Chapter 2: Bullet Screens Appear, Scaling the Dragon Bed

Lotus pond moonlight, abandoned Side Hall.

Jingren Palace is the required passage to Qianqing Palace.

Wan Tang plucked several buds of unopened lotus flowers and held them to her chest.

A gentle breeze blew, and Wan Tang danced with the wind.

Ten years of memories flashed rapidly through her mind.

After three years in the Imperial Palace, Xu Luoyan was aloof and solitary, made enemies everywhere, and never shared a bed with the Emperor.

Even the silver coins were spent almost entirely; the palace was rife with favoritism and oppression, and in the end she could not even get a mouthful of hot rice.

Tired of this life, Xu Luoyan asked Wan Tang to find a way to vie for favor.

So Wan Tang donned a veil and waited on the Emperor's inevitable path.

With a dance of the phoenix seeking its mate, she mesmerized the Emperor.

After much effort, she finally drew the Emperor into Xu Luoyan's chambers.

Wan Tang was then placed on the Dragon Bed.

That night the candles burned bright, and the Emperor fought through the night.

When Wan Tang returned, her bones felt as if they would fall apart.

She lay on the ground, unable even to muster the strength to prop herself up.

From her lofty perch, Xu Luoyan looked at her and said, "Sister, the elder sister's fallen petals are gone; the Emperor will find out. Everyone in the General's Residence must die."

"Sister, the Imperial harem is a place that devours people without spitting out bones."

"From now on, sister, don't show your face before the Emperor."

"The elder sister has no choice but to endure endless suffering in the deep palace."

"You are different; in just a few years you can leave the palace and become a free bird."

The next day, the Emperor turned over Xu Luoyan's plaque.

It is said that that night the Emperor ordered all candles lit, sat by the bedside, and watched Xu Luoyan all night.

Xu Luoyan was promoted three levels from Answering and titled as Rui Consort.

Rui signifies an auspicious omen, symbolizing the return of the Heavenly Mandate, showing how much the Emperor favored her.

Sensing someone approach, Wan Tang repeated the same dancing posture from that day.

She danced with abandon, intoxicated, obsessed…

This was the trap she set for Xu Luoyan. Back then she gained favor because of that very dance.

Whenever the Emperor mentioned it, he said nothing compared to the stunning first encounter.

After all, even if Xu Luoyan learned the skin, she could never learn the bone!

She intends to plant a nail in the Emperor's heart, forcing him to uncover Xu Luoyan's long‑standing deceit!

The bright moonlight highlighted Wan Tang's increasingly slender and supple body.

She seemed to cradle a pink lotus half‑covering her face, a touch of vermilion stamped between her brows.

"Pa‑pa‑pa."

Applause rang out, and Wan Tang turned to see the Emperor standing beneath an arch not far away, wearing a flowing azure robe, a golden crown binding his hair, dignified and handsome.

Even from a distance he exuded an oppressive aura that made one want to submit.

Wan Tang's purpose had been fulfilled, and she turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, an Iron Arm seized her waist and said, "You danced beautifully; why, wasn't it just for me?"

He was that fast!

Indeed, Chu Yunzheng had gone to war at a young age! Yet after ten years as Emperor, his martial skills had not grown rusty.

Their gazes met; his eyes were deep, even when smiling they remained cold and piercing, only with a hint more red than usual.

"Your Majesty, I am not …"

Before she could finish, Wan Tang smelled a familiar fragrance on Chu Yunzheng.

No wonder the Emperor's eyes had a red hue; it was night‑blooming jasmine!

It was a blend Wan Tang had specially concocted to secure favor for Xu Luoyan.

A small amount could make one's interest surge.

But such a rich scent could make even a bull charge recklessly.

Is Xu Luoyan crazy? She isn't even afraid she'll die on the Dragon Bed!

"Your Majesty, you should return to the palace early; I must leave as well!"

Wan Tang struggled fiercely; the moment she fell to the ground, her outer robe was torn, and a scorching large hand gripped tightly her snow‑white shoulder exposed in the moonlight.

"Beauty, stay a little longer before you go!"

Chu Yunzheng was already under the influence of the drug, and now a palace maid who wanted to climb the bed had piqued his interest; there was no room for refusal.

Iron Arm, with a forceful grip, carried the person straight into the Side Hall.

Wan Tang was pressed onto the couch, her two hands forced above her head, an iron arm clamping her tightly, and she was taken by force.

