Chapter 131: Breaking the Stalemate

Why would one regret?

Wan Tang's heart raced.

The barrage also started clamoring now.

Tangtang, that's enough—stop blocking, just let Wang Jingyi get lost.

I just remembered—the earlier storyline introduced it, but I skimmed past it. Wang Jingyi holds a clay doll.

Right, right—now I remember. Inside that clay figure lies the truth about Wan Tang's mother's background. Wang Jingyi unintentionally discovered this secret and has been using it to blackmail Xu Chengyuan. Xu Chengyuan knows the details; they all know.

What?

Wan Tang was utterly shocked.

I didn't expect this thing to have bound Xu Chengyuan.

Hehe…

Wan Tang sneered inwardly, wondering what on earth had happened in her grandfather's house.

Could it make the now all‑powerful Xu Chengyuan so terrified?

If that's the case, then we certainly cannot leave.

Wan Tang's lips curled into a smile as she stepped forward, shouting in grief and anger, "Emperor, whether Lord Xu stays or leaves, I, your servant, cannot intervene."

"But Wang Jingyi cannot leave."

"Since the Emperor ordered me, your servant, to co‑manage the Six Palaces, I shall handle the harem affairs today."

Wan Tang's eyes suddenly turned icy: "Wang Jingyi dares to act against this palace and the Prince, deliberately plotting murder."

"The crime is unforgivable!"

"You may want to leave the palace; you may. But your fate, your ground, stays here."

A terrifying cold light suddenly burst from Wan Tang's eyes, her gaze like a poison‑tempered blade, stabbing straight at Wang Jingyi's chest.

"Men!" she barked, "Execute the criminal woman who plotted against the Imperial Heir on the spot!"

The palace guards exchanged glances, and none dared to move under Xu Chengyuan's cold stare.

Xiao Shunzi and Li Ping'er locked eyes, gritted their teeth, and charged forward.

Before they could close in, Xu Chengyuan suddenly lifted his leg.

"Bang!"

Xiao Shunzi was kicked in the chest, sent flying backward, and slammed heavily into a pillar.

Li Ping'er hadn't reacted when Xu Chengyuan's backhand palm knocked her to the ground, blood spattering from her mouth.

"Master." Li Ping'er struggled to rise.

A blood‑red surge rose in Wan Tang's eyes.

She suddenly sprang forward, pulling a long sword from a guard's waist with a metallic clang.

A cold glint flashed, reflecting her resolute face.

"I, the palace, have come personally!"

The blade sliced the air, aiming straight for Wang Jingyi's throat.

"Outrageous!"

Xu Chengyuan roared, his body leaping at Wan Tang like a fierce tiger.

Amid the clank of iron armor, his waist‑sheathed sword was already unsheathed, its cold gleam blinding.

Li Ping'er, disregarding the blood at her mouth, rolled forward and clutched Xu Chengyuan's left leg: "Do not harm my master."

"Get out of the way!" Xu Chengyuan kicked hard, but Li Ping'er let out a muffled grunt and would not release.

Xiao Shunzi seized the chance to charge from the side, but Xu Chengyuan's backhand palm struck her shoulder, causing her to stagger and retreat several steps.

Wan Tang could feel the fierce killing aura rushing from behind, yet she didn't even turn her head.

The long sword in her hand thrust toward Wang Jingyi's chest without hesitation.

"Xu Chengyuan, you are truly lawless!"

Chu Yunzheng's angry shout thundered like a sudden lightning strike.

The imperial dragon sleeves fluttered, and he was about to join the fight himself.

In an instant, Wan Tang's pupils contracted.

She clearly saw Xu Chengyuan's sword fully drawn, its tip unmistakably aimed at her own back.

But what frightened her even more was Chu Yunzheng walking toward that direction completely unguarded!

"Emperor, be careful!"

Wan Tang suddenly turned, letting the long sword slip from her hand to the ground.

She unhesitatingly spread her arms, using her frail body to block Chu Yunzheng.

Xu Chengyuan's sword tip suddenly halted a mere inch from Wan Tang's throat.

The battle‑hardened Commander's complexion changed dramatically, and his ear twitched.

"Swoosh!"

A teal figure swooped down from the beam, and Ouyang Qing landed steadily in the hall's center.

The pen's cold tip aimed at Xu Chengyuan's throat point.

A flash of brilliance sparked in Xu Chengyuan's eyes as he slowly sheathed his sword.

The clank of blade against scabbard caused the temperature in Jingren Gong to drop another three degrees.

Ouyang Qing seized the chance to slip to his side, whispering something into Chu Yunzheng's ear.

