Chapter 150: People of the Cost Palace

Although I've already experienced this many times, I must say, it's simply divine. Clearly it was Xiao Mingshu who tried to trap Wan Tang, but I didn't expect Wan Tang could turn the tables like that.

Is this something to be happy about? Haven't you seen how great a price Wan Tang has paid because of this?

If the child is harmed, regret will be too late.

No, I have a feeling that since the storyline has already changed, Wan Tang is the heroine; she has the protagonist's aura.

Wan Tang, drowsy and hazy, was woken by the Barrage.

A strong mugwort scent filled the warm chamber, mingling with the bitterness of incense.

Wan Tang's eyelashes fluttered, and the moment she slowly opened her eyes, all the Guanren in the house knelt together.

"Master!" Li Ping'er bowed with a resonant snap, and a flush immediately spread across her forehead.

Xiao Shunzi knelt at the foot of the couch, his bandaged wrist still oozing blood, yet he grinned, teeth visible but eyes hidden.

Xie Taiyi's cuffs were half soaked with sweat: "Heaven has eyes! If the Lady does not awaken soon, I fear I will go with her!"

He trembled as he took her pulse, then lowered his voice: "You know, your body cannot endure such torment."

"Fortunately it's not real bleeding, but why was your leg pierced by a hairpin?"

Wan Tang bit her lip tightly and said with a wry smile, "Because blood is needed."

"Blood is the color and taste that most stimulates emotions; Xie Taiyi, I beg you, conceal it for me."

Xie Taiyi stepped back half a pace, and the medicine chest struck the desk with a clatter.

He looked at Wan Tang's still-unrevealed belly, then sighed long: "Old Minister understands."

Having said so, he took a box of medicinal paste from the chest and placed it on the table: "Apply this paste on schedule, and it will erase the Lady's scars."

"Emperor?" Wan Tang suddenly sat up, her black hair spilling over the pillow.

Li Ping'er immediately rushed to the foot of the couch, her eyes shining astonishingly: "The Emperor guarded you all night! Just now Cining Palace came to request, saying they want to seek justice for you, Master."

She suddenly flushed, "I, serving woman, have never seen the Emperor so nervous about anyone."

Wan Tang's lips curled slightly, then she heard Xiao Shunzi let out a muffled hum.

Only then did she notice the boy's face was a mix of blue and purple.

His complexion instantly grew cold: "What happened?"

"It was Lord Xu's doing," Li Ping'er gritted her teeth, "that ungrateful thing actually forced Shunzi brother to be sent to Yangxin Hall."

A tear fell onto the Koi Lotus tapestry.

Wan Tang suddenly let out a low laugh, which gradually turned into a sob.

She covered her face with her sleeve, her shoulder shaking violently, and the exposed half of her wrist showed bulging blue veins.

"Good, very good." She lifted her tearful eyes, and her gaze held a hint of satisfaction, "He is far more mature than I imagined."

Tangtang, just lie on the bed and rest properly; look how the pregnant woman has been worn out.

Fortunately the Dog Emperor is still a person at this moment; after going to Cining Palace and mentioning the matter of the Empress being forced to kneel, even the Empress Dowager could not speak up for the Empress.

But the poisoning still needs to be investigated; even if the Empress dares not trouble Wan Tang, Lady Qi still cannot escape.

Do you really think Qi Qi is an idiot? To stay in the Ministry of Revenue and become a person the Xiao Family fears, she must have some real skill.

See, she's already disguised herself and entered the palace, changed into a eunuch's clothes, and just went out after meeting Lady Qi.

Qi Qi entered the palace?

Wan Tang's thoughts flashed, she grabbed Li Ping'er's hand and instructed, "Ping'er."

"Pretend to go to the Imperial Household Department to fetch Silver Charcoal; if you see a bearded eunuch, have him deliver the charcoal to Xi Tang Courtyard."

Li Ping'er, though doubtful, dared not delay and hurried to comply.

Xie Taiyi looked a bit surprised at Wan Tang, "The Lady will give birth in less than a month."

