Chapter 151: Night Meeting with Prince Yan

Speaking of it, the Empress Dowager is also pitiful; the Emperor's foundation was previously unstable, scheming everywhere. Today he finally retired, and the Imperial harem now has an abortion squad leader, and again began to fret over the Imperial Heir. Now the Imperial Heir's problem has finally been resolved, and the Imperial harem has started to cause a ruckus. With no one in charge, there is a disturbance each day.

Hahaha, that's right; it always feels like they treat the Empress Dowager like a Japanese, looking at our Empress Dowager, she eats badly and sleeps badly.

The Emperor went in the afternoon, and the Empress and Lady of Grace also knelt there in the afternoon. Everyone in Cining Palace was bustling, and at this time they hadn't even taken a bite of food.

Wan Tang leaned against the bed rail, gently set down the lotus seed soup in her hand, a satisfied smile at the corner of her mouth.

Twilight was like ink, gradually staining the window lattice.

Wan Tang leaned by the window, watching the last sliver of daylight disappear behind the palace wall, a faint, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of her lips.

That smile was as gentle as spring water, yet her eyes held the cold calm of a frozen pool.

Li Ping'er approached lightly, draping a soft fur-woven brocade cloak over her, her voice tinged with concern: "Master, you have been laboring these days, and now that the Empress Dowager has taken charge of the overall situation, you might as well…"

She looked toward the gradually melting snow outside and said, "It looks like spring is coming; Prince Yan Wang is probably about to leave the capital to prepare for spring plowing."

Wan Tang suddenly lifted her eyes, her gaze like needles, piercing Li Ping'er into a reflexive silence.

The room was left only with the crackling of charcoal, casting a flickering light on half of Wan Tang's face.

"Ping'er," she said, her voice gentle yet with undeniable authority, "I am still serving as the co-manager of the Six Palaces."

She lightly tapped the desk with her fingertips, producing a regular soft sound, "Go tell the small kitchen to prepare a few of the snacks that the Emperor and Empress Dowager usually love to eat."

She slowly rose, the cloak slipping to the floor unnoticed: "I will deliver them personally."

Li Ping'er widened her eyes in shock: "But Master, your body needs more rest."

"It is precisely because I am still in the co-manager position," Wan Tang interrupted her, her smile deepening a few degrees, "that I should do these things even more."

She walked to the dressing table and picked up a Red Gold Jade Hairpin.

"Moreover, interrogating Lady of Grace, how could I not ask?"

Outside the window, a sudden wind rose, swirling the remaining snow to beat against the paper window.

Xiao Shunzi, having received the order, withdrew, her footsteps fading away.

The candlelight flickered inside, casting an uncertain expression on Li Ping'er.

She glanced at Wan Tang reclining on the couch and said, "Master, I will go check the maternity medicine simmering on the stove."

Having said that, she hurried out; as the pearl curtains swayed, her gaze flickered.

The curtain shadow had not yet settled when the western window silently slid open a crack.

Yan Wang, his dark robe wrapped in cold air, swept into the room, startling Wan Tang into sitting up abruptly, her armor digging deep into her palm.

"Lady Wan, please do not be angry," Yan Wang said, a habitual leisurely smile at the corner of his lips, his fingertip pushing a rosewood box, "I have come especially to return this item."

The moment the box lid opened, Wan Tang's pupils contracted sharply.

The ink on the paper, dripping, wrote the former site of the Xu mansion!

"What does it mean?" she said, her voice icy.

Yan Wang chuckled lightly: "Someone has volunteered to keep it for the lady."

Looking at the characters, Wan Tang already understood in her heart.

This is the handwriting of Xu Yanchuan.

The lady's ancestral tablet can be kept by Yanchuan, which is the best.

He deliberately paused, admiring Wan Tang's suddenly relaxed shoulders, "Setting up a private ancestral tablet in the palace is a grave taboo; why would the lady leave such a leverage?"

Wan Tang examined his nonchalant expression and said coldly, "Leave, I won't see you off."

"How ruthless."

Yan Wang shook his head with a sigh, then suddenly leaned forward, "Since you're here, how about I give the lady a secret?"

Without waiting for a response, he continued, "The Xiao Family controls the Ministry of Revenue; I thought the relationship was already solid and unbreakable."

But just a few days ago, the Xiao Family discovered that the Ministry had a mole. Someone silently weakened the Xiao Family's power.

That position was merely an inconspicuous accounting office.

One must admit, the Emperor is still very formidable. By placing a person in an unremarkable position, he can see through all the accounts.

"You say, now the Xiao Family wants to excise this tumor, what should the Emperor do?"

Wan Tang's gaze suddenly deepened.

"Prince," Wan Tang suddenly interrupted, a mocking curve at the corner of her mouth, "If you are truly lonely, perhaps return to your fief and discuss politics with your staff."

"Here," she said, picking up an embroidered thread, "I can only speak of women's needlework."

Yan Wang's expression darkened instantly: "Why pretend to be foolish, Lady? I am helping you."

"Prince, you flatter yourself," Wan Tang said, turning her back and not looking at Yan Wang again, "I am merely a woman who can bear children."

When she looked back, only the swaying curtains remained by the window.

The cold wind swept the remaining snow inside, scattering the wet stains on the desk that had not yet dried.

"Tangtang can actually be trusted with Yan Wang; you have no idea how many kind words Li Ping'er said, and that's why Yan Wang decided to set aside your face to help you."

"Honestly, every time Yan Wang looks at your face, there's an indescribable disgust."

"Indeed, if Yan Wang didn't see that Tangtang truly cares for the people, he wouldn't bother dealing with you."

What?

Wan Tang was surprised.

She hadn't expected that Yan Wang would say in one breath that she seemed like a person.

The feeling is not love, but a person she hates?

She composed her emotions and carefully considered Yan Wang's words.

Li Ping'er carried a black lacquered medicine tray, timidly moving forward; the steaming medicine bowl in her hand trembled slightly. "Master, the carriage is all prepared…"

Her voice grew lower, "But I think, if we go so rashly, and a Schemer sees us, we wouldn't know what to say."

"The matters of Cining Palace, everyone avoids, yet we are rushing to go…"

Wan Tang faced a mirror hairpin, a Red Gold Jade Hairpin Step Shake, and upon hearing the words, her movement slightly paused.

In the bronze mirror, Li Ping'er's flickering eyes were reflected, along with her own suddenly cold gaze.

"Ping'er today is actually more thorough than this palace," Wan Tang said, her voice as light as a feather, but her fingertip suddenly clenched the comb. "You even know the exact time Yan Wang left the palace?"

A comb tooth snapped with a "ka" sound, and Li Ping'er was so frightened that the medicine tray clanged.

She hurriedly knelt, "I… I am only listening to the eunuch's idle chat."

"Is that so?" Wan Tang slowly turned.

She bent down to pick up the broken comb tooth on the ground; the icy jade pressed against Li Ping'er's jaw. "Then tell me, which palace's eunuch knows the Qīn wáng's itinerary as clearly as the palm of his hand?"

Li Ping'er trembled all over, large tears splashing onto the floor tiles: "I am foolish and dull, I dare not speak at length."

"Get up." Wan Tang suddenly released her hand, and the broken jade fell into the charcoal basin.

She smiled lightly at the rising green smoke: "This palace just likes your cautious nature."

Her fingertip brushed Li Ping'er's damp collar, "Go change your clothes and come with me to Cining Palace."