Chapter 220
**Chapter 218: The Heart's Divide**
Clearly, Mo Xun did not come here for a chicken leg, but rather to probe for information from Shen Mieyue.
Shen Mieyue replied calmly, “I haven’t discovered anything.”
Mo Xun let out a slight sigh of relief, glanced up at the bright moon in the sky, muttering a few curses under his breath before yawning and heading back to the inn to rest.
Shen Xiuming scratched his head and murmured, “Big Brother, these officials from Yue are quite strange.”
Shen Mieyue didn’t respond. He stood up, picked up a knife nearby, and began to patrol around the inn.
His hawk-like gaze swept through every corner, searching for any potential followers.
...
...
The next morning, Shen Wei got up early to practice jogging around the courtyard. Cai Lian and Cai Ping stood by, waiting to serve her.
After running about ten laps, Shen Wei finally stopped, taking the handkerchief that Cai Lian offered to wipe the sweat from her forehead.
Cai Lian said, “My lady, we received word from Kun Ning Palace. The Empress requests your presence. General Shen will escort the Yue envoy to the capital tomorrow, and it seems the Empress has gathered the palace ladies for this matter.”
Shen Wei paused in her wiping and instructed Cai Lian, “Change my clothes.”
After a moment’s thought, she added with a hint of meaning, “Have Mama Rong accompany me as well.”
After freshening up, Shen Wei made her way to Kun Ning Palace.
The Empress had many shortcomings, but there was one quality Shen Wei admired—she didn’t like to hold morning meetings.
Perhaps it was to show her consideration for the harem, or perhaps she simply didn’t want to see the faces of those beautiful women every day. In any case, the Empress exempted the concubines from the daily morning and evening rituals.
Kun Ning Palace was solemn and grand.
When Shen Wei arrived, many concubines were already waiting outside the main hall. As she stepped over the threshold, the beautiful ladies turned to look at her one by one.
Some gazes were envious, some indifferent, some secretly dissatisfied, and some delighted... Shen Wei discreetly observed their reactions before raising the corners of her lips, “Good morning, sisters.”
The ladies responded in turn.
Lan Pin walked over with a bright smile, her beautiful eyes sweeping over Shen Wei’s embroidered dress and then assessing her fair face. She deliberately said, “Your Highness, you look exceptionally well today. I suppose you had a good rest last night.”
On the surface, it was a compliment about Shen Wei’s appearance.
But it carried a hint of mockery. Since Shen Wei returned to the palace and gained the Emperor’s favor, the Emperor had not spent the night in her quarters again, but had gone to stay with Shu Fei Lu Xuan instead.
It was clear that the Emperor’s novelty for Shen Wei was wearing off.
Shen Wei’s emotions were always stable. She returned the scrutiny to Lan Pin, her lips curling up, “Lan Pin looks quite well too. I suppose you’ve been resting well in the palace these past two years.”
This was a subtle hint that since Lu Xuan entered the palace two years ago, Lan Pin had completely lost her favor.
Sure enough, as soon as Shen Wei finished speaking, Lan Pin’s pretty face twisted in anger. She glared at Shen Wei but dared not continue her mockery.
A concubine is a concubine, and a fei is a fei; the status difference was stark.
Moreover, with Shen Wei’s general brother returning to the capital tomorrow, her prominence would only grow. Lan Pin could only grind her teeth in secret, racking her brain on how to regain her position.
Overthrow Mei Fei and rise again.
Then, she and Shen Wei would be on equal footing, and she would have the courage to confront her.
“Please, ladies, come inside.” Mama Liu stepped out from the room, clearing her throat to remind them.
The concubines entered the main hall one after another.
Cai Lian followed Shen Wei inside, while Mama Rong waited outside.
Mama Rong was the oldest servant by Shen Wei’s side, experienced and efficient. She and Mama Liu, who served the Empress, had a decent relationship back in the Wang residence.
“Mama Liu, you look pale. Did you stay up late again last night?” Mama Rong took the initiative to get closer.
Mama Liu replied flatly, “Yes.”
She didn’t reveal more, being quite cautious.
Mama Rong said kindly, “We’re both old bones now. Let the younger ones handle the work; there’s no need for us to be involved in everything. A few days ago, Your Highness rewarded me with two ginseng roots. I’ll bring one over for you to help with your health.”
Mama Liu felt a pang of bitterness inside.
The Empress’s rewards were meager, just an occasional cup of tea or a plate of snacks, and the servants had to express their gratitude with bows and thanks.
As seasoned palace servants, Mama Liu worked alongside the Empress daily, managing palace affairs and escorting Li Chengzhen to and from the Guozijian, staying up at night to help the child with his studies.
Every day was laborious, and valuable rewards were few.
Mama Liu cast a jealous glance at Mama Rong. Though Mama Rong was two years older, she appeared younger and in better spirits.
Mama Rong wore a gold-thread embroidered jacket, and her wrists were adorned with heavy jade bangles. A touch of powder concealed the lines on her face.
There was a subtle luxury in her understated elegance.
Mama Liu felt a twinge of envy; Mama Rong was fortunate to have a generous and capable master.
Though Shen Fei was cunning, she was very generous to her servants and wouldn’t trample on their lives. Unlike the Empress, who seemed compassionate but was actually a quagmire, repeatedly ignoring advice and digging her own grave.
Mama Rong sighed, seemingly casually mentioning, “We’re both old bones, and we don’t have many years left. Without children or family, we live a lonely life. Besides serving our masters, we should also plan for our own old age.”
