Chapter 245: The Game of the Prison Cage

"Don't touch her!"

Wan Tang suddenly pulled her daughter into her arms, moving so fast it stirred up a gust of wind.

She lifted her eyes to Su Guiren, her gaze chilling to the bone.

Su Guiren smiled sweetly, "Your Highness, what are you doing?"

"Did I not often accompany the Princess in play before?"

"How…," she paused deliberately, her voice carrying a faint sarcasm, "Now that Lady Liu has that obedient dog, you won't even let anyone touch?"

"From now on, you need not set foot in Palace of Eternal Joy even a half step," Wan Tang's voice was so cold it could freeze into frost, "and you are forbidden to approach Minghui."

"Heh." Su Guiren chuckled lightly, but a vicious glint surged in her eyes, "Your Highness, are you planning to burn the bridges after crossing the river?"

"What a pity, the bridges in this palace—tear down one, and there are still countless others."

"Will you be able to dismantle them all?"

Wan Tang rose slowly and handed Minghui over to the wet nurse standing behind her.

She stepped closer to Su Guiren, until their noses were almost touching, able to see each other's reflections clearly in the other's eyes.

Her voice was pressed down to a whisper, yet each word was a dagger, "If you dare come within a half step of Minghui again, I will leave you without a place to be buried."

Su Guiren's smile finally froze.

She stared intently at Wan Tang, her fingernails digging deep into her palm, almost drawing blood.

"Fine, very fine." She gritted her teeth, each word squeezing out from between her teeth, "Then let's see how it goes."

Wan Tang stood where she was, watching her retreating silhouette, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Inside the Golden Throne Hall.

Chu Yunzheng perched atop the Dragon Throne, his slender fingers tapping intermittently on the rosewood armrest, his gaze casually sweeping over Su Yanci, who knelt upright on the steps below.

"Minister Su, you have quelled the Kedan rebellion with brilliant war merits."

His voice was gentle as spring breezes, yet it made the entire court of civil and military officials involuntarily hold their breath, "Even if I were to confer upon you the title of Grand Protector General, I would still find it entirely appropriate."

Su Yanci bowed deeply, his forehead striking the golden slab heavily.

A muffled sound resonated, "I have no other request; I only wish to exchange all my military merits for the release of my sister from the palace."

In an instant, the throne hall fell into dead silence, then erupted into an uncontrollable uproar.

"General Su, are you willing to give up the realm for a beauty?"

Someone from the Xiao faction spoke sarcastically, "The fame won by bloodshed, to trade for a concubine lacking a saintly heart?"

"Do you think the emperor's favor is not generous enough?"

Imperial Censor Zhou Su hurriedly stepped forward, "Lord Su, watch your words! All the harem's consorts belong to the Emperor; with such speech, where do you place the Emperor?"

Chu Yunzheng rose slowly, his bright yellow dragon robe shimmering with a dazzling luster in the morning light.

He descended the jade steps step by step, stopping before Su Yanci.

"Speaking of my sister…" he leaned forward, his voice so light that only the two of them could hear, "I happened to see her last night."

"Those eyes were crystal clear, just like yours, Minister."

Su Yanci suddenly looked up, a flash of cold light flashing in his eyes.

"She is just a child; keeping her by my side would be useless."

"Your request is granted," Chu Yunzheng straightened up, his voice suddenly turning cold, "But…"

That "but" echoed through the silent Golden Throne Hall, bearing a suffocating pressure.

"Are you truly certain…" Chu Yunzheng's gaze was like a poisoned arrow, "She is willing to go with you?"

"She is willing!" Su Yanci declared resolutely, his voice shaking the beams, causing dust to cascade from the rafters.

Chu Yunzheng let out a cold laugh, flicked his sleeve, and paced back to the Dragon Throne, "Very well, then."

"Then, in half a month, you will come to escort her out of the palace."

"I, I bow in gratitude for the holy grace," Su Yanci bowed heavily again, the bloodstain on his forehead leaving a faint mark on the golden slab.

He could never have imagined that things would proceed so smoothly.

The entire court of civil and military officials stared at each other, no one daring to speak another word.

Only Zhou Su gazed at Su Yanci's upright back, his eyes growing increasingly sorrowful.

Chu Yunzheng idly toyed with the jade thumb ring, a faint, barely perceptible murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

The atmosphere in the throne hall tightened once more.

