Chapter 181: My Own Path, My Own Way

The palace gate creaked lightly as two rough eunuchs half‑supported, half‑dragged Li Ping'er inside.

She could barely keep her balance, her whole body soaked in blood and grime that saturated her thin garments, each breath trembling with pain.

Xiao Shunzi turned her face away, her shoulders twitching slightly, silently shedding tears.

Only Wan Tang sat upright on the chair, her expression calm and unruffled, as if watching someone unrelated.

Li Ping'er broke free from the support, fell heavily to her knees, her forehead pressed against the cold floor tiles.

Tears mingled with blood streamed down, her voice shattered: "Master, I have wronged you…"

Wan Tang did not look at her, only lowering her eyes to adjust her cuff, and said lightly: "Although you are an official lady, tonight will count as your wedding day."

She rose, walked to the dressing screen, took out several plain yet exquisite pearl hairpins, a pair of jade bracelets, and ordered a set of brand‑new water‑red palace attire.

"Since you are someone who left my Palace of Eternal Joy, I will not let you look too unsightly."

She placed the items on the jewelry tray before Li Ping'er, her movements steady, without a hint of tremor.

Li Ping'er stared at those items, crying to the point of nearly losing breath.

Regret and shame flooded her like a tide: "Master, you may beat me and scold me! I beg you…"

Wan Tang said nothing, stepped forward herself, and silently helped her strip off the tattered blood‑stained garment.

When she saw the snarling, criss‑crossing scars on the fair skin, her brows tightened imperceptibly for a moment, then she returned to calm.

She moved gently yet swiftly to dress Li Ping'er in the water‑red new clothes.

She combed the tangled hair, pinned on the pearl hairpins, and put on the jade bracelets.

Throughout, there was not a single word of comfort, not a hint of emotion.

Having finished, she stepped back, looking at the woman now dressed anew yet still unable to hide her miserable wretchedness.

Finally, she uttered two heavy words: "Leave."

Li Ping'er knelt hard on the ground, clutching Wan Tang's hem, tears pouring like rain: "Master, are you abandoning me?"

Wan Tang gently tugged back her hem, her voice warm to the point of detachment: "Now you are an official lady personally appointed by the Emperor, no longer a servant."

"Regardless of rank, since you belong to the Emperor, you must keep to your duty."

"Master, are you blaming me?" Li Ping'er lifted her tear‑streaked face, and the calmer Wan Tang remained, the more panic rose in her heart.

"I have never coveted your favor, nor ever dreamed of becoming the Emperor's woman!"

"I swear to Heaven…"

Wan Tang suddenly let out a sigh, the sigh carrying an indescribable complexity: "If you truly are the Emperor's woman, I might still have to offer a congratulations."

She furrowed her brows slightly and fell silent.

Li Ping'er felt a sudden heaviness in her heart, a foreboding clutching her.

She gave a wretched smile: "It… it's my own doing…"

Beside her, Xiao Shunzi could not help but choke out a plea: "Master, think of a way, help Ping'er…"

"Help?" Wan Tang finally turned her head, her gaze sweeping over Xiao Shunzi, the tone laced with icy sarcasm: "Now you want me to help?"

"When I repeatedly warned and admonished, did she hear even a single word?"

Li Ping'er shivered all over, mute and speechless.

The gratitude toward Yan Wang weighed on her chest like a mountain, yet the guilt and past bond with Wan Tang burned like raging fire.

Wan Tang stared at her, eyes filled with a painful, fierce resolve: "One servant does not serve two masters!"

"Such a simple principle—what are you really thinking?"

"How many eyes in the harem stare at Palace of Eternal Joy, stare at me!"

"Yet you insist on touching the most forbidden thing!"

Xiao Shunzi watched Li Ping'er silently shedding tears, unable to utter a word, her heart also anxious.

From beside her, a voice chimed: "Master, don't be angry."

"She's also confused."

"Confused?" Wan Tang's cold gaze fixed on Xiao Shunzi: "I have said before, do not let emotions dictate actions."

"Li Ping'er." Wan Tang's voice suddenly rose, tinged with fear and anger: "If you had not earlier confided your background and hardships to me, allowing me today to glimpse a sliver of truth to exploit, what would be awaiting me now?"