【Xu Chengyuan that old scoundrel, his troops have already reached Xuanwu Gate.】

【Today, whether it's the Emperor or Xu Chengyuan, any blood spilled on the ground will inevitably be a coup. It will soon unleash a great disaster.】

In a fury for a beloved beauty, he slew the war god of Fengqi Kingdom. The Emperor indeed removed the hatred in his heart, but Wan Tang suffered the consequences. The Hundred Thousand Army needs someone to take the blame, and the Emperor also needs an explanation. Wan Tang can only be made a bewitching consort of the ruler.

Isn't Yang Yuhuan just like that? Ah! In the end, the man's fault is always shouldered by the woman.

Wan Tang's heart raced at the sound; she never expected it to be like this!

Wan Tang saw Xu Chengyuan, her expression turning terribly grim.

Xu Chengyuan, you must not die!

Chu Yunzheng's mouth curled into a cold smile, while Xu Chengyuan's hand silently slipped toward his sleeve pouch.

There a Piercing Cloud Arrow was hidden.

Wan Tang knew the move all too well; once that arrow is launched, the Xu Family death soldiers ambushed outside The City will massacre the imperial palace.

"Uh!"

Wan Tang let out a muffled hum, clutching her abdomen with both hands.

The fetus inside her kicked violently.

The sudden excruciating pain blackened her vision, yet it also jolted her to sudden clarity.

What she seeks is revenge, not mutual destruction.

She now has a younger brother.

She has a child.

She cannot die!

"Ah!" she shrieked, curling up and kneeling on the ground, "It hurts so much, Emperor, I fear the fetal qi has been disturbed..."

She trembled as she grasped the hem of Chu Yunzheng's dragon robe, her fingertips turning white from the strain.

Cold sweat streamed down her pallid cheeks, soaking her hair at the temples.

Li Pin had long been terrified into a limp heap on the ground, even holding her breath.

Li Ping'er scrambled over, rolling and crawling, shielding Wan Tang with her body: "Grand Physician! Quickly summon the Grand Physician!"

The scene remained tense, swords drawn and bows taut.

Xu Chengyuan's hand still lingered at his sleeve pouch, his gaze, as sinister as Yin Zhi's, shifting between Wan Tang and Chu Yunzheng.

Chu Yunzheng lowered his head, looking at the agonized Wan Tang in his arms; the Emperor's cold, hard visage finally showed a crack.

He leaned forward, hoisting Wan Tang sideways, the golden thread embroidery on his dragon robe grazing her sweat-soaked cheek.

"Summon the Grand Physician."

Those three words eased the tense atmosphere in the hall.

Xu Chengyuan finally withdrew his hand from the sleeve, yet his chilling gaze remained fixed on Wan Tang.

Wan Tang weakly leaned against Chu Yunzheng's shoulder; from a angle unseen by others, she gave Wang Jingyi a barely perceptible cold smile.

This act is not over yet.

"Wang Jingyi must not leave!"

Wan Tang lifted her head from Chu Yunzheng's embrace, her voice weak yet each word sharp as a blade, "She ordered Xu Luoyan to frame the Xitang Courtyard; she is the mastermind!"

She suddenly turned to Ouyang Qing and barked, "What are you waiting for? Capture them!"

Chu Yunzheng gave a slight nod.

Ouyang Qing shifted his posture, drawing the long sword from its scabbard.

Xu Chengyuan, however, suddenly raised his hand.

"Clang!"

He threw his side sword onto the ground, the green bricks echoing with a crisp sound.

This Commander was unusually calm at this moment, yet the undercurrents in his eagle eyes sent a chill down the spine.

His gaze swept over the shadowed corner of the hall, where the light flickered subtly.

Xu Chengyuan's pupils contracted, and he suddenly clasped his fists, "Emperor, since you have pressing matters, I will take my leave now."

"Lord!" Wang Jingyi, as if gone mad, lunged to grab his arm, "Then what about me?"

Xu Chengyuan pried her fingers apart one by one, his voice so low only she could hear, "Take good care of Yan'er."

A hint of warning flashed in his eyes, "Do not cause trouble again."

"If you know your limits, the Emperor will forgive you."

Wang Jingyi staggered back two steps as if struck by lightning.

Xu Chengyuan did not look back, strode away, the clank of iron armor fading into the long corridor outside the hall.

Leaning against Chu Yunzheng's embrace, Wan Tang could clearly feel the Emperor's tense body gradually relax.

She seized the chance to inhale deeply, burying her face into the front of the dragon robe, whimpering weakly, "It hurts..."

Chu Yunzheng lowered his head, his stern brows softening slightly, "Ouyang Qing, escort Lord Xu."