Chapter 212: The Contradiction of Hidden Loyalty and Open Defiance

"Alas, Huang Hu didn't just vanish; it was obvious that, knowing Wan Tang and Xu Yanchuan are both Mo Family children, he chose to step back."

"It isn't only for that reason—given Huang Hu's skill, Ouyang Qing is trash before him. Who could trap him?"

"He merely slipped away silently to find Xiao Chuan once; when Xiao Chuan could grasp Sun Tzu's Art of War with his own understanding and flexible use, he finally relaxed."

"Huang Hu has always believed Sun Tzu's Art of War was written by Wan Tang, and he worships her intellect. Not to mention, the two of them are Mo Family children."

"Unfortunately, once Wan Tang's status is revealed, it is no longer a simple palace intrigue. The Empress Dowager has already summoned Xiao, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, into the palace. Even if the Dog Emperor still loves Wan Tang, he also covets the throne; before military and fiscal power stabilizes, he cannot attend to Wan Tang."

"Wan Tang just leaned onto the shabby bed, and the sound of a barrage kept echoing in her mind."

"Moreover, this content made Wan Tang's heart race."

"Huang Hu's retreat is the final test for him and Xu Yanchuan."

"The Fengqi Kingdom has long maintained a Three-way Stalemate, with the Xiao Family handling finances, while the Ning and Xu families each hold a Tiger Tally."

"Now that Xu Chengyuan is dead and the Duke of Ning is aged, handing the Tiger Tally to him would likely leave him willing but powerless."

"The Ning family is the most loyal; unless absolutely necessary, Chu Yunzheng does not dare to take risks."

"The best choice is to give the Tiger Tally to Huang Hu, who commands the Flying Tiger Army (formerly the Mo Family Army)."

"Now Huang Hu is missing."

"The only options are the Xiao Family or the Ning Family."

"Whichever family is chosen, the Three-way Stalemate will be broken."

"Without mutual checks, the court's order will descend into chaos."

"If it falls into the Xiao Family's hands, they control the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, and Chu Yunzheng will become a complete puppet emperor."

"Wan Tang leaned against the cold wall, weighing options in her mind at lightning speed, finally letting out an almost inaudible sigh."

"Li Ping'er saw this, hurried forward and gently comforted, 'Master, please do not lose heart.'"

"'Just now you were unconscious and unaware; His Majesty was so anxious and concerned for you, I (serving woman) saw it all.'"

"'As long as His Majesty holds you in his heart, he will surely find a way to get you out.'"

"Wan Tang lifted her gaze, her eyes giving her a complicated look."

"Her voice was low and weak yet distinctly distant: 'Li Da Ying, you are now a proper young master; you need not call yourself a servant before me any longer, nor call me Master.'"

"'But in Ping'er's heart, you will always be my master!' Li Ping'er exclaimed eagerly, pledging loyalty."

"Wan Tang slowly shook her head, her tone as cold as iron: 'One heart cannot serve two masters; a servant does not serve two lords.'"

"'Since you already have a status, you should understand this principle. If you cannot decide yourself, this palace will make the decision for you.'"

"She paused, her voice revealing deep fatigue and resolve: 'Moreover, this Cold Palace… seems there will be no day of emergence again.'"

"'Setting a clear boundary between you and me is, for you, the right thing.'"

"Li Ping'er's eyes instantly reddened, stubbornly saying, 'No matter what you say, Ping'er has decided on you!'"

"'If you stay in the Cold Palace, Ping'er will stay with you in this Cold Palace!'"

"'Leave.' Wan Tang closed her eyes, no longer looking at her, her voice cold with no hint of compromise."

"Li Ping'er seemed struck by a heavy blow, her complexion turning deathly pale, she froze on the spot, lost and hollow."

"Xiao Shunzi felt compassion in his heart, just as he was about to speak a word of counsel, he heard Wan Tang give a bitter smile."

"He whispered, 'In the imperial harem, the high are always revered and the low trampled; the Cold Palace is even more so.'"

"'The saint's heart is inscrutable; one only ever hears newcomers laugh…'"

"'There must be someone who can move outside; only then will the days in this Cold Palace not be unbearably hard.'"

"The tearful glimmer in Li Ping'er's eyes solidified, gradually shining with a sudden realization."

"But it was soon replaced by overwhelming difficulty, her voice trembling: 'But… but I have never yet received the saint's grace… how can I…?'"

"Wan Tang's gaze remained calm as she lightly tapped the bed rail with her fingertip, hinting, 'There is not only one path.'"

"'For example… Li Defu.'"

