Chapter 173: Leverage

The moment she saw the mud figurine, Wan Tang's heart trembled.

Her palms couldn't help but become slick with sweat.

Wan Tang felt a massive shock in her chest, her blood nearly flowing backward, yet she forced a calm expression and walked over as if nothing.

Her tone carried a hint of coquettish annoyance, as if she were merely complaining about a lover's sudden visit.

"Emperor, you arrived without informing me in advance, making me seem negligent; I should have returned early to await you."

Although she hurriedly changed into palace attire in the carriage returning to the palace, the shoes on her feet, still damp with the Xu Family's courtyard soil, had not been swapped.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze seemed to casually sweep over the tip of her shoe.

He lifted his hand, his fingertips pinching the rough mud figurine, his tone as flat as if discussing an inconsequential trinket.

"The Empress gave me this little thing today, saying I should bring it to Tangtang; you will understand its mystery."

He gently rotated the mud figurine, his gaze resting on it with a hint of curiosity and amusement.

"I have turned it over and over many times; it is truly ordinary, I see nothing special."

"Perhaps Tangtang can discern some clue?"

Wan Tang's mind rang alarm bells, cold sweat seeped from her back, but she feigned ease on her face.

She reached out, smiling, "Is that so? Let me have a look…"

However, before her fingertips could touch the mud figurine, Chu Yunzheng seized her wrist forcefully!

His palm was warm and strong, a stark contrast to her icy fingers.

Chu Yunzheng lifted his eyes, his gaze sharp as a hawk, staring straight into hers.

His tone revealed no emotion: "Why is Tangtang's hand so cold? Yet the palm… is drenched with sweat."

Wan Tang's heart almost missed a beat, she forced a laugh, "Perhaps I hurried out of the Gongmen just now; the weather is warm‑then‑cold, I sweated a bit and the wind blew, so my hand got cold."

Chu Yunzheng did not release her immediately; instead, he rubbed the pad of his finger over her damp, cold palm, his eyes deep and inscrutable.

After a while, he suddenly sighed, his tone becoming weighty and earnest.

From the depths of his eyes rose an overwhelming, unmelting affection and worry: "Tangtang, I have said that within this palace, I am your sole reliance."

"If you encounter any difficulty, whatever it may be, you must tell me."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice low and full of beguilement.

"I trust you, always trust you. I will also protect you, act on your behalf. Do you… understand?"

This heartfelt pledge, like the sweetest poison, instantly struck the softest corner of Wan Tang's heart.

To receive such unreserved trust and favor from the emperor is almost the extravagant longing of every woman in the harem.

The tip of her heart trembled involuntarily, giving rise to an impulse that almost wanted to lay everything bare.

However, the remaining shred of reason clutched her tightly.

She lifted her gaze, colliding with Chu Yunzheng's eyes that seemed affectionate yet concealed scrutiny.

Within were concern and tenderness, but deeper still was an unmistakable probing and the emperor's inherent suspicion.

He was testing, wrapping a blade in honey, waiting for her to drop all her defenses.

Or perhaps it also bore genuine affection.

But Wan Tang, would you dare gamble?

Yet gambling with someone of absolute authority and far stronger than oneself is courting death.

Wan Tang lowered her lashes, covering all emotion within, and when she lifted her eyes again, they were filled with deep feeling and reliance.

She gently grasped Chu Yunzheng's hand again with her other hand, her voice trembling: "Emperor treats me this way; I… I truly do not know how to repay you."

"If there truly is a difficulty, I will be the first to tell the Emperor, seeking his protection."

Chu Yunzheng stared at her, a barely perceptible complex glint flickering deep in his eyes.

Finally, he slowly released his grip, casually placing the mud figurine on the table as if it were truly a trivial trinket.

"Tangtang, as long as you understand my intention, that is enough."