"It's not whether I help you or not! It's who else could come to save me?!"

Xiao Shunzi stopped crying, her face turning pale with shock.

Li Ping'er, as if waking from a dream, thought: Yes!

Had Li Defu not defected in the midst of battle and swapped all the evidence,

the charge of illicit liaison with foreign officials and spying on the Emperor's mind—how could Virtuous Consort have any chance of survival?

Not to mention other charges, even Yan Wang's every greeting alone would be enough for the Empress to craft a full case.

It would cause Wan Tang to plunge into the abyss.

Li Ping'er instantly sank into overwhelming remorse.

"I was wrong, I truly understand my mistake…" Li Ping'er sobbed, "I never imagined things would turn out like this."

"I only thought of passing more information to Yan Wang; he could also help us."

"His Highness Yan Wang's gratitude toward me and my mother is as heavy as a mountain; I cannot abandon him."

Wan Tang looked at her, suddenly feeling a deep sense of helplessness.

She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, only a weary clarity remained: "Knowing how to repay kindness is a good thing."

"From now on, you need not concern yourself with my affairs."

"As for what lies between you and Yan Wang, that is your own destiny."

Her tone was resolute, leaving no doubt: "I will no longer hear any related news."

Before Li Ping'er could speak again, she indifferently waved her hand and said to Xiao Shunzi:

"Don't let the Emperor wait impatiently."

"Send Miss Li away."

"Don't scold me as a saint; to be honest, I think Li Ping'er is really a bit pitiful."

"Rest assured I won't scold; after all, what Chu Yunzheng did is beyond human affairs."

"Indeed, he never intended to take Li Ping'er. He does this solely to disgust Yan Wang. I saw him have many Ice Blocks prepared."

"It seems they plan to make Li Ping'er stand on the Ice Blocks for a night. It's too cruel; not only will no wound be visible, but her legs will be ruined."

"Just thinking of it is terrifying; although Li Ping'er brought this suffering upon herself, I can't help feeling sympathy for her tragic fate."

Wan Tang originally did not intend to intervene in Li Ping'er's matters.

But hearing this, her heart softened.

"Fine, I shall go there after all!" Wan Tang sighed.

Xiao Shunzi's eyes suddenly brightened, and he hurried, "Yes, Master."

Outside Yangxin Hall, the lights shone brightly, yet a chilling cold pervaded.

Wan Tang personally led Miss Li here, and Chu Yunzheng's expression was originally stern.

Seeing her arrive personally, a clear flash of surprise crossed his eyes, then turned into a vague, complex guilt.

"Emperor," Wan Tang knelt and bowed, her posture open, voice steady, "Although Miss Li was once a servant in my palace, I also regard her as a sister."

"Today I present her to the Emperor, earnestly requesting that the Emperor show some mercy."

Chu Yunzheng looked at her clear yet distant eyes, and the guilt born from the day's misunderstanding resurfaced.

He finally sighed, "I understand."

His tone softened slightly, but he remained indifferent to Miss Li, "Go first to the Side Hall and wait."

"Let me escort her there," Wan Tang interjected.

Until the Langxia of the Side Hall, where the lights were dim.

"Master, thank you. I still wish to send this servant this way…" Li Ping'er sobbed, tears rolling down.

Wan Tang halted, yet did not turn back, her voice cold and clear in the night wind, "I have never changed my mind."

"You accompany me for a stretch, and I will accompany you for this final part of the road."

She finally turned her face half away, moonlight outlining her resolute silhouette, "From now on, walk your own path yourself."

Having spoken, she turned away without a hint of lingering, her skirt brushing the stone steps, without any hesitation.

Li Ping'er stood rigidly in place, watching the receding silhouette, all gratitude, remorse, and despair lodged in her throat.

She turned her silent sobbing into a violent shaking of her shoulders, yet bit her lip hard.

She dared not let any sound escape, only tears surged out, pain piercing her heart.

Wan Tang was just about to turn and leave when Li Defu rushed out from the shadows.

His voice was pressed extremely low, carrying an urgent mystery: "Virtuous Consort, please stay!"

