Yongning Palace.
After Zhang Miaoyu left, Shen Wei continued sorting through the items in Yongning Palace. Over the years, her private stash had accumulated a trove of gold, silver, and jewelry—all of which she intended to take out of the palace as capital for future business ventures.
As Shen Wei busied herself, a palace attendant announced another visitor: Shen Xiuming had come to see her.
Delighted, Shen Wei personally went to greet him.
With the new emperor ascending the throne, Shen Xiuming, as the emperor’s maternal uncle, was set to take up an official post in Yanjing City to assist the young ruler.
Years of experience away from the capital had transformed him. No longer the reckless gambler of his youth, Shen Xiuming now sported a neatly trimmed black beard, his features dignified. Clad in a crimson official robe and a black scholar’s cap, he carried himself with the composed elegance of a seasoned statesman.
Every gesture exuded the authority of a high-ranking minister.
“Elder Sister,” Shen Xiuming said, his voice laced with concern as he studied Shen Wei. “Has your health improved lately? The winds by Luoyue Lake are harsh, and the damp air is hardly suitable for recuperation.”
Despite his refined demeanor, his words revealed the same brotherly affection he’d always held for her.
Shen Wei motioned for him to sit, her eyes crinkling with warmth. “I’m perfectly well. After staying by Luoyue Lake for a while, I plan to visit the Grand Empress Dowager in the south. If time allows, I might even travel to Yue Kingdom to see Zhao Yang.”
Shen Xiuming’s brow furrowed slightly.
Rumors had reached him over the past two years that Shen Wei’s health had declined—so much so that she could no longer manage palace affairs herself. But now, seeing her up close, his gaze swept over her face in surprise.
His sister looked radiant.
Her cheeks were rosy, her hair glossy black, and her eyes bright with vitality. There wasn’t a trace of weariness or age in her expression.
She didn’t look old at all!
Shen Xiuming blinked, as if doubting his own eyes, then stammered, “Elder Sister… what kind of miracle elixir have you been taking?”
Shen Wei’s lips curved as she sipped her rose-infused beauty tea. “Exercise, a cheerful heart, and a balanced diet—that’s all it takes to stay youthful.”
Shen Xiuming listened, dumbfounded.
Living in the imperial harem, constantly subjected to the emperor’s whims and the schemes of concubines, she had somehow maintained such serenity.
Shen Wei continued, “Now that Chengtai is on the throne, he’s still young. You must guide him well in governance.”
Li Chengtai was Shen Xiuming’s nephew by blood, and he naturally vowed to support him wholeheartedly, nodding emphatically.
Shen Wei added, “But remember your place. The emperor is the emperor, and a subject is a subject. There must be boundaries. Once Chengtai’s reign stabilizes, you must step back and refrain from overstepping. Do you understand?”
Shen Xiuming exhaled deeply. “You’re right, Elder Sister. I know.”
No matter how close their familial ties, a subject could never forget the divide between ruler and minister. Only by maintaining proper distance could one ensure survival.
The Shen family now stood at the pinnacle of power, their prestige unmatched. But the higher they rose, the more caution they needed.
After chatting for a while longer, Shen Wei’s gaze caught on a torn corner of Shen Xiuming’s crimson official sleeve. Despite his influence and advancing age, he had never married—a rarity for a man of his stature.
Two years prior, their mother had even visited Shen Wei in the palace, urging her to persuade Shen Xiuming to take a wife.
Yet he remained unwilling.
Shen Wei asked softly, “Do you still think of Moxun?”
Shen Xiuming lowered his eyes. “To be honest with you, Elder Sister, years ago, when Moxun was traveling to Southern Chu, we met in the mountains. We spent half a year together before I arranged for her safe passage south.”
He knew Moxun was already married to another, but he couldn’t let go of her.
Over the years, countless officials had tried to arrange matches for him, but Shen Xiuming had politely declined every one.
If he couldn’t marry the woman he loved, he saw no point in marrying at all.
