Lu Xuan’s eyes flashed with a trace of resentment. Confined to Changxin Palace, she had become the laughingstock of the entire imperial harem.
And now, at this critical moment, Shen Wei had arrived with great fanfare.
What was she here for?
To gloat?
Lu Xuan did not rise to greet her. Instead, she reclined on the chaise longue, her gaze shadowed.
Soon, the curtains of the bedchamber were drawn aside, and Shen Wei removed her fox-fur cloak, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Is Noble Consort Lu well?"
Lu Xuan’s expression darkened as she replied guardedly, "Perfectly well. There’s no need for Noble Consort Chen to concern herself."
Shen Wei smiled. "You look rather pale. Perhaps you should summon the imperial physicians. The newly established Women’s Medical Bureau has recruited several skilled female healers from the common folk, particularly adept at treating women’s ailments."
Lu Xuan clenched her fists, her beautiful eyes fixed on Shen Wei’s radiant face.
Pregnant and plagued by constant anxiety, Lu Xuan’s complexion had dulled, her once-luminous beauty now replaced by a sallow, haggard appearance. Yet Shen Wei, despite being several years older and having borne three children, showed no signs of wear.
In charge of the harem and basking in the emperor’s undivided favor, Shen Wei shone brilliantly, like a flower blooming defiantly in the depths of winter.
A bitter ache twisted in Lu Xuan’s heart.
"You lured me into this trap," she spat coldly. "You planned it all."
Physician Moxun was a woman, so Shen Wei’s daytime visits for acupuncture had seemed perfectly innocent. Step by step, Shen Wei had laid the bait, drawing Lu Xuan into her snare.
Regret gnawed at Lu Xuan. Blinded by jealousy, she had acted recklessly, desperate to drag Shen Wei into the mud—never imagining she would walk straight into a trap.
Shen Wei kept a safe distance, the doors left wide open. Cradling a warm hand-warmer, she remarked lightly, "Now that things have come to this, Noble Consort Lu should focus on nurturing your pregnancy. And perhaps refrain from sending any more letters to the Lu family."
Lu Xuan’s face turned ashen, a chill creeping down her spine.
Shen Wei knew about the letters.
The entire harem was under her watch.
Her nails dug into her palms as she glared at Shen Wei. "You rely solely on the emperor’s favor to act so brazenly. The day you lose it, your fate will be worse than mine."
Shen Wei merely shrugged, offering no reply.
Even if disaster struck and she fell from grace, she would find a way to survive.
Her sharp eyes swept across Lu Xuan’s chambers before she frowned slightly and summoned the head maid of Changxin Palace. "The braziers are full of ash in this cold weather. Noble Consort Lu fears the chill—what if her health suffers from such negligence?"
The maids knelt in apology.
Shen Wei continued her inspection, displeased to find the windows left open in winter. "The imperial heir’s safety comes first. How careless these servants are."
Lu Xuan’s eyelids twitched.
Before she could protest, Shen Wei declared the palace staff "incompetent" and replaced nearly all of Changxin Palace’s eunuchs and maids.
A dozen of Lu Xuan’s most trusted aides were sent to the laundry bureau for hard labor.
With a faint smile, Shen Wei said, "Winter is harsh, and you remain confined. With more capable attendants, Noble Consort Lu may rest and recover in peace."
Lu Xuan’s face was ice.
Now she understood—Shen Wei’s visit wasn’t just to flaunt her victory. She had come to strip Lu Xuan of her loyal followers.
From now on, Changxin Palace would be filled with Shen Wei’s people.
Every move Lu Xuan made would be under her surveillance.
"The cold is relentless. Take care of your health," Shen Wei said ambiguously before departing with her entourage.
Left alone, Lu Xuan swept the bowl of bird’s nest soup from the table. It shattered on the floor, the glistening contents spilling across the tiles.
Her eyes burned as she stared at her swollen belly.
What if… what if she lost the child today? Could she pin the blame on Shen Wei?
Her last remaining maid, Qi, rushed forward and dropped to her knees. "My lady, you mustn’t think such thoughts! First, the child is already eight months along—losing it could endanger your life. Second… what if it’s a prince?"
Lu Xuan bit her lip.
After a long silence, she abandoned the terrible idea.
Taking a deep breath, she murmured, "I won’t give up. As long as I live, there will be a chance to rise again."
Time was on her side. Sooner or later, she would drag Shen Wei into the abyss.
---
Shen Wei left Changxin Palace and headed for the Women’s Medical Bureau in the Imperial Hospital.
Established just half a month prior, the bureau now housed over thirty female physicians—some as young as ten, others as old as sixty.
After rigorous examinations by Moxun and other imperial physicians, three women had earned official positions. Moxun, displaying exceptional skill, had inspired the others to stay as apprentices rather than leave.
It was as if Moxun had discovered a new world. Bursting with energy, she devoted herself to teaching, sharing her medical knowledge with these women.
"Noble Consort Chen has arrived!"
At the eunuch’s announcement, the female physicians streamed out, kneeling in reverence.
They gazed at the legendary Noble Consort Chen with awe. She had changed their destinies—a debt they would never forget.
Shen Wei smiled warmly and bade them rise.
Inside, she spoke privately with Moxun, who now wore the dark green robes of an imperial physician, her hair tied in a high ponytail instead of the usual official cap. The effect was striking—undeniably feminine, yet bold and spirited.
The male physicians who had once befriended her were stunned. Some of the younger ones now visited frequently under the guise of "discussing philosophy."
Moxun poured tea for Shen Wei, grinning. "Noble Consort, I must thank you. I think I’ve finally found my purpose."
Shen Wei sipped the medicinal brew. "And what is that?"
"To teach," Moxun said. "To pass on my knowledge, to heal the people. That’s a life worth living."
Before, she had spent her days fleeing an arranged marriage, drifting without direction, drowning in self-pity.
Now she understood—instead of running, she could devote herself to medicine and mentorship.
She pushed open the window, gesturing to the women in the courtyard.
Pointing to a white-haired woman in her sixties, she said, "That grandmother practiced acupuncture alongside her husband for forty years. After his death, her son seized their clinic and fortune, forbidding her to practice. Now, she’s an imperial physician, earning her own living."
Then she indicated a woman in her thirties. "That one was a medicine dispenser until her employer cast her out. She has a gift for treating children—invaluable for the imperial family."
Without the Women’s Medical Bureau, these talented healers would have remained buried treasures, their brilliance never seen.
And in teaching them, Moxun had learned much in return.
Shen Wei: "I entrust the Women's Medical Office to your care. Should you encounter any difficulties, you need only seek my assistance."
Moxun's peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents as he leaned in delightedly, offering genuine praise: "Noble Consort Chen, you're truly wonderful."
