When Madam Liu heard Shen Wei's instructions, she immediately understood that Shen Wei was planning to take action against the Queen.
In the current Daqing harem, the Queen and Concubine Lu Xuan jointly manage the harem and share the power equally.
Shen Wei, who had been away from the palace for three years, had only been back for a month when she decided to take away the power of housekeeper from the queen. This courage really frightened Aunt Liu.
"Don't worry, Concubine Chen. I know what to do." Madam Liu kowtowed to Chen Wei again.
Nanny Liu had a premonition that it would not be long before the Daqing harem would be dominated by Concubine Chen.
The Empress, Concubine Shu, Concubine Lan... Even if a few more beautiful newcomers came, no one could shake the position of Concubine Chen.
...
After Nanny Liu left, Shen Wei asked Cai Lian to go to the Cining Palace to deliver a message. The small kitchen made some new fruits and pastries, and asked Leyou to come over in the afternoon to taste some delicious food.
The sun was setting from the east to the west. In the afternoon, Shen Wei was reading the account book in the waterside pavilion when a lively voice came from the door: "Mother! Leyou is here!"
Leyou doesn’t come alone.
She also brought Mei Fei Liu Ruyan's daughter Li Nanzhi and the Queen's daughter Li Yao. The three pretty little girls walked in happily.
Li Nanzhi timidly bowed to Shen Wei: "Hello, Madam Chen."
Shen Wei smiled gently: "You've come just in time. The fruits in the small kitchen have just been made. Let's try them while they're hot."
Plates of exquisite desserts were brought to the wooden table.
The three little girls enjoyed their meal very much.
Shen Wei glanced around and asked casually, "Why can't I see Wan'er?"
Li Yao put down the carved candied fruit in her hand and said truthfully, "It rained the night before yesterday, and Sister Wan'er caught a cold. She took medicine and recovered, but she didn't want to go out and took a nap in the house."
Shen Wei's eyes flashed with deep thought, and she asked, "I have been ill for two days, why didn't you tell the emperor?"
Li Yao lowered her eyes and said sullenly, "My mother said that Sister Wan'er only had a minor illness and that she would be fine after taking two doses of medicine. There was no need to make a fuss... Don't worry, Empress Chen. Sister Wan'er's condition improved greatly this morning and she was able to walk. She even ate two bowls of rice at noon."
Chen Wei seemed to be thinking about something. She said, "I'll ask the palace maids to pack two boxes of fruit. Yao'er, you take them back to the Baozhu Palace and give them to Wan'er."
Li Yao nodded immediately: "Okay! Sister Wan'er has always wanted to eat sweets, I will bring some back for her to try, she will definitely be happy."
The three girls continued to eat their fruit and planned to go to the garden to fly kites later.
Shen Wei returned to the front hall and sent someone to call Xiaoyan, Li Yao's personal maid. Xiaoyan kowtowed to Shen Wei respectfully, bowed and greeted her, and her etiquette was so thorough that there was not a single mistake to be made.
Xiaoyan has always been Shen Wei's person. Back then at the Marquis of Zhennan's Mansion, Xiaoyan indirectly helped Shen Wei get Princess Taihua's notes, and was later sent by Shen Wei to serve Li Yao.
Over the years, Xiaoyan has become more clever and calm.
Shen Wei asked, "What's the situation with Wan'er?"
Illness comes like a mountain falling and goes like a thread being pulled out. Colds are not easy to cure quickly.
Li Wan'er caught a cold the day before yesterday, but today she has recovered her appetite and is in good spirits. It's really strange.
This disease heals too quickly.
Xiaoyan thought for a moment and told Chen Wei the truth: "Replying to the Empress Chen. The Queen Mother's birthday is coming, and Master Wan happened to catch a cold. The Queen was worried that the Queen Mother would blame her, so she asked the imperial physician to prescribe medicine for Master Wan last night. The imperial physician is very skilled, and Master Wan drank the medicine, and she is in much better spirits this morning! The symptoms of cold and fever have disappeared, and it seems that she has recovered."
Shen Wei smiled and took a sip of tea: "This imperial physician's medical skills are really superb."
Xiaoyan was very smart and added, "Today, I looked at Master Wan. The weather was not too hot, but Master Wan was sweating profusely and her face was very rosy. She didn't look sick at all."
"The queen has been paying special attention to the Baozhu Palace these days. She asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to make new clothes for the two young masters, and replaced all the old furniture in the house with the best. The young masters' courtyards are magnificent."
Chen Wei got enough information from Xiaoyan and raised her hand slightly: "Very good, go down and claim the reward."
Xiaoyan bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Empress Chenfei, for your reward! I will continue to serve you in the future!"
Xiaoyan lowered her head, stepped back, and left in small steps.
Chen Wei called Caiping and asked her to go to the Imperial Hospital to tell Mo Xun about Li Wan'er's "recovery" symptoms and ask the reason.
Caiping was efficient and came back with news in less than half an hour.
Cai Ping told Shen Wei: "Master, Doctor Mo said that even he could not cure a teenage girl who had caught a cold overnight. Unless some strong medicine that strengthens the liver and consumes blood is used, so that the girl looks very energetic in a short period of time."
Shen Wei understood the Queen's approach.
The Queen Mother's birthday is approaching, and all the ladies of Yanjing City will be present, and several princesses of the royal family will also show up. Li Wan'er is the daughter of the late prince. She fell ill on the critical day of the empress dowager's birthday. If the empress dowager knew about it, she would probably blame her.
So, the Queen asked the imperial physician to give Li Wan'er strong medicine to make her look healthy.
Even though she knew that the strong medicine would harm Li Wan'er's body, the Queen didn't care at all for the sake of her own face.
The Queen even learned her lesson and feared that her harsh treatment of Li Yao and Li Wan'er would be discovered, so she temporarily renovated the Baozhu Hall.
If the Queen Mother came to Baozhu Palace to visit her two little granddaughters and saw the magnificent decoration of the palace, she would also feel that the Queen was a competent mother.
"The Queen has made a good calculation." Shen Wei's white fingers tapped the table slowly.
Unfortunately, he dug his own grave.
...
At dusk, the three little girls said goodbye to Shen Wei one after another.
The maid was holding a large food box. Le You looked at Chen Wei reluctantly and said softly, "Mother, Le You will go back to the Cining Palace to accompany the Empress Dowager and come to see Mother tomorrow."
As he said that, Leyou rushed over and hugged Shen Wei.
Chen Wei also touched Leyou's chubby face lovingly: "Eat less sweets, it's easy to get cavities."
"Okay!"
Li Nanzhi stood aside, looking at the sweet interaction between Empress Chen and Leyou's mother and daughter, envy flashed across Li Nanzhi's eyes.
Li Nanzhi enviously thought, if only her mother could hug her and touch her face...
After sending Le You away, Shen Wei waved to Li Nanzhi with a smile: "Nanzhi, come here."
Li Nanzhi looked surprised, but still walked over obediently.
Chen Wei touched her silvery white skirt and said, "Your clothes are too plain. The Queen Mother sent a piece of Shu brocade two days ago, and I asked the Clothing Bureau to make two summer skirts. I'll give you one. You are still young, and you should wear something beautiful and bright."
Cailian handed over the box containing the summer dresses.
Li Nanzhi opened her eyes wide in surprise and tentatively touched the pink dress in the box with her little hand. The style was very good, and the sleeves and collar were embroidered with Nanzhi's favorite pink rabbits.
After just one look, Li Nanzhi fell in love with the dress.
But she still lowered her head and refused sullenly: "Mrs. Chen, Nanzhi can't have it..."
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