Chapter 258: Protecting the Children

The Mo Family really was wronged!

And the Wang family, clearly aware of the truth, chose to turn a deaf ear for their own benefit, perhaps even taking part in the framing!

Her heart felt as if an invisible hand were gripping it tightly, anger and anguish nearly bursting through her chest.

She bit her lower lip hard, her nails digging deep into her palm, a sharp pain that barely kept her outward calm.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Xiao Shunzi noticed her breath wavering and asked worriedly in a low voice.

Wan Tang took several deep breaths, then forced two words out between her teeth: "It's nothing."

She turned back, her gaze icy as she glanced at the tightly shut hall door, her tone returning to its usual composure: "Return."

After a pause, she added, "Have Liu Guiren come to Palace of Eternal Joy to see me."

Palace of Eternal Joy.

The sedan stopped just before the palace gate, and Xiao Luzi, who had been waiting at the entrance, immediately came forward to greet.

A perfectly measured concern painted his face: "Your Majesty, you finally return; I saw the sky darkening and was worried."

"You seem pale; are you tired?"

Wan Tang took his hand as she stepped down from the sedan, deliberately letting a barely perceptible tremor run through her fingertips.

Her brows and eyes lowered, showing a hint of fragility and unease, her voice lower and hoarse compared to usual: "I have no problem."

Seeing this, Xiao Luzi softened his tone further: "If Your Majesty feels any discomfort, please tell me, I…"

Wan Tang swayed slightly, her voice choked and halting: "Xiao Luzi… I… I just did something, and my heart is truly uneasy…"

Xiao Luzi's eyes flickered; he hurried closer, lowering his voice: "Your Majesty, what exactly happened?"

"If you speak it, I might be able to share your worries."

Wan Tang lifted her tear‑blurred eyes, looked at him, word by word: "I merely had two 'enemies' who should never have met, see each other once…"

She deliberately spoke vaguely, leaving ample room for imagination.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Luzi showed little surprise upon hearing this.

Instead, he remained unusually calm, replying softly: "Your Majesty, rest assured, in this world every cause has its effect."

"Today's fruits are all sown by yesterday's causes."

"It was she who erred, sowing evil causes; she deserves this Retribution, and cannot blame others."

"Your Majesty is merely following Heaven's will."

Wan Tang let out a cold laugh inwardly, yet her face seemed slightly soothed by his words; she said no more, only rubbing her weary temples.

Just then, a palace attendant announced that Liu Guiren had arrived.

Liu Guiren lowered her head as she entered, eyes flickering, her greeting voice tinged with insecurity and shortness of breath: "I, the Virtuous Consort, pay my respects to Your Majesty."

Xiao Luzi responded: "Your Majesty, I recall there are matters in the Wardrobe Office I must report, I will take my leave now."

Wan Tang gave a slight nod.

She lifted her tea cup, gently stirring the froth, her gaze unintentionally sweeping over Liu Guiren's slightly plump waist.

Her tone flat and unruffled: "Liu Guiren, your complexion has improved lately; you look a bit more robust."

Liu Guiren's heart tightened; instinctively she gathered the loose hem of her palace robe.

She forced composure and replied: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty; perhaps my appetite has improved lately, and I've been eating more."

"Oh?" Wan Tang set down the cup, producing a faint crisp sound, her gaze sharp as she looked at her: "I instructed you to investigate the old Mo Family case, and there has been no progress to date."

"Liu Guiren, you seem to have leisure time, eating so contentedly."

Liu Guiren's face turned pale, she hurriedly knelt, her voice trembling with fear: "Your Majesty, I understand."

"It's not that I am not diligent; it's truly… the era is far removed."

"Few know the details; I am incapable…"

Wan Tang looked at her crouching posture, sneered: "Rise, I don't blame you."

Liu Guiren rose tremblingly, a slight sigh of relief in her heart.

But Wan Tang added: "Since the investigation is difficult, first handle a small matter for me."

She raised her hand, pointing to an exquisite food box on the nearby desk: "There is a snack here; I cannot go personally."

"There is someone I do not wish to see now; you go for me and deliver the item."

Upon hearing the destination, Liu Guiren felt an inexplicable heaviness, a vague unease.

But faced with Wan Tang's unquestionable gaze, she dared not refuse, and forced herself to answer: "Yes, I obey."

She stepped forward, lifted the heavy food box, bowed with a kneel, then hurried away with her head down.

Cold Palace.

Liu Guiren carried the food box, stepping unevenly—deep foot then shallow—along the desolate palace corridor of the Cold Palace.

Around her, broken walls and ruins lay, weeds sprouting, and a stale, decaying scent filled the air.

She couldn't help covering her mouth and nose with a cloth, muttering lowly: "What a damned place! To think I, a noble, have to deliver something to such an unlucky spot!"

Seeing no one respond around, her irritation grew.

Instinctively she placed her hand over her still flat lower abdomen, her gaze turning haughty again.

She whispered coldly to herself: "Hmph, let you revel a while longer."

"When I successfully give birth to a Prince, mother's honor will rise with the son's, and see who still dares to look down on me!"

"Then, what use is the Virtuous Consort, who only bore a Princess, to swagger before me?"

