Li Yuanjing grew increasingly convinced that this might be the case!
He couldn’t help but feel a smug satisfaction.
Shen Wei had concealed from him that she was the hidden mastermind behind Qing State’s wealthiest figure, but in Li Yuanjing’s eyes, this had become something entirely understandable.
After all, Shopkeeper Ye, the richest woman in Qing State, had repeatedly donated large sums of silver to the state treasury to aid in disaster relief across the land. Without Shen Wei’s behind-the-scenes support, Shopkeeper Ye would never have done so.
This proved that Shen Wei had been quietly using her wealth to support Qing State—and by extension, her own husband!
If this wasn’t love, what was?
Li Yuanjing was deeply moved.
So, for all these years unbeknownst to him, Shen Wei had silently sacrificed so much for his sake.
...
Night had fallen. After reading through all the records concerning Shopkeeper Ye in his study, Li Yuanjing’s heart swelled with emotion.
Shen Wei had already returned, freshly bathed, and was waiting in their bedchamber.
Li Yuanjing strode in and found her reclining against the bed, reading a novel.
Fresh from her bath, Shen Wei’s long, silky black hair cascaded over her shoulders, still slightly damp. The dark strands, free of any hairpins or ornaments, framed her naturally beautiful features, making her eyes and brows all the more striking.
Li Yuanjing’s heart stirred.
He approached, pulling her into an intimate embrace, and pressed a tender kiss to her smooth, fair forehead. "Weiwei," he murmured, his voice low and husky.
Shen Wei looked up and immediately recognized the desire in his gaze.
After years of sharing a bed, she knew all too well what that intense look meant. Every time Li Yuanjing wore that expression, it signaled the beginning of a long night behind the bed curtains.
Shen Wei sighed inwardly.
Setting aside her novel, she shifted away from him and met his eyes earnestly. "There’s something important I need to discuss with you."
Li Yuanjing’s lips curved slightly.
He already guessed what she was about to say—it must be her confession about Shopkeeper Ye.
Since her secret business dealings had been for the sake of Qing State, Li Yuanjing was more than willing to forgive her concealment. With a gracious smile, he said, "I understand your intentions. I won’t blame you—I fully comprehend your actions."
Shen Wei’s eyes brightened, pleasantly surprised by his easy acceptance. "You truly understand my decision?"
Li Yuanjing nodded magnanimously. "Of course."
Relieved, Shen Wei exhaled.
Clutching her novel, she announced, "Since you agree, I’ll move to the neighboring courtyard tonight."
Li Yuanjing’s smile froze.
What?
Move to the neighboring courtyard?
It dawned on him that Shen Wei had been referring to something entirely different.
His brows knitted tightly in disbelief. "What exactly were you planning to tell me?"
Under the warm glow of the palace lanterns, Shen Wei’s face was radiant as she answered plainly, "Now that we’ve left the palace, there’s no need to cling to formalities. We’re not young anymore—it’s better if we sleep separately from now on."
Li Yuanjing felt as though he’d been struck by lightning.
Separate beds?
Shen Wei wanted to sleep apart from him?!
Patiently, she explained, "Chengtai has just ascended the throne, and the court’s situation remains unstable. As parents, we must consider our child’s future. You’re over forty—if the Empress Dowager were to become pregnant, it would be a scandal. For the greater good, we should sleep separately."
"Besides, that contraceptive brew is unbearable. I’ve been drinking it for over a decade, and I simply can’t stomach it anymore."
Truthfully, Shen Wei had never enjoyed sharing a bed.
After enduring it for years until retirement, she longed to sprawl freely across an entire mattress, rolling about as she pleased.
And all these years, she’d been drinking the contraceptive concoction prescribed by Mo the Divine Physician—enough to make her sick.
Li Yuanjing was so furious he nearly bristled. "Absolutely not!"
What kind of married couple slept apart?
Their love was still strong—how could they separate?
He couldn’t bear sleeping alone!
Staring at Shen Wei’s lovely face, he struggled to comprehend how his Weiwei could entertain such a horrifying idea.
Shen Wei tilted her head thoughtfully before offering a diplomatic suggestion, "If you truly have too much energy and can’t sleep alone, I can arrange for the imperial concubines to keep you company—"
Before she could finish, Li Yuanjing’s face darkened like coal.
Seething, he grabbed her slender arm and demanded, "Weiwei, you’ve been acting strangely lately. I can tolerate most things—but sharing a bed is non-negotiable! Physical intimacy is natural between husband and wife. All these years, we’ve been perfectly matched—how can you discard that?"
Shen Wei met his gaze with her dark, luminous eyes and replied candidly, "Actually... we weren’t that well-matched. Most of the time, I was quite uncomfortable."
Li Yuanjing: "..."
Uncomfortable?
It was the truth.
Li Yuanjing had always been self-assured, accustomed to women accommodating him, rarely considering their comfort. Had Shen Wei not diligently trained her body over the years, she might not have survived his attentions.
Of course, in recent years, as his love for her deepened, he had become more considerate in bed. But Shen Wei, eager to avoid sharing his bed, conveniently overlooked those improvements.
Li Yuanjing looked as though the sky had collapsed.
His mind buzzed in shock.
His pride as a man fractured in that moment.
Hands clasped behind his back, he paced furiously across the lavish chamber. Never had he imagined that Shen Wei had been enduring him all this time.
Soul-searching, Li Yuanjing reflected on how he had treasured Shen Wei in recent years—devoting himself entirely to her, refusing other women, and showering her with the finest things the world could offer.
For her sake, he had even willingly abdicated the throne to their son, choosing to retire with her by the lakeside.
And yet... she found him lacking.
Watching him stomp around like a disoriented top, Shen Wei yawned sleepily and tried again, "Stop pacing. I’ll move to the neighboring courtyard tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll summon the imperial concubines—"
Li Yuanjing cut her off, his voice sharp with betrayal, "You’d send me to other women? Was your love for me all these years just a lie?"
The moment the words left his lips, the room plunged into silence.
The soft glow of the crystal lanterns illuminated the heavy stillness.
Li Yuanjing’s head throbbed. In the past, if he ever doubted Shen Wei’s love, she would protest tearfully, pouring out declarations of her devotion.
But this time...
His Weiwei remained uncharacteristically silent.
After a long pause, Shen Wei sighed and rose to her feet. Gently, she patted his shoulder with her delicate hand. "Your Majesty, we’re both getting on in years. Let’s not cling to youthful notions of love. We can simply... make do. There’s no need to dwell on such things."
Li Yuanjing felt as if struck by lightning. His voice trembling, he voiced the doubt that had been buried in his heart for days: "Weiwei, do you not love me?"
