Chapter 277: Help Where It's Clear

Inside and outside Kunning Palace, a dead silence.

Wan Tang sits alone on a pear‑blossom wood chair, her complexion as pale as paper, teeth clenched.

Xiao Yurou lies on the ground, already dead, black blood oozing from her seven orifices, her death gruesome.

The surrounding palace servants kneel on the ground, each with a blank face, trembling like sifted chaff.

Wan Tang grips the poison bottle in her hand, straightens her back, and squints slightly.

She hears the sounds from outside the palace gate.

But she cannot move any further, only waiting for the people outside to come in.

When Xiao Dongzi first shouted angrily, the guards had already rushed in.

But upon seeing Wan Tang, they all halted, looking at each other.

"Haven't you taken her down yet? Do you expect me to act myself?"

Xiao Dongzi, angry in tone, kicks a guard and bursts out of the encirclement.

Just as he was about to shout, he suddenly sees Wan Tang.

He rubs his eyes forcefully.

Summoning courage, he steps closer, sees the object in Wan Tang's hand and Xiao Yurou's corpse on the ground, and is instantly stunned, cold sweat streaming down.

Chu Yunzheng originally did not want to come in, treating it as a mere passage and handling it perfunctorily.

"Em—Emperor," Xiao Dongzi's voice trembles badly: "You, you came to see!"

"Virtuous Consort, why are you here?"

Chu Yunzheng's eyelids flicker, and he strides forward like a dragon and tiger.

When he sees the scene before him, a flash of unmistakable shock passes through his eyes.

His gaze first lands on Xiao Yurou's stiffening corpse, then snaps to Wan Tang and the bottle in her hand, pupils narrowing.

Wan Tang lifts her hollow eyes toward Chu Yunzheng, her voice light and airy, bearing a dead‑hearted fatigue and resignation:

"The person was poisoned by me."

"Emperor, I... confess. I am willing to accept all punishment."

Chu Yunzheng's complexion darkens to the extreme in an instant; he steps forward a few paces, teeth clenched.

His voice is filled with disbelief and betrayed fury: "Did you not hear a single word of what I said?"

Wan Tang's shoulders tremble as she averts his scorching gaze.

She lowers her eyelids, repeats her confession, masking all intent beneath calm desperation:

"I have nothing to say. I leave it to the Emperor's judgment."

Inside Chu Yunzheng, anger intertwines with a frantic, iron‑to‑steel frustration.

He stares at her, watching her posture of offering her neck for execution, seeking no mercy.

A cold laugh: "This is not something you could have done."

"If there is any grievance, tell me?"

Wan Tang gives a bleak smile, nervously twisting a handkerchief, and whispers: "Please, just consider it as if I did it, okay?"

"What do you mean 'just consider'?" Chu Yunzheng's voice suddenly deepens, his eyes flashing with ferocity: "It is, it is; it isn't, it isn't."

"Now, with me protecting you, you need not worry."

Wan Tang opens her mouth to speak, but the Empress Dowager silently stands behind her.

She can only choke the words in her throat.

A bitter smile: "Emperor, please stop persistently questioning..."

"I confess!"

Chu Yunzheng had been waiting, and finally, as if his patience were exhausted, he flings his sleeves and robe violently.

His voice is icy and bone‑piercing, yet carries a faint, barely perceptible pain and disappointment:

"Fine!"

"You are accused of poisoning the deposed Empress, the evidence is conclusive."

He inhales deeply, as if expending all his strength, then utters the verdict:

"Scram back to Changle Palace and reflect properly."

A cold snort comes from behind Chu Yunzheng.

Turning, the Empress Dowager is already standing there.

Chu Yunzheng suddenly realizes why Wan Tang reacted that way, but it's too late.

The Empress Dowager, face full of sorrow and anger, lowers her voice: "She is indeed a murderer."

"Now the Emperor has matured; whatever he does, I, the grieving mother, cannot intervene."

"But she confessed with her own mouth; does the Emperor still pretend not to hear?"

Doing so is indeed rather forced.

