Liangzhou is a remote region, plagued by year-round sandstorms and frequent bandit raids. Li Chengyou, being a noble prince, would face unimaginable consequences if any misfortune befell him there.
Li Yuanjing had promised Li Chengyou that he could train in the southern military camps instead. But Li Chengyou, stubborn as ever, insisted on going to Liangzhou.
The father and son remained deadlocked for over half a year without resolution.
Li Chengyou even sought help from the Empress Dowager, who doted on her grandson dearly. Fearing he would suffer hardships away from home, she firmly refused.
As for Shen Wei, she preferred to stay out of the father-son dispute, gracefully keeping her distance.
Time did nothing to diminish Li Chengyou’s determination—his longing for Liangzhou only grew stronger. So he turned to Shen Wei for help, believing that since his father always listened to his mother, her word might sway him.
In the waterside pavilion, Shen Wei took a sip of fragrant lotus leaf tea and glanced at her son’s sun-darkened face. "The southern garrisons are excellent. Your father once trained there and benefited greatly."
Li Chengyou shook his head stubbornly. "No. I want to go to Liangzhou!"
Shen Wei sighed.
This bullheadedness—who did he inherit it from?
She fondly remembered the years when her children were young—soft, adorable, and obedient. But as they grew older, they became like wild horses, impossible to contain within palace walls, always yearning to run free.
Le You sneaked out of the palace every few days, Chengtai spent his time poring over case files at the Ministry of Justice, and Chengyou kept clamoring for Liangzhou.
Ah—
Shen Wei was exhausted.
She motioned for Li Chengyou to sit beside her and spoke gently, "Liangzhou is far away, lacking in resources, and military life there is harsh. You’ve lived in comfort all your life—how could you endure such hardship?"
Li Chengyou puffed out his chest and lifted his chin. "A real man isn’t afraid of suffering! Didn’t you teach me, Mother, that enduring hardship leads to greatness?"
After a pause, he lowered his head and whispered, "Mother, I don’t just want to leave the palace for Liangzhou. I also want to stay away from court politics."
It was clear to everyone that the next emperor of Qing State would be chosen between Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou.
Truthfully, Li Chengyou wouldn’t mind being the mighty emperor.
But he knew his elder brother was the better fit.
Li Chengyou had always admired his brother and didn’t want their bond to fracture over the throne. Born into royalty, brothers should support each other and protect the people—not tear each other apart for power.
So Li Chengyou chose to step aside.
Yet there were always scheming ministers trying to drive a wedge between him and Li Chengtai. Whenever he ventured outside the palace, officials would approach him, pledging loyalty and urging him to seize the throne. Their flattery disgusted him.
Their so-called allegiance was insincere—most just wanted the brothers to fight so they could profit from the chaos.
After much deliberation, Li Chengyou decided to leave Yanjing City and train in distant Liangzhou, cutting off any misguided ambitions among the courtiers.
Tugging at Shen Wei’s sleeve, he pleaded, "Mother, please help me."
Shen Wei sighed inwardly.
The world saw the ninth prince as simple and straightforward, less clever than the eighth prince. But Shen Wei knew better—her youngest son wasn’t naive. He possessed wisdom in simplicity.
She stroked his hair, and Li Chengyou obediently lowered his head like a well-behaved pup.
Shen Wei softened her voice. "I can persuade your father to let you go to Liangzhou."
Li Chengyou’s eyes lit up. "Really?"
He was overjoyed.
If his mother spoke up, his father would almost certainly agree!
For years, the entire court had witnessed the emperor’s devotion to his empress. If Shen Wei wanted the stars, Li Yuanjing would pluck them from the sky for her.
Shen Wei cautioned him, "If you go to Liangzhou as a prince, people will fear you and go easy on you. If you truly want to grow, go in disguise and start as a common soldier."
Flowers raised in comfort were fragile. Only those that weathered storms in the wild grew strong.
Li Chengyou grinned, flashing a row of white teeth. "Deal! I’ll do as you say—start as a soldier and follow Uncle to defend our land!"
With Shen Wei’s promise secured, he happily took his leave, rushing off to the training grounds.
Alone in the pavilion, Shen Wei sipped her tea, lost in thought.
Who in the court was trying to turn her sons against each other?
...
...
Night fell, and Li Yuanjing returned to Yongning Palace under the moonlight.
