Chapter 182: Cannot Stay

Palace of Eternal Joy.

Wan Tang stood alone in the courtyard, the night breeze lifting her unbound raven hair, her gaze piercing the layers of palace walls, fixed on the direction of Yangxin Hall.

There the lights shone brightly, a scene she knew better than any, yet tonight that brightness felt like an icy needle stabbing her heart.

She imagined countless possibilities, pondering what kind of dazzling new favorite might lie beside Chu Yunzheng, or which noble lady of eminent family.

She thought she had long forged a heart of iron and stone, enough to calmly face the ebb and flow of imperial favor.

But she never imagined that one day the one reclining on the dragon couch, bearing the warmth and gaze she once possessed, would be Li Ping'er, whom she regarded as a sister and companion day and night.

A dull pain, as if pierced from behind by someone intimate, mingled with an indescribable disappointment and self‑mockery, spreading finely and densely.

It was more exhausting than bright spears or hidden arrows.

"Master," Xiao Shunzi stepped forward quietly, draping a cloak gently over her shoulders, voice full of worry, "The night is deep and the dew heavy; you've stood too long and will harm yourself, return to your chambers?"

Wan Tang slowly withdrew her gaze, the fleeting melancholy quickly suppressed, her eyes regaining a calm, cold sheen.

She turned, looking at the only Xiao Shunzi still by her side, and suddenly let out a very light laugh, the laughter tinged with a hint of desolation yet also resolute.

"Indeed," she said, her voice calm yet as heavy as a thousand pounds, "Now this Palace of Eternal Joy, from top to bottom, is left with only you and me."

Xiao Shunzi felt a pang in her heart, suddenly fell to her knees, her forehead striking the cold stone slab: "Nubi swears to follow Master to death!"

"As long as Master does not abandon, Nubi will forever be Master's most loyal dog!"

Wan Tang looked at her, silent for a moment, then reached out to help her up.

"Fine." She said only that word, yet it seemed to seal a promise weighing a thousand jins.

The night deepened, cloaking their silhouettes in a solitary yet steadfast silence.

【Tangtang, don't be sad; Gou Royal Brother just has a grudge in his heart, it's against Yan Wang, and nothing between him and Li Ping'er.】

【Originally Gou Royal Brother intended to break Li Ping'er, but out of concern for Tangtang's face, he only had Li Ping'er kneel at the doorway to serve.】

【Gou Royal Brother acted thus purely because of Yan Wang. Speaking of it, Gou Royal Brother still worries about Wan Tang.】

【Upstairs is getting love‑brain again? Could you bear to do this to someone you like? If you truly love Wan Tang, why not let go of Bai Li? Yet you still do this for a woman as illusory as a mirage?】

The barrage erupted again.

Wan Tang truly had no mood to care.

She only felt that this road seemed to grow even more arduous.

The next morning, dawn barely lit the sky.

Li Ping'er was half‑supported and half‑carried back to Palace of Eternal Joy.

Her complexion was ghastly, her steps unsteady, each step seeming to bear immense pain.

Li Defu followed closely behind, his face no longer the shrewdness of old, only a father‑like anxiety and humility.

He bowed deeply to Wan Tang, his voice pleading, "Virtuous Consort, Ping'er now looks like this; I beg your mercy, grant her a place to reside."

"Let her stay in your palace for a few days!" The implication was crystal clear: a plea for Wan Tang's protection.

Wan Tang's expression was indifferent, her gaze flicking over Li Ping'er without any warmth: "Lord Li jokes."

"She is now an official lady personally appointed by the Emperor, the Emperor's person, so naturally she should be placed by the Emperor."

She paused briefly, looking at Li Defu's suddenly despondent face, then continued in an official tone: "However, since Lord has sent her here, this palace will not ignore her."

She casually pointed to the most secluded quiet side hall: "There, then. Xiao Shunzi, go clear it, let the Li official lady rest."

When Li Ping'er was helped past Wan Tang, she struggled to halt, her lips moving weakly, calling out, "Master!"

Wan Tang stepped aside, her voice cold: "Li official lady, choose your words carefully."

"Your status has changed; addressing this palace thus is improper."

The last spark in Li Ping'er's eyes extinguished, leaving only a dead, gray void.

Within half a day, rumors in the palace spread like wildfire.

Everywhere whispered that the Li official lady had received a night of favor yet could not even walk, being carried back to Palace of Eternal Joy.

"Tsk tsk, no wonder she's a woman arranged by Prince Yan Wang, so cunning, look how she bewitched the Emperor..."

These filthy words quickly reached Wan Tang's ears.

She calmly ordered: "Anyone in Palace of Eternal Joy who dares to slander the Li official lady and the Emperor, or involve Yan Wang, shall receive twenty lashes and be expelled to Xin Zhe Ku."

The order issued, it was enforced with thunderous speed.

But within moments, discussion inside and outside the palace about the matter abruptly ceased; at least openly, no one dared to chew further.

Days passed day by day.

Everything continued as usual.

Everyone assumed that after Wan Tang completed her confinement, the Emperor would surely visit Palace of Eternal Joy daily.

But what no one expected was that the Emperor never came again.

