Chapter 152: The Trick of Transformation

Cining Palace.

Inside Cining Palace the candles burn bright, yet they cannot warm the lingering chill filling the room.

The Empress Dowager sits upright on the luan‑patterned rosewood throne, twirling the prayer beads in her hand at lightning speed.

Chu Yunzheng sits with a face as calm as water at the lower left seat, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the rosewood desk.

Empress Xiao Mingshu stands rigidly beneath the cinnabar steps, the golden‑threaded luan birds on her Phoenix Robe glinting coldly in the lamp light.

Lady Qi kneels in the center, her jeweled hairpin disheveled, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Outside the hall, faint footsteps suddenly echo, and Wan Tang steps in slowly, supporting Li Ping'er's hand.

As she bows gracefully, a silver‑threaded pearl Step Shake is pinned in her hair, her voice so soft it could drip water: "I, your servant, present myself to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress."

Chu Yunzheng suddenly rises, his dark dragon‑patterned boots covering three steps in two as he strides to her: "Nonsense! Who gave you permission to get out of bed?"

Though his tone is harsh, his supporting gesture is exceedingly gentle.

"I truly cannot lie still; my heart is full of anxiety."

She lifts her pallid face, water‑like eyes reflecting the candlelight, "Thinking of the Emperor and Empress Dowager worrying over state affairs, even neglecting dinner…"

Before the words finish, she coughs lightly, instinctively shielding her abdomen with her fingertips.

The Empress Dowager's prayer beads halt abruptly, a look of pity flashing in her eyes: "Good child, despite your illness, you still worry about these."

Wan Tang's ailment is entirely due to the Empress's bestowal.

The Empress Dowager's attitude today must also be much gentler.

Wan Tang leans into Chu Yunzheng's embrace, her voice as fine as a silk thread: "The small kitchen has simmered lily bird's nest porridge, perfect for clearing fire and soothing the spirit."

She suddenly looks at the kneeling Lady Qi, her eyes flashing.

The Empress Dowager nods: "Bring it in."

At this moment Xiao Shunzi has entered with a line of palace servants, the soft clink of blue‑white porcelain bowls filling the air, the swirling heat blurring everyone's varied expressions.

While the servants are quietly arranging the dishes, Wan Tang sighs lightly: "They're all our own sisters; why must it come to this level of conflict."

"Little sister speaks lightly," the Empress says, a cold arc lifting her lip, "Sisters? Lady Qi is accused of plotting to kill Xu Answering's unborn dragon fetus, a crime punishable by exterminating nine families!"

"I didn't!" Lady Qi suddenly throws herself forward, "It is the Empress who framed me! You only wish to seize the First Prince!"

Her hair bun is disheveled, tears streaming as she points at the Empress, "That day it was clearly the Empress who ordered the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall."

"How audacious!" Xiao Mingshu leaps up, her phoenix crown and jeweled ornaments shaking violently, "With solid evidence, you still dare to bite my palace!"

Wan Tang furrows her brows and lowers her gaze.

This fool actually tore her face open on the spot, truly wasting the information she had secretly passed.

Although she has already realized, what Xiao Mingshu seeks is certainly more than just her own life.

Yet saying these words outright, what use is it?

"Enough." The Empress Dowager suddenly drops the sweet white porcelain spoon, its handle clinking crisply against the bowl rim.

The crowd falls silent, and the Empress Dowager slowly lifts her eyes: "Emperor, do you find today's meal exceedingly bland?"

Chu Yunzheng has just swallowed half a mouthful of braised ham and bamboo shoots when he hears this, his brows tightening instantly.

He quickly glances at the dazzling array of dishes on the table, scoops a spoonful of crab roe tofu to savor, his complexion gradually darkening: "It's not just bland; it has no flavor at all."

The Empress Dowager's jade prayer beads suddenly cease rotating, a chill of frost gathering in her aged eyes.

Chu Yunzheng's fingertips unconsciously tap the rosewood desk, his gaze wandering between Wan Tang and the bland imperial dishes.

Xiao Mingshu snorts, her armor lightly tapping the sweet white porcelain plate: "It seems someone's guilty conscience makes even simple tasks clumsy."

Wan Tang, however, gently strokes her swollen abdomen and steps forward, her plain white fingertips brushing a small dish: "Empress, Emperor, please see, the meal is not improper, it simply lacks salt."

Her voice is crystal clear like shattered jade, "All flavors in the world require salt to bring them out; even the finest delicacies are like chewing wax without it."

The Empress Dowager suddenly clenches the prayer beads: "Lady Wan! I have no time to listen to your pretentious mysticism!"

"Mother Empress, calm your anger." Chu Yunzheng suddenly chuckles, his dragon‑patterned cuff brushing Wan Tang's trembling shoulder line, "Tangtang is most ingenious; perhaps we should hear what new contraption she has devised?"

