Chapter 13: Empress Xiao Mingshu

Kunning Palace.

The authority over the Six Palaces returned to the Empress's hands, and the Empress, who had been ill for a long time, finally agreed to receive the concubines.

The harem's concubines had gathered to about seventy‑eight, and each was seated according to rank.

Only the sound of footsteps could be heard, with no hint of discussion.

Directly ahead, on a soft, sagging seat, the Empress sat upright.

She was about twenty‑five or twenty‑six, her features gentle, though she showed clear signs of illness; even so, she was dignified, graceful, and exuded countless charms.

Her brows and eyes radiated kindness; she was not fierce at all, but exceedingly approachable.

Everyone quickly performed the rites and shouted in unison, "Empress, may you be safe."

Xiao Mingshu's smile was charming; as soon as she opened her mouth, she gave a light cough twice.

After a moment she smiled again, "Sisters, please sit!"

Everyone took their seats one by one; those of lower rank stood at the back.

Although Xiao Mingshu appeared ill, her eyes were especially bright.

She spoke slowly, "I have been convalescing for years, and have always exempted you sisters from formalities."

The Six Palaces have long been handled by the Noble Consort, allowing me to enjoy leisure.

Now the Noble Consort needs to recuperate; I will do my utmost to manage the harem's trivial matters and ease the Emperor's worries.

The others all echoed in agreement.

Xiao Mingshu saw this and nodded.

A seat beside Xiao Mingshu's left hand was left empty.

Wan Tang knew that, although the harem seemed peaceful on the surface, hidden currents were stirring.

Xu Luoyan, relying on the Emperor's favor and the Xu Family's current power, was virtually unrivaled in the harem.

There was another Noble Consort in the harem who, after a single encounter with Xu Luoyan, had been bedridden for years and rarely left her chambers.

Below the Noble Consort were four consorts.

Now only Consort Hui remained, her temperament aloof and uncompetitive, living alone in Snow Plum Palace.

Below her was Li Pin, and behind her were several Lady of Grace and Answering; these were familiar, all belonging to Xu Luoyan's faction.

It was just that, in the past, Wan Tang never showed her true face, always appearing with a hideous countenance.

Now they could not recognize Wan Tang either.

After the empty seat, another concubine also stood nearby.

The situation kept shifting, making it hard to discern their positions.

Just as they were thinking, Li Pin suddenly spoke, "Empress, you have long neglected harem affairs, perhaps you are unaware."

"Recently the Emperor has taken a new beauty, and dotes on her greatly."

The Empress hummed, "Having another sister to extend the Emperor's lineage is also a good thing."

"But, Your Majesty, ordinary palace maids who receive favor also start as official women."

"Now this one has not only been directly titled Lady of Grace, but has also become the head of a palace."

Li Pin raised her hand, covering her mouth, and sighed, "Alas! This will reach the Empress Dowager's ears; I fear she will not know how to question the one who controls the seal."

Wan Tang was startled.

In the harem, those favored must avoid arrogance and tyranny.

Yet Li Pin deliberately brought it up.

In a few words, she thrust her into the eye of the storm.

The Empress, having finally reclaimed authority, saw this as a time to set an example.

She did not expect that Xu Luoyan could not come, yet the person in her hand was so formidable.

Wan Tang had long known Li Pin's thoughts were deep; she did not expect the two of them to clash.

Xiao Mingshu's expression changed, her gaze sweeping over the crowd before settling on Wan Tang, "Seeing the sister's unfamiliar look, I suppose you are Lady Wan, aren't you?"

The Empress's voice was soft yet penetrating enough for everyone present to hear.

Wan Tang immediately knelt again and paid tribute, "Your Grace, Lady Wan, Wan Tang, presents herself before the Empress, may the Empress enjoy abundant blessings and golden peace."

The Empress smiled without speaking, yet did not summon her.

But her eyes fell on Wan Tang's face, and the smile there suddenly stiffened.

It was only for a moment before it returned to normal.

She smiled faintly, "No wonder the Emperor dotes on his sister; with a visage like a celestial being, even I, the Empress, would be deeply fond upon seeing it."

Wan Tang was startled again.

Kneeling on the ground, she knew this was the Empress's warning.

She hurriedly said, "I am but ordinary; as for beauty, the Empress remains the most exquisite."

The Empress gave no response, merely turning to speak to the others, as if she had completely forgotten the person still kneeling below.

After a long while, the Empress finally nodded and said to everyone, "Sisters, you are all tired; you may now take your leave."

She then looked at Wan Tang, "Lady Wan, stay a moment; I have a few words to advise you."

One by one, the concubines passed by Wan Tang.

Li Pin deliberately stepped in front of Wan Tang and gave a sly smile.

Her voice lowered further, warning, "The Noble Consort said, your good days lie ahead."

In her eyes was a warning look.

The others withdrew, and the hall suddenly became empty.

Though the setting was the same, the atmosphere was markedly different, and even speech carried a faint echo.

"I heard the Emperor has been staying at your place for several days; you attending to the Emperor is indeed hard work," Xiao Mingshu said, her tone still gentle.

Yet the words tightened everyone's hearts.

In the past, everyone said the Empress was just a sickly weakling, a paper tiger without teeth.

After Xu Luoyan gained favor, she has continuously held the reins of power in the Imperial harem, lawless and unrestrained.

It was later said that the Empress fell gravely ill, and consequently she was exempted from the daily morning rites.

Wan Tang followed Xu Luoyan for ten years, only knowing the Empress as gentle and kind, sorrowful after losing her Prince, indifferent to worldly affairs.

