Chapter 304: Stolen Tranquility

Ridiculous, to have ruined the Mo Family like this; now Yan Wang is dead, does the Dog Emperor still obsess over his white moonlight?

He only said, loving a person has no substitute. That doesn't mean that after harming a bunch of people, one can stop loving.

I don't understand what there is to love about Bai Li; Yan Wang has already explained it clearly to him—Bai Li is not at all the little white flower he imagined.

The barrage is full of voices defending Wan Tang, but so what?

Wan Tang's demeanor is calm.

Xiao Dongzi takes a deep breath and quietly surveys Wan Tang.

In Hui Guifei's Imperial Palace, the atmosphere is stagnant.

Xiao Dongzi bows and stands in the hall, fine sweat beading on his forehead.

He still forces a smile and says: "Noble Consort, the Emperor has specially instructed."

"If you do not Answering, Nubi goes back, how can I account for it!"

Hui Guifei raises an eyebrow, amused: "What does this have to do with me?"

"Noble Consort, please consider saving me! As long as you host a banquet to welcome Yan Wangfei and invite her to stay in the palace…"

Hui Guifei's face turns cold, and she heavily places her tea cup: "I have no time."

"This…" Xiao Dongzi looks embarrassed, forces himself and says, "Noble Consort, this is the Emperor's special reminder."

Xiao Dongzi repeats this repeatedly, only to make Hui Guifei understand.

This is the Emperor's order, not a discussion.

Hui Guifei's lips curl into a cold smile: "So what?"

"Let him come and speak to me himself."

"And also tell me the words he personally said to me back then, the promises he made!"

Xiao Dongzi grimaces, almost kneeling: "Noble Consort, just consider it a face‑saving for the Emperor."

"Now Yan Wangfei has just lost her husband, surely her heart is heavy; the Emperor also wishes to comfort…"

"Comfort?" Hui Guifei mockingly interrupts, "He wants it, I don't."

Xiao Dongzi is instantly at a loss for words, standing awkwardly in place.

The Wan Tang who had been sitting silently beside them now slowly rises.

Her expression neutral: "My body feels a bit unwell, I will return first."

Hui Guifei sees this, her cold gaze sweeping to her: "What kind of cowering turtle are you?"

She says sharply, "Since she chose to leave the Capital, she shouldn't come back!"

"Since you are the empress, when you should restrain the Emperor, you ought to speak up!"

Wan Tang's steps falter slightly, and a low "Hmm" drifts from her throat.

She says no more, heading straight toward the hall's exterior.

The Soft Sedan Chair waiting at the doorway lowers steadily, and Wan Tang, aided by a palace maid, leans forward onto it.

Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Luzi hurriedly follow behind.

From behind, Xiao Dongzi's pleading voice can still be heard faintly.

But soon, the sound abruptly ceases.

Because the sound of the sword being drawn is more effective than any of Xiao Dongzi's pleas.

Now, the entire Kunning Palace is inhabited only by Wan Tang as the sole master.

The vast Kunning Palace is unusually desolate.

Wan Tang looks at the transplanted Ginkgo tree and peach blossom tree, both looking withered and lifeless.

Xiao Luzi stands beside, watching Wan Tang stare blankly at the courtyard.

Someone waiting nearby comforts: "The sun is stronger now; ordinary trees can't endure this scorching heat."

"Tomorrow I, Nubi, will fetch some lotus flowers, to bring more life into this courtyard."

Lotus flowers?

In this harem, where can lotus flowers compare to those of the traveling palace?

Clearly it's a scene of lotus leaves spreading far and wide, yet everything is schemed.

Back then, Wan Tang still had Li Ping'er, Xie Taiyi, and Xiao Shunzi protecting her.

Now…

She lets out a dumbfounded smile.

"No," Wan Tang's voice steadier: "Lotus flowers are too plain, I don't like them."

"By the way, fetch a jar of Peach Blossom Brew; I want to drink a couple sips."

