Wei Caiwei was not surprised to learn that Li Jiubao was to be sent to Prince Yu's residence. After all their twists and turns, both Shang Qinglan and Li Jiubao were heading toward their respective destinies.
Shang Qinglan had quickly accepted that she couldn't take the "wealth" she had accumulated from the palace with her when leaving. She bestowed all her possessions to her father before touring her new palace. Wherever she went, her personality ensured she would strive to make herself comfortable.
But Li Jiubao was different. In her previous life, she had entered the palace hoping to one day find the murderer and avenge the tragic death of Chen the Agent. In this life, she had entered to be closer to Chen the Agent. However, Prince Yu's residence was several streets away from the Forbidden City, and since Prince Yu had fallen out of favor with the emperor and couldn't even enter the palace, Li Jiubao had even less opportunity.
Knowing Li Jiubao was in despair at this moment, Wei Caiwei went to the Palace of Gathered Elegance to counsel her.
Li Jiubao sat in a daze on the heated kang by the window, the room filled with various imperial gifts urging her to soon bear offspring for the royal family.
Granny Song had favored Li Jiubao from the start, expecting Shang Qinglan to be eliminated. Contrary to expectations, the eliminated candidate had gained great favor—merely being granted the title of Beauty, yet possessing her own palace and becoming its mistress.
Meanwhile, Li Jiubao was to be sent away from the Forbidden City. Ah, truly, there was no justice in this world.
Just as Granny Song was about to comfort Li Jiubao, Wei Caiwei arrived. On the kang table by the window sat the three incense utensils for burning incense: the incense burner, incense box, and incense bottle.
Wei Caiwei pointed at the incense burner and said, "This is the Forbidden City. The incense box is Prince Yu's residence." She placed the bronze incense shovel from the incense bottle into the burner. "This is him."
It represented Chen the Agent in the Forbidden City, who had been studying diligently at the Inner Study Hall of the Directorate of Ceremonial. The Inner Study Hall held minor exams every ten days and major exams monthly. Those who failed would be eliminated, losing any chance to rise in status and relegated to menial tasks within the palace.
Moreover, the Inner Study Hall was located far away in the Twenty-Four Directorates, separated from the Palace of Gathered Elegance by numerous palace walls. Since entering the palace, Li Jiubao had never once met him.
Struck by these words, Li Jiubao abruptly looked up at Wei Caiwei.
Wei Caiwei placed the incense tongs from the set into the incense box symbolizing Prince Yu's residence. "This is you. The incense shovel and tongs are separated—this is settled and unchangeable. But that doesn't prevent them from watching over each other. After three years of study, the incense shovel will receive an assignment and rise swiftly. In three years, the tongs will also help the incense box come here—"
Wei Caiwei placed the incense box atop the incense burner, naturally bringing the shovel and tongs together. "So, hope remains. You had the courage to steal your family's Household Certificate to register for the Imperial Concubine Selection—surely future challenges won't defeat you. Once the arrow leaves the bow, it cannot return. Only by moving forward step by step can you tread a path through thorns."
Li Jiubao stared fixedly at the incense burner and box before rearranging the three incense utensils to their original positions, returning the shovel and tongs to the bottle. "Thank you, Doctor Wei. I know what to do now."
Only if Prince Yu became emperor could she return to the Forbidden City.
That same day, Li Jiubao and eight other selected beauties were sent to Prince Yu's residence as concubines.
With her outstanding appearance, it was no surprise that Li Jiubao gained Prince Yu's favor that very night.
Forbidden City, Western Park.That night, the Jiajing Emperor attempted his usual meditation but found himself unable to focus. His mind kept drifting back to the intimacy he had experienced the previous night at the Moon Palace—a pleasure he hadn't felt in many years, reminiscent of his youth when he had appointed nine consorts in one go and reveled like a groom every night.
Restless and distracted, the emperor abandoned his meditation and commanded, "Summon Lady Shang to attend me."
Earlier that day, Wei Caiwei had informed the court lady responsible for recording the emperor's intimate affairs that Lady Shang would be unable to serve for three days. This message was relayed to Huang Jin, who promptly reported, "Lady Shang is unwell. The palace physician has administered medicine and recommends reassessing her ability to serve after three days."
The emperor's aged face flushed slightly. "Oh, I see. Very well then."
