Chapter 146: Harboring a Ghost Fetus

Wan Tang's heart suddenly tightened, and she spun around abruptly.

Yan Wang Chu Yunjin stood tall, the dark patterns on his black python robe flickering faintly in the night.

His features resembled Chu Yunzheng by about seventy percent, but lacked the emperor's sharpness and bore a few lazy, wicked airs.

At that moment, the corner of his mouth curled slightly, and his fingertips idly brushed the spirit tablet.

Wan Tang halted her movement and slowly straightened her torso.

"Prince visits the Cold Palace late at night," Wan Tang forced her racing heart down, her sleeves unmoving as she bowed with bent knees, "I'm not afraid of drawing criticism."

Yan Wang let out a light laugh and suddenly stepped forward two paces.

The scent of dragon's saliva mingled with iron rust hit her nose, and Wan Tang only then noticed fresh blood stains on his robe hem.

"Consort, even you are unafraid," he said as he leaned down, the tassels hanging from his jade crown brushing Wan Tang's cheek, "What am I afraid of?"

The spirit tablet spun a circle in his palm.

Wan Tang's fingernails dug deep into his palm, a perfectly timed confusion appearing on her face: "Prince, what are you doing with that nameless spirit tablet?"

Yan Wang suddenly lifted her chin with the spirit tablet, "Consort, don't you recognize it?"

A cold wind swept through the hall, extinguishing the last fragment of the candle.

In the darkness, Wan Tang heard her own heartbeat thunder like a drum.

Wan Tang forced a smile and said lightly, "Prince, you jest."

"I am merely a lone maiden."

Saying that, Wan Tang stepped forward.

She didn't know what Yan Wang was thinking; the only thought in her mind was that her mother's spirit tablet would never fall into anyone else's hands.

Wan Tang reined in all her panic and calmly approached Yan Wang.

She slowly raised her hand and drew out the spirit tablet.

Her smile now seemed far more casual as she whispered, "I'll take this thing away for now."

"After all, this thing offers no benefit to you, Prince."

Wan Tang's words were laden with meaning.

Yan Wang laughed, "Consort Wan, you do have a way with words; who says it's useless?"

Yan Wang not only didn't let go, but instead slipped the spirit tablet into his embrace.

Wan Tang reached out in vain, her expression visibly turning ugly.

She quickly steadied her emotions, a hint of anger flashing on her face.

Yan Wang chuckled, "Consort, why must you be angry?"

"I, the king, am merely seeing that you and I share a fate!"

She could ignore everything else, but she could not tolerate jokes made with her mother's spirit tablet.

"I just want my thing back!" Wan Tang's tone grew harsher.

A barely perceptible smile twitched at Yan Wang's mouth as he said casually, "You remind me of someone."

"I think the Emperor also cares about it."

Yan Wang, still speaking, turned to leave: "Leaving this thing by your side may not be a good thing; I will keep it for you for now."

"By the way," Yan Wang turned back again.

His gaze fell on Wan Tang's thin clothing and bare feet: "If you have secrets, you must never trust any tongue."

As Yan Wang spoke, he had already draped a large cloak over Wan Tang.

He laughed, but the smile made everyone feel uneasy.

He said, "Do not fear; we share a common enemy, and I, the king, am your support!"

"If you are willing to trust me."

He pressed the spirit tablet in his arms and said, "As for this, I think the Consort does not wish it to be made public, right?"

Yan Wang's figure vanished into the Fēng xuě.

The large cloak was warm, yet Wan Tang felt terrifyingly cold all over.

Angry, Wan Tang yanked the cloak off and threw it on the ground, stormed forward two steps, then turned back and picked the cloak up again.

If someone found Yan Wang's cloak in the Cold Palace, it would be trouble again.

【In the original story, there wasn't much about Yan Wang. It only ends with Yan Wang rebelling and being killed by Chu Yunzheng.】

【Above, is it really Yan Wang who rebelled? Didn't you see the details? Wasn't it forced by Chu Yunzheng?】

【They both went mad for a woman!】

【According to the original plot, it was no longer about the woman, but about a man's dignity.】

Wan Tang tightened her grip on the thing in her arms, her expression grim.

Woman?

Rebellion?

Could it be that Yan Wang and Chu Yunzheng are destined for an endless, unending conflict?

The cloak in her arms seemed even hotter.

For three consecutive days.

The Imperial harem was in turmoil.

Xiao Mingshu personally interrogated Wang Jingyi, and not only failed to extract anything, but an accident also occurred.

Xiao Mingshu had just taken a step forward when Wang Jingyi's tongue vanished.

Chu Yunzheng was enraged by this and grew even more disappointed with the Empress.

Wan Tang sat under the eaves, watching the ice shards melt into water, her brows never able to relax.

A white pigeon landed on the windowsill.

Small strips of paper were tied to each leg; after Wan Tang read them, she let all the characters melt in the fire.

"Master, someone from Yangxin Hall came, saying the Emperor asked you to go there," Li Ping'er whispered, handing over a gilt warm stove.

Wan Tang waved her hand, and alone stepped on the unmelted leftover snow toward Yangxin Hall.

Outside the Warm Pavilion no one was on guard; she pushed open the carved wooden door, and inside was empty, with only the silver‑bone charcoal in the incense basket quietly burning.

She walked to the window, watching the melting snow outside; water droplets slid down the glazed tiles, refracting rainbow light in the sunshine.

"How delightful, Consort."

A lazy voice suddenly sounded behind her.