Xiao Luzi, frightened, says: "Noble Consort, your injury hasn't healed yet, how can you drink?"

"How could I not?" Wan Tang retorts with a laugh: "It's just a sip of sweet water, can it be fatal?"

She sticks to her own opinion.

Xiao Luzi sighs helplessly.

At this moment she only hopes Xiao Shunzi can return from the palace soon, even a few words of persuasion would be fine.

The summer courtyard is silent, only intermittent cicada chirps.

Wan Tang sits alone by the stone table, habitually placing two white jade goblets.

She lifts the wine vessel, first filling her own cup, pauses slightly, then slowly pours into the empty cup opposite.

Though she doesn't know who she can now drink with, one cup is ultimately too lonely.

The clear wine reflects her bewildered brows and eyes.

In truth, she's not sure for whom this cup is poured.

Xiao Luzi stood quietly serving in the Langxia, fully aware that the Empress needed solitude at this moment.

He arranged everything and silently stepped back.

He retreated to the doorway to keep watch.

Guarding her rare tranquility.

Wan Tang lightly sipped a mouthful of wine, her brows slightly furrowed,

She said dryly to the empty opposite side, "The taste of this wine is always off."

She lifted the wine cup to examine it, "It seems that even with the formula, I still cannot master it."

"Forcing it is ultimately wrong!"

Having said that, she tipped her head, drank it all in one gulp, and then took the pot to refill the cup.

If it weren't for her, one would keep pondering how to change destiny.

Whether, following the original plot's development, even though the favored one was Xu Luoyan, in the end it was Xu Luoyan who gave birth to San Huangzi.

Even if the Xu Family enjoyed wealth and honor, their power swayed the court and the realm.

At least, her younger brother Xiao Chuan could live peacefully.

She gave a dumbfounded smile.

Another cup of wine slid into her lower belly.

The wound began to throb faintly.

But only the body's pain could alleviate the hurt within her heart.

When the moment arrived, she no longer even had a chance for revenge.

Now, must she still watch the enemy, the beauty in her arms, the lover's affection, living a life like immortal couples?

As she stared into the wine cup, a ginkgo leaf fluttered down gracefully.

It fell into the cup, rippling circles across the wine surface.

Wan Tang froze, lifted her head to look.

The moon was round as a plate.

Su Yanci, dressed in white, sat at the wallhead; perhaps the ginkgo tree had not yet sprouted new buds.

He could not bring himself to step on it.

Casually sitting against the wall, he rested his hands under his chin and said, "The fragrance of the wine fills the air; may I have a sip."

Wan Tang felt a sour pang in her heart.

She bitterly said, "The palace wine, with its elaborate craft, has long lost its original flavor."

"This taste cannot compare to the clear spring of the mountains."

She blamed him, accusing him of not knowing right from wrong.

Su Yanci still smiled.

The shallow dimple at the corner of his mouth made him seem less a man in his twenties and more like a child.

"The one I miss is already in deep trouble; even though I love freedom, the shackles are already on—how can I break free?"

Hearing this,

Wan Tang couldn't help but become angry.

She rose in indignation, "I've already taken care of the Su Family…"

Su Yanci said nothing.

He only stared at Wan Tang, his voice trembling, "Your Majesty, please be careful."

The wound bled.

Wan Tang propped herself on the chair with both hands.

Su Yanci tried to keep his voice calm, yet still with a slight tremor, "The one I miss is not limited to the Su Family."

He flicked his long whip, which swept the wine pot off the table.

He tilted his head to drink, some wine trickling down the corner of his mouth.

He closed his eyes to savor, repeatedly exclaiming approval.

"Fine wine, fine wine!"

"Sister's Peach Blossom Brew is overly sweet, but this wine, with a hint of bitterness, has a better aftertaste."

Wan Tang scoffed, "When you've endured all the bitterness, see if you can still utter a word of aftertaste?!"

