Chapter 160: Desperate Situation

Wan Tang knows Li Ping'er harbors extreme hatred for Li Defu in her heart, but the time is still not right now.

She immediately scolds: "Ping'er, you must not be rude; how can you compare yourself with Lord Li?"

"Even I must give Lord Li face."

Chu Yunzheng's complexion changed at these words, his gaze toward Li Defu like a sharp knife.

"Emperor," Lady of Grace called again in a gentle voice.

Pretending to be frail again, Wan Tang found it amusing; this trick she still plays is too lowly.

Wan Tang suddenly frowned and groaned, cold sweat seeping from her temples.

Chu Yunzheng immediately leaned down: "Tangtang, what's wrong? Does it hurt again?"

Wan Tang forced her eyes open, voice as thin as a thread: "Emperor, since Lady of Grace has already waited for you, may I sleep a while?"

Having said that, she truly fell into a deep sleep, long lashes still clinging to unshed tears.

She looked truly pitiful.

Chu Yunzheng saw Wan Tang frowning with eyes closed, his complexion suddenly darkened.

The dragon robe's sleeve moved without wind: "I am here to see you and the child; stop babbling!"

He snapped his head, his gaze like an arrow at Li Defu: "I clearly said that within a month after childbirth, Lady of Grace may not step within half a step of Tang's courtyard!"

Li Defu fell to his knees with a thud, his forehead pounding the gold brick: "Nubi should die! But Lady of Grace says she came to plead guilt."

Before the words finished, Chu Yunzheng already kicked the small stool beside him: "Get out!"

Lady of Grace turned ghostly white with fear, tried to argue, but Li Defu dragged her out of the hall.

As the pearl curtains rustled, her aggrieved sobbing could be heard faintly.

Chu Yunzheng turned and sat back on the couch, gently cradling Wan Tang's hand: "Tangtang has suffered."

He lightly brushed his fingertip over her pale lips, "That girl is just ignorant; I will punish her later."

Then he softened his tone, "But in the end she's just childlike; don't argue with her."

From outside the window came Lady of Grace's faint lament: "I am only here to atone."

Chu Yunzheng's brows slightly furrowed, finally he sighed: "A girl of ten or so couldn't have any ill intent."

Wan Tang kept her eyes closed, only the fingers he held in his palm curled slightly.

Wan Tang's heart felt like it was pricked by a needle, a little pain.

It seemed like scolding and rebuke, but every word was actually speaking for Lady of Grace.

The Emperor is indeed different towards her.

Even if he preemptively pinned a great crime on Lady of Grace.

The Emperor's thoughts were not about the reason; he was even pondering how to balance Wan Tang and Lady of Grace's peaceful coexistence.

Is it because of this face?

Candlelight flickered gently in the gilt lantern, casting Chu Yunzheng's focused silhouette onto the pear‑flower wood screen.

He half‑leaned on the soft couch by the window, his bright‑yellow night‑clothes loosely tied, holding a scroll, looking like a handsome husband from an ordinary household.

This is the first time since Great Chu's founding that an emperor has stayed overnight in the palace after a consort's childbirth.

Li Ping'er, seizing the chance to add tea, leaned close to Wan Tang's ear and whispered excitedly: "Master, look, the Emperor even brought the memorial here to review!"

"I (serving woman) have never seen the Emperor care for anyone so much."

She glanced at the Emperor adjusting Wan Tang's robe corner, her voice pressed like a sigh, "If this spreads, the Six Palaces will be a sea of jealousy!"

Wan Tang, weakly leaning on the pillow, let her gaze sweep over the Emperor's seemingly attentive brows and eyes.

She noticed the scroll hadn't been turned for two quarters of an hour, and his left hand resting on his knee was absentmindedly rubbing a scented sachet.

Once, the sachet hanging on Chu Yunzheng must have been the one Wan Tang gave him.

But now, that sachet no longer looks familiar to Wan Tang.

A man whose heart isn't here, why stay here at all?

The next day.

Morning light filtered through the rosy veil into the inner chamber, Li Ping'er's hand holding the medicine cup trembling slightly.

Her voice was extremely low: "Master, Lady of Grace has knelt before Yangxin Hall for a full two hours."

"She says she collided with you last night, demanding the Emperor punish her heavily."

She anxiously twisted her handkerchief, "The Emperor initially refused to see her, but later he personally went out and helped her up."

Wan Tang, facing a bronze mirror with a red‑gold Step Shake pinned in, paused at the words, the mirror reflecting the icy curve of her lips: "Plead guilt?"

