Chapter 275: Love, No Substitute

"No… no… I won't lose."

"From childhood to now, I've always done as my aunt said; I live only to cater to the Emperor's preferences."

"Everyone says I'm the only one who might get into the Emperor's heart."

"I shouldn't lose."

Xiao Mingshu's emotions gradually collapsed.

She fell to sit on the ground, stubbornly staring at the edict, her voice trembling and shrieking.

Wan Tang calmly watched her expression, and suddenly found it utterly laughable.

Since entering the palace, Xiao Yurou is probably the lowest‑level opponent she's ever met.

Even a person who can't understand a chess game actually caused Wan Tang to take a huge tumble.

Is this the benefit that lineage and power bring?

Wan Tang stood up, her eyes inevitably turning toward the towering palace wall.

Li Ping'er called softly, "Sister…"

"Ping'er, why do I feel so weary?" Her voice was full of fatigue.

Whether Xiao Mingshu cries or throws a fit, she doesn't want to watch any longer.

She simply held Li Ping'er's hand and said, "I want to go back and rest."

"Hmm." Li Ping'er said with concern, "When we return to the palace, I'll bring Minghui back; she's been so obedient these days and even learned to tell stories."

"She said she'll wait for you to return and tell you the story."

Thinking of that little pink dumpling, Wan Tang's tightly furrowed brows finally eased a bit.

A warm feeling also flowed through her heart.

Li Defu limped along behind.

Xiao Mingshu's makeup ran from crying; she suddenly lifted her head, a wild surge in her eyes, and said, "Don't be so smug."

"I haven't lost yet."

She, somewhat obsessed, raised her hand, and the pad of her finger slowly brushed across her cheek.

The corner of her mouth lifted, a chilling smile on her face: "I still have this face."

"Before, you constantly obstructed me; I couldn't erase this visage."

"But now I've figured it out. As long as I can obtain the Emperor, protect the Xiao Family, what does it matter if we become a joke?"

Wan Tang didn't look back, but let out a genuine snicker.

Yet that laugh struck Xiao Mingshu's fragile nerves, and she growled low, "What are you laughing at?"

"Are you not the same, both using this face?"

"You can, so why can't I!"

Wan Tang faced away from her, and for the first time spoke with such sincerity: "It seems you truly don't understand the Emperor."

A selfish person will have many Wanwan‑type officials.

But that's merely a pastime in idle time.

He is an emperor!

He's not some prodigal child of a rich family.

Just a face…

【Breaking news: the latest developments have arrived; the Mo Family case has finally surfaced, and a large amount of eyewitness and physical evidence has been uncovered.】

【Now all the incriminating evidence points to the Xiao Family; merely Xiao Sihai's framing of the Mo Family is enough to warrant taking Xiao Sihai's head.】

【Just Xiao Sihai is not enough; Chu Yunzheng wants them uprooted completely. Rest assured, more people will step forward, and more evidence will point to the Xiao Family. Even if they aren't exterminated, the Xiao Family will have no chance to rise again.】

【This matter will ferment quickly; don't forget there's also Yan Wang. Yan Wang has always been dissatisfied that the throne went to Chu Yunzheng back then, and this time he's returned to cut off Chu Yunzheng's greatest support.】

【Without the Xiao Family, they'll seize the chance to insert their own people, weaken Chu Yunzheng, and then rebel later.】

Wan Tang listened to the voice in her mind, while her expression grew increasingly calm.

These matters, to her, no longer seemed that important.

Yangxin Hall issued successive good news.

The Emperor calmly handled state affairs, but his heart now held a few more shades of joy.

In the evening.

Before dinner, Li Ping'er hurried to fetch Minghui back.

Now the situation has eased a bit; to be honest, Wan Tang also missed the child.

Just about to agree.

The sound of a barrage echoed in her mind again.

【Xiao Yurou's tactics, compared to Xiao Mingshu's, are truly far inferior.】

【At a time like this, she even still thinks of seducing the Emperor, even seeking someone to distract Wan Tang, hoping to replace her in pleasing him.】

【The key is, they even arranged for someone to impersonate Wan Tang to deliver a message, so the Emperor would come back at night to play games.】

【Poor thing, Wan Tang has cleaned so many times, yet the palace still has people inserted by the Empress Dowader. The maid who has been waiting at the door all along turned out to be the Empress Dowager's person.】

Wan Tang felt a heaviness in her heart.

She said, "Sister Hui has indeed worked hard these days; speaking of it, I also want to see her."

"Bring some fine wine and good dishes; I, the palace, want to have a couple of drinks with Sister Hui."

Li Ping'er, originally worried about Wan Tang's mood, saw her thinking of drinking, and naturally felt delighted.

She quickly agreed and immediately began preparations.

Wan Tang and the group had just left.

The palace maid who had been peeking at the doorway the whole time visibly let out a sigh of relief.

Wan Tang was secretly startled; this maid had always been in an inconspicuous spot, and she had never noticed her existence.

The night was deep, and inside Palace of Eternal Joy only a few dim lanterns burned.

Chu Yunzheng finished handling state affairs, and as he read the letters arriving from Palace of Eternal Joy, his irritation lessened a bit.

Tangtang was becoming more adept at cheering people up, and even wanted to play a mysterious game.

Thinking of the hardships Wan Tang had recently endured and the previous bout of proactive enthusiasm, Chu Yunzheng felt his blood heat up a few degrees.

He set aside the memorial in his hand and headed to Palace of Eternal Joy.

Seeing the dim room lit by only one candle, he did not send a messenger, but pushed the door straight into the inner hall.

