Chapter 153: Hand Over the Phoenix Seal

Everyone's gaze focused on the silk handkerchief on the tray.

The fabric swirled under the candlelight with a unique cloud‑water pattern, shimmering with a pale violet sheen that only Eastern Sea shark silk possesses.

In total there were only two pieces; one was bestowed upon the Empress Dowager as a longevity gift, the other given to the Empress.

Xiao Mingshu's complexion suddenly turned as pale as paper.

Wan Tang took in everyone's startled and uncertain expressions, and the corners of her lips curved into a half‑smile.

At that moment no words were needed; the shark‑silk handkerchief shattered all pretenses like a splintered wooden beam.

The Empress Dowager's lips trembled, and the look she cast at the Empress swirled with shock and sorrow.

And Xiao Mingshu stared intently at the handkerchief, as if trying to burn through it with her gaze.

Chu Yunzheng's knuckles unconsciously tapped the Dragon Throne's armrest, his gaze sinking onto Wan Tang, his eyes flickering with scrutiny and a hint of anger.

Regarding state affairs, the Emperor is not unaware of many truths, but cannot expose them.

Is Wan Tang about to pull back the final layer of the veil?

Wan Tang seemed oblivious, and bowed gracefully: "Emperor, Empress Dowager, may Subject be allowed to recount the truth of that day?"

In the deathly silence of the hall, she lightly clapped her hands.

Two eunuchs dragged a ragged palace maid inside.

The maid collapsed to her knees, her disheveled hair covering her face, only her violently trembling shoulders revealing extreme terror.

She suddenly lifted her face; a fierce scar on her left cheek twisted in the candlelight, "I (serving woman) was originally a low‑rank palace maid of the Laundry Bureau."

"These matters were all done by I (serving woman)."

"Last winter, when I delivered clothes to Qi Lady of Grace, snow water soaked the hem of the skirt," she choked, "and the Lady ordered someone to brand my face with a hot iron."

"I (serving woman) have harbored resentment ever since."

Chu Yunzheng's knuckles tightened, and the Empress Dowager's tea cup quivered slightly.

"I (serving woman) think of revenge every day," the maid's eyes flashed with a terrifying gleam, "until the day I washed the pastry chef's garments in the Imperial Kitchen and found the clothes always became stained with flour—unnoticeable at first, but a slight tug would make the powder fall off."

She suddenly giggled foolishly, "I (serving woman) carefully pounded the medicinal powder into the handkerchief."

The hall was deathly silent, only her hoarse voice echoed: "I originally thought Lady Qi was poisoned while wiping sweat, but it turned out to have harmed Xu Da Ying."

Before the words finished, Chu Yunzheng swept his sleeve: "Drag her out! Beat her to death!"

The eunuchs hurried forward to drag her away.

From afar, a muffled thudding of staffs came quickly, one after another, like a death‑drumming drum.

Wan Tang lowered her eyes to stare at the dragged bloodstain on the floor, suddenly feeling the hall's furnace burning too fiercely, choking her chest.

Chu Yunzheng and the Empress Dowager exchanged a glance, both exhaling a long sigh.

A tiny palace maid could resolve the Former Dynasty's crisis; indeed, that was a very good deal.

Qi Lady of Grace slapped her chest, looked toward Wan Nian Tang, and showed gratitude.

She then added, "I told you, I was wronged!"

The suddenly appearing culpable maid was indeed beyond Xiao Mingshu's expectation.

She stared at Wan Tang with an icy complexion, a smile curling her lips, a look that frightened anyone who saw it.

Word by word leapt from between her teeth: "Princess Wan truly possesses a refined, orchid‑like heart, meticulous to the smallest detail."

"I never imagined that a crime as grave as plotting against the Imperial Heir could be brushed aside so lightly."

Xiao Mingshu's sharp gaze stared straight at Wan Tang.

Wan Tang's expression remained calm, a faint smile appearing as she slowly said, "The facts are as such; does the Empress have any other insights?"

Her gaze dropped, Wan Tang's alleged fear fixed on Xiao Mingshu's face, word by word saying, "Or does the Empress have any new discoveries?"

The matter ending this way is precisely the outcome the Emperor and Empress Dowager hoped to see.

