Chapter 100: Seeing Red

"Master, Lord Su has already gone far away, the snow is getting heavy, you are a twin‑born person, so return!"

Xiao Shunzi stood beside Wan Tang, her tone full of concern.

Wan Tang stared blankly at the drifting snow, and in her mind a storm had already begun.

Is Su Yanci saving her?

Think carefully.

Back then there were so many princes; why was only Chu Yunzheng able to ascend the throne?

Even the more qualified Crown Prince and the Late Emperor's favorite Yan Wang both became failures; why was it Chu Yunzheng?

That lofty man was also someone who shared a glance with Wan Tang.

For his own purpose, he moves step by step, even if it sacrifices lifelong happiness.

Does Chu Yunzheng truly love the Empress?

It wasn't because, when the succession was seized years ago, the Crown Prince died, that Chu Yunzheng returned from the border passes and successfully married Xiao Mingshu.

The day Xiao Mingshu became a princess, the Xiao Family became Chu Yunzheng's greatest backing.

Empress Dowager Xiao mourned the loss of the Crown Prince, but the Empress Dowager of Fengqi Kingdom could only be her.

The Empress of Fengqi Kingdom could only be the legitimate daughter of the Xiao Family.

Wan Tang took a deep breath, snowflakes slipped through her nasal passage, and the cold made her body shiver slightly.

When Chu Yunzheng proclaimed himself emperor, the Xiao Family and the Duke of England controlled the court. Empress Dowager Xiao ruled behind the curtain, and Chu Yunzheng was merely a puppet emperor.

With the court in turmoil, Chu Yunzheng had to balance the Xiao Family's power; Xu Chengyuan timely quelled the rebel princes' revolt, becoming Chu Yunzheng's most powerful pawn.

At this point, the three‑way stalemate took shape.

The Duke of England is loyal and patriotic; all demons and monsters must bow before him, his uprightness borders on rigidity, and he lacks flexibility.

Chu Yunzheng need not doubt the Duke of England's loyalty; however, his loyalty is to Fengqi Kingdom, not to any prince.

Such a person is like the sharpest thorn, clashing with the Xiao Family's needle tip, only causing instability in the court.

With the Xu Family's involvement, the three sides checked each other; Chu Yunzheng maneuvered among them, and within three years removed the throne seat from the Golden Throne Hall, while Empress Dowager Xiao retired to the Imperial harem to practice Buddhism in Yangxin Hall.

Wan Tang took another deep breath; after ten years in the Imperial harem she had heard many things, yet why had she forgotten all this?

"Master."

Xiao Shunzi watched Wan Tang's severe trembling, and her tone now carried urgency.

Wan Tang calmly shook her head and whispered, "I'm really stupid."

"How were these letters delivered then?"

Hearing that, a hint of surprise appeared in Xiao Shunzi's eyes: "Master, aren't you angry because of Lord Su's actions?"

Wan Tang shook her head, a shade of shame appearing on her face.

She said ashamedly, "Now that you mention it, I should be grateful to him."

After all, no matter which side, upon learning of Xu Yanchuan's relationship with Wan Tang, what reaction would they have?

The former dynasty's harem is closely linked; now three women in the harem are pregnant, and the first son will be the legitimate heir, the future Crown Prince.

If the Xiao Family or the Xu Family possesses a prince, each gains an extra bargaining chip.

The three‑way stalemate will also begin to tilt.

The Xu Family grows more overbearing, yet Chu Yunzheng remains silently patient—not because, perhaps, the missing leg that supports the three‑way balance is still absent?

Wan Tang is an orphan girl; only a child of an orphan girl would not stir the former dynasty's changes.

Wan Tang's hands trembled violently.

If the letters were exposed, the Emperor would follow the trail and discover Wan Tang—what then?

She is Xu Chengyuan's daughter; if the Xu Family suddenly gains hope of two princes, how would the Emperor react?

