Chapter 297: Eliminating Doubt

Ugh, if you can't get Hui Guifei, just come back and wail at our Wan Tang.

The matter isn't that simple; this is another test. You haven't forgotten that when Ouyang Qing was in the Imperial Study, the Dog Emperor gave a lot of instructions, have you?

If Wan Tang is not as obedient as she once was, Xu Yanchuan will surely die. The Dog Emperor can no longer wait for the child's birth to fix the gender. The palace banquet's probing has already made him extremely wary of the Mo Family.

I understand; Tangtang hasn't been close to him for three months. The Dog Emperor is such a sensitive person, with many attitudes; how could he not know?

Wan Tang immediately stopped her stiff motion.

Hastily clinging onto him, she smiled with a face full of tenderness.

Her eyes held only Chu Yunzheng's silhouette, her voice sweetly cloying: "Emperor, look at you."

"You're only caring about me, you've even forgotten Minghui."

Hearing this, Chu Yunzheng's slightly furrowed brows relaxed considerably.

He gently pinched Wan Tang's cheek: "No wonder you're the one who acts as a mother."

"Minghui," he called, reaching out to take Minghui's other hand: "Let's go."

Inside Changle Palace, the candle flames flickered gently.

Wan Tang kept her younger brother at the Northern Border in mind, yet a faint smile graced her face.

Chu Yunzheng teased Minghui.

Wan Tang, seeing this, stepped forward and gently comforted: "Good boy, Minghui, tonight the nanny will take you to bed."

Minghui's big eyes darted between Wan Tang and Chu Yunzheng.

He chuckled.

Then he said, "I understand, you want to whisper to the little brother."

Chu Yunzheng gently pinched her nose: "Little rascal, from now on you should be called Royal Brother."

Minghui stuck out his tongue, grinning as he left.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Wan Tang walked behind Chu Yunzheng, her fingertips lightly pressing his temple.

"Your Majesty is tired," she said softly, "let me attend to you."

The warm sensation arrived, and Chu Yunzheng closed his eyes.

This familiar pressure made him daze: "What? Tonight you won't let Minghui sleep between us?"

Wan Tang's voice was gentle: "I used to be a naive little girl who knew nothing of the world."

"Having become a mother, it's inevitable to be unaccustomed. I've always regarded the child as a treasured gem."

"Now, thinking carefully, I realize I've neglected the most important person to me."

Chu Yunzheng's body tensed, then immediately relaxed.

Wan Tang keenly sensed his relaxation; her hand did not stop, turning to massage his shoulders.

She skillfully untied the dragon robe's clasp, moving gently.

"Regardless of the Former Dynasty," she said in a low gentle voice, "this is always a place where Your Majesty can feel at ease."

Chu Yunzheng grasped her hand, his gaze complex as he looked at her.

In the candlelight, her brows and eyes were as gentle as ever.

Wan Tang, taking the chance, nestled into his embrace, her cheek pressed against his lapel: "In my heart, we have never changed."

Chu Yunzheng looked at the person in his arms, his eyes still swirling with inscrutable emotions.

He said lightly, "Tangtang, how could we not have changed?"

"Once, you were just an orphan girl."

"Now, you are the Mo Family's orphan."

"And I, my father the Late Emperor, am the one who made the worst decision, causing you to become an orphan."

Chu Yunzheng's voice was very soft.

Yet his gaze was terrifyingly cold.

He extended his hand, his cold fingers lightly brushing Wan Tang's neck: "Is there no resentment in your heart toward me, Tangtang?"

"Or perhaps these resentments have gradually subsided since the Empress Dowager's death?"

It felt like a bolt of thunder exploded in Wan Tang's heart.

She hadn't expected Chu Yunzheng to bring the topic to the Empress Dowager.

Wan Tang hurriedly replied, "I have never harbored any resentment toward the Emperor."

"The Mo Family matters still weigh on me, but those matters were caused by the Late Emperor and the Empress Dowager; how could I blame the Emperor?"

"Moreover, although I am a child of the Mo Family, I have never seen my maternal grandfather and others. To be honest, I truly have no feelings for them."

Wan Tang said this, letting out a long sigh.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she looked at the Emperor, sighing, "Your Majesty, I have never dared to utter these feelings to anyone else."

"…for fear of being labeled heartless and ungrateful."

Wan Tang carefully buried her face in Chu Yunzheng's chest, her body trembling just right: "Emperor, would you despise me?"

"Look at you, saying such foolish words?"

"In this world, no one understands you better than I."

He said.

He leaned down, kissing Wan Tang's neck.

Wan Tang shut her eyes tightly, clenching her teeth, forcing herself to comply.

The whole night, though cautious, was still a fierce battle.

Unlike before, throughout the whole process, Wan Tang's mind was like a battlefield of blood.

When the first ray of dawn light shone down, the battle finally ended.

Chu Yunzheng, before departing, gently brushed Wan Tang's cheek.

He said warmly, "Tangtang will always be the beloved at the tip of my heart; how could there be any talk of disdain?"

His gaze was gentle, carrying the lingering warmth of last night's intimacy.

After His Majesty departed, Wan Tang immediately ordered water to be boiled for a bath.

She always felt that every part of her body was filthy.

Hot water, one bucket after another.

Wan Tang, however, showed no intention of stopping.

Li Ping'er entered carrying hot water, seeing her still soaking in the wooden tub.

She couldn't help but advise, "Sister, bathing this frequently this month might be bad for the Imperial Heir."

"If this continues, your body won't be able to bear it either."

"But is there any discomfort? Shall I call Xie Taiyi?"

