Chapter 123: Xu Mingde Is Dead

Has Xu Mingde died?

That's really great!

The moment the newborn arrived was the very moment Xu Mingde died.

Wan Tang's knees gave way and she fell to the ground, tears streaming down like pearls whose strings had snapped.

Her slender shoulders kept trembling, the knuckles gripping the embroidered handkerchief turned white, and she seemed like a leaf drifting in the autumn wind.

【It's good that Xu Mingde died; scum like him is best dead.】

【I don't know why, but all of a sudden the things Xu Mingde did began to worsen. Over at the courtesan, the old prostitute could no longer bear it, demanding Xu Mingde must pay, otherwise he cannot continue with the courtesan. The courtesan is pregnant, she specifically told him.】

【I must say, the courtesan does have some skill; she managed to bind Xu Mingde tightly in her grasp. Upon hearing the courtesan was pregnant, Xu Mingde panicked and scrambled for money to ransom her.】

【And that's not all; the gambling den also began a frantic counterattack, demanding Xu Mingde repay the debt. Xu Mingde scrambled blindly, grabbing money everywhere, and eventually set his sights on the disaster‑relief silver.】

【Just as he had taken the disaster‑relief silver, Xiao Chuan swooped in, committing a personal theft and capture, and seized him outright.】

【Moreover, before anyone else arrived, he used the imperial sword, bearing the pressure from everyone, and beheaded Xu Mingde outright.】

Wan Tang heard these words, knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

Chu Yunzheng's composure shattered instantly; he took two steps at once to rush forward and support her: "Tangtang, what's wrong? Get up and speak."

His warm palm cradled her cold elbow, his eyes full of panic.

Feeling Chu Yunzheng's warmth, Wan Tang finally came to her senses.

She forced herself to suppress the excitement within and quickly composed herself.

Wan Tang lifted her tear‑blurred face, but a bright smile curved her lips: "I am so delighted, my lord."

Her voice choked, almost unable to continue.

The nails hidden in her sleeve dug deep into her palm; only this piercing pain could suppress the surging euphoria inside.

Xu Mingde is dead!

That beast who caused mother's death is finally dead!

Xiao Mingshu stood aside, her gilded armor digging harshly into her own palm, her meticulously painted willow eyebrows twisted into a knot.

The Empress Dowager cast a meaning‑laden glance at the prince in the wet nurse's arms, "I never expected the harem to have such sincere concern for the Emperor's worries."

The candlelight in the hall flickered, making the Empress Dowager's eyes flash intermittently.

"The Emperor now has only two children beneath his knee," she said leisurely, her voice sounding as if from far away.

"One is the princess born to Consort Shun, and the other, since she hasn't entered the jade tablet, is not considered royal."

Wan Tang keenly noticed Chu Yunzheng's jaw tighten instantly, the line as sharp as a cut.

She lowered her eyelids, hiding all calculations beneath her thick lashes.

"Lady Wan," the Empress Dowager suddenly called, a sudden gleam in her murky eyes, "You have achieved great merit; what reward do you desire?"

The hall fell silent instantly.

Wan Tang could feel Xiao Mingshu's knife‑like gaze, Chu Yunzheng's probing stare, and the Empress Dowager's vague test.

She inhaled deeply, slowly lifted her gaze, the tears in her eyes sparkling like shattered diamonds in the candlelight.

She rubbed the prayer beads on her wrist and added meaningfully, "I have always been clear in reward and punishment; since you have eased the Emperor's worries, I will not treat you poorly."

Wan Tang lowered her lashes, the long ones casting a shadow beneath her eyes.

She felt gazes coming from all directions.

Chu Yunzheng's probing, the Empress Dowager's scrutiny, Xiao Mingshu's jealousy.

Wan Tang lifted her eyes to the Empress Dowager, whose eyes, weathered by time, were sharp as knives, seeming to pierce the heart.

She held her breath briefly, then smiled and bowed gracefully: "Empress Dowager, with your generous gift, I shall shamelessly claim my reward."

Xiao Mingshu sneered, her gilded armor scraping the desk: "The Empress Dowager's gift is a heavenly grace, yet someone actually dares to press their cheeky face for it."

