Chapter 135: Imperial Heart

Tangtang, good job—after being stabbed in the back, can they still turn retreat into advance?

I thought Tangtang would flatly deny it.

Didn't expect them to just expose the matter outright.

What's there to fear? Anyway Chu Yunzheng is outside.

Wan Tang thought the same inside; all her confidence comes from that man outside.

After all, in this Imperial harem, no one will argue logic with you.

The biggest difference between Master and I is that Master can crush a servant as easily as crushing an ant.

The distinction between Master and Master cannot silently make her disappear.

So, for the Empress to kill Wan Tang, she must use her brain.

Xiao Mingshu suddenly laughed.

She rose slowly, her voice gentle to the point of being cold: "Wan Pin, is this your ability to handle matters?"

"Aren't you the assistant manager of the Imperial harem?" she tilted slightly, sarcasm in her eyes, "Then tell me, who did it?"

Even if there were solid evidence, who would dare point at the Empress?

Wan Tang lifted her gaze, meeting hers calmly: "Only the Empress Dowager and the Empress could act in Cining Palace."

She paused, a faint curve at her lips: "Empress, you say, who could it be?"

"How audacious!" Xiao Mingshu slammed the table, "You may script my palace, but you dare involve the Empress Dowager as well!"

Her eyes boiled with anger, armor digging deep into her palm: "I think you're bored of living!"

Wan Tang neither flinched nor avoided, just watched her quietly.

She wants to show a flaw, so the Emperor thinks, immediately, Wan Tang is unfit.

If it both reassures the Emperor and lets her speak her mind, why not do it?

Xiao Mingshu's chest rose and fell violently; suddenly noticing something odd, she turned and scanned: "Where is Bai Wei?"

No one answered.

She frowned, but couldn't worry about a palace maid now; Wan Tang before her was the biggest threat.

She inhaled deeply, suppressing anger, and turned to Qi Lady of Grace.

She softened her voice deliberately: "Lady of Grace Qi, you also saw it—who truly harbors malicious intent?"

Lady of Grace Qi opened her mouth, but her gaze began to wander.

Even if she were stupid, she sensed something was off.

If Wan Tang were to speak nonsense, a thorough investigation would be her own death sentence.

But if the investigation truly continued…

She glanced at Xiao Mingshu covertly, instantly feeling like falling into an ice cave.

The Empress's gaze was terrifyingly cold.

Xiao Mingshu descended the steps step by step, stopping before Wan Tang.

The armor lifted her chin, the sharp tip tracing her delicate cheek, leaving a shallow red mark.

"Wan Pin, you truly have impressed me," she said in a very light voice, with a chilling tone, "You want to cause a scene, right?"

The armor pressed slightly, a bead of blood oozing from Wan Tang's cheek.

"I will stay with you till the end," Xiao Mingshu whispered close to her ear, in a voice only the two could hear, "But… you come to tell me about you and Xu Yanchuan…"

Squeak!

The hall door was suddenly pushed open.

Chu Yunzheng stood with his arms crossed, his dark dragon robe making his figure as upright as a pine.

A faint smile curled his lips, his gaze sweeping the hall: "The Empress is truly making a lively scene here."

Xiao Mingshu's complexion changed abruptly; she hurriedly knelt and saluted, "Subject presents herself before the Emperor."

He didn't pay her any heed, walked straight to Wan Tang, lifted her with a warm palm: "The ground is cold."

He lifted his gaze, coldly looking at Xiao Mingshu: "Tangtang is pregnant; why do you make her kneel?"

Xiao Mingshu didn't expect, did she? The Dog Emperor has been outside all along, just waiting for a hero to rescue the beauty.

I feel the Dog Emperor is a cowardly thief, deliberately sitting on the mountain to watch the tiger fight, just to see others' true faces.

Come to think of it, shouldn't the Dog Emperor have listened to Xiao Mingshu continue? He previously also suspected Wan Tang and Xu Yanchuan, so why interrupt?

Could it be that the Dog Emperor already knows Wan Tang and Xu Yanchuan are siblings?

Impossible. The reason the Dog Emperor can be so trusting of Wan Tang now is that he knows she's just an orphan. An orphan, even if pampered, can't cause a stir. I guess he's afraid the Empress will script a scandal between Wan Tang and Xu Yanchuan!

The Barrage was noisy.

Wan Tang's heart, however, was very calm.

