Chapter 29: Dragon Boat Festival Ritual

Step back to the sides, leaving only Li Ping'er.

Li Defu signaled with his eyes, but Wan Tang insisted, "Ping'er is like a sister to me; she doesn't need to go out."

These two people, without a direct confrontation, left Wan Tang uneasy.

Li Defu's gaze swept Li Ping'er's face twice and said, "Lady of Grace Wan, since you don't mind, I (servant) have no objection."

"I (servant) will speak plainly: previously at night I only saw your beauty and didn't notice your features."

"Now I (servant) have seen clearly, so I will speak plainly. The people behind me are not simple; if you obey my words from now on, the previous matters I will treat as never having happened."

Li Defu lifted his chin, embodying someone with absolute advantage, looking down on ants.

"I don't know who is behind Lord Li," Wan Tang asked with a smile.

She knew clearly that person was not the Emperor; otherwise Li Defu would have no need to say this.

Li Defu sneered, "You can never provoke someone you can't afford to offend."

"I (servant) am not negotiating with you, but giving you a multiple‑choice question."

Li Defu narrowed his eyes, his gaze full of intimidation: "Either become my servant, and later follow my orders on how to attend the Emperor and deal with the people of the Imperial Palace, obeying my arrangements."

"If you refuse, I (servant) will not force you."

Li Defu's eyes suddenly turned cold and fierce: "Today you may sit on a carriage; tomorrow you may sit on a wooden donkey."

"After all, my eyes are still hurting badly."

As Li Defu spoke, his hand unexpectedly reached toward Wan Tang…

Wan Tang was shocked; Li Defu's audacity was huge—she was no longer a low palace maid but the Emperor's woman.

"Lord Li, what are you doing? My young master is Lady of Grace Wan!" Li Ping'er shouted suddenly, rushed forward and shoved Li Defu away.

Li Defu glanced up and down at Li Ping'er, a smile curling his lips, his hand slowly rising, attempting to touch her face: "I (servant) of course know who she is—she is the attendant beside Lady of Grace Wan, which explains her delicate beauty."

"Don't touch me," Li Ping'er shouted angrily, quickly stepping aside, her eyes full of disgust.

Li Defu snorted, "What pretended nobility? There are plenty of such nobles in this Imperial harem."

"Today the Emperor likes, that is the Master we Nubi must respect. Tomorrow the Emperor forgets, and comes to me to touch this little face, that also happens…"

Li Defu's face was full of old wrinkles, and that hand was very unscrupulous.

Li Ping'er spat on the ground, "Shameless."

"Yo ho, the little girl has a strangely strong temperament, but unfortunately in this palace, the hardest to survive is that kind of temperament."

Li Defu squinted, his gaze the same as when he first looked at Wan Tang.

Wan Tang, seeing this, smiled calmly without showing emotion, and said slowly, "Look at the time; in a blink it's already been a tea‑time span."

"I wonder, during this period, while Lord is absent, who serves the Emperor?"

Wan Tang finished speaking, adjusted her robe, and was about to stand: "Shall I, the Queen, go see the Emperor and chat with him for a while?"

As the last word faded, Wan Tang looked at Li Defu's eyes, which were full of provocation.

Li Defu's complexion darkened instantly.

He snorted, "Since you don't know right from wrong, don't blame me for helping the Noble Consort."

"It happens that the Noble Consort these two days has been missing the Emperor's hatred."

Li Ping'er shouted emotionally, "Our Master and the Emperor are deeply affectionate; otherwise you help!"

"Affection?" Li Defu seemed to hear a sharply sarcastic phrase: "There is affection, saying love with the Emperor…"

Li Defu's gaze was almost straining: "Lady of Grace Wan, I truly will be waiting for you to beg me."

"Lord, please proceed!" Wan Tang said coldly.

Li Defu flicked his sleeve, walked out a few steps, then turned back, his deep gaze landing on Li Ping'er.

He said leisurely, "Your attendant is very sharp‑tongued. My adopted son happens to be inarticulate."

"The two of them are quite a match."

Li Defu's eyes harbored a trace of Yin Zhi.

This was not a tone of negotiation, but an order.

He lowered his voice and sneered, "Tonight is an auspicious time, Lady of Grace Wan, prepare yourself; becoming my daughter‑in‑law would also be a good thing."

He left a meaning‑filled smile, hands clasped behind his back, and fled with a wild laugh.

【I thought earlier that the plot was getting off‑track, as if the heroine's aura was being weakened.】

【So she's waiting here, that's right!】

【In the original, Li Defu has always been helping Xu Luoyan, making her the Emperor's cherished pet.】

【The plot returns, Li Defu sides with Xu Luoyan, and the supporting female Wan Tang is not far from the bottom line.】

The room fell silent, and Wan Tang's heart sank.

Li Ping'er waited for Li Defu's silhouette, her eyes still swirling with hatred.

"Li Defu is the Grand Eunuch beside the Emperor and the chief steward of this palace. In terms of backing, he is a big star beside the Emperor, having endured countless hardships with him."

"In personal strength, he holds almost all affairs of the Imperial harem in his hands."

"To put it bluntly, even the Empress, when she sees him, must give him a sliver of face."

"Now I naturally have the Emperor's favor, but what about you?"

Wan Tang's voice was soft, but her tone was especially heavy.

Li Ping'er had been smug about releasing a burst of malice, but upon hearing Wan Tang's tone, she suddenly fell silent.

With a thud she knelt on the ground, shouting, "Young Master, forgive me."

"I know you are protecting me, but your emotions are overly intense," Wan Tang said slowly, "You are usually calm and clever; why this now?"

