Chapter 351
**Chapter 349: Disfavor?**
Cining Palace.
Outside, rumors swirled like autumn leaves in the wind, yet Shen Wei, the subject of all this gossip, remained calm and collected. Dressed in a new gown gifted by the Empress Dowager, she sipped tea from West Lake, recounting her conflicts with the Emperor as if telling a story.
As she reached the end of her tale, Shen Wei spread her snow-white palms and lamented to the Empress Dowager, “Mother, I have long resided in the depths of the palace, and my encounters with Prince Heng have been few. The Emperor’s suspicions are truly an unwarranted disaster.”
The Empress Dowager listened, taken aback, and after a moment, replied, “I naturally believe you.”
Having spent considerable time with Shen Wei, the Empress Dowager understood her nature well. However, pondering her son’s strange behavior, she mused, “Yuanjing is deliberately distancing himself from you, as if he has lost his senses, lacking even basic judgment. It’s truly bizarre.”
If Li Yuanjing had put even a little thought into it, he would realize that Shen Wei rarely left the Yan Wang’s residence during her time there, spending most of her days by his side. There was simply no time for her to conspire with Li Yuanli!
The more the Empress Dowager thought about it, the less she could comprehend Li Yuanjing’s actions. She murmured to herself, “In the past, I too had conflicts with the late Emperor, but he never behaved like this…”
Li Yuanjing and Shen Wei had been in a cold war for a full month. He had not revoked her authority over the Six Palaces, nor stripped her of her title as Guifei, and he had not shown favoritism towards any other concubines. It was impossible to fathom his true intentions.
Taking a sip of tea to soothe her throat, the Empress Dowager asked Shen Wei, “If this stalemate continues, it will inevitably lead to trouble. Do you have a way to break the deadlock?”
Shen Wei gently caressed her teacup, her expression serene. “Mother, there’s no need to worry for me. When the cart reaches the mountain, a way will surely appear. I have my methods.”
Her tone was calm, her demeanor composed. Clearly, she had already devised a strategy.
The Empress Dowager smiled wryly. “I know you’re clever. But I must remind you, mending a broken mirror will inevitably leave cracks.”
That strange possessiveness in a man’s heart is hard to eradicate completely.
After sharing tea with the Empress Dowager for a while, it was time for her afternoon rest. The Empress Dowager returned to her chambers, while Shen Wei made her way to the study in the back hall of Cining Palace to visit her two sons.
The study was spacious and bright, filled with the scent of ink.
Li Chengtai sat at a small table, engrossed in a book, his small frame sitting up straight, deeply focused on the pages.
Li Chengyou was also reading, but unlike his brother, he was far less attentive. His chubby little hands propped up his chin, his eyelids slowly drooping, his face nearly resting on the book.
“It’s a day off; you should be resting well,” Shen Wei said gently as she lifted the curtain and entered.
Li Chengtai put down his book and obediently called out, “Mother.”
Li Chengyou, fighting off sleep, echoed, “Mother, what brings you here? Is it time for dinner? Are we having that stir-fried tender bamboo shoot tonight?”
Shen Wei pinched her younger son’s chubby cheek. “Of course, there will be stir-fried bamboo shoots for dinner. And if you’re tired, go take a nap. Sleep well before you read.”
With his mother’s permission, Li Chengyou joyfully ran to the small bed by the bookshelf, skillfully shedding his coat and boots, covering himself with a small blanket, and promptly falling asleep.
“Mother, younger brother should study hard; how can he sleep all day?” Li Chengtai said, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice. His foolish brother had no sense of urgency.
Every day was filled with eating and drinking, and when tired, he just slept—lazier than a piglet.
Shen Wei smiled. “Reading while sleepy won’t help him learn anything. It’s better to sleep; once he’s well-rested, he’ll have the energy to study.”
Li Chengtai pursed his lips slightly.
