Chapter 290: Just Retribution

"Alas, what good is Wan Tang doing all this? Since the Emperor has already taken the first step, this plant in your palace is no longer important."

"Although the Dog Emperor clearly understands the pros and cons, he still chose to use it. He is indeed selfish."

"I suddenly begin to doubt—do emperors truly have feelings?"

"Stop being so sentimental. With this skill, you'd be better off caring about real matters. Does Tangtang really not want Su Yanci? I like him, I strongly demand it—otherwise let Tangtang and Su Yanci leave!"

"Leave? Tangtang is pregnant, and this child must be San Huangzi's. Tangtang will become the Empress Dowager's."

"The throne, too easily makes people's hearts turn cold."

"To be honest, Wan Tang doesn't like it."

"Inside Palace of Eternal Joy, the candlelight is warm and soft; Chu Yunzheng is holding Minghui's small hand, teaching her to trace characters."

"Wan Tang sits beside them, embroidering a handkerchief, occasionally looking up at the father and daughter, a faint smile at the corner of her lips."

"Even though she knows in her heart that this is merely a superficial illusion."

"But as long as she sees Minghui's star‑like eyes, it seems all negative emotions can be set aside."

"A commotion suddenly arises outside the window."

"Xiao Dongzi steps in with hesitant steps, his face uneasy: 'Emperor, Rong Mama is crying outside the palace, saying the Empress Dowager is in great distress and asking if there is any Silver Charcoal left.'"

"Xiao Dongzi's voice is low."

"Enough of those present hear it."

"Chu Yunzheng slightly lifts his eyes, as if glancing at Wan Tang."

"Wan Tang's fingertip trembles, the needle tip pierces her flesh, spreading a touch of crimson."

"She lowers her gaze."

"She still has to deal with Chu Yunzheng's suspicion, looks up bewildered: 'The Empress Dowager's household has always been the best in provisions, and Silver Charcoal has never been lacking.'"

"Chu Yunzheng is very pleased with Wan Tang's response."

"Xiao Dongzi's expression is complicated, yet he dares not speak further."

"'Silver Charcoal?' Chu Yunzheng repeats."

"Leisurely setting down his brush, he turns to Wan Tang, a half‑smile in his eyes: 'Now the Imperial harem is under your control.'"

"'When you act, I have always been most confident. If you say you are ready, that must be so.'"

"He pauses, his tone gaining weight: 'I suppose there is some misunderstanding inside.'"

"Chu Yunzheng holds his daughter in his arms, his voice gentle as he advises: 'You go handle it!'"

"'I am busy with state affairs all day, never able to properly accompany Minghui.'"

"'Father Emperor accompanies.' Minghui waves in agreement."

"He reaches out to brush aside the stray hairs on Minghui's forehead, his tone light: 'Minghui, shall Father Emperor teach you to write?'"

"Minghui nods repeatedly, not missing a chance to flatter: 'Father Emperor's calligraphy is the most beautiful.'"

"【I spit! There's no misunderstanding; this is clearly looking for a scapegoat.】"

"【If he steps out again, the two will inevitably cause an ugly scene. But if Wan Tang goes, it's different: if handled well, she'll become a virtuous consort; if handled poorly, the charge of persecuting the Empress Dowager can be pinned on Wan Tang. This both eliminates an eyesore and smoothly secures leverage over the Mo Family, keeping the Mo Family under one's control.】"

"【Wan Tang, don't go; that old woman is already addicted, there's no cure. Either she dies from the addiction or is tortured to death alive, both are sins.】"

"Not going?"

"Wan Tang turns her head back, looking at Minghui."

"Can she not go?"

"From outside the hall, Rong Mama's pleading cries faintly reach."

"Wan Tang slowly rises, walking toward the outside."

"'Emperor…' Rong Mama lets out a wail, but seeing that the one who appears is Wan Tang, her complexion changes instantly."