Wan Tang, just as she was about to step into the bath, hesitated slightly.

She turned her head toward the window; the Ginkgo tree in the courtyard had sprouted.

A sourness prickled her nose, and she quickly submerged herself entirely in the water.

The warm water engulfed her head, and all chaotic thoughts gradually dissipated along with the feeling of suffocation.

When she rose again, droplets slid down her taut cheek, and her eyes had already hardened.

"Xiao Shunzi, any news?" Her voice was calm and unruffled.

Her emotions had already returned to normal.

Li Ping'er, after a brief surprise, immediately recovered.

She hurriedly said, "Since leaving the palace the day before yesterday, she hasn't returned."

"Sister, I know the little grandson has many things to do for you; I wonder whether his leaving the palace this time will…"

Li Ping'er's eyes were overly worried.

Wan Tang stood up, spreading her arms.

The group of palace maids immediately attended to grooming.

Side Hall.

Wan Tang went specially to Li Ping'er's residence for a casual chat.

Xiao Shunzi returned, dusty and weary.

Wan Tang stepped back to the sides.

Xiao Shunzi knelt on the ground and performed a salute, lowering his voice to report: "Master, Nubi has returned."

"Get up!" Wan Tang personally helped.

She also handed a cup of tea, letting Xiao Shunzi moisten his throat.

Xiao Shunzi hurriedly said, "Master, the matters you assigned, Nubi has already taken care of."

"Our secretly trained troops, as well as those who rushed back from the Northern Border."

"They have, per your orders, broken into smaller units, removed armor, each blending into the market merchants and wandering peasants, leaving no trace."

"Even if anyone investigates, they will never find any evidence."

Wan Tang nodded.

This matter is the most crucial.

It is also the greatest thorn in Chu Yunzheng's heart.

"Yan Chuan?" Wan Tang asked again.

Xiao Shunzi paused briefly, his voice a few shades deeper: "General Xu is still lingering at the Northern Border, seemingly held back by some sudden local affairs."

Seeing Wan Tang's brows furrow with worry, he quickly said, "Veteran General Huang Feihu has personally gone to provide support, Master, please be at ease."

Wan Tang sat upright in the chair, her fingertips silently tracing the rim of the tea cup.

Wan Tang heard the words, her brows tightening: "How can this palace possibly be at ease?"

She pondered briefly, then asked, "What is the situation outside the palace now?"

Xiao Shunzi quickly reported, "Your Majesty, among the civilian forces, our people rank first, with Second Master Qi's power right behind."

"If we speak solely of profit, the combined wealth of all the Capital's rich merchants probably still doesn't match yours, Master."

Mentioning this, Xiao Shunzi's tone grew even more smug: "The civilians have also compiled a Wealth Ranking."

"Little do they know, the top nine entries on the list are all your aliases."

"The only one that isn't is Second Master Qi."

He said, unable to suppress a smile, "Come to think of it, these two forces are actually both yours…"

"Silence!" Wan Tang snapped, "How can such words even be spoken?"

Xiao Shunzi, frightened, fell silent, daring not to speak further.

"Don't assume that because it's just us at the moment, once these words slip out there will inevitably be times when something is inadvertently revealed."

"If you want to live well, you must keep your mouth in check!"

Xiao Shunzi quickly kowtowed and confessed, "Nubi acknowledges the mistake."

Wan Tang lifted the tea cup, her knuckles turning slightly pale: "Has there been any recent change on Yan Wang's side?"

Xiao Shunzi heard this and his complexion darkened.

He whispered, "The situation in Fengdu has become idle chatter over tea and meals."

"Yan Wang, under the pretense of constructing a temporary palace, conscripted thirty thousand civilian laborers, who in fact have all been training in secret."

Outside the city, the iron mine works day and night to produce military armor, and just the heavy cavalry's armor alone has already been prepared in five thousand sets.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he continued to report: "The more troublesome part is that he has opened the canal transport route, and Jiangnan's grain and supplies are being continuously shipped to Fengdu."

The scouts reported that they saw the neighboring country's caravans to Fengdu frequently entering Yan Wang Fu.

"Perhaps the border tribes have already pledged secret allegiance to him."

Wan Tang's complexion turned dark and unreadable.

Xiao Shunzi's voice trembled: "If war breaks out now, the Capital's garrison is no more than fifty thousand, and troops would still have to be divided to defend the various passes."

Wan Tang was puzzled.

Fifty thousand?

But clearly, the last time Chu Yunzheng forced most of the Northern Border troops to be recalled, didn't he?

"Ah, the Emperor sent many troops today to the various border regions to guard against a possible alliance with Yan Wang."

With that, Wan Tang seemed to understand.

"In short, Yan Wang is restless, and the Capital is uneasy."

"Unless General Xu can immediately lead the entire Northern Border army back as reinforcement, this Imperial City…"

After saying that, Xiao Shunzi carefully watched Wan Tang's reaction.

If Wan Tang were to speak up—

their own people could hold the Capital.

But if Wan Tang were to oppose—

anyone who stands with Yan Wang, once their people join, the Capital would inevitably be breached.

In the room, for a moment, it fell into absolute silence.

The little grandson and Li Ping'er held their breath and gathered Qi.

All were waiting for Wan Tang's answer.

Wan Tang cast a deep glance at the people on the ground and let out a sudden sigh.

She said slowly, "Let's observe the situation from over there."

Li Ping'er quickly added, "Yan Wang sent a letter saying that currently there is still a shortage of grain, supplies, and troops."

"If an additional thirty thousand units of grain and supplies could be provided, it would surely succeed."