Chapter 291

That night.

The two sat close, talking at length.

As if there had never been any barrier between them.

Since Wan Tang became pregnant, Chu Yunzheng finally rested one night at Changle Palace.

Dawn broke.

Wan Tang stared at the bedding on the bed and said coldly, "Change it!"

The palace maid was startled.

She whispered, "Your Highness, it was just changed yesterday."

Xiao Luzi's complexion changed drastically at the words, and he kicked forward, "If I tell you to go, you go; stop babbling."

Wan Tang gave a faint nod and left through the Gongmen.

Heavy snow swirled, and the packed snow on the palace path creaked softly underfoot.

Xiao Shunzi clasped her hands and paced in the Langxia, and when she saw Wan Tang's figure appear outside the Moon Gate, she hurried forward to meet her.

Xiao Luzi, seeing this, deliberately slowed his steps, widening the distance.

"Your Highness," Xiao Shunzi drew a note from her sleeve, her voice pressed down to a whisper, "General Xu's Secret Letter."

Wan Tang stopped, and her fingertips brushed away the snowflakes clinging to the envelope.

She unfolded the paper, and the familiar handwriting pressed through the back of the page:

Sister, are you well?

Minghui, are you well?

Hui Jiejie, are you well?

I heard the envoy arrived, and they actually want Minghui to marry?

Knowing sister's difficulty, I write this letter.

We have struggled out of the mire; how could we let future generations endure this suffering again?

If we must trade cities for peace, I would rather die on the battlefield than kneel and beg for life…

Snowflakes dampened the ink, spreading a streak of tragic grandeur.

Wan Tang folded the letter neatly and slowly tore it into fragments.

The snow‑white paper scraps mingled with the snowflakes and drifted into the Lotus Pond, sinking in an instant.

"Tell General Xu," she said, gazing at the ripples on the surface, "the palace knows."

Xiao Shunzi bowed and took the order, and her figure quickly vanished into the snow curtain.

Wan Tang stood still for a long while, until fine snow covered her shoulders, then she let out a long sigh and continued forward.

Clearly now, she already has the Mo Family as support, a reliable natal family.

But the path of feigning madness and foolishness has finally reached its end.

The road within the palace will, from now on, be even more arduous.

A day of busyness.

Finally she managed the palace's myriad affairs.

She accompanied Li Ping'er, sitting under the lamp, embroidering the handkerchief in her hand.

Li Ping'er sat at Wan Tang's feet, her fingertips anxiously twisting the handkerchief: "Sister, you don't know, that Bei Mo envoy is truly unbearable."

"I have heard that when he was in Bei Mo he was already famed for greed and lechery, with countless concubines in his household, and even once forcibly seized a common girl in the street…"

Wan Tang was bent over, embroidering an iris, the golden thread flowing at her fingertips, as if she hadn't heard.

"Now that I see the Emperor and sister dote on Minghui so tenderly, he actually pushes his luck."

"He insists that Minghui must be married off!"

"These words—are they spoken by a human?"

Li Ping'er was filled with righteous indignation.

Wan Tang's expression was calm.

Li Ping'er spoke tensely, "It is being said everywhere that if the two nations cannot join forces, Fengqi has no chance of victory."

"They say that if we stubbornly refuse the marriage alliance, it would be to disregard the world's common folk."

"Sister, regarding this matter, what should be done?"

The needle in her hand stopped.

Wan Tang slowly lifted her eyes, her gaze like a still deep pool: "You have always shown no interest in court affairs; today you claim to know much, it seems regarding this matter you are very eager."

Li Ping'er's fingertip trembled, and the silk thread instantly became tangled.

She explained slowly, "I have only heard about it, after all it concerns Minghui."

"Then how do you see it?" Wan Tang's tone was calm.

"Naturally we cannot tolerate the marriage alliance." Li Ping'er's tone grew heavier, leaving no room for doubt.

"What about him?" Wan Tang asked offhand.

Li Ping'er was first puzzled, then quickly recovered.

She jerked her head up sharply, the embroidery needle in her hand fell to the ground in panic: "You… you are saying…?"

Wan Tang, without joy or sorrow, said, "Who else could it be?"