Wan Tang seemed oblivious, her brows and eyes curved as she continued: "I think, when the little princess is born, she should have some decent ornaments. If we could obtain South Sea pearls, rubies, and the like..."

She counted on her fingers, looking like a naive girl from a small household, "And a few more pieces of cloud brocade for the baby's clothes..."

The Empress Dowager's tightly drawn shoulders relaxed imperceptibly, a barely visible smile at the corner of her mouth: "Granted. I have a box of Eastern Pearls in my storeroom; they are yours as well."

"Thank you for the Empress Dowager's grace!" Wan Tang bowed joyfully, the golden Step Shake in her hair swinging merrily, like a bird that has found a sweet treat.

Xiao Mingshu turned her face with contempt, yet failed to notice the fleeting cold glint beneath Wan Tang's lowered lashes.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze fell on Wan Tang, the tenderness in his eyes nearly overflowing.

He reached out to gently stroke her slightly rounded belly, his voice unbelievably gentle: "My little princess shall have the best this world can offer."

Xiao Mingshu stood aside, her expression frozen in shock.

Her meticulously painted willow eyebrows twisted into a knot, her lacquered nails digging deep into her palm, almost drawing blood.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager stepped forward, her tone gentle yet unquestionable: "Your Majesty, now that the First Prince has been safely born, it is time to grant him a name."

"The naming will be arranged by the Imperial Household Department," Chu Yunzheng said coolly.

The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened slightly, her gaze lovingly toward the infant in the wet nurse's arms: "The Empress has been managing the harem these days, virtuous and kind; the Emperor should also visit Kunning Palace more often."

Chu Yunzheng's complexion suddenly grew grim.

He sneered, his gaze like a blade: "Virtuous and kind? I see no such thing."

Before the words finished, he had already pulled Wan Tang into his arms, his careful manner as if cradling the world's greatest treasure.

The First Prince wailed incessantly in the wet nurse's arms, yet he didn't even glance at him, only bowing his head to ask Wan Tang if she was tired and whether she wanted to return to the palace to rest.

The hatred in Xiao Mingshu's eyes seemed almost tangible.

She stared at Wan Tang, her gaze like a poison‑tempered blade, yearning to cut her to pieces.

At this tense moment, Li Ping'er suddenly staggered in, "Thump," and collapsed to the ground.

Her voice trembled: "Master! It's bad! Something happened at Xitan Yuan!"

Xiao Mingshu hadn't had time to conceal the smile at the corner of her mouth when she saw Chu Yunzheng stride away, cradling Wan Tang, without casting even a glance at her or the newly born First Prince.

Empress Dowager watches the Emperor's retreating silhouette and sighs helplessly.

Xitang Courtyard.

Inside Xitang Courtyard chaos reigns, and the green stones by the pond still bear water stains.

Xu Luoyan lies drenched on a stretcher, her complexion as pale as paper, her swollen belly glaring beneath the soaked garments.

The Guanren in the courtyard have already become a tangled mess.

The Guanren kneel one after another, their faces full of panic.

Chu Yunzheng's face turns iron‑blue, and the veins on the back of his hand beneath the dragon robe bulge.

Although Xu Luoyan was supposed to be confined in Jingren Palace, she somehow fell into the water at Xitang Courtyard at this moment.

He scans the Guanren kneeling throughout the courtyard, his voice chillingly harsh, "Shei did it?"

Cai Wei lies prone on the ground, opening his mouth to cry "ah ah", but can only emit broken gasps.

She wildly flails her hands, terror filling her eyes, yet cannot utter a complete sentence.

"We've rescued her!" the imperial physician shouts suddenly.

Xu Luoyan suddenly opens her eyes, her pupils contracting sharply.

She grabs the hem of Wan Tang's nearest skirt, her nails digging deep into her flesh: "You wretch! How dare you harm me?!"

Her voice rasps like a demon.

She turns to Chu Yunzheng, tears mixing with pond water as they fall: "Emperor! She is the one who pushed this Subject into the water!"

Her trembling finger points at Wan Tang, "She intends to kill Subject and the child!"