Chapter 321
**Chapter 319: The Emperor's Warning**
Hearing this, Zhang Miaoyu let out a slight sigh of relief and plopped down onto the nearby huanghuali chair. “That’s good to hear. So, the rumor about you giving Doctor Mo a handkerchief is false?”
Shen Wei shrugged. “I did give her a handkerchief, actually.”
Zhang Miaoyu nearly toppled off her chair, her eyes wide and round as she stammered, “So, so, so you really were alone with Doctor Mo during the day, and your clothes were disheveled? That’s true?”
Shen Wei nodded. “It’s true. I’ll be visiting the Tai Hospital for the next few days, spending time with Doctor Mo.”
Zhang Miaoyu’s face turned pale.
She looked at Shen Wei with a mix of frustration and disbelief, grabbing her sleeve. “You, you really are foolish! There are so many eyes in the harem watching you, and you go and do something like this! What about Le You? What about Cheng Tai and Cheng You? How am I supposed to explain this to you?”
Zhang Miaoyu was pacing anxiously.
Doctor Mo was handsome and had a refined appearance, and there were many palace maids secretly in love with him. But Shen Wei was already a favored concubine, the most beloved in the harem. How could she possibly have feelings for Doctor Mo?
Zhang Miaoyu found it hard to comprehend, even suspecting that Shen Wei had been cursed (xiaodao) to act so absurdly.
After thinking it over, Zhang Miaoyu suddenly stood up, a fierce determination flashing in her eyes. “I’ll go poison Doctor Mo right now. No one will be the wiser, and I’ll do my best to protect you.”
With that, she lifted her skirts and was about to rush out. Shen Wei quickly grabbed her, urging, “No, Sister Miaoyu, please don’t act impulsively. The Emperor will handle this.”
Zhang Miaoyu stood there in shock. “The Emperor knows about you and Doctor Mo?”
Shen Wei smiled lightly. “He’s known for a while.”
Zhang Miaoyu turned into a statue, frozen in place.
After a long moment, she swallowed hard, disbelief etched on her face as she muttered, “I never expected the Emperor to have such peculiar tastes…”
Shen Wei couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.
...
After the morning court session, Li Yuanjing kept the officials from the Ministry of War behind to discuss strategies for dealing with the border tribes.
It wasn’t until noon that Li Yuanjing penned a decree, ordering it to be rushed to Liangzhou City. Shen Mieyue and Sun Qingmei were both rare talents in military affairs, and their collaboration with the Yue Kingdom’s army would surely repel the tribes.
They might even directly incorporate the tribes’ territory into the Da Qing’s domain.
Expanding territory had always been the ambition of emperors throughout the ages.
“Your Majesty, lunch has arrived. You should eat first, or else Concubine Chen will worry again,” De Shun said, bowing as he entered Chang’an Palace.
Li Yuanjing set down the memorial he was reviewing. “Where did the rumors in the palace originate?”
De Shun lowered his head deeply. “Replying to Your Majesty, I’ve conducted a thorough investigation. Yesterday, the Concubine went to the Tai Hospital to check on the Empress Dowager’s pulse records, and then she visited Doctor Mo’s residence. A senior maid from Changxin Palace, Xiao Qin, accidentally barged into Doctor Mo’s quarters and saw the Concubine and Doctor Mo in disarray… Rumors are rampant in the palace.”
De Shun didn’t dare to hide anything and reported the truth.
He understood Concubine Chen; she wouldn’t intentionally expose such a significant mistake. It was clearly done on purpose.
Li Yuanjing’s dark eyes narrowed dangerously, his voice icy. “A maid from Changxin Palace dared to directly intrude into a physician’s residence?”
De Shun awkwardly replied, “I… I’m not sure about that.”
The more Li Yuanjing thought about it, the angrier he became. A mere palace maid wouldn’t have such audacity; it must be that Changxin Palace was stirring up trouble.
Lu Xuan, pregnant, was still so restless. The Lu family in Yunzhou was equally unruly, greedily swallowing up the assets left by the Xie family.