"But you know, our months are two months shorter than normal ones. It's already extremely perilous."

Wan Tang's slender fingers lightly brushed the high protruding abdomen, a faint wry smile on her lips: "Xie Taiyi, have you ever been to a battlefield?"

Without waiting for an answer, she continued, "In this deep palace, there are no troops or supplies; how can one protect oneself?"

Wan Tang gazed at the flickering candlelight, her voice barely audible: "In the past, I only sought to survive in this place that devours people."

Her hand suddenly pressed on the top of her belly, feeling the faint fetal movement there, "Now there is someone to protect."

Xie Taiyi let out a long sigh, hunched his back as he packed the medicine chest, "Lady, please take great care of yourself."

Having said so, he dragged his heavy steps and left the inner chamber.

When the footsteps faded, Wan Tang immediately turned toward Xiao Shunzi, who was kneeling before the footstool.

"How has the private treasury been these past two months?"

Xiao Shunzi hurriedly reported, "The benefits from the procurement side now amount to three hundred taels of silver."

"Including the various rewards and gifts, it's not less than a thousand taels."

Wan Tang's eyes grew solemn: "Do not touch what has been recorded in the case."

"Since it's private money, it can only be the silver taels we know about."

Just as she spoke, footsteps came from outside.

"Hurry, place the charcoal basin beside the Master's couch."

Li Ping'er's voice came from the outer room; as the pearl curtains swayed, a hunched eunuch carrying a silver-thread charcoal basket bowed his head and entered.

His waist bent so low it was almost parallel to the ground, and the coarse cloth sleeves still bore unmelted snowflakes.

Wan Tang leaned on the richly embroidered stacked bed, the gilded warm stove casting her face half in light, half in shadow.

The eunuch set the charcoal basket in place and was about to step back when a clear, cold voice sounded:

"Lord Qi, have you already learned the whole story?"

"Clang!" The tea cup in Li Ping'er's hand fell to the ground.

Xiao Shunzi's pupils contracted sharply, staring in disbelief at the eunuch who kept his head bowed.

The person slowly straightened his back.

He took off the dusty eunuch hat, revealing a face that was scholarly yet imposing.

It was the current Minister of Revenue, Qi Qi.

"Subject humbly presents himself to Lady Wan," Lord Qi performed a standard official bow, his voice steady and powerful, a stark contrast to his earlier hunched, humble posture.

Wan Tang lazily raised her hand, "My health is poor and my hospitality lacking; I hope Lord Qi will forgive me."

Although she lies ill on the couch, her bearing is threefold more noble than that of a standing person.

Lord Qi forced a bitter smile, "Your Majesty is being modest. It is I who have a request; how could I dare criticize the rites?"

His gaze turned complex as he looked toward Li Ping'er by the window, "If this young lady had not 'mistaken someone,' I might still be wandering outside Gongmen now."

The pearl curtains chimed in the cold wind, and Wan Tang smiled lightly, "Lord Qi's words sound as if I had set a trap."

"Your Majesty," Lord Qi suddenly became solemn, the lines on his face bearing the vicissitudes of years in office, "Old Minister will speak frankly; I had heard that a lone, unsupported orphan girl could stand in the Imperial harem, and took it as rumor."

His gaze burned like a torch as he stared at Wan Tang, "But today you have summoned Old Minister so precisely; I admire that skill."

A hidden current swirled in Wan Tang's eyes.

Delicate fingers lightly tapped the bedside rail, each tap seeming to strike the heart: "So, Lord Qi, now you are willing to cooperate with this 'orphan girl' of mine?"

The candle flame flickered, deepening the wrinkles between Lord Qi's brows.

He remained silent for a long while, then finally spoke slowly, "I have few requests; I only hope Your Majesty can help Old Minister with three matters."

Wan Tang's fingertip brushed the rim of the tea cup, unflinching, "Lord Qi, please speak."

Lord Qi said in a deep voice, "First, uncover the true culprit who poisoned Xu Answering years ago; second, ensure the little girl's life remains safe; third, allow the First Prince to return to the little girl's side."