Yet, Lady Shang Qinglan's charming image continued to haunt his thoughts, leaving him fidgety and unsettled. "Prepare the carriage for Yu De Palace," he declared. "I shall visit her."
"What?" Huang Jin wondered if he had misheard. After all, the emperor hadn't set foot in the rear palace for nineteen years.
"I wish to see Lady Shang," the emperor repeated.
Fearing His Majesty might lose nerve at the palace gates and create an awkward situation, Huang Jin advised, "The journey from the Western Park to Yu De Palace is long, and the night is foggy. Your Majesty must preserve your royal health. This servant can send for Lady Shang to accompany you without requiring her to serve intimately."
Even if they couldn't share a bed, holding hands and conversing would still be possible.
"The hour is late, and Lady Shang is injured," the emperor countered. "She shouldn't travel far. Let her rest—I will go to her."
First breaking his nineteen-year rule of not staying with consorts last night, and now shattering the nineteen-year taboo of entering the rear palace? This Lady Shang was truly rising to prominence!
After a brief moment of astonishment, Huang Jin immediately ordered his subordinates to prepare the carriage and guards. The emperor pondered briefly and added, "Lady Shang enjoys fireworks. Bring several crates to gift her."
Huang Jin complied with all instructions. When the imperial procession entered the rear palace, the entire harem erupted in excitement!
Nineteen years! Palace consorts who had entered as young maidens had aged into matrons. Countless women had gone nineteen years without laying eyes on the emperor, their hopeful gazes turning into fountains of tears—tears that had long since dried up from waiting.
Consorts preparing for bed hurriedly rose to adorn themselves elaborately, hoping to regain favor after this nineteen-year separation.
However, eunuchs sent to gather news returned to inform their mistresses, "His Majesty has gone to Lady Shang's Yu De Palace."
Moreover, brilliant fireworks rose above Yu De Palace, intermittently lighting up the sky until midnight.
That night, the Jiajing Emperor simply held Lady Shang as they slept, staying overnight in Yu De Palace—marking his first night spent in the rear palace in nineteen years.
Consequently, every consort except the emperor and Lady Shang suffered sleeplessness.
Two days later, during her follow-up examination, Wei Caiwei found Shang Qinglan's injuries healed. Leaning close, Wei Caiwei whispered several techniques to prevent future injuries, making Shang Qinglan blush with a fluttering heart. "Oh, Doctor Wei," she protested coyly, "how do you know such things? You're corrupting me!"
Wei Caiwei replied, "As a widow with experience and a Gynecological Master, I naturally understand these matters. In intimate affairs, women are more prone to injury than men—you must protect yourself."
Shang Qinglan remarked, "Doctor Wei must miss her late husband dearly." Otherwise, how could she possess such extensive knowledge to impart? Surely, Doctor Wei and her departed husband must have shared profound harmony and compatibility.This question left Wei Caiwei at a loss for words.
When she had first been reborn, it was indeed like that—she thought of her deceased husband Eunuch Wang from her previous life almost constantly, even dreaming of various ways they used to play together.
But it seemed that ever since the night at the Pool of Accumulated Water, when she had thrown herself into the lake to save Wang Daxia only to be rescued by him instead, Eunuch Wang appeared less and less in her thoughts, whether during the day or in her dreams. Gradually, Wang Daxia began to recklessly expand his presence in her mind, overshadowing Eunuch Wang.
Seeing Wei Caiwei lost in thought, Shang Qinglan quickly said, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought up such a painful memory for Doctor Wei."
Wei Caiwei replied, "Oh, it's nothing. It has nothing to do with you, Beauty. I was just reminiscing about some past events and feeling a bit emotional. It has been almost a month since I entered the palace. Now that the ladies in the Palace of Gathered Elegance have all found their places and your health has recovered, it's time for me to leave the palace."
Although they had only been apart for three days, Wei Caiwei missed Wang Daxia terribly. She wondered how his injuries were healing and whether Prince Jing would seek revenge against him.
Shang Qinglan's face fell. "Doctor Wei is leaving? No, no! With Li Jiubao gone to Prince Yu's residence, you're the only person I know in the palace. If you leave, what will I do?"
Wei Caiwei said, "The Emperor is your support, Beauty. Your life in the palace won't be difficult. Besides, my name is still registered with the Directorate of Ceremonial. If you need me, you can summon me to the palace anytime. I think Granny Song is a good person. You could transfer her to Yu De Palace to serve you."
