Chapter 28: Women

Wan Tang lies in Chu Yunzheng's arms, listening to the words outside, and sneers inwardly.

Who wishes the other a miserable death, that's not necessarily true.

Wan Tang knows clearly that Xu Luoyan now, besides the ten years of favor, also has the Xu Family's power behind her.

Even for the great war in the Bei Mo, the Xu Family cannot afford any serious injury now. Minor punishments are fine, but if it affects the expedition, how could Chu Yunzheng embarrass the Xu Family for this orphaned girl?

When this great tree cannot be shaken, Wan Tang will choose to endure.

The next day, the Empress sent several palace maids and eunuchs, saying that Cuivei Palace had too few people to better attend to Wan Tang.

Seeing the few obedient servants before her, Wan Tang felt displeased. Though the Empress sent them reasonably, she could not erupt, so she merely smiled and accepted them.

"Young master, how shall these people be arranged?" Xiao Shunzi, now the steward, stood at the doorway with the managing aunt Shang Zhi on either side.

Now that the personnel of Cuivei Palace is finally in my hands, looking at the newcomers outside, she said directly: "All stay in the outer courtyard. Anyone who errs, send back."

At dusk, the sunset was blood‑red; the Cold Palace's vermilion‑painted gate was mottled and dilapidated, and weeds tangled in the corners.

Wan Tang, dressed in plain clothes, with Li Ping'er beside her, holding a palace lantern, walked slowly into the Cold Palace.

Li Answering's hands clutched at the Cold Palace doorway, her hair bun disheveled, yet her clothing still barely kept tidy.

In her eyes there was both resentment and fear, clashing with the numb concubines of the Cold Palace.

When Wan Tang's figure appeared at the doorway, Li Answering was first startled, then straightened her back, lifted her chin, a cold smile curling at the corner of her mouth, her voice trembling slightly: "What are you here for? To mock me?"

Wan Tang gave a slight smile, her tone calm: "Sister, you were joking. The Cold Palace is chilly; I am merely here to bring some food, as a token of goodwill."

Li Answering's eyes flashed a hint of wariness, her tone sharp: "Hmph, stop the false sincerity! I have fallen to this place, I have time and again tried to put you to death, and you are still so kind?"

Wan Tang let out a soft sigh, her gaze gentle: "What difference is there between me and you, sister? I simply saw through Xu Luoyan's nature early on, securing a sliver of survival for myself. This visit is also to ask you: do you not hate her?"

Li Answering's expression shifted slightly, yet she remained guarded: "What use is hatred? I am confined in the Cold Palace, while she is a Noble Consort. Perhaps in this life I will never again see the Emperor."

Wan Tang stepped closer, lowering her voice: "Sister, you are so clever; you must have a way."

"If you hate her, we will be friends," Wan Tang smiled, the dimples on her face especially bright: "If sister needs anything, I will do my utmost to help."

Wan Tang finished speaking, handing the basket she held into the interior: "Sister, you arrived in haste; I prepared some items especially for you, in case of need."

Li Answering's face bore a hint of doubt, she took the basket. The cloth covering it was lifted at a corner, exposing gold inside.

Li Answering said nothing, but silently placed the items down. The hatred in her eyes sent a chill.

On the way back, Li Ping'er spoke with puzzlement: "Young master, Li Answering has harmed you again and again; why do you still help her?"

"I'm not helping her; I'm helping myself," Wan Tang gently waved the fan in her hand, a smile at the corner of her mouth: "Remember, the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily a friend, but there is always a common goal."

Li Answering devoted herself fully to assisting the Noble Consort, yet suffered betrayal and abandonment, even being used as a scapegoat; surely she hates to the point of wanting to eat her flesh.

Her mother's family were salt inspection officials, wealthy. They once served the Xu Family; now Xu Luoyan is irresponsible, disregarding past ties and ruining Li Answering. Though Li Answering's maternal family may not dare confront directly, they could still strike from the shadows.

Wan Tang spoke without reservation, but her peripheral glance carefully gauged Li Ping'er's reaction. She was observing how reliable this person, whose ties with Li Defu are countless, truly is.

Thus, when such crucial information is presented, a two‑hearted person's brows and eyes inevitably reveal something.

Fortunately, throughout Li Ping'er never gave an improper reaction, and suddenly realized: "I understand. Now the young master lacks a noble family's support, cannot align inside and outside the palace. Though Li Answering is in the Cold Palace, her mother's family has not been affected at all."

