Chapter 228: No Longer Owing

The Duke of Ning's heavy kneel struck Wan Tang's heart.

This was the second time she tasted the overwhelming weight of the words "Mo Family descendant."

But this benefit now only made a sour‑sweet taste rise in her throat.

She couldn't believe that the grandfather who could make these pillars of the nation kneel would be a traitor.

Wan Tang clenched her teeth hard, suppressing the surging emotions, yet her eyes reddened uncontrollably.

On the other side, Chu Yunzheng stood with his hands behind his back, the bright yellow robe's trim unmoving.

His gaze swept over the kneeling Old Minister, then fell on Wan Tang's pale face; the depth of his eyes was like a frozen lake, still.

After a while, he uttered four words: "Allow me to consider."

At that moment, a faint sound came from the inner hall; a palace maid reported joyfully: "Emperor, Noble Consort has awakened!"

【Of course she should wake; after all, the Empress has been deposed.】

【Xiao Shunzi's side is still going smoothly; Li Defu tried to use Xiao Shunzi as evidence to accuse Wan Tang. Unexpectedly, this was already part of Wan Tang's plan.】

【By now, they were probably already at the Xiao Family's gate.】

Wan Tang heard the barrage and knew every plan was unfolding as she had anticipated.

Chu Yunzheng's steps became instantly urgent due to the inner hall's movement, his tension over the Noble Consort unmistakable.

He even gave the Duke of Ning a slight nod, signaling him to go together.

Wan Tang's heart was with Minghui, and she subconsciously stepped forward.

After only two steps, Chu Yunzheng suddenly turned his head.

His gaze no longer held its usual warmth, only a frozen warning, cutting and decisive: "You stay here."

"Emperor," Wan Tang said, puzzled yet earnest, "I only wish to go see Minghui…"

From the inner chamber came, at the right moment, the low, caring voices of the Duke of Ning and the Noble Consort, further highlighting her bleak situation.

Wan Tang pleaded again, her voice now choked.

The response was Chu Yunzheng's faint cold laugh: "Do you think this is fun?"

He stepped a foot closer, his breath pressing, "Or, now are you willing to tell me where Li Defu actually went?"

Wan Tang's whole body stiffened, she stood dumbfounded.

Heavy sorrow quickly gathered in her eyes; she lifted her gaze to him, voice trembling: "The Emperor once said… he would trust me. You said you are my support."

These words unexpectedly provoked Chu Yunzheng's repeated cold laughs, his voice terrifyingly deep.

He glanced around the standing Guanren, then bent down, whispering so softly only the two could hear: "I truly wish to believe you."

"But you tell me, how can I believe?"

"When you first entered the palace, you said you were an orphan. In a blink, you became the Mo Family's sole descendant."

"You said you wanted to live, so I let you play those little tricks, watching you pull the Empress down from the phoenix throne step by step."

His gaze was like a blade, scrutinizing her: "It's not that I distrust you, but you, Wan Tang, have never told me what you truly desire."

These words, like a blade, sliced through the final layer of disguise.

Wan Tang's heart trembled violently, a strange relief replacing the panic.

Even the last thread of guilt born from exploitation vanished at that moment.

She suddenly scoffed, turning the tables, her gaze bearing fractured wounds: "But now, isn't all this exactly the outcome you, Emperor, tacitly approved and even delighted in?"

"Xu Luoyan's death, the Xu Family's downfall, the Empress's loss of power…"

"What I have done is merely to survive in this deep palace, and Emperor," she curled her lips sarcastically, tears streaming, "didn't you once say aloud that I suit your will?"

"I am only… striving to align myself more with the Sage's will."

Her heartbroken demeanor carried a sharp, all‑or‑nothing edge.

Chu Yunzheng furrowed his brows, stared at her for a moment, truly moved by the resolve beneath her performance.

He inhaled deeply, his tone revealing a rare fatigue and confusion: "Tangtang, your heart… is too deep."

"How could I… begin to not understand?"

In the end he did not answer whether she could enter, merely turning away with a complex, unreadable expression, sleeves flicked.

"Sister." Li Ping'er hurried forward, helping the long‑kneeling Wan Tang up.

She was nervous, lowering her voice to counsel gently: "The Emperor does have feelings for you; actually, many times when he summons me, it's only to ask about you."

Wan Tang used the momentum to stand, hearing that she merely scoffed and shook her head.

"The Emperor is still the same Emperor," she said, eyes toward the inner hall, tone almost sorrowfully calm, "He has never changed."

"Only before, I was a helpless orphan; he held me in his palm, and I could be his darling, his Fluent Talker."

Her gaze seemed to pierce the heavy curtains, seeing inside.

The highly powerful Duke of Ning, who even the Emperor must defer to, the Noble Consort bearing her family's honor and just turned from danger to safety, and Minghui.

She would never forget the cold, jealous flash in Chu Yunzheng's eyes the moment the Duke of Ning knelt for her as a "Mo Family descendant."

Wan Tang withdrew her gaze, looking at the still‑naïve Li Ping'er beside her, tone warning: "Ping'er, from now on, just be good and obedient in being your 'orphan', understand?"

