After Moxun left and Shen Wei was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort, life in the imperial harem became tranquil, passing by peacefully day after day.
Spring gave way to summer.
When the lotus flowers bloomed, the eldest princess in the palace, Li Wan'er, turned fifteen.
Shen Wei personally took charge, inviting noblewomen and ladies of the court to prepare a grand coming-of-age ceremony for Li Wan'er.
The Empress Dowager herself tied Li Wan'er's hair and inserted the hairpin, while Li Yuanjing bestowed upon her the title "Princess Shou'an" and gifted her a mansion near the imperial city as Princess Shou'an's Mansion.
The ceremony was magnificent, lasting until dusk. Dressed in splendid princess robes, Li Wan'er came to Yongning Palace to kneel and bow before Shen Wei.
"No need to kneel, rise," Shen Wei said, helping Li Wan'er up herself. At fifteen, Li Wan'er had grown into a gentle and elegant young woman—well-read, intelligent, and kind-hearted. Shen Wei quite liked her.
A clever girl who knew gratitude.
Shen Wei guided Li Wan'er to sit and told her, "From now on, you'll live outside the palace and manage your own household. If you encounter any trouble, just come to the palace and seek me."
Li Wan'er nodded softly. "Wan'er is no longer a child. If difficulties arise, I will find a way to resolve them myself."
Li Wan'er's position was special, yet somewhat awkward. She was not the current emperor's biological daughter but the descendant of the late crown prince.
Without the protection of parents, Li Wan'er had lived a difficult life, her heart sensitive and fragile. Fortunately, Shen Wei treated her well, teaching her the ways of the world.
Over the years, Li Wan'er had held tightly to the words Shen Wei once told her:
"Life is long. You cannot always expect someone to help you."
"Your life must be carved out by your own hands."
Li Wan'er was no longer the tearful, sensitive little girl of the past. She had learned much from Shen Wei.
Shen Wei said to her, "You have come of age. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager are selecting suitable candidates to be your consort. Marriage is no trivial matter—choose carefully."
Li Wan'er nodded obediently.
Shen Wei kept her for lunch and selected a group of capable maids and attendants to serve in Princess Shou'an's Mansion.
The day passed in a flurry of activity. As evening fell, Li Yuanjing arrived at Yongning Palace under the cover of night. After dinner, the two strolled through the lush garden to aid digestion.
It was midsummer, and the cool breeze in the pavilion by the water was refreshing. Shen Wei sat on the long bench of the waterside pavilion, her gaze drifting to the exquisite lotus flowers stretching toward the railing. Noticing this, Li Yuanjing plucked one and handed it to her.
"Your Majesty, how did you know I wanted a lotus flower?" Shen Wei cradled the bloom, feigning surprise.
The lotus was delicate, and so was Shen Wei.
Li Yuanjing tapped her nose playfully. "Your thoughts are written all over your face."
Shen Wei smiled without a word, leaning affectionately against his shoulder. "Your Majesty treats me so well."
Holding her hand, Li Yuanjing felt the warmth of her palm and murmured solemnly, "Weiwei, I will treat you well for the rest of my life."
He meant it.
Li Yuanjing had never imagined he would one day be so consumed by thoughts of a woman, longing for her at every turn. His Weiwei was the finest woman in the world, and he would cherish her, giving her all the best things under heaven.
Since Shen Wei's "grave illness," Li Yuanjing had attended to her every need, leaving no detail overlooked—even the fabric of her undergarments required his personal approval.
If they were apart for even a short while, an inexplicable anxiety would gnaw at him. Only after sending someone to confirm Shen Wei's well-being could he feel at ease.
Shen Wei chuckled lightly, replying casually, "Your Majesty, I will also stay by your side for the rest of my life."
She toyed with the vibrant lotus in her hand, not taking his words to heart.
A lifetime was long, and too many uncertainties lay ahead.
Oaths of eternal love were not to be taken seriously.
The night breeze rustled through the lotus leaves in the pond. Li Yuanjing's thoughts drifted back to the day's ceremony. He sighed. "The children are growing day by day. Next year, Yao'er will come of age, and in a few more years, it will be Le You's turn."
Shen Wei counted on her fingers. "Le You is only six—there's still plenty of time."
Li Yuanjing huffed. "At last month's palace banquet, that brat from the Minister of War's family couldn't stop staring at Le You, drooling all over the place! A snot-nosed little runt, yet he dares to covet my daughter."
He harbored a deep dislike for the minister's son.
The boy was dark-skinned, rough-faced, and reeked from daily martial training.
Shen Wei burst into laughter. "Your Majesty, the minister's son is only eight. An eight-year-old knows nothing of such things. At the time, Le You was eating sugar cakes—perhaps the boy was just craving sweets."
Li Yuanjing snorted again, his mood sour.
He resolved that when Le You grew up, he would personally select a consort for her—a man of exceptional talent, virtue, martial prowess, striking looks, unwavering devotion, and refined manners.
...
Time flowed like water, and the scorching summer gradually faded. One night, a cold northern wind swept in, and the leaves in the courtyard slowly turned yellow, withering in the autumn breeze.
Changxin Palace.
The courtyard was desolate, the phoenix trees tinged with gold. As the weather turned sharply cold, Lu Xuan's health deteriorated further. The night before, she had coughed up blood. Propped against her pillow, she gazed at the withered leaves outside the window, her eyes dim.
Lu Xuan murmured, "It's already autumn..."
In the courtyard stood a red plum tree, but in early autumn, not a single bud had formed. Her mind wandered back to Duke Lu's Mansion, where snow blanketed the ground and red plums bloomed in abundance.
She and her younger sister had played beneath those trees, their parents watching fondly from the eaves. Back then, there were no power struggles—only a warm and happy family.
"My lady, please take your medicine. Pay no heed to the rumors outside," the maid Qi said, wiping away tears as she tried to feed Lu Xuan the bitter brew.
Lu Xuan closed her eyes and pushed the bowl away. "Autumn has come. After this season, my father and sister will be executed..."
The Lu family had fallen. The main lineage would be put to death after autumn. Powerless to stop it, Lu Xuan could only watch the wild geese flying south across the sky.
"Has His Majesty visited?" she asked.
Qi hesitated. "N-no... But don't worry, my lady. This servant checked yesterday—the young prince is doing well. The Imperial Noble Consort and the others have not mistreated him."
Lu Xuan sighed deeply.
Her son was only two, too young to remember. As he grew older, he would soon forget his birth mother, a woman stained with crimes.
"Has the Imperial Noble Consort come?"
Qi shook her head. "No..."
Lu Xuan smiled bitterly. "How cautious she is. In my state, what strength do I have left to harm her?"
To Lu Xuan, Shen Wei was a paradox.
She was meticulous, brimming with schemes, plotting step by step to overthrow the Empress and the Noble Consort.
Yet she was also merciful and magnanimous, never resorting to outright murder as long as the concubines submitted to her.
This proved Shen Wei was a woman of great confidence and strength. She did not believe in uprooting her enemies—she trusted in her own capabilities.
The autumn wind whispered through the courtyard. Lu Xuan leaned against her pillow, her gaze distant. "Qi, these days I keep dreaming... In my dreams, there is no Shen Wei. I win the Emperor's love and become Empress."