Chu Yunzheng can only say: "Does the Empress Mother think Wan Tang could have done this?"

"She wouldn't be that foolish."

The Empress Dowager scoffs repeatedly, expression blank: "I do not understand her."

"All we know is that she admitted it herself, right?"

"If it was Wan Tang who killed, so what?"

The Mo Family treason case has gradually been overturned, and Wan Tang's status naturally rises like a tide.

Moreover, this very person has been stirring trouble in the harem, even causing the Xiao Family's downfall.

As long as Wan Tang dies, that's fine.

The two sides faced each other, and Wan Tang gritted her teeth.

In this chess game, any misstep would completely lose control.

They stared at each other for a moment.

Chu Yunzheng stared intently at the Empress Dowager:

"Bring them, escort the Virtuous Consort to Shenxing Si, keep a tight watch; without my decree, no one may visit."

Shenxing Si!

It is the place where wayward palace consorts and eunuchs are imprisoned and interrogated; anyone who enters will either die or shed a layer of skin!

The guards, hearing this, dared not hesitate any longer and stepped forward to take Wan Tang away.

Wan Tang offered no resistance, allowing the guards to lift her arms, but just before being led away—

she gave Chu Yunzheng one last, deep glance.

Chu Yunzheng watched her retreating silhouette, his hand hanging behind him clenched into a fist, knuckles turning white.

【Wan Tang, you finally speak? No words at all?】

【Is it that she doesn't want to speak? The old hag is already here; once she says anything, Su Guiren is sure to die.】

【For something this huge, even Su Guiren's death would be considered light. The fear is that they'll use it as a pretext and implicate the entire Su Family.】

【It really infuriates me; everything has unfolded exactly as Wan Tang predicted. In at most a dozen days, Xiao Yurou is definitely doomed.】

【Otherwise, why say it? It's just that a fool might get a sudden idea.】

Shenxing Si.

The cell was dark and damp.

Xiao Dongzi had just left, carrying the Empress Dowager's imperial edict.

The eunuch of Shenxing Si quickly shed his cold mask, and in an instant a flattering smile appeared.

"Quickly untie the Empress!"

The leading eunuch hurried forward, deftly untying the decorative rope on Wan Tang's wrist.

"Empress, please come sit here."

The others also offered a few flattering words.

Xiao Shunzi stepped in from the shadows, gave the Chief Eunuchs a slight nod, and said, "Thank you, gentlemen."

"Shun Gonggong, you're too kind," the men replied promptly.

Xiao Shunzi hurried to Wan Tang's side, looking at her slightly pale complexion, eyes full of concern, and said, "Master, you have suffered…"

Wan Tang's tone was calm: "It's fine, thank you."

"Oh dear, Empress, you're breaking us Nubi."

The Chief Eunuch quickly bowed, his tone sincere and even grateful, "It is we Nubi who should thank the Empress."

At this, several of the Shenxing Si staff became even more enthusiastic.

Their tone betrayed unhidden excitement: "Now the Empress's extra monthly allowance to the Shenxing Si brothers is already more than twice the Imperial Palace's monthly funds."

"Exactly, not to mention the Empress also secretly sends people to look after the Nubi's families."

"Even the jobs for their parents and brothers at home are arranged perfectly…"

"The Empress has come this far; if we Nubi do not give our lives for her, it would be intolerable."

The nearby eunuchs also nodded repeatedly, each expressing their gratitude and loyalty.

The Chief Eunuch, a bit embarrassed, glanced around, rubbed his hands and said, "It's just this once; I'm afraid we'll have to keep the Empress in this dank place for a while."

"Indeed, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor personally sent you, so the matter is truly serious."

"If anyone from above comes to investigate, we'll inevitably have to put on a show."

Wan Tang nodded, expression calm: "I understand; just follow the rules, no need to make it difficult."

Seeing this, Xiao Shunzi pulled several silver notes from his sleeve, slipped them into the Chief Eunuch's hand, and smiled, "Thank you, brothers, for your care; a small token, have some tea."

