Chapter 115: Child

What a stomachache—it's really Wang Jingyi's lousy scheme; she knew something went wrong outside and used it as an excuse to help her big son.

As soon as the Emperor leaves, there will surely be all sorts of moral blackmail, and in the end they'll have to leave the palace.

The disaster situation in Jingjiao has been brought under control, and the surviving victims have been properly settled.

Now Xiao Chuan has gone to the worst‑affected Black River City, which is under Xu Mingde's control. There, Xu Mingde is a local tyrant; he cares not for the lives of the people, only for his own silver. After all, the courtesan he kept at Wangyue Tower and the silver he owes to the gambling house require a hefty sum to settle.

This time the disaster relief, with so much money sent to Black River City, is enough to fill the pits.

Walking along the road of Jingren Palace.

Wan Tang listened to this information, and the corner of her mouth rose slowly.

From childhood to now, Wang Jingyi's treatment of Xu Mingde and Xu Luoyan has been the utmost pampering.

All along, no matter what problems the two have, it's Wang Jingyi who cleans up the mess.

Xu Chengyuan has always been a selfish person.

He has always placed personal interests above everything else.

He ignores the child in daily life, but once a problem arises, he metes out severe, unforgiving punishment—a harsh beating.

The more it is like this, once something happens, Wang Jingyi dares not inform Xu Chengyuan, fearing that her beloved baby will be punished.

Is she still panicking?

Haste leads to loss; anger brings no wisdom.

What Wan Tang wants is for her to be sufficiently frantic.

Jingren Palace.

In Li Pin's Side Hall, the doors and windows were tightly shut, and the faint sound of porcelain being smashed could be heard: "Even though we're under house arrest, you still cause trouble!"

"Isn't it just being pregnant? What are you pretending? You used every trick to coax the Emperor here—can you even keep a person once he's here?"

Li Pin felt extremely annoyed, but could only stay locked inside and curse.

Lin Zehai, both openly and covertly, was assisting Xu Yanchuan; the Xu Family already harbored many grievances.

Li Pin even directly stood on Wan Tang's side, drawing the Xu Family's attention.

After all, Xu Chengyuan is still at the height of his power; they can't afford to provoke him.

Inside Zhudian, Xu Luoyan half‑leaned against a pile of brocade, her sheer nightgown hanging loosely, revealing a large expanse of snow‑white skin.

The hot towel that had been on her forehead was already tossed aside; now she twirled her cinnabar‑stained fingertips around her hair: "Mother, will the Emperor really come?"

"I've been feeling terribly nauseous lately; even if he comes, I can't be with the Emperor…"

Wang Jingyi glared at her: "As long as the Emperor comes, I'll have a way to go back."

"Now the household can't be without me; staying here will only bring trouble to your father."

Xu Luoyan understood only part of what was said, but she also realized the seriousness of the situation, so she had to strike her best pose.

Wang Jingyi paced back and forth in front of the hall door, her fingernails scraping the doorframe with a squeak.

Cai Wei stumbled in abruptly, her crippled tongue emitting a "hoho" sound.

"Useless thing!" Wang Jingyi kicked her away, "You can't even deliver a simple message!"

"If it weren't because I see you as loyal, I would have sent you away long ago."

Wang Jingyi, furious, grabbed Cai Wei's ear.

The pearl curtains rustled, and the hem of Wan Tang's woven‑gold skirt swept over the threshold.

She gave a faint smile: "Madam, what a terrible temper you have; it seems that in this palace, after all, it's not as good for cultivating one's character as at home."

Wang Jingyi's face twisted instantly: "Why is it you?!"

She, unwilling to give up, looked toward the outside of the hall, "Where is the Emperor?"

"The Emperor is busy with countless affairs," Wan Tang said, patting her pregnant belly with a light laugh, "He specially ordered me to come pay a visit."

She turned aside, revealing Xie Taiyi behind her, and said, "I heard sister's condition is unwell, so I ordered myself to bring Xie Taiyi to examine her thoroughly."

"No need!" Wang Jingyi stood across the bed like a mother wolf protecting her cub, "Yan'er is already fine."

"Madam, are you defying the edict?" Wan Tang's face suddenly turned cold, Step Shake swaying lightly at her temples, "Xie Taiyi, examine the pulse."

On the bed, Xu Luoyan hurriedly tore open her collar, the snow‑white flesh still bearing fresh red marks: "Emperor… ah, no…"

"Scoundrels, who let you in? Get out right now."

Xu Luoyan was genuinely frightened, hastily pulling a blanket over herself.

Xie Taiyi pretended not to see.

He remained seated on the small stool beside him as usual.

With three fingers on the pulse, his brows furrowed tighter: "The pulse is steady and strong; the fetus is very healthy."

He examined Xu Luoyan's complexion carefully and solemnly said, "It's just that compared with ordinary children, it's much larger, seeming to grow very quickly."

