Chapter 145: Search

Xu Chengyuan's angry shouts gradually faded away, and the moment the hall doors closed, Yangxin Hall fell into a deep silence.

Chu Yunzheng's fingers lightly tapped the dragon desk, his gaze drifting between Xu Yanchuan and Su Yanci.

Xu Yanchuan bowed his head and stood, his face revealing no emotion, only the tightly clenched knuckles turning slightly pale.

Su Yanci stood in the shadows, a faint, ambiguous smile at the corner of his lips, as if this game had long been within his foresight.

"Xu Yanchuan." The Emperor suddenly spoke, his voice neither hurried nor slow, "Xu Chengyuan has been sentenced; what are your thoughts?"

Xu Yanchuan lifted his eyes, a calm depth within: "Subject, I will follow the Emperor's arrangements in all things."

Chu Yunzheng chuckled lightly: "The Xu Family these years has certainly given me many headaches."

"Wan Pin and I both think you are quite an outstanding talent."

"And now is precisely the time when I need talent."

The words were spoken so casually.

Just a person of the Imperial harem, how could one meddle in state affairs?

Xu Yanchuan fell silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Subject's surname was given by Xu Chengyuan."

He paused, his voice low yet firm, "But Subject's second life was granted by the Emperor."

The Emperor's eyes flickered slightly, a profound smile tugging at his lips: "Good, very good."

He rose, his dark dragon robe shimmering with a cold sheen in the candlelight: "Today Wan Pin was startled; I will go see."

Su Yanci stepped forward at the right moment, whispering: "Subject has already ordered someone to arrange it."

Chu Yunzheng nodded slightly, his gaze landing on Xu Yanchuan: "Xu Minister, the matter of Xu Chengyuan is now entrusted to you."

"Make sure you watch closely; I do not want him to see anyone."

Xu Yanchuan knelt on one knee, clasping his fists, and solemnly said: "Subject will certainly not betray the holy grace."

The Emperor smiled with satisfaction, turned, and walked toward the hall's exterior.

The moment the hall doors opened, the night wind swept in cold air, dispersing the room's oppressive gloom.

Xitan Courtyard.

The silver needle glimmered coldly under the candlelight, and Xie Taiyi's fingers were steady as a rock.

Between the two, they spoke intermittently: "Your Highness, I truly can't believe that child survived."

"Now the people of the Imperial Medical Institute are all inside Li Pin's courtyard."

"Li Pin never leaves her side; it's clear she truly likes that child."

But when Wan Tang's next words were heard, there was a barely perceptible pause.

"Li Pin should like that child." Wan Tang gazed at the dark night outside the window, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the entwined branch pattern on the brocade quilt, "These palace walls are too high, too cold."

Xie Taiyi's needle tip hovered over Wan Tang's wrist, then lowered his voice: "Your Highness, the pulse of the Imperial Heir in your womb is floating and slippery; if you continue to worry excessively…"

The words hung unfinished when a sharp voice from outside, Xiao Shunzi, sang: "I have seen the Emperor, may the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years…"

The elderly physician hurriedly withdrew the needles, but saw Chu Yunzheng already pulling aside the curtain and entering.

Wan Tang moved to rise and bow, but the Emperor gently pressed her back onto the couch: "Do not move."

"Tangtang, keep your body tight."

Seeing the Emperor arrive, Xie Taiyi quickened his movements; after finishing the treatment, he finally took his leave.

After the hall doors closed, Chu Yunzheng suddenly grasped Wan Tang's hand: "Xu Chengyuan is temporarily confined in the residence."

He rubbed his thumb over her cold fingertip, "But to ensure he never gets a chance to rise again, we still need some iron evidence."

As he spoke, his gaze flickered faintly toward Wan Tang.

Wan Tang's heart jumped suddenly; women of the Imperial harem must not meddle in state affairs.

The Emperor had no need to tell her these things.

Since neither side could provide a good answer, he simply gave none.

Wan Tang's tears fell in a rush: "I— I, as a concubine, know nothing of these."

She used the act of wiping tears to avoid the Emperor's probing gaze, "Thank you, Emperor, for deciding on my behalf; in my heart, I still hold resentment toward the Xu Family."

Chu Yunzheng suddenly chuckled, his finger lifting her chin: "I have a matter that worries me."

