Chapter 281: Handing Over the Cautious Conduct Office

It took a full three days before Wan Tang could move freely.

Even so, a stabbing pain in her lower abdomen came from time to time.

Fortunately, Xie Taiyi's medical skill was superb, and after careful treatment, the pain was only slightly alleviated.

Even Xiao Luzi, whenever attending, felt sorrowful enough to shed tears.

His behavior and manner grew increasingly beyond Wan Tang's expectations.

Whenever he spoke with Li Ping'er and Xiao Shunzi, Xiao Luzi would find an excuse to leave, seeming to deliberately avoid them.

Outside, heavy snow swirled; inside the hall, the charcoal fire crackled.

Wan Tang looked at Li Ping'er, her tone unusually serious: "Ping'er, your life is now stable; why wade again into Yan Wang's murky waters? His scheming runs deep, and the little favor he gave you is nothing but bait."

Li Ping'er's face turned bitter: "But Yan Wang did indeed help us…"

"Fishing never goes without bait," Wan Tang cut her off, "What he wants has never been to help you."

Li Ping'er sprang up, her eyes slightly reddened, and staggered out in a daze.

"Xiao Shunzi, stay," Wan Tang called the Xiao Shunzi who was about to leave, about to give instructions—

A scream suddenly echoed from outside the hall, accompanied by frantic footsteps.

"It's bad! Liu Guiren is bleeding!"

Under the corridor eaves, the wind and snow swirled with cold.

Liu Guiren collapsed on the icy blue‑stone floor, the pure white snow beneath her being soaked by gushing blood into a glaring red.

Her face turned ashen, her hands clutched her abdomen tightly, and her painful moans came in broken gasps.

Li Ping'er stood rigid a step away, her complexion whiter than the snow, her hands hovering helplessly in the air, as if wanting to help but afraid to touch.

Beside her, Rong Mama, who stood by the Empress Dowager, kept her hands lowered.

Dressed in a dark brown palace robe, her face etched with deep lines, her gaze was as deep and calm as an ancient well.

She resembled a judge, lofty and aloof, staring at these insignificant people's performance.

Seeing this, Wan Tang's heart hammered like a drum.

Although the Emperor had inquired about this Prince fewer than three times in total, he was still the Imperial Heir.

Now Wan Tang holds the Phoenix Seal, and with such an incident, she cannot shirk responsibility.

She hurried forward: "What's happening?"

"Noble Consort, save me," Liu Guiren's face turned pale, her hands gripping her abdomen tightly: "You said you would protect this child for me."

"Quick, summon the physician," Wan Tang thought nothing else, a single thought in her mind.

Save the person immediately.

"Send Liu Guiren to the palace's inner chambers, and hurry to the storeroom for ginseng, and also …"

Wan Tang hurriedly ordered, and everyone sprang into action, solely to save her.

Just as she was about to enter the room, Rong Mama stepped forward, blocking Wan Tang.

With a fixed expression, her voice still laced with arrogance: "Noble Consort, Liu Guiren is bleeding; the matter is so suspicious, and you intend to sweep it aside?"

Wan Tang had to halt.

Facing Rong Mama's questioning gaze: "What do you think should be done, Mother?"

"Saving lives is the physicians' duty; the Consort should instead cleanse the atmosphere of the harem," Rong Mama said without changing expression.

She raised a hand and pointed: "It was this person who deliberately knocked Liu Guiren down, causing this incident."

Wan Tang's gaze darkened.

Li Ping'er shook her head repeatedly, hurriedly saying: "No, it's not so. It was Rong Mama who pushed me."

"I saw Liu Guiren coming straight at me, knowing she was pregnant, and I already intended to give way."

"Who could have imagined someone would suddenly push me from behind, causing the collision with Liu Guiren."

Li Ping'er hurriedly clarified the truth.

But Rong Mama remained unhurried, her tone full of sarcasm: "Yuan Bin, your words truly make this old servant lament."

"I, merely acting in the Empress Dowager's name, came to deliver supplements to Liu Guiren, hoping she would nurture the fetus well and bear a prince for the Emperor, continuing the Imperial Heir."

"How does it become a plot against the Imperial Heir in your mouth?"

Rong Mama's face instantly showed panic, and she knelt at once: "Empress Dowager, I have disgraced you."

"If I hadn't meddled and said a word, how could I have inadvertently provoked Consort Chen and blackened your reputation!"

The few palace maids and eunuchs who followed Liu Guiren, upon hearing this, were terrified and immediately knelt in unison.

They hurriedly said: "I also saw it; indeed it was Yuan Bin who collided, causing Liu Guiren to fall."

"I also saw it."

"Liu Guiren was indeed knocked hard."

"It seemed as if she rushed at her."

Li Ping'er was filled with helplessness.

Rong Mama already wore an expression as if watching a play.

"Sister," Li Ping'er forced a bitter smile, kneeling there, her tone full of resignation: "This is clearly a trap."

"It's a pit that was dug long ago; my own stupidity fell into it."

【This time, I really guessed wrong; with Li Ping'er's mind, she never needed the Empress Dowager herself to dig a pit for her.】

【The Xiao Family was destroyed; the Empress Dowager clearly hates the Emperor. She doesn't want to see the Emperor bear a healthy prince; it's merely revenge.】

【The massive supplements are certainly real, but in the original plan, the Empress Dowager merely wanted a scapegoat, knocking Liu Guiren down.】

【It was originally just some palace maid; unexpectedly Li Ping'er happened to pass by, making it a buy‑one‑get‑one.】

【We can only accept defeat; after all, as last season's palace‑struggle champion, such a drizzle‑like petty move cannot possibly be used to catch them in a compromising position.】

Indeed!

