Chapter 303: Able to Gather Within the Palace

"Empress!"

Xie Taiyi let out a grief‑filled cry and knelt heavily on the ground.

They hammered their head against the blood‑soaked ground, only seeing a canopy of silver hair overhead.

Wan Tang, though she did not speak plainly.

But they knew it in their hearts.

The people Wan Tang showed publicly each had their own arrangements.

But Xie Taiyi had been secretly helping Wan Tang, and at this moment could not save the person…

"Tangtang," Chu Yunzheng grasped Wan Tang's hand quite tightly, "Do you have anything else to say?"

For example, a reminder to the Emperor?

Wan Tang's mouth opened and closed with difficulty; she clearly had a thousand words, yet they were faint and silent, making it impossible for anyone to hear a single word.

"Emperor, the Subject brings a physician, pleading with the Emperor to permit her to save the Empress."

Su Yanci's voice rang from outside Kunning Palace.

In the voice was utter urgency.

"The Subject's life depends on this physician; I again plead with the Emperor to let her try."

Chu Yunzheng was irritable at this moment.

He immediately shouted, "Xuan!"

Three days later.

Wan Tang leaned against the foot of the bed, watching the sun streaming in through the window.

Xiao Luzi directed the palace maids to attend to Wan Tang.

Xiao Shunzi carefully assisted Wan Tang, his face beaming: "Master, at least you have eased up; you have no idea, at that moment it scared the Nubi to death."

"Fortunately, Lord Su brought back a physician who actually had Return Soul Herb, saving the Empress's life."

"Now Yan Wang has also been captured, locked in the dungeon. It is said that Duke Xu's death is also linked to Yan Wang; the Emperor is waiting for the Empress to recover, then will vent his malice."

"Now everything has settled down, and our troops are also under Lord Su's command."

"Lord Su…"

In her ears, Xiao Shunzi's endless chatter filled the air.

Wan Tang simply listened quietly, her gaze still fixed on the outside of the window.

A small bird flew through the Ginkgo tree and landed on the windowsill.

Wan Tang finally spoke, "Ping'er?"

If it were usual times, no matter how Wan Tang scolded, in such a situation Li Ping'er would always be by her side, sobbing.

Xiao Shunzi's hand suddenly halted.

In her eyes was an unmistakable sorrow: "Alas, she must be heart‑broken over Yan Wang, right?"

"By now, she's probably hiding somewhere, crying?"

The harder she tried to conceal it, the more evident the sorrow became.

Wan Tang, with a single glance, saw the countless holes in it.

She frowned, "Let her come."

【Why come any more? She's already dead.】

【Li Ping'er is truly hard to judge. At first, she wavered between Wan Tang and Yan Wang. Even in death, she stands in the middle.】

【Regardless, she is brave, bravely facing her love. She also bravely protected the person she deems most important in her life.】

【Wuwuwu, Li Ping'er may be an imperfect person. Yet in a lifetime, can one ever meet a friend who would sacrifice their life for you?】

A tear, sudden and unexpected, rolled down Wan Tang's cheek.

"Master, please don't cry!" Xiao Shunzi panicked, "When you feel better, the Nubi will definitely call her, the Nubi…"

Xiao Shunzi's voice trembled more with each word.

As she spoke, she didn't even notice when her own face was full of tears.

Wan Tang said nothing, but from then on, the name Li Ping'er would be sealed deep in her heart, never to be mentioned again.

Half a month later.

The weather grew a bit hotter.

Wan Tang's injuries had finally healed mostly, allowing her to barely move about on the ground.

In the court, Yan Wang's remaining faction had been completely eradicated.

To stabilize the Fengdu situation, the exceptionally capable third son of Lin Zehai was dispatched to take charge.

Yan Wang himself was confined deep within Zongrenfu, subjected to tongue‑cutting and eye‑digging punishments, never to leave again.

Wan Tang listened to Xiao Shunzi's report, her face showing neither joy nor sorrow, unusually calm.

Upon hearing that Xie Taiyi's family was about to leave the capital, Wan Tang for the first time interrupted Xiao Shunzi, "Send them off!"

"Master, your body has not yet recovered…"

Wan Tang said nothing, but her gaze grew a few degrees colder.

Since the death of Xu Yanchuan, Wan Tang seemed different from before.

Xiao Shunzi dared not speak, and had to ready the Soft Sedan Chair.

At the city gate.

A pair of carriages were about to depart.

"Xie Taiyi, please stay!" Xiao Shunzi shouted loudly.

"Eunuch Shun."

Xie Taiyi let out a startled cry.

He immediately realized who the person inside the carriage was.

"Your Majesty, you now need to lie in bed and recuperate; your health…"

"Old Sir." Wan Tang's voice came from the carriage; having left the palace, she was no longer the physician: "After returning home, enjoy your twilight years in peace; do not trouble yourself any further."

Xie Taiyi was moved: "Your Majesty, you have obtained it for this old man, to be used for generations."

"After returning home, this old man will certainly pass down his medical art; should the day ever come that Your Majesty needs it, my descendants will go through fire and water for you."

"Old Sir, I accept your intention," Tangtang said.

Having said that, Xiao Shunzi stepped forward and handed a small case to Xie Taiyi.

"This…"

Xie Taiyi opened it and saw not less than a million silver notes inside.

He hurriedly said, "Your Majesty has already given enough; this old man cannot accept."

"Xie Taiyi, the palace has a matter to ask of you," Wan Tang's voice, though weak, was each word powerful.

"If possible, open a medical hall. Regardless of gender, all may study medicine for free."

