Chapter 246: Farewell Banquet

The autumn wind whirls the fallen leaves, swirling in Su Guiren's courtyard.

Chrysanthemums bloom in full splendor along both sides of the stone path, yet they cannot conceal the garden's desolation.

The banquet is set in the center of the courtyard, with three or four seasonal dishes displayed on the low tables.

Steamed crab meat is served in a celadon plate, accompanied by a small dish of ginger vinegar.

The chestnut‑roasted chicken has a golden hue.

There is also a steaming bowl of lily and lotus‑seed soup.

Su Guiren stands in the Langxia, seeing Wan Tang and Li Ping'er arrive together.

A faint curve lifts the corner of her mouth: "Virtuous Consort and Yuan Bin are truly inseparable; it makes my hosting of this farewell banquet seem ulterior."

"Since you have both lived in Changle Palace, if you are departing, it's only natural to come to see you off."

"See off?" Su Guiren's eyes turn cold. "Yuan Bin is joking; we haven't even exchanged three words. Moreover …"

Her voice suddenly lowers: "If it weren't for your dance before the throne that day, perhaps I would have …"

"Since the banquet is set, let's begin the feast," Wan Tang interrupts lightly.

Her gaze flicks over Su Guiren's slightly pale knuckles, and she proceeds to sit at the head seat.

Only after the three have seated does Su Guiren lift a wine cup.

Her voice carries a hint of melancholy: "Autumn wind is clear, autumn moon is bright, fallen leaves gather then disperse."

"This inner palace ultimately cannot hold those who must leave."

Li Ping'er gives Wan Tang a meaning‑laden glance; Wan Tang merely lifts her jade chopsticks, gently stirring the crab meat on the plate: "Please."

The crisp clink of wine cups sounds especially lonely in the autumn wind.

After a round of drinks, Li Ping'er suddenly notices that Xiao Luzi has vanished.

While puzzled, she sees that familiar figure rush in through the Moon Gate.

Almost simultaneously, a messenger's voice rings out: "The Emperor has arrived."

【Upon hearing Xiao Luzi's report, the Dog Emperor rushed over immediately, fearing something might happen to Wan Tang.】

【That was the easy part; the crucial point is that when the Emperor heard Liu Guiren's dubious identity, he immediately began an investigation.】

【Thus the Emperor's efficiency shines; he quickly discovered that Liu Guiren is Wang Jingyi's niece, daring to swap her in and send her into the palace.】

【The Wang family poses no threat to the Emperor; the Dog Emperor only fears harm to Wan Tang.】

【Indeed, in the Emperor's mind, Wan Tang has a bit of scheming, but not much. He can't ignore her.】

Wan Tang smiles inwardly.

Has the Emperor already known?

If so, that's perfect.

Everyone hurriedly rises to bow.

When Su Guiren lifts her gaze, her eyes are filled with watery light, her stare clinging to Chu Yunzheng like a spider's web.

Yet he walks straight toward Wan Tang, not casting even a glance her way.

"I heard you sisters set a banquet here, so I'll join the fun," Chu Yunzheng takes Wan Tang's hand, his fingertip lightly scratching her palm.

At that moment, a maid carries a Zhuqi Shihou forward; when opened, a bowl of golden‑hued soup is revealed.

It is served in a white jade bowl, its fragrance rich.

Su Guiren takes the soup bowl, her fingertips trembling slightly: "During my days in the palace, I have been greatly cared for by Virtuous Consort."

"This is a ginseng soup I simmered with blood‑swallow, as a token of my sincerity."

Li Ping'er's pupils contract sharply; just as she is about to speak, Wan Tang already reaches out and takes the bowl.

Her fingertip taps lightly on the rim: "You've shown your heart, sister."

"As long as you bear no resentment toward this palace, it will be fine."

Chu Yunzheng stares at the white jade bowl, then suddenly laughs: "Tangtang, do you still recall the chess game in Yangxin Hall that day?"

"I gave you a piece, and you turned defeat into victory."

"Of course I remember," Wan Tang meets his gaze, "Thank you, Emperor, for the game."