On the palace corridor.

Zhou Su hurriedly caught up with Su Yanci, who was about to leave the palace, and grabbed his sleeve, "Brother Su, why this suffering again?"

"The Emperor intends to employ you heavily; you rose to power in the Former Dynasty, and my sister will be safe and stable in the harem."

"Besides, the Virtuous Consort is not a harsh person; why go this far?"

Su Yanci halted his steps, his gaze sweeping over the four corners of the sky above the palace walls, "Brother Zhou, there is nothing more important in this world than living freely."

"Freedom?" Zhou Su frowned in confusion, "You are now a high‑ranking minister, and my sister is a noble in the palace; is that not enough?"

Su Yanci suddenly turned his head, his gaze blazing, "Brother Zhou, I ask you, if it were your sister, would you be willing to send her into this deep palace?"

Zhou Su's complexion turned pale instantly, his lips moved, but he could not utter a single word.

"Look," Su Yanci gazed toward the vast sky beyond the palace gate, his voice filled with longing, "When I fetch her, I will take her away from the Forbidden City."

"The northern steppes, the ancient lands of the Liao Jin, how vast the heavens and earth are."

"After she is settled, I will travel the four seas, never again setting foot in this land of disputes."

Zhou Su let out a long sigh, gave Su Yanci a firm pat on the shoulder, "If that is so, may Brother Su have his wish fulfilled."

The two clasped hands and part ways.

At the end of the palace corridor, the setting sun stretched his silhouette long.

Palace of Eternal Joy.

The news spread like wind, quickly reaching the entire Imperial harem.

Liu Guiren led two palace maids and deliberately lingered outside Su Guiren's Gongmen.

A voice rose sharp and high: "Some people, their good days are finally over!"

"In another half year they'll be swept out!"

She deliberately paused, caught a glimpse of shadows moving inside the Gongmen, and said more cuttingly, "I really can't understand, how can there still be such a brother in this world."

Seeing no movement inside, she stepped forward two more paces, her voice full of scorn:

"When other people's elder brothers earn military merit, they hope their sisters can rise step by step within the palace."

"Why does someone use military merit to exchange a sister out of the palace? Isn't that ruining her future?"

"Isn't this deliberately making the sister a laughingstock throughout the Forbidden City?"

"Bang," the Gongmen was forcefully pushed open.

Su Guiren burst out, her eyes bloodshot, her hair bun slightly disheveled, clearly having no time for grooming in her haste.

"You shut up for me!"

Liu Guiren, frightened by her appearance, stepped back two paces, yet still pressed on, "What? Did I say something wrong? Your brother is…"

Before the words finished, Su Guiren shoved her hard.

Liu Guiren staggered and fell to the ground, letting out a scream, "Virtuous Consort! Help!"

Wan Tang stepped out of Langxia at a leisurely pace, her expression calm as if she had long anticipated this scene.

Today she wore a light‑purple palace robe, a single white‑jade Step Shake pinned in her hair, yet exuded an unhurried, commanding aura.

"Enough of the commotion?"

The two fell silent at once.

Liu Guiren hurriedly got up from the ground, tidying her disheveled collar.

Su Guiren, tears in her eyes, glared at Liu Guiren, her gaze full of humiliation and resentment, then turned and ran back to the Imperial Palace, slamming the Gongmen shut.

Wan Tang gave Liu Guiren a casual glance, "I have warned you, do not stir up trouble."

Liu Guiren quickly bowed, "Subject knows my mistake."

Wan Tang stared at the tightly closed Gongmen, her eyes growing deeper.

Su Guiren's reaction just now was more intense than Wan Tang had expected.

And at this moment, hidden behind the Gongmen, Su Guiren clutched her sleeves tightly, tears silently slipping down.

She looked toward Wan Tang's backdrop, her hatred boundless.

Xiao Luzi, following behind Wan Tang, could no longer contain his doubt: "Your Highness, Liu Guiren repeatedly causes incidents, clearly to deliberately provoke Su Guiren."

"Why did you just now protect such a restless person?"

Wan Tang halted, gazing at a flourishing crabapple outside the corridor, a faint, ambiguous smile curling her lips, "Even you think she's my person?"

Xiao Luzi was instantly at a loss for words, his face showing embarrassment, "Nubi is dull…"

"Liu Guiren merely read the wind direction, hoping to leverage my influence."

