Chapter 386
**Chapter 384: Fainting Again**
No matter where Le You went, Liang Huai Chuan would always protect her from the shadows. This time was no exception.
Li Yuan Jing huffed, his beard bristling with anger. "Liang Huai Chuan? That brat again! Le You, you’re already of age; you’re not a little girl anymore. How can you get entangled with a boy like him?"
Le You defended softly, "Liang Huai Chuan isn’t just any boy; he’s really nice."
Li Yuan Jing slammed the table in frustration. "In the dead of night, in the wilderness, a lone man and a woman—do you think I don’t know what he’s thinking? Someone, bring Liang Huai Chuan to me!"
There was no need to send anyone; Liang Huai Chuan quietly climbed over the courtyard wall. He cupped his hands in a polite greeting to Li Yuan Jing and Shen Wei.
It had been a while since Shen Wei had seen this young man from the Liang family. Liang Huai Chuan had grown tall, resembling a gray wolf, with sharp, defined features and cold, piercing eyes. His skin was a deep bronze, weathered by the sun and wind.
Li Yuan Jing’s expression darkened further. "You, Liang Huai Chuan, come with me."
Liang Huai Chuan followed him without a hint of subservience.
In the courtyard, only Shen Wei and Le You remained. Shen Wei looked at her daughter, who was covered in dirt, and sighed inwardly, sending a maid to help Le You bathe and change.
An hour later, Le You emerged in bright, fresh clothes, happily snuggling into Shen Wei’s embrace. "Mother, I was just worried about you. I won’t act recklessly again."
Shen Wei stroked her daughter’s soft hair and smiled. "Even with Liang Huai Chuan protecting you, you can’t let your guard down. Life is long; you can’t rely on him for everything."
Le You’s lips curled into a smile. "Don’t worry, Mother. Even without Liang Huai Chuan last night, I could have handled the crisis. I still carry the dagger you gave me."
Le You always remembered Shen Wei’s teachings—self-reliance is better than depending on others.
As the maids brought in pastries and tea, the mother and daughter chatted. As noon approached, Shen Wei noticed that Li Yuan Jing and Liang Huai Chuan had yet to return.
She called for Cai Lian. "Go check the back courtyard. If Liang Huai Chuan is hurt too badly, have the imperial physician attend to him."
Liang Huai Chuan had always been a thorn in Li Yuan Jing’s side since he was a mere child. Now that he had grown tall and strong, Li Yuan Jing found him even more intolerable. A fight was inevitable.
Le You was completely unconcerned, confident in Liang Huai Chuan’s abilities. "Don’t worry, Mother. Liang Huai Chuan can take a beating."
Before long, Li Yuan Jing and Liang Huai Chuan appeared. Li Yuan Jing looked unscathed but wore a foul expression, while Liang Huai Chuan had a bruise on his face, clearly having taken a beating.
Le You noticed the injury and quickly set down her teacup, concerned. "Liang Huai Chuan, let me see your injury!"
Liang Huai Chuan bent slightly so she could see his face.
Seeing this, Li Yuan Jing’s anger flared. The royal family’s prized cabbage had been trampled by a wild boar—how infuriating!
In the following days, Shen Wei and Li Yuan Jing continued their journey to Jiangnan. Le You, eager for fun, refused to return to the Princess Mansion in Yan Jing and insisted on accompanying Shen Wei south.
With no other choice, Shen Wei agreed. In the end, Le You and Liang Huai Chuan joined the traveling party, setting off in grand style toward the early autumn of Jiangnan.
...
The scenery of Jiangnan was beautiful, warm in early autumn, with clear, sparkling waters and pleasant views.
With the new emperor on the throne, the former empress dowager had been elevated to "Grand Empress Dowager." When Shen Wei saw her again at the Jiangnan villa, she noticed that her mother looked much better, full of vitality.
The family reunited, and the Grand Empress Dowager ordered a feast to celebrate. That night, Shen Wei was in high spirits and took Le You to see the lantern festival.
Li Yuan Jing sent the Tiger Guards to protect Shen Wei while he lamented under the moonlight with his mother.
"In her heart, I’m not even the most important! Mother, all these years, Wei Wei has been acting!" Li Yuan Jing fumed.
The Grand Empress Dowager took a sip of tea, her expression calm. "It’s about actions, not intentions. Shen Wei bore you children, raised them well, and managed the harem efficiently. Her brothers are loyal to the court, and Cheng Tai is promising. You should be grateful."
Li Yuan Jing was taken aback. He never expected his mother to side completely with Shen Wei!
He couldn’t help but retort, "Mother, did you know all along that Wei Wei’s feelings for me weren’t genuine?"
The Grand Empress Dowager coughed lightly and handed him a bowl of tea. "Of course I knew."
Li Yuan Jing: ...
His world crumbled once more.
The Grand Empress Dowager comforted him. "You never took women seriously in your early years, and the harem was nearly ruined by the Dan Tai family. Yuan Jing, you should thank Shen Wei. If it weren’t for her, the state of Qing might have descended into chaos. I only regret not meeting Shen Wei sooner. If I had betrothed her to your brother as a concubine back then, perhaps the political landscape would be different now."
Li Yuan Jing opened his mouth, but no words came out. He gulped down several bowls of tea in silence.
As night deepened, Shen Wei and Le You had yet to return.
Li Yuan Jing simmered in frustration, and as worry crept in, he sent someone to fetch Shen Wei back.
The weather was strange that night; dark clouds gathered in the sky, and a cold wind howled. Li Yuan Jing sat in his study, reading, patiently waiting for Shen Wei’s return. Suddenly, an inexplicable anxiety washed over him, a fear he couldn’t quite articulate.
This feeling was familiar, reminiscent of the time he had competed with Prince Heng for the throne, when he had suddenly felt panic and turned his horse toward the villa to find Shen Wei, who was trying to escape.
Suddenly—
A gust of cold wind blew open the window, extinguishing the candle on his desk, plunging the study into darkness.
Li Yuan Jing set down his book, hearing rustling footsteps outside the courtyard.
Then came Le You’s panicked voice: "Call the imperial physician! Hurry, Mother has fainted!"
The courtyard was suddenly ablaze with light.
Li Yuan Jing rushed forward, carrying the unconscious Shen Wei into the inner room.
Tonight, after enjoying the lantern festival with Le You, Shen Wei had fainted again, her symptoms identical to those from a few days prior. The wind howled outside, rattling the window panes.
Li Yuan Jing held Shen Wei’s icy hand, the sense of dread in his heart refusing to dissipate.
He even had the unsettling feeling that he might lose Shen Wei forever.
...
In a distant land on the southeastern side of the continent, mountains stretched endlessly, bordering the vast ocean. In a small fishing village, the crowd was in an uproar.
"Did they save her?"
"Oh no, why did Xi Er jump into the water?"
"They pulled her up; let me see if she’s still breathing."
"It was just a few harsh words from King Wu. Why take her own life? Poor her twelve-year-old brother, now left an orphan."
"Xi Er was lazy and dreamed of climbing the social ladder with King Wu, leaving all the hard work to her brother. Honestly, it’s better she’s gone; it saves fish."
The fishermen chattered as they pulled the girl who had drowned from the water, checking for signs of life. There was none.
She was already gone.
The crowd sighed in sympathy.
The twelve-year-old boy cried out in despair, kneeling beside his sister’s lifeless body. The other fishermen, unable to bear the sight, covered their faces and sighed.
Amidst the boy’s heart-wrenching cries, the lifeless fisher girl suddenly opened her eyes.
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