The summer night was stifling, but Shen Wei had placed ice basins in the chamber, keeping it cool and mosquito-free.
Li Yuanjing pushed aside the beaded curtain and entered. The room was softly lit by palace lanterns, the pale green bed curtains tied back. Shen Wei, her hair cascading over her shoulders, reclined against the headboard, reading a novel.
As he changed into sleepwear, Li Yuanjing grumbled, "Le You sneaked out again today—went hunting in the southern mountains! Didn’t return until dark. Utterly reckless!"
Shen Wei flipped a page without looking up. "Just confine her for two days. She’ll behave."
But Li Yuanjing could never bring himself to punish his daughter.
His stern scoldings had no effect—Le You always charmed her way out of trouble. This time, she had cooked the rabbit she hunted into a delicious stew and presented it to him with a smile.
The meat was tender, and her gesture warmed his heart.
His anger evaporated instantly.
His reprimands were useless, and even the Empress Dowager spoiled Le You shamelessly. In the entire palace, only Shen Wei could truly rein her in.
So he came to complain, hoping Shen Wei would discipline their wayward daughter.
Shen Wei turned another page. "The palace is stifling. It’s natural for her to want some adventure. Just assign imperial guards to watch over her discreetly. No need for such fuss."
Li Yuanjing sat beside her, adjusting the crystal lantern on the bedside table to better illuminate her book.
Then he continued his grievance, "I don’t mind her leaving the palace. But that Liang boy keeps trailing after her like a shadow—absolutely shameless!"
Now Shen Wei understood.
Li Yuanjing wasn’t angry about Le You’s escapades—he was furious that some young upstart was dogging his precious daughter’s steps.
His prized cabbage was being eyed by a wild boar.
Shen Wei soothed him, "Children grow up. Marriage should come naturally. If Le You takes a liking to young Liang Huaichuan, we can arrange the match. Honestly, that boy is quite impressive—top marks in horsemanship, archery, and martial arts. Last spring, he even joined the Yunzhou troops to suppress bandits. Brave lad."
Yanjing City, the capital of Qing State, was home to countless noble families. Most young masters were refined scholars, well-versed in poetry but rarely skilled in combat.
Liang Huaichuan, the youngest son of the Minister of War, was only fifteen or sixteen. Despite his privileged upbringing, he was diligent and unpretentious—a rare quality.
Shen Wei rather admired him.
If Le You fancied him someday, their union would be a fine match.
"Absolutely not! I will never allow Le You to marry that wretched boy!" Li Yuanjing declared, thoroughly displeased.
Now middle-aged with a well-groomed beard, Li Yuanjing had matured into a seasoned emperor. In public, he wielded the authority of a ruler with effortless dignity, exuding an imposing presence.
Yet in private, traces of his youthful stubbornness occasionally surfaced—enough to make him bicker like a teenager over trivial matters.
Shen Wei remarked, "If Your Majesty truly dislikes that Liang boy, simply send him south to lead troops. Why go through such convoluted schemes?"
Li Yuanjing frowned. "That won’t do. It would make me look petty!"
Shen Wei clicked her tongue in annoyance and ignored the emperor’s childishness. Setting aside the half-read romance novel on the bedside table, she slipped under the covers to rest.
In the summer heat, Shen Wei had laid out a cooling jade mat on the bed. The icy surface dissipated the warmth as she nestled against the silk-embroidered pillow. Li Yuanjing lay down beside her but remained restless, tossing and turning over the Liang boy.
Just as Shen Wei began to doze off, Li Yuanjing’s movements roused her again.
She opened her eyes with a sigh and nudged his leg away with her foot. "Your Majesty, if you can’t sleep, why not go weed the garden?"
After years of sharing a bed, their dynamic had settled into that of an old married couple.
Li Yuanjing couldn’t bear to be apart from Shen Wei and had grown increasingly indulgent toward her, deferring to her on minor matters. Shen Wei, in turn, no longer schemed or suppressed her thoughts, living more freely than before.
She spoke her mind without reservation.
Instead of heading to the garden, Li Yuanjing grasped Shen Wei’s hand firmly, seeking her help. "Weiwei, speak with Le You tomorrow. Marriage is a lifelong matter—it mustn’t be taken lightly."
Shen Wei’s eyes flickered with amusement before she nodded. "Very well. I’ll summon Le You and forbid her from hunting in the southern mountains with that Liang boy."