"Not everyone is me," Chu Yunzheng shakes his head lightly, his voice gentle yet warning, "I will be indulgent toward you."

Steam swirls in the bowl, reflecting the three's shifting expressions.

Before the words finish, Liu Guiren's coquettish voice comes from outside the Moon Gate: "What a fragrant soup!"

"Sister Su, how petty, not even inviting me to the banquet!"

She lifts her skirt and strides in, feigning surprise at Chu Yunzheng, covering her lips: "The Emperor is also here?"

"I have been improper."

Her eyes flicker while bowing, clearly having received news and rushed here specially.

【Seeing Liu Guiren's act, she probably still doesn't know that the Emperor deliberately had Xiao Dongzi cause a stir.】

【The purpose was to lure her in.】

【Indeed, if she doesn't come, how can we press the matter?】

【But Tangtang must be careful; that bowl of soup really can't be drunk—it's been poisoned.】

【Su Guiren, I truly hate you to the bone. Someone who's even scared of cockroaches now would, for a man, poison you!】

Wan Tang's expression remains calm, as if she knows nothing.

Su Guiren snorts coldly, turns her face away, her fingertips gripping her sleeve tightly.

Wan Tang, however, smiles and waves: "Since you're here, sit down."

She says this while handing over the white jade bowl: "This is Sister Su's personally simmered blood‑swallow ginseng soup, extremely precious."

"Since you're here, have a taste as well."

Su Guiren's complexion changed suddenly, and she reached out to block: "This was prepared especially for the Virtuous Consort!"

Chu Yunzheng's eyes were like an abyss, and he said lightly: "There's plenty to look at, have a taste."

"No!" Su Guiren replied outright.

Her face flushed bright red: "I won't let her have it."

"Oh?" Liu Guiren raised an eyebrow, her tone deliberately provocative, "If you won't let me drink, I'll drink anyway!"

Having said that, she actually took the bowl, and under everyone's astonished gaze, tipped her head back and drank it all.

When the soup bowl was empty, she smugly wiped the corner of her mouth, but failed to notice the flash of panic in Su Guiren's eyes.

And the meaningful glance between Wan Tang and Chu Yunzheng.

Seeing Liu Guiren truly drink the soup dry, Su Guiren's complexion turned white in an instant.

She sprang up abruptly, her voice changed tone: "No!"

Liu Guiren had already turned the white jade bowl upside down, proudly displaying the empty bowl: "What?"

"Sister Su is this petty, can't even spare a bowl of soup?"

"The Virtuous Consort gave it to me, so I naturally have to drink it clean."

She deliberately enunciated the four characters "Virtuous Consort" heavily, her eyes flicking toward Su Guiren, full of provocation.

Chu Yunzheng sat upright in the main seat, a faint, ambiguous smirk at the corner of his mouth, as if watching a clumsy performance.

Wan Tang still calmly persisted in tasting the dishes, not even a twitch of her eyebrows.

Only Li Ping'er unconsciously clenched the embroidered handkerchief in her hand, her knuckles turning slightly white.

"Spit it out! Quickly, spit it out!"

Su Guiren could not mind etiquette, lunged forward to claw at Liu Guiren's throat, her voice choked with crying, "I beg you, spit it out..."

Liu Guiren was startled by this sudden move and kept stepping back.

She still cast an aggrieved glance at Chu Yunzheng: "Emperor, look, Sister Su is trying to drive me to death... it's only a bowl of soup..."

Before the words finished, Liu Guiren's body suddenly stiffened.

"Bang!"

Liu Guiren's limp body crashed heavily onto the table, the cups, plates, and bowls shattered, and soup and wine spilled everywhere.

She curled up on the ground, convulsing violently, white foam constantly spilling from her mouth.

"This soup is poisonous!" Li Ping'er shouted in shock, and the whole courtyard erupted into chaos.

The palace maids and eunuchs were panicked; some tried to step forward to help, others were frozen in terror.

Wan Tang hurried forward, crouched, and quickly examined Liu Guiren's condition.

Looking up, she barked sharply: "What are you all just standing there for?"

"Quickly and carefully carry Liu Guiren back to the inner palace, and immediately summon the imperial physician!"

