Chapter 206
**Chapter 204: The Flowers Bloom on the Path, Let Us Return Slowly**
Having an elder at home is like possessing a treasure.
Shen Wei regarded the Empress Dowager as a mentor, humbly seeking her guidance. The Empress Dowager, being the biological mother of Li Yuanjing, truly enjoyed the process of teaching Shen Wei, patiently explaining, “It’s quite simple. If you and the Emperor are of one heart, he will naturally protect you.”
The Empress Dowager hailed from the prestigious Xie family, a clan that had flourished for a century. When she married the late Emperor, it was ostensibly a cold political alliance. However, after their marriage, her heart and mind were entirely devoted to the late Emperor. She compromised and distanced herself from the Xie family, even severing ties with them later on.
In the end, the late Emperor always cared for the Empress Dowager and her son, and the Xie family was not suppressed.
The Empress Dowager held Shen Wei’s hand, speaking with patience, “It’s lonely at the top. If you can be the warmth the Emperor seeks, and if you both unite, he will surely treat you well.”
Having spent three years together, Shen Wei often found ways to please the Empress Dowager. The two of them frequently indulged in beauty treatments, watched plays, climbed mountains, and strolled under the moonlight. Whenever the Empress Dowager fell ill, Shen Wei would care for her without rest.
It was about actions, not intentions.
Regardless of Shen Wei’s true feelings, her respect and care for the Empress Dowager were genuine and undeniable. Thus, the Empress Dowager was willing to support her.
“I understand, thank you for your guidance, Mother,” Shen Wei said, her eyes crescent-shaped with a smile.
Shen Wei knew she had made the right move!
Since ancient times, the relationship between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law has been the most challenging to navigate. By managing this relationship well and winning over her powerful mother-in-law, Shen Wei had secured a formidable ally in the Empress Dowager. Even if Li Yuanjing were to stop loving her in the future, she would still have a strong mother-in-law to rely on.
“Grandmother, look at those peach blossoms over there, they’re so big and red!” A voice called out from nearby.
Four-year-old Le You waddled over with his chubby little legs, his sweet voice chiming, “Grandmother, can we go see the flowers together?”
Le You, raised by the Empress Dowager, was as fair and lovely as a little fortune doll.
The Empress Dowager smiled warmly, “Alright, Grandmother will take Le You to see the flowers.”
Le You took the Empress Dowager’s hand, reminding her sweetly, “Walk slowly, Grandmother, there are pebbles on the path—Brother, come hold Grandmother’s hand!”
Li Chengyou immediately dropped the paper crane he was flying, rushing over like a spinning top, “Coming!”
The two little grandsons, one on each side, held the Empress Dowager’s hands obediently as the trio strolled slowly toward the sea of flowers.
The scene was heartwarming and beautiful.
Shen Wei sat in the pavilion, resting her chin on her hand as she watched the three of them, a smile gradually spreading across her lips. The life the Empress Dowager was living now was the retirement Shen Wei had always dreamed of.
Unfortunately, Shen Wei would have to endure for at least another decade before she could retire.
Just as Shen Wei pondered her future, a soft voice called from behind, “Mother.”
Turning her head, she saw her eldest son, Li Chengtai.
Li Chengtai was dressed in a purple short jacket, wearing a cream-colored hat. His small brows furrowed in worry, and his chubby face reflected his concern, “Mother, is Father going to take us back to the palace?”
Shen Wei smiled at him, “Yes. Your uncle is the renowned Shen Mieyue, so no one will dare to underestimate our Shen family anymore.”
Li Chengtai’s worry deepened, “Father is only bringing us back because of Uncle. If it weren’t for him, Father would have definitely forgotten about you.”
In the children’s books Li Chengtai had read, there was a terrifying story—about a great general whose achievements overshadowed the Emperor, leading the Emperor to marry the general’s sister, only to later kill both the general and his sister.
Li Chengtai’s young mind was filled with great concerns. He feared that his kind and innocent mother might also meet a tragic fate.
Shen Wei gently patted her eldest son’s head, her tone filled with trust in the Emperor, as she cheerfully said, “Your father is not that kind of person.”
Li Chengtai was speechless.
Mother, you’ve been abandoned by Father for three years!
In those three years, Father had never shown his face! Not even a letter had been sent! Such coldness and indifference, yet Mother still couldn’t see Father’s true nature and believed he was a good husband!
Sigh.
Li Chengtai looked at his naive mother and then at his sister and brother laughing in the peach blossom grove. Suddenly, a strong sense of responsibility surged within him.
