Chapter 137: Prepare Early

It feels so good to be protected.

Every time I step forward, I really get the feeling that the Dog Emperor has truly fallen for Tangtang.

Yes, in my view it's the same: Tangtang is just Tangtang, not anyone's substitute.

Wan Tang lifted her head, meeting Chu Yunzheng's gaze.

Those eyes, like a hawk's, always turn the moment they see her into a gentle spring wind that melts snow.

Such deep affection and warmth make one want to sink slowly into it and never rise again.

Chu Yunzheng's fingertips lightly brushed the bloodstain on Wan Tang's cheek.

"Tangtang," he called softly, "Does it hurt?"

Outside the hall, the wind and snow howled; he took off his dark fox great cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders, the fur tickling her nose.

Wan Tang was about to shake her head, but he pinched her chin: "Don't move."

Speaking, he drew a gilt little box from his sleeve, dipped his fingertip into the translucent white ointment, and carefully applied it to the red mark.

The ointment was cool, his palm warm.

Wan Tang lowered her eyes, feeling unusually at peace.

Xiao Mingshu watched from the side; even if silver teeth were shattered, what could she do?

"Since Tangtang is managing the Imperial harem," he suddenly said, his tone leisurely, "that clueless Bai Wei, leave it to you to deal with."

Wan Tang snapped her head up: "Emperor, is this a hot potato for me, your servant?"

Chu Yunzheng chuckled lowly, then pulled her gently into his arms.

"If I can't protect you," he whispered close to her ear, his breath brushing her earlobe, "it might be a lifesaving talisman?"

On the way back to Xi Tang Courtyard, the snow fell even harder.

"Master!"

Just as she stepped through the courtyard gate, Li Ping'er fell to her knees in the snow.

Her hair bun was disheveled, tears mixed with snowwater on her face, her ten fingers clawed deep into the snow: "You and the Emperor had just left, and the Department of Strict Punishments took Xiao Shunzi away!"

"They said it was the Empress's imperial decree."

Wan Tang felt a sudden thump in her heart, silently sighing that it was bad.

It seems that from the moment the Empress summoned her away, the preparations were already in place.

The Emperor took Bai Wei away on a whim.

But the Empress's removal of Xiao Shunzi was premeditated.

No need to guess; Xiao Shunzi was taken by Xiao Mingshu and is now in Kunning Palace.

The Empress's request is simple: make Xiao Shunzi the evidence; by any means, even forced confession, expose Wan Tang's crimes.

But Xiao Mingshu didn't anticipate that the Emperor would burst onto the scene midway, ruining all her plans.

Come to think of it, Chu Yunzheng truly didn't know the Imperial harem's intrigues? If he didn't, how could he so precisely take Bai Wei? Bai Wei has followed Xiao Mingshu since childhood, and who knows how many dirty deeds she has done for the Empress. The Empress wouldn't ignore Bai Wei.

Wan Tang sat upright on a rosewood round chair, her fingertips tapping the desk intermittently.

Candlelight illuminated half of her face, the other half hidden in shadow, making her look especially grim.

"Master," Li Ping'er was about to comfort, but suddenly saw the Master raise a hand to stop.

"Since the Emperor has handed Bai Wei over for us to deal with," Wan Tang's voice was as light as falling snow, yet made every palace maid shiver, "then bring her to Xi Tang Courtyard."

She suddenly lifted her gaze, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, "Send out a word: when will Xiao Shunzi return, and when will Bai Wei go back?"

Li Ping'er was about to answer when a clamor of footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Xiao Shunzi rolled and crawled into the hall, his official hat askew, his face still bearing bruises.

He "plopped" down kneeling at Wan Tang's feet, his forehead pounding the blue bricks: "Master! Master, help me!"

Tears mixed with blood smeared his face; Xiao Shunzi trembled like a sieve.

His collar was torn open halfway, revealing bruised purple marks inside, clearly having suffered greatly at the Department of Strict Punishments.

Xiao Shunzi did return, but he's no longer the Xiao Shunzi of old.

The severe torture failed to make Xiao Shunzi reveal Wan Tang's deeds, but a peace talisman that his mother gave fell out of his clothes, giving the Empress's people leverage to threaten Xiao Shunzi.

They intend to frame Wan Tang with Xiao Shunzi, or else they'll kill his whole family.

