Chapter 24: Arrogance

"Little Mistress, what's wrong?"

Qiu Ju and Li Ping'er trotted over, and upon seeing the dead Tuan Ruan, let out a startled "Ah!"

Li Ping'er reacted fastest, hurriedly lifting Tuan Ruan off Wan Tang's lap.

Holding that bowl of medicine, her eyes were terrifyingly dark.

She slowly turned her head and asked in an ice-cold voice, "Qiu Ju, you've always prepared this medicine yourself."

"Yes, from fetching the medicine at the Imperial Medical Institute to brewing it, it has always been me, your servant..."

Qiu Ju was still speaking when she suddenly caught on, her expression darkening: "Sister Ping'er, what do you mean?"

"You suspect me?"

"In this deep palace, human hearts are unfathomable. How can you expect me to believe you?" Li Ping'er's gaze was sharp, filled with disappointment.

Qiu Ju's eyes reddened at once, tears falling in clusters, and she said with a belly full of grievance, "I, your servant, have absolutely no disloyalty toward you, Little Mistress."

Wan Tang had Li Ping'er close the door and said in a low voice, "The two of you are both people by my side, people I trust. Do not suspect each other."

"Anyone outside is a possibility."

Wan Tang looked outside through the window. The managing auntie Shang Zhi was personally sweeping the courtyard, and Xiao Shunzi was busy in the kitchen. During this period, Wan Tang had watched everything the people who stayed behind did, taking it all in.

However, a wail came from the servants' quarters.

Xiao Shunzi's scream sounded like a pig being slaughtered, but after just a moment, Xi'er walked out of the room.

His face was piled with smiles, and he was still carrying an armful of things.

Xi'er being this happy made Wan Tang happy too.

The few women of the most exalted status in this Imperial harem were all towering, unbroken mountain ranges. And a minor Lady of Grace like Wan Tang, with no power and no backing, was merely an iron pickaxe. Wanting to dig away this mountain was nothing but a fool's dream.

But Xi'er was different. Behind Xi'er stood the Empress.

"Who exactly was it that tried to harm our Little Mistress first?" Qiu Ju had tear tracks on her face: "If not for Tuan Ruan, Little Mistress might already be dead."

"So vicious, to actually poison the medicine."

"Little Mistress, let's take the dregs from the medicine before the Emperor and file a complaint," Qiu Ju dried her tears and said immediately.

Li Ping'er rolled her eyes: "Fool. If the Emperor truly cared about Little Mistress, how come he hasn't come even once in all this time?"

"I'm afraid we wouldn't even be able to find the Emperor at all."

Wan Tang's gaze swept briefly across Li Ping'er's face. Naturally, they could not go to the Emperor.

Not because he didn't care, but because it was inappropriate. If the Emperor stepped forward to investigate this matter, what would happen after the true culprit was found?

A great war with Bei Mo was imminent. Without a grand marshal leading the troops into battle, was the Emperor supposed to personally lead a military campaign?

The ladies of the Imperial harem all understood this principle. Who would offend Xu Luoyan for the sake of a Lady of Grace with no one to rely on?

Let alone the poisoner not being found, even if Wan Tang died, it would amount to nothing more than a slap on the wrist, a light punishment to warn others.

The only person who dared to speak up was the Empress.

The Empress's maiden family were veterans of three reigns to begin with, and her aunt was the Emperor's birth mother, the Empress Dowager. The Empress's older brother was the Minister of Revenue. As the saying goes, before troops move, provisions must go first. He was equally important to the war against Bei Mo.

【What exactly was Wan Tang thinking? With Long Long's favor, why was she still so timid and hesitant?】

【Did the culprit even need guessing? If it wasn't Xiao The Bracelet, who else could it be?】

【So what if it was Xiao The Bracelet? Did you all forget that Xu Luoyan is the female lead? With her halo, Xiao The Bracelet would rather die than reveal the true culprit.】

Wan Tang's mind felt as though countless bees were buzzing around inside.

That's right!