She tore off the silk handkerchief at her waist, gently wiping the white foam from Liu Guiren's mouth, her movements steady and out of place amid the chaos.

After the palace staff hurriedly carried Liu Guiren away, Wan Tang finally turned to the collapsed Su Guiren on the ground.

Her voice carried broken pain: "I have protected you at every turn, and you still want my life?"

"Protection?" Su Guiren suddenly burst into a manic laugh, tears mixing with rouge streaking her face, "You ruined my chance to serve in the bedchamber, cut off my path to the Emperor!"

She suddenly pointed at Wan Tang, her fingertips trembling violently with excitement, "Because you are jealous! Jealous that I am younger than you."

She then knelt and crawled toward the unmoving Chu Yunzheng, grabbing the hem of his bright yellow dragon robe: "Emperor, I am sincere to you!"

"I beg you to let me stay, I love you..."

"Love?" Chu Yunzheng let out a light snort, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "Between us, where does love come from?"

"It's just an ignorant, clueless child."

Wan Tang hurried forward to smooth things over: "The Emperor said that Su Guiren is still young, and made a mistake this time."

"This time the mistake was truly outrageous, I will certainly give a proper admonition..."

"Since she's a child," Chu Yunzheng interrupted without doubt, his gaze like an arrow aimed at the kneeling Su Guiren, "then she understands nothing at all."

He rose slowly, his bright yellow dragon robe rustling in the autumn wind, "Daring to poison my beloved consort, such audacity, such scheming, could a 'child' possibly accomplish?"

Chu Yunzheng indifferently pulled back his robe hem, treating the earlier poisoning of Liu Guiren as if it were an inconsequential farce.

He lowered his gaze, scrutinizing Su Guiren, his eyes cold as if forged from ice: "Does your brother know...?"

Su Guiren's whole body trembled, and her sobbing abruptly stopped.

Wan Tang's expression changed; she had thought the Emperor would come to aid her, but didn't expect the Emperor to also involve Su Yanci.

【Dog Emperor still took action.】

【It's because Su Yanci lacks ambition, only wishes to lay down arms and return to the fields.】

【Now is the time for the Emperor to employ talent, how could he let Su Yanci leave.】

【The original military merit had already bought freedom for the siblings; now, poisoning the imperial consort, that charge is enough to doom the whole Su family.】

【Dog Emperor set a huge scheme; as long as Su Yanci wants to save people, he must not only stay, but also be grateful to the Dog Emperor, bowing and devoting himself.】

【The most disgusting Su Guiren, most hateful her ignorance, caused Su Yanci's death.】

"Speak," the Emperor leaned forward, his voice light as a whisper yet bone‑chilling, "Was it the Su family who ordered it, or... Su Yanci?"

The Su Guiren kneeling on the ground jerked her head up, and for the first time true fear flashed in her eyes.

Wan Tang felt a chill at the sound, and the look she cast at Chu Yunzheng was tinged with a hint of dread.

Su Guiren, hearing this, became even more frantic; she took a few kneeling steps, her voice plaintive: "No! It has nothing to do with my brother!"

"It is my fault! I was jealous of the Virtuous Consort's favor, and was momentarily foolish..."

Su Guiren sobbed helplessly, her forehead pounding the slate floor, "I know my mistake, I beg the Emperor for mercy..."

Chu Yunzheng only gave a cold glance, and called into the shadows: "Ouyang Qing."

A dark silhouette stepped forward at the call, kneeling on one knee like a phantom.

"Take the person to the Xingbu Dalou," the Emperor said calmly, but with a bone‑chilling coldness, "Again, convey my decree: order Su Yanci to enter the palace at once."

Ouyang Qing took the order and briskly dragged the limp Su Guiren up.

The Lady of Grace kept pleading, her voice fading away.

Chu Yunzheng finally turned toward Wan Tang, his fierce gaze instantly softening into a pool of spring water.

He lifted her cool, plain hand and said softly, "Tangtang, I am here."

The autumn wind brushed by; he brushed the stray hairs at her temple, his tone indulgent yet unquestionable: "No one can hurt you. The rest, I will handle."