"
Concubine Lan’s eyes reddened. "You foolish girl, spouting nonsense. How could someone like you ever sway me?"
Shen Wei sat leisurely in the host’s seat, watching this display of loyalty between mistress and servant with a faint smile. She set down her teacup. "I grow weary. Cai Lian, let us return to Yongning Palace."
Cai Lian remained composed. "As you wish."
With Cai Lian supporting her, Shen Wei left the main hall of Huayang Palace. Concubine Lan stood stunned for a moment before hastily chasing after her.
As the palanquin of the noble consort was prepared, Concubine Lan stood dumbfounded at the palace gates, lips parting in disbelief. "Noble Consort Chen... You... You..."
She had expected today to bring her utter ruin—to be cast into the cold palace and left to die in misery.
Yet, against all odds, Shen Wei had taken no action, merely sipped half a cup of tea before departing.
On the palanquin, Shen Wei rested her fair fingers against her temple and asked casually, "You have two younger half-brothers and a half-sister, correct?"
Concubine Lan, puzzled, nodded. "Yes."
The current Head of Xie Family was an upright gentleman, indifferent to women. He kept only one wife and one concubine in his household.
His principal wife, Lady Wu, came from the prestigious Wu family and was Concubine Lan’s birth mother. Frail in health, Lady Wu had suffered multiple miscarriages after marrying the Head of Xie Family before finally giving birth to a daughter—Concubine Lan—at the cost of her own vitality, leaving her unable to bear more children.
The Head of Xie Family, deeply devoted to Lady Wu, vowed never to take another concubine. But how could a noble family like the Xie Family be without a male heir? Lady Wu, ever the virtuous wife, defied her husband’s protests and arranged for him to take Concubine Zhao as a secondary wife. Concubine Zhao soon bore the Xie Family two sons and a daughter.
Yet the Head of Xie Family’s heart remained with Lady Wu. He treated Concubine Zhao coldly, spending most of his time with Lady Wu and doting excessively on their daughter, Concubine Lan.
To outsiders—and even to Concubine Lan herself—it seemed she was the most favored daughter of the Xie Family.
"Why does Noble Consort Chen suddenly mention my siblings?" Concubine Lan asked, bewildered.
Shen Wei merely smiled. "From now on, behave yourself."
Concubine Lan forced a smile and replied obediently, "This humble one will certainly remain dutiful."
Outwardly, she remained respectful, but Concubine Lan knew that once in the palace, one’s fate was no longer in their own hands. To remain docile was to await death. The burden of the Xie Family’s future pressed upon her—she had no choice but to fight.
As the noble consort’s procession departed, Concubine Lan watched Shen Wei’s dazzling figure retreat into the distance, then turned back to her palace with a pout.
"Tong’er, prepare ink and paper! I must write to Mother!" she called out.
Her maid hurried to comply.
...
...
Yongning Palace.
After returning from Huayang Palace, Shen Wei lounged leisurely, applying a homemade facial mask while drafting new palace regulations.
On the desk lay thick dossiers detailing the affairs of the Xie and Wu families. Cai Ping gathered the documents and tossed them into the brazier.
The flames devoured the papers, reducing them to black ash.
Once the records were burned, Cai Ping couldn’t help muttering, "Mistress, why did you spare Concubine Lan? We could have used this chance to ensure she never rises again."
Shen Wei tapped Cai Ping’s forehead lightly. "That little head of yours is always scheming to eliminate someone. The palace isn’t a battlefield—killing solves nothing."
Cai Ping lowered her head silently.
"The Xie Family is a centuries-old dynasty, further strengthened by their alliance with the Wu family. Their influence is deeply entrenched—you can’t simply cut it down. The only way is to weaken and divide them," Shen Wei explained. "And in my eyes, Concubine Lan is the perfect entry point."
The Head of Xie Family had married the sole legitimate daughter of the Wu family, giving birth to Xie Fanglan (Concubine Lan). The Xie and Wu families were closely intertwined, supporting each other.
Two ropes twisted together are hard to sever. But separate them, and cutting becomes far easier. Thus, the Xie and Wu families must be driven apart.
Finishing the new palace regulations with swift strokes of her brush, Shen Wei blew on the ink to dry it. "Come, Cai Ping. Take these to the Empress Dowager, then have His Majesty approve them."
Under current palace rules, only consorts of the highest rank were permitted annual visits from their closest relatives. Shen Wei intended to amend this—allowing concubines and noble ladies to see their families once or twice a year.
Let Concubine Lan meet her pitiful mother, she thought. Let her see the hypocritical truth of the Head of Xie Family, and let the rift between the Xie and Wu families widen.
Moreover, Shen Wei had noticed the deteriorating mental state of the palace concubines. Take Concubine Lan—unfavored, not particularly clever, and left in isolation for too long—her warped mindset led her to extreme actions.
Shen Wei needed to devise measures to help the concubines find some joy within the palace’s oppressive walls.
...
...
Yanjing City, Xie Family Estate.
The Xie Family’s wealth was vast, and the soil in their gardens so fertile that the chrysanthemums bloomed in unparalleled brilliance. A graceful middle-aged woman strolled leisurely among the flowers, clad in a pale golden peacock-patterned brocade gown with an embroidered brown outer robe, her hair adorned with delicate ornaments.
"My lady, a letter has arrived from the palace," a maid announced, presenting the missive.
Concubine Zhao took the letter, skimmed its contents, and smirked in disdain. "She still waits for a reply from that wretched Lady Wu. How naïve—burn it."
The maid obeyed, reducing Concubine Lan’s letter to ashes.
Since entering the palace, Concubine Lan had written to Lady Wu nearly every month. Yet every single letter had been intercepted by Concubine Zhao and burned.
As she wandered through the chrysanthemums, Concubine Zhao plucked a rare bloom and toyed with it idly. "Has Lady Wu’s condition improved?" she asked offhandedly.
The maid smiled. "The imperial physician says she won’t last the winter. Once Lady Wu breathes her last, you’ll be the sole mistress of the Xie Family."
Concubine Zhao laughed softly, crushing the flower in her palm. "Poor elder sister... to her dying breath, she’ll believe the Head of Xie Family truly loved her."
She’d die a fool.
"Lady Wu is a fool, and her daughter is no better," Concubine Zhao murmured.
The maid chuckled in agreement.
After a pause, Concubine Zhao instructed, "Remind Fanghua to study Noble Consort Chen closely—her attire, speech, even her makeup and figure. She must mimic her at least eighty percent."
Concubine Zhao and the Head of Xie Family had a daughter, Xie Fanghua.
At eighteen, Xie Fanghua was exceptionally beautiful. More importantly, she bore a striking resemblance to Noble Consort Chen. With Concubine Lan failing to secure the emperor’s favor, the Xie Family planned to send Xie Fanghua into the palace to compete for attention.
Concubine Zhao was shrewd. She knew the imperial harem was never short of beauties—her daughter might not secure the emperor’s exclusive affection.
Fortunately, Xie Fanghua resembled Noble Consort Chen. Since the emperor doted on Noble Consort Chen, he likely favored women of her type.
Men were creatures of appearances, loving the shadow for the sake of the substance. Xie Fanghua, young and lovely, could gradually replace Noble Consort Chen in the emperor’s heart.
The maid supported Concubine Zhao's arm and said, "Don't worry, my lady. For the past two months, the Second Young Miss has been diligently imitating Noble Consort Chen, and she’s perfected it to a remarkable degree."