What about the Xiao Family?

The bone‑piercing snowstorm howled into her collar, yet Wan Tang felt no cold.

Su Yanci's words were like a sharp ice spear, gouging fiercely into her mind.

Each question tore away a layer of disguise, revealing a suffocating truth behind it.

She suddenly staggered, her fingertips unconsciously clutching her collar.

She thought she was moving step by step, yet she had long been part of someone else's game.

If Su Yanci hadn't sealed that letter, she would now be kneeling in Yangxin Hall, and the body carried out the door would be Xu Yanchuan's!

She thought she could survive beneath Chu Yunzheng's watchful eye.

But she didn't know she lived not because she was clever, but because Chu Yunzheng wanted her to live.

She thought that possessing authority over the Six Palaces would let her avenge her mother and protect her brother.

Yet she didn't know that whom she wanted to protect and what she wished to do depended entirely on whether Chu Yunzheng approved.

Looking back from climbing the Dragon Bed to now, Wan Tang felt a chill in her heart.

She is a fool!

She is a joke!

She is a pawn…

Her breathing suddenly became rapid, and darkness flickered before her eyes.

A sharp pain surged in her abdomen, as if a knife were violently churning.

"Empress!" Xiao Shunzi's harrowing scream cut through the snowstorm, "Blood… there's blood!"

She looked down; the moon‑white hem of her dress was slowly spreading a glaring scarlet.

"Child…"

She clutched her abdomen with both hands, yet the excruciating pain swallowed her consciousness like a tide.

I cannot lose the child!

This is the only chip Wan Tang now holds, a Lady of Grace who can make Chu Yunzheng pity her a little.

Tears rolled down.

She is so pitiful, pitiful to the point of being unfit to be a mother.

In the darkness, Wan Tang seemed to see her mother again.

She gently patted her own back, coaxing herself: "Tangtang, be good and sleep, have a sweet dream."

"Forget the unhappy things; actually peace and joy are more precious than anything."

"Tangtang, mother doesn't want to be any lady, nor does she want you to be any miss; mother only wants you to be safe…"

Mother…

A faint medicinal fragrance lingered around the bed; when Wan Tang slowly opened her eyes, Xie Taiyi was twisting a silver needle into her Acupoint.

The surroundings were splendid and grand, the stove warm, not cold at all.

But beside her, there was no mother at all.

"The Empress finally woke up."

Xie Taiyi's voice was hoarse, but the silver needle in his hand was steady as a rock. "Old Minister has practiced medicine for forty years and has never seen a pregnant woman dare to get angry and faint in the snow."

Wan Tang's pale lips moved, but she had not spoken, when Xie Taiyi said in a deep voice: "The pulse is floating and slippery, liver Qi is stagnant, the fetal essence is turbulent."

He suddenly increased the force on his hand, "Does the Empress want Old Minister's life, or her own?"

Xiao Shunzi "Thump" knelt: "Xie Taiyi, calm your anger; our Empress truly struggles to move, and could not heed your admonition."

"Shut up!" Xie Taiyi barked sharply, startling the medicine boy who knocked over the moxibustion box.

Only then realizing his misconduct, he quickly stepped back two steps and bowed: "Old Minister overstepped."

Even so, Xie Taiyi's eyes were full of pity, as if looking at his own granddaughter who did not cherish her body.

Wan Tang strained to sit up, and where the brocade quilt slipped, her slender wrist wrapped in medicinal cloth was exposed: "It is my palace's fault."

Her voice was light and weak: "Xie Taiyi, do not blame me; rather I trouble you by traveling in this heavy snow."

Xie Taiyi looked at her pale complexion and finally let out a long sigh.

When retrieving the needle, his movements were extremely gentle, as if handling a fragile egg.

"Empress," he suddenly softened his tone, "Old Minister said something extra."

"Your body is already more unique than others; any variables during pregnancy, Old Minister has already mentioned. You must be especially careful."

