Now the situation has escalated even further. Xie Ji, accused of poisoning his lawful wife and murdering a palace concubine, was directly thrown into prison.
Officials from the Ministry of Justice worked through the night reviewing the case. It was said that Xie Ji’s crimes filled ten pages of documentation—and still weren’t fully recorded.
Zhang Miaoyu shook her head, sighing. "The uproar outside is overwhelming. The Emperor is furious, the common people are condemning him, and the Xie family is likely finished."
Had Xie Ji admitted his wrongdoing to the Wu family from the start and willingly divorced his wife, the Xie family might have preserved some reputation and lingered on for a few more years.
But Xie Ji was too arrogant, believing he had the Empress Dowager’s backing. By harming his wife and killing his daughter, he dug his own grave. With his actions, the Xie family’s downfall accelerated.
Zhang Miaoyu added, "Concubine Lan has already been buried. Her loyal maidservant volunteered to guard the imperial mausoleum—I never liked Concubine Lan much before, always thinking her haughty and naive. But she was a pitiable soul. In the end, death might have been a release for her."
The room fell silent. Shen Wei held a warm hand-warmer in her hands.
Suddenly, she asked, "Concubine Lan lived deep in the palace. How did she know the exact time Xie Ji would come to the palace to plead guilty? Huayang Palace is remote, far from the front palace, and heavily guarded by imperial soldiers. How could she have hidden a blade to carry out the assassination?"
Zhang Miaoyu froze, scratching her head. "This... this..."
Upon closer thought, there did seem to be loopholes.
The implications were chilling.
Shen Wei’s eyes darkened as she tightened her grip on the hand-warmer. "Someone must have been pulling the strings behind the scenes."
Despite the bright daylight, Zhang Miaoyu suddenly felt a cold shiver run through her.
...
In the afternoon, the sun emerged from the clouds, casting warm rays that bathed the courtyard in a cozy glow. Shen Wei wrapped herself in a thick cloak and had the eunuchs move her sandalwood daybed into the courtyard, where she reclined to bask in the sunlight.
Having just recovered from a serious illness, soaking in the sun would aid her recuperation.
It was late autumn, and the courtyard was ablaze with vibrant chrysanthemums in full bloom. Shen Wei flipped through the palace account books while enjoying the sunshine. Nanny Rong, Cai Lian, and Cai Ping were highly capable—even while Shen Wei was ill, they managed palace affairs with perfect order.
Shen Wei was pleased.
With such competent staff, she could afford to worry less.
As she reviewed the accounts, a palace attendant announced that Eunuch Deshun had arrived with the Emperor’s decree, delivering a bowl of bird’s nest and snow frog stew.
The delicacy was placed on a small side table.
Eunuch Deshun bowed respectfully. "Your Highness, His Majesty visited the Ministry of Justice today and will come to see you this evening."
After a pause, he added, "A few days ago, while you were recuperating in Xuanming Hall, Consort Shu paid a visit when His Majesty was personally attending to your medicine."
Shen Wei raised an eyebrow. "Did she see?"
Eunuch Deshun lowered his head, smiling. "This servant led her outside the curtain, so she certainly saw. When Consort Shu left, she seemed... unsettled."
Having delivered his report, Eunuch Deshun withdrew respectfully.
Shen Wei clenched the account book in her hand. During her illness, she had subtly fanned the flames—would it be enough to push Lu Xuan into irrational jealousy?
Once a person loses their composure, they spiral toward extremes, inviting their own destruction.
She returned to the account books.
The sunlight was warm, and Shen Wei felt comfortably at ease.
Then, the sound of soft pattering footsteps approached, followed by Le You’s sweet voice calling, "Mother! Mother!"
Shen Wei looked up to see a plump, fair-skinned little figure rushing toward her. Le You dashed over and threw herself into Shen Wei’s arms.
Shen Wei gently stroked Le You’s cheek. "Mother is fine."
Le You buried her face in Shen Wei’s embrace, murmuring, "I hope Mother never gets sick again."
Soon, the other children arrived as well.
Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou nestled close to Shen Wei, silently seeking affection. Li Yao, Li Nanzhi, and Li Wan'er also came over one after another.
In no time, Shen Wei was surrounded by children.
Still recovering, Shen Wei didn’t have much energy. She asked Nanny Rong to take the children to the rear hall for some pastries.
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has arrived," Cai Lian reminded.
Shen Wei quickly set aside the account book and rose to greet her. The Empress Dowager waved her hand gently. "No need, sit down."
Among the chrysanthemums in the courtyard stood Shen Wei’s favorite daybed, with a small wooden table in the center for tea and account books. The Empress Dowager took a seat on the other side of the table.
Shen Wei handed her a cup of hot tea. "Mother, you’ve lost weight. You must take care of yourself."
The Empress Dowager’s temples bore a few strands of white hair, and she looked even more worn out than Shen Wei.
The Xie family’s impending ruin weighed on her. Though she had severed ties with them years ago, she was still once the Xie family’s eldest daughter.
