Chapter 367
**Chapter 365: Coming of Age**
Mo Xun left, and Shen Wei was once again elevated to the status of the Empress Dowager. Life in the palace was calm and uneventful, passing day by day without a hitch.
Spring faded into summer.
As the lotus flowers bloomed, the eldest princess, Li Wan'er, turned fifteen.
Shen Wei personally took charge, inviting the noble ladies of the court to prepare a grand coming-of-age ceremony for Li Wan'er.
The Empress Dowager herself styled Li Wan'er's hair and adorned it with hairpins. Li Yuanjing conferred the title of "Princess Shou'an" upon Li Wan'er, granting her a residence on the outskirts of the imperial city to serve as her palace.
The coming-of-age ceremony was magnificent, concluding only at dusk. Dressed in splendid royal attire, Li Wan'er came to Yongning Palace to pay her respects to Shen Wei.
“No need to kneel, rise,” Shen Wei said, helping Li Wan'er to her feet. At fifteen, Li Wan'er had blossomed into a graceful and elegant young woman. Well-read and exceptionally bright, she was a fine girl.
Shen Wei found herself quite fond of this intelligent and grateful girl.
Pulling Li Wan'er to sit down, Shen Wei advised her, “From now on, you will live outside the palace and manage your own household. If you encounter any troubles, just come to me.”
Li Wan'er nodded gently, “I’m not a child anymore. I’ll find ways to solve my problems.”
Li Wan'er’s position was unique yet somewhat awkward. She was not the biological daughter of the current emperor but rather the bloodline of the late crown prince.
Without the protection of her parents, Li Wan'er lived a difficult life, her heart sensitive to the world around her. Fortunately, Shen Wei treated her well, teaching her the ways of life.
Over the years, Li Wan'er had kept Shen Wei's words close to her heart.
**“Life is long; you can’t always expect others to help you.”**
**“Your life should be carved out by your own efforts.”**
Li Wan'er was no longer the tearful and sensitive little girl she once was; she had learned much from Shen Wei.
Shen Wei told her, “Now that you’ve come of age, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager are selecting suitable gentlemen to be your husband. Marriage is a serious matter; you need to be careful in your choice.”
Li Wan'er nodded obediently.
Shen Wei invited Li Wan'er to stay for lunch and selected a group of capable maids and matrons to serve her in the Princess Shou'an Palace.
After a busy day, as dusk fell, Li Yuanjing arrived at Yongning Palace. The two shared dinner and took a leisurely stroll in the lush garden to digest their meal.
It was midsummer, and the night breeze was cool in the pavilion. Shen Wei sat on a bench by the water, glancing at the beautiful lotus flowers that had grown to the edge of the railing. Li Yuanjing noticed and casually plucked a lotus flower, handing it to Shen Wei.
“How did the Emperor know I wanted a lotus?” Shen Wei exclaimed, feigning surprise as she cradled the flower.
The lotus was delicate, and so was Shen Wei.
Li Yuanjing playfully pinched Shen Wei’s nose, affectionately saying, “Your thoughts are written all over your face.”
Shen Wei smiled without replying, leaning against Li Yuanjing’s shoulder with a sense of attachment. “You treat me so well, Your Majesty.”
Li Yuanjing held Shen Wei’s hand, feeling the warmth of her palm, and said earnestly, “Wei Wei, I will cherish you for a lifetime.”
His words were sincere.
Li Yuanjing had never imagined that one day he would be so infatuated with a woman, his heart entwined with hers. His Wei Wei was the best woman in the world, and he wanted to treasure her, giving her the very best of everything.
Since Shen Wei had fallen seriously ill, Li Yuanjing had taken meticulous care of her, attending to her every need. He even personally inquired about the fabric of her undergarments.
Sometimes, when separated from Shen Wei for even a little while, Li Yuanjing would feel a twinge of anxiety. He had to send someone to check on her health before he could feel at ease.
Shen Wei chuckled, casually responding, “Your Majesty, I will also be by your side for a lifetime.”