With his younger brother napping, Shen Wei tidied up the bed a bit, making space for herself. She beckoned Li Chengtai over. “You should take a nap too. You’re still young; you need at least five hours of sleep every day.”
Adequate sleep is essential for healthy bone development.
Li Chengtai had always been obedient to Shen Wei, so he sat down by the small bed, looking up at his mother with a furrowed brow. “Mother, do you sleep well every day?”
Shen Wei smiled. “Of course, I sleep well.”
Without Li Yuanjing’s interruptions, she managed to sleep at least four or five hours each day, feeling refreshed and full of energy.
Li Chengtai lowered his head, his tone troubled. “Mother, you don’t have to lie to me... I’m not a three-year-old; I’m five now.”
He had seen how the Emperor neglected his mother, and he felt a pang of sympathy for her.
Shen Wei gently rubbed her eldest son’s round head, soothing him softly. “Chengtai, I really am fine. Your job now is to take a good nap and grow up strong.”
Li Chengtai opened his small arms and hugged Shen Wei’s neck. He quietly embraced her for a moment before murmuring, “Mother, when we lived in the mountains, you protected me. When I grow up, I’ll protect you and won’t let anyone bully you.”
After a pause, he added, “Not even Father.”
Shen Wei patted her son’s back.
On a warm spring afternoon, Shen Wei sat by the bed, watching as Li Chengtai slowly drifted off to sleep.
...
As dusk approached, Shen Wei finally left Cining Palace.
The procession of the Guifei was still grand, and Shen Wei leaned against the ornate palanquin, flipping through the list of porcelain sent by the Neiwufu. As the palanquin passed through the Imperial Garden, she heard two voices greeting her.
“Greetings, Guifei Chen.”
“Greetings, Guifei Chen.”
Shen Wei closed the account book in her hands, her gaze shifting to see Mei Pin Liu Ruyan by the flowerbed. Beside Liu Ruyan was Qiao Pin Liu Qiaoer, who had not been seen for a long time.
Shen Wei felt a bit surprised.
Among the many concubines in the palace, the ones who loved to stay indoors the most were Mei Pin and Qiao Pin.
Had the sun risen in the west today? Two seasoned homebodies had actually ventured out?
Liu Qiaoer spoke politely, “Guifei Chen, you don’t look well lately. Forgive me for being nosy, but you should worry less in spring; your health is the most important.”
Shen Wei cast a faint glance at Liu Qiaoer.
In Shen Wei’s memory, Liu Qiaoer had always been an extremely low-key woman. Back in the Yan Wang’s residence, Liu Qiaoer had consistently avoided attention, keeping a low profile. After entering the palace, she spent her days hidden in her chambers, dressed very simply, never vying for favor, and rarely interacting with other concubines.
Her presence in the palace was minimal.
Today, under the bright spring sun, Shen Wei noticed that Liu Qiaoer was no longer dressed so plainly. Liu Qiaoer wore delicate makeup, her hair adorned with new accessories, and her outfit was a spring gown embroidered with cranes, freshly sent by the Neiwufu.
Shen Wei smiled slightly. “You’re quite thoughtful.”
Liu Qiaoer said no more, discreetly pouting as she stood behind Liu Ruyan, looking somewhat reserved.
Shen Wei was about to leave.
Suddenly, Liu Ruyan, who had been silent, spoke softly, “Guifei Chen, you’re feeling troubled; there’s no need to hide it.”
Her tone carried a hint of sympathy.
Shen Wei, seated in her luxurious palanquin, replied honestly, “Actually, I’m not troubled at all.”
Liu Ruyan chuckled lightly.
Shen Wei fell silent, raising her hand as the Guifei’s procession departed the Imperial Garden.
The spring breeze blew gently, and as Shen Wei’s figure receded, it struck Liu Ruyan as somewhat absurd, as if she were “fleeing in disarray.”
Liu Ruyan sighed softly, a shadow passing through her misty eyes: “I once thought that among the women in the palace, Guifei Chen was the most special one. But now it seems, she is just like the rest.”
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