“Elder Sister,” he said, “our elder brother already has heirs. The Shen lineage is secure. Whether I marry or not changes nothing. Once the new emperor’s rule is steady, I’ll retire to the Imperial Academy—teaching, writing, translating texts.”
Seeing his resolve, Shen Wei didn’t press further.
Everyone had their own path, and she wouldn’t interfere with her brother’s choices.
Still, she couldn’t help asking, “Has Moxun contacted you over the years?”
Shen Xiuming shook his head, his voice tinged with worry. “No.”
After Moxun left for Southern Chu, Shen Wei had never heard from her again.
Suspecting foul play, she had discreetly sent investigators to Southern Chu, but they found no trace.
Had the court sorcerer of Yue Kingdom taken her back? Shen Wei wrote to Zhao Yang, who looked into it but reported that the sorcerer had resigned and vanished without a word.
Moxun had disappeared from the world entirely.
A pang of melancholy struck Shen Wei. Once retired, she resolved to travel, hoping against hope to find her.
As dusk fell, Shen Xiuming took his leave. With her belongings packed and ready, Shen Wei’s spirits soared.
Tomorrow, she would leave the palace at last—
And step into the long-awaited freedom of retirement.
...
...
At dawn the next day, the new emperor, Li Chengtai, personally escorted Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing out of Yanjing City.
He knew how deeply Shen Wei yearned for life beyond the palace walls. Though parting pained him, Li Chengtai accepted this temporary farewell.
On the imperial road outside Yanjing City, Li Chengtai dismounted from his horse and bowed respectfully to Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing. Li Chengtai said, "Mother, I will keep Yongning Palace preserved, having it cleaned daily. You and Father may return to the palace anytime and stay there."
Shen Wei smiled warmly. "The affairs of the court are demanding—you should return to the palace first. The weather is growing hotter; don’t let yourself catch a chill."
Li Chengtai nodded silently, his expression subdued.
Li Yuanjing waved his sleeve. "Go back quickly."
Under the bright sunlight, the lavish carriage continued forward, carrying Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing toward Luoyue Lake. Li Chengtai remained seated on his horse, watching as his parents' procession slowly faded into the distance.
Summer had painted the wilderness outside the city in lush greenery, the hills blanketed in vibrant shades of green. In Li Chengtai’s usually steady eyes, a trace of melancholy lingered.
Thirteen years ago, a single imperial decree from his father had summoned him from the remote mountains back to the palace. Now, fully grown, he stood on the same imperial road, bidding farewell to his parents as they departed.
For a moment, Li Chengtai felt lost—but soon, a quiet determination settled in his dark gaze.
The road ahead… he would walk it alone.
...
...
The carriage moved smoothly along the road.
Custom-made under Li Yuanjing’s orders, the interior resembled a luxurious little chamber, furnished with every necessity. The summer heat had prompted Shen Wei to change into a light green ruqun dress, her ebony hair pinned up with a white jade hairpin.
She lifted the curtain, letting the cool breeze brush against her face, tousling the strands at her temples. The warm sunlight bathed her skin, and Shen Wei closed her eyes, savoring the caress of wind and light.
Li Yuanjing sat beside her, watching her childlike delight with an amused smile. "Weiwei, are you this happy just to be outside the palace?"
Shen Wei beamed. "Of course I am. I’ve never been happier."
Li Yuanjing studied her delicate profile, his lips curving slightly.
Over the years, Shen Wei’s beauty had hardly faded. She was like an eternally blooming flower, forever vibrant in the palm of his hand.
Her joy was infectious, and Li Yuanjing found himself genuinely content.
Leaving the court behind, living an ordinary life with Shen Wei like any middle-aged couple—it suited him just fine.
As the carriage rolled on, Shen Wei stretched her hand out the window.
The cool wind slipped through her fingers, the warm sunlight pooling in her palm.
She caught the wind and sunlight.
She had finally retired!
