Chapter 170: Eye Thorn

The next morning, inside Kunning Palace.

Xiao Mingshu was standing before a mirror, grooming herself, her brows still bearing the lingering gloom and fatigue of last night.

From outside, faint clamor and laughter drifted in, mixed with the slightly excited thank‑you shouts of the palace staff, making her mind restless.

She furrowed her brows and slammed the jade comb in her hand heavily onto the dressing table.

In a cold voice she asked the senior palace maid standing beside her, "Bai Wei! What's happening out there? All this ruckus, what decorum is this!"

Bai Wei's face had already turned blue with anger, and she stepped forward at once.

The agitated Consort Fu replied, "Madam! Please don't mention it! It's that newly‑promoted Virtuous Consort from Yongshou Palace!"

"She's truly an unrestrained attention‑seeker!"

Her tone was fast and urgent, full of contempt: "It's only because the Emperor spent the night at her place last night, look how reckless she is!"

"Early this morning she sent a few shallow‑eyed young eunuchs from the palace to scatter copper coins as gifts all over the harem, giving them to anyone, saying 'let's share the joy'!"

"That drew servants from everywhere to swarm for gratitude, making a noisy uproar, with no decorum at all!"

"Those who don't know would think it a great favor, but it was just a single service, and they flaunt it like this, bah!"

Her fingertips clenched tightly into her palm.

A layer of cold frost instantly covered her face, and she suddenly smashed the jade comb onto the dressing table.

A harsh sound rang out: "How arrogant a scoundrel! Such flaunting and overbearing, as if she doesn't consider this palace's Empress at all!"

Bai Wei, seeing this, hurried forward to soothe, yet her tone still carried a hint of former pride: "Madam, calm your anger! Why must you be upset with her?"

"She is only an Imperial Concubine; no matter what, she can never surpass you!"

"The Emperor originally rested in our Kunning Palace for a whole month! That was true favor…"

"Fool! That month, Wan Tang had just given birth and was still in confinement!"

"As soon as she left confinement, the Emperor rushed to her, what does that show?"

"It shows that this palace's Kunning Palace is merely a temporary resting place when there is nowhere else to go, a backup location! How could you be proud of that?"

Bai Wei's face turned pale from the rebuke, she sharply lowered her head, her nails digging hard into her palm, her face full of resentment toward Wan Tang: "I (serving woman)… I (serving woman) am foolish!"

She inhaled deeply, rubbing her throbbing temples.

Her voice carried a hint of fatigue and apprehension: "I originally thought that fool Lin Wanyi could at least give her some trouble, but instead it backfired."

"It even ruined my family's plan."

"In the end, I underestimated her; this Wan Tang is far more difficult to handle than I imagined."

As she spoke, pain crossed her face, "Head… my head aches again."

Bai Wei hurried forward to press her temples, her face also brimming with suppressed anger: "Madam, it doesn't stop there!"

"At last night's banquet, the Imperial Censor Zhou Su, Lord Zhou, openly praised her as having 'the aura of a motherly ruler of the world'! This… this is simply…"

"What?!" Xiao Mingshu slammed the table, sprang up, her phoenix eyes widened, filled with incredulous fury, "Motherly ruler of the world?"

"She deserves that?! Could she be coveting this palace's Empress position?!"

Bai Wei carefully observed her expression, whispering to add fuel: "Madam, it now seems, perhaps… it's hard to say." "At present, not only the Lin family follows her, I (serving woman) see that Qi Qi, that old slick, also seems to be currying favor with her, and with Zhou Su… this momentum must not be underestimated."

Xiao Mingshu's complexion turned utterly grim, like the sky before a storm.

She clenched her fists so tightly her nails nearly embedded in flesh; after a while she forced a sentence out between her teeth: "Go! Immediately go summon Li Defu to this palace!"

A ruthless murderous intent flashed in her eyes: "This Wan Tang must not be kept alive!"

Xitan Courtyard.

Wan Tang listened to the lively sounds outside, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

She liked bustling scenes.

Although she yearned for purity in her heart, she could never be as serene as a chrysanthemum.

The more bustling the place, the more others dare not provoke.