Wan Tang lowered her eyes, watching the disheveled loyal servant, then suddenly reached out to lift his chin.

The icy feel of the armor made Xiao Shunzi shiver: "M-Master... I thought I would never see you again."

He trembled violently.

Wan Tang's heart also sank a little.

She spoke slowly: "Xiao Shunzi, you first met me in Jingren Palace."

"Yes!" Xiao Shunzi hurriedly nodded: "Back then it was you, Master, who helped me."

Wan Tang's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she spoke slowly: "The Imperial harem is a place that devours people without spitting out bones; to have even a single genuine heart is already rare."

"Master, I thank you again and again for saving my life; I will surely repay you."

The light in Wan Tang's eyes dimmed a few more points.

In the end, Xiao Shunzi still refuses to tell her anything?

A soft sigh.

"It wasn't I who saved you," Wan Tang released her hand, her gaze turning to the swirling snow outside, "It was the Emperor."

Xiao Shunzi's body trembled lightly again, and in the end he still said nothing.

He only trembled, crawling on the ground.

Family, it seems the plot changes aren't that big; Xu Luoyan truly lives up to the protagonist line, managing to carry an aura like this.

I also saw that after Xu Chengyuan lost Xu Mingde, he actually refused Xu Yanchuan's return and went straight to Xu Luoyan.

Seeing Xu Chengyuan's moves, is he eyeing the child in Xu Luoyan's womb and planning, according to the original plot, to back Xu Luoyan's child for the throne?

If we calculate carefully, if the child in Tangtang's womb is a Prince, then the one born by Xu Luoyan is indeed the San Huangzi.

Wan Tang's complexion suddenly turned cold and unsightly.

What exactly is the thing Xiao Mingshu had Xiao Shunzi do?

Could it be related to Xu Luoyan?

Regardless, Xu Luoyan cannot stay.

The night is deep and quiet.

"No!"

Wan Tang sprang up from the brocade quilt, cold sweat soaking her apricot-colored nightclothes.

She trembled all over, her fingers gripping the quilt corner tightly, the knuckles turning a bluish‑white.

"Tangtang?" Chu Yunzheng woke instantly, pulling her into his arms.

His palm brushed her icy back, his brows immediately knit: "Did you have a nightmare?"

Wan Tang looked up in a daze, fear still lingering in her eyes.

In the candlelight, her face was as pale as paper, even her lips lost their color: "Emperor, I fear…"

Before she could finish, she suddenly clutched her abdomen, tears streaming down.

Chu Yunzheng's heart tightened, and he barked toward the outer chamber: "Summon the imperial physician!"

Wan Tang hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, her fingertips trembling, "It's the child."

She choked and couldn't continue, shrinking herself further into the Emperor's embrace.

Chu Yunzheng waved his hand to ward off the Guanren who entered at the sound, his large palm gently stroking her swollen abdomen: "Take your time and speak."

"I, the Subject, dreamed that on the day of delivery…" Wan Tang's voice was as light as a feather, "the entire hall was drenched in blood, and the child, just born, …"

She suddenly covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking violently, "A dark silhouette wanted to snatch our child."

The final sentence completely shattered the emperor's composure.

He recalled the imperial physician's daytime report: Consort Wan's excessive worry was detrimental to the fetus.

"Indeed, many things have happened lately; I'm afraid Tangtang was frightened," Chu Yunzheng suddenly said.

He brushed away the tears at the corner of her eye with his fingertip, "I will summon a high monk from Huguo Temple to enter the palace, to chant sutras and pray for blessings for my beloved consort and child."

"Also to dispel the bad luck in this palace."

From a angle he couldn't see, Wan Tang let out a gentle sigh of relief.

Tears still clung to her eyelashes as she asked timidly, "This isn't against the rules, is it?"

"Rules?" Chu Yunzheng sneered, his finger threading through her loose hair, "I am the rule itself."

Wan Tang obediently leaned in Chu Yunzheng's embrace, whispering, "Now the First Prince is still young, and the Subject and Xu Answering's child are still in the womb."

"If it's for a blessing, why not together?"

In Wan Tang's eyes there was only sincerity: "After all, they're both the Emperor's children."

Chu Yunzheng nodded, his voice warm: "All according to you!"