Chapter 189: Deep Sisterly Bond

Hui Guifei mentioned Xu Yanchuan's name, as if an ice needle pierced Wan Tang's spine.

She sharply pinched her fingertip into her palm, using that sharp pain to force herself to stay calm.

She slowly turned around, helpless yet amused: "Noble Consort, you truly have wronged me."

"What's wrong?" Hui Guifei crossed her arms, her gaze sharp, "I'm beginning to feel it again."

"You just kept saying you sought this consort position for me, not for yourself; now that I think about it, you weren't wrong."

She spoke with a near‑savage insight: "I am merely a cover you use to deceive others."

"What you truly want to elevate is that Xu Yanchuan, right? Paving his way, fighting for his future, isn't it?"

Wan Tang felt her heart suddenly tighten, as if it would leap out of her throat, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on her back.

She still forced a calm demeanor, even her tone carrying a hint of misunderstood grievance and absurdity:

"Noble Consort, you also said he is Xu Yanchuan."

She slowed her speech, word by word, striving for clarity, "You could go everywhere to inquire—among all officials, the entire Imperial harem—who would believe?"

"Would General Xu risk his life to save me, Wan Tang?"

Hui Guifei stared at her for a few seconds, then, suddenly disinterested, waved her hand.

She said lazily, "It doesn't matter. I was just speaking offhand, not interested."

But she immediately seemed to think of something very amusing and broke into a grin.

With a childish malice and unabashed threat, she said, "But you know! If one day you upset me, I might actually tell others just like that."

She even let out two mischievous chuckles.

Wan Tang swallowed with difficulty, her throat dry and tight.

Facing the Empress's relentless scheming, she could still handle it with ease.

But confronting Hui Guifei's unconventional, blunt, and precisely targeted tactics, she felt an unprecedented difficulty and pressure.

"Don't you have business?" Hui Guifei began to usher her away, tone impatient, "Leave quickly, don't linger here."

As she spoke, Ning Daying entered, carrying three steaming bowls of sweet soup.

She first carefully offered a bowl to Hui Guifei, then another to Wan Tang.

Blinking, she said puzzledly, "Virtuous Consort sister, why are you sweating so much? Is it hot?"

Wan Tang was startled, realizing her temples and nostrils were already covered with fine cold sweat, even her back clothing dampened.

She hurriedly raised her hand to wipe with her sleeve, forcing a laugh, "It's a bit stuffy."

She took the bowl of sweet soup rather hastily, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Hui Guifei glanced at her, said nothing more, and simply picked up a spoon, leisurely stirring the sweet soup in the bowl.

Ning Daying handed the sweet soup to Wan Tang, kindly saying, "Virtuous Consort sister, have a sip to cool down."

Before the words finished, Hui Guifei suddenly reached out, snatching Wan Tang's bowl of sweet soup, the motion so fast it almost created a gust of wind.

Ning Daying was stunned, blinking, "Sister, didn't you have one?"

Hui Guifei didn't answer, lifted her own bowl, and gulped it down in a few mouthfuls.

Then she placed the empty bowl aside, declaring confidently, "Not enough."

Immediately after, she directly lifted the bowl originally belonging to Wan Tang and took a big gulp from its rim.

She lifted her chin, eyes full of malicious teasing, "I've already drunk it; Virtuous Consort must be disgusted, refusing to drink, right?"

Who would have thought, Wan Tang not only didn't retreat, but met her provocative gaze.

She leaned slightly, using Hui Guifei's hand, and gently sipped from the spot where she had just drunk.

The movement was natural, even carrying an indescribable intimacy.

Wan Tang lifted her eyes, her tongue unconsciously licking her lips, smiling sweetly at the suddenly pale Hui Guifei, her voice soft and clear: "So sweet."

"You—!" Hui Guifei, as if burned, jerked her hand back, spilling the sweet soup from the bowl.

Her face flushed red then white, unsure whether from anger or something else, she pointed at the palace gate, her voice changed: "Out!"