He looked into her watery eyes, "If Xu Chengyuan falls, who should the Hundred Thousand Army of the Northern Border be handed to?"

【Dog Emperor could not possibly be testing Wan Tang again?】

【Xu Luoyan just died, and the Dog Emperor shows not even a hint of sorrow? Fine, if that's not the case, then never mind, but Tangtang is at least pregnant and feeling unwell; testing her at this time, what is that?】

【Didn't he himself tell Su Yanci that there are currently two top candidates in his mind? One of them has some ties to the Xiao Family, so he's uneasy about handing over the Hundred Thousand Army. If that person allies with the Xiao Family, it'll be harder to control. The other candidate is General Liao, whom the Emperor is most satisfied with. He stands independent of any faction and remains utterly loyal to him.】

【Since he already has a suitable replacement in mind, why bother asking Tangtang?】

Wan Tang's mouth curved upward, a cold laugh in her heart.

It turns out favor is one thing, love another.

He can dote on you, giving you everything best. But only love will unconditionally trust and tolerate you.

The candle flickered, casting half of Wan Tang's face into shadow.

Her fingertips unconsciously twisted the silk thread on the brocade quilt, her heart as clear as a mirror,

The Emperor already has a candidate in mind, but it is certainly not Xu Yanchuan.

"I, a woman of the inner palace, how could I understand these matters of war and state?"

She lowered her eyelashes, casting a shadow on her pale face, her voice light as a sigh, "It is that Xu Answering just left; this posthumous matter still needs to be arranged."

As she said this, a clear hint of resentment appeared on her face.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze suddenly sharpened, scraping across her face like a knife.

After a long while, he suddenly chuckled, his fingertip brushing her slightly furrowed brow: "Enough, let the Xu Family's affairs be set aside for now."

Shifting tone, "So Tangtang, what do you think should be done with Xu Luoyan?"

The fingers in Wan Tang's sleeve curled slightly.

"If I were to handle it, I would only follow the Imperial Palace's rules." She lifted her misty eyes, "She should be buried with the rites of an Answering, only…"

She bit her lower lip, hesitating to speak.

"Only that Wang Jingyi is hard to deal with?" Chu Yunzheng suddenly sneered coldly, a hint of Yin Zhi flashing in his eyes. "I think the Empress has been quite idle lately."

He leaned over to tuck the corner of the quilt for Wan Tang, his tone frighteningly gentle, "This kind of errand is just right for her."

Wan Tang's heart skipped a beat.

Chu Yunzheng was going to drag the Empress into the water too.

This would both preserve the Xu Family's dignity and make the Xiao Family and the Xu Family completely opposed.

She suddenly felt a chill run through her body under the brocade quilt, yet she still had to put on a grateful look: "The Emperor is considerate."

Chu Yunzheng gazed at her forced smile, then suddenly reached out to wipe away the still-damp tear tracks at the corner of her eye: "Tangtang only needs to take good care of herself."

"Give me a little Princess," his fingertip pressed lightly on her abdomen, "that is the most important thing."

Li Defu stood outside and called out: "Your Majesty, someone has come from the Empress's palace to report that the Empress is truly very ill."

"Ill?" Chu Yunzheng's eyes turned cold. "The Empress falls ill at just the right time. No wonder she hasn't shown herself today."

"I'll go take a look."

Chu Yunzheng kissed Wan Tang on the forehead, then turned and left.

The night was as black as ink. Wan Tang threw off the brocade quilt.

She stepped barefoot onto the cold floor tiles, her plain white undergarment shimmering with a faint blue in the moonlight.

Li Ping'er was fast asleep in the side room, and Xiao Shunzi had been sent to the Imperial Medical Institute to fetch the Calming Soup.

The vermilion gate of the Cold Palace was half-open, like a pitch-black mouth.

Wan Tang's fingers trembled slightly as she held the silk lantern, its flame flickering in the draft.

Yet she walked quickly towards the Cold Palace.

She crouched beside the bed where Xu Luoyan had breathed her last, her fingertips brushing over the dried bloodstains, searching inch by inch for the spirit tablet.

"Looking for this?"

The voice that suddenly sounded from the shadows made Wan Tang's whole body shudder.