She gently turned the Step Shake, the bead strings clinking softly: "The gold bricks before Yangxin Hall are the hardest; kneeling for two hours must have cracked the knees, right?"

Li Ping'er hurried: "Isn't that right! I heard the skirt hem was soaked with blood; the Emperor's complexion changed when he saw it."

"What a cruel self‑inflicted plot," Wan Tang sneered, picking up a pearl that had rolled to her foot: "She guessed exactly that the Emperor cannot stand to see a delicate woman suffer."

Li Ping'er, her tone full of discontent: "Master, the Emperor was with you just last night."

"The Emperor's grace is vast, and he can be swayed by you and me."

"From now on, do not privately comment on the Emperor's matters."

Wan Tang's tone grew much heavier.

Li Ping'er's face was full of grievance.

She pitifully said: "Nubi also sees Master being wronged, that's why I speak so much."

Wan Tang's expression grew solemn, she said slowly: "From the moment I chose the Emperor, I have already made my decision."

"No longer will I covet love."

Looking at her sleeping daughter, a trace of sorrow appeared between Wan Tang's brows, and she said slowly: "I'm afraid Lady of Grace wants more than just a simple plea for guilt."

"But rather, she seeks to uncover the matter that would end my reign."

Wan Tang's eyes were profound, and her fingers trembled lightly.

Li Ping'er looked at Wan Tang a bit flustered.

【Wan Tang was right: Lady Jing and the Empress were always a pair. The Empress wants the Qi Noble Lady's son, so she could never let the Qi Noble Lady live peacefully.】

【The Qi Noble Lady is not a threat to the Empress; the key is, what about Qi Qi? What about the Qi Family?】

【Wan Tang, act quickly, go rescue the Qi Noble Lady.】

Though the sound of the barrage had already been heard, this time Wan Tang took no action at all.

Yesterday's events were still vivid in Wan Tang's mind, and her heart still trembled with lingering fear.

If there were no barrage, what would happen to her?

If in the future the Empress again uses the First Prince to blackmail, who can guarantee that the next drink the Qi Noble Lady receives won't be laced with poison?

Could Wan Tang ever stay by her daughter's side at all times?

Under the eaves, the icicle melted slowly, dripping tick‑tock.

Li Ping'er watched Wan Tang nervously.

Wan Tang waved her hand and said, "I, the palace, am tired!"

Kunning Palace.

The Qi Noble Lady knelt on the cold marble floor, shaking all over like leaves falling in the wind.

Xiao Mingshu sat gracefully on the Phoenix Throne, leisurely stirring her tea cup, a faint, ambiguous smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"Lady Jing has already reported the whole incident to the Emperor," Xiao Mingshu's voice was gentle yet cold, "I suppose within half an hour the Emperor will come personally to question you."

"Empress! Please save me!" the Qi Noble Lady rushed forward, grabbing the Empress's hem, tears streaming, "It was you who sent me to push Consort Wan, how can you now…"

"I sent you?" Xiao Mingshu suddenly chuckled, leaning down and lifting the Qi Noble Lady's chin with her armor, "What evidence do you have? Speak up; will the Emperor believe you, or will he believe me, the mistress of the Six Palaces?"

She took a familiar porcelain bottle from her sleeve and poured out a pill: "Do you remember this?"

"This is a brain‑supplement pill I specially prepared for the First Prince."

The Qi Noble Lady's pupils contracted sharply: "Isn't this poison?"

"Poison?" Xiao Mingshu laughed as if hearing the biggest joke, "This is a brain‑health pill specially made by the Imperial Medical Institute."

She suddenly tightened her fingers, crushing the pill onto the Qi Noble Lady's collar, "As for you, if you continue to slander me, what crime will you be charged with?"

The Qi Noble Lady was struck as if by lightning, collapsing limp on the ground.

She finally understood that she had stepped into a meticulously designed trap from the very beginning.

"Think carefully," Xiao Mingshu's voice hissed like a venomous snake, "Will you keep stirring trouble, or will you secure a future for the First Prince?"

"If the Emperor arrives, the First Prince will have a mother who plotted to murder the Imperial Heir."

She gently stroked the Phoenix Throne's armrest, "Tell me, can a prince bearing such a crime ever hope to claim the Eastern Palace?"

The Qi Noble Lady jerked her head up, the last spark of light in her eyes extinguished completely.

She mechanically bowed, her voice hoarse: "I understand what must be done."

"Understanding is enough," Xiao Mingshu said satisfied, waving her hand, "Return and wait for the carriage. Remember, what to say and what not to say."