Chapter 251: Xiao Yurou

In the courtyard of Jingren Palace, the morning light was faint.

Hui Guifei crossed her arms and stood on the steps, watching the figure in the courtyard.

Wan Tang held a wooden sword, practicing the moves she had taught, methodically and precisely.

Though not yet agile, she was far steadier than the clumsy stumbling at first, and the fine sweat beading on her forehead glimmered in the sunlight.

"Sink your wrist another three points, and your stance must be as steady as a rock; I'm not teaching you to be a weak willow swaying in the wind!" Hui Guifei's voice was cold and hard, and the willow twig in her hand gave a light "snap" on Wan Tang's slightly trembling forearm.

On the thick brocade mat beside them, little Minghui was imitating his mother, waving his chubby little hands and babbling, making the attending palace maid laugh uncontrollably.

"Shei?"

Ning Daying, standing in Langxia watching, suddenly let out a low exclamation, looking puzzled toward the palace gate.

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw that, at an unknown moment, a young girl had quietly stood at the palace gate.

She wore a light‑blue silk gown, her figure slender and temperament gentle, smiling faintly as she looked into the courtyard.

Most astonishing was that her brows and eyes resembled Wan Tang's by sixty‑to‑seventy percent, yet she bore an extra hint of innocent frailty and scholarly aura.

Ning Daying covered her mouth and blurted, "She looks like Virtuous Consort sister…"

Wan Tang finished her stance, turned, and met the girl's gaze; understanding in her heart, she only let a faint smile appear on her face.

The girl, seeing the onlookers, stepped inside unhurriedly, bowing gracefully.

Her voice was soft and pleasant: "I, Xiao Yurou, pay my respects to Hui Guifei, and to Virtuous Consort."

"By Empress Dowager's gracious decree I entered the palace to study etiquette. I had long heard of Virtuous Consort's bearing, and learned that her appearance resembles mine; out of curiosity I came to pay my respects. If I am forward, I hope you will forgive me."

Her speech was neither fast nor slow, her manners flawless, leaving no room for criticism.

Wan Tang handed the wooden sword to a Guanren, took a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, and said calmly, "Xiao Gu Niang, you are too kind; please rise."

Hui Guifei gave Xiao Yurou a cold glance as she entered, then turned away and continued polishing her gleaming long sword, as if the girl were no more than air.

Xiao Yurou paid no mind to Hui Guifei's coldness, turning her gaze toward the somewhat flustered Ning Daying.

In a gentle voice she said, "You must be Sister Ning, right?"

"Just now I saw you outside teasing the princess; so innocent and lively, truly endearing," she said, causing Ning Daying to blush and lower her head shyly.

After a few more pleasantries, Xiao Yurou politely took her leave: "I dare not disturb your refined moods, I shall now depart."

She bowed again, her posture flawless, then turned and left, her hem fluttering slightly without stirring a speck of dust.

Ning Daying watched her retreating figure, a hint of affection in her eyes, murmuring, "Xiao Gu Niang is truly gentle and amiable…"

Wan Tang lifted her teacup, took a sip, glanced toward the gate, and a faint chill passed through the depths of her eyes.

Hui Guifei snorted coldly, sheathing her long sword with a resonant "clang."

As soon as Xiao Yurou's figure vanished at the palace gate, Ning Daying's eyes sparkled with longing.

She sighed softly, "If Xiao Gu Niang truly becomes our future empress, her gentle and kind disposition isn't unacceptable…"

Wan Tang heard this, a trace of bitterness flickering at her lips, and said nothing.

Hui Guifei sneered coldly, "Fool."

Ning Daying was startled by the insult, her face innocent.

Wan Tang shook her head lightly, her tone tinged with helplessness, "Sister Ning, you'd better stay peacefully in Jingren Palace. It seems Sister Hui has been too lenient with you."

"Did I… did I say something wrong?" Ning Daying asked timidly.

"You underestimate her," Wan Tang said, her gaze toward the gate, voice slightly low, "She is far from as simple as she appears."

Ning Daying stuck out her tongue, obediently saying, "Fine, these twists and turns I can't grasp; I'll just follow what you say."