【Finally seeing this day, Wan Tang gradually aligns herself with the former Xu Luoyan.】

【What does it mean to align? Back then, Xu Luoyan enjoyed unwaning favor and even more prominence as Empress; wasn't that always Wan Tang's scheming?】

【Indeed, making the Emperor like her does owe to Wan Tang's efforts. To dominate the harem single‑handedly, the real reason is the backing power. Because the Xu Family is powerful, no one dares to offend her at all.】

【Now Wan Tang is merely the Emperor's favorite, yet she hasn't become someone the Emperor wouldn't dare act rashly against. Not to mention, Li Ping'er is still in contact with Yan Wang. You should know, Yan Wang is the Emperor's most despised brother!】

Wan Tang's hand shaping her eyebrows suddenly slipped, and her expression instantly turned cold.

The palace staff who had just finished celebrating dispersed, and a trace of lingering warmth from the noise remained in the air.

Li Ping'er still clutched an unfinished red commendation seal in her hand, her face bearing the joy after busyness.

Wan Tang stepped back to the sides, leaving only the two of them, master and servant, in the hall.

She looked at Li Ping'er, suddenly spoke, her voice calm yet bearing unavoidable scrutiny: "Ping'er, lately… do you still have dealings with Yan Wang's residence?"

Li Ping'er's smile froze instantly, the commendation seal in her hand nearly fell.

She hurriedly knelt on the ground, urgently saying: "Master, see clearly! I (serving woman) know my mistake!"

"I (serving woman) only thought that Prince Yan had indeed once plotted for the Madam, so I… couldn't help delivering the good news, with no other intent! I (serving woman) just felt…"

"Feel what?" Wan Tang cut her off, her face darkening, voice lowered yet heavy, "Feel that he had a good heart?"

"Ping'er, there is never any good without cause in this world, nor any assistance without expecting something in return."

"Prince Yan could never help us unconditionally. Do you understand?"

Her gaze was like a torch, fixed on the kneeling Li Ping'er, her tone growing heavier: "Tell me honestly, do you still have matters hidden from me?"

"Prince Yan has gone to great lengths to help you enter the palace; what is his true purpose?"

Li Ping'er, hearing this, shivered violently, and when she raised her head her face had lost its color.

Her eyes darted anxiously, lips trembling: "Master… I (serving woman)… I (serving woman)…"

She choked, heavily bowing her head, "Regardless of Prince Yan's purpose, I (serving woman) swear to Heaven, I (serving woman) will never do anything to harm the Master!"

"I (serving woman), this life is all yours, Master!"

Wan Tang looked at her like that, and in her heart she already understood about seventy‑to‑eighty percent.

She closed her eyes briefly, let out a long sigh, bent down and helped Li Ping'er to her feet.

Grasping her cold, trembling hand, her tone carried deep fatigue and a hint of barely perceptible sorrow: "Ping'er, there are not many people I can trust in this deep palace."

"I regard you as a confidante, even as a sister. I do not wish… for any secrets to exist between us, especially those concerning life, fate, or future."

Li Ping'er, being helped up, let tears fall in a pattering rush, like beads whose strings had broken.

She bit her lip hard, her heart evidently undergoing a huge struggle and pain, yet in the end she still lowered her head, continuously shaking her head and shedding tears.

No matter how Wan Tang asked, she would not utter a single word.

That silence itself was already a heavy answer.

A young eunuch, panting, shouted: "Virtuous Consort! Trouble!"

"You should quickly go to the Imperial Kitchen and see! Eunuch Shun and Aunt Bai Wei of Kunning Palace have started fighting!"

"The Empress has been alarmed, saying it is over a black‑gold abalone!"

Wan Tang, upon hearing that, could only temporarily set Li Ping'er's matter aside, and immediately rose to rush to the Imperial Kitchen.

Before she got close, she heard a clamor inside.

She saw Xiao Mingshu standing in the middle with a sullen expression.

Bai Wei, hands on hips, arrogantly stood beside the Empress, directing several rough eunuchs from Kunning Palace to press Xiao Shunzi hard onto the ground and slap his mouth.

Xiao Shunzi's cheek was red and swollen, yet he clenched his teeth and would not beg for mercy.

Wan Tang's anger flared; she stepped forward quickly and barked coldly: "Stop!"

Xiao Mingshu, seeing her arrive, lifted her chin, her tone bearing a patronizing arrogance: "Virtuous Consort, you come at a perfect time."

