Chapter 366
**Chapter 364: Mo Xun Leaves**
Rip—
The xuan paper in Liu Ruyan's hands was torn in half, the elegant plum blossoms she had just painted splitting apart.
Liu Ruyan thought she must have misheard.
"Empress Dowager?" Liu Ruyan's delicate brows furrowed. According to the royal court's rules, the hierarchy of the imperial harem is as follows: Empress, Noble Consort, Four Consorts, Concubines, and Noble Ladies.
The Kingdom of Qing had never had an Empress Dowager.
Of course, there had been Empress Dowagers in history. For instance, in the previous dynasty, the mournful Emperor was forced to marry the daughter of a powerful minister as his Empress. Yet, his true love was a concubine, and unable to defy the minister, he created the title of Empress Dowager.
An Empress Dowager held a status equivalent to that of a deputy Empress, symbolizing the Emperor's favorite. Once the Empress passed away, the Empress Dowager could rightfully ascend to the Empress's throne.
"Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager..." Liu Ruyan clutched her heart, feeling as if it were being torn apart, tears slowly welling in her beautiful eyes.
It was a mix of heartache and grievance.
Back when the Emperor was still the Prince of Yan, during the days when Liu Ruyan and he shared the closest bond, he had never considered deposing his wife to elevate Liu Ruyan as his primary consort.
Yet, Shen Wei had done it.
Liu Ruyan closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, soaking the ink plum painting on the table.
She spent the day in a daze, unable to sleep a wink. The next morning, as dawn broke, the palace maids brought Liu Ruyan her ceremonial robe. Slowly, she changed into the resplendent golden-red attire.
From a consort to a concubine, the quality of the ceremonial robe was naturally inferior. Liu Ruyan examined her reflection in the mirror, her eyes dark and weary, her once radiant beauty now faded.
She despised this extravagant robe, yet had no choice but to wear it.
"Let’s go to Yongning Palace," Liu Ruyan thought, filled with resentment, as she made her way to Yongning Palace in a daze.
The weather was fine today, the sun shining brightly, and the atmosphere in Yongning Palace was jubilant.
Dressed in her ceremonial robe, Liu Ruyan silently stood at the position designated for concubines. The ceremony for the Empress Dowager's enthronement was grand, only slightly less so than that of the Empress. Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works held the golden and silver tablets, while the Grand Scholar and the Minister of Rites presided over the ceremony.
A grand procession paved the way, escorting the newly appointed Empress Dowager Shen Wei to receive her honors.
Liu Ruyan stood by the side of the road, watching Shen Wei in her magnificent golden-red robe embroidered with phoenixes, the spring sunlight casting a glow that made her appear as radiant as a jewel.
The robe Shen Wei wore had taken at least half a month to complete. Today was also an auspicious day—clearly, the Emperor had planned this long ago, with all preparations in place.
"Embroidered with phoenixes," Liu Ruyan murmured, a sourness rising in her chest.
In the harem, the phoenix motif was reserved solely for the Empress.
The Emperor had made an exception for Shen Wei.
The enthronement ceremony was lengthy and complex, with numerous steps. Liu Ruyan numbly observed the proceedings, bowing at the ceremonial cues from the officials.
As noon approached, the long and tedious ceremony finally concluded. The concubines left, each with their own thoughts. Liu Ruyan stood at the entrance of Yongning Palace, casting a deep glance back at Shen Wei in the courtyard, where the green trees cast shade, and a single ray of sunlight fell upon Shen Wei, making her shine like a jewel.
Even the sunlight favored Shen Wei.
Liu Ruyan had to admit it.
She felt jealous.
All along, Liu Ruyan prided herself on her nobility, looking down on the common folk and the superficial. Yet, seeing the dazzling and seemingly limitless glory of Shen Wei still made her heart ache.
"Why? What makes her worthy of the Emperor's love?" Liu Ruyan couldn't understand. The lowly farmer's daughter she had once scorned had repeatedly slapped everyone in the face.
Every time people thought Shen Wei would fall from grace, she always managed to rise again, standing taller than before.
In the dull and monotonous harem, Shen Wei was forever vibrant.
Liu Ruyan sighed deeply, knowing she had lost completely. She dragged her weary feet away, step by step.
Like Liu Ruyan, the concubine Qiao, Liu Qiao'er, was also lost in thought. Today, as she attended the ceremony, watching the resplendent Shen Wei, the bitterness and resentment in her heart nearly overflowed.
Back in her own palace, Liu Qiao'er felt uncomfortable all over. She could only comfort herself that the Emperor's love was fleeting.
Despite Shen Wei's current glory, the days were long, and it was easy to rise but hard to maintain that height—perhaps one day, Shen Wei would fall from her lofty position.
"I'll wait, I'll wait for the day she falls into the mud," Liu Qiao'er closed her eyes, hiding in the dark shadows.
...
The grand ceremony for the Empress Dowager echoed throughout the harem.
In Changxin Palace, a strong medicinal scent filled the air. Lu Xuan leaned weakly against the headboard, while the maid Xiao Qi carefully fed her a bowl of bitter medicine.