Although Xiao Mingshu harbored much resentment, she could never tear the Emperor's mask after his drugging.

She clenched her teeth hard and let out a cold snort through her nostrils.

She knelt forward and said sternly, "Emperor, dealing with the maid in this manner is still too lenient."

"Plotting against the Imperial Heir is a grave crime, deserving the extermination of nine families."

Having spoken, Xiao Mingshu gave Wan Tang a provocative glare.

Before Wan Tang could speak, Xiao Mingshu whispered, "Sister Princess Wan, didn't you promise something to the other party? Now that nine families are to be implicated, your conscience is uneasy again."

"Alas!" Wan Tang sighed heavily, looking helplessly at the Empress: "Empress, it is not that Subject is soft‑hearted and lenient; the truth is I (serving woman), a lone orphan, could only be found, and I had no other choice."

Xiao Mingshu's complexion instantly shifted from green to white, the crimson‑gold armor at her fingertips digging deep into her palm, nearly bleeding.

She sprang up abruptly, the Eastern Pearl on her phoenix crown shaking violently: "This is clearly a deliberate scheme! Such coincidences do not exist in the world!"

Wan Tang, observing with eyes, nose, and heart, gently said, "Subject cannot rashly judge the true facts; the Empress Dowager and Emperor will render divine judgment."

Chu Yunzheng and the Empress Dowager exchanged a glance, each seeing fatigue in the other's eyes.

At this moment they only hoped the farce would end quickly.

"Even so!" Xiao Mingshu suddenly raised her voice, "Does Princess Wan have no fault at all?"

She disregarded Chu Yunzheng's sudden cold stare and pointed directly at Wan Tang, "Now Princess Wan, who holds the Phoenix Seal, has allowed a lowly maid of the Laundry Bureau to cause such disaster."

"Shouldn't the crime of negligence be punished?"

The Empress Dowager twirled her prayer beads, pondering: "Emperor, the Empress's words are not without reason."

"Princess Wan's contributions are indispensable," Chu Yunzheng said, his voice icy, his dragon eyes sweeping the room, dimming the candlelight by a third.

Qi Lady of Grace twisted the handkerchief anxiously, Li Ping'er stamped her foot impatiently, while Wan Tang remained composed.

She suddenly bowed gracefully, her eyes slightly reddened as she lifted her face: "Since the matter of negligence is mentioned, Subject indeed has a request."

Her eyelashes fluttered lightly, revealing just the right fragility: "Subject, since taking charge of the Phoenix Seal, has been trembling; now that the Empress's phoenix body is healthy, she can also manage the Imperial harem."

Before the words finished, the Empress Dowager's mouth already curved into a smile.

I, your humble servant, earnestly request the return of the phoenix seal.

"Nonsense!" Chu Yunzheng suddenly slammed the table, the Nine‑Dragon jade pendant clanged, "I have said you are not guilty!"

The imperial authority swept like a cold tide, "Today I will see who dares punish you!"

【Tangtang, don't be afraid; with the Emperor behind you, who would dare lay a hand on you?】

【I also think there's no need to fear these people; after all, in Fengqi Kingdom, the Emperor's word is final.】

【Anyone who bullies Tangtang will surely meet a bad end. That said, since Tangtang took charge of the Imperial harem, she has become somewhat constrained.】

【It's not that Tangtang can't let go; it's her different status. In this palace, no matter what happens, trouble is always directed at Tangtang.】

【So, Tangtang did this on purpose?】

Yes!

Wan Tang sneered inwardly; she did it on purpose.

Wang Jingyi is still alive and well; what she holds is power, which is equally a hot‑potato.

Now, Wang Jingyi is locked in the dungeon; because of her status, Wan Tang cannot act.

Xiao Shunzi reported that the procurement side was giving ever larger sums, giving a sense of spending ahead of income.

According to the accounts, everyone is now seizing the chance to skim money; within a year, another unfillable hole will surely appear.

The Emperor gave her a key to a massive treasury, which is essentially a bottomless pit.

Thinking carefully, Xu Luoyan, while overseeing the Imperial harem for years, repeatedly obtained silver through other means to make up the shortfall.

In such a vast harem, why should Wan Tang be the one to fill the void?