Two months passed, and Palace of Eternal Joy was overly quiet.

Chu Yunzheng summoned Li Ping'er each night to attend him, and the next day she could not walk, being helped up by others.

It was called favor, yet there was no rank attached.

To say it's not favor, the Emperor had never done this; for two consecutive months there was only one person.

Only every few days, Chu Yunzheng would go sit with Consort Hui during the day.

During that time, Qi Qi visited Palace of Eternal Joy once.

He brought outside news inside.

Now the overall situation was settled, having grasped eighty percent of the capital's information.

Wan Tang nodded.

She only gave one reminder.

"The Emperor favors the Grand General, but this palace only hopes the Tiger Tally falls into Xu Yanchuan's hands."

Qi Qi was startled and hurriedly asked Wan Tang, "The Emperor is wary of the Xu Family; how can we proceed?"

Wan Tang merely gave a faint smile, "If there is no one, who could be more suitable than Xu Yanchuan?"

Qi Qi suddenly understood, took the order, and left.

In Yuhuayuan, a hundred blossoms vied for splendor, but hidden currents churned beneath.

Wan Tang was leisurely strolling to admire the blossoms when she ran straight into Empress Xiao Mingshu.

Xiao Mingshu stopped, lifted her chin slightly, and appraised Wan Tang from head to toe with a critical gaze.

A cutting smile curled at the corner of her lips: "Well, isn't this Virtuous Consort's younger sister?"

"Do you have the leisure to wander the garden today?"

"I thought the sister had just had that 'great news' in the palace and was busy training the newcomer to secure favor."

She deliberately emphasized the three characters "great news," dripping with sarcasm.

Wan Tang's expression did not change; she barely bent a knee in a perfectly proper bow, flawless in every detail: "Empress, blessings."

"I need not trouble Your Majesty with palace affairs. It is you who handles countless state matters daily, yet still has to worry about the trivialities of the six palaces; that is truly arduous."

Her tone was even, but she subtly hinted that the Empress was overreaching.

Xiao Mingshu was choked for a moment, her face darkened slightly, yet she retorted unwillingly: "I command the six palaces, so naturally I must oversee everything."

"Especially certain people, who habitually engage in matters that cannot be brought to the table; if I do not discipline them, the harem's rules will surely break!"

Wan Tang lifted her eyes, her gaze crystal‑clear as she looked at the Empress, a faint, extremely light smile spreading at the corner of her mouth: "Your words are correct."

"These harem rules are paramount, such as order of rank and distinction between legitimate and concubine offspring."

"I constantly keep them in mind, never daring a single transgression. Surely Your Majesty is the exemplar for the six palaces."

She never mentioned herself, yet every sentence struck the Empress's sore spot.

Reminding her that no matter how noble she is, she is still a successor, not the original heir.

Xiao Mingshu's face turned ashen, her fingertips clenched hard into her palm, yet she could not refute.

She stamped her foot hard, her chest heaving violently, clearly on the brink of raging fury.

Seeing she could gain no advantage in words, she suddenly seemed to recall something.

A malicious glint flashed in her eyes as she forced out a twisted grin:

"Ha, I can never be as 'magnanimous' as the Virtuous Consort's younger sister! How does it feel to personally send those around you to the dragon bed?"

"From what I see, that Li official lady has been favored since last night and still cannot leave the bed; sister truly trains well. This 'virtue'—I am truly inferior!"

She stared at Wan Tang, hoping to see a crack on her face.

Wan Tang heard this, only her eyelash hairs trembled slightly, then she regained composure, even that faint smile did not diminish at all.

Her tone was gentle, yet each word fell like ice beads:

"Alleviating the Emperor's worries is the duty of every woman in the harem."

"The Li official lady's favor from the Emperor is her blessing."

"As one of the Four Consorts, if I lacked even this measure of tolerance, would I not betray the Emperor's trust and waste the Empress's daily 'teachings'?"

She slightly bowed her head: "The wind is strong in the garden; Your Majesty, please mind your phoenix form. I take my leave."

Having said that, she no longer looked at the Empress's pork‑liver‑colored face, turned and left calmly.

Leaving Xiao Mingshu alone standing there, fuming so much she trembled all over, yet she had no way to deal with her.

She could only watch Wan Tang depart helplessly.

Xiao Mingshu's facial veins bulged, her fingers clenched hard into her palm.

Bai Wei, seeing Xiao Mingshu's current state, whispered beside her: "Master, ignore her; look at how this petty person revels in success."

"Petty person revels?" Xiao Mingshu's face turned the worst possible shade.

She gritted her teeth fiercely: "Probably she is the one even harder to handle than Bai Li."

Bai Wei's complexion changed.

Her body began to tremble uncontrollably: "No way!"

"Hehe, what can't be?"

A fierce light burst from Xiao Mingshu's eyes as she coldly said: "This person must never remain."

"Since we cannot deal with her behind the scenes, then give me something ruthless."

Bai Wei's face was full of fear, trembling as she said: "Master, you… didn't you say everything must be handled carefully?"

"Naturally, we must be careful."

"But that person, it's her!"

"When her wings are full, what will become of us?"