She paused, then couldn't help exclaiming, "But… she really does look like Sister Wan Tang."

The words dimmed Wan Tang's eyes for a moment.

Hui Guifei read her expression fully, her face suddenly stern, and said gravely, "They are not alike. You two are completely different people."

A spark of hope lit Wan Tang's eyes, and she hurriedly asked, "In what way are we different?"

Hui Guifei's gaze was sharp, her tone cutting, "You keep your head on your hips, while she is showered with countless favors."

Wan Tang rolled her eyes in irritation at the metaphor.

"Speaking of which," Hui Guifei's expression grew even more solemn, her fingertips lightly stroking the sword hilt, "Although you and she differ, she resembles Bai Li even more than we do."

A flash of reminiscence and complexity crossed her eyes, "Just now, her frown and smile, her lowered gaze, were almost indistinguishable from Bai Li's."

"For that brief instant, even I was mistaken, thinking she had returned."

She turned to Wan Tang, her voice heavy, "Wan Tang, your opponent has truly arrived."

She turned her back, her voice laced with unabashed disgust, "As for those scheming intrigues, don't expect me to intervene; just hearing about them makes me sick."

【Of course it matches; Xiao Mingshu becoming empress still wouldn't please the other consorts, and the Xiao family has already begun to look for new candidates.】

【From the start, Xiao Yurou was specifically nurtured for the Dog Emperor.】

【Xiao Mingshu is a fool willing to go through fire for the emperor, but Xiao Yurou is a woman cultivated by the Empress Dowager herself, to firmly secure the empress's seat.】

【A woman who doesn't pursue love, yet has an almost invincible patron, that is truly terrifying.】

Wan Tang listened to the Barrage, feeling agitated.

She also knew that Xiao Yurou might truly be different.

That face was meant to imitate Bai Li.

Inside Changle Palace.

Wan Tang and Li Ping'er sat opposite each other playing chess, black and white pieces scattered on the board, yet both played absent‑mindedly, each harboring their own thoughts.

Xiao Shunzi, standing nearby, flushed, finally could not hold back: "Mistress, that Xiao Gu Niang looks so like you and is a legitimate daughter of the Xiao family; what should we do?"

"If she deliberately makes things difficult for the Master, we might suffer!"

Li Ping'er, hearing this, pondered a moment, then looked up at Wan Tang: "Sister, shall I go to Li Defu to feel out the situation?"

"If we could learn what Miss Bai Li liked or habitually did in life, perhaps we could…"

"No need." Wan Tang cut in coldly, her fingertips lightly brushing her own cheek; the touch was warm and smooth, yet it stirred a hint of chill in her heart.

She lifted her eyes, her gaze carrying a resolute clarity, "The taste of living in another's shadow is not pleasant."

She paused, then said word by word, "From now on, I, Wan Tang, will be only Wan Tang. I am not anyone's substitute, nor anyone's shadow."

Li Ping'er stared at her in astonishment, her eyes full of surprise and incomprehension.

Wan Tang lowered her gaze, her eyes sweeping over the delicate scarlet palace attire she wore.

She raised her hand to touch the exquisite pearl Step Shake at her temple, its faintly hazy, graceful aura, and a mocking smile curled at her lips.

She suddenly raised her voice, "Attendants!"

Guanren outside the hall responded and entered.

Wan Tang stood up, her tone calm yet unquestionable: "Collect all these garments and ornaments."

"From tomorrow onward, my palace attire and accessories shall all follow my own preferences."

She intends to shed this imitative, favor‑seeking shell; even if the road ahead is unknown, she will walk forward in this deep palace as her true self.

At the Mid‑Autumn Palace banquet, the ornate lanterns had just been lit, spilling radiant light.

When Wan Tang appeared at the hall entrance, leading Minghui Princess, the previously noisy banquet fell suddenly silent.

She did not wear the simple dress everyone expected; instead she wore a crimson‑gold brocade long robe depicting luan birds chasing phoenixes, its hem embroidered with intricate entwined‑branch lotus patterns in deep jade silk thread, solemn and magnificent.

Her ink‑black hair was styled into a towering cloud‑piercing bun, centered with a soaring Nine Phoenix Pearl‑Crowned Golden Crown; the crimson‑gold tassels hanging from the phoenix's beak swayed gently with each step, highlighting her radiant, unflinching visage.