For the sake of his mother, and for his sister and brother, he had to strive to be a man and shield his mother from the storms of life.
His small frame bore a heavy burden. Li Chengtai bid farewell to Shen Wei, “Mother, I’m going to study with my tutor. I need to memorize a few more lines of poetry today.”
Shen Wei grasped his little arm, gently saying, “You’re still young; there’s no need to overexert yourself. Studying for just a couple of hours each day is enough.”
Children are at an age where they should run and jump, enjoying the beauty of childhood. Spending all day indoors reading and writing would stifle their natural spirit.
Li Chengtai, acting like a little adult, shook his head and replied, “As the ancients say, ‘If one works without rest, they will suffer; if one uses their energy without pause, they will tire. I will balance work and rest.’”
Shen Wei didn’t quite catch that, rubbing her ears, “What do you mean by ‘work without rest’?”
Li Chengtai facepalmed, “Mother, you should read more books when you have the time.”
He had heard that most of the concubines in the Emperor’s harem came from noble families, well-versed in literature and talented.
Looking at his mother, though she was beautiful and kind-hearted, her knowledge was sadly lacking.
Li Chengtai grew even more worried. Would Mother be looked down upon by Father after returning to the palace?
With a heavy heart, Li Chengtai left, burdened with thoughts.
Watching her eldest son’s small figure disappear, Shen Wei sighed softly. To raise her children’s awareness, she had intentionally let them read stories like “The Case of the Beautiful Woman” and “The Song of the White-Headed Crane.”
Her eldest son, Li Chengtai, was exceptionally gifted, grasping profound truths from simple tales, and he had begun to work hard at a young age.
Her youngest son, Li Chengyou, after reading “The Case of the Beautiful Woman,” had made a fake paper guillotine and spent his days catching frogs by the pond, pretending to behead them with his paper contraption.
Though born of the same mother, the two brothers were as different as night and day.
“Your Highness.” Cai Lian approached cheerfully, her eyes sparkling with joy, “The Emperor has sent you a letter.”
Shen Wei took a sip of hot tea and tore open the seal.
Inside the envelope was a thin sheet of rice paper, with only a brief sentence written in steady, bold ink.
The Emperor wrote:
**“The flowers bloom on the path, let us return slowly.”**
Shen Wei smiled, tucking the letter away.
In the springtime splendor of the Donghua Mountain villa, the peach blossoms bloomed like crimson clouds. The children chased each other in the sea of flowers, their laughter ringing like silver bells in Shen Wei’s ears.
Shen Wei stood up, “Cai Lian, we’ll set off for the capital tomorrow.”
...
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The news of the Empress Dowager and Shen Wei’s impending return to the palace quickly spread throughout the inner court.
In Changxin Palace, the roses in the courtyard bloomed profusely. Noble Consort Lu Xuan sat by the cradle, watching over the sleeping infant with several old maids.
“Shen Wei is returning to the palace?” Lu Xuan paused in her fan-waving.
Shen Wei was an old acquaintance of the Emperor from his secluded days, said to have been quite favored, giving birth to a daughter and two sons for him.
However, during the three years Shen Wei had been away from the palace, the Emperor had never mentioned her, leading to her gradually being forgotten.
Xiao Qin said, “Your Highness, Shen Wei is quite fortunate; her elder brother is the formidable General Shen Mieyue. The Emperor is bringing her back out of respect for General Shen.”
If it weren’t for General Shen, Shen Wei might have been left in Donghua Mountain, never to return to Yanjing.
Lu Xuan asked, “What title has the Emperor conferred upon Shen Wei?”
Xiao Qin replied, “The Emperor hasn’t given her a title yet, nor has he decided on her residence. This shows that she isn’t highly regarded in the Emperor’s eyes.”
Lu Xuan let out a slight sigh of relief.
The Emperor was ultimately heartless; no woman could be an exception to his indifference. Shen Wei was a pitiful figure, having spent three lonely years outside, only to return to the palace as a tool to stabilize the previous dynasty.
Lu Xuan murmured to herself, “Shen Wei has two sons and a general brother; she shouldn’t be underestimated.”
In the future, she would have to find a way to eliminate Shen Wei’s children.
And she, Lu Xuan, would bear even more children.
Lu Xuan caressed her flat belly. She had consulted a physician yesterday, and she was expecting another child. When the time was right, she would share this news with the Emperor.
Lu Xuan spoke to herself, “Perhaps this child will make the Emperor change his mind.”
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