Li Ping'er's eyes swirled with emotion, still bearing a hint of reluctant confusion: "This royal deep palace… can it truly not accommodate a single genuine feeling?"

Wan Tang smiled, the smile more mournful than crying.

"The heavens are about to change." she said softly, patting Li Ping'er's hand, "Return early. Lately, keep your distance from me."

Li Ping'er's gaze was complex; she said nothing more, only gave Wan Tang a deep look before quietly withdrawing.

【Wan Tang is absolutely right; the Dog Emperor's former love stemmed from a pet‑keeping mindset.】

【Now Wan Tang, as a pet, is gradually slipping out of control, leading to suspicion.】

【Don't say that; I truly feel the Emperor does have feelings for Wan Tang, though he himself hasn't…】

【The Dog Emperor, while doubting Wan Tang, still acted immediately. By now, the Emperor's spies have reached the Xiao Family's gate; in less than half an hour, Li Defu will likely appear in the palace.】

Looking forward, looking forward.

Wait, shouldn't the Dog Emperor be heading to Yangxin Hall? Why did he stop, why is he going toward Cining Palace?

Wan Tang was equally surprised in her heart: it shouldn't be!

The Empress is already the Empress Dowager's niece; the former Empress's affairs are highly related.

Chu Yunzheng should be avoiding the Empress Dowager even more, not provoking her, right?

"Since everyone is here, what are you standing still for? Hurry and take this annoying one away!" Hui Guifei's voice came from the inner chamber, carrying her usual impatience.

Ning Daying murmured softly, "Sister, why are you saying that? Aren't you worried?"

"Hey, outside!" Hui Guifei raised her voice again, her tone sharp yet not truly driving them away.

Wan Tang took a deep breath and walked slowly into the inner room.

Her gaze passed over the crowd and immediately fell on the tiny figure sleeping on the couch.

In that moment, the spines that had risen around her seemed to soften instantly, leaving only pure, almost overflowing tenderness in her eyes.

She stepped lightly forward, her fingertips gently touching the child's cheek, the gesture full of extreme affection.

"Hmph, you only act like a person at times like this." Hui Guifei leaned on a soft pillow, her complexion still a bit pale, but her words gave no mercy.

"Yu Ying! You must not speak that way," the Duke of Ning rebuked sternly.

Hui Guifei raised an eyebrow, with a hint of teasing, "Oh? Since when has father been so courteous to the harem's consorts?"

"She is different," the Duke of Ning's voice was low, bearing undeniable solemnity, "She is a child of the Mo Family!"

"Mo Family..." Hui Guifei's eyes suddenly changed, her sharp gaze landing again on Wan Tang.

The earlier pointed exchange quietly faded, revealing a complex, almost mutually appreciative scrutiny. Immediately, she let out a snort of light laughter, with a hint of understanding and barely perceptible admiration, "You hide quite deep."

Wan Tang seemed not to hear these sharp words; all her heart and mind were on her daughter.

She gently embraced Minghui in her arms, feeling the child's warm, steady breath, and her heart, which had been suspended for a long time, slowly settled.

Her voice was so soft as if afraid to disturb a dream, "Hui Jiejie, this time you almost scared my soul away."

"Pretentious," Hui Guifei turned her face away, "Wasn't it you who sent our foolish girl back especially to remind me?"

Ning Daying, standing nearby, naively confirmed, "No, sister, the Virtuous Consort quietly told me the clothes were poisonous."

Hui Guifei rolled her eyes and ceased the entanglement.

She then turned to the Duke of Ning, her tone becoming serious, "Father, from now on, stop sending people into this palace."

"The Ning family's daughters are not fit for this cannibalistic place."

The Duke of Ning's face showed embarrassment, and he could only give a forced smile.

At this moment, Xie Taiyi stepped forward to report, "The Noble Consort and the little Princess are both unharmed."

"The zhen poison was only a trace on the skin, already thoroughly washed; just nurture it for a few days and it will be fine."

Wan Tang nodded.

Her eyes were full of gratitude.

Xie Taiyi, being perceptive, stepped back.

There were no outsiders in the room any longer.

Wan Tang gently placed Minghui back on the couch and tucked the blanket corner for her.

Immediately, she suddenly turned, faced the Duke of Ning, and knelt straight down.

"Duke," she raised her head, her eyes filled with long‑suppressed yearning and resolve, her voice trembling faintly, "Please tell me, my maternal grandfather, in those days, what kind of person he truly was?"

The Duke of Ning looked at the kneeling Wan Tang before him; her eyes burned with scorching yearning, also reflecting a trembling fragility.

A myriad of complex emotions flickered across his wrinkled face: reminiscence, sorrow, and deep helplessness.

He did not immediately help her, but closed his eyes heavily, letting out a sigh that seemed to empty his chest.

"Child..." his voice was hoarse, bearing a weary fatigue of ages, "Some things are better left unknown."

"Living is more important than seeking a truth."

He leaned forward, his hands—once gripping a long spear, steady as a mountain—now trembling slightly as they supported Wan Tang's arm, the force undeniable.

"As long as I still have a breath left, I will protect you completely."

His words carried an unquestionable resolve, yet also formed an invisible wall, completely sealing off Wan Tang's path of inquiry.