Chapter 257: Came to Kill You

Now that's awesome; Tangtang is actually killing by imperial command.

But it looks like the Dog Emperor truly still has some genuine feeling for Wan Tang.

Is that so? What I see is the Dog Emperor's fury over the tarnishing of the pure moonlight, and his sinister hostility toward the Xiao Family that threatens his interests.

If a man loves you, would he treat you as a knife in his hand?

But it doesn't really matter; after all, in the original, Yan Wang was bound to rebel sooner or later. Unfortunately, Yan Wang never managed to sit on the throne; instead, the one who did was San Huangzi.

Wan Tang listened quietly; the barrage mentioned San Huangzi more than once.

It was only once that I heard anything about Yan Wang's rebellion.

Will Yan Wang rebel?

The next day, Changle Palace.

Xiao Shunzi lowered her head and led two thin, ill‑fitting eunuch‑clad figures inside.

Their hat brims sat extremely low, covering most of their faces, yet their movements betrayed a suppressed excitement.

Seeing Wan Tang seated at the head, the two bowed together.

Their voices, deliberately low, said: "Please convey my respects to Virtuous Consort."

Wan Tang gave a slight nod, her gaze sweeping over them.

Xiao Shunzi respectfully presented a stack of Account Books: "Madam, these are what you requested…"

Wan Tang waved her hand, her tone even: "We won't look at those today."

Her eyes returned to the two, "The matter I promised you, I will fulfill today."

Their bodies jolted; though their faces were hidden, the suddenly tensed shoulders and slightly trembling hands revealed their inner excitement and disbelief.

Cold Palace, a long‑abandoned side hall.

The hall door creaked open with a "creak."

Xiao Mingshu wore a half‑worn palace outfit, her hair bun slightly disheveled, her face bearing trapped irritation and malice.

Seeing Wan Tang silhouetted in the doorway, she shouted sharply: "So it's you, you bitch!"

"What gives you the right to imprison me in a place like this?!"

Wan Tang walked in slowly, her skirt hem brushing the dust‑covered floor.

Her voice calm and even: "I merely chose a clean place for you, to bring it to an end."

"End it? How dare you!"

Xiao Mingshu seemed to hear the biggest joke, her voice sharp and mocking: "Even if I'm not the Empress, I'm still a Quiet Consort."

"I am a proper master recorded in the jade register."

"Do you think that because you temporarily hold the Phoenix Seal, you can do as you please?"

"When you reach the rank of Consort, without concrete major crimes, even the Empress or Empress Dowager would not dare to act against me lightly."

"Let alone you, a mere Virtuous Consort!"

Wan Tang's demeanor showed no fluctuation; she examined the dilapidated hall with keen interest.

She then said lightly: "In this back courtyard there's a dry well; it's still relatively clean."

"You want to choose something more respectable, like hanging yourself from a beam?"

"Or shall I help you fabricate a false accidental drowning, leaving a whole corpse?"

Seeing her discuss her own life and death so nonchalantly, Xiao Mingshu was first incredulous.

Then her anger flared further: "Stop playing god here; do you think this palace would fear you?"

Wan Tang shook her head lightly, her tone even tinged with a hint of pity: "Xiao Mingshu, I have not held the Phoenix Seal for just one day, but today alone, I have come to kill you."

"Do you know why this is?"

Xiao Mingshu's roar abruptly stopped.

All of us are spirits struggling to survive in this cannibalistic harem; some things need not be stated outright.

The flush on Xiao Mingshu's face faded little by little, her raging eyes gradually replaced by a cold fear.

Her voice trembled, carrying a final hint of hope: "Last night, did the Emperor rest at your place?"

Wan Tang stared at her quietly, slowly nodding.

In an instant, the last sparkle in Xiao Mingshu's eyes went out.

Wan Tang's words rang like a final funeral bell, echoing in her ear:

"It seems that whether it's the Emperor or the Empress Dowager, they both find you extremely obtrusive."

Xiao Mingshu staggered a step, her whole strength seeming to be drained instantly.

Unable to hold herself any longer, she collapsed with a "thud" onto the ground.

Her splendid palace attire lay scattered on the filthy floor, like her suddenly withered fate.

She opened her mouth, but could no longer produce any sound; only silent, desperate tears fell.

Xiao Mingshu slumped on the ground, her final mental barrier completely shattered, tears gushing out, washing away the delicate makeup on her face.

She no longer roared; instead came a murmuring, memory‑laden, sob‑tinged mutter.

"Thirteen years old… When I was thirteen, I first saw him in the Imperial Garden."

"He wore an apricot‑yellow robe, stood under a pear blossom tree, and turned to glance at me just once…"

Her gaze was hollow as she stared into emptiness, as if she again saw that scene from back then: "With that one glance, I knew that in this life, I, Xiao Mingshu, was him…"

She suddenly clutched her own collar, her voice turning mournful: "For him, I learned to manage the Six Palaces, to deal with those annoying Imperial Concubines, to guess his thoughts."

"He likes the coolness of white pear, so I restrained myself, learning to wear plain clothes."

"He values talent, so I practiced calligraphy and painting day and night without rest."

"For him, I have given more than ten years! More than ten years!"

She seemed to recall something, turned toward the void, as if the Empress Dowager were right before her.

She sobbed, "And the Empress Dowager! Aunt! How have I been filial to you all these years?"

"From dawn to dusk I kept watch, never absent."

"When your migraine struck, I stayed by the bedside all night, attending to you."

"You said the Xiao Family's glory rested on me; I trembled, daring not to err a single step."