Watching her maternal family collapse must have been painful.
The Empress Dowager sipped her tea, her expression tinged with sorrow. "I always knew the Xie family would bring about their own downfall. I warned them, scolded them, but wealth and power blind people. Those trapped in the game never see clearly."
Shen Wei leaned forward, unable to hold back her curiosity. "Mother, why did you cut ties with the Xie family?"
This was something she had long wondered about.
The Empress Dowager set down her teacup, lost in memories. "That was many years ago..."
Back then, the Empress Dowager was still the Xie family’s eldest daughter, childhood sweethearts with the Former Emperor. Born into nobility, she married him as expected, and the two shared a harmonious, loving relationship.
At the time, she hadn’t forgotten her family. Using her position as Empress, she secured many benefits for the Xie family. One year during the imperial examinations, she secretly manipulated the selection list, allowing a Xie family member to take a spot that rightfully belonged to another scholar.
This was a minor, commonplace act—many noble families did the same.
Later, the Empress Dowager and the Former Emperor traveled outside the city for a sacrificial ceremony, inspecting the newly built dam in Yunzhou along the way. While passing by, heavy rains caused the dam to collapse. A disfigured, lame hunter saved them.
The Former Emperor noticed the hunter’s exceptional eloquence and knowledge. Upon inquiry, they learned that the hunter had been a scholar who passed the imperial exams three years prior. His rightful position had been stolen by the Xie family member. When he sought justice, his legs were broken, his face disfigured, and his family torn apart, forcing him into a life of hunting.
Even worse, the official overseeing the Yunzhou dam project was the very Xie family member who had stolen the scholar’s position. The man was utterly incompetent, embezzling funds meant for the dam’s construction. When floods came, the dam collapsed, leaving tens of thousands homeless.
Recalling the past, the Empress Dowager closed her eyes heavily. "That was when I realized my mistake. The favoritism and indulgence of those in power are like catastrophic floods to the common people."
Had she not favored the Xie family back then, allowing the capable scholar to serve as an official, the dam would never have collapsed, and countless lives would have been spared.
Those in power hold the fate of millions in their hands.
When greed and selfishness take hold, it is the people who suffer.
The Empress Dowager sighed, her face aging further. "Noble families are the vermin of the Great Qing Kingdom. If left unchecked, they will gnaw the nation to ruins. I am a daughter of the Xie family, but first and foremost, I am the Empress Dowager of this kingdom. How could I prioritize personal gain over the welfare of the nation?"
She had severed ties with the Xie family, hoping they would lay low.
But blinded by greed, the Xie family remained ambitious, allying with the Wu family and marching steadily toward their own demise.
In the courtyard of Yongning Palace, a gentle breeze stirred, rustling the autumn chrysanthemums.
Shen Wei refilled the Empress Dowager’s tea, finally understanding why the Empress Dowager had taken such a liking to her.
Shen Wei was not born into a noble family. Despite her humble origins, she cared deeply for the common people and never acted out of selfish interests for her own clan. She was an exemplary mother, raising her children with wisdom, and even assisted Li Yuanjing in curbing the influence of powerful families. She was the most fitting partner—a virtuous wife who supported her emperor with grace and integrity.
The Empress Dowager grasped Shen Wei's hand, her voice filled with hope. "Focus on recovering your health. This old woman wishes for you to accompany Yuanjing for many more decades."
Shen Wei nodded gently. "I understand, Mother."
The Empress Dowager, weary in spirit, spoke with Shen Wei for a while before exhaustion overtook her. Supported by Nanny Qian, she departed from Yongning Palace. Shen Wei watched her retreating figure, noticing how the Empress Dowager seemed to have aged significantly in just a few short days.
With a silent sigh, Shen Wei summoned the children, including Le You, and carefully instructed them to spend more time with the Empress Dowager each day.
...
As night fell, palace lanterns flickered to life, dispelling the chill of the deep palace and casting a soft, hazy glow upon the walls.
Li Yuanjing lifted the beaded curtain and entered.
He saw Shen Wei holding a steaming bowl of rib soup in her left hand, sipping it delicately, while her right hand turned over a map. She glanced at it sideways, deep in thought.
Her complexion had improved noticeably—the pallor that had lingered for days was now replaced by a rosy hue.
Li Yuanjing felt a quiet relief settle within him.
He disliked seeing Shen Wei pale and frail, like grains of sand slipping through his fingers, elusive and fleeting, leaving his heart heavy with an ache he couldn’t shake.
Only when she was lively, healthy, and flushed with vitality did he feel at ease.
"What are you looking at?" Li Yuanjing took a seat and picked up the map beside her.
It was a layout of the rear palace, detailing every hall and courtyard within.
Shen Wei set down her bowl, her dark eyes fixed on Li Yuanjing. "The princess of Donglin Kingdom will soon arrive. I’m considering which palace to arrange for her stay. What rank does Your Majesty intend to bestow upon her?"
