Chapter 306: The Two‑Faced Woman

Seeing the Empress arrive, she still stood there, her face perpetually bearing a cold, aloof expression.

The host, seeing this, spoke with excitement, hurriedly saying, "This is the Empress, aren't you going to kneel?"

She remained the same, the prayer beads in her hand turning, her voice clear and melodious: "Having taken refuge in the Buddha's path, the four elements are all empty."

"All people are equal, why must we kneel."

Speaking, she merely gave Wan Tang a slight nod and recited, "Amitabha."

Wan Tang sat steadily on the phoenix sedan, her expression cold as she looked at her.

Clearly the two faces were extremely similar, yet in temperament there was a world of difference.

The little palace maid who only knew how to cower had long since died.

Now Wan Tang is the Empress of the Fengqi Kingdom.

And the cold White Lotus below is merely a widow.

"The Empress has arrived, you dare not kneel?" Xiao Luzi's face changed, and he scolded harshly.

Bai Li slowly lifted her head, staring directly at Wan Tang's face as if inspecting an object.

After a moment, she let out a light laugh.

In her tone there was a hint of contempt: "This mask, does the Empress find it useful?"

"Audacious!" Xiao Luzi shouted angrily, "To insult the Empress."

This was clearly a veiled sarcasm toward Wan Tang.

The senior nun stood nearby, already terrified into silence, cold sweat streaming down her cheek.

Wan Tang's expression remained calm.

That composure, towering above the masses, displayed a grand magnificence—like a peony in a garden blooming at will, outshining all other flowers.

And Bai Li was merely a wild flower beneath the peony tree.

Even with cold aloofness, she could never reach true elegance.

Wan Tang slowly extended her hand.

The phoenix sedan lowered; Xiao Luzi hurriedly bowed forward, and Wan Tang placed her hand on his.

Every move exuded countless graceful manners.

Each step felt as if walking on everyone's hearts, bearing an absolute sense of pressure.

Bai Li remained proud and aloof, yet her heart still trembled, her throat dry.

The host had already lowered his head, lacking the courage to look directly at Feng Yan.

After only a few steps, Wan Tang was already before Bai Li.

She glanced at her a few times; no matter how beautiful, she was like a pear blossom—delicate, unable to endure even a breath of wind or rain.

She smiled, her voice carrying a hint of authority: "It seems you are the Yan Wangfei?"

Bai Li, her face showing no fear, said, "The Empress is joking."

"The rebels have long been punished; there is no Yan Wang in this world any longer. So where does the Yan Wangfei come from?"

Those words were exquisitely phrased.

Can Wan Tang be understood as, since there is no Yan Wangfei, the only one to enter the palace in the future would be a daughter of the Ning family?

It would be normal for a Ning family daughter to have something happen with the Emperor.

"Excellent," Wan Tang couldn't help but praise.

Wan Tang's tone remained even: "The Emperor, mindful of brotherly bonds, has allowed me to bring the Yan Wangfei into the palace to soothe his emotions."

"After all, he is flesh and blood, a close relative; Yan Wang was merely momentarily confused, and now has paid the price, so this matter comes to an end."

"I have come here, only to learn that there is no Yan Wangfei in this world?"

Then I, whom must I receive into the palace?

Entering the palace under the name of Yan Wangfei, she and Chu Yunzheng would always be in an uncle‑niece relationship.

But if Bai Li does not acknowledge it, on what grounds can she enter the palace?

Bai Li finally faced Wan Tang directly; a flicker of discontent passed through her eyes before she quickly smiled.

With aloof pride she lifted her chin: "The Empress need not waste words."

"No matter how the Emperor acts, I will stay here."

"The Imperial harem is a place that devours people; I refuse to engage in scheming and back‑stabbing, things that cannot be shown publicly."

Speaking, she stared directly at Wan Tang and sneered, "Let me endure that life, wearing that heavy phoenix crown, yet never able to sleep a single peaceful night."

"I can't stand it."

"Even though life in the hermitage is austere, I can sleep until dawn."

【Ugh! Even if I endure hardship in the hermitage, I still wouldn't follow Wan Tang's example. After all, Wan Tang has so many guilty deeds that she doesn't dare to sleep at night.】

【Seeing Bai Li makes me nauseous; I'm indifferent to this white moonlight.】

【Don't you find it funny? Bai Li was originally waiting for the Emperor to fetch her. When she heard someone entered the palace, she was outside in nun's robes, but inside her clothes were extremely sexy—almost transparent, truly meant to tempt Chu Yunzheng! Yet the one who came wasn't the person she expected.】

【Hahaha, she even had aphrodisiac powder hidden in her clothes. She doesn't want to enter the palace; who is she disgusted by?】

Is that how it is?

Wan Tang's mouth curved into a teasing smile.

Bai Li, stared at by Wan Tang, felt a chill run through her, a hint of unease in her eyes.

Stiffening her neck, she scolded, "You hurry away; I will not enter the palace with you."

"Yan Wangfei." Wan Tang still addressed her that way: "You worry too much."

"The Emperor is mindful of old feelings; I have come here, but not merely for you."

Wan Tang said this, then brushed past Bai Li and walked straight to the host.

After looking around, she smiled, "I have always heard that Jingxin An is efficacious. But now it seems the Bodhisattva's clay statue is too simple."

Wan Tang gave only a glance, and Xiao Luzi stepped forward.

She held a small booklet in her hand.

Wan Tang smiled, "I still have some spare money; please ask the abbot to repair Jingxin An, to pray for my Fengqi Kingdom, for the Emperor, and for the Imperial Heirs."

The abbot was overjoyed.

