Chapter 195: After Xu Chengyuan's Death

"What?!"

Chu Yunzheng's smile froze instantly, and his pupils contracted sharply.

He quickly handed the child in his arms to the wet nurse, his complexion turning exceedingly solemn.

He didn't even have time to ask Wan Tang another word, and in a deep voice said to Ouyang Qing, "What are the details? Report them immediately!"

While saying so, he strode outward, and Li Defu hurriedly grabbed a nearby cloak and followed.

The inner hall, which had just been warm and tender, was instantly shrouded by a layer of cold shadow from this sudden bad news.

Wan Tang stood in place, watching the Emperor's hurried retreating silhouette, and the charming smile on her face slowly faded.

Her eyes were a pool of calm, unfathomably deep.

The atmosphere in the Imperial harem grew eerie.

Wan Tang sat by the window, and the sky outside was a dark, heavy gray.

Xu Chengyuan, as Commander, was the one who conferred titles, so his status was as expected.

No matter how despicable he was, reaching his current position meant he still had quite a few loyal followers.

At this moment, Yangxin Hall needed no imagination to know how noisy it would become.

When Xu Chengyuan was still alive, the Commander's seat hung in limbo, still able to give the old troops some hope, always feeling that day when it would be reinstated.

Now that he is dead, someone must sit down again.

A person who can both stabilize the army's morale and reassure the Emperor.

Wan Tang sat there thinking for a long time, finally lifted her brush slowly and wrote the character "Xiao".

She stuffed it into a pastry and had Xiao Shunzi deliver it.

Looking at the courtyard outside, at the unripe peaches on the peach tree, she wrote again, drawing a picture of a ceaseless flow.

It was sent to Qi Qi's residence.

Time flew, and during this period, the Emperor had not come to the Imperial harem.

Palace of Eternal Joy.

As an official authorized to walk in the Imperial harem, Su Yanci, in plain attire, stood quietly at the gate of Palace of Eternal Joy, not daring to step into the inner courtyard.

The brother and sister faced each other across a corridor, and Lady of Grace Su's face showed unabashed joy and reliance.

Chattering about palace amusements, while Su Yanci listened quietly, his lips occasionally lifting slightly.

Even his usually lax eyebrows and eyes rarely acquired a hint of genuine softness.

Wan Tang stood alone beneath a peach blossom tree not far away, looking up at the peach branches long past bloom, now only dense green leaves, and seemed absent‑minded.

Her silhouette in the early summer sunlight appeared somewhat thin and lonely.

Su Yanci's gaze inadvertently swept over her, lingering a moment on her profile, his eyes briefly dazed.

At that moment, Li Defu led a few eunuchs, carrying exquisite dishes and wine.

With a smile piled on his face, he said to Lady of Grace Su, "Miss Su, the Emperor has heard that Lord Su entered the palace and has specially granted a banquet."

"Allow you and your brother to gather here, as a sign of Heaven's grace."

Lady of Grace Su, upon hearing this, was overjoyed.

Her mind was simple, unaware of many Palace Rules, and she only felt that at such a joyous moment, Virtuous Consort seemed lonely standing alone beside her.

She immediately turned and enthusiastically waved toward Wan Tang, inviting, "Sister Virtuous Consort, the Emperor has granted a banquet, please join us!"

"The more people, the merrier!"

Wan Tang snapped back to attention, looked at those clear eyes without a hint of impurity, and smiled faintly.

She shook her head, "The Emperor's grant is for your family banquet; my presence here violates the rules."

Lady of Grace Su's smile instantly collapsed, and she pursed her lips.

She was full of confusion and disappointment, "Why is it against the rules? I'm not an outsider…"

Su Yanci, who had been silently observing, now spoke slowly, his voice as calmly as always.

Yet he spoke with an undeniable sense of propriety, "Lady of Grace, Virtuous Consort's words are entirely correct."