"How strange," Wan Tang feigned confusion, "It's so healthy?"

Having said that, Wan Tang looked at Wang Jingyi and murmured, "There's never been any abdominal pain, not even …"

She didn't continue; those words were enough to let people speculate.

Wang Jingyi suddenly burst into laughter, shaking a prescription from her sleeve: "Did you think I'd fall for it?"

She pointed proudly at a line, "I've already removed this blood‑withered herb!"

"The formula you gave me back then, I already knew; you had no good intentions."

"It's actually a good fertility medicine, yet you intend to make my daughter's delivery difficult?"

Wan Tang stepped back half a step abruptly, her fingertips trembling: "You… how could you think of me like that?"

"Didn't expect that?" Wang Jingyi moved a step closer, her armor almost piercing her pregnant belly, "Your poisonous scheme was seen through long ago!"

"Wan Tang, you think that by deliberately following the prescription you're making me personally kill my daughter, you think I'd fall for it?"

"You, you're just too clever—so clever it's over the top."

Wan Tang found it very amusing inside, saying, "Well said, cleverness indeed becomes a mistake for the clever."

At this moment, isn't there already a ready‑made example?

Wan Tang has always been clear: the grudges of the previous generation have nothing to do with the next.

She returns tooth for tooth, but the one she returns it to is the party involved.

Originally, Wang Jingyi and Xu Luoyan harmed her mother; what she wants is their lives, not the child in the womb.

What Wan Tang gives is a prescription carefully adjusted by Xie Taiyi.

Though it adds an extra ingredient, it can save the child, preventing a stillbirth.

Self‑inflicted sin cannot be survived.

Wan Tang still pretended to lament, even angrily saying, "Madam, you really are a cause of worry."

"Since Sister is fine, this palace can also be at ease; regarding the Emperor, I will inform him."

Wan Tang turned to leave, but Wang Jingyi suddenly lunged, grabbing her sleeve; the gilded armor scraped the brocade, and she shouted, "I want to see the Emperor! Right now!"

Wan Tang slowly turned back, the tear‑glint in her eyes flashing coldly in the candlelight: "Madam, are you so eager to save your precious son?"

She suddenly gave a light laugh, her laughter laced with poison, "When you killed my mother back then, did you ever imagine a day like this?"

Wang Jingyi's pupils contracted sharply: "What… what do you want to do?"

"Xu Mingde is still in Black River City, right?"

Wan Tang stroked her pregnant belly, her voice gentle as if chatting at home, "I heard he seized civilian fields, withheld military pay, and refuses to repay debts…"

"If you present these crimes before the throne, what will happen to your precious son?"

"How dare you!" Wang Jingyi roared, pulling her hair knot apart, "My son is the legitimate son of the Xu Family! If you dare touch him, I will … you and the little mongrel in your womb…"

"This palace certainly would not dare," Wan Tang suddenly grasped her chin, "This palace will request the Imperial Sword from the Emperor."

"We won't even give you a chance to beg for mercy."

"This palace does not dare to act, but someone can."

Xu Luoyan said excitedly, "Who do you think you are? Do you think the Emperor will give you whatever you want?"

"The Imperial Sword, did you obtain it yourself?"

Wan Tang remained silent, her hands on her belly, merely smiling.

At least so far, everything she wants can be obtained.

Such confidence made Wang Jingyi shiver all over, and she, in a frenzy, rushed toward the palace doors: "I will leave the palace! I want to see the Lord!"

"Dream on," Wan Tang flicked her sleeve and turned, "When Xu Mingde's head hits the ground, this palace will come personally to give you the funeral."

"Bastard!" Xu Luoyan clutched the doorframe and screamed, the swell of her abdomen trembling oddly, "You will not die a good death!"

Wan Tang did not even spare a glance.

In the shadow of Langxia, Li Pin lifted her skirt and jogged over, her face full of flattery, "Your Highness, rest assured, this Jingren Palace servant will keep a tight watch."

"Very well," Wan Tang said with a smile, "You also know that in this Imperial harem, only children whose mother consort has died are taken in by other concubines."

"I, your servant, understand."

Li Pin's eyes were filled with greed and ferocity: "Rest assured!"

"In this Jingren Palace, even a mouse shouldn't think of escaping."

Wan Tang let out a light laugh, "Better keep an eye out; if filth gets in, that's also bad."

"Rest assured, not even a fly will get in."

At this moment, Xiao Shunzi stepped forward and said, "Master, the Emperor said he wishes to eat the dumplings you hand‑made tonight."

Wan Tang replied, "Fine!"

Li Pin, full of envy, said, "Your Highness and the Emperor are like a pair of mandarin ducks that everyone admires."

Wan Tang's tone deepened, "There are no mandarin ducks in the palace; only children are the true reliance."

Wan Tang's hand rested on her own belly.

Li Pin's gaze also grew solemn.

She looked toward Xu Luoyan and said heavily, "Indeed! Only children are the reliance."