Chapter 307
**Chapter 305: Shen Wei is Ill**
Xie Fanghua replied with a calm demeanor, “In response to Your Highness, I accompanied my father into the palace to visit my ailing mother. There are some misunderstandings between my father and my mother, and I felt it inappropriate to interfere, so I waited for my father in the Imperial Garden.”
Last night, Concubine Zhao had written a letter to the head of the Xie family. He hurried back to the capital overnight. This morning, at dawn, he brought Xie Fanghua into the palace to see his gravely ill wife.
“Looking at your attire, with satin embroidered with chrysanthemums, do you have a fondness for chrysanthemums?” Shen Wei asked deliberately.
Xie Fanghua lifted her head, revealing a face that bore a striking resemblance to Shen Wei’s. Her red lips curled slightly, “In response to Your Highness, I not only like chrysanthemums, but also peach blossoms in spring, lotus flowers in summer, red osmanthus and chrysanthemums in autumn, and wax plums in winter. The only flower I dislike is the rose; its thorns can easily cause harm.”
Cai Ping rolled her eyes at this. This Xie girl not only dressed like Concubine Chen but also copied her preferences for flowers. Her ambition was truly nauseating.
Shen Wei smiled, “I also do not like roses. The autumn scenery in the Imperial Garden is quite beautiful; you should enjoy it while you can, for you may not have the chance to enter the palace again.”
Xie Fanghua stood frozen, not grasping the meaning behind Shen Wei’s words.
With a light wave of her hand, Shen Wei signaled for the palanquin to continue on its way. As she sat in the swaying palanquin, a wave of dizziness washed over her. The autumn breeze blew, and her head felt like a muddled mess.
Irritated, Shen Wei furrowed her brow, “Return to Yongning Palace and summon the imperial physician.”
It seemed she was unwell. Recently, she had been busy with palace affairs, and with the sudden drop in temperature, combined with the late-night antics with Li Yuanjing in the bath, all these factors had culminated in her illness.
Upon returning to Yongning Palace, the discomfort intensified. Her thoughts slowed, and she felt as if her soul was about to detach from her body. Dazed, she lay back in bed; despite being covered with thick blankets, she still felt cold all over.
Lying weakly in bed, Shen Wei instructed Rong Mama, Cai Lian, and Cai Ping:
“Inform Mother Empress to increase the guards at Wu’s residence.”
“Have Yu Fei calculate the autumn accounts; there must be no oversights.”
“Today, I encountered Xie Fanghua in the Imperial Garden; the Emperor must be informed.”
Shen Wei mumbled a series of commands, her eyelids growing heavier until she slowly drifted off to sleep.
Rong Mama and the others exchanged glances, then began to carry out Shen Wei’s orders in an orderly manner, maintaining the peace in Yongning Palace.
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In Cining Palace, Xie Ji, the head of the Xie family, stood in the inner hall, dressed in official robes, his eyes reddened. Clenching his fists, he said bitterly, “Elder Sister! My Xie family is facing a great calamity, yet you refuse to lend a hand! Your blood runs in my veins; you are my own sister!”
Xie Ji could hardly comprehend why the Empress Dowager would turn a blind eye and prevent him from seeing Wu.
For years, the Empress Dowager had offered no assistance to the Xie family, even repeatedly suppressing them, attempting to weaken their influence.
Xie Ji tightened his fists, “Elder Sister, Wu must die. If she doesn’t, my Xie family will suffer.”
The Empress Dowager set down her teacup and glared at her own brother, scolding, “You reap what you sow and refuse to repent, yet you expect me to clean up your mess? The marriage between the Wu and Xie families was only made possible because of Wu’s dowry, which filled many of your family’s holes. Not only do you show no gratitude, but you also poison her and even have servants sleep with her—how utterly disgusting!”
Xie Ji retorted, “You became Empress by colluding with the late Emperor to suppress the Xie family! It was the pressure that forced us into a marriage with the Wu family. If you had been willing to help the Xie family even a little, would I have had to marry a Wu girl?”