Her brows were dark without ink, her lips vermilion without gloss; as her eyes flickered, an unassailable dignity emanated, faintly exuding the majestic aura of an empress presiding over court.

Inside the hall, about eighty percent of the Imperial Concubines were dressed in simple, pure attire—white robes and pink skirts, lightly painted moth‑shaped brows—striving to imitate the fresh, unworldly elegance of the legendary White Pear.

Chu Yunzheng sat high upon the imperial throne, his gaze sweeping below; his brows subtly furrowed, bearing a barely perceptible weariness.

The ministers, seeing this, silently exchanged looks of surprise.

Until Wan Tang, leading Minghui Princess, walked step by step into the hall.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze was instantly drawn to the dazzling gold, dispelling the hall's pallor, and an unabashed astonishment flashed in his eyes.

Su Yanci, seated at the lower seat, was stunned, then let out a low laugh.

His voice was soft, yet clear enough for a few nearby to hear: "If the Virtuous Consort had not arrived, I would have thought we had mistakenly entered some Moon‑Viewing Pavilion, with the entire seat filled by courtesans performing."

Chu Yunzheng's complexion darkened instantly. The Moon‑Viewing Pavilion was the capital's most famous pleasure house; Su Yanci's remark essentially likened all the palace concubines to courtesans!

He forced down his anger, feigning rebuke: "Su Yanci! Were it not for remembering your past merits, I would have had someone shut your mouth!"

Su Yanci, however, raised his cup indifferently, the mocking curve at his lips unchanged.

After his comment, Chu Yunzheng looked again at those plain outfits and found them unbearably glaring.

Not only were they no longer pleasing, they appeared petty, lacking royal dignity.

At this moment, Zhou Su sprang to his feet; he was already renowned for his forthrightness and daring counsel.

Seeing the scene, his anger boiled over: "Emperor! The palace banquet is a solemn place, and the harem's concubines represent the royal face!"

"Now they imitate the manner of common women, even... indecent and unseemly behavior—what decorum is this! Such conduct truly harms propriety and damages the heavenly family's dignity!"

His words rang out like thunder, causing the copycat concubines to blush to the point of shame.

Amid the sea of plain white, Wan Tang's dazzling, imposing attire instead earned the quiet nods of many senior royal ministers, embodying the poise a mother of the realm should possess.

Chu Yunzheng felt his face lose its luster; looking at the white and pink garments below, a strong revulsion rose in his heart.

He coldly issued an edict: "Convey my decree—at future grand palace banquets, anyone who does not wear formal attire appropriate to their rank shall not be required to attend!"

"Since you love white garments so much, then wear them to your heart's content in your respective palaces!"

Having spoken, he inhaled deeply, as if to grasp the last thread of dignity, and rose himself.

He stepped down from the throne, and in full view, took Wan Tang's hand, his tone gentle yet unmistakably firm—

"My beloved consort, today you look splendid. Come, sit beside me."

Xiao Sihai gave a glance, and an official at the table immediately understood, rose with a wine cup, his face wearing a feigned puzzled smile:

"Virtuous Consort, today you truly shine! However..."

He shifted his tone, his gaze wandering over Wan Tang's dazzling attire—those golden threads, silver lines, jeweled pearls, especially that Nine Phoenix Pearl‑Crowned Golden Crown... surely worth a fortune, costing no less than ten thousand gold, right?

"Emperor's affection for the Consort is truly unparalleled, enviable indeed!"

His words sounded like flattery, yet each syllable was a veiled attack.

He subtly accused Wan Tang of extravagance and overstepping regulations, while covertly directing the blame toward the Emperor.

If you, Emperor, had not excessively favored her and tolerated her wasteful spending, how could a single consort dare to be so flamboyant?

The banquet's atmosphere froze instantly; the senior ministers who had just praised Wan Tang's bearing now furrowed their brows, their gazes shifting back and forth between Wan Tang and the Emperor.

Chu Yunzheng's hand gripping the wine cup tightened slightly, his expression calm, yet a layer of frost had settled in his eyes.