Now that they meet, they have become hostile.

In her heart she couldn't help but think, it seems the rumors in the Imperial harem are not trustworthy.

She had originally intended to align with the Empress, using her influence to deal with Xu Luoyan…

Wan Tang, uneasy, said, "Being able to attend to the Emperor is a blessing for a concubine."

"Your blessing is also, perhaps, the resentment of the sisters?"

The Empress spoke bluntly, giving no room for saving face.

"The Empress Dowager has never liked the Imperial harem's beauty contest; now the Emperor has no offspring, so having more sisters to bear children for the Emperor is good, but it must be evenly distributed."

"Sister, do you understand?"

The Empress still smiled kindly.

Wan Tang nodded, replying, "Concubine understands."

"Then that's good."

Xiao Mingshu nodded, her gaze deepening: "These days, Lady of Grace Wan has been attending the Emperor; it has been hard on you as well."

"I have freshly stewed red‑date and silver‑ear soup here; go, bring it to Lady of Grace Wan to replenish her body."

The red‑date and silver‑ear soup in the bowl was at the perfect temperature, its color bright, a rare delicacy.

Yet Wan Tang's hand trembled slightly.

Just a moment ago she was being struck so unceremoniously, and the next moment she is being rewarded with food?

【Can't eat it, I saw the preview long ago; this Empress is no good, she holds a grudge against Noble Consort Xu, and thinks the Noble Consort's camp has just added a Commander, so she personally gave a child‑killing soup.】

【All these years, the Dog Emperor has had no offspring; she is the great contributor.】

【Since the Prince she bore died prematurely, her health has been poor, unable to conceive. She became the 'miscarriage squad leader.'】

【Now she has finally reclaimed power; it's time to use people. Rather than fighting alone, she should side with the Empress, choose a camp?】

As expected, there was something in the soup; Wan Tang's heart grew even heavier.

The Empress's ability to do such a thing shows she is far from kind.

She had only just begun to be favored, yet she was already restless. However, aside from temporarily using wolves to drive tigers, she had no other means.

Wan Tang held the bowl, her gaze sincere as she looked at Xiao Mingshu: "Thank you, Empress, for your grace."

"Since my mother died, no one has ever cooked food for me."

"Later, following the Noble Consort, even basic sustenance became a luxury."

Having said that, tears already swirled in Wan Tang's eyes.

She lifted the bowl in her hand, ready to drink it all at once.

"Hold on." The Empress suddenly spoke, "Has the Noble Consort treated you poorly?"

Wan Tang answered truthfully, "The Noble Consort dislikes my face, so she had me marked with a mole."

"She never lets me see anyone, keeping me working in the kitchen. Leftover food has become routine."

Wan Tang suddenly showed a simple smile, "Come to think of it, I have never even eaten this before?"

The Empress, whose eyes flickered with intent, waved her hand and said, "This bowl has gone cold."

"Go, get a hot one."

The Empress smiled lightly and said kindly, "Lady of Grace Wan is also a pitiful person; Xu Luoyan is accustomed to being overbearing, and she has harmed many."

"Now that you are the Emperor's woman, feel free to come to Kunning Palace often; I will only act on your behalf."

This remark was, in effect, an olive branch to Wan Tang.

Wan Tang drank the red‑date and silver‑ear soup.

It was soft, glutinous, fragrant and sweet—truly a premium delicacy.

As she left, she held several gifts bestowed by the Empress; her heart pounded like a drum along the way.

【What kind of operation is this?】

【How could the Empress have given Wan Tang a different bowl?】

【Where is the promised miscarriage squad leader? One bowl like this and Wan Tang will be infertile for life.】

【I think the Empress is forming a faction; the enemy of my enemy is a friend, especially since Wan Tang is a person with no support.】

【The Empress likes people she can easily control.】

The barrage of thoughts in her mind kept coming, yet Wan Tang had no time to heed them.

The whole journey made her heart race and her flesh tremble.

There was no confidant by her side; the deep palace's paths were riddled with thorns at every step, and moving forward alone was truly arduous.

"If you can't even handle a small task, what use are you?"

"The imperial tea cup is worth more than your life; I will cripple your hand."

On the way back to Cuivei Palace.

Shouts of reprimand came from afar, audible even at a distance.

In the Imperial Palace, the matriarchs punishing palace maids is a commonplace occurrence.

It would be one thing to merely punish, but causing one or two deaths and abandoning a ruined well is also routine.

Imperial Palace everyone is on edge, Shei does not want to get tangled in trouble.

【Shei says Xu Luoyan has no scheming, look, hasn't she realized?】

【When Wan Tang leaves, there is one less confidant by her side. This isn't sending people to direct and act themselves; it's to win hearts, to make this foolish girl be utterly devoted to doing her bidding.】

【The debt of saving a life must be repaid properly. I saw the preview: this unremarkable maid will eventually become the senior palace maid beside Xu Luoyan. It seems this maid was the true heiress mistakenly taken, destined to inherit the richest family's estate; if not for her, Prince Xu Luoyan's ascension wouldn't have brought such swift peace and prosperity.】

Xu Luoyan's play?

Xu Luoyan simply doesn't have that kind of mind.

From Wan Tang's perspective, this is even more plausible; it was Li Pin who devised the method.

It appears Xu Luoyan has also caught on; without a brain trust's assistance, she might not be Wan Tang's opponent, which is why Li Pin suggested the plan.

Since they plan to counterattack, Wan Tang, of course, must cooperate with all her strength.

Wan Tang stopped in her tracks.

After a slight pause, she still headed toward the direction of the shouting.