【Dog Emperor now speaks like a human, making even me, the audience, like him a bit.】

【Dog Emperor does act like a person now, but the Empress is not a thing. In fact, nothing was told to the Emperor; it was just to have the Emperor use this thing to test Tangtang.】

【The Empress and the Emperor made a bet, saying Wan Tang would be frightened by this thing. The loser must do something for the other.】

【The Empress's calculation is spot on; the Emperor intends to use the Xiao Family for something. The key is that the Xiao Family differs from the Xu Family, always keeping a good balance. It both makes the Emperor wary and does not threaten the throne.】

【By doing this, the Emperor can rightfully demand the Xiao Family to do something. It can also make Wan Tang lose her composure, perhaps causing her to admit fault.】

【The key is, the mud figurine is not the one Wan Tang's mother possessed; it is a fake.】

【In the Emperor's eyes, there is no room for sand.】

Wan Tang's mind rippled with a cold sneer, the rolling barrage like icy water poured over her head.

In an instant, the slight ripple sparked by the emperor's deep affection was extinguished.

Trust?

In this soul‑devouring deep palace, before the emperor's scheming, those two words are utterly laughable.

Her face showed not a hint, and she calmly took the mud figurine from Chu Yunzheng's hand, her fingertips gently rubbing and examining it.

The craftsmanship is indeed delicate, almost identical to her mother's.

If not for the barrage exposing it, she would find it nearly impossible to discern authenticity.

The palace houses countless skilled artisans; reproducing such a small trinket is as easy as a snap.

She toyed with it for a moment, her brows slightly furrowed, her face showing just the right amount of puzzlement and incomprehension.

She looked up at Chu Yunzheng: "Emperor, what is the Empress's intention with this action…?"

"This mud figurine looks very ordinary; I am foolish and truly cannot see any mystery."

Chu Yunzheng saw that her expression was not feigned; a genuine surprise flickered in his eyes.

A subconscious whisper: "It shouldn't be! The Empress said with certainty that if you saw this thing, your expression would change dramatically, and you'd be eager to keep it…"

Wan Tang heard this, and the bitterness on her face deepened, even showing a hint of helplessness and grievance that had been drawn out for no reason.

She gently placed the clay figurine back into Chu Yunzheng's hand: "Keep it?"

"Why should I, a concubine, keep an ordinary clay doll?"

"Emperor, should I be interested in this thing?"

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes clear, as if she were truly bewildered by the Empress's cryptic nonsense.

Chu Yunzheng stared into her eyes for a moment, then burst into a loud laugh, as if a doubt had been lifted.

In a delighted mood, he swept her into his arms: "Not being interested is best! Tangtang, you've helped me a great favor again!"

Just then, a wet nurse came carrying the little Princess Minghui.

The little one blinked her big dark eyes, stretched out her chubby little hand, and gurgled as she reached for the clay figurine in the Emperor's hand, apparently very curious.

Seeing this, Chu Yunzheng's mood brightened further, and he laughed aloud: "Since my Minghui likes it, I'll give this little trinket to her to play with!"

Speaking so, he casually stuffed the clay figurine into his daughter's hand.

After teasing the child a while longer, Chu Yunzheng finally rose to depart.

Reaching the hall gate, he suddenly halted, turned around, and the smile on his face had already faded.

His expression was unprecedentedly solemn, his gaze heavy upon Wan Tang: "Tangtang,"

He spoke in a low, powerful voice, "You must remember my words today. I am the most solid backing you have in this Imperial Palace."

"No matter what happens, I will stand by your side and protect you completely. Understand?"

This sudden solemnity tightened Wan Tang's heart; she dared not show any slack.

She immediately bowed her head and replied obediently: "Emperor, your gracious favor is etched in my heart; I am infinitely grateful!"

Her tone was earnest, trembling with startled favor: "To receive such Imperial favor is a blessing I have cultivated over several lifetimes."

Chu Yunzheng gave her a deep look, then finally turned and left.

The hall gate closed, and Wan Tang slowly sat up, watching the fake clay figurine in her daughter's hand that had nearly caused a disaster, her back already soaked with cold sweat.

The moment Xiao Mingshu's figure vanished at the Gongmen, Wan Tang's forced composure shattered instantly.

She almost collapsed, falling onto a nearby soft couch, her fingertips still trembling faintly.

Xiao Shunzi immediately stepped back alertly, hurried forward, and handed a clean, warm damp cloth.

Her voice was pressed down to a whisper, trembling with fear: "Master, you finally returned!"

