Chapter 268
**Chapter 266: The Third One**
Dantai Yinxue had clearly put a lot of thought into her appearance. From her hair to her boots, every detail was meticulously designed. Holding a guqin (古琴, a traditional Chinese string instrument), she floated towards them like a fairy stepping out of the moonlight.
Her gaze sparkled as she looked at Li Yuanjing, and only then did she seem to notice Shen Wei beside him. She quickly knelt and greeted, “This humble servant pays her respects to the Consort.”
Shen Wei smiled approvingly, “As expected of a daughter of the Dantai family, your guqin skills are exquisite.”
Li Yuanjing’s eyes darkened suddenly.
The mention of the "Dantai family" by Shen Wei reminded Li Yuanjing of the Dantai clan, which was currently struggling for survival in the court. Their grand house was on the verge of collapse, fighting desperately to salvage their reputation.
What had once seemed like elegant celestial music from the guqin now struck Li Yuanjing as unbearable and loathsome.
Unaware of the emperor's disdain, Dantai Yinxue continued to respond to Shen Wei, “Thank you for your kind words, Consort. Since entering the palace, I have felt so lonely. Tonight is my grandmother’s death anniversary, and my longing is like a river... That’s why I brought my guqin to play her favorite tune under the moonlight.”
Shen Wei thought to herself: ...No one asked you why you’re playing the guqin!
Dantai Yinxue’s eyes were slowly turning red. She glanced back at the moonlit imperial garden, her expression filled with sorrow and longing for her family.
The wind gently lifted the strands of hair at her temples, making her look pitiful.
But Li Yuanjing clearly didn’t care for her beauty. His tone was icy, “Return to Huayang Palace.”
Dantai Yinxue’s pretty face stiffened.
Shen Wei stepped in front of Li Yuanjing, gently persuading, “Your Majesty, Yinxue is also missing her family; it’s only natural.”
Dantai Yinxue suddenly had a bad feeling. Shen Wei was not the type to show mercy.
Shen Wei continued slowly, “It’s a pity that concubines cannot leave the palace to visit their families without permission. Since Yinxue misses her family, why not let her see her relatives in the palace? The Empress has been ill; it would be better to let Yinxue go to Kun Ning Palace to take care of her.”
Li Yuanjing nodded, “That sounds good.”
Dantai Yinxue felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She opened her mouth to argue. Shen Wei looked at her with a half-smile, “The Empress is your aunt; she is family. You two will surely have much to talk about, which will ease your homesickness.”
Dantai Yinxue dared not visit the Empress!
She had been sent to the palace by her family to replace the Empress! Since entering the palace, she had never set foot in Kun Ning Palace.
She understood the Empress’s temperament; the Empress had a kind face but a venomous heart. Though she appeared compassionate and forgiving, she despised anyone who threatened her position, being both domineering and unpredictable. If Dantai Yinxue went to Kun Ning Palace, there was a high chance she would be targeted and humiliated by the Empress.
“What’s wrong? Don’t you want to see the Empress?” Shen Wei tilted her head.
Dantai Yinxue forced a smile, trying to appear grateful, “I... I will go to Kun Ning Palace tomorrow.”
Shen Wei smirked and left the imperial garden with Li Yuanjing.
Dantai Yinxue stood there, her face filled with frustration and unease.
...
As they walked a distance from Yongning Palace, Shen Wei accompanied Li Yuanjing along the palace path, with the attending maids and eunuchs following closely behind, holding lanterns and walking cautiously.
The sound of footsteps echoed softly.
Suddenly, two slender figures appeared around the corner. Lan Pin was holding a palace lantern, her face filled with anxiety, as if she were searching for something. Upon seeing Li Yuanjing and Shen Wei, she hurriedly approached, “This humble servant pays her respects to the Emperor and the Consort.”
Li Yuanjing’s expression showed impatience, “Why are you rushing around at this late hour?”
