Chen Wei's tone seemed to see through the world: "My health is not important. With the love of the emperor, the care of the children, the peace and prosperity of the country, and no worries about food and clothing, this palace has no regrets in this life. Life and death are determined by fate, so don't take it too seriously."
Cai Lian choked up and said, "Master, you are good to everyone except yourself..."
Shen Wei smiled and said, "Okay, go down and rest first."
Cai Lian left.
Chen Wei returned to the bedroom and leaned against Li Yuanjing very gently. Li Yuanjing closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. He heard Shen Wei muttering to herself: "It would be great if I could go to Jiangnan."
The voice sounded melancholy and helpless.
She held Li Yuanjing's hand lovingly and fell asleep.
Li Yuanjing couldn't sleep and was in a state of unrest. For him and her child, Shen Wei was trapped in the harem her entire life. In her heart, Shen Wei longed for the distant Jiangnan, but she knew it was just a dream, so she could only suppress her secret desire in her heart and not let anyone know.
The person in his arms had fallen asleep, and Li Yuanjing opened his eyes in the dark. His bony fingers slowly stroked Chen Wei's hair.
He thought of the white-haired old man and old woman in the post station. If Chen Wei continues to work hard at palace affairs, she may not live long enough to see her hair turn white and wear flowers.
"Weiwei..." Li Yuanjing murmured.
Having slept in the same bed with Shen Wei for many years, he expected that he would abdicate the throne to his son in his later years, and leave the palace with Shen Wei to spend his later years in peace.
But Li Yuanjing never thought that Shen Wei might leave him halfway through his life.
Li Yuanjing tossed and turned in bed.
In the corner he didn't see, the corners of the lips of the "sleeping" Shen Wei curled up quietly.
Shen Wei wants to retire early and live a comfortable life, but the prerequisite is that Li Yuanjing takes the initiative to give up his position.
Shen Wei made a two-hand plan.
On the one hand, she used herself as bait, pretending to be overworked and short-lived, and stimulated Li Yuanjing from time to time. If Li Yuanjing's determination could be aroused and he could voluntarily abdicate, that would be the best outcome.
If Li Yuanjing remains unshakable, then Shen Wei can only take a risky move and go with the worst strategy...
——
——
It's the beginning of summer in a blink of an eye.
Leyou turned fifteen. As the most beloved daughter of the Emperor of Qing, her coming-of-age ceremony was held with great ceremony.
Li Yuanjing was reluctant to leave.
The girl left the palace and set up her own household. Li Yuanjing gave Le You a mansion near the imperial city and personally assigned a group of palace maids and guards to serve him. Fearing that Leyou did not have enough money, he opened a private treasury and sent Leyou a lot of gold, silver and treasures.
With his daughter leaving the palace, his son busy with his future, and the empress dowager far away in the south of the Yangtze River, Li Yuanjing suddenly felt that the entire harem was empty. Fortunately, his Vivi stayed with him for a long time.
When it got dark, Li Yuanjing walked into Yongning Palace as usual.
Shen Wei was still awake, and was counting the utensils to be sent to the princess's mansion with the palace maid.
Chen Wei ordered: "Send all these golden nanmu trees to the princess's residence. They will be useful to Leyou in the future."
The palace servants followed Shen Wei's instructions and went to the storeroom to count the items. Li Yuanjing opened the curtain and entered the room. Shen Wei was still looking through the account books of the warehouse items.
Li Yuanjing leaned over to take a look and said, "Sandalwood is used as coffin? Leyou hasn't even decided on his wedding yet, it's too early to make coffin."
When a princess gets married, her wedding is often decorated with a red wedding dress that is ten miles long, with a red bed leading the way and a coffin at the back. Leyou is not married yet, so now is not the right time to make a red bed and a coffin.
Chen Wei took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "It's not made for Leyou. I asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to customize a coffin according to my size."
Li Yuanjing frowned.
Shen Wei actually wants to make a coffin for herself!
Li Yuanjing's face was slightly cold, and he held Shen Wei's hand: "Weiwei, you are just weak, you will be fine if you take good care of yourself. Don't always think about life and death."
The worry buried in Li Yuanjing's heart grew like weeds day by day.
Shen Wei smiled, her face calm: "I am just taking precautions. Your Majesty, rest assured, I will live a long life."
Li Yuanjing felt a dull pain in his heart.
Maybe what you think about during the day you dream about at night. Li Yuanjing had a terrible nightmare tonight.
In the dream, the entire palace was empty, without a single person in sight. Li Yuanjing, wearing a dragon robe, walked anxiously on the long palace road. The next moment he arrived at the gate of Yongning Palace.
The Yongning Palace was hung with white banners and had become a mourning hall. Leyou and several children wore white mourning bands and knelt in front of the coffin, crying.
On the plaque of the mourning hall, Shen Wei's name was written. In the sandalwood coffin, Shen Wei, who was wearing the queen's auspicious dress, lost her breath with a peaceful face.
"Weiwei!"
Li Yuanjing woke up from a nightmare, covered in cold sweat. He subconsciously touched Chen Wei beside him, but the pillow was empty. Chen Wei, who had been sleeping beside him, was nowhere to be found.
Li Yuanjing was shocked.
"Someone come!"
Li Yuanjing didn't even bother to put on his shoes and socks, he lifted the bed curtain and walked out. Shen Wei at the door heard the noise and walked in puzzledly: "Your Majesty?"
Shen Wei still had the unfinished tea in her hand.
The light from the palace lanterns was dim, Shen Wei's long hair was scattered on her shoulders, and she was shrouded in a light yellow halo. Her eyes and eyebrows are still clear and beautiful, like an ancient painting.
Li Yuanjing strode forward and took Shen Wei into his arms.
The teacup fell to the ground.
The faint scent of tea diffused in this ordinary late night. Li Yuanjing made a decision. He wanted to grow old with Shen Wei.
And Shen Wei also discovered one thing - Li Yuanjing's feelings for her were deeper than she expected.
...
...
In the next two years, Li Yuanjing did a lot of things.
He began to sort out internal affairs, reviewing all the officials in the court, big and small, and promoted many new officials. He also appointed Shen Xiuming as Shangshu Ling to assist the crown prince.
In diplomacy with Yue, Donglin and Nanchu, he stationed elite troops and deployed military defenses on the border. He also sent Chen Mieyue to destroy the desert barbarian tribes that had been disturbing the border for many years.
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