The female lead was supposed to have these privileges. Even if she was selfish and arrogant, everyone still had to revolve around her.

Could she get everything she wanted without doing anything at all, relying solely on this halo?

Wan Tang's heart turned cold.

No matter what, she had to fight. After all, her life had to be held firmly in her own hands.

"Little Mistress, Nubi knows the medicine is bitter, so I specially brought you some candied fruits." Xi'er smiled obsequiously at the door, walking in as he spoke.

After all, having pocketed so many things, he still needed to let Xi'er have a taste of the sweetness.

But the moment he walked in, he saw this grave and solemn scene.

Li Ping'er and Qiu Ju stared at Tuan Ruan, their faces as white as paper.

Wan Tang sat in her chair, her expression desolate.

"Aiya, what happened to Tuan Ruan?" Xi'er was badly frightened and rushed over in a panic, his face both shocked and angry: "This is a pet the Emperor keeps here. If it dies here, won't it cost us servants our lives?"

"You worthless little wretch, I told you to look after it properly, how did you kill Tuan Ruan?" Xi'er was furious and raised his hand, slapping Qiu Ju across the face.

Half of Qiu Ju's face bore a clear five-finger palm print, her cheek swollen high, yet she clenched her teeth and refused to let a word out.

"Damned slut!" Xi'er raised his hand to strike again.

"Stop." Wan Tang stepped forward and called out sharply: "Eunuch Xi, what are you doing?"

"Tuan Ruan is dead. It's clearly because this slut didn't take proper care of it. Let her pay with her life to quell the Emperor's wrath," Xi'er spoke with intense emotion, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

Qiu Ju looked at Wan Tang, shaking her head, and said through her tears, "Little Mistress, it wasn't me."

"I know," Wan Tang said slowly. "Eunuch Xi, there was poison in the medicine. Tuan Ruan was poisoned."

"Then it was this slut who caused it too." Xi'er insisted adamantly. In short, if someone took the fall for this matter, things would be somewhat easier.

"Heh." Wan Tang gave a mocking smile and said unhurriedly, "Even if Qiu Ju died, Eunuch Xi, you are a Chief Eunuch in the Imperial Palace. If the Emperor truly pursued the matter, could you escape blame?"

"I actually find this matter highly suspicious. Whether I live or die now makes little difference."

"But why would someone insist on making a move? I truly cannot figure it out."

Li Ping'er, standing to the side, suddenly let out an "Ah!" and covered her mouth in alarm, her eyes full of panic.

Her voice trembling, she said, "Could... could it be that they came today..."

Xi'er had already realized the gravity of the situation and immediately roared, "Speak quickly, what exactly happened?"

Li Ping'er's expression clearly showed she had been frightened by Xi Er, and she slowly recounted, one by one, the events after Xu Luoyan arrived. At the end she sighed, "When I heard the Empress is in good health and cannot possibly bring out the Phoenix Seal, she is so angry she wants to kill the little master."

"Alas! At first the Emperor entrusted the little master to the Empress for care; he was poisoned to death, and the Empress cannot escape blame; the Taiyin poison was deadly."

Xi Er recovered and said to Wan Tang, "This matter is of great importance; I, the Nubi, will go ask the Empress to uphold justice."

【What, ask the Empress? Clearly it's just to go inform the Empress.】

【Just now it was only Wan Tang's matter, and they already want to find someone to take the blame.】

【Now they've threatened their real master; they're panicking, taking it seriously.】

Wan Tang still pretended ignorance, and sighed, "My sister just came out of the Quiet Heart Hall; I'm afraid it won't work."

"Moreover, my sister also reveres the Empress, she shouldn't …"

"Many things the little master doesn't know; in short, everything is under the Empress's overall control."

His eyes rolled swiftly; he hurriedly saluted, then turned and ran toward the outside of Cuivei Palace.

Xi Er suddenly broke free of her restraints, sprinting toward the alley like a startled deer.

His steps were rapid and chaotic; his shoes slipped on the damp slate, yet he dared not slow down at all.