"Wan Tang does not respond, passing directly by her side."

"Cining Palace."

"As the door opens, a strong exotic fragrance hits the face."

"The Empress Dowager is curled on the couch, howling, her phoenix crown askew, her splendid robes in disarray."

"Seeing Wan Tang, she staggers forward: 'Silver Charcoal, quickly give me Silver Charcoal…'"

"'It's already been twelve hours, and I haven't smelled such a pleasant scent.'"

"Wan Tang steps back half a pace, coldly eyeing this frantic demeanor."

"But the Empress Dowager seems unable to see Wan Tang's disdain; in her eyes there is only a longing for Silver Charcoal."

"Even if Rong Mama no longer likes Wan Tang, she knows that now only she can save the Empress Dowager."

"With a thud she kneels on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing: 'Consort Chen, have mercy, have mercy!'"

"'Since using Silver Charcoal, the Empress Dowager hasn't taken a grain of rice, growing increasingly thin; she must be ill.'"

"She slowly lifts her head, her face full of humiliation as she looks at Wan Tang, and finally Rong Mama bows her head, pounding the ground hard."

"Just three strikes, and her head is already bleeding profusely."

"Begging: 'Save the Empress Dowager, at least grant a pretext to examine her!'"

"Wan Tang's expression is solemn, her tone calm: 'Even Hua Tuo alive could not save her.'"

"'Because this is not a disease at all, but an addiction.'"

"'You… what do you mean?' the Empress Dowager's voice trembles."

"Wan Tang's eyes narrow, filled with disgust: 'Unless you no longer depend on that scent.'"

"The Empress Dowager's pupils suddenly widen."

"Then again a look of gray defeat."

"She shakes her head repeatedly, a bitter smile: 'Cannot…'"

"I have painstakingly managed everything, and it's all gone." In just a few days, her hair had turned white, wrinkles crowded at the corners of her eyes: "Only this scent."

"Whenever the scent arrives, I instantly return to the past."

At that point, her gaze instantly lit up.

Her voice grew a few degrees sharper: "Do you know, back then, even the Late Emperor had to listen to my words."

"Back then, I was only one step away from ruling behind a curtain."

She said it with great pride.

The hallucinations during this period had already left her mind clouded and her tongue uncensored.

Rong Mama, seeing this, began to weep again.

Wiping away tears she said, "Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager!"

"What are we to do! You've been spouting this nonsense for two days."

"Is that scent really that wonderful? You even drove the Nubi out, staying alone in the room…"

"Yet look at how your body has been tormented…"

The Empress Dowager, still unaware, muttered, "Charcoal…"

"I… how did I become like this…"

Her arm drooped weakly, and two streams of tears rolled from her eyes.

It was a bleak scene, but Wan Tang looked on and felt only disgust.

"When you annihilated the Xiao Family, did you ever imagine today?" she said softly, "Living like this is indeed more tormenting than death."

It seems she no longer needs to scheme anything.

She only needs, as now, to sit quietly and await death.

She turned to leave.

The Empress Dowager suddenly knelt hard to the ground, gripping her hem tightly: "You may not leave."

"Where is what I want?"

Wan Tang replied coldly, "There is none."

"No!" The Empress Dowager finally panicked: "Please, give it to me!"

"Just one piece, any piece will do…"

"I have none," Wan Tang separated her trembling fingers one by one, "Now there is none, and there never will be."

The Empress Dowager suddenly let out a shrill laugh: "The Emperor clearly said you found it!"

"Even the finest thing," Wan Tang leaned down, meeting those muddied, tearful eyes, "once it becomes a harmful poison, it must be destroyed."

The words hung in the air.

Wan Tang turned and left.

The Gongmen closed behind her.

Snow fell on Wan Tang's unruffled face, feeling slightly cold.

Wan Tang stepped out of the hall gate, the night wind carrying the Empress Dowager's hoarse wail after her.