"Upon hearing the name Li Defu, Li Ping'er's complexion changed dramatically, her fists clenched hard, nails digging deep into her palms, a fierce hatred flashing in her eyes."

"She almost growled through clenched teeth: 'I hate him! I will definitely avenge Mother!'"

"'One day… I will surely kill him!'"

"Wan Tang quietly watched her being consumed by hatred."

"Though cruel, this is indeed the reaction Wan Tang hoped to see."

"After a long while, she softly said, 'If there is a chance, I will send you out of the palace. Leave this place of right and wrong, and never return.'"

"Li Ping'er, hearing this, completely panicked, urgently grabbed Wan Tang's sleeve, her voice trembling with tears: 'Master, I don't know what I said wrong?'"

"'I don't want to leave! I just want to stay by your side…'"

"Wan Tang let her hold on, her gaze calm yet bearing unquestionable strength."

"Her voice deep and clear: 'In this place that devours people, if you lack the ability to slay, punish hearts, and overturn clouds and rain, then leave!'"

"She stared at Li Ping'er's tear‑filled eyes, asking word by word: 'Have you ever thought why your mother would risk death to take you out of the palace?'"

"'In this palace, whose heart does not harbor hatred?'"

"Wan Tang's voice also carried a faint, barely perceptible bitterness: 'But if revenge means gambling your own life, is that truly what your mother wishes to see?'"

"The panic and stubbornness in Li Ping'er's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a deeper bewilderment and contemplation."

"Wan Tang raised her hand and lightly tapped her thin shoulder, the force light yet carrying the weight of a thousand pounds: 'Think carefully.'"

"Li Ping'er looked dazed, half understanding, slowly released her grip, and staggered to her feet."

"Her gaze was hollow as she moved outward step by step, each movement as if treading through mist, full of confusion and struggle."

"Just as she was about to cross the threshold, Wan Tang watched her helpless, wandering silhouette."

"Finally she let out a long sigh, softly saying, 'If you don't mind… in the future, call me sister.'"

"Li Ping'er's steps abruptly halted, she spun around, and the tears she had held back instantly cascaded down."

She looked at Wan Tang, her lips trembling, then suddenly turned and bowed her head heavily toward Wan Tang's direction, the crown of her head striking the cold ground with a dull thud.

Immediately, she rose resolutely, did not look back, and hurried away, disappearing at the dim end of the Cold Palace corridor.

"That's Li Defu, after all. For Ping'er, isn't that a bit too cruel?" Xiao Shunzi said beside her.

Wan Tang stared deeply at Xiao Shunzi, saying nothing.

She was merely weighing how much Xiao Shunzi actually knows about Li Ping'er.

Xiao Shunzi, seeing Wan Tang's gaze shift, hurried, "Master, I will go request the Grand Physician at once!" and urged the people of Changle Palace to quickly bring soft bedding and useful supplies!

His tone carried the relief of surviving a disaster and a hint of ruthlessness: "When a few days pass and we leave, we must properly deal with those reckless beasts we just faced!"

Wan Tang's smile lingered briefly, not widening, but instead taking on a heavy bitterness.

She shook her head, her voice hollow with world‑weariness:

"Don't wait a few days."

"While those people still can't discern the Emperor's true intentions, take as much as you can now."

She swept her gaze over the desolation of the Cold Palace and whispered, "Especially gold and silver ingots; if none, silver notes will do."

"Leave behind the imperial jewelry hairpins; their style is unique, no one outside dares to accept them, and they'd only cause trouble."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shunzi hastily shook his head, "Master! It won't happen!"

"The Emperor was so tense with you just now; he would never…"

Wan Tang gently raised her hand, silencing him.

She neither argued nor explained, but in a voice both exhausted and unusually clear, repeated two words:

"Go quickly."

For three days in the Cold Palace, the Chief Eunuch's respect for Wan Tang gradually faded.

His gaze toward Wan Tang also began to show doubt.

No one has come from the Empress's side for the time being.

Wan Tang leaned against the bedside, staring at the empty bed, her longing for Minghui surging wildly.

【These have completely turned the world upside down; Chu Yunzheng and the Empress Dowager have both reached the point of tearing off their masks.】

【Huang Hu cannot be found; the Empress Dowager says that's not what he means. The Xiao Family is again pressuring the Emperor to decide the Grand General's position soon.】

【Even the Empress cannot attend to Wan Tang now; she is currently engaged with Hui Guifei.】

Listening to the situation outside, Wan Tang took a deep breath.

The weather gradually grew hot.

After two or three days, once those snobbish eyes reacted, summer would feel like a cold winter.

