Chapter 12: Flames Engulf Jingren Palace

The night was as black as ink.

One startled cry after another shattered the night's silence.

Wan Tang's heart fluttered with panic.

The entire imperial palace was almost entirely wooden structures joined by mortise‑and‑tenon, so a fire would have unimaginable consequences.

【Wan Tang, don't be afraid; it's Jingren Palace that's burning, right?】

【Xu Luoyan is too overbearing, repeatedly crossing the Emperor's bottom line.】

【Someone is keeping an eye on this fire; it won't reach Jingren Palace.】

Wan Tang instantly felt relieved.

Likewise, this is also an opportunity.

Seeing Chu Yunzheng sleeping soundly, Wan Tang's lips curled upward.

Isn't Xu Luoyan relying on the Emperor's favor, acting as if she's untouchable?

She gradually takes the Emperor's heart.

Since ancient times men have been strong and women weak; a man should protect a woman, yet both are human hearts—Shei doesn't want to be protected with one's life?

"Water is flowing?"

"Emperor, run quickly."

Wan Tang rolled over, sat up, and rushed out.

Just as her front foot left, Chu Yunzheng's eyes snapped open, dazzlingly bright.

A moment later, Wan Tang hurried back.

In her hand she now held a blanket dampened by water.

She struggled to lift the small blanket over the Emperor, her tone urgent: "Emperor, put it on quickly."

Wan Tang handed the blanket to Chu Yunzheng without a second thought, despite herself wearing only a thin garment.

If the flames truly spread, no single tongue of fire could be resisted.

Chu Yunzheng sat up, the cold light fading, and placed his hand on Wan Tang's shoulders: "Do not fear, I am here."

He then saw her barefoot, her small feet bruised red by the ground.

He actually reached out, grasped her foot, and gently massaged it: "You're so foolish; if you return to the raging fire, you'll lose your life."

"But the Emperor hasn't awakened yet; as long as the blanket is damp, it won't be burned," Wan Tang's eyes held a rare innocence.

Chu Yunzheng actually smiled.

"Rest assured, the fire won't get through," Chu Yunzheng's clever calculation.

The hand covering his foot was warm.

Wan Tang looked at Chu Yunzheng's face, feeling a bit dazed.

In terms of appearance, Chu Yunzheng not only had well‑defined, three‑dimensional features and a tall, proportionate figure, but also possessed an imperial aura that even the most handsome young men could not claim.

Such a heavenly man is willing to massage your feet.

At that moment, Wan Tang seemed to grasp a bit of Xu Luoyan's madness, understanding why she must claim the Emperor for herself.

A hot tear suddenly fell onto Chu Yunzheng's back of the hand.

Scalded, he jerked his head up.

Meeting Wan Tang's affectionate gaze.

"Why are you crying?" Chu Yunzheng asked.

Wan Tang sniffed and said emotionally, "The Emperor is truly wonderful!"

"He is the greatest benevolent person in the world."

Her simple, sincere words, accustomed to flattery, unexpectedly lifted Chu Yunzheng's spirits.

Their foreheads touched, and he lightly said, "I will cherish you."

"Emperor."

Li Defu's voice came from outside the door: "Jingren Palace is flooding."

"The fire is being contained."

Li Defu was right at the doorway.

He looked up, gazing at Wan Tang's disheveled clothing and her pale, fragrant shoulder.

Under the thin garment, her flawless figure was as if crafted by a master artisan.

Li Defu's greed in his eyes grew even stronger.

"Step back," Chu Yunzheng ordered.

He didn't even intend to get out of bed.

Li Defu retreated to the doorway.

【Dog Emperor certainly won't go, at this moment Xu Luoyan's people are in a frenzy.】

【Don't worry about him, stay here, and keep making babies.】

Wan Tang remained expressionless.

Staying here indeed lets her spend more time with the Emperor, but not going to Jingren Palace—how could she prevent the Emperor from seeing the drama?

She grew even more annoyed with Xu Luoyan.

Wan Tang would not confidently think that a few days of novelty could outweigh nearly a decade of favor.

A look of panic instantly flashed on her face, words caught in her throat, while her hands fidgeted nervously with the hem of her clothes.

Seeing this, Chu Yunzheng couldn't help but ask, "Wan Tang, what's wrong with you?"

Wan Tang, uneasy, dared not speak, only lifting her head to stare at him.

"Could it be that you want to go take a look?" Chu Yunzheng asked.

Wan Tang nodded, and her eyes were full of hope.