Wan Tang believes that Rong Mama pushed Li Ping'er.

But Shei saw it?

How to prove it yourself?

Wan Tang let out a long sigh.

She rubbed her throbbing temples.

Her voice was full of fatigue: "If so, take Yuan Bin down, and I will personally interrogate."

"There are so many affairs in the Six Palaces, and the Empress is already so busy; how can she handle everything herself?" Rong Mama spoke at the right moment.

Wan Tang raised her tone, her brows showing displeasure, and said coldly: "Grandma, are you teaching me how to act?"

"Although I respect the elderly, I cannot tolerate anyone of any age riding on my head and causing trouble!"

"Empress, you're overthinking." Rong Mama didn't even lift an eyelid, then continued: "This matter should have been handed over to the Shenxing Si; if the Empress truly refuses, the Empress Dowager can also share your worries."

The Empress Dowager remains the Empress Dowager.

With the Xiao Family gone, only a single arm was cut off, which is not fatal.

Moreover, Chu Yunzheng has always founded the nation on benevolence and filial piety; as long as the Empress Dowager is the Emperor's mother for a day, she must be respected.

Wan Tang gritted her teeth, weary: "Fine."

"Hand over Yuan Guiren to the Shenxing Si for a thorough investigation."

Speaking while staring at Rong Mama, she said word for word: "Shei innocent, Shei guilty, I will understand."

"That will do."

Rong Mama remained as haughty as ever: "The old servant takes leave."

The Imperial Physician rushed hurriedly to Changle Palace, then left dejectedly.

Lady Liu's child ultimately was not saved.

Chu Yunzheng came upon hearing the news, his complexion so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

Enveloped in cold air, he asked coldly: "What happened?"

Lady Liu weakly fell from the bed, struggling to crawl to Chu Yunzheng's side.

Her forehead pressed against the icy floor, she wept heart‑rendingly: "Emperor, I have failed you."

"It is my incompetence that failed to protect our child."

"I ask, what happened?" Chu Yunzheng's voice was cold and hard.

Lady Liu lifted her tear‑filled eyes; the Emperor's attitude was chillingly terrifying.

She had not expected to see any compassion in his eyes, but he showed not even a hint of regret for the child.

In fear, she trembled and said: "It was Yuan Bin; she pushed me…"

Chu Yunzheng's gaze hardened, then he suddenly turned to Wan Tang, his eyes complex.

Wan Tang's heart sank sharply, her face instantly lost its color, and her voice, incredulous, said: "Emperor, are you suspecting that I ordered this?"

Chu Yunzheng's voice remained terrifyingly cold: "I did not say that."

Wan Tang's eyes suddenly reddened, "Why would I do such a thing?"

"What reason would I have to harm an unborn child?"

She met Chu Yunzheng's scrutinizing gaze, her tone growing more impassioned and firm: "If it weren't for the Emperor, I would still be just an orphan."

"Regarding everything now, I am especially content."

Wan Tang paused briefly, then said more meaningfully: "Moreover, my younger brother has already gone to the Northern Border."

"I still hope for his triumphant return…"

Upon his return, what rank will he hold?

That Duke's position, can it still be escaped?

Whether intentional or not, it made Chu Yunzheng frown.

Taboo.

Speculation.

He stared at Wan Tang for a moment; that sharp gaze seemed to pierce her flesh and reach straight to her heart.

However, in the end he simply took a deep breath, reached out and pulled Wan Tang forcefully into his arms.

His large hand gently patted her back, his tone softened slightly, offering comfort yet hiding a barely perceptible warning:

"I did not say I don't trust you."

His voice was low: "But within the harem, hidden arrows are hard to guard against. I am telling you to be cautious everywhere, speak and act prudently."

He held her tighter, his jaw resting on the top of her hair, and his voice revealed a genuine worry:

"I don't want anything to happen to you."

Wan Tang nestled in his arms, obediently murmuring a soft "mm," burying her face deeper.

Their embracing silhouettes in the snow appeared especially intimate, as if the moment of suspicion and turmoil had never occurred.

Lady Liu knelt there, her face full of astonishment.

Mouth half‑open, she felt a helplessness like a fist striking cotton.

【Haha, I originally wanted to insult the Dog Emperor, but when I saw Lady Liu's expression, I couldn't help it.】

【Lady Liu: Begging me to speak up?】

【So funny, if the Dog Emperor were in the past, he would definitely start doubting again, putting Wan Tang in danger. But now, he actually coaxed her.】

【Can he not coax? He's not coaxing a woman, but a Two Hundred Thousand Army!】

【Haha, having power and influence is great. I suddenly look forward to the day when the Dog Emperor learns how much money Tangtang has, and what his expression will be.】

Interesting; after he knows, what he sees from now on won't be his Tangtang, but a living Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of War.

The environment had been so solemn, but when Wan Tang heard the Barrage, she almost couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.

Chu Yunzheng pinched Wan Tang's nose, his tone fierce yet his expression full of indulgence: "From now on, you must not daydream any more?"

"You are in my heart."

Wan Tang gave a coy smile, nodded: "Hmm, Subject, I understand."

Liu Guiren knelt on the ground, trembling all over, their chest aching with anger, yet they dared not cry, fearing they would disturb the Emperor and be falsely charged.

"This matter wasn't handed over to the Empress Dowager, and it was done well." Chu Yunzheng forced a bitter smile: "The Empress Dowager is ill."

"Not suitable for exertion."

"I am busy today." He grasped Wan Tang's hand: "Tangtang, go on my behalf and take a look at her."

Wan Tang nodded heavily; the Empress Dowager is ill, and the Emperor is filial.

The line "Ping'er was wronged" still got stuck hard in his throat.