Chapter 317
**Chapter 315: Shen Wei Begins to Fish**
...
Changxin Palace.
The palace maid Xiao Qin brought the news of Princess Donglin's marriage to the pregnant Shu Fei, Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan set down her medicine bowl, a hint of mockery flickering across her beautiful face. “The noble Consort Chen is quite the strategist. Not wanting to add new faces to the harem, she’s married Princess Donglin off to a minor official.”
She had expected Princess Donglin to enter the palace as a concubine, temporarily diverting some of the Emperor's affections. Little did she know that Shen Wei acted too swiftly, preventing any new concubines from entering.
Xiao Qin chimed in, “They say Consort Chen is magnanimous. But in my opinion, she’s the most petty of them all; everyone in the palace has been deceived by her.”
Lu Xuan closed her eyes for a moment. She would eventually expose Shen Wei’s hypocritical true nature.
As the weather grew colder, Xiao Qin handed Lu Xuan a warm hot water bottle. Lowering her voice, she continued, “My lady, our informant just reported that Consort Chen and Doctor Mo were enjoying the autumn scenery in the Imperial Garden. Their interaction was quite intimate. Consort Chen even gifted her handkerchief to Doctor Mo.”
Lu Xuan leaned back against the long couch, her eyes half-closed. “The Empress Dowager is gravely ill, the Emperor is busy with state affairs, and I’m not in a position to move around. Consort Chen is becoming increasingly audacious.”
Lu Xuan had already learned that Shen Wei had connections with Doctor Mo during her time as a concubine in the Yan Wang’s residence. She hadn’t expected that after entering the palace, they would continue their clandestine exchanges right under the Emperor’s nose.
Xiao Qin looked up at Lu Xuan. “My lady, Consort Chen already has the Emperor’s favor. Why does she still need to be ambiguous with Doctor Mo?”
Lu Xuan held the warm hot water bottle, her tone cool. “Regardless of Consort Chen’s intentions, a palace lady associating with an outsider and gifting him a handkerchief is a serious crime.”
Xiao Qin pondered for a moment and agreed.
Lu Xuan said coldly, “Keep watching.”
She had a feeling that the opportunity to bring Shen Wei down was drawing near.
...
...
On a chilly autumn night, the moonlight was cold and clear.
Shen Wei, afraid of the cold, had already replaced all the bedding in her bedroom with warmer cotton quilts, draping them with soft golden silk satin. The bed curtains, door drapes, screen frames, and carpets were all changed in succession.
Her nightgown was also switched to a warmer cotton robe.
“The bed curtains are too bright. Your Majesty, what color do you think would be better?” Shen Wei lay in the warm quilt, tugging at Li Yuanjing beside her.
As autumn approached winter, Shen Wei would always ask for Li Yuanjing’s opinion on the decorations in Yongning Palace.
It was not just Shen Wei’s Yongning Palace; it was their shared “love nest.”
Li Yuanjing glanced at the light golden bed curtains, pondering for a moment. “Crimson purple.”
Shen Wei murmured, not entirely in agreement. “Crimson purple is too dark; rosy red would be better. It looks warmer in winter.”
Li Yuanjing thought for a moment. “Very well.”
The two discussed the color of the bed curtains for a while. Shen Wei felt thirsty, got up to drink a cup of tea from the bedside, wiped her mouth with a light green handkerchief, and quickly burrowed back into the warm quilt.
Li Yuanjing noticed the light-colored handkerchief in her hand and casually remarked, “I remember you used a light-colored embroidered peony handkerchief this morning.”
Now, Shen Wei was holding a new light green handkerchief.
Leaning against Li Yuanjing, Shen Wei spoke naturally, “I ran into Doctor Mo in the Imperial Garden today. Her sleeve accidentally got stained, so I used my handkerchief to wipe it for her and gifted it to her—this is what we call a handkerchief friendship.”
Li Yuanjing knew that Mo Xun was a woman, so he didn’t ask further.
A few days ago, the national master of Yue had come to visit privately. He requested that Li Yuanjing take good care of Mo Xun in the palace and not let her suffer any grievances.
