Chapter 176: Trust

Wan Tang's gaze swept swiftly.

Consort Hui sat on the Emperor's other side, her expression cold and sharp.

Li Pin stood below, her eyes full of worry.

Shun Pin hung her head low, wishing she could shrink into the shadows.

The other concubines' expressions varied, all spectators of a good show.

It seemed the Empress had called everyone over.

Today's performance requires drums and gongs blaring.

She performed the ritual properly: "Subject humbly requests audience with the Emperor and the Empress."

"I do not know why I was summoned here; what is the matter?"

With a light "tap," Chu Yunzheng set down his tea cup.

The sound was small, yet it made everyone in the hall's hearts jump.

He lifted his eyes, his gaze like a hawk locking onto Wan Tang, and his words were not a rebuke.

Instead, in a deep voice he asked, "Tangtang, someone reported that you secretly consorted with an external minister. Is that true?"

Xiao Mingshu was clearly displeased; for such a serious matter, not sending it straight to Shenxing Si was already done out of the Emperor's favor.

But the Emperor not only did not rage, he actually asked Wan Tang for the truth first?

Is this still the Emperor?

Wan Tang's tightly strung heart slightly relaxed.

To an emperor, the world is of utmost importance.

If the accusation is that she colluded with court officials to plot treason, she would truly have to fear.

But this…

She even let out a low cold laugh, lifted her eyes to stare directly at the Emperor and Empress, and with a mocking tone said, "Those who falsely accuse Subject are truly extremely foolish."

His gaze, with implied meaning, swept over the Empress.

Xiao Mingshu's eyebrows tightened suddenly.

The senior palace maid behind her, Bai Wei, immediately scolded harshly: "Virtuous Consort! You cannot be reckless before the throne!"

"Aunt Bai Wei," Wan Tang's tone suddenly turned cold, "I am still the Virtuous Consort personally appointed by the Emperor."

"You, a servant, are even fit to chastise me before the throne on behalf of the master?"

Bai Wei's complexion turned deathly pale in an instant.

At this moment, the ever-cowering Shun Pin timidly rose, her voice as thin as a mosquito's.

She dared not look at Wan Tang and said, "Emperor, I personally saw the senior palace maid beside the Virtuous Consort delivering a token outside the palace."

"As for who the items were to be handed to, I do not know."

Shun Pin's voice grew even weaker, sounding as if she dared not offend anyone yet felt compelled to speak.

Xiao Mingshu immediately feigned a sigh, adding fuel to the fire: "Emperor, the words of others may not be entirely trustworthy."

"But you know Shun Pin is gentle and timid; if it weren't truly the case, she would never chase shadows and make baseless accusations."

Chu Yunzheng's face remained solemn, revealing no joy or anger, his gaze still fixed on Wan Tang, as if weighing.

Xiao Mingshu's tone suddenly shifted, her voice tinged with helplessness: "Moreover, the messenger we captured is from Yan Wang Fu."

The words "Yan Wang" struck the hall like a thunderclap.

Chu Yunzheng's complexion turned iron‑blue, a storm erupting in his eyes.

He and Yan Wang were as water and fire; that name was a reverse scale.

It must not be touched.

"Bring it up!" The Emperor's angry shout rattled the roof tiles.

Two guards immediately dragged a blood‑smeared young guard and slammed him in front of Wan Tang.

A heavy scent of blood surged forward, and Wan Tang, startled, stepped back half a pace.

Xiao Mingshu gave a signal, and a guard stepped his foot onto the wounded leg of the young guard.

Amid the wailing, the man sobbed, tears streaming, and with a trembling voice begged, "I surrender! I, the servant, surrender!"

"I took silver to carry items from the palace out for Yan Wang Fu."

"I, Nubi, am greedy for money; I know nothing else… nothing else, Your Majesty!"

Chu Yunzheng suddenly stared at Wan Tang, the last spark of warmth in his eyes vanished, and his voice was cold as ice:

"Kneel."