"Since the Emperor's gift is a family banquet for you and me, and as the head of Palace of Eternal Joy, the Consort, both in sentiment and reason, should be sincerely invited by us; how could there be any reason for the Consort to participate on her own accord?"

His words were fully proper.

He slightly turned, facing Wan Tang's direction, and made a "please" gesture; though unspoken, the posture was complete.

Lady of Grace Su seemed half‑understanding, but hearing her brother say that, she immediately stared at Wan Tang with eager eyes, the expectation in those small glances almost spilling over.

Wan Tang looked at the siblings, remained silent for a moment, then let out a soft sigh.

A faint smile returned to her lips, "Since that is so, I shall trouble you then."

【Actually, I quite like Su Yanci; he's handsome, has a good personality, and is smart. He's been by the Emperor's side since childhood, so he's essentially a good brother to the Emperor.】

【Unfortunately, a talented person can also become a fatal mistake. Because Su Yanci's abilities are outstanding, the Emperor has taken notice of him.】

【There's no way around it; the Emperor never trusts Xu Yanchuan. The person the Xiao Family recommends, the Emperor cannot employ, lest the Xiao Family control both the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue.】

【The Ning Principality is indeed loyal without a doubt; being granted the title of Duke of England, at least he has no complaints about the country. Unfortunately, he is old.】

【Now, the Emperor's top favorite is Su Yanci, followed by General Huang. This banquet, I fear, is a reminder to Su Yanci that he should serve the country.】

Wan Tang heard the Barrage's words and felt irritated.

She had always thought that dealing with General Huang Jianjun would be enough, but didn't expect Su Yanci as well.

Wan Tang took her seat as instructed, the three sat around, and the atmosphere seemed harmonious.

The palace maids laid out the Emperor's bestowed dishes, and Lady of Grace Su poured wine enthusiastically, recounting some childlike anecdotes.

After three rounds of wine, Su Yanci suddenly set his cup down, a half‑smile curving his lips.

He looked at Wan Tang, his tone lazy yet inquisitive, "In Virtuous Consort's eyes, what kind of person am I?"

Wan Tang's hand holding the cup paused briefly, then displayed an impeccable concubine's smile.

In a deferential and flattering tone, she said, "Lord Su is naturally a dragon among men."

"His appearance is graceful, his talent abundant, and he is deeply trusted by the Emperor."

"If he were to join the ranks of the speech officials, even the famously upright Zhou Su, Lord Zhou, would seem a bit inferior."

She skillfully steered the conversation toward civil posts, avoiding all sensitive areas.

Who would have thought, Su Guiren beside her, pursed her lips and, with a hint of pride, retorted, "Virtuous Consort sister, you missed a word!"

"My brother not only writes essays; since childhood, Father hired the best master to teach him martial arts, and his military strategy calculations are even more formidable!"

"Even the Emperor…" she began, almost blurting out, "Even the Emperor's private sand‑table simulations with him have never beaten my brother!"

The moment those words left her mouth, the air at the table froze for an instant.

Wan Tang felt a sudden chill in her heart.

In imperial tactics, the greatest taboo is a subject whose brilliance shines too sharply, especially in military matters.

If Schemer heard Su Guiren's words, it would be enough to bring great disaster upon the Su Family.

However, what surprised Wan Tang even more was that Su Yanci did not chastise his sister for misspeaking.

He merely sipped his wine at a leisurely pace, and after Su Guiren finished, he lazily echoed, "Younger Sister is exaggerating."

"But what she said isn't entirely wrong."

He set down his cup, his gaze flickering over Wan Tang.

Suddenly he rose, strolled into the courtyard, and bent to pick up a peach branch from the ground.

In the next moment, his wrist twitched, and the ordinary branch seemed to transform into a sharp sword in his hand!

His body moved with the shadow, and the sword techniques unfolded like flowing clouds and water.

At times light and graceful, at times fierce and forceful—thrust, stab, slash, sweep—each move was impeccably precise, accompanied by the sound of slicing through air.