Li Ping'er's gaze was full of struggle; Wan Tang sat there, looking at Li Ping'er, her eyes entirely scrutinizing.

After a sigh, Li Ping'er hurried up, glanced outside, and returned to close the doors and windows.

With a thud, I knelt on the ground, tears streaming as I said, "Little Master, you have been extremely kind to me, your grace is as heavy as a mountain. There are some matters I do not wish to hide from you."

"I was originally born in the Imperial Palace, but I am of a eunuch's lineage. Li Defu that beast harmed my mother. He ought to have been torn to pieces, Shei first encountered the merit change. He protected the present Emperor and fled, then later accompanied the Emperor back, seizing the throne."

"The Emperor is sentimental, but after purifying him again, he pretends nothing happened."

"But the palace always covers up its scandals, even killing my mother. I was fortunate to meet the Grand Consort, a kind‑hearted master, who saved me."

"Now I return to the palace, solely to kill Li Defu and avenge my mother!"

Li Ping'er gritted her teeth hard, her tone filled with unmistakable hatred.

Such an emotion that cannot be feigned convinced Wan Tang.

The already known plot, spoken directly from Li Ping'er's mouth, also demonstrated loyalty.

Wan Tang gently waved the fan in her hand, a smile appearing on her face. Yet a hint of doubt shone in her eyes: being taken away by the Grand Consort, then returning silently to this Imperial harem—could the purpose be merely as simple as killing Li Defu?

Wan Tang, unchanged, said, "In the end, it's pitiful."

"Get up!"

Wan Tang stepped forward, personally helped Li Ping'er to her feet, earnestly urging, "The enemy is strong and we are weak; even though countless hatreds fill your heart, remember to endure and wait for the chance to act."

"Acting on impulse only harms both others and oneself."

Li Ping'er looked at Wan Tang's gaze, sincere, nodded heavily, and movedly said, "I understand."

The Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet was set in Yuhuayuan, surrounded by multicolored silk ribbons; the incense table displayed realgar wine, mugwort and calamus, and a faint medicinal fragrance drifted in the air.

As night deepened, palace lanterns hung high, illuminating the entire Yuhuayuan as if it were daylight.

The Empress, dressed in a bright yellow Phoenix Robe, wore a nine‑phoenix golden crown, dignified and splendid, and sat side by side with the Emperor on the main seat.

The Emperor, clad in a dragon robe, bore a majestic and steady demeanor, his gaze sweeping over those seated below, carrying a hint of scrutiny and expectation.

Below, the Imperial Concubines above the Zhaoying sat in order, their attire lavish, jeweled, yet all lowered their brows and complied, daring not a hint of overstepping.

Many also looked at Wan Tang, their eyes showing doubt.

For such a palace banquet, only Consorts above the Zhaoying have the qualification to attend.

Xu Luoyan sat in the Lady of Grace's seat, saw Wan Tang arrive, and her face instantly turned an ugly hatred.

She turned to Xiao Mingshu, her tone carrying a hint of displeasure and sarcasm: "The Empress must have issued the wrong decree; how could my palace think Wan Tang is merely a Lady of Grace?"

"As the Central Palace, could the Empress truly not even distinguish this?"

Xiao Mingshu's eyes held a smile, she remained silent, dignified and majestic, a complete embodiment of a motherly ruler of the world.

It was Chu Yunzheng, his brows slightly furrowed, who said, "I have permitted it."

"Emperor." Xu Luoyan's gaze instantly turned displeased, she said in a coquettish voice, "I, too, fear disrupting the rules."

"I am the rule!" Chu Yunzheng's gaze instantly became icy, gesturing to the bewildered Wan Tang, "Come, sit here."

This distance, so close to the Emperor, can only be sat by a Consort.

Wan Tang's face flushed red; she wore a light purple palace outfit, features like a painting, her expression bearing a hint of cool aloofness and pride. She gave Chu Yunzheng a slight bow and sat down.

Xu Luoyan hummed a sound, left in a disgruntled manner.

As she left, she flashed at Wan Tang a smile that only the two of them could understand, the look clearly saying, "We'll see."

The princes and ministers sat at the lower seats, clad in court robes, expressions respectful, murmuring among themselves, the atmosphere solemn and dignified.

Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside the palace gates: "Empress Dowager has arrived!"

The voice was resonant, piercing the entire Yuhuayuan.

Upon hearing it, everyone rose, bowed their heads and stood solemnly, and the atmosphere instantly grew heavy.

The Empress Dowager, surrounded by palace maids, walked slowly; she wore a deep purple Phoenix Robe, a golden‑threaded phoenix crown, her face though aged still retained its majesty. Her gaze was like a torch, sweeping over the crowd with an intangible pressure.

The Empress and the Emperor immediately rose, respectfully bowing: "Welcome, Empress Dowager."

Those seated also shouted in unison, "Welcome, Empress Dowager!" Their voices were uniform, bearing reverence and submission.

The Empress Dowager slightly nodded, walked slowly toward the main seat, each step steady and forceful.

After she sat, her gaze swept over everyone's faces, finally lingering on Wan Tang, narrowing slightly as if holding some deeper meaning.

Wan Tang felt the Empress Dowager's gaze, her heart tightened, yet she remained composed, lowered her brows and complied, daring not a single movement.

The Empress Dowager withdrew her gaze, calmly saying, "Today's Dragon Boat Festival, no need for formalities, everyone may sit."

Though her voice was light, it carried unquestionable authority.

Only then did everyone slowly take their seats.

"You…" The Empress Dowager's gaze fell on Wan Tang, and she lightly added, "Just kneel!"