"The Xu Noble Consort's power is too vast; relying solely on the young master alone cannot shake her foundation."

Wan Tang smiled and said, "Smart."

Wan Tang walked slowly, her smile brighter than the sunset, unusually radiant.

Her tone light, but her eyes heavy: "Xu Luoyan wants me dead; I never said I would let her go."

After the poisoning incident, the Emperor for three consecutive days kept reviewing Wan Tang's case.

Officially it was Li Pin who did it, demoting Answering to the Cold Palace. Yet the Emperor could not be unaware of how much Xu Luoyan was involved.

Two days of cold dew was merely a small warning.

Wan Tang, racing against time, arrived at Qiankun Palace.

A junior eunuch said the Emperor was meeting two ministers, asking Wan Tang to wait a moment.

Night fell heavy, candlelight flickered. Wan Tang sat upright in the Side Hall, still holding embroidered cloth, stitching slowly, needle and thread. Her expression calm, as if deaf to the disputes echoing from the Main Hall.

From within the hall, a faint argument could be heard; a familiar voice, her father whom she never dared to call, Xu Chengyuan.

Xu Chengyuan shouted angrily: "The soldiers lack food; how can they go into battle? Nothing I require may be omitted. If the young lord continues to shirk, one must doubt his intentions."

Another younger voice sneered repeatedly: "Since General Xu grasped the Tiger Tally, he has been conscripting soldiers and buying horses; the treasury is empty, and you demand three million taels—are you trying to drain the treasury?"

"Lady of Grace Wan, why are you waiting here?" Jin Zhong, accompanied with a smile, said cautiously: "The Emperor will arrive later; please come this way."

In the warm chamber, Wan Tang sat on the soft couch beside her, looking at the grand bed favored by the concubines opposite, feeling a sense of irony.

Everyone vied for the chance to spend the night on that bed, yet Wan Tang felt a slight repulsion deep inside.

She knew that this bed was currently her only capital to contend with Xu Luoyan.

By the time the Emperor arrived, a golden dragon had been embroidered more than half.

"The candlelight is dim; Tangtang, why not come tomorrow? This strains the eyes," Chu Yunzheng's deep voice came from outside.

He showed a hint of fatigue on his face, unlike his usual enthusiasm, sat beside Wan Tang, holding a cup of tea but did not drink.

Wan Tang knew the Bei Mo army was advancing step by step, yet here they still refused to dispatch troops; how could he not be uneasy?

Wan Tang smiled faintly, coquettishly saying: "Your Majesty, please hand that coil of hemp rope to me."

Chu Yunzheng casually passed it over, his gaze also falling upon it.

"What is this?" Chu Yunzheng asked.

Wan Tang smiled: "Your Majesty likes scented sachets; I also find their calming effect quite good, so I made one for you."

Wan Tang threaded the hemp line into the gold thread, adding eyes to the dragon.

"Why use hemp thread?" Chu Yunzheng asked, a bit puzzled.

Wan Tang, ever gently smiling, said reassuringly: "The sachet's fabric is inherently different, especially fragile. It relies on embroidery for reinforcement. The gold thread supplied by the thread room is limited; if you only use gold thread for the dragon's head and eyes, but use silk for the scales, it may not hold until the day of mounting, and the embroidery will collapse first."

The Emperor's cup, however, was placed heavily on the table.

A sharp gaze examined Wan Tang.

Such a sharp gaze truly made a person feel uncomfortable all over, and Wan Tang's back was also dotted with a faint cold sweat.

Yet she still forced herself to appear calm, pretending she hadn't noticed anything.

"If Lady of Grace Wan mixes silk thread into the gold thread, it will greatly displease me," Chu Yunzheng's face grew a bit gloomy.

Wan Tang hurriedly explained: "The purpose of my using gold thread is precisely to make the fabric more sturdy; gold thread is so precious that it must be reserved for important places. Piercing the entire golden dragon not only makes the dragon resplendent in gold and jade, but also renders it unbreakable."

"Now that night is deep, if I go to request more gold thread again, it will take one or two trips and delay matters for two more days."

"Emperor, you have been sleeping restlessly lately; I only wish to give you a scented pouch tonight. It will calm the spirit and ease your insomnia."

Chu Yunzheng's expression grew even darker: "Aren't you afraid of what others might say about you?"

"What others say is irrelevant; the needle is in my hand, and by the time others speak, I will have already solved the Emperor's insomnia. Fear would only exaggerate me, wouldn't it?"

As Wan Tang spoke, Chu Yunzheng's gaze also grew increasingly solemn.

