Chapter 248
**Chapter 246: The Concubine**
As Li Yuanjing watched Shen Wei take the detoxifying medicine, he couldn't help but recall the chronic poison she had been afflicted with. The Empress was ruthless, having bribed the imperial physician to increase the potency of the herbs in Shen Wei's contraceptive potion. Had it not been discovered in time, Shen Wei might have already been on the brink of death.
It wasn't just Shen Wei who had suffered; the Empress Dowager and Le You had nearly fallen victim as well. The Empress represented the Dan Tai family.
Li Yuanjing fell into a brief silence.
Meanwhile, in the Qingtai Palace, Dan Tai Yinxue, dressed elegantly in purple, was still waiting. From a young age, she had been groomed as a key lady of the family, excelling in both beauty and talent, her mind filled with poetry and literature. The concubines in the palace were like wilting flowers, aging and losing their charm, while Dan Tai Yinxue had the undeniable advantage of youth.
The Empress was ineffective, and Dan Tai Yinxue was ambitious. She would never be as foolish as Dan Tai Shuya, digging her own grave. Dan Tai Yinxue planned to adopt the Empress's children, give birth to her own prince, and, with the support of the Dan Tai family, ascend to the throne as Empress.
She dreamed of becoming the new matriarch of the nation!
Dan Tai Yinxue thought to herself that with her noble lineage, the Emperor would surely grant her the title of Guiren (noble consort). If luck was on her side, she might even be directly promoted to a higher rank and spend the night in the Emperor's chambers.
The Qingtai Palace was quiet, everyone waiting for the Emperor's decree.
Lu Yun, seated among the noble ladies, silently clutched her handkerchief, a sense of crisis washing over her. In her dreams, after the Empress Dan Tai Shuya passed away, the Dan Tai family had sent Dan Tai Yinxue into the palace.
Dan Tai Yinxue enjoyed favor for a time, but later the Dan Tai family angered the Emperor, leading to the downfall of the main branch and the exile of the collateral branches to desolate lands. Dan Tai Yinxue was also cast into the cold palace, dying of depression without making much of a stir in the harem.
"Strange, this future is different from my dream," Lu Yun murmured to herself.
At that moment, the Emperor's voice emerged from behind the beaded curtain, deep and resonant: "Truly, she is a daughter of the Dan Tai family, a master of the guqin, and strikingly beautiful, dressed in purple like the blooming crepe myrtle."
Dan Tai Yinxue's cheeks flushed, her heart racing. Though burdened with her family's mission, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement at the sight of such a young and handsome Emperor.
If she could win his favor, it would be a stroke of luck.
The Emperor continued leisurely, "In Huayang Palace, we have planted many crepe myrtles. I bestow upon you the title of Jieyu (concubine) and grant you residence in Huayang Palace."
At this announcement, the room fell into stunned silence.
Especially Dan Tai Yinxue, who had been so confident, her beautiful eyes widened. She had expected at least to be named Guiren, but instead, she was only given the lowly title of Jieyu.
According to the Ministry of Rites' hierarchy for concubines, the ranks from highest to lowest were: Empress, Guifei (noble consort), Fei (consort), Pin (concubine), Guiren, Jieyu, and Meiren (beauty).
Li Yuanjing had only granted Dan Tai Yinxue the title of Jieyu, with no separate palace, forcing her to reside in Huayang Palace alongside Lan Pin.
Dan Tai Yinxue nearly lost control, tears of grievance welling in her eyes. It was the elder matriarch of the Dan Tai family who stepped forward, firmly grasping Dan Tai Yinxue's hand and reminding her, "You should bow and express your gratitude."
The elder matriarch sighed inwardly. The Emperor was still venting his anger on the Empress, and by extension, on the Dan Tai family. But it was alright; time would wear away all grievances, and the Emperor's fury would eventually fade with the years.
As long as Dan Tai Yinxue gained favor and bore a prince, the family could once again flourish.
Dan Tai Yinxue was not foolish; she quickly understood the elder matriarch's intentions. As long as she entered the palace, there was hope for favor.