It was more than mere flourish; within lay lethal intent and exquisite control of power.

Even though Wan Tang understood nothing of martial arts, she could clearly feel the overwhelming aura!

That skill, that realm, seemed to surpass even Hui Guifei and the youthful Xu Yanchuan!

After the sword routine ended, Su Yanci's breathing steadied, and he casually tossed the branch aside.

He returned to his seat, still with that detached laziness, as if the person who had wielded the sword aura moments ago were not him.

Wan Tang's courteous smile had long vanished, replaced by a solemn stillness.

She slowly set down her cup, her gaze sharp as she looked at Su Yanci.

It seemed that Lord Su's visit today was far more than merely accompanying his sister for a family dinner.

He was sending her some kind of signal.

Wan Tang suppressed the tumult in her heart and rebuilt an appropriately admiring smile on her face.

She deliberately used Xu Yanchuan as a comparison, probing, "Lord Su truly hides his talents."

"This sword technique is peerlessly exquisite; even the so‑called top young swordsman of Fengqi Kingdom, General Xu, would have to humbly concede today."

Su Yanci heard this, lifted his eyes to Wan Tang, and suddenly let out a low laugh.

That laugh carried an inexplicable hint.

His gaze lingered a moment on the small crimson rouge mole between Wan Tang's brows.

He then lazily said, "Your Highness, you flatter me."

"My modest tricks are merely idle pastimes to strengthen the body; I would never dare compare myself with General Xu."

His tone shifted, bearing an almost blunt honesty: "Bloodshed and battlefield strife are not my desire."

"Rules and court intrigues are even more detestable."

He chuckled self‑deprecatingly, "I only wish to be a carefree idler, preferring to lie down rather than sit; I have wasted my skills and made Your Highness laugh at me."

Wan Tang never expected him to be so forthright, laying his heart bare to her.

She looked at Su Yanci's perpetually half‑closed, weary eyes.

For a moment she didn't know how to reply, and silently took a sip of the wine in her cup.

She turned her gaze to Su Guiren, who was chattering nearby, and watching Su Yanci's unprincipled indulgence and pampering, Wan Tang felt an inexplicable irritation rise within her.

She didn't understand why everyone's fate seemed toyed with by an invisible hand.

Su Yanci, clearly bearing world‑shaking talent, nonetheless chose to remain in laziness.

Su Guiren, naïve and innocent, was about to be drawn into the deep palace vortex.

And she herself felt each step was heart‑pounding, as if treading thin ice.

Why can't one simply live according to one's own will?

She gritted her teeth, drained the remaining wine in her cup, and leaned on the alcohol.

Half‑in jest, she teased Su Guiren, "Look at your brother; he always treats you like a child who doesn't understand the world."

"Little Xiao Susu, however, has already reached the age of secretly harboring affection for others."

Her words were veiled yet clearly pointed toward the supreme emperor.

Who would have thought, as soon as the words left her mouth, Su Yanci's previously lazy expression changed abruptly!

With a light "clack," the wine cup in his hand slipped onto the table, splashing liquid onto his cuff.

His complexion turned instantly pallid, all blood drained, a ghostly white, and a trace of unmistakable terror flashed in his eyes!

He snapped his head around, his gaze as sharp as a blade fixed on Wan Tang.

But after just a heartbeat, he forced all his emotions back down.

He inhaled deeply, turned, and said to Su Guiren, "We're out of wine. Younger Sister, go fetch more wine."

His voice even carried a barely perceptible tremor.

Su Guiren, though finding her brother's reaction odd, dared not ask further upon seeing his pale complexion.

Obediently "oh," a sound, got up and left.

At the table, only Wan Tang and the still pale‑faced Su Yanci remained.

The air solidified, as if a layer of ice had formed.

Su Guiren turned and had just taken a few steps to fetch wine, when Su Yanci, who had just forced herself to stay calm, suddenly stood up without any warning.

Su Yanci stepped back one step, faced Wan Tang, and knelt down straight…