Chapter 147: The Empress Requests

Wan Tang saw this, her palm suddenly clenched, a cold bead of sweat rolled down her face.

The floor of Yangxin Hall was warm from the dragon fire, but Wan Tang's heart was terrifyingly cold.

No one was clearer than Wan Tang about what this thing meant.

The hall doors were suddenly pushed open, and Chu Yunzheng walked in.

A chill gathered in his brows, but it relaxed the moment he saw Wan Tang, a gentle smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Tangtang." His voice was light and gentle, as if afraid to disturb something, "You did well this time."

"Not only did you rescue my Prince, you also finally opened the breach, letting the torrent surge."

Wan Tang hurriedly rose to salute, but the Emperor reached out and steadied her.

His fingertip brushed her icy cheek, his brow slightly furrowed: "Why are you sweating so much?"

His thumb gently wiped the bead of sweat from her temple, the motion tender.

Wan Tang slipped her fingertips into her sleeve and then into her palm, but she showed a docile smile: "I am just a little uncomfortable."

"Your praise, Emperor, truly makes me a bit apprehensive. After all, I only did what was within my duties."

Chu Yunzheng suddenly grasped her hand, the warmth from his palm made her heart flutter.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze was deep, his voice carrying a rare fatigue: "In this palace, everyone harbors hidden motives."

"Only you, Tangtang, are sincere with me."

Everyone would love to hold the Imperial Heir in their hands; as for other people's children, it would be best if they died.

Only Wan Tang would spare no effort to save every child.

He suddenly asked: "Tell me, why do people in the world cling so greedily to power?"

Wan Tang's breathing faltered slightly, she deliberated: "Subject… I do not understand these."

"And you?" Chu Yunzheng suddenly turned, his eyes blazing, "If you held overwhelming power, what would you do?"

Inside the hall it was so quiet one could hear the drip of the water clock.

Wan Tang suddenly felt utterly exhausted; in this deep palace, is there any room left to speak the truth?

"To live."

She gently stroked her abdomen, genuine fragility in her eyes, "Before I only sought my own survival; now I only hope this child can be born safely."

Her voice was as light as a sigh, "Being alive is more important than anything."

Chu Yunzheng's eyes flickered, he reached out to pull her into his arms: "Well said."

His jaw rested on her crown of hair, his voice muffled, "Living… is hope."

Chu Yunzheng recalled past years, sighing: "When I was not yet Emperor, I also had years that felt worse than death."

"I once thought of ending it all, but someone told me I must live."

"Only by living can one possess."

Wan Tang carefully asked: "I do not know who that person is."

"A person not convenient to mention further." Chu Yunzheng gave a bitter smile, his eyes showing rare sincerity.

After a moment of silence, the Emperor suddenly tightened his arm: "Tangtang."

His tone carried hesitation, "I know you have always valued Xu Yanchuan."

He paused, his voice deepening, "But this time, I'm afraid I will disappoint you."

"I cannot let him take over Xu Chengyuan's position."

Wan Tang pressed against his chest, listening to the strong heartbeat, a cold smile curling at her lips.

When she looked up again, only docility remained: "I do not understand court affairs."

She whispered, "It's a pity, Emperor, if you could have one more capable general, how wonderful."

"It is the Emperor who can say these to me; I am truly moved."

Wan Tang's eyelashes fluttered, eyes glistening with tears, her lips curving a sweet arc.

She slightly lifted her head, gaze pure and fervent into the Emperor's eyes: "In this moment, I feel no longer the Emperor's concubine, but your wife."

Chu Yunzheng's eyes suddenly darkened, his fingertip lightly rubbed her chin: "The Emperor's wife is only one person."

His voice low, "That is the Empress."

He leaned down, his thin lips almost touching her earlobe: "But Chu Yunzheng's wife need not be the Empress."

Wan Tang's heart jolted; before she could react, her whole body was already pulled into a solid embrace.

His jaw rested on her crown, his voice filled with unprecedented indulgence: "Xu Luoyan's matter has alarmed the Empress Dowager, Tangtang will probably have to go to Cining Palace."

