With the emperor's permission, the entire courtyard of roses was uprooted by afternoon and swiftly replaced with various flowers and greenery.
Shen Wei remained dissatisfied, ordering further changes to the palace's screens, curtains, furniture, and decorations.
As dusk approached, Shen Wei lounged leisurely on a recliner, a plate of her favorite pastries on the side table and a beloved novel in her hand, nibbling as she flipped through the pages.
Then Caizhu came to announce, "Miss, Physician Moxun is here to check your pulse."
Without looking up, Shen Wei replied, "Let him in."
She assumed it was one of the palace's imperial physicians.
To her surprise, moments later, a familiar voice called out, "Imperial Consort—oh no, Empress Dowager... wait, what should I even call you now?"
Shen Wei snapped the book shut and looked up to see Moxun, carrying a medical case, her face gaunt.
