Chapter 101: Half a Stick of Incense

【What could happen? They're just worried about Xu Yanchuan! Truly a pair of ill-fated siblings.】

【Stop fretting. Instead of worrying about that, think about how to deal with your opponent. Remember, when Wan Tang fainted, it was Li Defu who notified the Emperor first, making him drop everything and come.】

【Could it be that Li Defu has had a change of heart?】

【What conscience does he have? Who knows?】

What?

It was Li Defu who notified the Emperor?!

With Su Yanci's reminder, Wan Tang constantly demanded of herself to remain even more composed, no matter the circumstances.

What was Li Defu's purpose in doing this?

First, she could rule out saving Wan Tang, since he wasn't that kind-hearted.

What benefit did interrupting the debate in Yangxin Hall bring to Li Defu?

And what was the topic of discussion in Yangxin Hall?

Since Xu Yanchuan had been kidnapped, the Xiao Family would surely have rushed over upon hearing the news, inevitably adding insult to injury.

It could only be said that this time, the Xu Family had shot themselves in the foot.

Xu Mingde wanted to use this opportunity to take Xu Yanchuan's life.

Yet he didn't know that the Xiao Family also wanted to take the Xu Family's life.

Probably what was being debated in the court right now was how the Xiao Family would make the Xu Family answer for this matter.

Wan Tang stared at the Emperor. Was Li Defu helping Xu Luoyan?

No!

As long as the Xu Family placed righteousness above family loyalty and killed Xu Yanchuan, it would only be a minor punishment and a major warning.

Helping the Xiao Family?

Then there was absolutely no need to interrupt.

Wan Tang thought it over, a faint smile appearing at the corners of her mouth. She looked at Chu Yunzheng's sharply defined face.

Chu Yunzheng must also be at a loss right now, wondering what to do!

It seemed that for Chu Yunzheng, her fainting was a godsend.

Wan Tang's fingertips secretly clutched the corner of Chu Yunzheng's sleeve, her brows lightly furrowed.

She deliberately coughed twice, feigning weakness: "Your Majesty."

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, yet carried a hint of delicate coyness. "Your Subject feels a tightness in her chest. I wonder if it frightened the child just now."

Chu Yunzheng lowered his gaze, meeting her misty eyes.

There was a hint of cunning hidden in the depths of her eyes, yet her face was as pale as paper, making it hard to tell truth from falsehood.

"Li Defu." The Emperor suddenly spoke, his tone stern. "Convey My oral edict."

Li Defu quickly bent forward, drawing near.

"As for those people in the Ministry of Revenue, send back those who should be sent back, and shut down those who should be shut down." Chu Yunzheng twirled a strand of Wan Tang's hair around his finger, saying nonchalantly, "As for other matters, let them argue for now. I will consider them myself."

Li Defu's eyes widened. This wasn't handling state affairs at all! It was clearly indulging Consort Wan's mischief!

Moreover, doing so was unprecedented.

But when he looked up and caught the doting look in the Emperor's eyes, he quickly lowered his head and replied, "This old servant will go deliver the message immediately."

Once the hall doors were closed, Chu Yunzheng suddenly pinched Wan Tang's nose: "Is Tangtang truly ill?"

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Pretending quite well, aren't you?"

The warm breath brushed against her earlobe. Wan Tang's face flushed, but she still insisted stubbornly: "How would Your Subject dare deceive the Emperor? I am truly unwell."

She suddenly covered her lower abdomen, "Ouch..."

Chu Yunzheng laughed heartily, pulling her even tighter into his arms: "Alright, then I will accompany my beloved consort in 'recuperating.'"

He deliberately stressed the last two words, yet his fingers gently stroked her lower abdomen. "After all, what is the life of a minor general compared to My Imperial Heir!"

Outside the window, the wind and snow continued. Inside the hall, the imperial brazier burned fiercely.

Wan Tang leaned in his arms, listening to the Emperor's steady heartbeat.

Yes, it was just a minor general after all.

Nothing at all.

Wan Tang's heart sank once more.

She struggled to control her emotions, never letting Chu Yunzheng see any clues. Being too concerned would, in turn, harm Yanchuan.

Chu Yunzheng leaned back on the soft couch, still holding a memorial in his hand, but his eyes had unknowingly closed.

The fatigue between his brows had not dissipated even in sleep, and faint dark shadows under his eyes showed that state affairs had drained his spirit in recent days.

Wan Tang gently took a brocade quilt from the side and carefully covered him with it. Her fingertips inadvertently brushed against his wrist, which felt thinner than usual.

