Chapter 368
**Chapter 366: The Princesses' Marriages**
"But Your Majesty is heartless. He uses me to harm the concubines, he caused my sister's death, and he even killed me... After I died, he didn't even give me a posthumous title."
"Is this a dream, or did it really happen... I can't tell anymore; the affairs of the world are but a grand illusion."
Xiao Qi thought Lu Xuan was delirious from her illness, and she lowered her head, tears streaming down her face.
In the courtyard, the autumn wind blew gently, and the yellowing leaves danced in the breeze, swaying and falling.
That night, Li Yuanjing was still outside discussing matters with the court officials, while Shen Wei dined alone.
Shen Wei had just taken a couple of bites when Cai Ping hurried in to report, "My lady, the one from Changxin Palace has passed away."
Shen Wei was not surprised.
Lu Xuan was gravely ill and could die at any moment. Calmly, Shen Wei set down her jade chopsticks and instructed Cai Ping, "Inform the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Have the Ministry of Internal Affairs send a coffin to Changxin Palace; let everything be done according to the rules."
Cai Ping hurried off to carry out her orders.
Lu Xuan's funeral was conducted simply. Li Yuanjing was still angry over the Lu family's affairs and vented his frustration on Lu Xuan, not granting her a posthumous title.
Before Lu Xuan was buried, Shen Wei took a glance at her remains.
Seeing that Lu Xuan's clothing was too thin, Shen Wei thought for a moment and sent someone to dress Lu Xuan in her ceremonial attire, also ordering a proper grooming and adornment, placing jewelry in her hair.
After all the arrangements, Lu Xuan was buried with dignity.
The simple coffin, containing the once-favored concubine, was escorted by eunuchs and guards to a corner of the royal cemetery for burial.
The once-bustling Changxin Palace had fallen completely silent.
After deep autumn, the imprisoned Duke of Lu and others were executed, their bodies tossed into a mass grave.
The once prosperous Lu family was utterly lost to the annals of history.
...
As autumn passed and winter arrived, spring flowers bloomed once more, heralding the arrival of a new year.
Not long into spring, the palace welcomed a grand event. The Emperor's eldest daughter, Li Yao, was coming of age this year.
As usual, Shen Wei prepared a lavish coming-of-age ceremony for Li Yao, inviting noble ladies from the court. Li Yao was granted the title of "Princess Shoukang" and a princess residence was established outside the palace, where she would soon live.
Shen Wei treated all the princesses equally, preparing silver and attendants for Li Yao.
As dusk fell, the long-closed gates of Kun Ning Palace swung open, and Li Yao, dressed in her ceremonial attire, entered. Inside, the palace was overgrown with weeds, and the remaining chrysanthemums leaned askew, the heavy scent of incense overwhelming.
Li Yao's heart ached.
She dismissed the palace maids and stepped into the Buddhist hall of Kun Ning Palace. The incense candles flickered, casting dim light that made even the bright day feel like hell. The emaciated Empress knelt on a mat, her fingers clutching prayer beads, murmuring curses under her breath.
"Mother," Li Yao called softly.
The Empress paused, her neck creaking as she turned to see Li Yao at the door.
At fifteen, Li Yao's features were not yet fully developed, but she had already grown into a graceful figure, exuding the poise of a princess. Today, she was dressed beautifully and adorned with exquisite makeup.
The Empress took a moment to recognize her daughter, her face lighting up with joy as she rushed over to grasp Li Yao's hand. "Yao'er, you’re coming of age today?"
Li Yao nodded gently.
She longed to hear her mother's blessings.
The Empress fished a paper packet from her pocket and pressed it into Li Yao's hand. "This is rat poison. A few days ago, the palace maids came to Kun Ning Palace to deal with the rats, and I secretly kept a packet. My good child, find a way to put this in Shen's food. If she dies, I can finally turn my fortunes around."
The Empress's eyes sparkled with a sinister light.
Praying to the gods was no match for taking matters into her own hands.
She eagerly awaited Shen Wei's demise.
Li Yao felt a pang in her heart. "Mother, today is my coming-of-age ceremony, and you want me to poison Consort Chen?"
The Empress rambled on, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Once you leave the palace, it will be hard to get close to Shen again. My dear child, whether I can escape this suffering depends entirely on you."
Li Yao's heart ached unbearably.
A girl's coming of age is one of the most important days in her life. Although Shen Wei was not Li Yao's biological mother, she had organized a grand ceremony and thoughtfully considered Li Yao's future, teaching her how to manage a household and servants.
Li Yao felt grateful to Shen Wei, and deep down, she regarded her as a mother.
Yet her biological mother, the Empress, offered no blessings, only urging her to commit a crime.
Li Yao took two steps back, disappointment flooding her as she tossed the rat poison into a corner. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Mother, I will rarely be able to enter the palace in the future. Father has already chosen a husband for me; the marriage decree has been issued, and I will be married next summer."
The Empress stood frozen in shock.
Li Yao knelt on the ground, bowing her head three times to the Empress.
"Take care, Mother. From now on, I will walk my own path."
She exited the Buddhist hall, leaving in disappointment.
The Empress stood dazed for a moment, her heart feeling as if it had been torn apart, pain causing her tears to flow. She hurried after Li Yao, trying to explain, "I carried you for ten months and gave birth to you, and you dare to deny me! What kind of poison has that Shen woman fed you? Come back to me! Li Yao, come back!"
With a creaking sound, the heavy, dark gates of Kun Ning Palace closed.
The Empress pounded on the palace door, screaming in anger, "Li Yao! Yao'er, come back! Mother needs you! Come back..."
Thud, thud, thud—
The door echoed with her desperate knocks.
It wasn't until dusk fell and night enveloped the palace that the Empress weakly leaned against the closed door. The Kun Ning Palace was lifeless at night, the wind rustling, filling the courtyard with strange sounds.
The Empress curled up in a corner, her eyes wide as she stared into the silent courtyard. At times, she saw her two deceased sons, at other times, the concubines and maids she had poisoned, and occasionally, her own parents...
In agony, the Empress closed her eyes, as if falling into an abyss.
Even Li Yao, the only one willing to come close to her, was gradually drifting away, leaving the Empress utterly alone.
...
...
In Ci Ning Palace.
The sun shone warmly, and the flowers in the courtyard bloomed abundantly. Li Wan'er and Li Yao had moved out of the palace, while Li Chengtai and Li Chengyou practiced horseback riding and archery in the training grounds, making Ci Ning Palace feel a bit emptier.
With the Empress Dowager's birthday approaching, several noble ladies from prominent families entered the palace to pay their respects in advance. In the pavilion of Ci Ning Palace, the Empress Dowager sat in the main seat, with Shen Wei beside her, while three court ladies took their seats in turn.
Pastries and tea were prepared, and the group chatted about everyday matters.
The wife of the Minister of War smiled brightly, saying, "The second son of the Zhang family is talented and virtuous; he would be a perfect match for Princess Shoukang."
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Wan'er is getting married this year, and Yao'er next year. Once that child Nan Zhi comes of age, we must also consider her marriage."
Choosing a husband for a princess is no small matter; it requires careful consideration of family background, character, ability, and alliances.
To some extent, princesses serve as a bridge between the royal family and the court.
As they discussed the princesses' marriages, the Empress Dowager noticed the sun growing hotter and called for Mama Qian, asking, "Where has Le You gone to play? It’s hot; she mustn't get heatstroke."
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