Chapter 286
**Chapter 284: A Letter from My Younger Brother**
The atmosphere in Yongning Palace was filled with joy.
A vague premonition stirred in Shen Wei's heart as she asked Cai Lian, "What’s the good news?"
Cai Lian's eyes sparkled with delight as she replied, "My lady, just now, Chief Steward Zhou came by. The Emperor has appointed the Minister of Rites as the envoy for your conferment, and this afternoon, he will bestow upon you the title of Guifei."
Shen Wei silently calculated the salary of a Guifei in her mind. The salary of a Guifei was significantly higher than that of a mere concubine, second only to the Empress. With the Empress now imprisoned, Shen Wei's salary was the highest in the entire harem.
A satisfied smile spread across Shen Wei's face.
Becoming a Guifei didn’t come as a surprise to her. She had both a son and a daughter, and she was favored by both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Li Yuanjing had originally intended to elevate her to Empress, but for the sake of the greater good, Shen Wei had politely declined. Li Yuanjing must have felt a sense of indebtedness; when a man feels he owes something to a woman, he will go to great lengths to make amends.
"Very well," Shen Wei said, her smile gentle, not overly excited. "Now that I’ve been promoted to Guifei, let the servants of Yongning Palace receive a ten percent increase in their salaries this month."
Even as she rose in status and wealth, she wouldn’t forget to reward those who served her.
Joy filled Yongning Palace as the servants bowed in gratitude.
In the afternoon, during the hour of Wu, the envoy arrived with the imperial decree and the Guifei seal to announce the conferment in the main hall of the palace. The ceremony proceeded in an orderly fashion, with all the concubines of the harem present to offer their congratulations.
Dressed in luxurious Guifei robes, Shen Wei accepted the decree.
The expressions of the other concubines varied.
Zhang Miaoyu bounced in place, her face alight with joy as if she had just clutched a golden thigh;
Lu Xuan silently clutched a silk handkerchief, her expression dark;
Liu Ruyan's gaze was as calm as still water, betraying no emotion;
Lan Pin was visibly envious, her eyes fixed on Shen Wei's resplendent attire, imagining herself in it;
Qiao Pin furrowed her brows in confusion, seemingly surprised that Shen Wei had reached such a position.
...
After a long day, Shen Wei finally returned to Yongning Palace as night fell.
Mama Rong led the palace maids in counting the congratulatory gifts sent by the concubines and the noblewomen of the court. Gold, silver, and jade trinkets piled high, and Shen Wei felt a wave of delight wash over her.
It was wonderful to be promoted, to sit atop a mountain of wealth.
Shen Wei silently calculated her fortune; the amount of silver she received from the palace was substantial, and her businesses outside the palace were thriving.
Sipping her tea, Shen Wei felt a sense of joy in her financial success.
"My lady, look here. The wife of the Right Minister of Rites sent a natural ruby from Nanchu, shaped like a rose. It’s truly beautiful," Mama Rong exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she spotted the ruby in the box.
Shen Wei glanced over.
Inside the exquisite box lay a natural ruby, uncut and resembling a blooming crimson rose, quite stunning.
"The wife of the Right Minister of Rites... Dan Tai Rou," Shen Wei recalled. The Right Minister, Yan Yunting, had married the daughter of a minor family, Dan Tai Rou, before the marriage alliance with Princess Zhaoyang.
The dramatic saga involving Yan Yunting, Princess Zhaoyang, and Dan Tai Rou had finally come to a close.
After their marriage, Yan Yunting became engrossed in his duties, diligently serving Li Yuanjing. Dan Tai Rou, on the other hand, became the perfect supportive wife, managing the Yan household with great efficiency and earning a stellar reputation among the noblewomen of Yanjing.
"She has quite the talent for sourcing Nanchu's unique rubies," Shen Wei mused, setting the ruby aside for Mama Rong to store. With Li Wan'er coming of age next year, this uniquely shaped ruby would make an excellent gift.
Mama Rong went to put away the gifts.
