Chapter 138: Prayer for Blessing

Everyone is restless, Xu Luoyan's child is still in her womb, how can Wan Tang possibly sleep peacefully?

Three women, one drama—what if the three women are all scheming?

The sound of the bell pierces the palace walls.

In the hall, Chu Yunzheng sits upright on a gilt chair, his bright yellow dragon robe standing out amid the swirling incense flames.

Xiao Mingshu stands at his side, the Eastern Pearl on her phoenix crown reflecting the candlelight, dazzling the eyes.

The Lady of Grace holds the First Prince at the lower end, while Consort Shun holds the Princess's hand.

And Xu Luoyan, as if invisible.

The Emperor ultimately despised her; even when she comes out to pray, she is only allowed to wear a black mask, so that her face cannot be seen.

From outside the hall, a deep chanting suddenly comes.

Twelve senior monks, clad in kasaya, stride in slowly; the leading abbot holds a gilt meditation staff, and with each step the golden ring at its tip emits a clear ringing sound.

"Let's begin," Chu Yunzheng says lightly.

As the Buddhist chant sounds, Wan Tang kneels on a prayer mat embroidered with twin lotuses.

She closes her eyes, yet can feel countless gazes stuck to her back.

The Empress's scrutiny, Xu Luoyan's jealousy, and the Lady of Grace's hesitation to speak.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind tinged with snow brushes past her ears.

A young eunuch, taking the chance to add incense, presses his lips almost to her earlobe: "Madam, the Lady of Grace awaits in the warm chamber."

The voice is as light as a spider's silk, and in an instant it drifts away into the sutras.

Wan Tang counts the watch beats, and only when the chanting reaches the Medicine Buddha Sutra does she quietly rise.

She pulls her fox fur tighter and says to Li Ping'er: "I'm going to change clothes; you need not follow."

The warm chamber's door hangs ajar, and when pushed it emits a soft "creak."

Inside, no lamps are lit; only the dim red glow of the charcoal brazier flickers intermittently.

The Lady of Grace stands with her back to the door, by the window, fingers constantly twisting a handkerchief, unaware that anyone has entered.

"Sister, thank you for waiting," Wan Tang says, closing the door behind her.

The Lady of Grace whirls around abruptly, her complexion whiter than the snow outside the window.

She has, for the first time, not worn any gold ornaments today; a plain silver hairpin is askew in her hair, and two dark‑blue patches sit under her eyes: "You've come?"

"Of course I'm coming," Wan Tang rubs her hands, leaning toward the brazier, "It's bitterly cold on this snowy day."

"Stop the idle talk!" the Lady of Grace suddenly lowers her voice.

Her chest rises and falls violently, "It was my foolishness before."

"My father said the incense isn't mixed with a calming medicine, but with wolf‑poison flower that can cause a hemorrhage."

Wan Tang nods.

When she reaches the point of deciding to make a big scene, the current situation has already been sealed.

The Lady of Grace is indeed over‑protected, but those who protect her must also be capable.

The Lady of Grace herself cannot provide any aid to Wan Tang.

Yet her family should not be underestimated.

Her father, Qi Qi, holds a high position in the Ministry of Revenue; her elder brother is a top scholar of the imperial examinations. Though her sister‑in‑law is merely a merchant's daughter, she is shrewd in calculations and runs the family shop with meticulous order.

One fool isn't worth saving, but if the whole family has only this one fool, then they must be saved.

"Understood, that's enough," Wan Tang pretends calm, saying lightly, "I hope, sister, that you may be safe and have your wishes fulfilled."

"What? You're helping me, not trying to win me over?" the Lady of Grace asks.

Wan Tang merely gives a meaning‑laden smile.

The Lady of Grace suddenly realizes, her face flushed red and puffed with anger.

"The Emperor is still outside, and I cannot linger here, I'll leave first," Wan Tang says with a graceful smile, then turns to depart.

"Do not drink the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall tonight," the Lady of Grace suddenly grabs Wan Tang's wrist, the force startling, "The Empress has replaced the pumpkin purée with red flowers."

She rolls her throat and says, "Xu Luoyan's child deserved to die; the child in her womb is a threat to me."

"The Empress is right; I am now a mother and must consider my own child."

Wan Tang, startled, asks, "If that's the case, why tell me?"

"You have helped me."

She abruptly releases her grip, stepping back two paces as if burned, "The Qi Family does not like to owe favors."

The Lady of Grace leaves.