"It's so noisy outside. What happened in the palace today?" Lu Xuan's expression was weary, her face waxen.
Her features were lifeless, her eyes barely open.
Xiao Qi hesitated to tell Lu Xuan about Shen Wei's enthronement, trying to brush it off: "The Emperor is meeting with the meritorious officials today; it's a bit lively."
Lu Xuan coughed violently.
She slowly said, "You don't have to hide it from me. The ceremonial bells rang twelve times; it must be a joyous occasion... cough, cough, tell me the truth."
Xiao Qi pursed her lips.
Lu Xuan weakly said, "Are you not even going to listen to me now?"
Xiao Qi lowered her eyes and quietly told Lu Xuan, "The Emperor has conferred Shen Wei as the Empress Dowager... today is the enthronement ceremony."
Lu Xuan tilted her head, murmuring, "Empress Dowager... Empress Dowager... The Emperor dotes on her so much, why only make her an Empress Dowager..."
Covering her mouth, Lu Xuan suddenly began to cough violently, her throat tasting metallic and sweet as she spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood. Xiao Qi jumped up in fright, hurriedly fetching a handkerchief to wipe Lu Xuan's mouth.
"My lady," Xiao Qi said, tears in her eyes, "please don't be upset. Once you recover, you will surely be conferred as a Noble Consort too."
Blood stained the bedding.
The metallic scent filled the air.
Lu Xuan closed her eyes, her corners damp with tears, her frail body barely able to cry. She felt a deep sadness, her voice hoarse: "Losing to her, I accept it willingly."
Lu Xuan's vision darkened, and she fainted.
...
Under the night sky at Yongning Palace.
The grand enthronement ceremony had concluded, and with the help of Cai Lian and Cai Ping, Shen Wei finally shed the heavy ceremonial robe.
The robe was adorned with gold, silver, and jewels, feeling like a heavy suit of armor that made Shen Wei gasp for breath. The ornate crown, embedded with rubies and pearls, weighed at least ten pounds!
After enduring the ceremony, Shen Wei felt a wave of relief as she removed the heavy robe. The bathwater, at a perfect temperature, awaited her. She sank into the warm water, the steam rising, a subtle fragrance enveloping her as she comfortably closed her eyes.
Cai Ping brought a cloth to wipe Shen Wei's back, chattering away: "The charity kitchen outside An Guo Temple has been set up, just as you instructed, to serve porridge for ten days."
"The orphanage's house has already been sent for repairs and expansion; it can accommodate at least a thousand orphans."
"Also, the gifts sent by the noblewomen in the court, converted into silver, amount to about one hundred thousand taels, to be sent to the border as provisions for the soldiers."
Shen Wei leaned over the edge of the tub, comfortably closing her eyes: "Doing good deeds should be recognized; it should be spread far and wide. I am a good Empress Dowager, not a seductress."
"Got it," Cai Ping replied.
Shen Wei's enthronement as Empress Dowager was grand and magnificent, with many aspects exceeding the norm.
For instance, Shen Wei's ceremonial robe was nearly indistinguishable from that of the Empress. Her salary as Empress Dowager was also on par with that of the Empress. In a sense, it was almost equivalent to an "Empress's enthronement ceremony."
There were always a group of stubborn old officials in the court who wanted to criticize the ceremony for exceeding the norm. Shen Wei needed to establish a good reputation first to silence these officials.
In the steamy bathhouse, Shen Wei continued to soak, while Cai Ping went outside to fetch soap pods.
As Shen Wei relaxed in the warm water, her head began to spin. She heard footsteps outside and, thinking it was Cai Ping, casually said, "Scrub my back a bit more, and massage my shoulders."
A pair of slightly rough hands covered Shen Wei's smooth, fair back.
Shen Wei immediately opened her eyes.
Through the mist, Li Yuanjing in his black and gold court attire was standing close by. His handsome face was relaxed, his gaze lingering on Shen Wei's flushed cheeks for a moment before drifting down to her rounded, fair shoulders, and then further down.
Li Yuanjing's voice was hoarse: "Don't move; I’ll take care of the Empress Dowager."
Shen Wei stopped moving.
Li Yuanjing, accustomed to martial arts and physical training, had a strong grip.
As he massaged Shen Wei's shoulders, his hands gradually shifted positions...
Shen Wei winced, retreating to the other side of the tub, her hand pressed against her heart, her misty eyes locking onto Li Yuanjing as she complained, "If you're going to massage my shoulders, where are your hands going?"
The warm water swirled, the white mist dispersing.
Shen Wei's silky black hair was damp, her cheeks flushed like clouds at sunset, and her exposed shoulders glowed with an alluring red. Rose petals floated in the tub, a few damp petals sticking to Shen Wei's collarbone.
Enchanting and captivating.
Li Yuanjing's fingers seemed to still carry the softness of her skin, and his throat felt dry.
Since Shen Wei had been poisoned, Li Yuanjing had refrained from indulging for a long time. Now that Shen Wei's health was gradually improving, he had even discreetly summoned the imperial physician to inquire, who confirmed that they could proceed with caution.