Wan Tang knelt as instructed, her skirt's hem spreading silently over the cold, hard gold bricks.

She lifted her head, her eyes filled with a perfectly measured bewilderment and confusion.

She did not look directly at the Emperor's furious face, but lowered her eyelids slightly, her posture obedient yet puzzled.

Xiao Mingshu's tone rose, with a cold interrogation: "Virtuous Consort, the matter has come to this, and you have nothing to say?"

Wan Tang gently shook her head, her voice carrying pure bewilderment.

As if truly lost in a fog, she said, "Subject… do not understand."

She slowly raised her gaze, finally landing on Chu Yunzheng's face.

In that look there was no grievance, no anger, only deep incomprehension: "Subject does not know why I must kneel?"

Chu Yunzheng met her clear, untainted gaze, and the taut string in his heart seemed plucked.

His anger eased slightly, yet regret and suspicion still surged: "I will never allow you any involvement with Yan Wang!"

"Yan Wang?" Wan Tang's confusion deepened; she slightly frowned, logically retorting, "What does Yan Wang have to do with me?"

"That guard, I have never seen."

"Why should his crime be counted on me?"

"At this point, you still pretend to be foolish in front of me?!" Xiao Mingshu's tone suddenly rose.

With a heart‑wrenching rebuke, "How have I, the palace, taught you?"

"Imperial harem concubines, you should regard the Emperor as heaven, keep yourselves pure, and strictly observe your duties!"

"You… how can you be so shameless! Yan Wang only stayed in the palace for a few days, and you…"

"Empress!" Wan Tang's voice rose slightly, interrupting the Empress's words.

Her chest rose slightly, showing she was angry, yet her bearing remained, "Please watch your words!"

"Without evidence, why must you slander like this, tarnishing my reputation?"

"Slander?" Xiao Mingshu sneered, gracefully brushing her sleeves, "If it's defamation, there will be witnesses."

"Concubine Shun, you speak."

Concubine Shun seemed pricked, shrinking before rising again.

She lowered her head further, her voice so faint it was barely audible: "Your Majesty, when I stumbled upon it, it was the senior palace maid beside Virtuous Consort."

"Li—Li Ping'er was slipping a package to that guard…"

The moment "Li Ping'er" was uttered, Chu Yunzheng's complexion turned a steely blue.

The brief hint of softening froze instantly, his gaze at Wan Tang turned completely cold, devoid of any warmth.

He slammed the table hard, shouting sternly, "Bring her up!"

The guard, about to withdraw, was halted as Li Defu hurried forward, bowing and saying to Chu Yunzheng, "Your Majesty, I dare to request an edict."

His peripheral glance flickered over Wan Tang, his tone perfectly measured.

"Virtuous Consort serves the Emperor daily with sincere devotion; I have witnessed it with my own eyes."

"This matter concerns the Consort's reputation; the stakes are great."

"I earnestly request to personally question Li Ping'er, lest the subordinates, ignorant, act improperly in secret, thereby corrupting the truth and causing a rift between the Emperor and the Consort."

Each word sounds like a defense, yet each pierces the heart, hinting at possible coerced testimony or silencing.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze deepened, he paused briefly, waved his hand, "Approved."

"Very well then." His gaze again bore down on the kneeling Wan Tang, with the unique imperial pressure, "Virtuous Consort, I treat you differently from others."

"Do not disappoint me."

Xiao Mingshu immediately echoed softly beside him, her dignified face full of concern, "Li Defu's careful consideration is best."

"With you personally overseeing, we can ensure no one interferes, restore the facts to their original state, and also clear Virtuous Consort's sister's innocence."

She whispered the word "innocence" gently, yet with a chilling bite.

Li Defu bowed to receive the order, turned, and withdrew.

As he passed Wan Tang's side, his steps faltered imperceptibly, his back turned to the Emperor and Empress, and the feigned respect on his face vanished instantly.