She gently nodded in his arms, the scent of ambergris lingering at her nose: "I understand."

"Remember," Chu Yunzheng suddenly tightened his arm, the force so great it almost hurt her, "though you are an orphan, you have me."

Those words were like a blunt blade, stabbing deep into the softest part of Wan Tang's heart.

She suddenly felt her eyes heat up; if the person before her were only Chu Yunzheng, not the Emperor, how wonderful that would be.

"I take my leave." She quickly regained composure, kneeling in salute her face now bore a perfect smile again.

【It wasn't that I alarmed the Empress Dowager; it was clearly Xiao Mingshu who did it on purpose.】

【There's nothing we can do; Wan Tang's brilliance is too obvious. Xiao Mingshu's biggest worry has always been the Xu Family, which could stand equal with the Xiao Family. Now the Xu Family is clearly doomed, and Xiao Mingshu fears Wan Tang.】

【Even though she's just an orphan, she has received too much favor, even affecting her interests; that makes her an enemy.】

【This is clearly a trap set by Xiao Mingshu for Wan Tang. If Wan Tang steps forward, someone must bear the poisoning consequence. As long as Wan Tang personally catches the Lady of Grace Qi, it would completely offend the Qi Family. The road ahead will surely be difficult.】

【If the Lady of Grace Qi cannot be caught, this mess will inevitably be pinned on Wan Tang. After all, the cook that day was Wan Tang's person.】

Wan Tang walked quietly forward.

A cold laugh rose in her heart.

They say a bright spear is easy to dodge, a hidden arrow hard to guard; Xu Luoyan likes to play the shady side. Wan Tang can still handle it with ease.

But the Empress, of all people, likes to put everything out in the open, forcing you to make a choice.

Under the Han White Jade Steps outside the hall, Xiao Shunzi and Li Ping'er bowed their heads and stood waiting for a long time.

The vermilion lacquered hall doors opened, and an icicle at the eave happened to drop a droplet, splashing into a transparent spray.

Wan Tang leaned on the doorframe, stepped over the threshold, her complexion pale.

Xiao Shunzi lunged forward in a single step, "Master, watch the steps."

He pretended to support Wan Tang's elbow, his voice pressed down to a very low level.

Li Ping'er shook open her great cloak, her ten fingers fluttered, tying the silk cord at the collar.

Wan Tang stared absentmindedly at the melting icicles in the Langxia, those crystal icicles dripping tear‑like droplets.

Following her gaze, Li Ping'er smiled with a dimpled round face, "We were able to get through this winter's snow disaster safely, all thanks to the Lady of Grace's foresight. It also avoided the tragedy in Fengdu."

She suddenly fell silent, but her eyes looking at Wan Tang shone astonishingly, the pupils reflecting only a thin silhouette of the Master.

Wan Tang curled a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth, "Speak cautiously. This is the Emperor's boundless blessings, the merit of the great elders' devoted service."

"Clearly it is the Lady's skill," Li Ping'er stamped her foot anxiously, her cheeks puffed like a pufferfish, "You began preparations three months early, your robes widened as you wrote the disaster‑relief edicts, and also …"

"Silence!" Wan Tang swished her wide sleeves.

Seeing Li Ping'er still trying to argue, she turned her face away, the Eastern Pearl pendant on her earlobe shaking violently.

Xiao Shunzi stepped forward half a pace, his voice as if soaked in ice water, "Master, rumors are now spreading wildly in the streets."

His Adam's apple rolled, "They say Concubine Wan, the Lady, is a living bodhisattva who rescues the suffering, and even a nursery rhyme has been made."

Wan Tang trembled all over.

She placed her hand on her still‑unrevealed abdomen; at first, she had indeed entertained thoughts of using the people's hopes to advance her position.

Until Xu Yanchuan appeared, and seeing the Emperor's scrutinizing gaze at Xu Yanchuan with Yin Zhi's eyes, she realized it was a death‑summoning talisman.

From that moment on, she abandoned that thought.

The Imperial harem, after all, is different from the Former Dynasty.