"Women also shall not be discriminated against; all must be treated equally."

Xie Taiyi looked up in astonishment, shocked at the delicate carriage before him.

Again, he knelt deeply and solemnly.

"Your Majesty's great righteousness!"

"This old man will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty."

"Then it is fine," Wan Tang's voice now carried a hint of gentleness.

If one day women are no longer anyone's property, what a wonderful day that would be.

The palace corridor stretched long, the red walls silent.

The returning Soft Sedan Chair reached the gate, meeting Su Yanci, who was about to leave the palace, face to face.

The curtain of the sedan swayed slightly in the wind; Wan Tang lifted her gaze, meeting that familiar look.

Su Yanci stood quietly by the road, a mute woman at his side.

The mute woman was no longer the plain, unrelated figure from the mountains; dressed in splendid robes, she appeared even more refined.

Her eyes radiated that spirit; even the noble ladies of the capital could not compare.

Sunlight stretched the three shadows long, yet an invisible chasm lay between them.

Inside and outside the sedan, only a few steps apart.

Wan Tang's lips quivered slightly; finally she only pressed her fingertip into her palm, letting the curtain slowly descend.

No greeting, no lingering.

He led the mute woman out of the palace; she rode a lone sedan toward the inner palace.

In the instant they passed each other, the gate behind them slowly closed.

"Hahaha, who says I'm not a man? I'll kill you!"

"My daughter, that is Your Majesty."

"Wuwuwu, daughter, I am a man; who saw my daughter?"

"Who saw?"

At Changle Palace, the voice alternated between crying and laughing, nonstop.

People in the Imperial Palace came and went, only chuckling, no one stepped forward to engage.

Li Defu was a dried clump of blood and grime, brandishing a stick, baring his teeth at the passing palace staff.

Wan Tang was originally heading to Jingren Palace.

Passing by, seeing the scene, she could not help but make the carriage driver halt.

"Your Majesty, Li Defu has gone mad; perhaps we should have someone lock him up!" Xiao Luzi whispered beside her.

The look at Li Defu was full of disdain.

In Wan Tang's mind, she recalled the despair of being locked in a small cabin by Li Defu.

The most painful thing for a person is to see the light, only to fall back into darkness.

And at this moment, Li Defu was trapped in darkness.

"Ignore him!" Wan Tang replied casually.

Good and evil will eventually be repaid; whatever they have done, in time someone will return it to them.

Why then act personally again?

Jingren Palace.

After Yan Wang's incident, Li Pin protected the Second Prince even more.

She even refused to let anyone out of the courtyard.

A voice announced, "The Empress has arrived."

Still, holding the Second Prince's hand, kneeling beside the public way to respectfully welcome Wan Tang.

Now it is different from before.

Li Pin no longer dared to call Wan Tang "sister"; the Lin Family ultimately became one that had to cling to Wan Tang's existence.

She looked at the people kneeling on both sides.

Wan Tang gave a slight nod and walked toward Hui Guifei's quarters in the Imperial Palace.

"Sister." Wan Tang was supported on both sides by Xiao Luzi and Xiao Shunzi.

Reaching the doorway, she finally managed a faint smile.

"I, your servant, have seen the Empress," Ning Daying quickly bowed.

Wan Tang gestured for her to rise.

Noble Consort Hui, who had been reclining on a soft couch, heard the movement and hurried to stand, both hands supporting her belly, about to bow.

But Wan Tang grasped her hand: "You and I are sisters; no need for formalities."

Noble Consort Hui looked at Wan Tang's flat abdomen and her long, curled lashes, casting a dim light.

Her voice sounded hoarse: "Who let you wander about, not caring for your health."

"It's actually not a serious issue."

Wan Tang smiled lightly, her gaze falling on Noble Consort Hui's belly, eyes full of gentleness: "Looking at sister's belly, I'm afraid it won't reach two months before labor arrives."

Noble Consort Hui's eyes showed mixed emotions.

She hesitated, then said: "Indeed!"

"May he emerge later, and be stronger."

While speaking, she suddenly realized something and hurriedly shut her mouth.

Wan Tang had just lost her own child.

It had been a fully formed child; when Xie Taiyi held it out, its head still bore a hole pierced by an arrow.

Noble Consort Hui's gaze became even more cautious.

"Is sister the same?" Wan Tang suddenly asked.

In her voice was an unmistakable bitterness: "I thought sister was different from them."

She leaned there weakly: "If I say I'm not sad, would sister believe me?"

Noble Consort Hui remained silent, her eyes saying everything.

Wan Tang gave a wry smile.

"Really."

She stared at Noble Consort Hui's belly, dazed: "I don't know why, I just feel that he shouldn't have come…"

"How could that be?" Noble Consort Hui was about to speak.

Xiao Dongzi hurried over.

He saw Wan Tang awkwardly stop in her tracks.

He knelt quickly and greeted: "Nubi have seen the Empress, Nubi have seen the Noble Consort."

"What is the matter?" Wan Tang asked.

Xiao Dongzi hurriedly said: "It is… it is…"

He was somewhat strained, watching Wan Tang cautiously, hesitating repeatedly, still unwilling to speak.

"If I tell you to speak, then speak!" Noble Consort Hui raised her willow‑like brows, her tone much sharper.

Xiao Dongzi, frightened, shivered, mustered courage, and shouted loudly: "Yan Wang died violently."

"Yan Wangfei comes to mourn…"

"Emperor specially permits the Noble Consort, sisters to reunite."

"Furthermore, he instructs the Noble Consort that she may bring Yan Wangfei into the Imperial Palace to gather."