Chapter 125: Never Meet Again

The tray of treasures glittered in the sunlight, but Xu Luoyan recoiled two steps as if she had seen a venomous snake: "These are all for that scoundrel?"

Her voice was so sharp it almost pierced the eardrum, "Emperor, how can you be so biased!"

"She harmed me, and you still want to reward her?"

She staggered, lunged at Chu Yunzheng's feet, and clutched the hem of his dragon robe: "I have come today to demand justice!"

"That scoundrel even dared to intercept my bird‑nest supplement and said it would all be sent to the Xi Tang Courtyard!"

Tears suddenly welled up, and her voice choked, "When I was a Noble Consort, who would dare to humiliate me like this?"

"She, Wan Tang, is just a foot‑washing maid; she is merely a dog of this palace…"

Before she could finish, she was already sobbing uncontrollably.

【Idiot! You can't keep your temper over such a trivial matter】

【If it weren't for Wan Tang back then, could she have become a Noble Consort?】

【If she had known Xu Mingde was dead, she would probably have gone mad on the spot】

Wan Tang listened to the barrage rising and falling in her mind, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

She stepped forward slowly, a bitter smile on her face as she looked at Chu Yunzheng: "Emperor, can you see now? This coordination of the Six Palaces' authority is seen by outsiders as a privilege."

She gently touched her abdomen, her voice lowering: "In my hands, however, it has become a hot‑potato."

"Who would regard an Imperial Concubine without a background?"

Wan Tang continued, following Xu Luoyan's words: "Moreover, I was once just a maid…"

She stopped appropriately at this point, tears falling.

The crystal‑clear tears hung on her eyelashes, also evoking her past.

For someone as suspicious as Chu Yunzheng, one need not speak too fully; he can already infer too much.

For example, how Wan Tang was truly abused by Xu Luoyan.

And how I was deceived by Xu Luoyan into a bestowed marriage.

Even, what methods did Xu Luoyan actually use to bind me all these years?

Chu Yunzheng's eyes darkened suddenly, and with a sweep of his dragon sleeve he declared, "From today onward, all Six Palace affairs shall be decided by Wan Pin, no further reports needed!"

"No!" Xu Luoyan screamed, lunging forward, "Emperor! You would let this poisonous woman go unpunished? Even disregarding the Imperial Heir in my womb?"

"Do you know where I just was?"

Chu Yunzheng suddenly leaned down, a cold light flashing in his dragon eyes, "I was with Wan Tang in Cining Palace. Had she not intervened, Lady of Grace Qi and the Prince would already be dead together!"

"You mean? Just now, you were with her?" Xu Luoyan's eyes were filled with disbelief.

Chu Yunzheng straightened, his voice booming like thunder: "Yes!"

"I don't even know how to thank her, yet you treat her as an enemy! Xu Luoyan, what is your intention?"

Xu Luoyan collapsed on the ground, murmuring, "But I clearly saw it was her who pushed me into the water."

Xu Luoyan examined carefully, her voice trembling: "Yes, it was you!"

"Utterly foolish!" Chu Yunzheng brushed his sleeve aside, eyes full of disgust, "For ten years I was truly blinded by lard!"

Chu Yunzheng cast his gaze again at Xu Luoyan's face.

Though the face was strikingly similar to hers, those eyes radiated arrogant stupidity.

Such a woman could never be compared with her.

Looking at Wan Tang, her tight lips curled slightly; although the point between her brows was overly flamboyant, only Wan Tang seemed perfect.

He coldly ordered, "From now on, matters Xu Answering promised need not be reported. Wan Pin, you have full authority to handle them."

Xu Luoyan's face turned ashen; the meticulously painted makeup was smeared by tears, like a shattered mask.

Wan Tang stepped forward at the right moment, gently urging, "Emperor, Lady Qi has just given birth; according to tradition you should go see her."

She glanced at the despondent Xu Luoyan, "As for Xu Answering… I will personally escort her back."

Chu Yunzheng waved his hand, a hint of fatigue appearing on his face, "For a person like her, just leave her in Jingren Palace to fend for herself."

"I and he shall never meet again!"

Chu Yunzheng's dragon carriage drifted away, the bright yellow banners disappearing at the end of the palace road.