Yet there is not a hint of mirth in his eyes, only a deep‑pond‑like scrutiny.

Wan Tang, taking advantage of the moment, kneels at the Empress Dowager's feet and draws a silk handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus from her sleeve: "My performance can relieve the Empress and Emperor of their current troubles."

Seeing the Empress Dowager still cold, she suddenly lifts her head toward Chu Yunzheng, her eyes flickering with a hint of youthful coquettishness.

Chu Yunzheng leans down, pinching her chin, his thumb caressing her pallid lips.

His voice is tender as a lover's whisper, "If you succeed, I shall reward you richly."

Wan Tang's eyelashes flutter from pain, yet she blossoms a brighter smile: "I dare not claim credit; I only ask that the Emperor not punish me."

Chu Yunzheng's eyes are bottomless abysses; no one can discern his thoughts.

He simply bursts into laughter.

He nods: "Fine, once it's done, I will never punish you!"

Wan Tang's slender fingers pick up the plain white silk handkerchief as if plucking a freshly blossomed white magnolia.

She walks slowly to the Empress Dowager's desk, gently pushing a plate of lightly tossed cucumber toward it.

As the edge of the handkerchief brushes the plate rim, barely visible tiny crystal grains flutter down, merging into the jade‑green cucumber slices.

"Empress, please help yourself," she says, kneeling and offering, her skirt flaring a gentle graceful curve.

The Empress Dowager eyes her skeptically, finally picking up a piece.

The cucumber, which earlier tasted like chewing wax, now releases a fresh salty flavor.

The old lady chews blankly, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes gradually relaxing.

Lady Qi, seeing this, brightens her eyes and asks curiously: "How is this so magical?"

Wan Tang turns again toward the Emperor, taking another silk handkerchief embroidered with silver‑threaded cloud pattern.

She lifts the sweet white porcelain cup.

The silver‑topped soup ripples gently; she scoops a spoonful and blows on it.

"Emperor, does it still suit your palate?" The spoon's rim lightly brushed the Emperor's lips, and her eyes reflected the flickering candlelight, as if holding two warm, soft stars.

Chu Yunzheng sipped a mouthful from the cup she held.

The broth, which moments ago was plainly bland, now exuded a perfectly timed sweet freshness.

He suddenly seized her wrist, only to see her wince in pain as the hidden crushed rock sugar in the handkerchief rustled into the cup.

"Subject should die." She hurried to kneel, but the Emperor, seizing the moment, steadied her.

"Today's Tangtang trick can't be called clever." Chu Yunzheng chuckled lightly, his fingertips still stroking the sweetened patch on his sleeve cuff.

Wan Tang hurriedly bent a knee: "Subject's clumsy tricks have made the Emperor laugh at me."

Empress Dowager set down the silver chopsticks, the jade bracelet on her wrist clinked against the table, producing a clear sound: "It's merely a small trick of sugar and salt on the handkerchief."

"Empress Dowager, your insight." Wan Tang lowered her head, her plain white fingertips suddenly gripping the silk handkerchief, "Yet it is precisely such minute details that are most easily overlooked."

When she lifted her gaze, her eyes swept the hall's occupants with a clear chill, "After all, in this inner palace, who does not use a handkerchief?"

"Whoa!" Xiao Mingshu suddenly toppled over.

Xiao Mingshu steadied herself at the table and rose, her phoenix crown and jade ornaments shaking violently: "Lady Wan, cease making a spectacle here to win favor!"

"Tangtang." Chu Yunzheng's voice suddenly deepened, "What exactly have you discovered? Continue!"

Wan Tang slowly brushed over her protruding lower abdomen, her voice sounding as if tempered with ice: "Subject never does anything without evidence."

"Since Answering promised trouble, I've been investigating ever since."

She suddenly clapped her hands three times.

Li Ping'er hurried in, holding a black lacquer tray; the silk handkerchief embroidered with twin lotus in the tray glowed an eerie deep blue in the candlelight.

"Isn't this the handkerchief I, Subject, love most?" Lady of Grace Qi suddenly shrieked, "How did it end up here!"

Wan Tang smiled and asked, "May I ask, Lady of Grace Qi, when was it lost?"

"It was that day, after finishing the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, it vanished."

Lady of Grace Qi strained to recall the day's scene, even glancing at the Empress, her face full of tension: "This handkerchief is very valuable; Subject also fears punishment."

All the candles in the hall flickered together, draining the color from the Empress's face.

Wan Tang pinched the corner of the handkerchief and gave it a gentle shake, the fine powder rustling down into the tray.

Wan Tang's tone grew solemn: "Subject's trick was also learned from this handkerchief."