This realm, in the end, weighed solely on his shoulders.

As she was lost in thought, the door was gently pushed open.

Li Ping'er entered carrying a bowl of medicinal soup. Seeing Chu Yunzheng asleep, she immediately softened her steps.

Wan Tang lifted her eyes, her gaze falling on Li Ping'er, a hint of deep meaning flashing in her eyes.

It seemed she hadn't seen her for several hours.

Moreover, the surface of her shoes was soaked through with snow water. For a senior palace maid staying in Xiyi Courtyard, how could she have walked so much in the snow?

"Master, it's time to drink the medicine." Li Ping'er said softly, handing over the medicine bowl.

Wan Tang took it, stirring the spoon absentmindedly: "This year's snow is different from previous years."

Li Ping'er's movements paused slightly, then she replied in a low voice: "It is different. It's heavier and denser than before."

"If it's like this in the Capital, then those lands that are already extremely cold must be even harder to endure." Her tone carried a hint of gravity, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around the tray.

Wan Tang lightly sips a medicine, the bitterness spreading on the tip of her tongue: "Indeed! It's just like Fengdu back then."

She lifts her eyes, a half‑smile, "The snow in the Capital wasn't as heavy as now, yet it already brewed a great disaster."

Li Ping'er's breath visibly catches, then she forces a smile: "Your Highness, rest assured, Fengdu now has Yan Wang stationed there and will handle it properly."

When the words "Yan Wang" are mentioned, her eyes involuntarily flash for a moment, then quickly lower, concealing the past.

Wan Tang takes in her reaction fully, yet calmly puts down the medicine bowl: "I'm suddenly craving the Eight‑Treasure Duck you made."

Li Ping'er startles: "But the Eight‑Treasure Duck is labor‑intensive; I fear I would delay caring for Master."

"No problem." Wan Tang smiles faintly, her gaze turning to the sleeping Chu Yunzheng, "The Emperor is here, and Xiao Shunzi is attending."

Li Ping'er hesitates a moment, then bows: "I will go prepare right away."

After she steps back, Xiao Shunzi slips in quietly, whispering: "Your Highness, shall I keep watch?"

Wan Tang looks at the swirling snow outside, her eyes deep: "No need."

Wan Tang takes Xiao Shunzi's hand, rises slowly, the gilded armor tapping lightly on the desk: "Assist me in going to the study."

Passing through two pearl curtains, the rosewood desk usually used for calligraphy is now spotless and tidy.

Wan Tang's fingertip brushes the edge of the inkstone slab, where discarded drafts should have piled, but now it's empty.

At the time, in a hurry to close the doors, logically this place should have been a mess.

"Where are the waste papers?"

Xiao Shunzi is startled: "According to protocol, I should have tidied it, but Sister Ping'er said Master was ill and feared noise, so she personally cleaned this area."

The words cut off abruptly.

Wan Tang leans forward, opens the hidden compartment; the booklet Su Yanci gave still lies intact, but a fingernail scratch on its cover has shifted, clearly indicating someone has tampered with it.

"Master." Xiao Shunzi looks at Master's suddenly frozen silhouette, voice trembling.

The gilded armor hovers above the booklet, about to be drawn out.

"Tangtang?"

Chu Yunzheng's hoarse voice, just waking, comes from the inner chamber.

Wan Tang snaps the hidden compartment shut, and as she turns, a bright smile appears on her face: "I am here."

The candlelight flickers lightly on the candlestick, reflecting the exquisite imperial banquet spread across the table.

Wan Tang picks up chopsticks to serve Chu Yunzheng, the tender steamed Seasonal Fish belly meat carefully de‑spined and placed on a dragon‑patterned porcelain plate.

"Emperor, today you are in Yangxin Hall; is everything to your liking?" she asks softly, as if casually.

Chu Yunzheng lifts the fish meat, leisurely saying: "Just the usual old talk."

He suddenly looks up, "It's only a little extra trouble, an interesting young general."

The chopsticks pause over the Jadeite Shrimp: "Your skill is considerable, just lacking a bit of foresight."

"In the end, it's youthful recklessness."

"Snap!"

Wan Tang's silver chopsticks suddenly fall onto the table; she hurriedly kneels: "I have erred."

Chu Yunzheng does not help her up, but continues his meal with interest: "Speaking of that, Tangtang and he are indeed old acquaintances."

He doesn't ask what the exact connection is, merely scoops a spoonful of crab‑egg tofu and says, "At the palace banquet back then, you fought fiercely for him against the Xu Family, turning red‑cheeked."

