Chapter 349
**Chapter 347: The Quarrel**
Tears streamed down Shen Wei's face, her eyes filled with heartbreak and determination.
Like a rose with thorns.
Li Yuanjing had never seen Shen Wei in such a state of collapse. He tried to explain, “I’m not doubting you—”
Shen Wei took two steps back, wiping away the tears that had rolled down her cheeks, turning her back to him. “Ever since the farming ceremony, Your Majesty has grown distant, filled with suspicion. I’m not foolish; I can sense your doubts and defenses. I have nothing left to say. Just grant me death now!”
Li Yuanjing grasped her shoulders, turning her to face him. “Weiwei, don’t think like that. I would never grant you death.”
Shen Wei met his gaze, questioning each word, “Do you really believe that? The Prince of Heng said it well; you truly are a cold and indifferent person.”
Li Yuanjing instinctively seized on the keyword “Prince of Heng,” and he exploded, “You say you have no ties to Li Yuanli, yet you remember his words so clearly!”
Shen Wei wasn’t going to let him off easy either; she raised her voice and argued back.
The two of them had a fierce argument.
Li Yuanjing’s face turned red with anger as he swept out of the sleeping quarters, striding away from Yongning Palace.
Gong De Shun followed closely behind, too frightened to breathe. As they passed the vegetable garden of Yongning Palace, Li Yuanjing caught sight of the wilted seedlings, and his anger flared even more.
He hadn’t visited Yongning Palace for days, and Shen Wei hadn’t even taken care of his vegetables!
The emperor’s grand carriage left in a huff, and Yongning Palace fell silent once more.
The servants, trembling on their knees, gradually stood up. Cai Ping and Cai Lian were the most worried and hurried into the sleeping quarters to care for Shen Wei.
Having served Shen Wei for many years, Cai Lian and Cai Ping were used to seeing her and the emperor in love, but this was the first time they had witnessed them quarrel!
It was a fierce fight, with the beams of the room nearly shaking loose, the entire Yongning Palace could hear them.
“Your Highness, how could you dare to argue with the emperor?” Cai Ping fretted, pacing anxiously. Cai Lian handed Shen Wei a cup of tea to soothe her throat.
Shen Wei gulped down half a bowl of tea and rubbed her flat stomach. “It’s better to let it out than to bottle it up.”
She returned to the dining table and finished the stir-fried tender bamboo shoots completely.
The couple had quarreled, and Li Yuanjing had stormed off.
But Shen Wei wasn’t upset; the show was over, and it didn’t stop her from having a good meal.
...
...
In the following days, rumors swirled through the court and the palace. The entire direct line of the Lu family had been imprisoned, and the Ministry of Justice was working day and night to interrogate them. Yunzhou was in turmoil.
One day, Li Yuanjing approved the petition for the Duke of Lu to be executed after autumn and sent people to raid the Duke of Yunzhou’s residence.
After finishing his official duties, the sky gradually darkened. Li Yuanjing sat in the side hall of Chang'an Palace, sipping tea, his gaze drifting to the empty palace path outside, drinking tea for a while, then gazing at the palace path.
No one passed by the palace path.
Li Yuanjing slammed down his teacup. “De Shun!”
Gong De Shun hurried into the side hall, bowing as he asked, “Your Majesty, what is your command?”
Li Yuanjing fell silent for a moment before asking, “Has Consort Chen come to apologize yet?”
De Shun chuckled awkwardly and replied in a low voice, “Your Majesty, Consort Chen went to Cining Palace today to accompany the Empress Dowager and check the porcelain samples sent by the merchants. She might not have time to come to Chang'an Palace.”
Crash—
A fine jade cup smashed to the ground, shattering into several pieces, the fragrant aroma of Bi Luo Chun tea wafting through the air.
De Shun quickly knelt down.
Li Yuanjing paced back and forth in the side hall, his hands clasped behind his back, gritting his teeth, “From childhood to now, Shen Wei is the first person who dared to shout at me! She actually shouted at me! It’s already merciful that I didn’t have her executed! And yet, she still hasn’t come to apologize!”
De Shun dared not speak.
Since that night’s fierce argument, Li Yuanjing had been seething with anger. He had only doubted Shen Wei slightly, and she had exploded like she was on gunpowder.
After years together, Shen Wei had always been gentle and generous. This was the first time Li Yuanjing had seen her brave and fearless side, sharp-tongued and prickly.
Li Yuanjing felt both angry and helpless.
In the sleepless hours of the night, he recalled Shen Wei’s sharp words... and found her fierce demeanor oddly vibrant and endearing.
He paced back and forth in the room, his handsome face cold, as if talking to himself or confiding in De Shun, “Li Yuanli casually said something, and she remembers it so clearly! If I hadn’t caught up that day, would she have taken a boat with Li Yuanli to Nanchu?”
De Shun buried his head deeply, wishing he could become deaf on the spot.
When the emperor and the consort quarreled, it was they, the servants, who suffered.
Li Yuanjing was furious.
He was the emperor, the ruler of Da Qing! It had been three days since Shen Wei had quarreled with him, and she still hadn’t come to apologize!
Grinding his teeth, he thought, since Shen Wei wouldn’t come to apologize, he, the great emperor, certainly wouldn’t lower himself to go to Yongning Palace to seek peace.
So, he would just let it drag on.
After all, he could afford to wait!
Li Yuanjing composed himself and instructed De Shun, “Go check the Imperial Garden and see if the koi in the lotus pond have grown fat.”
De Shun stood up, puzzled, “Your Majesty, just to look at the koi? Should I catch a couple to make fish soup?”
Li Yuanjing replied softly, “On your way to the Imperial Garden, take a look at Yongning Palace and see if the vegetables I planted are still alive.”
De Shun was speechless.
Now he understood; the so-called trip to the Imperial Garden to see the koi was just an excuse! The emperor still had Shen Wei in his heart, but he couldn’t bring himself to seek peace.
“I’ll go check on the koi right away,” De Shun said respectfully as he left.
An hour later.
De Shun returned to Chang'an Palace to report. He kept his head down, speaking softly, “Your Majesty, the koi in the lotus pond are growing plump. As for the vegetable garden in Yongning Palace, all the vegetables you planted have wilted.”
Li Yuanjing’s handsome face was icy.
In the afternoon, while reviewing memorials, he came across a report submitted by Shen Xiuming. Shen Xiuming was Shen Wei’s younger brother, sent by Li Yuanjing to oversee the construction of the dam.
In the report, Shen Xiuming methodically updated Li Yuanjing on the progress of the dam construction, politely inquiring about the emperor’s well-being and sending regards to his sister, the consort.
Li Yuanjing’s anger simmered; he picked up a red brush and swiftly wrote several lines of criticism, rebuking the Shen family for their lax family discipline, which had raised such a stubborn daughter as Shen Wei.
...
...
That night, Yongning Palace was quiet.
Shen Wei had eaten her fill and retired early.
The servants stood guard outside the hall, while the faint fragrance wafted within. Shen Wei lay in her soft, fragrant bed, contemplating her future plans.
Suddenly—
The bed curtain was pierced, and a dart carrying a message embedded itself deep into the wooden frame of the bed. Shen Wei sat up in shock, about to call for the servants of Yongning Palace, but the words caught in her throat.
She pulled out the dart.
Unfolding the letter, she found it was from Prince Heng, Li Yuanli, containing the message:
“The emperor is suspicious and truly cold-hearted; it’s better to let go. At the hour of the pig tonight, a carriage will be waiting at the east gate to take you away from the palace. From now on, the sky is high and the sea is wide; you will be free—Li Yuanli.”
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