Wan Tang immediately follows.

But she sees, under the window that no one should have passed, a shallow line of footprints.

Who is it?

Wan Tang walks slowly outward.

The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall should originally be colored with red flowers, but due to the pregnant woman, pumpkin purée is used instead.

The kitchen preparing the meal is unrelated to the Empress.

Yet once the food is served, the Empress naturally has ways to make it impossible to refuse.

If one were to eat…

Wan Tang's hand covers her lower abdomen; she would never risk her child.

The chanting in the Blessing Hall gradually fades, and Wan Tang, stepping lightly like a lotus, deliberately circles to Xu Luoyan's prayer mat.

"Sister truly is very devout," Wan Tang says softly, "to keep kneeling here without moving."

"Isn't it cold?"

Xu Luoyan clenched the brocade handkerchief in her hand, forced down her anger and turned her face away: "Since this is a prayer for blessings, there must naturally be sincerity."

"A sincere heart makes it effective!"

Wan Tang suddenly raised her tone, "I just went with Sister Qi to the Warm Pavilion and talked about the meeting; now my whole body feels warm."

She glanced pointedly at Xu Luoyan's abdomen, "Sister should also move around more."

"Don't let the Imperial Heir freeze."

Xu Luoyan didn't want to move; she was clearly too afraid to move.

After all, the Emperor was watching there; if anything displeased him, she didn't know how she would die.

Xu Luoyan snapped her head up, anger flaring in her eyes as if about to burst: "Don't get cocky!"

She lowered her voice to a whisper, each word poisonous, "After I give birth to a Prince, everything will get better."

"Will the Emperor then understand who is sincere?" Xu Luoyan glared angrily.

Wan Tang smiled, sounding like an intimate whisper to onlookers, "Sister still can't restrain herself like this."

She let out a light laugh, "Actually, Sister Qi is the most grateful."

Xiao Mingshu on the high seat suddenly crushed the honey‑wax prayer beads in her hand.

"So Lady of Grace Qi just went to the Warm Pavilion?" Her voice carried a chill, her phoenix eyes fixed on Lady of Grace Qi's drooping hair.

Lady of Grace Qi shivered all over, her grip on the First Prince's arm tightening sharply, causing the child to cry out "wa" loudly.

She fumbled to soothe him, fine beads of sweat forming at her temples.

"Just now you were with Lady of Grace Qi?" Chu Yunzheng twirled a jade toggle, his gaze sweeping between Wan Tang and Lady of Grace Qi.

Wan Tang bowed gracefully, "I have spoken many personal matters with Sister."

She turned her head toward Lady of Grace Qi, admiration in her eyes, "Sister's change is truly heartening."

Xiao Mingshu's smile had become as stiff as a mask.

Yet the Emperor suddenly laughed out loud, saying meaningfully, "Very good."

Lady of Grace Qi almost buried her head in the floor crack, her hand holding the child trembling continuously.

Wan Tang seemed oblivious, picking up a handkerchief, covering her mouth with a light laugh.

The prayer for blessings ends.

As they moved to the Flower Hall, dusk had already shrouded the palace walls.

Rarely gathering, they had prepared the meals early.

The Empress deliberately placed Wan Tang on the Emperor's left, herself on the right, while Xu Luoyan and Lady of Grace Qi sat at the lower seats.

"This Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is truly excellent; everyone, have a taste."

Xiao Mingshu personally arranged the dishes for the Emperor, the golden armor flashing coldly in the candlelight.

"Today's dish was made by Consort Wan's newly recruited chef; the skill is quite remarkable."

She turned her head toward Wan Tang, a probing look in her eyes, "Sister, such skill—you even managed to find such a rare Fujian cuisine chef."

Wan Tang sneered inwardly, what skill? The Six Palaces have so many affairs; the Imperial Household Department handled the chef recruitment.

She merely forged a seal.

Is this trying to splash this dirty water on her?

The moment the gilded soup bowl was lifted, a rich aroma assaulted the senses.

In the amber broth floated abalone, sea cucumber, and shark fin, with a few golden chrysanthemums floating on the surface.

Wan Tang lifted a jade spoon, her peripheral glance catching Lady of Grace Qi gripping the tablecloth tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"Your Majesty's praise is misplaced," Wan Tang chuckled lightly, scooping a ladle of thick soup under everyone's gaze.

Amid the steaming haze, she saw Xu Luoyan already drinking more than half eagerly, while the Empress stared intently at her actions.