"This… how can I accept…" the eunuch pretended to decline, yet honestly clenched the silver notes in his hand.

A smile blossomed on his face, "Shun Gonggong, you're too courteous."

"Being able to serve the Empress is a blessing we Nubi have cultivated over several lifetimes."

"Rest assured, the Empress is here; not even a single hair will be missing."

After another round of pledges of loyalty, they carefully withdrew, leaving the space for Wan Tang and Xiao Shunzi.

"Master." Xiao Shunzi hurried forward, eyes reddened, "Su Guiren has harmed you many times; why do you still help her?"

"When I heard you were in trouble, Ping'er cried herself unconscious several times."

Wan Tang, composed and calm, simply said, "I am the one who killed that person; do not speak nonsense."

Xiao Shunzi's face was full of confusion.

But he also knew Wan Tang's stubborn nature and dared not press further.

"Alas!"

Wan Tang let out a light sigh, helplessly saying, "I know you have many doubts, but I must keep her safe."

"If the Empress Dowager continues to investigate, keep a close watch; even if it means a fake death, see her out of the palace safely."

"If they pursue the Su Family…"

Wan Tang narrowed her eyes, voice deep: "Then let them point the spear at me; we must protect the Su Family."

Xiao Shunzi was shocked.

He was about to speak.

"It's bad."

"Yan Wang is coming here with his men." The guard scrambled in, lowering his voice to report.

Xiao Shunzi's words that reached her mouth were instantly swallowed back.

Wan Tang also sprang to her feet in an instant.

A few people who had rushed over earlier hurriedly, in a fluster, re‑tied Wan Tang.

They also hurriedly shoved the delicate tea cups and utensils into the box.

Just as the tidying was finished, a clamor and shouts of obstruction came from outside.

"Yan Wang, you may not enter."

"This is Shenxing Si, after all."

"Moreover, the people inside are the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, who were brought in."

Amid the noise, the cell door was pushed open with a clank.

Yan Wang, in his regular Qīn wáng robes, his expression stern, led a few personal guards and forced his way in.

The cold glint of his sword reflected in his hand, not to mention several masters following behind him.

How could a few eunuchs of Shenxing Si possibly stop them?

"All of you, get out," Yan Wang's cold eyes swept the room, his voice chilling.

Xiao Shunzi and Wan Tang exchanged a glance; seeing Wan Tang give a slight nod, she then turned and left.

Yan Wang's personal guard firmly shut the cell door.

For a moment, only Yan Wang and Wan Tang remained inside the cell.

Wan Tang lifted her eyes, looking at the imposing figure, a cold sneer curling at the corner of her mouth: "Prince Yan, you are truly impressive, daring to storm even Shenxing Si."

"It seems this Imperial harem has also become Prince Yan's back garden."

Yan Wang's expression remained aloof, his tone tinged with displeasure: "Does Virtuous Consort treat a benefactor in this way?"

"If it weren't for me, your brother's head would already be on the ground now."

"The Mo Family will forever bear the traitor's charge of selling out the nation."

"And you, this is how you speak to a benefactor?"

Wan Tang's face stayed cold, she sneered: "Oh?"

"So Prince Yan, today you deign to come to Shenxing Si, merely to remind this palace that you helped me, expecting gratitude?"

"Both yes and no," Yan Wang stepped two paces forward, looking down from his height, his gaze sharp, bearing an undeniable authority, "I want you to remember clearly that regarding the Mo Family affair, the primary credit belongs to me."

He paused, his voice lowered yet each word crystal clear, like ice beads striking down:

"Virtuous Consort must endure further grievances here for several more days."

"The charge of poisoning the deposed Empress will inevitably find someone to take the blame, keeping you safe."

Wan Tang's complexion shifted slightly at the words: "If you still need several days, why did Prince Yan risk coming here today?"

"Virtuous Consort," Yan Wang smiled with extreme aggression.

Directly: "I enjoy helping, and likewise, this favor of mine must be done openly."

"I just want you to know that what you owe me has been growing ever larger."