Chapter 116: United Hearts

Wan Tang has indeed spoken harsh words, but she still doesn't know, Xu Yanchuan's days in Heijiang City are not easy at all.

Heijiang City is the Xu Family's training ground, and the local officials all look to Xu Mingde as their leader. Xu Mingde despises Xu Yanchuan, so how could he cooperate in disaster relief? He never opens the granaries, making it especially hard for Xu Yanchuan!

Now Xu Yanchuan has no way to start, and Li Chongyi, that wall‑corner scoundrel, doesn't even dare to show his face.

No wonder Li Chongyi; people like him are most afraid of losing their lives, and without any guarantee, how could they possibly act?

Wan Tang leans on the cushion, her mind in turmoil.

The Xiutang Courtyard is still some distance away, yet Wan Tang feels that today's young lady left especially quickly, so quickly that she has no time to sort out many thoughts.

The red plum blossoms in Xiutang Courtyard are in full splendor amid the snow; Wan Tang, hands on her waist, stands in the Langxia, watching Xiao Shunzi direct the officials to sweep a clean path.

Her rounded belly shows a smooth curve beneath the fox fur coat.

The news that Xu Yanchuan is struggling to move in Heijiang City now burns her heart.

"Master, the Emperor is waiting for you inside," Li Ping'er rushes over, snowflakes still clinging to her hair bun.

Wan Tang's heart skips a beat, and she gathers her thoughts.

She has just turned when Chu Yunzheng appears, draped in a dark great cloak, treading through the snow.

"May I have an audience with the Emperor," she attempts to bow, but Chu Yunzheng grabs her arm.

"Tangtang is pregnant, no need for formalities," Chu Yunzheng removes his cloak and hands it to Li Defu, revealing the ordinary robe embroidered with a golden dragon underneath.

"Why is your hand so cold?"

Wan Tang takes the opportunity to grasp his hand, leading him toward the warm pavilion: "I was just watching the dumplings in the kitchen; perhaps they got damp from steam."

She can feel Chu Yunzheng's gaze lingering over her face.

"Over at Jingren Palace, could they be giving you trouble?" Chu Yunzheng's tone deepens.

Wan Tang's face is full of tenderness: "With the Emperor protecting you, they have no way."

Wan Tang places the dumplings on a porcelain plate, the steam hazing her brows, and says, "Your Majesty, try them; they're filled with fennel."

Chu Yunzheng picks up a dumpling but does not rush to eat it: "Tangtang, you're thoughtful."

He suddenly changes tack, "Xu Yanchuan handed over a note the other day, saying the snow in Heijiang City is three feet deeper than in the capital."

Wan Tang's hand holding the kettle is as steady as a rock, the tea pouring precisely into the cup: "Lord Xu, young and capable, will surely not disappoint the holy grace."

She pushes the tea cup toward Chu Yunzheng.

He suddenly leans forward, "The one the Beloved Consort recommended, I find very satisfactory."

Outside, the north wind howls, making the window shutters rattle.

Wan Tang uses the act of closing the window to dodge his probing gaze, and sees the red plum in the courtyard bent under the weight of snow.

"He certainly will not disappoint the Emperor's expectations."

"Xu Yanchuan's methods are indeed formidable," Chu Yunzheng's voice comes from behind, "the disaster in Jingjiao has been contained, so I sent him to Heijiang City."

He suddenly closes the book, "What? Is the Beloved Consort worried he can't cope?"

Wan Tang turns, already wearing a faint smile: "He is, after all, just a young man, and we don't know whether he can face those wolves and tigers."

Chu Yunzheng raises an eyebrow: "It was the Beloved Consort who originally recommended him."

Candlelight makes Wan Tang's complexion flicker between light and shadow.

She gives Xiao Shunzi and Li Ping'er a signal: "You both stand down."

Almost simultaneously, Chu Yunzheng, without even raising his head, waves to Li Defu.

The sound of the hall doors shutting reverberates like a muffled thunder, startling the child in Wan Tang's womb to kick suddenly.

She draws a deep breath, lifts her skirt, and slowly kneels.

The chill of the blue bricks seeps through the brocade into her knees, and the fetus in her belly stirs uneasily.

"I beg the Emperor to grant Xu Yanchuan the Imperial Sword."

Chu Yunzheng slowly rises, "What are you saying?"

