Chapter 199: The Great Lie

In the original work, the Dog Emperor indeed kept an eye on Yan Wang at all times. One year, Bai Li fell ill, and the imperial physician said it was caused by stagnation. Because of this, the Emperor summoned Yan Wang into the palace and gave him a severe reprimand.

I thought Wan Tang had already rewritten fate, but unexpectedly, this scene from the original still occurred.

Sigh! It seems that even while Wan Tang writes the script, certain events will still happen.

So, the Dog Emperor just now said so much to Tangtang, all because of guilt toward Bai Li?

Damn it, eradicate officials of the Wanwan type.

Hearing the barrage, Wan Tang gave a self‑deprecating smile.

She slowly lifted her head, gazing at the low clouds on the horizon, her eyes dim.

"Master." Xiao Shunzi whispered beside her: "The Emperor is certainly sincere toward you."

"He is the Imperial Grandson; he would never confuse two completely different people together."

Wan Tang lowered her head, looking at Xiao Shunzi.

Her smile was that bitter.

She sighed lightly, letting everything drift away with the wind.

She spoke again, her tone cold: "Xiao Shunzi, how have the matters I ordered been handled?"

Upon getting to business, the young grandson dared not delay a moment and hurried: "Reporting, Master, the shops we invested in are already yielding increasing daily profits."

"We can earn at least a thousand taels of silver each day."

"The restaurant you ordered will be able to open in the Capital tomorrow."

Wan Tang nodded.

The atmosphere in the main hall had not yet settled when an eunuch from Kunning Palace left and returned.

Holding a palm‑sized ebony box, he presented it to Wan Tang with respect that barely concealed arrogance:

"Virtuous Consort, the Empress said you left in a hurry and forgot something; she has ordered Nubi to deliver it back to you."

An alarm rang in Wan Tang's mind, but she remained expressionless as she took the heavy box.

After the eunuch withdrew, she inhaled deeply and slowly opened the lid.

Inside was not the clay figurine remains she imagined, but a freshly transcribed paper copy, its handwriting an uncanny imitation.

And a tiny black porcelain bottle labeled with the character "Poison".

Wan Tang's gaze swiftly scanned the writing; when she read the content, the suppressed hatred in her eyes erupted like a volcano.

Her fingertips trembled violently as she ripped the paper into her palm, and with her other hand seized the fire‑wrapped paper on the table, giving it a sharp blow.

The azure flame leapt up, instantly devouring the incriminating paper, curling, blackening, and turning into a small puff of ash that drifted down.

She stared fixedly at the ash, her chest heaving, each word feeling ground out between her teeth:

"Xiao, Ming, Shu…"

Bai Wei has already returned to Kunning Palace. The Empress, upon seeing it, was greatly angered, feeling the Emperor was slapping her in the face.

Now Wan Tang has become the Empress's deep hatred; how could she still tolerate it? The Empress immediately clarified the matter.

Bai Wei's smashed face further inflamed the situation. Xiao Mingshu originally wanted to play cat‑and‑mouse for fun, but now she only has one thought: the Xiao family's mission must be completed, and likewise, Wan Tang must also die.

The thing inside the little bottle is a chronic poison, colorless and odorless. After ingestion, a person withers slowly and will die within seven days. If Consort Hui dies, can the Duke of Ning endure such a blow? When the Duke of Ning gets into trouble, the Empress will leap out to accuse; can Wan Tang still live?

If Wan Tang does not comply, Xiao Mingshu will again expose Wan Tang's lineage. Wan Tang's death sentence would be unavoidable; then whose hands will Minghui fall into? Will the Empress continue to raise him, or is the Empress unable to vent her anger, making Minghui also doomed?

Just listening to the barrage, Wan Tang's back was already slick with cold sweat.

She truly was terrified.

The two possibilities mentioned in the barrage, Wan Tang could not bear either.

She finally understood why she could be fearless at first, but now she truly was a bit scared.

She now had attachments.

She was no longer an orphan.

Even if Xu Yanchuan is completely eradicated, what about Minghui?

Xiao Shunzi, seeing Wan Tang's sudden pallor and catching sight of the little bottle labeled "Poison" in the box, instantly filled his eyes with terror: "Master! This… this…"

Wan Tang's fingers slowly brushed the icy bottle, and in the end she only gently closed the box lid.

Her tone drifted as if to ride the wind: "Tonight, summon the Emperor to come."

"Just say that I had a nightmare, frightened and restless, unable to sleep."

Moonlight, like ink, silently spread over the courtyard.

Chu Yunzheng arrived.

But Wan Tang was not waiting inside the hall; instead, in the courtyard she had a small charcoal fire, attentively roasting a few sweet potatoes.

The smoke mingled with the sweet scent of the potatoes, giving a homely warmth.

"Tangtang, what's this?" Chu Yunzheng asked, a bit surprised, but still smiled and approached.

Wan Tang looked up, a faint smile on her face, softened by the firelight: "Suddenly felt like eating this. Emperor, would you like a taste?"

"Folks say nothing is tastier than roasted sweet potatoes."

Li Defu, standing nearby, watched the Imperial Consort's scene, his face showing satisfaction.

The bond between Chu Yunzheng and Bai Li, the most inseparable part is this roasted sweet potato detail.

Since Wan Tang knew to invite the Emperor to eat this, it shows she heard Li Defu's words in her heart.

Chu Yunzheng took the charred, steaming sweet potato she handed over, warmth also appearing in his eyes.

As if recalling something: "Indeed, the best is roasted sweet potatoes."

Wan Tang gently rested her head on his shoulder, voice soft: "Emperor, I have lied to you."

Chu Yunzheng froze.

"I have never liked roasted sweet potatoes," she said calmly, with a barely perceptible bitterness, "The Xu family rules are strict; when I was a child, not to mention such snacks, even getting a full hot meal was as hard as climbing a mountain."