Wan Tang lowered her eyelids, refusing to look at him.

"Qiu Niang's medical skill is superb; the palace is perilous—if there were someone by my side…"

"No need," Wan Tang interrupted.

Su Yanci stubbornly said, "Qiu Niang is sensible and would never speak nonsense."

"Oh!" Wan Tang suddenly looked up, her tone adding a hint of sarcasm, "They grant you a wife over there, is that fine?"

Su Yanci suddenly fell silent.

Those eyes were hazy with misty moisture.

Wan Tang, after all, also felt a pain in her heart.

The two remained silent.

They turned away from each other.

Another ginkgo leaf fell, spiraling, landing on Wan Tang's shoulder.

Looking back again, the wallhead was empty, leaving only a wine pot that had been emptied.

The next day.

Qiu Niang was sent into the Imperial Palace.

Xiao Shunzi brought her to Wan Tang.

At this moment, she was no longer as clumsy as when she was in the mountains; her manners were complete and she did not lose composure.

Xiao Shunzi bowed and stood aside, enumerating Qiu Niang's virtues: "Your Highness, this Qiu Niang was personally delivered into the palace by Lord Su; she is most courteous and sensible."

"Last time the Empress was in danger, it was thanks to her timely assistance."

"Her medical skill is superb; now that Xie Taiyi is not in the palace, having her attend here brings some peace of mind."

Fearing that Wan Tang might refuse to take her in, Xiao Shunzi strongly recommended her.

Wan Tang listened silently, her gaze faintly falling on the wrist of Qiu Niang that hung at her side.

The bracelet she had given her earlier, Qiu Niang did not put on because she was ill.

Instead, it was a pair of Gold Bracelets.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, not something a mountain girl could possess.

Wan Tang gently withdrew her gaze.

She casually replied, "Since it's Lord Su's goodwill, just leave it there!"

Time passed swiftly; another half month elapsed.

Wan Tang leaned on the soft couch, her wound scabbed over and no longer serious.

Qiu Niang was lowering her eyes to take her pulse; as her fingertip just touched the wrist, a rapid footstep sounded from outside the hall.

The beaded curtains rustled, and Chu Yunzheng strode into the hall.

Between his brows lingered unspent anger, yet the corners of his mouth forced a smile.

He glanced over the people in the hall, then raised his eyebrows.

Xiao Dongzi immediately stepped forward, cradling a box with both hands.

Chu Yunzheng took the box and placed the brocade box onto the desk.

When the box opened, the jewels inside shone especially brightly.

Chu Yunzheng's tone softened: "I have found this pair of Eastern Pearls and think they suit you."

The bright pearls in the box were round and radiant; he did not wait for Wan Tang's answer, and sat by the couch by himself.

His voice carried a deliberately casual tone: "It's been over a month since I came to see you."

"How has the Empress been lately?"

Who could have imagined that, one day, between him and Chu Yunzheng, they would be able to address each other only as Emperor and Empress.

Qiu Niang, understanding the situation, stepped back to the side.

Wan Tang lowered her eyes to avoid his complicated gaze and said, "Hmm, everything is fine."

Time really flies; has it already been a month since that chaotic battle?

After a long while, Wan Tang finally adjusted herself, looked up at the Emperor, and forced herself to speak: "It's truly rare for the Emperor to spare time tonight."

"I will prepare some food for the evening right away."

Just as Wan Tang stood up, Chu Yunzheng suddenly reached out to stop her.

A sense of urgency appeared in his eyes: "The kitchen work has its own people; you are the Empress, what you should do is what the Empress ought to do."

Wan Tang was unbothered; why Chu Yunzheng now no longer liked the meals she prepared was irrelevant to her.

She gave a faint smile and said, "I acknowledge my mistake."

"Empress." Chu Yunzheng inhaled deeply, leaned in, and bent down to kiss Wan Tang: "It has been a long time since we were intimate…"