Chapter 288
**Chapter 286: Preparing to Leave the Palace**
The day after receiving a letter from her brother, Shen Wei dismissed the palace attendants and spread out paper and ink in her study, beginning to write a reply to Shen Xiuming.
In her letter, Shen Wei mentioned her new title of "Guifei" (Noble Consort), assuring him that she was doing well—yet she casually added, “Shu Fei is pregnant.”
She believed that her brother would use his boundless imagination to conjure up a scenario where “though Shen Wei is a Guifei, she is still beset on all sides.”
In closing, Shen Wei subtly advised her brother to give up on Mo Xun.
Once the letter was finished, Shen Wei set down her brush, sealed the letter, and had Cai Lian send it to Shen Xiuming.
The autumn air was crisp, and the leaves of the begonias in the courtyard had turned yellow, while various expensive chrysanthemums bloomed in succession. Shen Wei leaned back in her chair, glancing at the chrysanthemums in the courtyard.
They were beautiful, yet confined within the square courtyard, they lost some of their natural charm.
With a thought, Shen Wei retrieved an old sheepskin book, *Taihua Zha Ji* (Notes of Princess Taihua), from a hidden compartment in her bookshelf.
The study was quiet, with palace attendants waiting outside the beaded curtain, and no one dared to disturb Shen Wei as she read. She opened *Taihua Zha Ji* and carefully read a diary entry from Princess Taihua.
**August 11, Sunny**
*I’m almost moldy in this cave. Zhang He’an saw me banging my head against the wall and sighed, deciding to carry me to see the flowers near the cave.
There are many wild chrysanthemums blooming in the mountains, along with wild rabbits and pine trees. I wanted to pick the wild melons from the trees, but Zhang He’an wouldn’t let me. I got angry and decided not to sleep next to him tonight, humph!
I remember the park outside the laboratory building, filled with flowers, where people of all ages stroll on weekends. Sigh, I want to go home.*
After reading the entry, Shen Wei went over it ten more times, reluctantly closing *Taihua Zha Ji* at last.
There weren’t many diary entries left by Princess Taihua, and Shen Wei didn’t want to read them all at once. She preferred to occasionally glance at one, adding a touch of interest to her otherwise dull days in the palace.
After tucking *Taihua Zha Ji* back into its secret compartment, Shen Wei took a deep breath and opened the financial ledger sent from the palace, calculating the expenses for October.
Half an hour later, Cai Ping entered the room to report, “My lady, the Empress Dowager requests your presence. Princess Zhaoyang has sent a letter.”
Shen Wei’s heart leaped with joy, and she immediately made her way to Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager had finally received a reply from Zhaoyang, and her mood was exceptionally good. Shen Wei took a seat and picked up Zhaoyang’s letter, reading it carefully. The letter was a full ten pages long, densely packed with words.
Zhaoyang wrote that the Emperor of Yue was a very good man. She was the only Empress in the harem, which made her feel a bit lonely, hinting that the Emperor should invite a few more sisters into the palace. The Emperor had been gloomy for several days but ultimately did not take any other consorts, instead arranging for two interesting theater troupes to entertain Zhaoyang.
Zhaoyang also mentioned that she participated in the Heaven Sacrifice ceremony with the Emperor. The National Master, dressed in a black robe, looked particularly mysterious. Zhaoyang stole a glance and found him extraordinarily handsome! She wanted to look at him a bit longer, but the Emperor tugged at her phoenix robe sleeve, forcing her to reluctantly withdraw her gaze.
She was doing well in Yue. The only downside was that she didn’t particularly like the food there, as it was too spicy. Fortunately, she had brought a chef from Qing, so she could enjoy Qing cuisine every day.
Between the lines, Zhaoyang didn’t express too many grievances; instead, she was making an effort to adapt to the unfamiliar land.
After finishing the letter, Shen Wei felt happy for Zhaoyang. The Emperor of Yue seemed to be a sincere person, treating Zhaoyang wholeheartedly. If this marriage could be well-managed, Zhaoyang would surely live a happy life in her later years.
The Empress Dowager clutched the letter and told Shen Wei, “I plan to go to Anguo Temple for three days to pray for that child Zhaoyang. You’ve been cooped up in the palace all day; it must be boring. Come with me.”
Shen Wei’s eyes lit up. “That sounds wonderful!”
For the past few months, Shen Wei had been stuck in the closed-off harem, either busy with palace affairs or attending to Li Yuanjing. She missed the vast world outside the palace, the bustling streets of Yanjing.