"Just now you truly scared the Nubi to death; if you had been any later, I would have been thinking about writing a will to settle my affairs…"

Wan Tang took the cloth and dabbed the fine cold sweat seeping from her temple.

She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to stay calm: "No need to panic; it was just a false alarm."

She paused, recalling the earlier sounds outside the hall, and asked, "Emperor has arrived, but the two Ladies of Grace in the Side Hall made not the slightest sound?"

Xiao Shunzi quickly replied: "Yes, Master, Lady Sun and Lady Liu have both come out to respectfully welcome His Majesty."

The etiquette was flawless, but since the Emperor did not summon them, they quietly retreated to their own rooms, without any breach of protocol.

Wan Tang heard this, slightly furrowed her brows, and a hint of oddity crossed her mind: "That's odd."

The women in the Imperial harem, upon seeing the Emperor, each tries to push forward; yet they remain composed.

Xiao Shunzi thought for a moment, then speculated: "Xu Shi is still young, inexperienced, and doesn't understand the ways of competing for favor?"

"Or perhaps he's timid and dares not be reckless?"

Wan Tang pondered briefly, gave no answer, then asked: "Li Ping'er, where is she? Why haven't we seen her around?"

Xiao Shunzi's face showed a hint of difficulty: "Ping'er left early, saying she had urgent matters, and hasn't returned yet; it's been half a day."

As they spoke, from inside came the whimpering and hiccuping of Princess Minghui, as if about to cry out.

Wan Tang's heart was instantly tugged, and she could no longer ponder the doubts; she hurriedly rose and headed toward the inner chambers.

She set all tangled thoughts aside for the moment, and gently soothed the child.

Through a sleepless night, Princess Minghui's cries not only persisted but grew louder and sharper.

The little face was flushed red, breathing rapid, and no amount of coaxing could help.

Wan Tang's heart felt as if placed over a low flame, slowly roasting; her initial patience had long been replaced by worry and fear.

Her eyes were tinged with dark blue, hair slightly disheveled, the fatigue of a sleepless night etched on her face, yet she could not attend to herself.

She repeatedly held her daughter in her arms, gently patting, humming an off‑key lullaby, trying to soothe the inexplicably restless child.

"Good girl, Minghui, stop crying; mother's here…"

Her voice carried a barely perceptible tremor, and her fingertips carefully brushed the child's hot forehead, neck, and belly, seeking any sign of discomfort, but found none.

The sense of helplessness at being unable to share the child's pain nearly overwhelmed her.

Even within the deep Imperial Palace, Minghui was her beloved treasure, her sole reliance.

She did not wish to be an Empress Dowager, only Minghui's mother; her health was all that mattered.

The imperial physician was summoned, examined her pulse carefully, and could only frown and shake his head.

He reported: "Virtuous Consort, the Princess's pulse shows slight irregularities, as if frightened, but there are no substantive signs of illness."

"Perhaps in spring a child is inevitably a bit restless?"

The wet nurse was questioned and examined repeatedly, even several lactating nurses were tried to feed her, yet Minghui continued to wail.

The child resisted everyone's approach, only occasionally gaining a brief sobbing breath in Wan Tang's arms.

Wan Tang, holding her daughter who was crying to the point of breathlessness, paced back and forth in the hall, her mind in turmoil.

It wasn't that she had never seen a child cry, but never like this—so fierce and without cause.

She wished she could bear all the child's discomfort herself, just to have the little life in her arms cease crying and sleep peacefully.

【There is no mystery; the cause is simple—it lies in the clay figurine.】

Is Xiao Mingshu really such a kind person? After being short‑changed on Tangtang, how could she still resort to such a low‑IQ method.

The clay doll was deliberately brought by the Emperor; it was infused with the scent babies love and also contains a toxin that unsettles one's mind.

If Wan Tang does not discover it, she will have to endure the pain the Empress once went through, holding the child helplessly, only watching the child slowly die in her arms.

If Wan Tang discovers it and takes the clay doll to cause a scene, the Empress will pull out the clay doll in her hand and say it was made according to this clay doll.

The outcome is the same: either Wan Tang bears the grief of losing a child, or the hidden truth is exposed.

Wan Tang hears the Barrage sound, grits her teeth fiercely, and mutters under her breath, "How vicious."