Chapter 18: Sit Beside Me

Wan Tang's pupils shrank sharply at these words.

She had never imagined that Xu Luoyan would actually tell Li Pin about such a thing.

Being granted to a eunuch as a companion was already a taboo topic.

It was also a pain deep in Wan Tang's heart.

Looking at Li Pin's smug face, Wan Tang did not hesitate for a moment—she raised her hand and delivered a slap.

"Slap!"

The crisp sound of the slap rang out.

Li Pin had never imagined that Wan Tang would dare to lay hands on her; she was completely unprepared, and took the blow solidly across the face.

A slap mark instantly appeared on her fair cheek.

"How audacious—how dare you raise a hand against your superior?" Li Pin clutched her face and scolded furiously.

Her chest heaved violently with anger as she pointed at Wan Tang: "You're nothing but a lowly palace maid, a base servant who used to serve tea and water to the Noble Consort."

"My father is an Salt Inspection Censor—how dare you strike me?"

"What? You dared to do it but don't dare speak of it?"

"When you begged the Emperor for an Imperial Decree, how shameless you were. Once you climbed into the dragon's bed, you started despising your husband for being a rootless thing?"

Wan Tang always warned herself that she must remain a calm person.

But this topic made it impossible for her to stay calm.

"Nonsense—shut your mouth." Wan Tang raised her hand, meaning to slap her again.

But Dongqing, standing to one side, rushed forward first, charging at Wan Tang.

"My lady." Li Ping'er loyally protected her master, shielding Wan Tang with her own body.

Li Pin's face throbbed with pain, her eyes venomous as she snarled: "Hit her—beat her mercilessly."

"Today, I will teach a proper lesson to this wretch who doesn't know her place."

Li Pin had clearly come prepared—besides Dongqing, she was also followed by two burly eunuchs.

The two eunuchs pinned her down while Dongqing slapped her face and kicked her…

In the Yuhuayuan, originally a fine time for admiring round fans, things had now become this lively.

"All of you, stop at once!"

The voice was gentle yet carried authority—the Empress approached, surrounded by an entourage.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress!"

Dongqing hastily stopped, and together with Li Pin knelt to pay respects to Xiao Mingshu.

Wan Tang swayed, quickly grabbing Li Ping'er and looking at her injuries with red eyes.

Li Ping'er tugged at Wan Tang and quickly knelt on the ground.

Xiao Mingshu's gaze fell upon Wan Tang.

"The Emperor, in a rare mood, had me organize this Fan-Admiration Gathering so that we sisters might enjoy some festivity together."

"And here you are—the opera troupe hasn't even struck up their gongs and drums, yet you've started your own performance first."

Xiao Mingshu's gaze grew sharper.

Unlike the frailness she displayed when Wan Tang first saw her, she now appeared noticeably more spirited.

Li Pin pointed at the slap mark on her face and cried out aggrievedly: "Your Majesty the Empress, you must do justice for me. Lady Wan, relying on imperial favor, grew arrogant and, emboldened by the Emperor's affection, actually dared to strike me."

"Your Majesty, even you have never humiliated me like this!"

【Li Pin was formidable—wasn't she implying that Wan Tang had overstepped her bounds, doing what even the Empress wouldn't dare?】

【Who would have thought Xu Luoyan had such a capable helper by her side?】

【Wan Tang couldn't exactly go around telling the whole world that she had been granted to a eunuch as a companion, could she?】

【Striking the Emperor's face—no one would survive that.】

Xiao Mingshu's expression turned terrifyingly cold as she looked at Wan Tang: "Lady Wan, tell me—what exactly happened?"

Wan Tang only knelt on the ground, head bowed low, offering no explanation.

"Lady Wan, say something—what right did you have to hit me?" Li Pin's words were full of provocation, just waiting for Wan Tang to say it herself.

Everyone's gaze fell upon Wan Tang.

"My lady…" Li Ping'er looked at Wan Tang pitifully.

Wan Tang gently shook her head and said respectfully: "It was I who acted too aggressively, but I do not regret it."

"I will not strike unless struck first. Though I lack noble birth, I refuse to be trampled like grass by all."

Wan Tang spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, her eyes firm.

The Empress gave a cold snort: "Good—it's well that Lady Wan is willing to admit her fault."

With that, Xiao Mingshu's gaze no longer rested on Wan Tang but turned instead to Li Ping'er: "I sent you to attend to Lady Wan, yet you incited her to fight."

"Someone—drag her out and give her fifty strokes of the paddle first."

"Your Majesty, show mercy!" Wan Tang's heart clenched as she hurriedly begged for leniency.

Two eunuchs dragged Li Ping'er away directly.

Xiao Mingshu's tone was measured: "Lady Wan, this is the Imperial harem. The palace has its Palace Rules."

"Right now, the Emperor needs Lady Wan's care, so naturally you must not be harmed—but when someone makes a mistake, someone must be punished."

Xiao Mingshu narrowed her eyes slightly at this point: "As the Emperor's woman, your every word and deed represents the dignity of the imperial house. Those petty tricks of minor households—you'd best keep them to yourself, Lady Wan."

In a few words, she stripped Wan Tang of every last shred of dignity.

Wan Tang clenched her back teeth—the sound of the paddles falling was so heavy, yet Li Ping'er bit down and made not a sound. How much it must hurt!

【The Empress, that old witch, was simply using public office to settle a personal grudge.】

Isn't it just that you are jealous and resentful because the Emperor went to see Wan Tang last night?