Wan Tang's heart leapt; she spun around, and Su Yanci was, unknown when, leaning beside the rosewood desk.

Today he wore a moon‑white brocade robe, its collar half open, revealing a snow‑white inner shirt; a loose, sagging sash hung at his waist, and he looked as relaxed as a well‑fed cat.

"Lord Su, you are courteous," Wan Tang stepped back two paces, her hem brushing the woven‑gold carpet, producing a faint rustle.

She observed proper etiquette while keeping distance between them.

She lowered her eyes in salute, the golden Step Shake pattern in her hair unmoving, "Where is the Emperor?"

Su Yanci chuckled lightly, his slender fingers twirling the white jade paperweight on the desk, "The Emperor is busy with state affairs in Yangxin Hall."

He suddenly straightened, the hem of his brocade tracing an elegant curve, "I have a matter I do not understand, and I have sought the Emperor's grace to ask you, Consort, for counsel."

Wan Tang, expression unchanged, slipped her hand into her sleeve, "Lord Su, speak freely."

Su Yanci suddenly stepped forward two paces, the scent of deep‑water incense hitting her face.

As he bent down, a strand of black hair slipped from his golden crown, hanging before Wan Tang's eyes, "Consort, you wish Xu Yanchuan to replace Xu Chengyuan, correct?"

The incense inside the Warm Pavilion suddenly grew heavy, and Wan Tang's fingertips trembled slightly within her sleeve.

Just a wall away lay the Emperor's bright council chamber, yet Su Yanci dared utter such treasonous words here.

Even though she thought it that way in her heart, how could such a matter be spoken to others?

"Lord Su, you jest," Wan Tang's lips curved just right, her eyes showing just the right hint of confusion, "I have lived in the inner palace for ages; how could I know about court appointments?"

Su Yanci chuckled again, waving his wide sleeves casually.

The palace staff inside withdrew like a tide, and the door's closing sounded as light as a sigh.

He leaned against the rosewood desk, his collar slipping to half his shoulder, "Consort, now only the two of us remain."

"Even if I am the only one left in the palace," Wan Tang brushed her temple, "I still would not dare speak rashly of state affairs."

Su Yanci's gaze suddenly sharpened like a blade, scanning her face back and forth.

After a long while, he whispered, "Consort, pretending to be foolish before me is one thing."

His fingertips tapped the desk lightly, each tap like a ticking clock urging death, "The Emperor's heart is as clear as a bright mirror; you would do well to speak and act cautiously."

Wan Tang's heart jolted.

The Emperor's suspicion was like an invisible sword, now hanging over her head.

She suddenly performed a blessed salute, her skirt spreading on the floor like snow, "I am but a solitary lady of the palace; the Emperor's mercy is already a great fortune, how could I dare form factions? Lord Su's guidance today I will engrave deep within my heart."

"Consort, you are exceptionally wise; why then need my humble counsel?"

"My humble self merely wishes to tell you, Consort, that the capable should lead; if one cannot even manage oneself, how can the Emperor be at ease?"

Wan Tang's heart paused.

Su Yanci's words seemed to be a reminder.

The Xu Family's actions troubled the Emperor, and the Emperor is also a very suspicious man.

Put plainly, whoever can reassure the Emperor and has the ability to win the Hundred Thousand Army's wholehearted loyalty is the one qualified to sit in that position.

But how can one achieve this?

Consort, do you know that Yan Wang still resides briefly in the palace?

"Just a fleeting encounter." Before Wan Tang finished speaking, Su Yanci's expression turned suddenly cold.

"The Emperor and Yan Wang," he traced a swift line at his neck with his fingertip, making a fierce gesture, "are water and fire, cannot coexist."

His voice was pressed down to the lowest, "That gentleman is also indiscreet; Consort, be careful in all matters."

Wan Tang was stunned.

She did not expect this habitually lazy inner minister to suddenly warn, "Lord Su, why…"

"Lord Su!" Li Defu's thin voice suddenly rang from outside the hall.

The elderly eunuch pushed the door open, his gaze shifting between the two, "The Emperor summons urgently."

Watching them both depart, Li Defu's gaze finally fell upon Wan Tang.

Li Defu deliberately waited until Su Yanci left before he himself left a beat later.

He let out a sinister chuckle, "Consort Wan, how fortunate to be favored by the Emperor."

"It doesn't seem like the unlucky ones, who end up losing their lives in vain, yet become a wedding dress for others."

Wan Tang outright refused to pay Li Defu any heed.

Looking at the elderly eunuch, her heart was filled with sheer disgust.

"Consort Wan, you need not resist me, a servant, so much; after all, I also have times when I can help you."

Li Defu said, handing out a picture.

A face full of creased smiles, "This is the Empress's item that the servant is to deliver to you."

"The Empress said Xu Answering is now dead; his death is deserved. Yet the child remains the Emperor's offspring, and harming the prince cannot be left unpunished."

"The Empress said, please, Consort, go there."

"Believe, Consort, you will surely know whether someone poisoned, and who did it."

Wan Tang let out a light snort, "Li Defu, I'm too lazy even to pretend."

The voice said coldly, "I do not know."

"Empress, don't speak too soon," Li Defu placed the painting scroll on the table. "The Empress said, wait until you've seen this picture before making a decision."

Li Defu smiled lightly and retreated outward.

Wan Tang felt a churn in her stomach and only felt nausea.

She stepped forward, took the painting scroll, and slowly unfolded it.

Yet the moment she saw the picture clearly, her hand began to tremble.

The painting depicted her mother's mud doll, the one that Wang Jingyi had taken away…