Shang Qinglan hesitated. "But Granny Song has always complained that I eat too much, talk too much, and vomit too much—she even gave me the nickname 'Shang the Three Excesses.' She doesn't like me; she only likes Li Jiubao. If she comes to Yu De Palace to serve me, won't she be unhappy?"
Wei Caiwei reassured her, "How could that be? You are now a favored consort, enjoying the Emperor's exclusive favor. Many people would fight tooth and nail to get into your position. Granny Song is an old-timer in the palace. Even though she doesn't like you or approve of you, she has always treated you and Li Jiubao fairly. Whatever Li Jiubao had, you had too—she never took from you to give to Li Jiubao. Most people in the palace are snobbish, flattering those in power and looking down on others. Someone as decent as Granny Song is rare."
Shang Qinglan took Wei Caiwei's advice and gifted her many things: Kesi silk fabrics, fur-lined jackets and skirts, hair ornaments and jewelry, precious medicinal herbs—so much that one carriage couldn't hold it all. The palace sent an additional carriage to follow behind, escorting Wei Caiwei all the way to Sweetwater Lane.
Two young eunuchs thoughtfully carried the gifts into her home, and Wei Caiwei tipped the coachmen and eunuchs one by one.
After nearly a month away, the house was covered in a layer of dust. Wei Caiwei opened the windows and doors to air it out, wrapped her hair in a scarf, and began cleaning. On the incense table in the main hall, the mooncakes placed as offerings before the spirit tablet inscribed "Spirit of My Deceased Husband Wang Erlang" had not spoiled. The crusts were intact, though harder than a month ago, having turned into rock-like mooncakes.
Tired from cleaning, Wei Caiwei even used a mooncake to crack a few walnuts to eat.
As she cleaned, she kept her ears pricked for any movement at the door, especially the back door. She was sure Wang Daxia would come to see her now that she was home.
Sure enough, while she was sweeping the stairs, there came a knock at the back door.Wei Caiwei quickly set down the broom and took out the small Western mercury mirror that Shang Qinglan had given her from her pouch. Checking her reflection, she noticed some dust on her chin. After wiping her face clean, she hurried to the backyard to open the door. "Wang—"
"Wang Commander?" It wasn't Wang Daxia but his father.
Wang Commander held a food container in his right hand and led his younger son, Wang Daqiu, with his left.
He handed the container to Wei Caiwei. "I heard our neighbor had returned, so I brought you some food."
"Thank you." Wei Caiwei accepted it. Wang Commander said, "Please carry on with your work. I need to take Daqiu for a stroll to help his digestion—he overate at lunch."
As a widow, Wei Caiwei understood Wang Commander’s caution. Bringing his young son along was like carrying a lantern to avoid gossip.
Wang Daqiu, sucking his finger with relish, finally pulled out his shiny, saliva-coated hand upon seeing Wei Caiwei. Tilting his head, he peered behind her and asked, "Where’s my brother?"
Even Wang Daqiu knew his brother was missing and assumed he’d be at Wei Caiwei’s place!
Wang Commander immediately scowled at his son. "Don’t talk nonsense! Your brother is on duty at the palace. How could he be at Doctor Wei’s house?"
Wei Caiwei’s instincts prickled. Wang Daxia had left the palace three days ago—why hadn’t he returned home or informed his family? Had something happened to him?
Though unsettled, she maintained composure. "It’s fine. Children say what they wish."
Wang Commander hastily excused himself, dragging his mischievous son away.
While eating the lunch Wang Commander had brought, Wei Caiwei couldn’t stop thinking about Wang Daxia. After the meal, she washed the dishes, returned the container to the Wang residence, hired a carriage, and headed to the Imperial Guard Office to find him.
Author’s Note:
Caiwei: Three days without a beating, and he’s already cheating on me! Cut it off, and be quick about it. Banxia is rushing over with her 30-meter blade.
Note from the translator: Some readers have mistakenly written "Chen Jingji" as "Chen Jingji" (Chen Jingji), or even "Manager Chen" or "Manager Yang"! His name is Chen Ju, as in "torch."" He’s called "Chen the Agent" because his ancestors were brokers. "Brokerage" refers to intermediaries handling property, goods, or even servant transactions in ancient times.
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