Roasted sweet potato was far too luxurious for me back then.

All the beauty I later imagined about it was my own invention.

Chu Yunzheng's face showed no reproach; he simply lowered the sweet potato in his hand slowly.

His brows twitched slightly: "What did you like to eat when you were a child?"

"I'll eat anything," Wan Tang smiled, a bitter hint in her smile, "as long as it fills the stomach."

She said, reaching for a small handful of dry soybeans from a nearby dish, and scattered them onto the edge of the charcoal fire.

The beans quickly roasted, crackling and emitting a toasty aroma.

She carefully picked a few, blew on them, and handed them to Chu Yunzheng.

Chu Yunzheng took them puzzledly, placed them in his mouth, and chewed; the texture was coarse.

With a simple burnt flavor, he clearly did not like them.

Wan Tang watched his subtle expression shift and gave a bitter smile: "When I was little, I hid with my mother in the manor; the winter was so cold I couldn't sleep."

"Mother was by the fire pit, handing me this to eat."

"That was the most delicious thing in my memory."

She lifted her eyes toward the dancing flames, her voice as light as a dream: "Emperor, I sometimes wonder if I've been living inside a massive deception all along?"

"With countless lies, a seemingly beautiful illusion was woven."

Chu Yunzheng had long sensed her unusual mood today; upon hearing this, his complexion settled completely.

He set aside everything in his hands, grasped Wan Tang's shoulders, forcing her to face him, his gaze sharp as a torch:

"Look into my eyes and tell me."

His voice was low and solemn, allowing no evasion:

"What exactly has the Empress seized as leverage over you?"

Wan Tang kept her eyes shut, letting warm tears silently slide down her cheeks, while the corner of her mouth formed an extremely bitter curve.

Suddenly, as if resolved, she lunged forward, using all her strength to push the defenseless Chu Yunzheng onto the soft‑rugged floor.

Before Chu Yunzheng could react, she kissed him passionately, almost desperately.

With a resolve to burn everything, she tangled herself willingly, clothes disheveled, breaths mingling.

Chu Yunzheng, though shocked by her sudden madness, did not push her away.

The emperor's pride and desire for control were oddly soothed by his beloved's rare initiative and vulnerability, even stirring deeper possessiveness and pity.

In a tangled haze, Wan Tang pressed her scorching lips to his ear, breath hot, voice low, hoarse, and broken.

Like the most lingering yet most desperate curse and plea, it dragged both into a deeper vortex of ruin.

Chu Yunzheng tightly clasped her waist, and amid the fierce undulations, watched her tear‑streaked lashes, reddened by desire, flutter like trembling butterfly wings in the wind.

A complex sour ache filled his heart; he leaned down, gently kissing away the salty tears, his voice hoarse and lingering:

"Wan Tang."

"You are the biggest fool in the world."

【Oh dear, what did Wan Tang say! Why can't I hear?】

【The two fighting is really intense, I love watching. It's that damned wind blowing the curtains, oh dear, I can't see.】

【Exciting, exciting, haven't seen this kind of scene in ages. Bring more paid segments!】

The Barrage erupted in cheers.

Not only the Barrage, but also the people outside all turned their heads.

Li Defu merely glanced, muttering quietly: "Demon Concubine."

The next day.

Wan Tang was already radiant.

Yet the favor of Changle Palace had become the greatest in the Imperial Palace.

After waiting for Minghui to fall asleep, Wan Tang personally carried him to Jingren Palace.

When she reached the gate of Jingren Palace, Wan Tang's steps faltered slightly.

Memories were hazy and overlapping.

It seemed to return ten years ago, when Xu Luoyan had just been granted residence here.

Wan Tang followed behind Xu Luoyan, seeing such a magnificent palace for the first time.

At that time, Wan Tang's eyes were full of curiosity. She cautiously surveyed the place and, timidly behind Xu Luoyan, asked: "Your Highness."

"When Rong Ruo passes here later, may I speak with him?"

Back then she wanted to tell Rong Ruo that she didn't need a lavish dwelling, just a home.

She couldn't forget Xu Luoyan's smile then, hand covering her mouth.

Xu Luoyan personally held Wan Tang's hand, step by step inward, and with each step she said:

"Of course not."

"You can only live in the shadow of this palace."

"Serve this palace well; when I become a noble consort, Rong Ruo will proudly marry you."

A breeze blew, feeling a bit cool.

Inside the courtyard, most ostentatious buildings had been demolished, and the gaudy floral clusters turned into elegant plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum.

The orchid's faint fragrance pulled Wan Tang back to reality.

Minghui clicked his tongue, seized his peachwood sword, and waved it clumsily.

Wan Tang's heart was as bitter as bitter orange, yet her face blossomed with a gentle smile.

She gently brushed her forehead against Minghui's delicate little forehead, her voice so soft it could drip water: "Minghui, be good."

"When you see Hui Niangniang, you must smile, understand?" she whispered, each word a mother's deepest care and helplessness.

Carrying Minghui, she entered Jingren Palace and saw Ning Daying in the courtyard working on carpentry together with Hui Guifei.

On the floor, among wood shavings, a few nascent little wooden horses and chairs lay scattered, endearingly clumsy.

Wan Tang smiled as she approached: "Sister Hui Guifei, what are you busy with?"

Upon hearing her voice, Hui Guifei didn't even lift her head and tossed the carving knife in her hand.

It made a sound neither loud nor soft, and in a stiff tone she said, "Shei allowed you to come in?"

Ning Daying muttered softly from beside, "I reported it for a while now, Sister—you clearly heard it, yet you stayed silent…"

Hui Guifei shot a cutting glance, and Ning Daying instantly drew his neck back.