You can't keep a man yourself, and you still blame the scent of flowers outside.

Barrage curses and mutters.

Wan Tang's hands were about to be pinched into the palm.

Li Pin dabbed her sideburns with a handkerchief and said with a laugh, "That wild girl has no manners, but the Emperor likes her. Now she'll make the Empress weep, cultivating her with care."

Xiao Mingshu's eyes darkened again.

Undoubtedly, she thought of last night's incident again.

She let Wan Tang remain kneeling on the ground, refusing to let her rise. So many Imperial Concubines and Nubi gathered around, watching as if it were a monkey show.

Beams of light fell upon her, making Wan Tang extremely embarrassed. Yet the sound of the board outside tore her heart like a knife.

She quietly slipped her clenched fists into her sleeves, holding all her hatred in her heart.

She humbled her voice again: "I, the humble consort, was reckless; but Ping'er only acted out of devotion to the master. I beg the Empress for mercy, spare her!"

Only murmurs surrounded them.

In such scorching heat, Wan Tang actually felt a bit cold.

Li Ping'er's injuries were already severe; after such brutal beating—fifty blows—could she still be alive?

Wan Tang only wanted revenge; she resented the injustice of fate and wanted Xu Luoyan to pay the price.

Li Ping'er protected her from the bottom of her heart; how could she not be sincere in return?

"Empress, I was at fault, Ping'er..."

"Enough," Xiao Mingshu cut her off, raising her hand to shade the sun overhead: "The sun is becoming more scorching; all the young ladies, delicate and noble, should not be exposed to it."

"Go sit in the cool pavilion."

The Empress also wouldn't let her rise, ushering the group away.

Someone whispered privately, "I thought she was clever, but even if she climbs onto the dragon bed, she's still a lowly person unfit for the stage."

"Kneeling as a servant woman, for whom is this done?"

"Under such a scorching sun, even if she doesn't die she'll shed a layer of skin. When the Emperor sees her then, will he still glance at her?"

The scorching sun was now directly overhead.

The crowd also proceeded toward the pavilion.

Wan Tang, sun‑baked and dizzy, felt a hint of shade overhead.

Did the dark clouds cover the sun?

Just then, a sparse rustle arose around; the Imperial Concubines, not yet seated, hurried up and knelt on the ground.

In unison they shouted, "Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, ten thousand years!"

Emperor…

Wan Tang slowly lifted her head.

Chu Yunzheng personally held an umbrella, shielding her from the sun.

His bright yellow dragon robe dazzled; his sharply defined brows and eyes were profoundly deep.

In his eyes there was no trace of anyone else: "The sun is scorching; don't get sunburned."

Chu Yunzheng reached out to Wan Tang, personally lifting her from the ground.

Wan Tang had knelt for a long time; her knees ached, her legs were numb. As she leaned, Chu Yunzheng's support prevented her from losing composure.

When she spoke, her voice choked, her tone urgent: "Emperor, please, spare Ping'er!"

"She only wanted to protect me; without Ping'er I would have no idea what being beaten feels like."

"Emperor…"

Wan Tang began to speak, tears streaming down. Two parts pretended modesty, but eight parts were genuine feeling.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze grew even softer.

"You! Your heart is too kind," the Emperor embraced her, not asking what happened, and said, "Reward her properly, and keep the joy peaceful."

Li Defu, however much he hated Wan Tang, was still tactful before the Emperor.

He immediately shouted, "Release her!"

Xiao Mingshu's face turned deathly pale. She squeezed the handkerchief in her hand, knelt, forcing a smile: "When did the Emperor arrive? We didn't hear any sound."

【The Empress panicked, surely wondering when the Emperor arrived and how many she saw.】

【Look at that jealous display, let everyone be envious; I, Pan Long Long and Tangtang.】

【Long Long, fiercely strike their faces for the palace, letting them bully Tangtang.】

Wan Tang, uninterested in listening to Tangtang, felt relief as the board's sound outside faded.

Chu Yunzheng never asked, from beginning to end, what actually happened.

He simply protected Wan Tang with one hand, supporting her as he walked past the kneeling crowd.

He suddenly stopped in front of Li Pin.

Looking at the crabapple on Dongqing's head, he asked, "That jasmine is rather elegant."

Being singled out by the Emperor, Dongqing was delighted, quickly lifted her head and showed her brightest smile.

Before she could speak, Chu Yunzheng's expression suddenly changed, raging: "How dare you lift your head?"

"How dare you not keep me in your sight, cast into the Xin Zhe Ku, enslaved forever."

Dongqing suddenly lost her spirit.

The Emperor's decree spoken with his own mouth—who can defy it? Who can save her?

To go there is true endless darkness, living in hell.

Li Pin shivered with fear, nearly collapsing to the ground, daring not utter a single plea for mercy.

The Emperor's "who is Dongqing" actually refers to everyone present; he dotes on Wan Tang, so everyone must yield to Wan Tang, otherwise they are not regarded by the Emperor.

Dongqing was immediately gagged and dragged to the Xinzhe Warehouse.

The Emperor never asked Li Pin about the injuries on her face.

Protecting Wan Tang, he/she walked to the main seat and let Wan Tang sit beside them.

Wan Tang was so frightened she knelt on the ground; the Empress had not even taken a seat, let alone the Emperor's left and right, of which only the Empress and the Imperial Noble Consort may sit.

Even if favored, one must be above the Imperial Noble Consort to be eligible to sit.

When Wan Tang sat down, it was as if she stepped directly on the Empress's head.