Wan Tang's mind was clear as a mirror; she stepped forward with graceful steps, and her slender finger gently tugged at the dragon‑patterned cuff of Chu Yunzheng's sleeve.

Her voice was so soft it seemed to drip honey: "I truly wish to take a little rest."

She caressed her swollen belly, her eyes flickering with slyness, "I only think of bearing a healthy child for the Emperor."

"Healthy and robust" pierced the Emperor's and Empress Dowager's hearts like silver needles.

Chu Yunzheng saw the First Prince's vacant stare and the Second Prince's feeble cries flash before his eyes, and his throat tightened sharply.

The Empress Dowager's complexion grew even more sullen.

The First Prince may have intellectual issues, and the Second Prince is so frail that even his survival is doubtful.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager glanced at Wan Tang's belly, which seemed to heat up a few degrees.

"Tangtang," Chu Yunzheng placed his palm over the back of her hand, his voice hoarse, "How could I let you toil?"

The Empress Dowager twirled a prayer bead and nodded, "Good child, I know you are meticulous."

"After giving birth, you will assist the Empress and help manage the six palaces."

Chu Yunzheng's expression was displeased, his voice low yet tinged with indifference, "The Empress should have a helper; otherwise today's snow‑field kneeling punishment scene may have to be performed repeatedly."

Xiao Mingshu hurriedly knelt, "I was momentarily confused."

"Confused?" the Empress Dowager suddenly tossed the prayer bead, "I taught you to be a mother of the world, yet you learned to grind the Imperial Heir!"

Though his words were harsh, he lightly added, "Just give Princess Wan a token of apology."

Wan Tang immediately stepped aside, her skirt swirling in a panicked arc: "Your Majesty overwhelms me! If you truly cannot bear it."

She suddenly pressed her lips into a smile, a fragment‑silver glint in her eyes, "How about rewarding me with something tangible?"

Xiao Mingshu's eyes flashed with caution.

Amid the hall's astonishment, Wan Tang raised a slender finger, blushing, "Earlier I emptied my private treasury; could I be granted a hundred taels of flowers?"

Chu Yunzheng actually laughed out loud, "My meritorious officials are this incompetent?"

He turned to Li Defu and said, "Allocate six hundred taels from my private treasury!"

The Empress Dowager was also amused; though demanding money for a reward is vulgar, it was still genuine.

She replied, "I will add two hundred taels!"

The phoenix‑eyed official cast a sidelong glance at the Empress, "Where is the Empress?"

Xiao Mingshu gritted her teeth and forced a smile, "I will contribute three hundred taels!"

Inside, she wanted to tear that smile apart, but saw Wan Tang kneel, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward."

"Just in time to forge a set of golden locks for the unborn child!"

Chu Yunzheng immediately laughed, "Even if it's your own money, I only let you keep it."

"Empress, I recall you once forged several sets of golden locks…"

Xiao Mingshu forced a cheerful smile, though her head throbbed; those golden lock sets each cost well over three hundred taels.

But now, having erred first, she is willing to endure bitterness comparable to bitter orange to reclaim the phoenix seal.

She gave an awkward smile, "I don't know where I placed it; I'll go back and look."

"I hope that once the child is born, it can be placed on."

The Emperor's tone was beyond doubt.

Xiao Mingshu winced with a pang of pain and forced a bitter smile, "Yes!"

The matter finally reached a pause.

Night fell like ink, and the palace lanterns swayed in the wind, stretching the two shadows intermittently long and short.

Chu Yunzheng insisted on putting away the ceremonial weapons, carrying only a glazed lantern as he walked beside Wan Tang.

"Today you truly are my timely rain," the emperor's voice blended with the night wind, revealing no emotion.

Wan Tang supported her waist as she walked slowly, her embroidered shoes stepping over the lingering snow on the blue bricks, "I am merely fulfilling my duty."

Before her words finished, she suddenly sensed the person beside her halt.

Chu Yunzheng turned and blocked her path, raising the glazed lantern a few inches.

The warm yellow light illuminated his deep‑set brows, "I am troubled about how to break the deadlock."

A fingertip suddenly brushed her cheek, the pressure gentle yet scrutinizing, "Tangtang is as if she can see through my thoughts."

"Could it be that someone told Tangtang what I am worrying about?"