Wan Tang drew a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, leisurely wiping her mouth corner, as if she had just performed an ordinary tasting. She rose, with graceful poise, and bowed: "I, your humble servant, take my leave.

Just after turning and taking two steps, a gust rose behind her.

A delicate palace lantern was snatched by Hui Guifei, and she hurled it fiercely at Wan Tang's back.

【Since Wan Tang stepped into Hui Guifei's main hall, eyes are everywhere, just waiting to see how Wan Tang will make a fool of herself?】

【Especially Liu Guiren of Palace of Eternal Joy, who is waiting to report good news to the Empress?】

【This is a huge embarrassment; Hui Guifei is a troublemaker, giving no one face.】

【They say Wan Tang isn't a troublemaker?】

Wan Tang didn't care about who's a troublemaker or not.

One thing was certain: this joke would never be shown to anyone.

Wan Tang carried the lantern, her steps light as she left Jingren Palace's main hall.

Reaching the palace gate, she suddenly stopped, turned, and, facing the hall's interior, performed a proper bow.

As soon as she stepped out of Jingren Palace's area, the various palace informants lurking nearby, and the genuinely concerned Li Pin, immediately surrounded her.

Li Pin grabbed Wan Tang's hand, scanning her up and down, her voice trembling: "Virtuous Consort sister, are you alright?"

"Hui Guifei didn't do anything to you, right?"

She had personally seen those cold weapons in Hui Guifei's hall.

Wan Tang blinked, her face showing a naive innocence tinged with a slight haze.

As if she knew nothing of their worries: "I'm fine, right? Why are you, Li Pin sister, so nervous?"

Li Pin, seeing her expression, grew more anxious, lowering her voice: "She really didn't make things difficult for you?"

Wan Tang, hearing that, instead smiled, her smile sincere and relaxed.

She raised the palace lantern in her arms, her tone a little boastful: "Noble Consort Hui is very kind, look, she even gave me a gift!"

As soon as those words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent for a moment.

Li Pin opened her mouth wide, her jaw nearly dropping in shock, murmuring, "She actually gives gifts to people?"

Wan Tang, as if she hadn't seen the crowd's astonishment, chatted with Li Pin for a couple of sentences, then left with graceful poise.

Only after she walked away did Li Pin slowly regain her composure, gazing at the silhouette and, still trembling, whispered to the nearby palace maid, "Monster, both are monsters.."

The prying eyes around them, when they turned toward Wan Tang, had silently changed.

Originally perhaps merely curiosity, jealousy, or schadenfreude, now they involuntarily felt deep admiration and a hint of awe.

To be able to emerge from that palace unscathed, even receiving a reward, this Virtuous Consort is certainly no ordinary person!

【Hahaha, Tangtang is so funny, she hits right at my heart.】

【But Liu Guiren is still at Palace of Eternal Joy waiting for Wan Tang to return.】

【There's no way, she wants to see Wan Tang suffer, even in her dreams.】

Want me to suffer?

Wan Tang let out a light snort from her nostrils.

Dreaming!

I'm not a saint; I wouldn't help anyone.

Palace of Eternal Joy.

Just after returning, Liu Guiren approached like a cat that smelled blood.

With feigned concern on her face, she said, "Please convey my respects to the Virtuous Consort."

"Consort, where have you just come from?"

"Why does your complexion look so bad?"

"But what grievance have you suffered?"

Her tone was perfectly measured, both deferential and provocatively inquisitive.

Wan Tang didn't glance at her, walked straight into the main hall, and looked up at the beam.

She said nothing, merely waved to the young eunuch beside her.

The young eunuch immediately understood and brought over a high stool.

Liu Guiren's eyes flashed with doubt, then she saw Wan Tang standing on the stool, a sturdy silk ribbon suddenly in her hand, and she was tossing it toward the beam!

She instantly paled, rushed forward shouting, "Consort! Consort, what are you doing!"