Seeing the gold and silver items on the list, he was delighted beyond measure.

The royal family usually goes to Baoguo Temple, while Jingxin An, plainly put, is a place that takes in widows and women.

Usually the important figures find this place inauspicious; who would come?

Who could have imagined that today not only a great person would arrive, but also act so magnanimously, making my heart tremble.

The abbot hurriedly exclaimed, "Amitabha."

His eyes became especially sincere: "May the Bodhisattva protect; the Empress is kind at heart, and among the people she is even called a living Bodhisattva."

"Everything will go as you wish, with peace and smoothness."

Wan Tang smiled and politely replied, "Thank you, Senior Nun, for your auspicious words."

After speaking, she added, "Senior Nun, feel free to sculpt the Bodhisattva's golden statue; if the silver money is insufficient, feel free to send someone into the palace to fetch it."

The abbot's eyes brightened again.

Just as she was about to thank again, Wan Tang's gaze shifted and fell again on Bai Li.

She said lightly, "Since Princess Yan Wangfei is now a nun in the nunnery and leads the way, I will offer incense to the Bodhisattva."

Bai Li naturally refused.

The senior nun's voice carried a cold tone: "No regrets."

The senior nun directly called out Bai Li's defiance, her tone intensifying: "The Empress is the mother of the nation, praying for the people."

"You, however, are unwilling to comply; do you still have a compassionate heart?"

The hat made Bai Li's face turn pale.

She gritted her teeth hard, her face full of unwillingness: "Please."

Bai Li led Wan Tang to the Grand Hall to offer incense.

Wan Tang halted: "When sincerely worshiping the Buddha, it should not be noisy."

She ordered the attendants to stay, allowing only Bai Li, Xiao Luzi, and the senior nun to accompany her forward.

The senior nun had not walked far when, according to custom, she was about to add incense oil for the Bodhisattva on behalf of Wan Tang.

The senior nun's front foot had just taken a step.

Bai Li stood before Wan Tang and lowered her voice, "Empress, do you think that by holding my face and climbing to this position, you have already firmly taken the throne?"

"You should know well the weight I hold in the Emperor's heart."

Wan Tang pressed both hands together and sincerely said, "Very clear."

"You and I cannot form a rivalry for favor."

"Hehe." Bai Li sneered coldly, unabashedly boasting, "To tell you the truth, whatever I desire, he will present to me with both hands."

"Do you know how many times he has come secretly to the nunnery, just to let me enter the palace?"

Wan Tang closed her eyes tightly.

The sound at her ear was no louder than a mosquito's buzz.

She waited until the senior nun returned, then opened her eyes and looked toward the nearby lotus pond.

She smiled faintly, "Go there to escape the summer heat!"

Walking to the lotus pond, Wan Tang rested at the Cool Heart Pavilion.

When passing a narrow bridge, her skirt fluttered slightly, pressing down a broken branch.

Bai Li, with eyes looking above the top, directly tripped, shrieking as she fell into the water.

"Help!" Bai Li struggled in the water.

The incense pilgrims heard the sound and gathered.

Xiao Luzi leapt into the water and rescued the person.

While the crowd scrambled to rescue her, they inadvertently tore off her water‑soaked hat and clothing.

Outside, the heavy coarse cloth garments floated on the water's surface.

When they hauled it up.

It revealed inside a flamboyant crimson sheer dress, and at the waist was tied an embroidered pouch emitting an exotic fragrance.

Even the seductive clothing alone left onlookers dumbfounded.

Let alone the scented pouch at the waist.

A brothel woman covered her mouth and exclaimed, "Isn't this the warm affection incense we use in our house?"

A murmur rose all around.

Even the gazes at Bai Li gradually became ambiguous.

Discussions erupted in the ears.

"They say Jingxin An is different from other nunneries; who would have thought it's just a case of hypocrisy."

"Oh dear, we brothels are in the business of trade, and that's also open and honest; look at them."

"Haha, I hadn't planned to come to this nunnery. Who knew this little nun was so handsome; from now on, I'll visit more, willing to spend any amount!"

The senior nun's complexion turned ghastly; how could this pure Buddhist gate ever have been so defiled?

Wan Tang's expression hardened: "Xiao Luzi, immediately seal off Jingxin An."

"Everyone present today, be warned: you may not utter a single word about this."

Xiao Luzi went to handle it at once.

When the idle bystanders had all withdrawn, Wan Tang fixed her gaze on the unconscious Bai Li.

"She is, after all, a widow; this attire is truly Bushi."

Her tone was calm yet carried undeniable authority: "Although Yan Wang has passed, she still concerns the royal face."

"Moreover, the Emperor also cares about her greatly."

The Abbess could not fathom the Emperor's thoughts; she only thought it was fear of losing the Emperor's face.

After all, we sent a widow here, and now a scandal arises; does this Nunnery even want to stay?

Before the words were finished, the Abbess fell to the ground trembling: "The humble nun understands!"

"Henceforth we shall strictly discipline, never allowing such filthy deeds to recur!"

Wan Tang waved her hand lightly: "Just inform my palace secretly, and that will suffice."

"Such matters should not be made public."

The Abbess seemed to have grasped a savior.

She nodded vigorously in agreement.

She hurriedly dispatched someone to return Bai Li to her residence.

Wan Tang bent down and picked up the incense sachet on the ground.

"Madam, Nubi, come; please do not let this dirty thing soil your hands."

Xiao Luzi hurriedly offered his attentions, and Wan Tang instructed, "Make sure to store it carefully."

"Today my palace has come here, yet failed to fulfill the Emperor's commission."

"We must bring something back to report."