De Shun accepted the order.
The palace guards moved swiftly, dragging away the two eunuchs who had been gossiping. The young eunuchs pleaded for mercy in terror, but they were given no chance to defend themselves—their mouths were covered as they were hauled off.
The night wind was cold and biting. Li Yuanjing spoke again, his voice icy: "Investigate this. I want to know who dared spread such reckless rumors."
De Shun bowed. "This servant will look into it at once."
The imperial palanquin proceeded toward Yongning Palace.
De Shun did not follow the emperor’s procession but remained behind to handle the aftermath.
The sound of beating sticks fell, and soon, the two loose-tongued eunuchs fell silent. Their bodies were wrapped hastily in reed mats.
De Shun flicked his horsetail whisk, his gaze cold as he warned the surrounding servants: "In this palace, keep your mouths shut. Carry these two corpses through the palace corridors as a warning. Spread no rumors, or you’ll face the same fate—beaten to death for angering His Majesty."
The other servants trembled, their spines chilled as if plunged into an icy river. They bowed their heads and murmured, "Yes..."
The whispers that had just begun to circulate in the palace were abruptly silenced by the terrifying spectacle of bloodshed.
In a secluded corner of the palace path, Little Qin, a maid from Changxin Palace, frowned in distress, her fingers trembling faintly.
Tonight, she had deliberately bribed two young eunuchs to spread scandalous gossip where the emperor would pass, hoping to draw his attention and expose Noble Consort Chen’s misdeeds.
But she never expected the emperor to have them beaten to death on the spot.
Too far away to hear Li Yuanjing’s words, Little Qin leaned against the cold palace wall, sweat beading on her forehead. She muttered to herself, "I never thought His Majesty would trust Noble Consort Chen so deeply... This is not a good sign..."
Noble Consort Chen’s favor meant Lu Xuan’s decline—and with it, the uncertain future of the Lu family.
For the sake of her master and the Lu family, Little Qin had to find a way to drag Noble Consort Chen into ruin.
She lingered in the darkness for a long moment before turning and hurrying back toward Changxin Palace.
---
Yongning Palace.
As soon as Li Yuanjing stepped into the inner courtyard, he saw Shen Wei bustling about. There was exhaustion in her eyes as she inspected the medicinal herbs, silks, and winter supplies presented by the servants.
Shen Wei issued orders briskly: "Doctor Mo has prescribed a new remedy for the Empress Dowager. Prepare it tomorrow according to the new formula. Cai Lian, check each packet of herbs carefully—discard any that show signs of mold or discoloration."
"Her Majesty fears the cold. Have the Internal Affairs Office deliver the plum-blossom charcoal for the warming chamber. Keep the rooms ventilated—no sealing them for too long."
"Tomorrow, I will attend to Her Majesty at Cining Palace. Have Sister Miaoyu oversee the distribution of charcoal and winter garments to the other palaces."
Li Yuanjing stood at the courtyard gate, watching Shen Wei spin like a top. His gaze darkened.
Shen Wei seemed to notice him only then. A bright smile lit her face as she pressed a hand to her stomach, complaining playfully: "Your Majesty, you’ve finally returned. I’m starving."
A steaming dinner was soon laid out.
Shen Wei pulled Li Yuanjing to the table, insisting they dine together.
Li Yuanjing placed a jade-green shrimp into her bowl, chiding gently, "Grown as you are, still so childish. Must you wait for me to eat?"
Shen Wei retorted without hesitation, "And you, Your Majesty—grown as you are, skipping meals so carelessly. Stomach ailments are hard to cure."
Every word and gesture carried her concern for him.
Li Yuanjing’s heart warmed.
Shen Wei ate hungrily, finishing two bowls of rice and devouring her favorite dishes—lotus duck and jade shrimp—with relish.
After dinner, she showed no signs of resting. Instead, she summoned Cai Lian, Cai Ping, and Nanny Rong, meticulously instructing them on their tasks. Li Yuanjing read in the bedchamber for over an hour before Shen Wei finally returned, exhaustion weighing her steps.
She collapsed against him, her voice soft and weary: "Your Majesty, I’m utterly spent today..."
Li Yuanjing held her close. "Has Mother’s condition improved?"
Shen Wei shook her head, her voice muffled against him. "No change. She remains despondent, her heart heavy. I spent the afternoon reading Zhao Yang’s letters to her, which lifted her spirits a little. But her body is still weak—she barely touched dinner..."
With Li Yuanjing occupied by state affairs, his visits to Cining Palace were brief—mere formalities. The duty of caring for the Empress Dowager fell entirely on Shen Wei.
Seeing her exhaustion pained him. "You’ve worked hard, Weiwei."
Shen Wei sighed. "Her Majesty has treated me as her own. Caring for her is my duty."
The bed curtains fell. Shen Wei nestled into the pillows but soon turned, her dark eyes fixed on Li Yuanjing.
He raised a brow. "Why do you look at me so?"
Her expression turned solemn. She grasped his hand, her voice trembling slightly: "Your Majesty, promise me you’ll eat on time from now on. With Her Majesty ill... I couldn’t bear it if you fell sick too..."
Li Yuanjing clasped her warm fingers, moved by her fear. His Weiwei, witnessing the Empress Dowager’s frailty, now fretted over him.
"I promise," he said firmly.
Only then did Shen Wei relax.
Fatigue overtook her, and she soon drifted asleep beside him.
The room was silent, save for the rustle of wind through the trees outside. The faint glow of lanterns seeped through the crimson bed curtains, casting a soft light on Shen Wei nestled against him.
Her back injury had yet to heal, and her recent efforts for the Empress Dowager had drained her. Yet, some in the palace seized this moment to spread vile rumors—a loathsome act.
Li Yuanjing knew Shen Wei had been too busy to address the gossip.
So he would clear the whispers from her path.
The night deepened. Holding Shen Wei close, he too fell asleep.
Outside, the wind whispered through the courtyard.
In the darkness, Shen Wei’s lips curled faintly.
---
The next morning.
After seeing Li Yuanjing off to court, Shen Wei hurried back to prepare for another day tending to the Empress Dowager. Before she could leave, Zhang Miaoyu burst in.
Zhang Miaoyu dismissed the servants urgently, then seized Shen Wei’s hands, her plump face anxious. "Sister Shen Wei, what in heaven’s name is going on between you and Doctor Mo? The rumors I heard last night ruined my appetite—I had to ask you, but His Majesty was here!"
Shen Wei freed herself calmly, seating herself before the mirror to pin a white jade hairpin in place. "Doctor Mo and I are innocent."