"Your Highness," the guard whispered, "the Empress Dowager has been causing trouble lately, especially after the charcoal incident."

She stood at the steps.

"Send the order down," the voice rang like jade striking stone, "effective today, Cining Palace may enter but not exit."

From afar came the sound of porcelain shattering; not a flicker of her eyelashes moved.

"As for the Empress Dowager's request," she tilted her head slightly, her tone layered with meaning, "all that is in the Imperial Household Department's treasury shall be supplied in full."

The guard bowed and took the command.

【Dog Emperor, saying that he handed over the matters here to Wan Tang, but still sent people to keep watch.】

【Fine, whatever happens in here, he knows it all.】

Wan Tang's expression remained calm.

So what if she knows?

Chu Yunzheng, being concerned, already knew the outcome from that.

Moreover, in Chu Yunzheng's heart, hasn't he always hoped to understand the Mo Family's affairs?

Now, why not go with the plan?

Inside Palace of Eternal Joy, the candlelight was warm and soft.

Minghui slept soundly on the small bed, while Chu Yunzheng sat at the foot, his large hand patting his daughter's back intermittently.

Wan Tang stepped lightly forward.

Chu Yunzheng only then turned his head, his face gentle.

He rose silently, and led Wan Tang to the outer room.

"Tangtang, you've worked hard," Chu Yunzheng said.

Wan Tang choked, "I have just returned from Cining Palace; the Empress Dowager looked so desolate."

"She has become so thin, like…" she dared not continue.

She had to change the subject: "Rong Mama cried almost to death."

"Although the Empress Dowager was strict in the past, this ending…"

Chu Yunzheng, however, let out a low laugh; that laugh carried an indefinable chill: "But isn't this a great relief to the people?"

Wan Tang's eyes shifted: "I also asked the Empress Dowager, does she regret harming the Mo Family?"

"But I never expected she would be like this…"

Sensing her slip, Wan Tang hurriedly knelt and confessed: "Emperor, I atone, my tongue is uncensored."

"Get up," Chu Yunzheng helped Wan Tang to her feet from the ground: "The ground is cold; now that you're a twin‑born, you must be careful about everything."

Having said that, he let out a cold laugh: "Actually, over ten years ago she should have foreseen this day."

Wan Tang froze, extending her hand to gently clasp his icy palm.

He was silent for a moment, stepping back to his left and right.

When the palace doors shut, he no longer hid the hatred in his eyes.

He deepened his voice: "In truth, between me and the Empress Dowager is the real hatred, as deep as the sea."

Wan Tang feigned shock.

"Tangtang, I have never said any of this to anyone," he said, his voice hoarse.

The helpless expression he showed at that moment actually made people feel a touch of pity.

"When I was seven, my birth mother suddenly fell ill and died. Since then I have been utterly alone."

"My birth mother was of low birth and received no attention. Only Li Defu was by my side, following me."

"Many times I was on the brink of starvation. Fortunately, Li Defu brought back stolen food for me."

Heh…

Wan Tang sneered in her heart.

But what could she do?

Even if she felt contempt, Wan Tang still had to raise her face, her expression full of sympathy.

Listening as the Emperor went on.

"Later I discovered that it was the Empress Dowager who put a slow poison in my birth mother's tea."

"All my misfortunes were caused by her."

Candlelight danced in his eyes, reflecting a deeply buried ache.

"When I learned that everyone was contesting the throne, at that moment I knew the opportunity had arrived…"

"Thus I deliberately pledged fealty, drawing near her; no matter how she humiliated me, I could endure."

"Even if she bestowed my beloved woman in marriage to Yan Wang."

Wan Tang's fingertips trembled lightly as she pressed his hand to her cheek.

"From that moment, I swore that someday I would make her taste every bitterness she has inflicted."

Wan Tang gently laid his cold hand over her slightly rounded abdomen and softly said, "If the Emperor says so, I, your servant, will always listen."