She felt like a canary, pampered in a cage—seemingly glorious, yet lacking freedom and finding it hard to leave the palace.
The Empress Dowager’s invitation to step outside was just what Shen Wei longed for.
With joy, Shen Wei rose, bowed to the Empress Dowager, and said happily, “Mother, I will go prepare for your trip to pray.”
The Empress Dowager nodded. “Go ahead.”
Watching Shen Wei’s cheerful figure leave, the Empress Dowager smiled helplessly. To the people in the harem, Shen Guifei appeared dignified and virtuous, with exceptional abilities. Yet only in front of the Empress Dowager did Shen Wei reveal her youthful vivacity and innocence.
She reminded the Empress Dowager of the old Zhaoyang.
...
Shen Wei quickly began her preparations. With the Empress Dowager leaving the palace for three days, the harem was left without a head, and the management naturally fell to Zhang Miaoyu.
In Yongning Palace, Zhang Miaoyu found the sweet melon in her hand suddenly unappetizing. She poked her finger at her nose and said blankly, “Me? Shen Wei, I don’t know how to manage the harem.”
Shen Wei tilted her head. “Then I’ll have Shu Fei temporarily manage the harem for three days.”
Zhang Miaoyu immediately interjected, “No need! I’ll do it! That woman Shu Fei has a wicked mind; who knows what she might do in these three days?”
Shen Wei smiled and reassured Zhang Miaoyu, “I’m only taking Cai Ping with me. Cai Lian, Mama Rong, and Jixiang will assist you. Don’t worry; it’s just some minor palace affairs, nothing too tiring. The children from Leyou are all in the palace; they’re young and fragile, so you must take good care of them, understand?”
Zhang Miaoyu straightened up, her plump face showing a rare seriousness. “Don’t worry, sister! I will definitely protect Leyou and won’t let anyone harm them.”
Zhang Miaoyu had no children of her own.
She had spent a long time with Leyou and the other children, teaching them how to brew tea and play chess. Leyou was lively and adorable, and Zhang Miaoyu had grown quite fond of her, gradually treating her like a half-daughter.
If anyone dared to harm Leyou, Zhang Miaoyu would fight tooth and nail.
“But sister, you’ll be away for a few days. Aren’t you worried that the Emperor’s heart will fall back to Shu Fei?” Zhang Miaoyu said, munching on the sweet melon, a hint of worry in her voice.
Shen Wei smiled without answering.
Leaving the palace for three days was also a small separation from Li Yuanjing. Seeing him every day could become tiresome over time. A brief parting would help maintain the freshness of their relationship.
Of course, if Shu Fei could truly win back Li Yuanjing’s heart in those three days, Shen Wei would admire her.
Shen Wei briefly informed Zhang Miaoyu about a few palace matters that needed handling, and the two chatted for the entire afternoon.
...
...
In Huayang Palace.
Lan Pin changed into a brand-new dress, carefully grooming herself before stepping out with her maid. Just before leaving, her gaze inadvertently fell on the side hall of Huayang Palace.
The side hall was uninhabited, with clusters of chrysanthemums blooming at the entrance.
After Dan Tai Yinxue was cast into the cold palace, the side hall of Huayang Palace had been emptied. Lan Pin felt a bit out of sorts and somewhat melancholic. Although Dan Tai Yinxue was annoying, living under the same roof had made for some lively days.
Now, Huayang Palace was no longer bustling.
Lan Pin shook her head, trying to dispel her thoughts. She patted her face and murmured to herself, “Am I sick? Why am I missing that wretched Dan Tai Yinxue?”
She snapped back to reality, lifted her skirt, and headed toward Cining Palace.
With Shen Wei elevated to Guifei, one of the positions among the four consorts in the palace had become vacant. Lan Pin thought about it and realized that among the dozen or so consorts in the harem, only she, Xie Fanglan, was most qualified to fill that vacancy.
She decided to seek the Empress Dowager’s help. After all, the Empress Dowager was also from the Xie family, making her Lan Pin’s aunt by blood. Supporting Lan Pin to ascend to the consort position was only natural.
At the entrance of Cining Palace, Lan Pin expressed her intentions to Mama Qian, who was beside the Empress Dowager. Mama Qian asked her to wait at the door and then went to report.
After a while, Mama Qian returned and gently informed Lan Pin, “It’s autumn, and the Empress Dowager is resting after lunch. She doesn’t wish to see you.”
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