Chapter 289
**Chapter 287: Scheming Against Mei Fei**
Lan Pin stamped her foot, clutching the embroidered handkerchief tightly in her hand. She pleaded repeatedly, “Qian Mama, the Empress Dowager is my family. How can family members not be close? Please go in and let her know that I miss her.”
Qian Mama politely declined, “Before her afternoon rest, the Empress Dowager instructed me to tell you: seek your own path, do not rely on others. The Empress Dowager has made up her mind; Lan Pin, please return to Huayang Palace.”
With that, Qian Mama turned and left.
Lan Pin stood there for a long time, nearly tearing the silk handkerchief apart. She felt utterly miserable—without the Emperor’s favor, without her aunt’s support, and the Xie family was planning to send a newcomer to the palace to replace her...
Tears pricked at her nose as she left Cining Palace, burdened with heavy thoughts. Accompanied by her personal maid, she wandered into the Imperial Garden to clear her mind. As she walked, she noticed several eunuchs carrying trays and boxes.
“What are you moving those boxes for?” Lan Pin asked curiously.
A head eunuch replied, “Your Highness, the Empress Dowager and Consort Chen are leaving the palace tomorrow to pray at Anguo Temple. We are moving their luggage.”
Lan Pin huffed, feeling sour. “No wonder my aunt won’t see me; she’s off to have fun.”
The eunuch didn’t dare to agree and directed the others to continue their work.
Lan Pin felt a pang of sadness; she wanted to leave the palace too. But once you entered the palace, it was like a deep sea—escaping was nearly impossible. Now, she held a position that was neither high nor low, completely out of favor, and even her mother wasn’t qualified to visit her.
Unless she could rise to the rank of a consort.
Consorts enjoyed a revered status, and the mothers of the four consorts could visit the palace once a year. A bitter taste filled Lan Pin’s heart as she longed for her mother’s embrace and the carefree days before entering the palace.
Time dragged on in the palace, stretching endlessly. She sat by her bed, watching the sun rise and set, and the days slipped by quietly.
She felt lonely and tormented, so lonely that even Dan Tai Yin Xue seemed tolerable to her—how pitiful.
Wandering aimlessly in the Imperial Garden, Lan Pin found herself at the eastern pavilion. Overwhelmed with sadness, she suddenly looked up and saw a figure dressed in pure white.
The white robes billowed, and black hair swayed.
Lan Pin nearly fainted from shock. “Sister Mei Fei, can’t you wear something else? Last Mid-Autumn Festival, you almost scared me to death. Now, strolling in the garden, you’ve frightened me again!”
As autumn leaves fell and a gentle breeze blew, the sudden appearance of that eerie white figure would startle even the boldest of souls.
Liu Ru Yan turned, her stunning beauty revealing no trace of emotion, and said coolly, “Be quiet; you’re disturbing the autumn breeze.”
Lan Pin rolled her eyes skyward.
Liu Ru Yan glanced at Lan Pin, who was dressed in red and green, and remarked, “Your outfit ruins the autumn scenery.”
Lan Pin was already fuming from not seeing the Empress Dowager that day. Being coldly mocked by Liu Ru Yan about her attire was the last straw. She shot back, “I like to dress brightly; what’s it to you? Wearing all white everywhere is terrifying. If someone didn’t know better, they’d think you were in mourning. What good is a pretty face if you dress like you’re at a funeral? No wonder the Emperor doesn’t favor you; you deserve it.”
Liu Ru Yan fell silent.
After a moment, she calmly replied, “The Emperor’s love is like autumn leaves; no one can grasp it.”
Lan Pin couldn’t continue the conversation!
She glared at Liu Ru Yan, feeling a surge of resentment. How ungrateful! Liu Ru Yan occupied the consort position yet lived such a bland life.
Every year, Liu Ru Yan’s mother wanted to enter the palace to see her long-lost daughter, but Liu Ru Yan always refused, claiming it would only add to her worries.
Lan Pin flicked her sleeve and turned to leave, a malicious thought rising unbidden in her heart. She rolled her eyes, and a wicked idea formed in her mind.
She summoned her personal maid and whispered, “Send a letter home, and have the people at the Si Tian Jian...”
The maid leaned in to listen, and after a moment, nodded, “I’ll take care of it right away.”