The room fell silent suddenly, and the charcoal in the brazier crackled "pop—pop."

Wan Tang suddenly laughed lightly, "Lord Qi, you have such a huge appetite."

She lifted her gaze, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes, "The First Prince is now by the Empress's side; are you making me oppose the Central Palace?"

Lord Qi thumped to the ground, his forehead pounding the blue bricks, "Your Majesty, see clearly! Old Minister does not intend to sow discord between you and the Empress."

His voice trembled, "That child was born from the little girl's ten‑month pregnancy. The Empress seized him, and the little girl washes her face with tears daily, nearly driven mad."

"She is the beloved of our Qi Family!"

Wan Tang stared at him for a long while, then finally rose slowly.

She walked before Lord Qi, looking down from her height at the high‑ranking minister, "I can agree to you."

Her voice was light as falling snow, yet each word cut like a blade, "But Lord Qi must remember, if any word of today's pact leaks, it will be a disaster for both of us."

Lord Qi immediately replied, "Old Minister is willing to stake the lives of the entire clan as guarantee!"

Wan Tang's lips curled slightly, she extended a hand in a feigned lift, "Rise."

When Lord Qi steadied himself, she turned and looked toward the dimming sky outside, "We both know who the true culprit is."

"No matter what methods I use, as long as the Qi Lady of Grace is protected."

Lord Qi bowed deeply, "Your Majesty's great kindness, the Qi Family will never forget."

Wan Tang faced away from him, her voice suddenly cold, "I do not cherish any gratitude."

She turned her head, eyes icy, "I only hope Lord Qi will not break his word."

Lord Qi solemnly declared, "Old Minister swears by the name of his ancestors; in this life I will never betray Your Majesty."

Wan Tang lightly clapped her hands, and Xiao Shunzi immediately presented a rosewood box.

When the box lid opened, a stack of neatly arranged silver notes glimmered, exactly three hundred taels.

Lord Qi's pupils trembled slightly, and he instinctively stepped back half a step, "Your Majesty, tell me how many silver taels you need."

"A misunderstanding," Wan Tang smiled.

"I have heard that the Qi Family's eldest son is adept at commerce," Wan Tang's fingertip brushed the edge of the silver notes, producing a faint rustle, "I would like to trouble you, young master, to use his name to pave the palace corridors for me."

"Never!" Lord Qi's voice trembled with urgency, "Your Majesty's gold and jade are precious; how could you involve yourself with merchants? If this were spread…"

"And if it spreads?" Wan Tang suddenly laughed lightly, "Since ancient times, people mock the poor, not the courtesan."

Her eyes flashed sharply, "Moreover, if there is no gold or silver paving the road beneath your feet, how can you climb higher?"

Lord Qi's hand holding the silver notes trembled slightly.

As the candle danced, he saw that reflected in Wan Tang's eyes was not the silver notes but the deep palace's towering crimson walls.

"Your Majesty truly intends to fend for herself?" his voice was hoarse.

Wan Tang abruptly set the tea cup down heavily, "In this palace, which mouth can eat without money? The imperial physician's prescriptions, the palace staff's mouths, even the charcoal is graded into three, six, nine classes."

She sneered, "I only wish to carve a way of life for the child."

Lord Qi inhaled deeply, the silver notes crumpling in his palm, "I understand."

He solemnly tucked away the silver notes, "My son will see to it properly."

As Lord Qi bowed and withdrew, he heard Wan Tang's final whisper, "Remember, this money must fall like snowflakes—silent, melting without a trace."

"Yes!" Lord Qi's voice faded away as well.

A report came from outside, "Your Majesty, a letter has arrived from Cining Palace."

"It says the true culprit has been found!"

"The poisoner is the Qi Lady of Grace; she, out of jealousy toward Xu Answering's pregnancy, poisoned him."

Wan Tang watched the charcoal that Lord Qi had left in the room.

A smile curled her lips; no wonder Lord Qi was panicking!

Once the Qi Lady of Grace's guilt is confirmed, it won't just be her life at stake; plotting against the Imperial Heir is a grave crime that will implicate the entire nine families.