"Old servant dares to ask, how did you learn of Ping'er's background?"

Wan Tang stopped, her eyes scanning the surroundings warily, signaling Xiao Shunzi to step back.

When only the two of them remained, she calmly said, "She said it herself."

Li Defu's expression changed in an instant, from initial excitement to a complex calm.

He stared at Wan Tang, pulling out an ambiguous smile, "Madam, you truly are skillful!"

"At first, I wanted to form a good bond with you, Madam, but you were so aloof and disdainful."

"Now, you actually want to use me for you?"

Wan Tang heard this, a hint of unmasked sarcasm curling her lip, "Lord Li is overthinking."

"What I do is for Ping'er."

"What the future holds is a matter for you and your daughter."

Her tone suddenly shifted, eyes icy, "As for the 'favor' you once gave me, Lord Li, I have engraved it in my heart and dare not forget a moment."

She stepped half a pace forward, her voice light yet each word cut like a knife, striking Li Defu's heart: "Whether it's one year or ten, this debt, I will settle with you, item by item."

Li Defu's complexion changed abruptly, a mix of blue and white.

He forced down his anger, gritting his teeth, "If that's so, since you are willing to look after Ping'er, I will speak plainly."

"In this life, all power and wealth are fleeting, but this bloodline I cherish more than my own life!"

"If you can help her ascend to a consort rank, I will help you overthrow the Empress!"

Wan Tang seemed to hear a very funny joke, letting out a light snort, "No need."

Her gaze was cold as frost, piercing him, "Compared to the Empress, what I truly wish to see is your untimely death."

A fierce glint flashed in Li Defu's eyes, his voice lowered threatening, "Madam, do not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink! I have been operating in the palace for many years…"

"Lord Li has this idle time to argue with me," Wan Tang cut in bluntly, tone indifferent, "Perhaps you should think more about your daughter who has just received great favor."

"I think, Lord Li should know better the Emperor's purpose in leaving her."

"Consider how to let her fight for a living before the Emperor."

Having said that, she gave Li Defu no more looks, turned and left, leaving him standing alone in the cold night wind, his face ashen.

Inside Yangxin Hall, candle flames flickered.

Li Defu watched as Guanren silently carried in Ice Blocks and nail boards.

He felt the cold pierce his bones, his heart burning with anxiety.

He steadied his mind, leaned over the imperial desk, and while pouring tea whispered seemingly casually, "Emperor, although Miss Li's origins are humble, she is grateful and obedient…"

Chu Yunzheng's red ink on the memorial did not stop, as if he hadn't heard at all.

Li Defu's throat tightened, about to look for another chance to speak.

But a light "tap" sounded, and Chu Yunzheng set down his brush.

His gaze still fixed on the memorial, he suddenly asked, "Li Defu, you say Tangtang and that Li Ping'er have a very good relationship?"

Li Defu's heart jumped, and he immediately bowed and said, "Yes, Emperor, Virtuous Consort treats those below her with leniency, and with the official lady Li she is as close as sisters."

He glanced at the Emperor's expression, and seized the chance to speak cautiously, "Today the Consort herself sent her, and although she appears calm, I fear her heart must be in great distress."

"After all, that girl is covered in wounds; just looking at her is horrifying…"

"That's her own fault!" Chu Yunzheng cut in coldly, his tone displeased.

Li Defu, gathering courage, said, "She certainly deserves it; it's just that Virtuous Consort is pitied, I'm afraid she'll be upset again."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze swept over the pile of execution devices exuding a chill, and his brows furrowed in an inscrutable way.

Finally, irritably waving his hand, he said, "Remove all these items."

Li Defu, as if granted a pardon, practically scrambled to reply, "Yes! Nubi will handle it at once!"

He deftly ordered the junior eunuch to swiftly carry the items away, fearing that the Emperor might change his mind later that night.

When the hall regained its quiet, Chu Yunzheng rubbed the bridge of his forehead,

His voice betraying no emotion, "They will all wait outside tonight."

"Leave only her to attend."

Li Defu bowed deeply, suppressing the swirling complex emotions in his eyes, and whispered, "Yes."