After a month of cold war, Li Yuanjing felt utterly uncomfortable, finding everything out of place.
During daytime meals, though the table was laden with delicacies, the flavors seemed off to him.
At night, the bed felt icy cold, as if something were missing, leaving him tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
When he heard amusing gossip about a court official’s household, he still wanted to share it with Shen Wei. But now, the gossip remained bottled up inside, gnawing at him unspoken.
Zhang Miaoyu swallowed the last bite of her green tea pastry and feigned concern. "Your Majesty, your health is paramount. Should we summon the imperial physician?"
Li Yuanjing glanced at Shen Wei and replied sternly, "No need. I am perfectly fine."
Shen Wei sipped her tea calmly, offering no reaction, as serene as a jade-carved statue.
Li Yuanjing nearly crushed the book in his grip.
Abruptly, he stood up and declared coldly, "I have memorials to review."
Zhang Miaoyu eagerly chimed in, "This humble one will escort Your Majesty!"
With great relief, Zhang Miaoyu watched the imperial procession depart in grandeur from her palace gate.
Heavens, the Emperor was finally gone!
She was brimming with grievances. Ever since Li Yuanjing had begun "distancing" himself from Shen Wei, Zhang Miaoyu had inexplicably become the most favored concubine in the palace.
The Emperor acted as if possessed—avoiding Yongning Palace but frequently visiting her Yongchun Palace instead. He barely spoke, his imposing presence suffocating.
Worse, most of the pastries Shen Wei sent to Zhang Miaoyu ended up in the Emperor’s mouth!
Zhang Miaoyu felt utterly out of sorts. With him around, her appetite shrank.
She had already lost three pounds!
If this continued, she’d starve to death.
"Shen Wei, what exactly happened between you and His Majesty? When the two of you quarrel, it’s me who suffers!" Zhang Miaoyu clutched Shen Wei’s sleeve, nearly in tears.
Shen Wei patted her shoulder reassuringly.
...
Night fell. In the Emperor’s solitary quarters at Xuanming Hall, Li Yuanjing summoned his two sons to dine with him.
Li Chengtai ate in silence.
Li Chengyou, however, picked up a piece of stir-fried bamboo shoot and cheerfully announced, "Father! These shoots are delicious! Mother loves them in spring and often asks the imperial kitchen to prepare them."
Li Yuanjing, who had little appetite earlier, picked up his chopsticks at his son’s words and took a bite.
The bamboo shoots were crisp, tender, and perfectly seasoned.
They were indeed delicious.
The same dish had been served a few nights prior, but back then, it had tasted mediocre. Tonight, for some reason, the flavor was exquisite.
Li Yuanjing helped himself to several more bites.
Li Chengyou stared wide-eyed as his father devoured half the plate in moments. "Father, leave some for me! Brother hasn’t even tried them yet!"
The meal ended with Li Yuanjing feeling rather satisfied.
Afterward, he took his sons for a stroll in the courtyard to aid digestion, seizing the opportunity to quiz them on their studies.
The spring night was cool. Lost in conversation with his father, Li Chengyou stumbled—
Thud!
—and fell flat on the ground.
Li Chengtai quickly helped his younger brother up.
"Are you hurt?" Li Yuanjing asked.
Li Chengyou straightened proudly. "Don’t worry, Father! I’m fine!"
The boy was sturdy; not even a scratch marred his skin.
Yet Li Yuanjing’s gaze flickered. Deliberately hardening his tone, he declared, "You are a prince of Da Qing. A fall is no trivial matter. Summon the imperial physician!"
He led his son back inside.
Li Chengyou blinked in confusion, inspecting his unharmed palms. "Father, I’m really fine! Last time I fell off a horse and bled, you said, 'A true man fears no small hurts.'"
Tonight’s tumble was nothing in comparison.
A little man grew stronger through such tumbles.
Li Yuanjing pressed a firm hand on his son’s small shoulders, his voice grave. "A prince’s affairs are never trivial."
After a pause, he called for De Shun and added matter-of-factly, "Inform Noble Consort Chen that Chengyou is severely injured. She must come to Xuanming Hall at once."
De Shun glanced at the perfectly lively prince but bowed. "At once, Your Majesty."
Li Chengyou was utterly baffled.
Could Father not understand him? He wasn’t hurt at all!
...
The spring night was quiet, the air filled with cricket songs, moonlight glinting off Xuanming Hall’s glazed tiles.
About half an hour later, Shen Wei arrived with Physician Gao from the imperial medical bureau.
Under the glow of palace lanterns, Li Yuanjing watched from his seat as Shen Wei approached, her steps light under the moonlight. The night was chilly, and she wore a red satin cloak lined with pale silk, its vibrant hue accentuating her porcelain skin.
Enchanting as a fox spirit.
Li Yuanjing’s gaze fixed on her.
Shen Wei lowered her eyes in greeting before turning to her "gravely injured" son.
"Mother," Li Chengyou said sheepishly, "please don’t worry. I’m really fine."
Shen Wei pinched his plump cheek and smiled gently. "Let Physician Gao examine you first."
Li Chengyou pouted. "Alright."
From his seat, Li Yuanjing sipped tea, his heart souring at the sight of Shen Wei’s tender smile.
She hadn’t smiled at him in so long.
A restless irritation churned inside him.
He hated her cold indifference—it unsettled him in ways he couldn’t explain.
Physician Gao, a seasoned pediatric specialist, checked Li Chengyou’s pulse while Shen Wei waited patiently.
After a moment, the physician bowed. "Your Majesty, Noble Consort Chen, the young prince is unharmed. He merely has slight indigestion. I shall prescribe a digestant."
Li Chengyou scratched his head sheepishly.
As Physician Gao prepared to leave, Shen Wei stopped her. "Physician Gao, His Majesty has been coughing lately. Please check his pulse as well."
Li Yuanjing’s chaotic emotions were suddenly flooded with overwhelming joy.
His fake coughs during the day had worked—Shen Wei did worry about him!
Outwardly, he remained composed. "A minor ailment. It’s nothing."
Shen Wei’s expression was even calmer. "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. If your cough worsens, the court will worry, the Empress Dowager will worry, and the people will worry."
Li Yuanjing’s face darkened.
In the past, Shen Wei would have been the first to fret over his slightest discomfort. Tonight, however, she spoke only of the court, the Empress Dowager, and the people—not a word about herself worrying.
His joy evaporated, replaced by frustration.
Unbeknownst to him, in less than an hour, Shen Wei had effortlessly swayed his emotions like a tide.
After Physician Gao confirmed his robust health, Shen Wei rose to take her leave.
Li Yuanjing’s lips parted—he wanted nothing more than to ask her to stay.
A month had passed, and with the return of reason, even the greatest conflicts had settled. Night after lonely night, Li Yuanjing tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. The usually proud emperor found himself reflecting on his actions—a rare occurrence—and faintly realized he might have acted rashly.
His Shen Wei—how could she ever take a liking to the utterly worthless Li Yuanli?
Li Yuanli was inferior to him in looks, in conduct, in governance. Even if Shen Wei were blind, she would never set her eyes on that fool Li Yuanli.
It must be that wretched Li Yuanli, with his filthy mind, harboring improper thoughts.
After some rather profound self-reflection, Li Yuanjing came to understand that he had misunderstood Shen Wei—even wounded her heart.
But… he was the Son of Heaven, after all. How could he possibly lower himself to apologize to Shen Wei?