Li Yuanjing loosened his black and gold robe and stepped into the tub.
The once spacious tub suddenly felt cramped.
Water splashed everywhere.
Shen Wei trembled slightly, her eyes turning red.
They changed the bathwater three times.
In the courtyard, clusters of vibrant flowers closed up, and as the moonlight fell, the commotion in Yongning Palace finally quieted down in the deep of night.
Li Yuanjing, remembering the physician's advice, was careful not to overstep. In the end, he personally helped the dazed Shen Wei into clean, soft nightclothes and dried her long hair.
At night, the sound of insects chirping softly, Shen Wei leaned against Li Yuanjing's embrace, drifting into a deep sleep. Moonlight filtered through the bed curtains, and Li Yuanjing held Shen Wei's warm hand, contentedly lowering his head to place a kiss on her forehead.
And then, they both fell into a deep slumber.
...
The next day, the sky brightened with the first light of dawn.
At the entrance of Yongning Palace, a maid held hot water, hesitating to enter the room.
"The breakfast is ready; why aren't you going in to help the lady change? If you delay her meal, can you bear the consequences?" Cai Lian, noticing, approached with a frown.
The young maid's face turned red, stammering, "Cai Lian, the Emperor, the Emperor is still inside. Please let me wait a little longer before going in."
Through the door, faint sounds of intimacy could still be heard from within.
Cai Lian, having served Shen Wei for many years, naturally recognized those sounds.
Clearing her throat, Cai Lian said, "Today is a day of rest; it's reasonable for the ladies to sleep in a bit longer. You go wait in the water room, and when the lady gets up, come back to bring hot water."
The young maid, holding the washing water, dashed away.
Inside the chamber, a subtle fragrance lingered.
Shen Wei was furious, kicking Li Yuanjing. He caught her delicate foot, gently rubbing it, a smile playing on his handsome face: "The Empress Dowager is fierce."
Shen Wei: ...
Fierce your ancestors!
Another wave crashed over her.
They only found respite when the outside world brightened. Today was a day of rest, with no court matters to attend to, and Li Yuanjing patiently attended to Shen Wei as she got up, leaving no detail unattended.
As noon approached, a famished Shen Wei finally sipped some hot soup.
Seeing Shen Wei's weary expression, Li Yuanjing felt a pang of regret for his impulsiveness the day before. He quickly sent for Mo Xun to check her pulse. Upon hearing Mo Xun say, "The Empress Dowager is fine," Li Yuanjing finally felt relieved.
He changed into his usual royal attire, stretched his muscles, and refreshed himself before heading to the training grounds to teach his son archery.
...
After lunch, Shen Wei felt sore all over, even walking was painful, so she leaned back in her noble consort chair to look over the accounts.
Mo Xun sat at a small table nearby, nibbling on snacks, occasionally glancing at the dark circles under Shen Wei's eyes and the bruises on her wrists, clicking her tongue: "Empress Dowager, you need to take it easy."
Shen Wei retorted, "You should be saying that to the Emperor."
The pent-up Emperor was like a hungry tiger released from its cage.
Though he was restrained, he was still fierce.
Mo Xun shrugged: "I wouldn't dare—by the way, I came to see you today to say goodbye."
Shen Wei put down the account book, sitting up abruptly: "You’re leaving the palace?"
Mo Xun nodded seriously.
Recently, Mo Xun had finished reading the "Taihua Notes" that Shen Wei had given her. The notes were filled with strange and complex characters that Mo Xun couldn't fully understand, yet they felt oddly familiar.
She traced the characters in the notes, each stroke resonating with her. Mo Xun even had a vague feeling that this book was written by her.
But how could that be?
The Empress of Nan Chu had lived over a hundred years ago, long turned to dust. Mo Xun was not yet thirty, yet miraculously felt a spiritual connection with the Empress from a century past.
Mo Xun's intuition had always been sharp. She told Shen Wei, "I want to go to Nan Chu."
Mo Xun had a premonition that by going to Nan Chu, she might uncover some hidden truths and find her own destiny.
Shen Wei felt a bit reluctant to let Mo Xun go. Mo Xun's exceptional medical skills were a great support for Shen Wei in the harem; her straightforward personality made her a trustworthy friend.
"Nan Chu is in turmoil, with war raging. Why not wait until the situation stabilizes before going?" Shen Wei kindly reminded her.
Mo Xun shook her head, her tone resolute: "It's precisely because of the chaos in Nan Chu that I can take advantage of the situation. Don't worry; I will come back to accompany you in the future."
Seeing Mo Xun's determination, Shen Wei could only sigh inwardly.
Life's journey is long, and separation is the norm.
Mo Xun left Shen Wei with plenty of prescriptions and even gifted her a few detox pills. Shen Wei, unsure of what to give in return, could only offer her silver notes.
When out in the world, having money is essential.
Mo Xun was efficient, quickly wrapping up her duties at the Women's Medical Bureau. She chose a dark, windy night to stealthily slip out of Yan Jing, heading towards Nan Chu.
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