Chapter 64

When Old Madam Xie heard those words, her previously warm smile faded slightly, and even the hand she was holding Shen Wei’s with tightened a bit. It was actually Wei Mamma beside her who regained her composure first.

She was serving Shen Wei tea, and now she gently said to Shen Wei, “Madam, please sit down and have some tea first.”

As soon as she finished speaking—

Old Madam Xie came back to herself. She suppressed her expression and withdrew her hand from Shen Wei’s. Then, looking at Shen Wei, she softly said, “Please sit first…” After Shen Wei sat down, she smiled warmly again and said, “For the Empress’s birthday, of course, we should go and offer our congratulations.”

Her tone was calm, and her voice showed no change, as if the brief moment of confusion had never happened.

Shen Wei had been observing Old Madam Xie’s expression while speaking, so she naturally didn’t miss that brief change. It seemed her guess had been right. Old Madam Xie indeed had a secret, and this secret was likely related to Lu Qi Huai, possibly even involving the palace. Otherwise, why would Old Madam Xie show such an expression whenever the palace or Lu Qi Huai was mentioned?

However, Shen Wei did not speak up about it.

She simply used the act of drinking tea to hide her thoughts.

When she looked up again, her expression was back to its usual pleasant demeanor. Still with a smile in her eyes, she said gently to Old Madam Xie, “In that case, I’ll send someone to inform Xuan Yue about this matter. Speaking of which, this will be his first time in the palace, so we should prepare properly…” After saying this, she placed the tea cup back on the table, then added, “Fortunately, we still have some time, so there’s no need to rush.”

Apart from this matter, there was something else Shen Wei needed to discuss with Old Madam Xie.

So, after finishing her previous words, she asked, “However, since it’s the Empress’s important birthday, the etiquette must not be lacking. But the Empress is used to fine things, and I’m unsure what would be the right gift to bring.”

In the past, the Lu family had just followed the usual rules, sending a standard gift.

But now, because of Lu Qi Huai…

She wasn’t sure whether the gift should be extravagant or more ordinary.

Old Madam Xie smiled and responded, “As you said, the Empress is used to good things. Besides, these gatherings are just for everyone to come together and enjoy. The gift doesn’t need to be too extravagant—just choose something auspicious, and it will be fine.” After saying this, she looked at Shen Wei and added, “Remember, Xuan Yue is Xuan Yue. If the Emperor has him accompany the Crown Prince, it’s a fortunate position for him. Whether we are from the Duke of Wei’s family or the Duke of Rong’s, we are loyal to one person.”

“The Emperor hasn’t spoken yet, so we should continue as usual.”

After saying this, seeing that Shen Wei’s hesitation had disappeared, Old Madam Xie patted the back of her hand and added, “Alright, it’s getting late, and I still have my evening duties. You should go back now.”

Shen Wei saw this and did not say anything more. She lightly acknowledged and placed her tea cup down. After giving Old Madam Xie another respectful bow, she withdrew.

Once Shen Wei left, Wei Mamma saw the solemn expression on Old Madam Xie’s face and gently said, “You don’t need to worry too much. The one on the Dragon Throne hasn’t said anything. Even if the master of the Weiyang Palace sees it, what can they do? Moreover, that person is always careful in their actions; others won’t notice anything.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Xie’s expression softened considerably, but her voice remained slightly heavy. “But this time, it’s in the palace. The situation back then… even though we didn’t witness it firsthand, we still have lingering fears…” She didn’t continue but pressed her hand to her forehead and sighed.

Wei Mamma, likely recalling that event, also sighed in sympathy. After a moment, she lowered her eyes and gently pressed Old Madam Xie’s head. Then she spoke again, “There’s no use in worrying now. That person must go through this phase. Besides, if they don’t, it will raise suspicions.”

Old Madam Xie certainly understood the gravity of the situation. She said nothing more, simply withdrew her hand from her forehead and said to Wei Mamma, “Tonight, you go and speak to him personally.”

“Yes…” Wei Mamma replied softly, resuming her ministrations.

However, as if remembering something, she paused her movements and lowered her voice, saying, “I feel like the Madam knows something.”

When Lady Xie heard this, she opened her eyes. She had sensed something was off herself, but knowing Sui Sui’s temperament, she thought that if she found out, it would be impossible to hide it. So, she assumed she had misunderstood. Just as she was about to speak, Wei Mama said again, “Also, I can’t help but feel that the First Lady’s temperament has changed too much compared to before.”