Finally, he revealed a chilling aura Wan Tang had never seen: "Xu Chengyuan, knowing that I currently have no suitable generals, acted so arrogantly. The entire camp, from top to bottom, demands brand‑new weapons and the finest food. He truly overstepped!"

"Emperor, the Imperial harem must not interfere in state affairs; I have no such intention…" Wan Tang's cold sweat persisted as she hurriedly knelt on the ground.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze fell on Wan Tang, softening considerably. He reached out and helped her to her feet: "You speak well; I grant you permission to speak."

"In fact, what you said aligns with my own thoughts. I only feared I might have misread Xu Chengyuan's loyal heart."

Wan Tang, recalling Xu Chengyuan's attitude toward her and her mother while at the General's Residence, felt her heart grow ever colder.

She bowed deeply before Chu Yunzheng, her voice trembling: "I am a maid brought out from my maternal home by the Noble Consort herself."

"I also know General Xu."

"I am willing, for the Emperor, to test General Xu. No matter how General Xu reacts, it will give me greater reason to make a decision."

Wan Tang's gaze was resolute.

Chu Yunzheng extended his hand, pinching Wan Tang's chin, forcing her to look straight into his eyes.

"Within the Imperial harem, only Tangtang understands me!"

"If Xu Chengyuan truly is outrageously arrogant and dares to kill you, I will show no mercy!"

Chu Yunzheng's words were overly aggressive.

Wan Tang watched the flickering candlelight, her heart cold as ice. From the Emperor's perspective, a maid brought out from the residence should devote herself entirely to her Master. Now she has become Xu Luoyan's mortal enemy.

If she truly meets Xu's father, the consequences are unpredictable.

Nevertheless, Wan Tang also has a personal motive—her own father. She wants to know whether her father truly regards her as a daughter.

Will she, upon learning of Xu Luoyan's actions toward her, show even a hint of compassion for herself?

Wan Tang looked at Chu Yunzheng, her voice choked: "I am an orphan; only the Emperor is my sole reliance."

"I am willing, for the Emperor, to do anything."

Chu Yunzheng's gaze, now tempered with tenderness, said: "Rise, you are my woman."

"I will protect you!"

That night of entwined spring intimacy, the next day when Wan Tang returned to the palace, the Emperor specially bestowed a Zhai carriage upon her.

Its red lacquer was gilded, the top adorned with silver; the Zhai carriage's body was painted with peonies, the curtains of crimson‑purple brocade embroidered with Zhai‑bird patterns, carried by six men, and hung with red palace lanterns.

Only those of Noble Consort rank or higher may ride the Zhai carriage; consorts below the Noble Consort must step aside, squat, and pay their respects.

On the way back to the palace, Wan Tang was undeniably in the limelight.

Along the route, she encountered Lady of Grace Qi and other consorts, all of whom yielded the way and paid homage.

The Emperor's favor reached the highest point.

A Lady of Grace, using the Noble Consort's standard, became the first.

In Cuivei Palace, everyone rejoiced. Only Wan Tang had not a trace of a smile left on her face.

She burned her bridges, defining the Emperor as her sole reliance. Chu Yunzheng then seized the moment, lifting Wan Tang high.

She became a crystal sphere that could only shine in his palm; should he ever loosen his grip, Wan Tang would shatter to pieces.

The ruler's favor is ultimately a matter of life and death. Those who serve the ruler, no matter how much affection they have, ultimately become pieces in his hand.

Having just returned to Cuivei Palace, before she could even sip hot tea, Li Defu arrived in a hurry.

Standing at the doorway, he shouted loudly: "Lady of Grace Wan, the Emperor has sent me to ask, does last night's scented pouch bear a mandarin‑duck pattern?"

"You embroidered it yourself."

Wan Tang gave a faint smile; she knew the Emperor possessed a mandarin‑duck embroidered nightgown. Last night the Emperor thought of the stitching thread, and by today it should have been seen by the embroiderer.

"Indeed," Wan Tang produced the prepared scented pouch.

That nightgown was a gift from the Noble Consort; she wondered whether, after seeing this scented pouch, the Emperor would remark, "Yan Er's embroidery is excellent?"

She intended to dismantle Xu Luoyan's favor in the Emperor's heart from every possible detail.

The items have already been handed out.

Li Defu, however, did not leave.

Just as Wan Tang was puzzled, Li Defu ordered the few servants behind him to step back and smiled: "Lady of Grace Wan, I still have a few words I wish to discuss with you alone."