She was exceptionally beautiful and had learned many secrets of the inner chambers from experienced old maids. Once the Emperor entered her bedchamber, she had her own ways to capture his heart.
Thus, Dan Tai Yinxue bowed her head in gratitude, her face betraying no hint of dissatisfaction, her gaze towards the Emperor still filled with admiration.
After receiving her title, Dan Tai Yinxue followed the eunuchs from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to prepare for her entry into the palace.
Lan Pin was the head of Huayang Palace, the master of the residence.
"Now that you're in my territory, I won't let you stir up any trouble," Lan Pin thought, secretly tightening her grip on her handkerchief. With Dan Tai Yinxue in her domain, she would not allow her to live comfortably.
As the small interlude ended, the performers from the music hall began their song and dance, the sound of strings and flutes filling the air, revitalizing the atmosphere.
Li Yuanjing held his wine cup, his gaze drifting once more to Shen Wei nearby. Shen Wei had finished the detoxifying medicine and was now savoring a sweet date to ease the bitterness, her dark eyes scanning the surroundings.
Through the beaded curtain, Li Yuanjing's gaze inadvertently met Shen Wei's.
Li Yuanjing raised an eyebrow, his eyes conveying a message: "I only granted her the title of Jieyu. Are you happy about that?"
Shen Wei, feeling guilty, touched her nose, pretending not to understand Li Yuanjing's hint. She lowered her head awkwardly, though the corners of her rosy lips secretly lifted.
Li Yuanjing found Shen Wei's guilty demeanor adorable, like a little white cat caught in mischief.
Li Yuanjing was clever enough to see through Shen Wei's intentions—she was deliberately drinking the detoxifying medicine in front of him, reminding him not to forget the past. Her acting was rather clumsy.
But Li Yuanjing felt a secret joy; a new beauty had appeared, and his Weiwei was clearly feeling jealous.
Jealousy meant she had feelings for him.
Li Yuanjing found Shen Wei's jealousy and little schemes amusing and enticing.
Shen Wei continued to "feel guilty" while sipping her tea, mentally giving herself full marks for her performance—playing the role of a jealous concubine who was caught by the Emperor was no easy feat, but it was quite effective.
As time passed, the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet drew to a close. A minister came to report on the progress of the southern flood, prompting Li Yuanjing to leave early for Chang'an Palace to hear the report.
With the Emperor gone, the banquet was nearing its end.
Lu Xuan, who had been low-key throughout the banquet, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't announce her pregnancy at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. With the ambitious newcomer Dan Tai Yinxue in the palace and Chen Fei eyeing her closely, she had to be cautious.
At that moment, Yu Fei Zhang Miaoyu suddenly clutched her belly, exclaiming that she was in pain.
"Empress Dowager! I am in agony, unable to move... Please have the physician check my pulse," Zhang Miaoyu pleaded weakly.
At royal banquets, there were always physicians stationed at the palace gates. Should any noble suffer a sudden illness, the physician could rush in to provide immediate assistance.
The Empress Dowager nodded, and an old maid went outside to fetch a physician.
It was Mo Xun, the physician.
Dressed in a physician's blue robe and wearing a cap, Mo Xun did not approach Zhang Miaoyu but stood a few feet away, quickly assessing her face and fingers.
After a few glances, Mo Xun cupped his hands and said, "Please have the young lady beside the Empress press the edge of the left index finger of Yu Fei, from the fingertip to the base, in a circular motion ten times."
Zhang Miaoyu's personal maid followed his instructions.
In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Zhang Miaoyu's abdominal pain surprisingly subsided. She looked astonished, "You are quite the skilled physician! Without even checking my pulse, just by observing my words and expressions, you managed to cure my ailment!"
Not only was Zhang Miaoyu surprised, but the other ladies present also cast curious glances.
Mo Xun cleared his throat and respectfully bowed to the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, esteemed ladies, I began studying medicine at the age of one. My skills are exceptional. No need to check the pulse; one can discern minor ailments through observation and diagnose major ones through pulse-taking."
The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow, her gaze filled with meaning.
Shen Wei looked astonished, as if she had never seen anything so miraculous, and eagerly asked, "Is that true?"
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