Chapter 267
**Chapter 265: The Night's Melody**
Zhang Miaoyu huffed, “Of course it is.”
A couple of years ago, before Shen Wei returned to the palace, the favored Consort Shu held the Emperor's heart. When a newcomer entered the palace, she was granted the title of Rong Guiren and settled into a side chamber of Zhang Miaoyu's quarters. Rong Guiren was lively and fond of good food, and she got along well with Zhang Miaoyu.
Later, when Rong Guiren became pregnant, she suffered various discomforts during her pregnancy, losing clumps of hair. Zhang Miaoyu, who lived with her, inexplicably began to lose hair as well, her appetite dwindling, and her spirit flagging.
In less than three months, the child was lost under mysterious circumstances, and Rong Guiren, weakened by the miscarriage, soon faded away like a flower losing its bloom.
Reflecting on the past, Zhang Miaoyu felt a surge of indignation: “The black hand that plotted against Rong Guiren must be Lu Xuan. Yet, I can find no evidence, and I’m left to swallow my grievances in silence.”
Now, seeing Lu Xuan in a difficult position, Zhang Miaoyu felt a sense of satisfaction, as if she had avenged a great wrong.
There’s always a higher mountain. With Shen Wei around, it would be hard for Lu Xuan to rise again.
Zhang Miaoyu eagerly wrapped her arm around Shen Wei’s, her tone sincere: “Good sister, I’m not here to compete with you; I just want to enjoy a peaceful life filled with food and drink. Please don’t bring me trouble.”
Zhang Miaoyu had no desire to engage in palace intrigue. The Emperor didn’t favor her, and her family hadn’t pressured her to vie for attention. After much thought, she decided to cling tightly to Shen Wei’s coattails.
As long as Shen Wei stood strong, so would she, Zhang Miaoyu.
Shen Wei smiled, “You treat me with sincerity, and I’ll consider you one of my own. It’s still early; let’s go to Cining Palace and check on the children.”
...
As they arrived at Cining Palace, dusk was settling in.
The golden rays of the setting sun streamed through the window, illuminating the small flower hall. The Empress Dowager sat in the main seat, reading, her gaze occasionally drifting to the several little princesses in the room. Li Wan'er was poring over account books, while Li Nanzhi and Li Yao were busy preparing tea. Le You was holding a brush, painting cats on rice paper.
Time flowed gently, and all was well.
Shen Wei lifted the thin bamboo curtain, with Zhang Miaoyu closely following.
The Empress Dowager noticed them and smiled, beckoning Shen Wei, “You’ve found time to visit. Come sit beside me. Tonight, I had the kitchen prepare Eight-Treasure Gourd Duck; stay and have a taste.”
Shen Wei obediently sat down.
Zhang Miaoyu had a lukewarm relationship with the Empress Dowager. She awkwardly bowed and took a seat on a small chair nearby.
The Empress Dowager’s gaze swept over Zhang Miaoyu, and she frowned slightly, “Yufei, have you gained weight again?”
The Empress Dowager looked at her with a mix of disappointment and concern. When Zhang Miaoyu first entered the palace, she was plump and pleasing to the eye. Over time, however, she had gradually turned into a heavier version of herself. The Emperor had once sent an old matron to supervise her weight loss, but to no avail.
Zhang Miaoyu’s face flushed, and she lowered her head, stammering, “N-no, it’s probably just the thick clothes I’m wearing today.”
She regretted coming to Cining Palace to pay her respects; she would have been better off returning to her quarters for some pork knuckle.
“I can brew tea too; let me see how the princesses are doing with their tea skills.” Zhang Miaoyu, fearing the Empress Dowager would insist she lose weight, hurriedly lifted her skirt and waddled over to Li Yao and Li Nanzhi like a little meatball.
Zhang Miaoyu pretended to seriously observe the two children’s tea-making techniques.
The Empress Dowager shook her head in exasperation.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, dinner time arrived. Cining Palace buzzed with activity as exquisite dishes were brought to the table. The Empress Dowager sat at the head, with Shen Wei and Zhang Miaoyu on either side. Le You, Li Yao, Li Nanzhi, Li Wan'er, and the two boys, Cheng Tai and Cheng You, settled in, ready to share the meal.
With so many people, the food was delicious.