Mama Liu remained silent.
The wind rustled against the walls of Kun Ning Palace, and the flowers and grass in the corners swayed in the breeze, making a soft sound.
...
...
In the main hall of Kun Ning Palace.
The Empress wore a dark-colored robe, holding a string of jade prayer beads, sitting high on the main seat. Her dim gaze swept over the concubines in the room.
The flower-like ladies each possessed their own beauty, dividing the Emperor’s affections among themselves. The Empress wished she could set fire to them all, turning those beautiful women to ash.
But she couldn’t; she was the Empress.
Countless eyes were fixed on the Empress’s throne, scrutinizing her every mistake, eager to pull her down from her position.
She had to be virtuous, she had to be magnanimous. The palace was not the Yan Wang residence; she couldn’t just throttle these venomous women.
The Empress took a sip of tea, her voice calm, “Shu Fei, the spring nights can be chilly. You must be careful while serving the Emperor.”
The Empress decided to sit back and watch the tigers fight, deliberately stirring up conflict, letting Shen Wei and Lu Xuan clash while she reaped the benefits.
Since Shen Wei returned to the palace, she had taken most of the Emperor’s affections. Lu Xuan would surely be unwilling to accept this and would undoubtedly scheme against her in secret.
Let them fight; the more intense, the better.
Lu Xuan’s red lips curled into a smile, her expression as usual, “Thank you for your reminder, Your Majesty. I will keep it in mind.”
Inside, Lu Xuan secretly despised the Empress’s clumsy attempts at sowing discord. Did the Empress really think she would fall for it?
Lu Xuan glanced at Shen Wei, who sat across from her. Shen Wei’s expression was calm, sipping her tea, clearly unaffected by the Empress’s provocation.
“She’s not jealous at all…” Lu Xuan muttered quietly.
Last night, the Emperor had stayed in Lu Xuan’s quarters, yet Shen Wei showed no sign of anger.
Was she not worried about losing the Emperor?
Where did her confidence come from?
The Empress set down her white porcelain teacup and continued, “General Shen will escort the Yue envoy back to Yanjing. The Emperor will host a banquet at Qinghua Hall tomorrow, and all concubines and above must wear auspicious attire to the banquet.”
“Everyone, remember the rules of the palace; do not lose your decorum in the hall.”
The concubines responded in unison, “Yes.”
The morning meeting quickly concluded, and the palace ladies bowed and departed.
The Empress stood under the eaves of Kun Ning Palace, watching the graceful figures leave, her grip on the prayer beads tightening.
After silently reciting a sutra in her heart, the Empress’s anxious emotions finally eased.
She turned to instruct Mama Liu, “Go to the kitchen and check if the ingredients for tomorrow’s banquet are fully prepared. Before the banquet begins, make sure someone is always watching. Also, prepare the health soup for Chengzhen and send it to Anguo Temple later.”
Mama Liu forced a smile, hiding the fatigue in her eyes, “I will obey.”
...
Shen Wei returned to the palace.
Today was relatively free, so she took out her archery equipment; she wanted to continue practicing.
“My lady, didn’t you say you disliked archery?” Cai Lian asked with a frown.
Shen Wei had indeed lost interest in archery recently.
But unfortunately, Li Yuanjing was enthusiastic, often embracing her and tirelessly teaching her how to shoot. They would end up in each other’s arms, and eventually, on the bed...
Shen Wei had many ways to keep fit; archery was not the most effective method. She practiced archery merely to design a situation where Li Yuanjing would take the initiative to teach their two sons.
She didn’t actually like archery.
Shen Wei stroked her chin, thinking of a way to make Li Yuanjing voluntarily give up teaching her.
...
As dusk fell.
Li Yuanjing finished his official duties and headed to Yongning Palace. The spring sunset bathed everything in a golden glow, making Yongning Palace seem gilded.
He didn’t have the palace servants announce his arrival.
He walked straight in. After Shen Wei returned to the palace, she was not satisfied with the original arrangement of Yongning Palace and had sent people to rearrange the flowers and plants in the courtyard, planting many bright red begonia flowers.
Shen Wei had also opened a small vegetable garden.
But she was too lazy to tend to it, and after the garden was established, it had been left to grow wild. Li Yuanjing had passed by the vegetable garden several times, and seeing the bare patch of land made him feel uneasy.
Li Yuanjing had someone send over a few vegetable seedlings.
He personally planted the seedlings, and with a few green shoots sprouting in the once-barren garden, he finally felt a bit more at ease.
“Where is Shen Fei?” Li Yuanjing asked a palace maid.
The maid lowered her head, “My lady is in the back courtyard.”
Shen Wei was practicing archery.
Her sleeves rolled up, revealing her fair arms as she drew the bow and nocked an arrow.
Li Yuanjing paused to watch, noticing that Shen Wei’s posture had improved significantly. The arrow flew swiftly from her hand, hitting the edge of the target.
But she still wasn’t accurate.
Seeing Shen Wei persist in her practice, Li Yuanjing felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. He stepped forward, embracing her from behind, holding her hand, “Your form is off again.”
Shen Wei seemed to just notice him, turning around in surprise, “Your Majesty, you’re back!”
Her eyes sparkled with affection and joy for her beloved.
Li Yuanjing’s lips curled up, ready to continue teaching her archery. But out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed a bruise on the inside of Shen Wei’s wrist.
Li Yuanjing set down the bow and arrow, grasping Shen Wei’s arm, frowning, “Why aren’t you wearing protective gear?”
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