The chill of the blue bricks seeps through her skirt hem to her knees, yet Wan Tang kneels upright: "To be frank, I indeed know him. After all, I was once a servant of the General's Residence, and grew up there."

"He and my brother who died in a difficult birth were born on the same day."

Mentioning this, Wan Tang's brows darken slightly, a barely concealed pain in her eyes.

She continues: "Young Master—no…"

She deliberately pauses, "It is said that when he was born, a wandering Taoist passed by and gave him a destiny reading."

Wan Tang can conceal that Xu Yanchuan is not Wang Jingyi's biological child.

"Oh?" Chu Yunzheng finally puts down his chopsticks.

"It is said to be a heavenly‑bane lone star that will cause the Xu family's façade to topple."

A hint of sarcasm flickers in the emperor's eyes: "I didn't expect someone like Xu Chengyuan to believe such strange superstitions."

"The higher the rank and power, the more one fears loss," Wan Tang lifts her gaze, meaning deep, "If the Emperor does not abandon him, I might be able to make him change his foolish filial piety and be loyal only to you."

Candlelight flickers, reflecting in Chu Yunzheng's deep features, shrouding his expression in a vague, dim light.

Fingertips lightly tap the tabletop, a slow, steady rhythm, while his gaze remains fixed on Wan Tang, a half‑smile.

After she finishes, the hall quiets for a moment, then he says lightly: "The Imperial harem must not interfere in state affairs; are you aware of that?"

His voice is neither light nor heavy, yet carries undeniable authority.

Wan Tang lowers her brows and complies, respectfully answering: "I understand."

She pauses, her tone gentle, "What I say does not involve politics; I merely recall old feelings and wish to reminisce with an old friend."

She lifts her gaze, a hint of reminiscence in her eyes: "When I was a servant at the Xu Family, only the Young Master treated me kindly."

Chu Yunzheng gazes at her for a moment, his eyes as inscrutable as a deep pool.

After a long while, the corner of his mouth lifts, revealing a faint grateful smile: "It's rare for Tangtang to have such gratitude."

He lifts the tea cup, takes a sip, then slowly says: "I will personally arrange for you a half‑incense‑length of private time."

Wan Tang's eyes flash with a hint of joy, then she suppresses it, respectfully bows: "I, thank you for the Emperor's grace."

Chu Yunzheng puts down the tea cup, his gaze distant, as if looking beyond her: "Go."

The next morning, heavy snow still falls; the entire palace is blanketed by deep snow, like a silver‑clad cage.

Wan Tang stands by the window, watching the swirling snowflakes, her fingertips gently brushing the silver notes in her sleeve.

After a moment, she hands a thick stack of silver notes to Xiao Shunzi, whispering: "According to the previous arrangement, go handle it first."

Xiao Shunzi respectfully takes it, carefully tucking it into his chest: "I will take care of it right away."

He had just stepped out of the hall when Li Pin, wrapped in a shroud of cold, barged in.

His face was full of resentment: "Sister! You must take my side!"

She seized Wan Tang's sleeve, voice sharp: "The Emperor actually permitted Wang Jingyi to enter the palace! That old woman, relying on the child in Xu Luoyan's womb, flaunts her power in the palace, even daring to seize the brocade my father sent!"

Li Pin grew more agitated as she spoke: "Just now I went to the Imperial Kitchen to fetch bird's nest, and I happened to see her maid pointing at the Department of Food's nose and scolding."

"She said that if they neglected the Xu Family's bloodline, they would have to go away empty‑handed!"

"You say Xu Luoyan isn't also a Zhaoying; it's fine if she eats hers, but she even confiscated all the bird's nests of the concubines in Jingren Palace."

"Her belly, Xu Luoyan—how big is it, can it really consume so much?"

Wan Tang listened quietly, her eyes as still as an ancient well, and only after Li Pin finished venting did she speak calmly: "I will go with you to have a look."

She gathered her fox fur coat, and the instant she stepped out of the hall, a cold wind swirling with snow spray hit her face.

Li Pin froze in place, surprised that Wan Tang Answering so decisively, and hurriedly jogged to keep up: "Sister, are you really going now?"

Their gaze couldn't help but linger on Wan Tang's belly, worriedly asking: "You are now Jin Gui, can you still eat enough?"

Wan Tang's steps did not stop, her voice mingling with Fēng xuě, startlingly cold: "Since she loves to show off so much, I will personally go and meet her."