The Barrage was right; the Emperor is extremely suspicious.

Only those you can hold firmly in your hand are truly yours.

If the Emperor truly knows Xu Yanchuan is his own younger brother and his mother's identity, the Emperor could not refrain from probing.

Once pried open, how could it remain so calm?

Wan Tang didn't dare to bring up Xu Yanchuan at all.

Long lashes still held a tear: "Emperor, I beg you to decide for me."

Chu Yunzheng's gaze lingered on the Empress and Lady of Grace Qi, their kneeling silhouettes shrinking into two shadows.

"Li Defu," the emperor's voice was neutral, "Seat Wan Pin."

As Wan Tang sat, Chu Yunzheng paced to Lady of Grace Qi, his leather boots stopping three inches from her forehead.

"Feeling better?" the Emperor's voice suddenly softened.

Noble Lady Qi stared at the boot, her cheeks flushing red: "Emperor, the imperial physician says that in just forty days she can resume normal bed service."

Her voice grew softer as she spoke, carrying a secret delight.

The Fēng xuě howled outside the hall, making the Emperor's next words especially clear: "Since that is so, you should also know."

He leaned forward, his shadow completely covering Noble Lady Qi, and said, "Without Wan Tang, you are already a corpse at this moment."

Noble Lady Qi jerked her head up, meeting the icy stare in Chu Yunzheng's eyes.

She opened her mouth, but like a fish out of water, she could not make a sound.

"Empress." The Emperor suddenly turned toward the Phoenix Seat, "After Noble Lady Qi returns to Kunning Palace, can everything be arranged properly?"

Xiao Mingshu hurriedly knelt and took two steps: "I have personally embroidered twelve swaddling cloths for the Prince and assigned eight wet nurses…"

"The earth dragons in the Western Hall never cease, fearing they might freeze."

Chu Yunzheng suddenly reached out and helped the Empress to her feet.

"Mingshu, virtuous and kind, my heart is greatly comforted."

The utterance of "Mingshu" made Xiao Mingshu's eyes instantly redden.

But her smile had not yet blossomed, frozen by the Emperor's next words: "As for Noble Lady Qi…"

"Ungrateful and treacherous, sowing discord."

Each word fell like an ice spear: "From today, relocate to the Quiet Heart Hall; when you can control your tongue, then return."

Noble Lady Qi suddenly lunged to the Emperor's boot, her ten fingers gripping the hem tightly: "Emperor, grant me mercy!"

"The Prince has just been born; he cannot be separated from his birth mother for nursing."

Chu Yunzheng lowered his gaze: "Li Defu, I recall the Imperial Household Department submitted a wet‑nurse roster last month?"

The Empress hurriedly continued: "I have already selected wet nurses of spotless backgrounds, all of whom have given birth to three or more children."

"Additionally, four imperial physicians have been prepared to take turns on duty."

"Very good." The Emperor cut her off, "The Empress has cared for the child; I am at ease."

He suddenly leaned forward, personally straightening Xiao Mingshu's phoenix hairpin, and said, "This child shall be entrusted to the Empress for guardianship."

Xiao Mingshu's pupils contracted sharply; the silk‑wrapped golden phoenix hairpin suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand jin.

She forced a dignified smile: "I shall certainly not betray the Emperor's grace."

Each word seemed squeezed out from between her teeth.

Originally, Xiao Mingshu intended to use this matter to suppress Wan Tang.

But she did not expect that now not only Noble Lady Qi would take the blame, but the Emperor also directly exposed her scheme.

Chu Yunzheng's face suddenly darkened: "Consort Wan."

His fingertip rested lightly on her forehead, saying, "When walking in the Imperial harem, remember that standing up for the unjust is good."

The lingering glance fell on the Empress's ashen face: "But sometimes one must also learn to close one's eyes."

Xiao Mingshu's knuckles on the handkerchief's back bulged with blue veins.

How could the Emperor consider it an honor for her to raise the Prince?

It was clearly forcing her to swallow this vile resentment!

"I have erred," Wan Tang said, clutching the soft tip of the Emperor's sleeve as she trembled, her pale nails flashing a bluish hue.

Chu Yunzheng suddenly took her hand to lead her outside, but stopped at the threshold.

He asked without turning his head, "Empress, may I now depart?"

Xiao Mingshu "thumped" as she fell to her knees, "I… how could I dare impede the Holy Majesty…"