Xu Luoyan slumped on the ground, her splendid robes stained with dust, her hair bun in disarray, her makeup blurred by tears, looking utterly disheveled.

She stared vacantly toward the direction the Emperor had gone, lips trembling as she whispered, "How could it come to this?"

"Emperor clearly said, the one who loves me most…"

Wan Tang stood before her, looking down from a height at her despondent state.

A hint of sarcasm curled at the corner of her mouth: "Sister, you indulge in pleasure and revelry more than anyone; how can you be heart‑broken over a man who doesn't love you?"

Xu Luoyan jerked her head up, madness flashing in her eyes: "I love the Emperor!"

"With others it's just a game, but with the Emperor it's genuine from the heart."

"Sincere?" Wan Tang laughed lightly, her gaze icy, "Someone like you even deserves to talk about sincerity?"

She leaned down, whispering into Xu Luoyan's ear, "What you feel isn't love, it's possessiveness. What you can't have is the best; once you get it, you discard it like a worn shoe."

Xu Luoyan's pupils contracted sharply, her face turning deathly pale.

Wan Tang straightened, the smile on her face vanishing instantly.

The Emperor had already gone far; she no longer needed to pretend.

Her eyes were as cold as ice, her voice without a hint of warmth: "Attendants, escort Xu Answering back to the palace."

After a few steps she suddenly stopped, a meaning‑laden smile curling at her lips: "No, I will go myself to escort her."

She turned to look at Xu Luoyan, a trace of cruelty flashing in her eyes, "After all, I still have good news to tell you."

Xu Luoyan shivered all over, instinctively feeling uneasy.

She struggled backward: "I don't need your false kindness! I don't want you to escort me!"

Wan Tang completely ignored her resistance, went straight onto the sedan chair, and coldly ordered, "Carry her away."

Guanren immediately stepped forward and roughly lifted Xu Luoyan.

She struggled desperately, but to no avail, and could only be dragged behind Wan Tang's sedan chair.

Xu Luoyan's desperate cries echoed through the palace corridor.

A faint, icy smile curled at Wan Tang's mouth.

Jingren Palace.

Wang Jingyi sat upright on a rosewood chair, wearing a long crimson‑purple brocade gown, her hair piled high, golden hairpins and jade hairpins glittering.

She lightly brushed the teacup with her fingertips, her brows and eyes radiating condescending arrogance, as if nothing before her was worth a second glance.

It seemed not that she was surrounded by interrogators, but that she was the one surrounded by a crowd before the interrogation.

Li Pin's face turned iron‑blue with anger, and she shouted sharply, "Where is Xu Luoyan?"

"My palace sent people to keep such a tight watch, and she still managed to run away!"

Wang Jingyi lifted her eyelids disdainfully, a sneer curling at her mouth, "The Lin family now dares to question me?"

She leisurely sipped her tea, "When your father once risked his life for my lord, he knelt and begged us for a little favor."

She slammed the teacup down heavily, her gaze sharp, "I never imagined your Lin family would dare become traitors!"

Li Pin's chest rose and fell violently, her fingernails digging deep into her palm.

She said angrily, "It was Xu Luoyan who, without hesitation, treated me as a discard."

"When I entered the Cold Palace, why did I see no action from you?"

"Moreover, it was a gift from your daughter."

Li Pin laughed, "People like you, what right do we have to risk our lives for you!"

"If you become a pawn of my Lin family, that is also your blessing."

"Truly, you are ungrateful for the blessings you have," Wang Jingyi said leisurely.

Li Pin trembled with anger, "Fine, fine, then I'll give you that blessing back!"

Wang Jingyi let out a cold laugh and continued, "When my son returns to the capital, I will first kill that fool's father, then marry your Lin family's younger sister…"

She deliberately elongated her tone, malice filling her eyes, "to become a concubine."

"As for you," she stood up, looking down from above at Li Pin, "when my Yan'er's child is born, I will then properly and slowly deal with you."

Li Pin trembled all over, about to erupt, when a eunuch's high‑pitched singing suddenly came from outside the hall.

Consort Wan has arrived!

Wang Jingyi's complexion shifted slightly, but she quickly regained her lofty demeanor, only a barely perceptible malice flashing in her eyes.