Only an unmasked, cold triumph remained; his lips barely moved as he whispered, "Empress, please await good news."

Wan Tang remained kneeling upright; upon hearing, she lifted her eyes slightly, meeting his venomous gaze, a faint curve appearing at the corner of her mouth.

Her voice steady and calm, "Then I thank Li Defu for his 'thoughtful' care."

Li Defu let out a faint hum from his nostrils and hurried away.

The hall fell back into deathly silence, only the incense smoke silently spiraled, each breath stretched long and taut.

The hall was so quiet one could hear the faint clatter of ash falling.

Xiao Mingshu slowly twisted a silk handkerchief between her fingertips, her voice low yet each word sharp as a needle.

She jabbed at the kneeling Wan Tang, "Virtuous Consort's sister, the human and material evidence is about to be complete."

"Your Majesty's wisdom despises deception above all."

"If you suddenly awaken now and confess voluntarily, the Emperor, recalling past ties, may be lenient."

"If you stubbornly resist to the end, I'm afraid…"

She sighed, full of feigned concern for you.

Wan Tang, however, did not panic and confess or defend as she expected.

She slowly raised her head, her gaze passing over the Empress, fixed directly on the emperor seated on the throne, as still as water.

Her voice clear, even tinged with a quiet sorrow, "Empress has always taught me how to confess, yet never asked whether I am innocent."

She paused briefly, watery light shimmering in her eyes, yet stubbornly refused to let it fall: "I do not wish to argue the baseless accusations now, only to ask the Emperor one question."

"What exactly is the trust you speak of, Your Majesty?"

Her voice trembled lightly yet rang firm, "Is it like a tower in the sky that quivers at the slightest wind? Or like a mirage that shatters at the faintest ripple?"

"How audacious!" Xiao Mingshu's eyebrows arched sharply, she scolded loudly, "How dare you question the Emperor in such a tone!"

Chu Yunzheng raised his hand, halting the Empress's words.

His deep gaze fell on Wan Tang's face, where a swirl of complex, indecipherable emotions roiled.

There was imperial suspicion, a tremor of touched heart matters, perhaps even a barely perceptible wavering.

He rose, stepping down from the throne, the bright yellow hem of his robe brushing the cold floor.

Finally stopping before Wan Tang, he leaned down, his slender fingers gently lifting her chin, forcing her to look up at him.

"Tangtang," he called her name, his voice low, bearing an almost sighing force, "I have said I trust you."

His thumb unconsciously brushed her jawline, his gaze sharp as a blade.

As if to cut open her flesh, staring into her soul, "Now, look into my eyes and tell me."

"Is there any truth to the rumor of an illicit liaison with Yan Wang?"

"Do you even think Yan Wang is better?"

Wan Tang met his gaze without any evasion, her clear eyes reflecting his visage.

Resolutely, word for word: "Subject, absolutely did not."

Silence spread between the two, the air solidified like iron.

After a long while, Chu Yunzheng loosened his grip and straightened up.

He surveyed the consorts in the hall, their expressions varied, and finally his gaze fell back on Wan Tang.

His voice regained the emperor's steadiness, yet with a decisive force: "Good. I trust you."

He turned away, no longer looking at anyone, leaving only: "Everyone disperse."

This answer, Wan Tang included, was met with surprise.

She had considered the Emperor's suspicion, even anger, but did not expect that, amid his uncontainable fury, he still chose to trust Wan Tang.

Her chest suddenly ached.

Wan Tang looked at Chu Yunzheng, her eyes slightly red.

Xiao Mingshu, after painstaking scheming, ends like this?

She felt unwilling.

Emotionally agitated, she shouted: "Emperor, no!"

"Even if you believe, the interrogation has already begun today, and today's events have already spread throughout the Six Palaces."

"If it's so vague, how can we restore the Virtuous Consort's reputation?"

She took a deep breath and shouted: "Quick, bring Li Ping'er up."