In the past, if the Second Lady dared to say anything in front of the First Lady, the First Lady would either charge over or go complain to the old lady. But now, no matter what the Second Lady says, the First Lady remains calm and unmoved.

There were so many little details like this…

Wei Mama couldn’t quite explain it, but she felt that the current First Lady was far different from the one she knew before.

When Lady Xie heard this, she too began to ponder deeply. It hadn’t seemed unusual before, but now that she thought about it, Sui Sui’s changes were indeed quite drastic. But, as she looked at the figure moving farther away outside the window, she held back her thoughts and casually said, “Don’t overthink it.”

Wei Mama responded quietly, not saying anything more.

—-

Wei Mama immediately noticed the change but dared not speak more, lowering her head and waiting in silence. After a short while, the man relaxed, his previously clenched fingers loosening. He said quietly, “Understood. You may go back.”

As he spoke, he noticed the worry on Wei Mama’s face and added, “Don’t worry.”

Hearing this, Wei Mama’s concern finally faded. She nodded gently, bowed, and withdrew.

Once the curtains were drawn, leaving the room empty, Lu Qi Huai stood by the window. The moonlight was clear, and the faint sound of cicadas could be heard. He stood, hands clasped behind his back, his face bathed in moonlight with an expression more somber than usual. His eyes were tightly shut, and no one could see his emotions. Only the clenched fists and the slight twitch of his cheek showed he was struggling to suppress his feelings.

—-

A few days later.

Before the Empress’s birthday celebration had even taken place, a new rumor spread through Bianliang City. It was said that the Empress had set her sights on the eldest granddaughter of the Imperial Censor’s family, Xu Suxin, and intended to marry her to the Crown Prince.

At first, people didn’t believe it. After all, everyone knew that the Empress had been focused on the Princess of Changping, and so this news caused little stir.

However, the next day, a decree arrived.

The Emperor’s close attendant personally delivered the decree to the Xu family, proclaiming that the Emperor had chosen Xu Suxin, the eldest granddaughter of the Imperial Censor, to be the Crown Princess. The marriage was only waiting for the auspicious day to be chosen by the Court of Celestial Observations.

The Crown Prince’s marriage was a major event…

Moreover, the marriage was not to the Princess of Changping, as everyone expected, but instead to the eldest granddaughter of the Imperial Censor’s family. While the Xu family’s daughter was also a gifted and accomplished young woman, she lacked the powerful connections that the Princess of Changping had. It wasn’t about her character or appearance, but rather the forces behind her.

Everyone knew that the Empress had previously favored the Princess of Changping because of her powerful connections. No one expected the Empress to suddenly change her mind and choose Xu Suxin instead.

Though the Xu family also came from a scholarly background, the Imperial Censor was an old-fashioned and strict man who was stern even with his family. What kind of support could such a family provide to the Crown Prince? When the news first spread, many people secretly discussed it.

When Shen Wei heard the news, she was trimming flowers by the window. She listened to Shui Bi’s report on the matter but didn’t respond. The rain from the previous day had made the weather a bit cooler today, and she continued to trim the branches, holding up her sleeves. When Qiu Huan entered with a memorial saying that the Princess of Changping requested to meet her, she set down her scissors, glanced at the sky, and smiled softly. “Let’s go.”

—-

At the same tavern as before.

Huo Feiguang looked at the young woman sitting across from her. After refilling her cup, she finally spoke, “Do you know about the Crown Prince’s betrothal?” What she really wanted to ask, however, was whether Shen Wei was behind it. She couldn’t explain why, but she felt strongly that Shen Wei was involved.

After leaving the Weiyang Palace that day, though Liu Mengxian was angry, she hadn’t dismissed the idea. After all, not only was her father the Minister of War, but her maternal grandfather, the Duke of Xinan, commanded an army of over 100,000. With such influence, how could Liu Mengxian give up on her?

But after that day…

Liu Mengxian suddenly summoned many young ladies from Bianliang City to the palace, and even Huo Feiguang was no longer invited to the Weiyang Palace. A few days later, the news of the marriage proposal broke. Huo Feiguang had quietly inquired and found that when Shen Wei left the palace, Liu Mengxian had unexpectedly not punished anyone, and even prepared many gifts for Shen Wei.