Leaning back in her rattan chair, Shen Wei sipped her warm milk tea. Mentioning Dan Tai Rou reminded her of Princess Zhaoyang.
Princess Zhaoyang had left Yanjing in early May, and now, with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, she had already reached Yue Country. Nearly half a year had passed, and Shen Wei had yet to receive a single letter from her.
The sky was vast and the road long; she wondered if she would ever see Zhaoyang again in her lifetime.
As the beaded curtain lifted, Cai Ping entered respectfully, presenting a letter. "My lady, a letter from Lord Shen has arrived. Along with this letter, he sent a large box of dried seafood and nuts."
Shen Wei set down her teacup and opened the letter to read.
A few months ago, Shen Xiuming had been assigned to a coastal position, responsible for trade with Donglin Country. Recently, he had been sent by Li Yuanjing to oversee the construction of a dam on the upper reaches of the Mingyuan River, thus receiving a promotion.
His career was certainly on the rise.
The contents of Shen Xiuming's letter were filled with concern. He inquired about Shen Wei's comfort in the palace and checked on their mother’s health in the capital. At the end of the letter, he added a few words about Doctor Mo.
Shen Xiuming wrote that Mo Xun had a peculiar personality and a fondness for alcohol, asking Shen Wei to keep an eye on her and ensure she didn’t drink too much.
He also requested that a portion of the roasted chestnuts be sent to Mo Xun, as she enjoyed them.
"Mo Xun... that kid is quite considerate of her," Shen Wei remarked, her brows lifting. Her brother was no longer a child; it was time for him to think about marriage.
It seemed Shen Xiuming had a soft spot for Mo Xun.
But Shen Wei knew well that Mo Xun was a mysterious woman from Yue Country, while Shen Xiuming was a government official of Da Qing; their backgrounds were worlds apart, making any relationship nearly impossible.
"My lady, since we began constructing the dam in our country, Donglin has immediately softened their stance," Cai Ping whispered to Shen Wei. "I heard that Donglin plans to send a beauty to the Emperor."
Shen Wei raised an eyebrow.
To show their submission, Donglin intended to send a beauty; once the princess of Yue came of age, she too would be sent to Qing Country.
The harem would surely become lively in the future.
A voice announced at the entrance of Yongning Palace that the Emperor had arrived.
Shen Wei casually placed Shen Xiuming's letter on the table and stepped out to greet Li Yuanjing. As it was still before dinner, she led him into the room to sit.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching and the weather turning cooler, Shen Wei had made some adjustments to the room's decor.
The curtains were replaced with light golden Xiangyun silk, and on the walls hung a painting of "Autumn Mountain Dwelling" that Li Yuanjing had painted himself. The incense was a subtle osmanthus fragrance. She had also asked the maids to make two soft cushions shaped like melons, which were quite comfortable to lean against.
Li Yuanjing took Shen Wei's hand, his eyes filled with warmth and humor as he teased, "What is the Guifei busy with?"
Shen Wei's eyes sparkled as she replied, "I’m busy reading a letter from my brother—Cai Ping, please bring a portion of the dried fruits from the box. I want to share them with the Emperor."
Cai Ping was quick to act, opening the large box sent by Shen Xiuming. Moments later, she placed a small white jade plate filled with nuts on the table.
The nuts had been opened with a special tool, making it easy to extract the delicious kernels inside.
"A letter?" Li Yuanjing asked, intrigued.
Shen Wei casually handed him the letter, her expression playful. "Your Majesty, take a look. I suspect my little brother has someone special in mind."
As she passed the letter to Li Yuanjing, Shen Wei picked up a crisp chestnut, peeled it, and sampled the plump kernel.
Li Yuanjing held the letter, his expression complex.
In the harem, it was not uncommon for concubines to communicate secretly with their families. Most of these women bore the weight of their families' futures, competing for favor in the palace according to their families' directives or relaying news from the harem.
Concubines kept their family letters hidden, never daring to expose them.
But Shen Wei was different; she openly handed her brother's letter to him, completely unguarded, her heart always wide open.
Table of Contents
