Chapter 136: The Emperor Takes Action

Tangtang, well done; this kind of back‑stage cricket person being stabbed open—can they still turn retreat into advance?

I thought Tangtang would flatly deny it.

Didn't expect them to just stab the matter open directly.

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

Wan Tang thought to herself that all her confidence came 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 pinch an I to death as easily as pinching an ant.

The difference between Master and Master, probably cannot silently make her disappear.

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

Xiao Mingshu suddenly laughed.

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

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

Don't say there's no concrete evidence; even if there is, who would dare point at the Empress?

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

She paused, the corner of her mouth forming a faint curve: "Empress, you say, who could it be?"

"Audacious!" Xiao Mingshu slammed the table and rose, "It's one thing to script this palace, but you actually dare to drag the Empress Dowager down with it!"

Her eyes boiled with anger, her armor digging deep into her palm: "This palace thinks you're fed up with life!"

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

She wants to reveal a flaw, making the Emperor think at once that Wan Tang is unsuitable.

If she can both reassure the Emperor and say what she wants, why not do it?

Xiao Mingshu's chest rose and fell violently, then she sensed something odd, turned her head and scanned the surroundings: "Where is Bai Wei?"

No one answered.

She frowned, but at this moment she could not spare a palace maid; the Wan Tang before her was the greatest threat.

She inhaled deeply, forced down her anger, and turned to Lady of Grace.

She deliberately softened her voice: "Lady of Grace, you also saw it—who's the one with a scheming heart?"

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

Even if she's stupid, she sensed something was off.

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

But if they truly investigate…

She glanced at Xiao Mingshu secretly, instantly feeling as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

The Empress's gaze was terrifyingly cold.

Xiao Mingshu stepped down the steps, stopping in front of Wan Tang.

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

"Consort Wan, you truly make this palace take a second look," she said in an extremely light voice, with a chilling coldness, "You want to cause a big scene, right?"

The armor applied slight pressure, a bead of blood oozing from Wan Tang's cheek.

"This palace will accompany you to the end," Xiao Mingshu leaned close to her ear, speaking in a voice only the two could hear, "But… you came to tell this palace about you and Xu Yanchuan…"

Creak!

The hall doors were suddenly pushed open.

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

A faint smile‑like curve lingered at his lip corner, his gaze sweeping the hall: "The Empress here truly makes a lively scene."

Xiao Mingshu's complexion changed abruptly, she hurriedly knelt and saluted: "Subject, may I see the Emperor."

Chu Yunzheng ignored her, walked straight to Wan Tang, reached out and helped her up, his palm warm: "The ground is cold."

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

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

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

Come to think of it, shouldn't the Dog Emperor have listened to Xiao Mingshu continue? Didn't he previously suspect Wan Tang and Xu Yanchuan? Why interrupt?

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

Impossible. The reason the Dog Emperor can be so at ease with Wan Tang now is that he knows she's an orphan. An orphan, even if pampered to the heavens, cannot stir up a wave. I think it's probably because the Empress might script an illicit affair between Wan Tang and Xu Yanchuan!

The barrage was clamoring loudly.

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

The barrage is right; the Emperor is a man of extreme suspicion.

Only those you can hold firmly in your hand are your own people. Anything with any variable can only be a pawn in your hand.

If the Emperor truly knows that Xu Yanchuan is his brother, the mother's identity, the Emperor could not not pry.

Once uncovered, how could it remain so calm?

Wan Tang does not dare to bring up Xu Yanchuan at all.

A tear still clung to her long eyelashes: "Emperor, I beg you to arbitrate for me."

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

Li Defu. The imperial voice was indistinguishable in joy or anger, "Give Consort Wan a seat."

When Wan Tang sat down, Chu Yunzheng was pacing to Lady of Grace, his leather boots stopping three inches from her forehead.

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

Lady Qi fixed her gaze on the boot, her cheeks flushing: "To the Emperor, the imperial physician says that in just forty days you can attend to bed normally."

Her voice grew softer, carrying a secret joy.

Outside the hall, the howling Fēng xuě framed the Emperor's next words with extra clarity: "Since that is so, you should know even more."

He leaned down, the shadow completely enveloping Lady Qi, "Without Wan Tang, you are already a corpse at this moment."

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

She opened her mouth, yet no sound came out, like a fish out of water.

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

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

"The earth dragon in the Western Hall never ceases, fearing it will freeze."

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

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

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

But before her smile could unfold, it froze at the Emperor's next words: "As for Lady Qi…"

"Ungrateful and seditious, sowing discord."

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

Lady Qi suddenly lunged to the Emperor's boot, her ten fingers gripping the hem tightly: "Your Majesty, be merciful!"

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

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

The Empress hurriedly replied: "I have already selected wet nurses of spotless backgrounds, all of whom have borne more than three children."

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

"Very good." the Emperor cut her off, "Empress, having raised the child, I am very reassured."

He suddenly leaned down, personally adjusting Xiao Mingshu's phoenix hairpin, "This child shall be entrusted to the Empress for care."

Xiao Mingshu's pupils contracted sharply; that twisted‑thread 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 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 yet firmly on her forehead, "When walking in the harem, remember, standing up for the wronged is good."

His peripheral glance fell on the Empress's iron‑blue face, "But sometimes one must also learn to close one's eyes."

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

Where does the Emperor claim this is a reward for her raising the Prince?

Clearly it is forcing her to swallow this vile resentment!

"I know my mistake." Wan Tang clutched the soft tip of the Emperor's sleeve, trembling, her pale nails flashing a bluish hue.

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

Without turning his head, he asked, "Empress, may I now leave?"

Xiao Mingshu "thumped" onto her knees, "I… I would never dare to impede the Holy Majesty…"