The national master of Yue had divined the location of an iron mine within Yue’s borders as a reward for Li Yuanjing’s care of Mo Xun.
As night deepened, Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing chatted casually, the drowsiness gradually enveloping them. Li Yuanjing, accustomed to it, wrapped his arm around Shen Wei’s waist, preparing to sleep.
Suddenly, Shen Wei let out a hiss. “Your Majesty, be gentle; my waist still hurts.”
Li Yuanjing opened his eyes, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
Shen Wei’s face flushed, her almond-shaped eyes gazing at Li Yuanjing. “What do you think? We shouldn’t have been so reckless at the desk last night.”
Li Yuanjing recalled the scene from last night, the bright autumn moonlight illuminating their passion as he had lifted Shen Wei from the bed to the desk...
The culprit, Li Yuanjing, felt a rare twinge of guilt and patiently began to massage Shen Wei’s waist.
His touch was neither too light nor too heavy, quite comfortable. Shen Wei, lulled by the sensation, soon drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, as Shen Wei got out of bed, she let out another hiss, her pretty face contorting as she supported her waist with one hand.
Li Yuanjing frowned slightly, instructing the palace maid outside, “Bring the imperial physician.”
Mo Xun rushed in, yawning, without even having time to wash her face.
She was filled with grievances.
Working was exhausting!
If she weren’t afraid of being dragged back to Yue, she would have quit long ago.
Upon arriving at Yongning Palace, she checked Shen Wei’s pulse, her expression serious. “Your Highness, your waist has suffered strain; ordinary ointments won’t suffice. I can give you acupuncture for a few days, and I guarantee it will heal your back pain.”
Li Yuanjing let out a slight sigh of relief. “As long as it can be treated.”
Li Yuanjing then got up to attend court.
In the inner hall of Yongning Palace, the incense from the bronze burner wafted with a fragrant elegance. Mo Xun plopped down in a chair, curiously asking, “Your Highness, your waist is perfectly fine. Why did you want me to say that?”
With Li Yuanjing no longer present, Mo Xun relaxed, speaking to Shen Wei in a much more casual tone.
Shen Wei took a sip of hot soup, a smile curling at her lips. “Fishing.”
When soldiers come, we meet them with arms; when water comes, we bury it in the earth. But Shen Wei didn’t want to wait for the crisis to arrive; she intended to take the initiative, casting her bait to fish.
Mo Xun clicked her tongue in admiration. “Your Highness, you’re quite clever. I’m impressed.”
Shen Wei replied, “I hope Doctor Mo will cooperate fully.”
Mo Xun clasped her hands, revealing her bright white teeth. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely cooperate. To be honest, when I chat with you, I often feel a sense of familiarity, as if we’re old friends reunited.”
Being close to Shen Wei always felt so natural.
That innate sense of closeness was beyond words.
...
A few days later, in Changxin Palace.
Lu Xuan had just finished lunch and was preparing to take a nap. With only two months left until her delivery, her mind was restless, making her drowsy during the day and unable to sleep at night.
The palace maid Xiao Qin entered the bedroom, dismissing the other maids. She informed Lu Xuan, “My lady, as you instructed, I’ve been keeping an eye on Yongning Palace. The Emperor has been busy dealing with the Xie family these past few days, often visiting the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War during the day. Consort Chen has taken advantage of the Emperor’s absence, frequently visiting the Imperial Medical Institute in the afternoons under the pretext of checking on the Empress Dowager’s prescriptions, but in reality, she’s meeting with Doctor Mo.”
Lu Xuan’s drowsiness vanished in an instant, her fingers trembling with excitement. “Is that true?”
Xiao Qin nodded, her face equally animated. “I disguised myself as a little eunuch and sneaked into the Imperial Medical Institute. I found Consort Chen entering Doctor Mo’s resting place, staying for nearly half an hour. Before entering the room, she was neatly dressed; when she came out, her clothes were disheveled. Clearly, they were undressing and engaging in illicit activities inside.”
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