"I gave you all my best years, all my sincere heart, gave them to you, gave them to this Imperial Palace."

"But you… you now find me an eyesore?!"

Wan Tang stared at her coldly all this time, and only now spoke slowly.

She shattered Xiao Mingshu's self‑pity: "Your sincerity? Your effort?"

"Xiao Mingshu, in this deep palace, who hasn't given?"

"Who hasn't misplaced their true heart?"

"Yet none of this can justify your repeated plots against the Imperial Heir and the Imperial Concubines."

"Those innocent infants and women who died by your hand—whose lives should we demand justice from?"

"No, that's not it!"

Xiao Mingshu seemed pierced by her deepest fear; she sprang up from the ground, wild as madness, trying to rush outward.

"I must see the Emperor!"

"I will ask him myself; I don't believe he would treat me so!"

Wan Tang's gaze hardened; she stepped forward, struck like lightning, and seized Xiao Mingshu's wrist tightly.

Her force was so great that the pampered, delicate Xiao Mingshu could not move a muscle.

"Ah!" Xiao Mingshu winced, struggled, but Wan Tang flung her harshly, and she fell clumsily to the ground again.

Her hairpin fell, her long hair tangled, making her look even more disheveled.

Wan Tang no longer looked at her, turned to the two silent, hat‑brim‑lowed figures and said, "I'll leave it to you."

Having spoken, she turned without a hint of lingering, stepping out of the hall steeped in decay and despair.

From behind, Xiao Mingshu's voice rose even more shrill and piercing, filled with utter terror and disbelief:

"You… you are from the Qi Family?!"

"You actually…"

Her voice seemed choked, abruptly cut off, leaving only vague sobs and struggling sounds.

In the end, everything fell into dead silence.

Wan Tang stood outside the hall, the sunlight a little harsh, and she squinted slightly.

No expression crossed her face; she merely smoothed her perfectly orderly sleeves.

The hall gate opened again; the two stepped out, lifted their hands and lowered their hat brims.

Qi Qi and his son wore on their faces the relief of a great revenge fulfilled and deep sorrow.

They approached Wan Tang, solemnly lifted their robes, knelt and performed a grand salute.

"Thank you, Virtuous Consort, for your favor!"

"You have allowed my father and I to personally avenge our little daughter!"

Qi Qi's voice carried a choke that had been suppressed for years.

Wan Tang gave a feigned support and said, "Rise."

"This palace has fulfilled the promise made to you."

"From now on, the Qi Family is free."

However, Qi Qi and Qi Er did not rise, and they exchanged a glance.

Qi Qi's gaze was steadfast as he looked at Wan Tang: "Your great kindness, Mother, the Qi Family can never repay."

"My father and I are willing to bring the Qi Family, to be loyal to Mother, to serve Mother's commands!"

He paused, looked at Wan Tang's calm, unruffled face, and sincerely exclaimed, "Mother, your wisdom is unmatched, your methods decisive; were you not a woman trapped in this deep palace, you would be a true hero, your achievements perhaps not inferior to any man."

Wan Tang heard this, only gave a faint smile, did not follow the thread, and said, "It is getting late, the palace gate will soon be locked; you two, please be on your way."

Only then did Qi Qi and his son rise, bow again, and prepare to take their leave.

Just as they turned, Qi Er seemed to recall something and halted.

He turned back to Wan Tang, his tone gentle yet pointed: "Mother, your kind heart, establishing the Ci'an Charitable Hall to aid the lonely and widowed, was a noble intention."

"Now the Hall's reputation spreads, and many benevolent people in the Capital generously donate; this charitable virtue is like many adding firewood to raise the flame higher."

He paused briefly, his eyes clear as he looked at Wan Tang: "Mother, you have many expenses within the palace."

"Earning money is hard; there is no need for you to keep privately subsidizing the Hall alone."

"The Hall will surely grow ever better."

Having said that, he gave Wan Tang an understanding, benevolent smile.

Only then, following his father, he turned and vanished among the palace walls' passageways.

Wan Tang stood where she was, watching the direction they left, her face expressionless, only letting out a soft sigh.

Xiao Shunzi, who had been hidden in the shadows, hurried forward now, lowered his voice, with a hint of surprise: "Mother, Second Master Qi's words…"

"Could it be that he knows about our Jinxiu Hall matter?"

Wan Tang's gaze was distant, her tone calm and steady: "Whether he knows or not is irrelevant."

She withdrew her gaze, turned toward the towering palace walls, her voice low and firm: "The stronger we become, the more leverage we hold, the more we can accomplish."

"Only in this way will those who wish to cling to us, or cooperate with us, find us more reliable."

【Yes, indeed there's no need to guard against Second Master Qi; after all, he has long been impressed by Wan Tang's abilities.】

Just kidding, Wan Tang's Jinxiu Hall is a corporate group; with this boldness and power, could their tiny brains have thought of it?

Being concerned about these matters, it's actually more worthwhile to worry about the Xiao Family. Right now, the Emperor's desk is already piled with memorials, all pressing the Emperor to appoint an Empress soon.

Some are joyful, some are worried; within the Imperial harem there is a great happy event hidden. Liu Guiren is pregnant. Yet she's being very chicken‑like; to hold onto the dragon fetus, she hasn't spoken a word.

Does she dare to make a sound? Shei let her already know that the Mo Family's case back then was a wrongful case. Her grandfather and father had already uncovered clues, but in the end the case was hastily closed, resulting in the Mo Family being wiped out entirely.