Wan Tang's fingertip brushed her slightly raised belly, and she smiled wryly: "It was my palace's willfulness."

That admission of fault sounded so natural that it made Xie Taiyi's eyes redden.

His temperament, after decades in the palace, has never been biased toward anyone.

But now, Wan Tang treats him like family, and how could he not care about this foolish girl.

"You must take care," the old man suddenly grasped her hand, his withered knuckles trembling, "Otherwise a disaster will occur."

Xiao Shunzi, anxious, crawled forward two steps: "What will happen?"

The moxa ash "Bang" fell into the copper basin, and Xie Taiyi's voice was lighter than the ash: "A light case leads to miscarriage."

"A heavy case, death."

The door was forcefully pushed open, ushering in a gust of piercing cold wind.

Chu Yunzheng strode in, his hair and shoulders covered with snow grains, clearly having rushed all the way.

"How could someone fine collapse and see blood?"

"I have repeatedly instructed that Wan Pin must be treated with extra care; you dogs, what are you even eating?!"

The Emperor's voice was pressed with thunderous anger.

Startled, Xiao Shunzi knelt and raised a hand to slap his own face.

"Nubi should die, Nubi should die."

The Guanren of Xi Tang Courtyard were also greatly frightened, all kneeling in a sweep.

"Emperor!" Wan Tang quickly propped herself up, but Chu Yunzheng pressed her shoulder down with one hand.

Xie Taiyi hurried forward: "Your Majesty, calm your anger; the Empress may have shown redness, but the fetal signs are stable, thus the nourishment will not be hindered."

Chu Yunzheng's tightly clenched jaw finally relaxed a bit, his fingertip brushing Wan Tang's pale cheek: "I trust Xie Taiyi's medical skill."

His voice had softened, yet still carried a slight tremor, "I was only just informed of this, and I am truly worried."

He suddenly fell silent and turned his gaze toward the window.

From the direction of Yangxin Hall, faint arguing voices could be heard, surely the ministers were still quarrelling.

Chu Yunzheng's eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.

He said to Xiao Dongzi: "Today, thanks to Xiao Dongzi's vigilance, you came forward recklessly to report."

"Otherwise, if you and the child were harmed, how could I be at ease?"

Li Defu heard this and immediately knelt, hurriedly saying: "It is because Nubi's discipline was lax; I will punish him severely."

"Punish?"

Chu Yunzheng's peripheral glance flicked at Li Defu, his eyes holding an unfathomable meaning.

He said meaningfully, "I say, reward!"

"Previously I hadn't noticed, but he is indeed clever. In the future, let him serve inside the hall."

"But, Emperor…" Li Defu still wanted to argue.

Chu Yunzheng's cold gaze fell: "My decision, you dare to interject?"

Li Defu was frightened, shivered, and hurriedly kowtowed: "Nubi does not dare; Nubi will arrange it."

"Emperor, it is my fault that I caused Your Majesty to leave the court and come here," Wan Tang whispered.

"Never mind them." Chu Yunzheng, childishly humming, reached out to tuck the corner of her blanket, "A bunch of old foxes, they can't argue out a result."

His fingertip unintentionally brushed Wan Tang's icy hand; his brow furrowed, and he immediately cupped her both hands into his palm to warm them.

The emperor's majesty remained, yet that cautious gesture was like an ordinary husband caring for his wife.

Warmth rose in Wan Tang's heart; truly, there were far too many moments when Wan Tang felt a flutter.

Yet thinking of Xu Yanchuan, whose life and death were still uncertain, she couldn't help a dazed expression.

"Tangtang?" Chu Yunzheng, keenly sensing her unease, leaned down close, "Where does it hurt?"

"Or perhaps, who are you worrying about?"

In his voice there was a hint of doubt; holding Wan Tang's hand, his grip tightened a bit more: "If anything informs me, I will personally see that justice is done for you!"