Her voice trembled with sobs, fully acted, "Even if Noble Consort Hui has humiliated you, you still must not lose your mind!"

"You have the Emperor's favor; you could tell the Emperor, and he will intervene! Why resort to such a light death!"

Every sentence was not about Noble Consort Hui's abuse; each word was incitement.

Wan Tang seemed completely oblivious, still focused on fiddling with the silk ribbon, even tying a firm knot.

Liu Guiren, seeing her stubbornness, was so frightened her voice changed pitch, stamping her foot, "Consort, please come down!"

Subject will now go ask the Empress to persuade you!

Saying that, she turned to head outward.

Wan Tang sneered inwardly, "What persuasion? She must be eager to summon the Empress for a spectacle!"

As she was about to rush out the hall doors, Wan Tang finally spoke, her voice calm, "Xiao Shunzi, bring the lantern to me."

Xiao Shunzi hurriedly replied, "Consort, it's too high and dangerous; let Nubi hang it!"

Wan Tang, however, insisted on taking it, standing on the high stool, carefully hooking the lantern onto the freshly tied silk ribbon knot, and adjusting its angle.

She lowered her head, smiling at the bewildered Liu Guiren below.

"This is Noble Consort Hui's first time giving a gift to me; it is of great significance."

"Naturally, I must personally hang it in the most conspicuous spot of the main hall, so we can face each other daily."

"Thus, it will showcase the depth of our sisterly bond, won't it?"

Liu Guiren's expression froze instantly, the tearful, frantic look stuck on her face, looking utterly ridiculous.

She slightly opened her mouth, eyes wide and round, staring at the broken lantern.

After a while, she finally forced a trembling, twisted voice from her throat:

"You... you've been busy all this time... just to hang, hang this lantern?"

"Noble Consort Hui, even... even gave you something?!"

Her voice was so sharp it nearly cracked, filled with disbelief and a huge sense of a plan gone awry.

Wan Tang admired her barely held façade, smiling more delightedly, "And what else? Liu Guiren, what did you think I was going to do?"

Liu Guiren suddenly snapped back to herself, her chest heaving violently, quickly taking several deep breaths.

Only then could she forcefully suppress the curses and twisted expression that were about to spill out.

She forced out a smile uglier than crying, her voice still trembling, "Nothing, nothing."

Subject was worried about the Consort, but truly... you gave me a huge fright.

Wan Tang stepped down from the stool, moving lightly to stand before Liu Guiren.

She extended her hand, fingertips cold yet exceedingly gentle as she brushed Liu Guiren's stiff cheek.

She smiled with a spring‑like warmth, but her gaze was sharp as a needle, piercing the heart: "Liu sister, don't be afraid."

Her voice was so soft it seemed liquid, yet every word concealed a cold blade, "Noble Consort Hui, actually you are the epitome of gentleness and kindness."

"As long as you treat her sincerely, she will repay with genuine heart."

Liu Guiren's hair stood on end from her touch, facial muscles twitching, forcing out an extremely awkward, twisted smile.

She kept stepping back, "Yes, Consort, as you said, Subject suddenly feels a bit weary and wishes to return and rest."

She almost fled in panic, even neglecting proper etiquette.

Wan Tang watched her hurried retreating back, the gentle smile at the corner of her lips instantly cooled, turning into a frozen indifference.

After a moment, Xiao Shunzi slipped in and reported, "Master, Liu Guiren has left the palace; she seems to be heading toward Kunning Palace."

Wan Tang leisurely sat back in the chair, lifted her teacup, blew the froth, and said in an even tone, "Let her go."

"If she doesn't go, how could the Empress know the depth of the 'sisterly affection' between me and Hui Guifei now?"

She took a sip of tea, a flash of cold calculation and pleasure passing through her eyes:

"Isn't the Empress constantly guarding against me, fearing I might collude with someone…?"

"Then I shall let her … see clearly."

"And also let her truly experience what … is called … fear."