Chu Yunzheng actually let out a sigh of relief, his eyes fixed on Wan Tang, as if looking through her, examining something.

"Xu Luoyan is targeting you at every turn; why do you want to go?"

Wan Tang blurted out, "I'm worried about her."

A look of obvious surprise appeared in Chu Yunzheng's eyes.

Wan Tang's tone was full of anxiety: "The Noble Consort is my only close sister; I've served by her side since childhood, always treating her as my own elder sister."

"From childhood to now, I've handled everything for the Noble Consort; if she suddenly falls ill, she'll surely be panicked and at a loss."

"Moreover, the Noble Consort now co‑manages the Six Palaces, her rank equal to the Vice Empress. If anything untoward were seen, I'm afraid…"

Wan Tang dared not continue, only glancing at Chu Yunzheng cautiously.

Yet these words fell on Chu Yunzheng's ears, and the amount of information was simply overwhelming.

He immediately ordered someone to change clothes.

Jingren Palace was already in chaos.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

With a loud shout, everyone rushed to surround. Only the fire brigade kept busy nonstop.

The fire has been contained; the entire Jingren Palace only had its Zhudian burned.

"Emperor…"

Xu Luoyan heard the Emperor's arrival and ran over, pouting.

But she didn't expect that, upon turning, she saw Wan Tang, pale as plain noodles, clean and slender, looking in excellent condition.

Moreover, in such a setting, Chu Yunzheng was actually holding Wan Tang's hand.

The great fire terrified Xu Luoyan, but this scene left her completely stunned.

"What are you doing here?" Xu Luoyan's voice was sharp, and she roared, "Are you here to mock me?"

"I am merely concerned for my sister," Wan Tang said softly.

"No need," Xu Luoyan hummed.

Cai Wei's expression grew solemn as she walked over.

She carefully looked at Chu Yunzheng and Xu Luoyan alike, "Madam, what do you think of this?"

She unfolded a handkerchief, revealing a silver bracelet with burn marks inside.

Xu Luoyan seemed to recall something, gazing at the Zhudian that had just been extinguished, and rushed inside.

"Madam, you cannot go in; it's filthy and chaotic inside, and there is always a chance of rekindling," Cai Wei hurriedly went to dissuade.

"Get out!" Xu Luoyan, like a fierce woman, kicked Cai Wei away.

She barreled in, looking at the sandalwood box turned to charcoal, not caring whether it was hot to the touch, and opened it.

The figure inside had turned to ash.

"No… impossible."

She looked around, shouting excitedly, "Other areas still have intact spots; how could the place I guarded so carefully become the ignition point?"

"Ignition point…"

"Bracelet…"

Xu Luoyan's eyes whirled rapidly; she finally remembered?

"Wan Tang! It's you!"

She turned back, her eyes like a viper fixed on Wan Tang.

She lunged forward a few steps, regardless of whether the Emperor was nearby, and slapped her.

This time, Wan Tang didn't dodge.

The slap was scorching hot; Xu Luoyan also used full force.

Wan Tang tilted with the momentum and fell into Chu Yunzheng's arms.

"Wretch!" Chu Yunzheng shouted angrily.

He protected Wan Tang.

Wan Tang covered her face, her eyes reddened, pleading, "Madam, you must stay calm; so many people are watching."

"Jingren Palace is flooding; you should think first…"

"Shut up, matters of my palace are none of your business to dictate."

"You vixen, luring the Emperor, and you still dare to burn my Jingren Palace."

Xu Luoyan was so enraged she shouted at the Emperor, "Emperor, you must side with me; the Imperial Decree granting marriage is gone, and this fire was set by Wan Tang."

"Because this bracelet belongs to her!"

"She dares to commit arson; she is audacious, you quickly order someone to kill her!"

Chu Yunzheng's gaze was cold; in recent days Xu Luoyan bore no trace of her former self, truly like a madwoman.

Since he had taken the bracelet, he took it in hand to examine.

Upon looking, his complexion grew even gloomier.

The bracelet bore an acrostic poem praising Xu Luoyan.

It was given by subordinates to flatter Xu Luoyan; Xu Luoyan dismissed it as cheap and casually gifted it to Wan Tang.

When leaving the palace that day, Wan Tang took all valuables, naturally including the bracelet.

Upon close inspection, who owned the item could not be unclear.

Moreover, whether Wan Tang set the fire, the Emperor is the best witness.

Chu Yunzheng let out a cold snort from his nostrils and casually tossed the bracelet onto the ground.