Lan Pin smiled, glancing back at Liu Ru Yan, who was admiring the autumn scenery in the pavilion.
You, who pride yourself on being as aloof as a plum blossom, suddenly facing an unexpected disaster—let’s see how calm and composed you can remain, Liu Ru Yan!
...
...
The next day, as dawn broke, the procession preparing to leave the palace was ready. Before Shen Wei departed, she repeatedly instructed Rong Mama and the others to ensure the safety of the children, especially Le You, and to increase patrols around Cining Palace to prevent any malicious acts.
Once she had given her orders, Shen Wei finally boarded the carriage, accompanying the Empress Dowager out of the palace to pray.
As the carriage rolled along the long royal road, the moment they passed through the palace gates, Shen Wei felt an unprecedented sense of happiness and relaxation. She lifted the curtain of the carriage and took a deep breath, savoring the taste of freedom.
The Empress Dowager chuckled, “I know you’ve been feeling cooped up in the palace. From now on, I’ll take you with me every year when I go out to pray.”
Shen Wei’s eyes sparkled with joy as she affectionately wrapped her arm around the Empress Dowager’s, her voice soft and playful, “You’re the best, Mother.”
The Empress Dowager smiled, gently stroking Shen Wei’s soft hair, her eyes filled with undeniable affection. Before Zhao Yang was married, the Empress Dowager loved to take her out of the palace for leisurely strolls.
Shen Wei resembled Zhao Yang, yet was also distinctly different.
Regardless, the Empress Dowager treated Shen Wei as her own.
Shen Wei was deeply favored by Li Yuan Jing, and her children were well-behaved. She managed the harem with great efficiency, earning praise from officials and admiration from the ladies of Yan Jing.
Only the Empress Dowager noticed that, despite her seemingly glorious life, Shen Wei was suffering in silence within the palace. Taking her out for a breath of fresh air was a way to alleviate Shen Wei’s inner turmoil.
...
...
News of Shen Wei and the Empress Dowager leaving the palace to pray quickly reached Changxin Palace.
Lu Xuan set down the prenatal medicine in her hand, her beautiful eyes turning to the maid Xiao Qin, “I remember that today the Eighth Prince and Ninth Prince are practicing archery at the training grounds?”
Xiao Qin nodded, “You’re not mistaken, Your Highness. Both the Eighth and Ninth Princes are at the training grounds today. The Emperor is personally guiding them, and the Imperial Guards are stationed nearby. Consort Chen’s children are being protected without a flaw.”
In other words, it would be difficult to target Shen Wei’s children.
Lu Xuan sneered, “She’s quite cautious.”
Lu Xuan’s son, Li Cheng Jue, wobbled over and leaned against her, calling out in a babyish voice, “Mother, I’m hungry.”
Lu Xuan lovingly stroked her son’s face, “Alright, let’s go have a meal. Cheng Jue, grow up quickly. When you turn four, I’ll have your father teach you archery, okay?”
Li Cheng Jue replied, “Okay~”
...
As the sun dipped lower in the sky and night fell, the cold moon hung in the night sky. Chang’an Palace was brightly lit. Li Yuan Jing finished reviewing the last memorial and casually said, “Let’s head to Yongning Palace.”
De Shun, who was attending to the ink and brushes, spoke up, “Your Majesty, you forgot that Consort Chen and the Empress Dowager left the palace this morning.”
Li Yuan Jing paused mid-sip of his tea.
He had been so busy today that he completely forgot about it. The Eastern Lin Kingdom was preparing to send a beauty to celebrate the nation, but Li Yuan Jing had no intention of accepting a foreign girl. He planned to discuss with Shen Wei tonight about which minister would be most suitable for the beauty.
But he had forgotten that Shen Wei had left the palace.
De Shun asked, “Your Majesty, which consort do you plan to visit tonight? Or will you stay alone in Xuanming Hall?”
Li Yuan Jing pondered for a moment, “I’ll go to Changxin Palace and see Shu Fei.”
As he stepped out of the office palace, the night deepened, and moonlight poured down. Just as the bearers arrived, Li Yuan Jing suddenly noticed a flicker of firelight in the distance, thick black smoke billowing.
A eunuch hurriedly reported, “Your Majesty, the Yu Xiu Palace of Mei Fei has caught fire!”
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