As she played with the vibrant lotus in her hand, she didn’t take Li Yuanjing’s words to heart.
A lifetime is long, and changes are many.
Vows of eternal love need not be taken too seriously.
The night breeze rustled the lotus leaves in the pond, and Li Yuanjing thought again of the coming-of-age ceremony from earlier that day. He sighed softly, “The children are growing up day by day. Next year, Yao'er will come of age, and in a few more years, Le You will too.”
Shen Wei counted on her fingers, “Le You is only six; it’s still early.”
Li Yuanjing huffed, telling Shen Wei, “Last month at the palace banquet, the son of the Minister of War kept staring at Le You, drooling all over the place! That little brat, still wet behind the ears, dares to covet my daughter.”
Li Yuanjing had a strong dislike for the Minister of War’s son.
The boy was dark and ugly, rough-skinned and thickset, always brandishing swords and spears, reeking of sweat.
Shen Wei burst into laughter, “Your Majesty, the Minister of War’s son is only eight. What does an eight-year-old know about such things? At that time, Le You was eating sweet cakes; maybe that little boy was just eyeing the treats.”
Li Yuanjing huffed again.
He felt a pang of discomfort.
Li Yuanjing resolved that when Le You grew up, he would carefully select a husband for her—one who was well-rounded, talented, handsome, devoted, and refined.
...
Time flew by, and the scorching summer gradually passed. One night, a biting north wind blew, and the leaves in the courtyard began to turn yellow, falling in the autumn breeze.
Changxin Palace.
The courtyard was desolate, the phoenix trees turning yellow. The sudden chill in the air made Lu Xuan’s health deteriorate; she had coughed up a lot of blood the night before. Leaning against her pillow, she gazed out at the withered yellow leaves, her eyes filled with sorrow.
Lu Xuan murmured, “It’s already autumn…”
In the courtyard of Changxin Palace, there was a red plum tree, but in early autumn, it had yet to bloom. Lu Xuan recalled the days at the residence of the Duke of Lu, when heavy snow blanketed the ground, and the courtyard was filled with blooming red plums.
She and her sister had played beneath the red plum tree, while their parents watched with smiles from the eaves. There had been no power struggles then, only the warmth of a happy family.
“Your Highness, please drink some medicine first, and don’t worry about the gossip outside,” the maid Xiao Qi said, wiping away her tears as she tried to feed Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan closed her eyes and pushed the medicine bowl away. “Autumn has come, and after autumn, my father and sister will be executed…”
The Lu family had already collapsed, and the direct line was to be executed after autumn. Lu Xuan felt powerless to stop it, only able to gaze out at the sky and watch the wild geese fly south.
Lu Xuan asked, “Has the Emperor come to see me?”
Xiao Qi replied, “No… But don’t worry, Your Highness. I went to check on the young prince yesterday; he’s doing well. The Empress Dowager and the others have not mistreated him.”
Lu Xuan sighed deeply.
Her son was only two years old, an age when children do not remember much. As he grew a little older, he would soon forget his mother, who was burdened with so many crimes.
Lu Xuan asked again, “Has the Empress Dowager come to see me?”
Xiao Qi answered, “Not yet…”
Lu Xuan forced a smile, “She’s quite cautious. In my current state, I have no energy to harm her.”
To Lu Xuan, Shen Wei was a very contradictory person.
Shen Wei was meticulous, full of schemes and calculations, methodically toppling the Empress and the Consort.
Yet, Shen Wei was also compassionate and generous; she did not resort to lethal measures against the palace ladies. As long as they submitted to her, she would not take their lives.
This showed that Shen Wei was a confident and powerful woman. She would not eradicate her enemies completely; she believed in her own abilities.
As the autumn wind blew through the courtyard, Lu Xuan leaned against her soft pillow, her gaze distant. “Xiao Qi, I’ve been dreaming a lot lately… In my dreams, there’s no Shen Wei, and I have the Emperor’s love, becoming the Empress.”
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