Li Ping'er trembled in fear, hurriedly knelt on the ground, tears streaming: "He has done me a favor."

"Now that he comes to our door, saying you have already joined forces, it means this Subject need not have many concerns."

"Having heard these things, this Subject also worries about Minghui, and therefore thought of getting involved."

Wan Tang smiled gently, took the silver scissors and cut the golden thread.

"From the day you became Yuan Bin, you have been only yourself."

She placed the embroidered iris handkerchief into Li Ping'er's hand, "Your life was picked up, and how you walk the road ahead is entirely up to you."

"And you owe no one."

She bent down to help the trembling Li Ping'er to her feet, her fingertips brushing her slightly reddened eye corner: "From now on have him come directly to see me."

"You need not wade through these murky waters."

Li Ping'er clenched the silk handkerchief still warm with body heat, choking on unspeakable sobs.

Wan Tang finally sighed, her palm gently covering her crown.

"Silly girl."

"Rather than dwelling on his kindness, think about whether you intend to betray the scheme this palace made for you."

The candle crackled, and Li Ping'er burst into tears.

She nodded heavily: "Yes, sister."

The twelfth month was past its midpoint, and New Year's Eve approached.

In the Imperial Study.

Wan Tang was presenting the preparation list to Chu Yunzheng for review when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the hall.

"Emperor." Xiao Dongzi fell to his knees, "Empress Dowager has passed away."

Chu Yunzheng's hand holding the brush paused, vermilion pigment fell onto the memorial and spread.

Wan Tang glanced silently at Chu Yunzheng, but never dared to speak.

He closed his eyes for a long while; when he opened them again, they were filled with grief: "Issue a decree for a grand, splendid burial according to the highest rites."

Xiao Dongzi's complexion changed.

Trembling shakily, he whispered, "Emperor, Noble Consort, this Empress Dowager…"

"Empress Dowager…"

"Speak!" Chu Yunzheng's voice suddenly turned cold.

Xiao Dongzi hurriedly knelt, "Speak… speak, the Empress Dowager, she hanged herself."

Wan Tang's complexion shifted sharply.

To have one's body and hair given by one's parents, then to hang oneself, is a grave crime!

He placed a hand on his forehead and sighed at length, "The Empress Dowager devoted her life to the nation; now she has suddenly passed, regardless of the cause, we must let her depart with dignity."

Wan Tang lowered her head and responded: "Subject will certainly handle it."

Her fingertips brushed the slightly raised abdomen without a trace, a chill settling in her heart.

At that moment, the pearl curtains snapped crisply.

A charming figure, without any prior notice, pushed aside a eunuch and hurried in.

Her water‑red palace attire made her skin shine brighter than snow, and her voice was sweetly cloying: "Emperor, today's snow scenery is splendid."

"You Answering accompany Subject to enjoy the snow…"

The woman raised her eyes, saw Wan Tang, and hurriedly bowed: "Present respects to Imperial Noble Consort."

"Imperial Noble Consort, you… you…" she said, her eyes already clouded with misty tears.

As if Wan Tang had bullied her.

Wan Tang said coldly: "Why are you crying? I have not reprimanded you."

Wan Tang had seen this kind of petty trick far too often.

"She is just cowardly," Chu Yunzheng remarked.

The woman muttered, "It's just fear; everyone in the palace says Imperial Noble Consort is very fierce…"

Wan Tang gagged.

Her gaze swept over that face, seven parts similar to a white pear, especially the slightly up‑turned apricot eyes.

Finally she turned her head toward Chu Yunzheng.

The corners of her mouth lifted, a smile forced and strained.

That expression clearly wrote, "I understand."

【Hmph, Tangtang, eat and don't be sad, this woman is clearly doing it on purpose.】

【These days, the Dog Emperor's reinstated person is this woman.】

【She had known you were coming long ago, so she deliberately appeared before you.】

【Actually, the Dog Emperor had even instructed that she should not appear before you.】

【Seems she came to provoke you.】

Wan Tang observed everything, expression unchanged.

She only glanced at Chu Yunzheng, then quickly lowered her eyelids, a self‑effacing demeanor.