She approached the most dilapidated hall, staring at its tightly shut, peeled lacquer wooden door.

Impatiently raising her voice, with a patronizing tone she shouted: "Those inside, listen—I've come to deliver items for the Virtuous Consort!"

The hall was dead silent, not even an echo.

Liu Guiren furrowed her brows, anger flaring, feeling the people inside were utterly ungrateful.

She no longer hesitated, reached out and forcefully pushed open the heavy wooden door.

Creak—.

The door hinge emitted a grinding sound that made one's teeth ache.

Dim light surged into the hall, stirring up dust.

Liu Guiren instinctively looked up.

Above the beam, a human silhouette hung there, startlingly!

Xiao Mingshu's eyes were wide open, tongue protruding, face bluish‑purple, already dead from asphyxiation.

The twisted visage looked especially ferocious in the dim light!

Ah!!!

Liu Guiren's pupils contracted sharply; the food box in her hand clanged to the ground, scattering the delicate pastries everywhere.

Inside the Side Hall of Jingren Palace, the atmosphere was stagnant.

Liu Guiren was wrapped in a thick brocade quilt, curled up on the couch, her body still trembling uncontrollably like a sieve.

Her complexion was so pallid it lacked any trace of color.

Her gaze was scattered, and she kept muttering, voice broken and trembling with terror: "It's the deposed Empress, it's Xiao Mingshu…"

She… she's hanging there…

The eyes staring… the tongue… so long… so terrifying…

Wan Tang, however, sat on a chair not far away, her expression calm and unruffled.

A young attendant waited by Wan Tang's side.

He whispered, "People have already been sent to the Cold Palace."

"But our people were blocked outside; the Empress Dowager said she would handle it personally."

Wan Tang nodded, then turned to look at Liu Guiren.

After Liu Guiren's sobbing subsided a bit, Wan Tang slowly set down her tea cup: "Little sister, you've been so terribly frightened, how pitiful."

She turned and ordered the attendant standing nearby, "Go, summon the imperial physician, treat Liu Guiren properly, and prepare several doses of Calming Soup."

"No! Don't call the physician!" Liu Guiren, as if pricked by a needle, jerked her head up sharply, shrill in refusal, her eyes frantic.

Wan Tang lightly whispered "Oh?" and a cold curve lifted the corner of her lips.

"I, the palace, am only worried about my little sister's health."

"After all, you are the Emperor's woman, extremely valuable."

Her gaze drifted, almost imperceptibly, to the lower abdomen Liu Guiren instinctively guarded.

Liu Guiren's whole body stiffened, feigning composure: "Your Highness, what do you mean?"

Wan Tang seemed to hear something amusing, letting out a light laugh: "What could I possibly mean?"

"It's only that I'm worried your sister is frightened; your own body being strong may be fine, but if the Emperor's offspring is harmed, then …" she deliberately elongated her tone.

Liu Guiren's complexion grew even whiter, repeatedly denying: "Subject does not know what Your Highness is saying, Subject has not …"

"Don't know?" Wan Tang cut her off, tone suddenly cold, bearing an oppressive insight: "Liu Guiren, what are you afraid of?"

"Do you think by refusing the physician's pulse diagnosis you can hide it from me?"

She leaned forward slightly, voice lowered, each word cutting to the heart: "Today I sent you to the Cold Palace, and now you insist on calling the physician; it's not to harm you, but precisely to protect you."

"To protect the Imperial Heir in your womb from those leering 'Schemers'!"

Liu Guiren was utterly crushed by these words, looking at Wan Tang's eyes that seemed to see through everything.

She felt all her thoughts and secrets had nowhere to hide, like a clown stripped of all clothing.

Before Wan Tang, she was as tiny as an ant.

Meanwhile, the young attendant merely bowed his head and stood still, ignoring her terror.

Overwhelming fear and despair nearly suffocated Liu Guiren.

She neither wanted to entrust her fate and her child's fate to others, yet she lacked the power to contend with Wan Tang.

Liu Guiren clenched her teeth hard, for a moment not knowing what to do.

At that moment, a palace attendant's clear proclamation came from outside the hall: "The Emperor has arrived!"

Hearing that, Liu Guiren's eyes flashed with extreme panic.

She glanced at Wan Tang's unruffled face, then listened to the approaching footsteps outside the door.

A ruthless, all‑or‑nothing resolve suddenly replaced the fear.

She sneered at Wan Tang: "Virtuous Consort, do you think you're the smartest in this harem?"

"I am pregnant."

"But my child of the Wang family will never be swayed by anyone!"

Wan Tang's gaze was icy, solemnly stating: "I only wish to protect the Emperor's offspring."

"Liu Guiren, do not act recklessly."

Liu Guiren let out a cold laugh.

She gritted her teeth hard, and at the instant Chu Yunzheng stepped through the hall doors, she used all her strength to hurl herself violently onto the cold, hard floor!

Ah!

Accompanied by the muffled thud of her body hitting the floor and the sound of the hall doors being pushed open, Liu Guiren let out a harrowing scream:

"Your Highness, please don't harm me!"

"Spare me and my child!"

"Subject will do anything you say, please spare us!"