"Look at this unruly servant in your palace, daring to clash with the female officials beside me."

"Since you are here, I will let this servant of yours take the blame; I will, for the sake of your face, consider today's affair settled."

Bai Wei, even more pleased, immediately ordered her subordinates: "What are you still standing there for? Take that black‑gold abalone away!"

"Our small kitchen of Jingren Palace, could it still not handle this little thing?"

In her words and actions, she gave Wan Tang no regard at all.

Wan Tang sneered coldly, showing not the slightest concession on her face.

"Empress, forgive my crime; I cannot acknowledge this fault. Xiao Shunzi acted according to the rules; there is no wrongdoing."

She turned her gaze to the box of precious black‑gold abalone, her tone cutting: "Moreover, this item was the one I instructed the Imperial Kitchen to prepare yesterday."

"Today, I also intend to take it away."

All around, a sudden deathly silence fell; every palace attendant held their breath, incredulously watching someone dare to directly confront the Empress's Virtuous Consort.

Xiao Mingshu's complexion instantly grew so sullen that it seemed water could drip from it; she stared fixedly at Wan Tang.

She questioned, pausing after each word: "Do you know who you are speaking to?!"

"I, of course, know," Wan Tang replied, neither humble nor arrogant, then shifted her tone: "And precisely because of that, I do not understand."

"The Empress, mother of the realm, what mountain delicacy or sea delicacy could she not enjoy?"

"Why, of all days, does she fixate on this mere black‑gold abalone of mine?"

"This was indeed ordered by me yesterday; the Imperial Kitchen has records to verify."

Xiao Mingshu might not have truly cared about a single abalone originally, but now, having been publicly confronted by Wan Tang, she could not retreat without losing face.

She instantly made her tone exceedingly sharp: "If I have set my eyes on it, it is mine!"

"You are the Virtuous Consort now, so what?"

"Don't forget, I am the Empress, the Emperor's principal wife!"

"You, after all, are merely a concubine!"

She stepped forward a pace, her gaze sweeping around Wan Tang.

With unabashed sarcasm, she said: "Oh, by the way, do you know what Xitang Courtyard used to be?"

"It was the palace's temporary holding place for traveling troupes and circus performers!"

"The Emperor made you live there; do you really think that was a favor?"

【Oh dear, the Empress is laying her cards out, no more pretense?】

【This is right, always wearing a mask, it's really exhausting for the viewers.】

【This way, it matches her own self even more.】

【It's just a pity, the Emperor has already arrived. My Tangtang is such a scoundrel; before coming, she even left Li Ping'er waiting outside Yangxin Hall, forcing the Emperor to rescue.】

Upon hearing that the Emperor had arrived, Wan Tang's smile deepened.

She immediately gave a bitter smile and said openly: "Whatever the Emperor arranges, I am happy to comply."

"As long as the Emperor has me in his heart, that is enough."

"You?" Xiao Mingshu mocked: "The Emperor has liked many toys before; how many can he even remember?"

At that moment, Li Defu's sharp, almost altered voice rang out: "The Emperor has arrived!"

That voice thundered like a sudden lightning strike; everyone in the courtyard, including the fierce Xiao Mingshu, hurriedly knelt to the ground, all startled.

Xiao Mingshu's complexion turned slightly pale, cold sweat beading on her palms.

Had it not been Li Defu's almost shouted reminder, she, in her fury, might have said even more indecent and overstepping words.

Chu Yunzheng strode into the Imperial Kitchen, the hem of his dragon robe sweeping the floor, bringing a chill of authority.

His gaze swept over the people kneeling on the ground, finally resting on Xiao Shunzi's red‑swollen cheek and on Wan Tang, who stood ahead, kneeling yet with a straight back.

He did not call anyone up, nor did he glance at the Empress Xiao Mingshu kneeling beside him.

He walked straight to Wan Tang, extended his hand, and personally helped her to her feet.

His movements bore an unmistakable counter‑defense.

After that, he slowly turned toward the Empress, but his gaze still did not fall upon her.

He paused briefly, and each word carried the weight of a thousand pounds: "Last night, it was I who personally told the Virtuous Consort that I wanted to taste the abalone porridge she made in her little kitchen."

"What? The Empress also wants to eat?"