"Your body is becoming heavier…" Chu Yunzheng hurriedly explained, reaching out to grasp Wan Tang's hand,

"She is merely a pastime toy, just like you were when you first entered the palace…"

"Emperor, as long as you like, it's fine."

Wan Tang stepped aside, her tone tinged with a faint sourness, "Is it that the New Year's Eve banquet still needs additional song and dance performers?"

"Now that the palace has new sisters, there's no need to look for people outside."

The woman suddenly lifted her face, her eyes filled with fury.

Wan Tang actually compared her to a courtesan…

Chu Yunzheng instead relaxed his brows, his fingertips gently stroking her slightly cool hand: "It's been a long time since I've seen you savor me."

"Seems you still care about me."

"What? Even a little girl, you have no confidence?"

"Of course," Wan Tang lifted her eyes to look at him, her gaze cold as snow, "after all, I, the concubine, dare not intrude into the Imperial Study."

Her gaze swept over the still‑unfolded memorials on the desk, "I would not dare act willfully and cause a ruckus while discussing important matters."

Chu Yunzheng's face darkened abruptly; if it were merely horseplay and coquettishness, it would be tolerable.

But here, it is the Imperial Study.

All over this desk are important memorials.

He flung his sleeves aside violently, glaring at the woman, "Disorderly thing, get out!"

The woman still tried to act coquettishly, but Wan Tang had already risen to adjust her sleeves and carefully put away the list:

"Fine, the one who should leave is I, the concubine."

"The Empress Dowager's funeral rites are a thousand tangled matters; I, the concubine, take my leave."

"Drag her out!" Chu Yunzheng's angry rebuke shook the palace beams.

Xiao Dongzi hurriedly led men to carry the wailing woman away.

In the hall, Wan Tang looked outward.

The woman, of course, was unwilling.

But she could not match these swift‑handed servants.

In the snow, a few chaotic drag marks were left, soon covered again by fresh snow.

A faint, almost imperceptible cold smile lingered at Wan Tang's lips.

Chu Yunzheng reached out to pull her into his arms; as his fingertips brushed her sleeve, she sidestepped away.

"Emperor," she lowered her eyes to the still‑wet tear tracks on the ground, "the Empress Dowager has just passed; the mourning period forbids close contact."

Having said that, she turned and walked away.

Chu Yunzheng stared at her resolute silhouette, his outstretched hand slowly clenched into a fist, finally slamming heavily onto the Imperial Desk.

Within Cining Palace.

White banners hung low.

The white silk on the beam had been taken down and placed aside.

Rong Mama knelt alone at the Empress Dowager's Bed, trembling as she arranged the late Empress Dowager's remains; sobbing sounds broke intermittently in the empty hall.

Wan Tang stood in the hall, her gaze sweeping over the gradually stiffening corpse, showing no ripple of emotion.

"Suicide is ultimately a royal scandal," she said, her voice clear and cold, "no need to make a fuss; just bury it according to protocol."

She stepped forward herself, taking the Empress Dowager's lifeless hand; a Sheep Fat Jade Thumb Ring glowed warmly between her fingers.

It is a token the Empress Dowager has never been without for decades.

Wan Tang pressed with her fingertips, forcibly pulling it off, the motion crisp and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.

Xiao Luzi bowed and reported, "Your Highness, the Former Emperor's Mausoleum already has the Empress Dowager's burial site; we only need to arrange the funeral rites."

"I am aware," Wan Tang cut off his words, her fingertips caressing the still‑warm jade thumb ring, "she is, after all, the Empress Dowager."

"In the end, a grand, splendid burial is still required."

Yet the chill in her eyes did not diminish at all.

"Tell Xiao Shunzi," she suddenly turned, "the Mo Family's loyal and wronged souls are unrested; their cemetery must be rebuilt for them."

"By the way, according to the Empress Dowager's burial accompaniments, add two more."

Xiao Luzi jerked his head up, his face paling, "Your Highness, this… this is against protocol!"

Wan Tang placed the jade thumb ring before him, a cold smile forming at her lips, "No need to make a fuss."

"Also, on the day of moving the tomb, seal this item inside the Bronze Figure."

She spoke each word like a falling ice spear, "Let that Bronze Figure kneel forever before the Mo Family's graves."