Huo Feiguang suspected that Liu Mengxian had given up on her plans because of Shen Wei, but she didn’t know exactly what Shen Wei had said.

That’s why, when she heard the news, she immediately asked someone to meet her.

Shen Wei smiled as she took the cup of wine from Huo Feiguang, drinking a sip before looking up at her. Seeing the thoughts in Huo Feiguang’s eyes, she didn’t hide anything and truthfully told her about the events in the palace. After finishing the story, her cup was almost empty, and she refilled it but didn’t drink it. Instead, she held it in her hand and said, “She just couldn’t think it through at first. When she does, she’ll understand what’s truly important for the Crown Prince.”

Huo Feiguang, though aware of Shen Wei’s differences, hadn’t expected her to speak so openly about Liu Mengxian.

Marriage matters in the imperial family, who dares to interfere? Even her parents could only stay silent, afraid of offending Liu Mengxian. Yet, she… Huo Feiguang furrowed her brow as she thought about this, her tone carrying a hint of disapproval: “She isn’t a woman with a good temper. If it weren’t for the Rongguo Duke’s family, she certainly wouldn’t let you off.”

After she finished speaking—

Huo Feiguang looked at the smile in Shen Wei’s eyes and sighed again. She reached out and took Shen Wei’s hand, then added, “No matter what, thank you this time. But in the future, you mustn’t take such risks again.”

Shen Wei, hearing this, only smiled faintly. She placed her wine cup on the table and then clasped Huo Feiguang’s hand in return. “There’s no need to thank me. As I said before, even without me, she would have figured it out…” She wasn’t speaking falsely; in the book, Liu Mengxian eventually settled on Miss Xu from the Xu family, but the process wasn’t without complications.

In the book, Liu Mengxian wanted Huo Feiguang to marry Zhao Xu, and so she went to Zhao Zhun to discuss the matter. However, Zhao Zhun scolded her in front of everyone, and although Liu Mengxian understood the key point, she placed the blame for this humiliation on the Huo family.

She was the matriarch of the six palaces, and even if she wanted to do something privately, neither Zhao Wan nor Huo Feiguang could stop her.

Huo Feiguang didn’t respond, but no matter what, Shen Wei had indeed helped her greatly this time. Without her, this matter would not have been resolved so smoothly.

She thought about this, and although she didn’t speak, her gaze toward Shen Wei became more serious.

The two of them didn’t discuss this matter further and just continued drinking.

While drinking, Huo Feiguang casually said, “Actually, my second brother and I have never been close. This is just the wishful thinking of the one in Weiyang Palace… Now that this matter is settled, we can get along much more easily in the future.”

“These years, the bond between us siblings has grown more distant, and my third brother’s actions have become even more absurd…”

She sighed when she said this, and her tone became somewhat heavy. “If our eldest brother were still here, I wonder what he would think upon seeing the current situation.”

Shen Wei had been listening carefully. She knew that Huo Feiguang was talking about the Crown Prince and Prince Jin, but the eldest brother… If she wasn’t mistaken, that should have been the late Crown Prince, the Emperor’s eldest grandson. As she thought about this, she tightened her grip on her wine cup and asked, “Was that Crown Prince really so afraid of being guilty that he took his own life?”

Upon hearing this, Huo Feiguang, who had seemed somewhat weary, immediately became much more serious. Her eyes grew sharper as well.

She tightly gripped her wine cup, her voice low: “I don’t believe it…” When she said this, her gaze turned toward the window, as if recalling something, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Her voice weakened as she continued, “I don’t believe my uncle would do such a thing, and I certainly don’t believe he would have taken his own life out of fear of guilt.”

This was a royal secret, and even Huo Feiguang did not dare speak too freely about it.

After a moment, she lowered her eyelids to hide her thoughts. When she looked up at Shen Wei again, her expression had returned to normal. Huo Feiguang placed her wine cup on the table and said, “Alright, it’s getting late. I’ll see you out.”

Shen Wei didn’t say anything further. She nodded, put on her veil again, and walked out.

Once she got into the carriage—

Shen Wei looked at Huo Feiguang, who was still standing there, and said, “You should head back soon. It looks like it’s going to rain soon.”

“I know…” Huo Feiguang nodded with a smile, and as the carriage curtain fell and the carriage slowly drove away, her expression turned cold and her voice lowered as she ordered, “Come out.”