Lan Pin’s beautiful eyes glistened with tears, “Your Majesty, I was just about to seek your help. My sister, Yinxue, has gone missing tonight. We live under the same roof, and as sisters, I am truly worried.”
Lan Pin had intentionally come out to look for her.
Every night, she secretly monitored Dantai Yinxue’s movements. Today, as night fell, she noticed Yinxue getting dressed and guessed that this woman was planning to go out to seduce the Emperor again.
After dark, Dantai Yinxue had left the palace with her guqin.
Lan Pin, unwilling to miss her chance, decided to use the pretense of searching for Yinxue to follow her. If Dantai Yinxue managed to lure the Emperor back to Huayang Palace, Lan Pin would feign sisterly concern and express her worries.
Perhaps she would be lucky enough to have the Emperor spend the night in her quarters.
Noticing Li Yuanjing’s impatience, Shen Wei took the initiative to resolve the situation, “Yinxue has already returned to the palace, so there’s no need for you to worry, Lan Pin. Concubines are not allowed to roam the palace at night; if you and Yinxue do this again, I will have to punish you according to palace rules.”
Lan Pin stole a glance at Li Yuanjing, seeing that his gaze was completely off her, and her heart sank.
She could only awkwardly say, “It’s my fault for being so worried about Yinxue’s safety that I forgot the palace rules.”
After a pause, Lan Pin seemed unwilling to give up. She looked at Li Yuanjing with hopeful eyes, desperately searching for words of concern, “Your Majesty, you’ve been so busy with state affairs that you’ve lost weight. Please take care of yourself, or I will worry.”
Li Yuanjing shot her a cold glance.
Lan Pin was startled and quickly knelt to excuse herself, hurrying away into the night.
The night wind rustled, and Shen Wei stopped, looking up to admire Li Yuanjing’s handsome face. She gently caressed his cheek with her warm, fair hand, puzzled, “Lan Pin said you’ve lost weight, but I don’t think you look thin at all...”
She sent someone every day to deliver delicious snacks and nourishing teas, ensuring his meals were scientifically balanced.
Li Yuanjing had actually gained quite a bit of weight and was in good health.
Lan Pin claiming he had lost weight was simply nonsense.
Li Yuanjing grasped Shen Wei’s hand, “Don’t listen to her nonsense; I haven’t lost weight.”
As night fell, Li Yuanjing just wanted to return to Yongning Palace with Shen Wei to rest. But they kept running into Dantai Yinxue and Lan Pin along the way, prolonging their journey home.
After a while, they soon reached Shen Wei’s Yongning Palace. Just as Li Yuanjing was about to enter, hurried footsteps echoed from a distance. A maid from Lu Xuan, Xiao Qi, rushed over and knelt before Li Yuanjing.
Xiao Qi’s eyes were brimming with tears, “Your Majesty, my mistress suddenly feels unwell and has been having stomach pains. Please, I beg you to check on her!”
Li Yuanjing rubbed his temples.
Shen Wei silently thought, this is the third time! It’s already the third time tonight! One after another, they all want to lure the Emperor back.
Li Yuanjing replied coldly, “Send for the imperial physician; I won’t treat illnesses.”
Xiao Qi, with tear-filled eyes, stubbornly insisted, “Your Majesty, my mistress has been feeling unwell since her pregnancy, suffering from nausea and stomach pain. She can’t sleep at night after taking medicine. Only with your company will she feel at ease. I beg you, for the sake of the child in her womb, please go to Changxin Palace to see her.”
Xiao Qi had received orders from Lu Xuan to ensure that the Emperor would visit her mistress tonight, no matter what.
In the harem, vying for favor, where the Emperor spent the night meant an increase in favor.
Shen Wei couldn’t help but chuckle.
Li Yuanjing pinched Shen Wei’s cheek, “What are you laughing at, Weiwei?”
Shen Wei held up three fingers, shaking them in front of Li Yuanjing, “The third one tonight; all the sisters are missing the Emperor.”
Table of Contents