The Empress Dowager, who enjoyed the lively atmosphere, loved dining with the children.
Zhang Miaoyu gazed at the table full of delicacies, swallowing her saliva silently, but she dared not eat too much for fear of being scolded by the Empress Dowager.
Just as dinner began, an announcement came from outside: the Emperor had arrived. Le You was the first to drop his little spoon and dashed out like a whirlwind, calling out joyfully, “Father!”
Moments later, Li Yuanjing joined them at the dinner table. Tonight, he had planned to visit Yongning Palace to see Shen Wei, but upon learning she was at the Empress Dowager’s, he changed course and came here instead.
The whole family enjoyed a lively dinner together.
After the meal, Zhang Miaoyu, still unsatisfied, was the first to slip away. Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing bid farewell to the Empress Dowager and left Cining Palace together.
In the sweltering summer night of August, lanterns lit up the palace paths. Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing chose not to take a sedan chair, instead strolling along the long palace path, just like an ordinary couple.
The night breeze brushed against their faces, refreshing and pleasant. Shen Wei, having eaten too much, complained while holding her waist, “You should have stopped me from indulging in that Eight-Treasure Gourd Duck tonight, Your Majesty.”
Now, she felt uncomfortably stuffed.
Li Yuanjing raised an eyebrow, “Can I really stop you?”
Shen Wei pouted, “Eating without restraint leads to weight gain. If I ever become a big, fat lady, you’ll definitely turn your nose up at me.”
Li Yuanjing chuckled, “I wouldn’t mind. Whether you’re plump or slim, I like you just the same.”
His words went in one ear and out the other for Shen Wei.
Men’s words are often just sweet nothings. He might say he loves her no matter her size, but if she ever truly became overweight and unattractive, Li Yuanjing would surely have second thoughts.
It’s best to take men’s words with a grain of salt and not take them too seriously.
Hand in hand, they walked along the smooth palace path under the moonlight. The moonlight spilled like water, and the palace lanterns swayed in the breeze, carrying the faint scent of flowers from somewhere nearby. As Li Yuanjing held Shen Wei’s hand, he felt a wave of emotions wash over him.
Only with Shen Wei did he feel the warmth of home.
They strolled together under the moonlight, admired flowers in the morning, and shared the same bed at night. Shen Wei understood his hardships and shared his burdens. Sometimes, Li Yuanjing couldn’t help but think how fortunate he was to have met Shen Wei, who resonated with him both physically and emotionally.
As they leisurely walked, a hauntingly beautiful sound of the guqin drifted through the air. The melody was like a lament, filled with longing.
Li Yuanjing paused, “Where is that guqin music coming from?”
Shen Wei looked into the distance and saw the moonlight illuminating a pavilion in the Imperial Garden, surrounded by blooming flowers. Inside the pavilion, a stunning beauty in purple was playing the guqin.
She was as beautiful as a painting, and her music was ethereal.
The player was Dantai Yinxue.
Shen Wei listened for a moment, her face lighting up with approval as she turned to Li Yuanjing, “This piece by Yinxue is truly lovely. Her mother must have hired the best teacher to teach her. It’s a pity I can’t play; I’m afraid it would hurt.”
Li Yuanjing asked, “How could playing the guqin hurt?”
Shen Wei waved her delicate fingers in front of Li Yuanjing’s eyes, her voice teasing, “The strings are thin and long; when you play, it’s easy to cut your fingers. It’s like when you draw a bow and shoot an arrow, it can easily hurt your fingers.”
The two exchanged playful banter as they strolled along the edge of the Imperial Garden, listening to the beautiful music. Inside the pavilion, Dantai Yinxue’s fingers were nearly numb from playing, yet the Emperor showed no sign of approaching.
Dantai Yinxue felt anxious.
Having been in the palace for over two months, she had only been summoned to the Emperor’s chambers once. He had visited Huayang Palace a few times during the day, but after a cup of tea, he left.
With no signs of pregnancy and her family pressing her, Dantai Yinxue had no choice but to create this chance encounter in the Imperial Garden tonight, hoping to lure the Emperor back to her quarters.
Dantai Yinxue stopped playing and gracefully walked over. The night breeze fluttered her purple sleeves, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she softly said, “I apologize for disturbing Your Majesty with my late-night guqin playing.”
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