Lin Wanqing's carrier pigeon brought explosive news:
> Sister Yuewei! Such joyous news! His Majesty today publicly bestowed a marriage upon your eldest brother, Shen Wenqing, and Miss He Mingshu, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review! The imperial decree has been issued, and the wedding date is set for next spring! It's said that it's because Minister Shen (Wenqing) handled the military embezzlement case swiftly and decisively, with irrefutable evidence leading to the arrest of several high-ranking officials. His Majesty was greatly pleased, and upon hearing that Miss He is virtuous and well-mannered, a perfect match for Minister Shen, he granted this auspicious union! Now, both the Shen and He residences are bustling with visitors, a constant stream of well-wishers! Congratulations! Your eldest brother's future is truly bright, and he's gained a beautiful wife—the envy of all! Oh, and your second brother, Shen Wenbai, even hosted a special banquet at the "Yunshang Pavilion," inviting several close friends to celebrate. Even the Crown Prince's advisors in the capital sent congratulatory gifts! ...
Shen Yuewei held the letter, overjoyed! Her eldest brother, Shen Wenqing, had finally overcome all his hardships! Not only was his career progressing smoothly, but he had also achieved his wish of marrying Miss He, whom he admired, with the Emperor himself bestowing the marriage upon him! This was not only an honor for her eldest brother, but also a symbol of the Shen family's stable position and the Emperor's favor! She could almost imagine her mother's gratified smile and her second brother's busy preparations.
This joy also touched the small courtyard in Jiangnan. Shen Yuewei immediately picked up her pen and wrote a reply home, sending her sincerest blessings, and asked Chuntao to prepare a proper gift for her future sister-in-law.
However, not all the letters from the capital were good news. Shen Yuewei's mother's letter, while announcing good news, also subtly mentioned the undercurrents within the palace:
> …Your elder brother's wedding is a joyous occasion, and the whole family is overjoyed. However, things seem a bit unsettled in the palace lately. The Empress (the Crown Prince's mother) has been unwell recently, experiencing palpitations and shortness of breath. The imperial physician diagnosed it as excessive worry and prescribed some calming medicine. The Consort (the Second Prince's mother) has been very attentive, visiting her daily and personally serving her medicine; His Majesty even praised her virtue. However…when I accompanied several noble ladies to the palace to pay our respects, I overheard the old nanny beside the Empress weeping privately. Her words seemed to hint at something, mentioning "fragrant spices" and "incense burners"...I feel uneasy, thinking the Consort's actions are too deliberate. My son, being in Jiangnan, far from trouble, is good. Your father and brothers will handle things at home; you only need to focus on your pregnancy and not worry. …
After reading it, Shen Yuewei's heart sank. The Empress was unwell, and the Consort was attending to her so diligently? And there was more to the story behind the "fragrance" and "incense burner"? In her previous life, the Empress's health deteriorated after what seemed like an ordinary "illness," and eventually... the Consort's involvement was probably undeniable! However, in her previous life, she was trapped in the Eastern Palace and knew only that after the Empress's death, the Consort's arrogance grew even stronger, and the Second Prince's faction became even more unscrupulous in suppressing the Crown Prince.
She immediately thought of Xiao Chengjing. He was far away in Jiangnan; did he know of the changes in the palace? The Consort's actions were so obvious; his people in the capital couldn't have been unaware. Was his investigation in Jiangnan also related to this silent conflict in the capital?
That's it. In this life, all she wants is to protect her parents and the children who didn't grow up safely in her previous life.
Thinking of this, Shen Yuewei instructed Chuntao: "Prepare some food, his favorite foods."
Upon hearing this, Chun Tao understood everything. She knew who "he" referred to. She wanted to say something but couldn't, so she went down to prepare.
Shen Yuewei observed her personal maid Chun Tao's actions and couldn't figure out why she had prepared food for him. Perhaps it was due to their time together these past few days.
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