Li Yuanjing even suspected that Lu Xuan was deliberately targeting Shen Wei to suppress the Shen family and elevate the Lu family.
Li Yuanjing coldly commanded, “Go to Changxin Palace.”
...
...
In Changxin Palace, Lu Xuan was having lunch.
She was feeling uneasy.
Last night, two eunuchs were executed, and the palace’s gossip had quieted down significantly. Lu Xuan was restless, jealousy flooding her mind like a raging tide. She never expected the Emperor to favor Shen Wei to such an extent!
Lu Xuan felt a tremendous threat.
She had to eliminate Shen Wei!
If Shen Wei gained power, the Lu family would have no chance of rising again.
“Mother, have some chicken leg!” Her son’s soft voice came, as Li Chengjue handed her a fragrant chicken leg, his black gemstone-like eyes sparkling.
Lu Xuan’s heart softened, and her expression calmed. “Chengjue loves chicken legs the most. Why are you giving one to your mother?”
Li Chengjue replied obediently, “I want my mother to be happy. You’ve been so sad lately.”
Lu Xuan felt a pang in her heart and gently nodded. “Good boy.”
In the harem, every woman with children fought for their kids and families. Looking at her thoughtful and caring child, Lu Xuan’s resolve to eliminate Shen Wei grew stronger.
As mother and son savored the chicken leg, a palace servant announced from outside—
“The Emperor has arrived.”
Lu Xuan’s heart leaped with joy, and she quickly set down her jade chopsticks, taking Li Chengjue by the hand to greet him.
It had been a long time since the Emperor had come to have lunch with her; his sudden visit left her pleasantly surprised.
The imposing imperial entourage stopped at the entrance of Changxin Palace, and Li Yuanjing’s handsome face came into view.
Lu Xuan felt a twinge in her nose. Even though the Emperor was cold-hearted, her love for Li Yuanjing was genuine. Seeing how much he cared for Shen Wei filled her with jealousy.
She stepped forward to pay her respects.
Li Chengjue also happily ran over, clumsily imitating the palace etiquette he had learned from the maids, and awkwardly bowed to Li Yuanjing. “Son, son greets Father.”
Li Yuanjing’s expression was inscrutable as he nodded. “Rise.”
Lu Xuan followed Li Yuanjing into the inner hall, where exquisite dishes steamed on the table, their aromas wafting through the air. Xiao Qin had already brought fresh white jade chopsticks and bowls, respectfully placing them at the main seat.
Li Yuanjing took his seat but did not begin to eat.
His gaze fell on Lu Xuan’s abdomen, his tone calm. “Two more months?”
Lu Xuan’s cheeks flushed with a mix of shyness and joy as she nodded gently. “You’re right, Your Majesty. In two months, I will give birth. The physician said the baby is very lively.”
Seeing Li Yuanjing’s concern for her health, Lu Xuan’s heart stirred once more.
It felt as if she had returned to the days when she and the Emperor were in perfect harmony.
Li Yuanjing said, “Since you’re pregnant, you should focus on resting and not let your thoughts stray towards mischief.”
Lu Xuan’s smile froze, her face momentarily stunned. But she quickly adjusted her expression, feigning confusion as if she didn’t understand the meaning behind Li Yuanjing’s words.
Li Yuanjing turned to the serving maid at the table and asked, “Are you Xiao Qin?”
Xiao Qin hurriedly replied, “Replying to Your Majesty, I am Xiao Qin.”
Xiao Qin’s back prickled with fear; the Emperor’s emotionless, succinct questioning filled her with dread, making her shiver.
Her throat inexplicably tightened, and she felt a wave of anxiety.
The next moment, she heard the Emperor’s cold voice: “With ulterior motives, stirring up discord, the harem cannot accommodate a scheming maid like you.”
“Take her away and execute her, sending the body back to the Lu residence in Yunzhou for the Duke of Lu to reflect on his actions.”
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