Wan Tang is gentle and kind.

Leaning in the Emperor's arms, she still doesn't dare to claim innocence: "It's not me."

"Emperor, sister certainly frightened you."

Chu Yunzheng stared at Xu Luoyan.

At this moment, she was not only candidly cute, but also disheveled, her face smeared with black ash, her whole body pitch black, and her hair a chaotic mess.

She even emitted the burnt smell of singed hair.

On top of that, she looked like a madwoman.

Chu Yunzheng disdainfully turned his face away: "Xu Luoyan, Wan Tang worries about you, yet you slander her."

"The bracelet, I say, is not hers!"

"It is her." Xu Luoyan wished Wan Tang would die right now.

She happens to be the most foolish, not knowing how to speak.

Seeing Wan Tang anxious, she reminded from the side: "Shei saw it? Why does sister say this about Subject?"

Xu Luoyan's eyes lit up, "Right!"

The bracelet can't serve as proof, so we'll use a human witness.

She seized Cai Wei: "Tell me, did you see Wan Tang set the fire?"

Cai Wei nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Kneeling on the ground, she blurted a lie: "Yes, yes, I saw it with my own eyes, it was her."

Chu Yunzheng's eyes were truly opened.

Li Defu, angry, hammered his hand and hurriedly reminded: "Today, the Emperor has been in Cuiwei Hall all along, never parting from Lady of Grace Wan."

The world fell silent in an instant.

Xu Luoyan's body swayed, helplessly leaning against a pillar.

The look she cast at Chu Yunzheng was full of hurt.

She had imagined the Emperor would be with Wan Tang tonight. But she didn't expect he was even with her in the afternoon.

Since the court session, he had never before stayed by any Imperial Concubine's side continuously.

"Xu Luoyan, Wan Tang feared you'd be at a loss when trouble arises, so she came to help. She didn't expect you'd be the one to strike a nail and a rake."

Chu Yunzheng's voice, like thunder on flat ground: "The laughable thing is, though you once loved to act petulant, you were still candidly cute."

"The key is staying calm when faced with trouble, handling matters in orderly fashion."

"Today, I have truly witnessed."

"When you open your mouth, booming with white teeth, that's how you slander people."

Xu Luoyan, terrified, burst into tears, repeatedly muttering: "It's not like that, Emperor, that scoundrel, she harmed me."

"She did it on purpose."

Unfortunately, Chu Yunzheng at this moment could no longer hear a single word of hers.

His gaze turned icy.

He flicked his sleeve and ordered: "The Noble Consort is overly frightened, her health is compromised."

"The authority over the Imperial harem is returned to the Empress; since Jingren Palace caught fire, move her to Jingxin Hall to properly recuperate."

As soon as Chu Yunzheng finished speaking,

"Clang!"

A thunderous crash fell, and a torrential downpour poured.

Xu Luoyan still knelt on the ground, as if her soul had been lost.

No matter who called, she refused to leave.

She only stared fiercely at Wan Tang; there was no trace of the previous arrogance, only deep hatred.

To put it nicely, that's Jingxin Hall.

To put it harshly, it's the place where an errant Imperial Concubine faces the wall to reflect.

Once entered, one might never get out for a lifetime.

Wan Tang's gaze met Xu Luoyan's.

Wan Tang covered her face; the slap hurt, but compared to Xu Luoyan's fate, it was truly a bargain.

Ten years of painstaking effort, ascending to the position of Noble Consort, seizing the Six Palaces' power, a rank equal to that of a Vice Empress.

But Wan Tang's rise lasted only a few short days before she lost the power in her hands.

The rain grew heavier.

Xu Luoyan let the rain wash over her, shouting at Wan Tang: "You scoundrel, you harmed me!"

"I really shouldn't have beaten around the bush back then; I should have killed you outright."

"I deeply regret not taking your life directly."

Xu Luoyan's voice was broken.

Is this what regret looks like?

The days of regret are still ahead.

Wan Tang turned away, no longer looking at her.

Together with Chu Yunzheng, she washed up, changed clothes, and rested properly.

In the heavy rain, Xiao Shunzi slipped away quietly with the crowd.

The next day.

The rain kept falling endlessly.

Chu Yunzheng went to the court early.

Wan Tang got up to dress, and all around her were meek, unfamiliar faces.

Lady of Grace Wan.

At the doorway, the eunuch knelt on the ground and respectfully shouted, "Her Majesty the Empress has a summons."

"Please change your clothes quickly and proceed to Kunning Palace."