Day by day passed, and no news came from outside the Cold Palace.

It seemed that the Emperor's fury and brief protection that day were merely an illusion.

The Chief Eunuch, watching words and expressions, saw no sign of Wan Tang being taken out, and his attitude quietly changed.

The initial awe and flattery vanished, replaced by increasingly obvious neglect and sarcastic tones.

"Time to eat," the old woman slammed the food box onto the table, her tone lazy, skipping even basic etiquette.

Xiao Shunzi frowned as he opened the box, finding half a bowl of murky, almost grainless thin porridge, a dark, unidentified pickled dish, and half a hard, tooth‑cracking coarse‑noodle bun, all emitting a sour stench.

"Is this food for humans?!" Xiao Shunzi exclaimed, his face turning pale, "It's worse than pig feed!"

The Chief Eunuch happened to stride over, snorted at the words, and in a sharp voice said, "Grandfather Xiao Shunzi, you can't speak like that."

"We have this rule in the Cold Palace: eat whatever's available."

"The lady is no longer a precious figure, so make do."

"Besides, Your Majesty handles countless affairs daily; how could he remember what people in this corner eat or drink?"

The remark was full of sarcasm and probing.

Xiao Shunzi's anger flared, yet he was too weak to retort, and he slammed the food box onto the floor.

The rotten‑smelling food splattered on the floor: "How dare you give the Master such things! I'll go out and find something good for you!"

He pulled out a silver coin and said to Wan Tang, "Master, please wait a moment; I will be right back!"

Wan Tang opened her mouth to speak, but Xiao Shunzi, still fuming, hurriedly ran out.

However, once gone, it was as if he vanished into the sea.

From high noon to the gathering dusk, Xiao Shunzi's figure never reappeared.

【They argued again; the Empress Dowager repeatedly summoned the Xiao Family. On the court, thirty percent support the Xiao Family becoming Grand General.】

【The key point: the Emperor specially allowed Lao Ning to see Hui Guifei; after they ate together, Lao Ning fell into a coma, preliminarily diagnosed as poisoning.】

【The Emperor, furious, went to Kunning Palace and smashed the venue, claiming the Empress's left foot entered first, despising the throne, and he destroyed the Empress's favorite garden.】

【Now, in this situation, the Emperor cannot attend to Wan Tang.】

At dusk, the setting sun was blood‑red.

Wan Tang was indifferent to the tragic beauty outside the window.

The heavy wooden door of the Cold Palace creaked open, breaking the dead silence.

A senior eunuch, dressed in a dark‑blue python‑pattern eunuch uniform, thin‑faced and grim, stepped in slowly.

His eyebrows bore the arrogance of long‑standing court service; he was the Empress Dowager's trusted eunuch, Zhao Quanan.

The Cold Palace's Chief Eunuch, upon seeing him, scrambled like a man meeting Yama, crawling forward.

His face full of flattery, "Grandfather Zhao, what wind has blown you here?"

"Nubi, I salute you!"

Zhao Quanan's eyelid flickered slightly; his gaze swept over the dilapidated yet tidied room, then rested on Wan Tang, emitting a chilling snort from his nostrils:

"Ho, I (servant) have taken a wrong turn?"

It doesn't look like the Cold Palace; it looks more like a favored consort's private garden, doesn't it?

Chief Eunuch's heart gave a sudden thump; unsure of his meaning, he forced a nervous smile: "Zhao Gonggong is just joking."

Nubi only does not dare to be negligent toward the Virtuous Consort…

"Dare not be negligent?" Zhao Quanan's voice suddenly rose, and with a backhand delivered a few thunderous slap—slap sounds, striking the Chief Eunuch's face hard.

The force was so great it sent him staggering a few steps, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, and he didn't even dare to hum a single note.

Zhao Quanan flicked his hand, his face full of disgust and authority, and barked sternly: "Scoundrel!"

"The Empress Dowager's golden words are 'let her live'!"

"It's not that you should worship her as an ancestor, letting her comfortably 'live well' in this Cold Palace!"

He stepped forward, Yin Zhi's gaze like a poisonous snake's fang, swept over Wan Tang: "A sinful woman who should have died long ago; if it weren't for the Empress Dowager's mercy, remembering that she still has a Princess under her knee, she would have already been a white silk ending her life!"

"Shei gave you the nerve to outwardly obey but secretly defy?!"

After berating the Chief Eunuch, he abruptly turned toward the interior, raised his voice, elongated the tone, and shouted with full oppression:

"Virtuous Consort Wan Tang."

"The Empress Dowager's imperial decree has arrived!"

"Aren't you getting out to receive the decree?!"