The Emperor's patience had reached its limit; his movements were both swift and heavy. Even though Wan Tang tried to ease it, tears still welled in the corners of her eyes.

Until dawn approached, the Emperor finally clasped her waist and fell into a deep sleep.

Taking advantage, Wan Tang weakly put on her tattered clothes, dragging her trembling legs as she left.

Today's plan had deviated somewhat, but she did not wish to remain in the palace as the Emperor's woman.

She thought that if any chance arose, she would, as her mother said, leave the palace and live a peaceful life.

At sunrise, Wan Tang applied a garish makeup, covering all her scars, and as usual went to attend the Noble Consort.

Today, Jingren Palace was unusually oppressive.

With heavy makeup, Xu Luoyan's complexion remained unsightly.

She grabbed a handful of golden melon seeds and thrust them to Li Defu: "Father‑in‑law, the Emperor last night went to Shei's courtyard?"

"Matters of the Emperor, we Nubi dare not speak rashly!" Li Defu laughed, holding the golden melon seeds.

Wan Tang happened to carry tea out.

Li Defu's eyes suddenly brightened.

His gaze fell on Wan Tang, scanning her from head to toe.

The fifty‑plus old eunuch's face was covered with folds.

With a single glance, Xu Luoyan saw the clue and laughed: "This is the person I brought from my maternal family, Wan Tang."

"Good, good, a fine figure." Li Defu praised repeatedly.

Then he turned to ask Xu Luoyan: "Is it just this face?"

"Lotus‑like camellia, could it be any less splendid?" Xu Luoyan looked over leisurely, as if discussing a commodity: "It's merely makeup covering."

Li Defu pinched his orchid‑shaped finger, his eyes flashing with ferocity and mockery.

It seemed that in that instant, countless methods of torment flashed through his mind.

His voice, sharp enough to make the scalp tingle, said: "Good, excellent."

"Father‑in‑law, about last night…"

Li Defu glanced left and right, whispering: "Last night the Emperor chanced upon a beauty and was very pleased."

"Unfortunately we don't know which palace it was; these past days the Emperor seems uninterested in seeing the consorts, and is searching everywhere for the palace attendant from last night."

"What!" Xu Luoyan suddenly slammed the tea cup in her hand: "Damn little foot, if I hadn't suddenly gotten my period, how could someone have snatched the favor!"

"Father‑in‑law…" Xu Luoyan was anxious.

Li Defu's gaze, however, fell on Wan Tang's figure.

"No hurry." Li Defu smiled: "Just a palace maid, if she catches a bad illness, she dies and that's that."

"The Emperor's whims are fleeting; without this fresh amusement, he'll simply think of the consorts' virtues again."

"It's just that the consort…" Li Defu said solemnly: "Last night the Emperor summoned the Imperial Physician to examine what odd scent was on the clothing."

Xu Luoyan's complexion instantly drained of color; the hand she had placed on the armrest suddenly clenched.

A fine layer of sweat beads covered her nostrils.

Feigning composure, she rose herself and escorted Li Defu out of the Imperial Palace.

After Li Defu left.

Xu Luoyan called Wan Tang.

She pitifully grasped Wan Tang's hand.

She choked out: "Dear sister, you heard it too; another scoundrel wants to snatch my favor."

"In this palace, the only one I can trust is you, sister."

Wan Tang took everything in, saying nothing.

Xu Luoyan wiped her tears hesitantly: "If it weren't for the glory of the General's Residence, I wouldn't have to endure this humiliation."

"I'll secure the favor; when you marry into your husband's family, you'll finally be able to hold your head high!"

Hehe…

Now these nonsense words actually make one want to laugh.

Wan Tang forced down her disgust, nodded: "Hmm."

"For the General's Residence, for my sister's future happiness, I will handle this."

"Tonight go to the Palace of Pure Clarity to find Li Grandfather, beg him, help us, and preferably discover who that scoundrel is…"

Although Xu Luoyan's words were soft, two guards already followed behind Wan Tang.

The Barrage exploded in an instant.

【Wan Tang, don't go; Xu Luoyan is trying to send you into a wolf's den!】

【Li Defu can't wait to see your face.】

【To pull Li Defu into her camp, Xu Luoyan plans to sacrifice you.】

【Once you go, who knows what filthy deeds Li Defu will do to you.】

After reading the Barrage, Wan Tang lowered her brows, her eyes darkening inwardly.