The Empress Dowager slammed her cup down, “The Xie family sells positions, oppresses the common people, and indulges in corruption. Each male heir is greedy and lecherous; how could I assist in such wrongdoing?”
Xie Ji exclaimed, “But I am your own brother! Are you going to watch me die?”
The Empress Dowager’s chest heaved with anger, nearly causing her to faint. She shouted, “Get out! You are no longer welcome in Cining Palace! I have long since disowned you as my brother!”
Xie Ji swept his sleeve and turned to leave. The two parted on bitter terms.
Xie Fanghua waited for Xie Ji, anxiously following her father, “Father, did you see her?”
Xie Ji’s face turned cold, “The Empress Dowager is protective and won’t allow me to see her. My sister is the most heartless of all.”
Disappointment washed over Xie Fanghua as she lowered her head.
Xie Ji patted his daughter’s shoulder, his face filled with affection, “Fanghua, don’t worry. I will protect you and your mother with my life.”
Tears welled in Xie Fanghua’s eyes as she nodded, touched.
The father and daughter walked along the long palace path, passing through the Meridian Gate, where they encountered the Emperor’s palanquin. Xie Ji hurriedly led his daughter in bowing to the Emperor.
Li Yuanjing sat in the palanquin, his gaze icy, “Rise.”
Xie Fanghua and Xie Ji stood up together.
Seeing Li Yuanjing, Xie Ji quickly said, “Your Majesty, there has been a misunderstanding between me and Wu. I hope Your Majesty will see clearly and not be misled by slanderous words.”
Li Yuanjing responded with a noncommittal “Hmm.”
Xie Fanghua’s heart raced as she shyly lifted her head, wanting to catch a glimpse of the Emperor’s countenance. As she did, her gaze unexpectedly collided with Li Yuanjing’s.
Xie Fanghua’s lips curled into a bright smile, mimicking Concubine Chen’s demeanor. She had practiced this smile in front of the mirror for a long time, and it was a perfect imitation.
Li Yuanjing merely glanced at her deeply, saying nothing, as the Emperor’s palanquin and its entourage swept away.
After leaving the palace, Xie Ji immediately gathered the family elders to discuss countermeasures. Xie Fanghua returned to her chamber alone, looking into the mirror as she arranged her hair and makeup, a sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.
In the afternoon, while Xie Fanghua practiced Concubine Chen’s steps in the courtyard, a maid rushed in, exclaiming, “Miss, the imperial decree has arrived! The Emperor’s trusted Eunuch Deshun is here to deliver it!”
Xie Fanghua was momentarily stunned, then her face lit up with joy. Could it be a decree to make her a consort?
With excitement, Xie Fanghua entered the room to check her hair and makeup in the silver mirror. The young woman reflected in the mirror was beautiful and radiant, and she smiled contentedly, then took her maid to the front hall to receive the decree.
On the way, she ran into Concubine Zhao.
Xie Fanghua joyfully threw herself into Concubine Zhao’s arms, exclaiming, “Mother, it must be the Emperor’s decree to make me a consort! Today, I smiled at the Emperor in the palace, and he looked at me for a long time!”
Upon hearing this, Concubine Zhao’s eyes brightened, “Just as I expected from my Fanghua! If you can enter the palace as a consort, perhaps it will alleviate our Xie family’s troubles.”
Concubine Zhao had always believed that a beautiful woman could sway even the most heroic of men. The Emperor, despite his wisdom and might, was still a man who could be influenced by a woman’s charm.
The mother and daughter made their way to the front hall, where Xie Ji hurriedly arrived.
The members of the Xie family knelt to receive the decree.
Eunuch Deshun unfurled the imperial edict and proclaimed loudly, “By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The concubine Zhao of the Xie family has poisoned the main wife, and from this day forth, she is to be sent to the Ministry of Justice for trial. The second daughter of the Xie family has offended the noble consort, causing her to fall ill. She is to be punished with thirty strikes on the palm, thirty lashes, and her hair shall be shaved as she is sent to a convent for life, never to leave, to preserve her chastity.”
Xie Fanghua’s smile froze on her face; she thought she had misheard. Shaved and sent to a convent?
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