"Heijiang City is the foundation of the Xu Family," Wan Tang presses her forehead against her crossed hands, her voice unusually clear, "Without the Imperial Sword to intimidate, Xu Mingde would never open the granaries to release food."

She can feel Chu Yunzheng's gaze scraping her back like a blade.

"Wan Tang." Chu Yunzheng, unusually, calls her by her full name, his fingertip lifting her chin, "Do you know what the Imperial Sword signifies?"

He presses his thumb against her lips, the force so strong it nearly breaks the skin, "First cut, then report; the imperial authority specially permits it."

"You would have me entrust such power to an outsider?"

"It is my personal desire."

Wan Tang's forehead slams heavily against the blue brick, emitting a muffled thud.

She maintains this humble posture, her voice unusually clear: "I hope the Xu Family collapses."

Chu Yunzheng's shoe surface appears in her lowered gaze, and Wan Tang hears a meaning‑laden "Oh?" from above.

"I was once nothing more than a dog in the Xu Family's back courtyard," Wan Tang straightens, both hands shielding her swollen belly.

"Since childhood I have served Xu Luoyan, loyal to her without a second thought."

"When the ten‑year term ended, she tried to give me to a eunuch, subjecting me to all sorts of persecution."

Her throat trembles, perfectly allowing a single tear to hang on her eyelashes.

The actions in the Imperial harem cannot be hidden from Chu Yunzheng.

Since they cannot be concealed, Wan Tang might as well tell Chu Yunzheng these things he already knows, openly and honestly.

Chu Yunzheng lightly taps the desk, his rhythm now twice as slow as before.

"Now I carry a dragon's seed in my womb," she suddenly grabs Chu Yunzheng's sleeve, "Do you think the Xu Family could accommodate this child?"

Wan Tang's tears fall in perfect measure.

They won't be unsightly, only evoke pity.

"Moreover, I am no longer alone now; I cannot bear to part from the Emperor…"

"You have made the Subject understand what love is."

Wan Tang could hear the thudding pulse at her temples.

She is gambling, betting that the Emperor's fear of the Xu Family outweighs his suspicion of her.

She loosened the Emperor's robe hem.

"The Xu Family is arrogant and overbearing, no one dares to provoke them; if we can find concrete evidence, why not use the boy's youthful impetuosity to make some more decisive decisions?"

Chu Yunzheng suddenly leaned forward, a scent of dragon's amber enveloping them: "Do you know that even if the situation is broken, Xu Yanchuan will die!"

Wan Tang met his gaze, letting out a light laugh, the golden Step Shake's tassels not moving a hair: "Then it depends on you, Emperor, whether you are willing to let go."

The warm pavilion fell into dead silence, the charcoal basin spitting out its last sparks.

Chu Yunzheng suddenly reached out to brush her cheek, his thumb passing over the deliberately bitten corner of her lip: "The ground is cool."

He lifted her in one hand, his movement gentle as if handling fragile porcelain, yet his palm firmly clasped the vital point at the back of her neck.

"I will consider this matter," he said, placing her on the soft couch, his fingertips winding around a strand of her hair, "let's see whether Xu Yanchuan will betray the trust you and I place."

Wan Tang, taking advantage of the moment, buried her face in his chest; from an angle Chu Yunzheng could not see, a fleeting cold smile curled at her mouth.

Sure enough, a voice from above, full of satisfaction, said: "Tangtang, rest assured, I will protect you."

Chu Yunzheng stroked her trembling shoulders and back, his gaze falling on the plum branch outside the window, broken by the weight of accumulated snow.

His little Wan Tang, after all, is just a rabbit that bites.

The Xu Family's vengeance, the child's safety, a woman's jealousy—these soft spots now lie plainly before him.

"You and I are truly of one heart."

He lowered his head to kiss the top of her hair, not seeing the cold glint flash in the eyes of the one in his arms.

Li Defu, outside the door, softly reminded that the hour was late; Chu Yunzheng, in a good mood, waved his hand, the pad of his finger rubbing the delicate skin on Wan Tang's back of neck.

His Tangtang truly was just a little woman; those thoughts were as clear to him as an unfolded scroll.

Chu Yunzheng, thinking of the performance he must stage at tomorrow's morning court, couldn't help but let his mouth corner lift.

Unaware, Wan Tang, pressed against his chest, was counting his suddenly quickened heartbeat.

Chu Yunzheng also lowered his head, planting a kiss.

She is merely a woman with no one to rely on; what ill thoughts could she possibly have?