Someone dared to poison a concubine; this matter is of great importance.

When Xi Er went, it was the time of the morning court, and most Imperial Concubines were present.

Not only the Emperor was restrained by propriety; many more came simply to watch the excitement, and all followed.

Cuivei Palace, a crowd of people gathered, hasn't been this lively for a long time.

Wan Tang's face was still a bit pale; with the help of Li Ping'er and Qiu Ju she walked out, weakly bowing.

She just didn't expect that Xu Luoyan and Li Pin were also there; they had also arrived.

Xi Er had already been summoned; the next act must continue.

Wan Tang gently knelt on the ground, and everyone in Cuivei Palace knelt as well.

"Empress, I was poisoned in my medicine; I am truly terrified, which is why I disturbed you," Wan Tang said, her voice mournful.

Xiao Mingshu was surrounded by numerous Imperial Concubines, a kindly expression on her face.

Before anyone could speak, Xu Luoyan had already stepped in front of the Empress, stealing the spotlight, and said, "Lady Wan, others also took the medicine and are fine; you have many troubles. I think you should behave, this kind of raising troops—if the illness spreads to other sisters, wouldn't it harm the Emperor?"

The people present split into two factions; one enjoyed mocking Wan Tang.

The other side despised Xu Luoyan's arrogance, yet also looked down on Wan Tang.

Wan Tang felt a chill in her heart; seeing this made things clearer. The Emperor's past favor had, invisibly, created many enemies for her, so that even after twenty days without seeing the Emperor, she could still be hated.

Wan Tang set aside other thoughts, performed the proper bow, and still said to Xiao Mingshu, "I hope the Empress can discern even the finest details."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Ju hurriedly presented the dregs of the medicine.

Aunt Bai Wei, who was about to fetch something for Xiao Mingshu, was stopped by Cai Wei. Xu Luoyan said, "Lady Wan, are you feeling unwell? Showing signs of poisoning?"

Wan Tang shook her head.

Xu Luoyan asked the kneeling palace staff, "But you daring Nubi, did you poison Lady Wan's medicine?"

The Nubi of Cuivei Palace knocked their heads "dong dong dong," impatiently shouting, "Empress, even if you gave us a hundred doses of courage, we would not dare to do such a treasonous act."

Xu Luoyan's face showed impatience, she waved her hand, "Enough, Lady Wan, you are indeed seriously ill, yet you speak such nonsense."

"Since no one poisoned you, this matter is fabricated by you."

"Besides, aren't you just fine here?"

Li Pin even stepped up to Wan Tang, "Lady Wan, you only resort to such lowly means? To lure the Emperor to see you—dream on!"

"Now the Emperor and the Noble Consort are as close as glue, having already restored their former favor."

"Lady Wan, just stay obediently in your Cuivei Palace; why must you leap about!"

Pairs of eyes, like sharp blades, fell mercilessly upon Wan Tang.

Wan Tang inhaled deeply, and said calmly, "Even if I die, it would be as light as a feather. The one poisoned was not I, but the rabbit I raised myself, Tuan Rong."

Wan Tang, while speaking, produced the corpse of Tuan Rong.

Everyone leaned forward to look.

When they saw it was only a dead rabbit, their expressions became even more vivid. Especially Li Pin, who had thought there was evidence, broke out in cold sweat, only to find it was just that.

Fire rose in their eyes: "A rabbit dies, that's it; you still dare sully the Empress and Noble Consort's eyes."

"I think you are truly seriously ill, completely a lunatic."

Li Pin turned to Xu Luoyan and said, "Better quickly send this madwoman to the Cold Palace, lest she collides with the Emperor."

Xu Luoyan arrogantly turned back, her eyes showing no respect, and commanded the Empress, "Empress, issue an edict!"

"You are too merciful, which only makes these people more reckless. When I managed the Imperial harem, such baseless rumors never occurred. If every cat and dog required the Empress to intervene, the harem would be too busy; even if you, Empress, never slept, you couldn't handle it all."

"Besides, your health is poor; can you keep up with the workload?"