A slightly sweet, cloying fragrance, unlike before, lingered at his nose.

The curtains hung low, and faintly a graceful figure could be seen lying on the couch, black hair loose, body lithe.

Even if only a silhouette, it was that familiar.

It seemed the person who haunted his thoughts was right before him.

Chu Yunzheng whispered a few times, but never uttered the name.

Only a primal, heartfelt impulse urged him.

He wanted to completely, utterly conquer this woman.

He lifted the curtain and threw himself onto her, pulling her into his arms, lowering his head to kiss.

Yet, the moment his lips were about to touch her skin, he suddenly stopped.

The scent was off.

Wan Tang never liked such a strong fragrance.

Chu Yunzheng's voice deepened: "I have said before, I most like the faint pear blossom scent on your hair."

The person in his arms did not respond, becoming even more forward.

She seemed only to want to move to the next step quickly.

Yet this feeling made Chu Yunzheng feel uneasy.

He even loosened his hold on her: "Why are you dressed like this today? You look a lot like her…"

"I have said, you are yours."

Still, he received no response at all.

Only piece after piece of fabric fell away, revealing a perfect body silhouette.

Such a perfect body, any man would not bother to question any of this.

He would probably rush forward immediately, fully unleashing his nature.

"Hold the lamp!" Chu Yunzheng's tone suddenly turned cold.

The person on the bed only then panicked, hurriedly shouting, "Stop."

Chu Yunzheng had already brought the candle close, and the blurred figure before him gradually cleared.

The one on the bed was not Wan Tang at all; it was Xiao Yurou.

"How dare you!"

Chu Yunzheng felt as if cold water was poured over his head, instantly sobering, his fury sweeping over him.

He delivered a direct kick.

Xiao Yurou let out a scream, stumbling and falling beneath the bed.

"Emperor!" Xiao Yurou wore only a bellyband.

Facing Chu Yunzheng, she did not hide, even wishing to completely free this last veil of modesty.

She lifted her head, her face bearing resentment and allure, "You look at me, Subject, this face… isn't it the same as hers?"

"Subject, I even resemble her more than she does, don't I?"

She strained to keep her emotions steady, following years of training, displaying every frown and smile.

Yet no matter how she moved, she could no longer earn Chu Yunzheng a proper glance.

Chu Yunzheng stood at the bedside, tidying his slightly disheveled robe,

Upon hearing that, he let out an extremely cold snicker, his eyes full of sarcasm and disgust:

"Do you think I like a substitute?"

He looked down at her from a height, his gaze sharp as a blade, as if it could pierce the flesh and reach the soul:

"I like Bai Li, and that's only because I like her as a person."

"Her soul, her bones, her every frown and smile are unique."

His voice was cold and cruel, "Even if you bear the same face, you will never be her!"

This answer, unlike what everyone told Xiao Yurou, is different.

Clearly from childhood they all said, as long as you can become Bai Li, you can become the Emperor's cherished favorite.

"No…"

"Whether it's Liu Guiren, or Virtuous Consort, or so many others, isn't it because they each carry a fragment of Bai Li's shadow that allows them to receive your favor?"

"Why can't I?!"

Chu Yunzheng leaned down slightly, his tone as merciless as ever: "When I think of her, you may be her stand‑in."

"When I'm in a good mood, I also hope to see more of her shadow."

"But when you dare to use this face to scheme against me, to exploit me…"

He paused, each word crystal clear:

"You all are nothing!"

Xiao Yurou was pierced by the cold and contempt in his words, trembling all over; the color left her face, and she was overwhelmed with shame and anger.

Chu Yunzheng's voice grew colder, and his eyes showed no trace of humanity.

Only endless disgust and destruction: "Get out!"

Chu Yunzheng spoke.

At this moment she wore only a bellyband, barely covering her body.

To appear like this must be such a humiliation.

Outside Palace of Eternal Joy.

Li Ping'er saw the candles inside light up.

She exclaimed in surprise, "Is Shei inside?"

"Could it be that the Emperor has arrived?"

Li Ping'er, seeing this, was about to go out.

At that moment Wan Tang reached out to block, her expression solemn.

Coldly she said, "You will go rest, won't you!"

Inside, the voices of a man and a woman were clearly already audible.

Seeing Wan Tang in such a state, Li Ping'er ultimately said nothing, turned, and silently left.

When a mournful, chilling cry came from inside, Wan Tang finally steadied her emotions.

She took a deep breath, pretended to be flustered, stepped forward, and pushed open the hall doors.

She saw the scene inside like this.

She was first stunned, then her gaze swept over the disheveled Xiao Yurou sitting on the ground, and then turned to the dark‑faced, slightly untidy Chu Yunzheng.

Her face instantly lost its color, her eyes quickly reddened, filled with shock and grievance.

She seemed as if burned, hurriedly lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly, weakly saying, "Subject… Subject was abrupt… Subject takes leave."

Speaking that, she turned to flee this embarrassing scene.

"Stop," Chu Yunzheng called out, his tone leaving no doubt, "You need not go."

His gaze then fixed dead on Xiao Yurou on the ground.

Under the scrutiny of both, especially Wan Tang's seemingly gentle yet torturous stare, Xiao Yurou could no longer bear the immense humiliation.

She grabbed the clothes scattered on the ground, haphazardly covering herself, almost rolling and crawling, filled with endless shame and resentment, and rushed out of Palace of Eternal Joy.

"Tangtang," Wan Tang said heavily, gesturing, "You come."