Wan Tang reached out, lightly brushing the exquisite carvings on the corridor pillar, "Her behavior today is nothing but an attempt to make everyone think she acts on my orders."

Xiao Luzi suddenly understood, lowering his voice, "Then, Your Highness, how do you intend to deal with her?"

Wan Tang gently shook her head, a hint of fatigue flashing in her eyes, "I will go see Yuan Bin."

"At this time, to see Yuan Bin, Your Highness?" Xiao Luzi asked, a bit surprised.

"Exactly," Wan Tang said, looking toward the depths of the palace wall.

Xiao Shunzi came forward from a distance, a diligent smile on his face, "Master arrives just in time; Yuan Bin is in the small kitchen making flower pastries, just now she was muttering about delivering them to you!"

Wan Tang walked slowly into the courtyard, her gaze caring, "Is she feeling better?"

"She's great!" Xiao Shunzi laughed, "She just can't stay idle, insists on making the snacks herself."

Before the words finished, Li Ping'er, apron tied, stepped out of the kitchen, flour still on her hands, her eyes brightening at Wan Tang, "Sister!"

Wan Tang hurried forward, taking her hand, her tone reproachful, "Stop being so busy, sit with me."

The two sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, while Xiao Shunzi stood nearby.

Li Ping'er wiped her hands, lowering her voice, "I heard you've been getting close to Liu Guiren lately?"

Wan Tang shook her head helplessly, "How come even you say that?"

"Isn't that so?" Li Ping'er exclaimed, eyes wide in surprise.

Wan Tang glanced at Xiao Luzi waiting at the doorway, deliberately raising her voice, "I also wonder, I've never shown her a kind expression."

"Earlier she reported to the Empress, and now this behavior, it seems she deliberately wants people to think I'm close to her."

She stood and walked to Xiao Luzi, "Go fetch some of this year's newly offered Longjing tea."

After Xiao Luzi walked away, Wan Tang immediately lowered her voice, "Liu Guiren deliberately provoked Su Guiren at the Gongmen today, causing Su Guiren to act, and then deliberately called for my help."

Li Ping'er frowned, pondering, "Could she be trying to make me compete for favor?"

"Not likely. If she truly wanted to vie for favor, she had plenty of chances when I was in the Cold Palace."

"It seems more like… she intends to frame me."

【Ah, stop it, Xiao Luzi went and returned, crouching at the wall to eavesdrop?】

【Isn't it stupid? Just listen, it's not something forbidden.】

【The key is, turn around and tell Dog Emperor.】

Wan Tang found it amusing in her heart.

That's exactly what she wanted him to hear.

She deliberately guided, "Does that mean there is some connection between me and her?"

Li Ping'er suddenly remembered something, her face turning pale: "Right! The night Wang Jingyi died, I think I saw her!"

Wan Tang's expression suddenly grew solemn: "Could it be that she had a past with Wang Jingyi?"

Xiao Shunzi, listening nearby, said anxiously: "This isn't targeting Su Guiren; it's clearly aimed at you!"

Footsteps sounded from afar, and the three fell silent at once.

When Xiao Luzi returned holding tea snacks, he saw Wan Tang laughing and chatting with Li Ping'er while tasting fresh flower pastries, as if the earlier conversation had never happened.

Xiao Luzi bowed and reported: "Your Majesty, just now Nubi returned and met Su Guiren on the palace corridor."

"She said… she's leaving the palace tomorrow and wants to hold a banquet to thank Your Majesty for the favor you showed her back at Palace of Eternal Joy."

"Oh?" she slowly let go of the object in her hand, "Thanking me?"

She let out a cold laugh: "If you're to give thanks, how can you invite only me?"

"The sisters of Palace of Eternal Joy naturally must all attend."

Xiao Luzi hesitated: "Your Majesty's meaning is…"

"Go deliver the message." Wan Tang turned, her skirt tracing a crisp arc on the blue‑stone floor, "Tell them I am the host, setting a banquet at Palace of Eternal Joy to see off Su Guiren."

"Invite Liu Guiren, Yuan Bin… and the sisters who were once close to Su Guiren to all come."

Her gaze swept over the last withered leaf on the branch outside the window: "Since it's a gratitude banquet, it must be held in splendid splendor."