Li Yuanjing brightened instantly. "Truly?"
Shen Wei answered leisurely, "Of course. But Your Majesty must also grant me one request."
As long as it meant keeping the Liang boy away, Li Yuanjing was willing to agree to anything.
Shen Wei then recounted Li Chengyou’s earlier plea for help.
"I know Your Majesty cares deeply for Chengyou," she said, "but a man’s ambitions lie beyond the palace walls. How can he grow if confined here? Let him go to Liangzhou."
The room was filled with the faint scent of incense as Li Yuanjing’s expression turned stern. After a long pause, he refused. "No."
While he yielded to Shen Wei on trivial matters, sending his son to the borderlands was no small decision.
Shen Wei fixed him with a cool stare before abruptly throwing off the thin silk blanket. She rose, slipped on her shoes, and grabbed the red cloak from the stand—
In one fluid motion, she stormed out.
Li Yuanjing called after her, "Weiwei, where are you going?"
Shen Wei replied without turning, "To Cining Palace to stay with the Empress Dowager."
Outside, the night was dark, bathed in pale moonlight over Yongning Palace. Clad in her light cloak, Shen Wei’s silhouette appeared delicate.
Li Yuanjing hurried after her, sweeping her into his arms before carrying her back to bed. As he set her down, Shen Wei’s finger accidentally struck the bed frame, drawing a soft hiss of pain.
Li Yuanjing immediately seized her hand, inspecting it anxiously. "Where does it hurt? Let me see."
Shen Wei pulled her hand away and glared at him indignantly.
Rubbing his temples, Li Yuanjing lowered his voice. "A grown woman, yet you throw tantrums like a child! What would the children think if they saw this?"
Shen Wei retorted without hesitation, "Tomorrow, I’ll move to Cining Palace permanently! Your Majesty may sleep wherever you please—just don’t disturb me."
Over the years, Li Yuanjing and Shen Wei had quarreled and endured brief estrangements over minor disagreements.
But like any long-married couple, their disputes never lasted.
Accustomed to her presence, Li Yuanjing found nights unbearable without Shen Wei. Her absence left him restless and uneasy.
The thought of her staying in Cining Palace darkened his expression.
Pinning her back onto the bed, he attempted reason. "It’s not that I wish to stifle our son’s ambitions. But Liangzhou is remote, and barbarian raids have increased these past years. Chengyou is only twelve—his martial skills are still unrefined. If something were to happen to him in Liangzhou, how could we bear it?"
Moreover, as a prince, Li Chengyou would face countless dangers beyond the palace.
Shen Wei muttered stubbornly, "A sword is honed through grinding. We can’t shield our children under Your Majesty’s wings forever. One day, we’ll grow old. They must learn to navigate the world."
Li Yuanjing fell silent.
He knew Shen Wei was right.
But Chengyou was his most promising son. The thought of the boy venturing into peril at such a young age—Li Yuanjing couldn’t bear to imagine the worst.
Among the princes of Qing State, only Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou showed true promise. The others were timid and unfit for responsibility.
A capable prince was rare. Losing one would be a blow to the nation.
Seeing Li Yuanjing’s prolonged hesitation, Shen Wei spoke gently, "When Your Majesty was young, you defied the Empress Dowager’s wishes and left the capital to train in the south. You, of all people, should understand Chengyou’s heart."
The room was quiet, save for the faint chirping of insects outside. Memories surfaced—Li Yuanjing’s childhood, the late emperor, his own restless youth.
Back then, he had been an impulsive prince who dreamed of battlefields, eager to escape court politics by joining the southern army.
For months, the late emperor and Empress Dowager refused.
Young Li Yuanjing had resented his father, believing him obstinate and blind to his aspirations.
Now, as a father himself, he finally understood.
It wasn’t obstinacy—it was fear.
Letting a child venture into the unknown was a torment no parent could easily endure.
With a heavy sigh, Li Yuanjing relented. "Very well. I’ll permit Chengyou to go to Liangzhou."
Shen Wei finally smiled, nestling against him. "May our children always be safe."
...
...
Under the same moonlight, in a secluded corner of the palace, Xiangyun Palace was dimly lit by a flickering candle.
Liu Qiao'er lay in bed, her mind troubled, unable to sleep.