Reputation and prestige can be promoted through the people's voice, but the harem's position can only be granted by the Emperor.

Since she is the Emperor's woman, everything must be held in his hand, and he decides.

This is the iron rule of harem survival; once broken, the game must end early.

"What kind of nursery rhyme?" she heard her own voice drifting like the icicle at the eave.

Xiao Shunzi cleared his throat, humming a tune so eerie it sent chills down the spine, "In the Golden Throne Hall the dragon sleeps, within the vermilion walls the bodhisattva awakens …"

Wan Tang staggered a step, her breath trembling, "Find every way to stop this sound!"

【Xu Luoyan is truly dead now, is Wan Tang also about to go offline?】

【Shei knows? This later plot completely doesn't follow the original, it's impossible to understand!】

【No matter what, still hope to live honorably. After all, in the end the San Huangzi ascends the throne, Tangtang becomes the Empress Dowager.】

【Yes, Tangtang survives, becomes Empress Dowager.】

Wan Tang's hand gently covered her lower abdomen.

Is the one she carries a Prince?

In Jingren Palace, a faint fragrance floated.

Inside the hall, the heavy incense scent was so thick it almost solidified; Empress Xiao Mingshu sat upright on the rosewood phoenix throne.

Wan Tang had just stepped onto the vermilion lacquer threshold when the two matronly women on either side immediately clamped the arms of Xiao Shunzi and Li Ping'er, barring them outside Jingren Palace.

Wan Tang's fingers under her wide sleeves curled sharply, yet her face still bore a proper light smile, and as she moved with lotus steps her skirt hem remained flawless.

In the center of the hall, Lady Qi was pressing her forehead to the ground.

Her voice was hoarsely absurd, "Please, Lady, grant mercy; the First Prince cried all night last night, and I, your servant, am truly distressed."

"The First Prince still thinks, how could he be separated from his mother?"

"Please, Empress, let me give the First Prince a mouthful of milk, it would also fulfill a mother's heart."

"Mother?" Xiao Mingshu laughed lightly, "Sister is confused. In this Forbidden City, the dragon sons and phoenix grandsons should all call me Mother."

She lowered her eyes, took a sip of tea, and the crisp clink of the saucer against the cup rim made Lady Qi shudder.

"Just a noble lady, how could she be a mother to a prince?"

The light in Lady Qi's eyes gradually faded.

With Qi Qi's official rank, as soon as the prince is born, she can be promoted in rank.

It is clearly the Empress repeatedly creating obstacles.

Wan Tang observed everything, and entered calmly without a change of expression.

Wan Tang was about to kneel and bow when Xiao Mingshu raised her hand, "Concubine Wan is pregnant, you may forgo the ceremony."

Immediately a palace maid brought an embroidered peony cushion, but placed it deliberately three degrees off, forcing Wan Tang to sit sideways.

"Lately, interrogating Wang Jingyi has given me a headache," Xiao Mingshu sighed suddenly, her fingertip pressing her temple, "She keeps saying Xu Daying that she died from poisoning."

She suddenly slammed the tea cup onto the table, startling Lady Qi into a shiver, "The autopsy results indeed showed a problem; it truly was poisoning!"

Wan Tang saw the Empress's phoenix eyes glance sideways, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, "Even a consort bearing dragon blood dares to strike; truly she is utterly heartless!"

"Murdering the Imperial Heir is a crime punishable by extermination of the nine clans; I must investigate!"

Wan Tang stroked her swollen lower belly, mocking in her heart.

"That is natural; with the Empress in charge, the truth will naturally surface."

Xiao Mingshu nodded, "Well said."

Her expression changed, her face cold, "When I interrogated Wang Jingyi, she gave me many unexpected surprises."

"Wan Tang, Wang Jingyi accuses you, saying the murderer is you!"

"You, how do you explain?"

After the Empress finished speaking, she calmly took a clay doll out of the sleeve pouch.

Wan Tang stared at the clay doll, her expression serious.

That is really my mother's clay doll—hasn't Wang Jingyi been keeping it hidden all along?

How could it have fallen into the Empress's hands?