Chapter 31: Rift

Xu Chengyuan suddenly sobered up, turned his gaze toward Wan Tang, his eyes slightly surprised.

Lady of Grace Wan, speak cautiously; don't let a red lip and white teeth open your mouth and recklessly entangle relationships.

Wan Tang's smile was bitter, she said slowly: "For thirteen years in the General's Residence I never dared to speak of this; now, may I not?"

Facing her biological father, Wan Tang felt hopeful.

She would not forget her mother's eyes that longed to see, nor would she forget that her mother always grasped her hand and repeatedly said, "He is also forced by circumstances; do not blame him."

Wan Tang followed her mother's wish, looking at Xu Chengyuan: "Now, I am also a Lady of Grace."

She had hoped her status would be more respectable, always making him look at her with new eyes.

She did not expect Xu Chengyuan's gaze to instantly turn poisonous, carefully scanning the surroundings and, after confirming no one was present.

He snorted coldly again, his eyes filled with sharp disdain: "What does being a Lady of Grace matter? Wan Tang, I have long told you to assist Yan Er properly. Only when Yan Er becomes the most noble person can it benefit my Xu Family."

"You are wrong because you should not have entangled yourself with the Emperor, and you should not have competed for favor with Yan Er."

Xu Chengyuan shook his head repeatedly, his eyes full of disappointment.

Wan Tang's heart tightened again and again; after all, this is her own father!

She spoke cautiously, clutching the last sliver of hope, trembling: "Do you know that I have devoted ten years to her, yet she gave me to Li Defu as a marriage offering? A daughter knows her humble status; even if I cannot marry Rong Ruo, can I not leave the palace and lead an ordinary life?"

"Do you have to put me to death to be happy?"

A hoarse edge crept into her trembling voice. Thinking of all the sacrifices and tolerances that yielded this result, tears welled up in Wan Tang's eyes.

Xu Chengyuan's face was terrifyingly grim.

After repeated consideration, he said, "Li Defu is the chief eunuch, holder of the jade seal, secretly controlling the Eastern Depot."

"Being able to follow him is a blessing you have cultivated over several lifetimes. Yan Er arranging this for you also took great effort."

"You do not obey the arrangement, you court Li Defu, and end up harming him. How can you still claim grievance?"

Wan Tang was stunned, staring blankly at the man before her.

Xu Chengyuan's rebuking voice lingered in her ears: "With just you, you even dare to compare yourself with Yan Er. Do you not look at your own birth?"

"Yan Er's mother is from a prestigious family. Her grandfather also elevated me to a high position. Not serving you properly, yet causing trouble."

Each word, like a knife, cut into Wan Tang's heart one slice at a time.

Wan Tang reached out, wiping the tears from the corner of her eye with her fingers. Her mouth curled slightly, and her eyes cleared.

In her sorrowful heart she could not help but reflect: Mother, look, this is the man you adored. You said he was forced by circumstances, telling me not to question anything. You made me value the rise and fall of the Xu Family, to be wholly virtuous, a fool who cannot see clearly.

But… the man you risked your life for truly cannot have his false face torn away.

Wan Tang sneered repeatedly, lowered her head to glance at the wine flask in her hand.

The Emperor needs a catalyst.

And Wan Tang, after all, is also giving each other a chance.

"General Xu, before this, I have had a lingering doubt I wish to ask you," Wan Tang said with a lifted corner of her mouth.

Her tone was slow and mocking: "How exactly did Mother die back then?"

"Why did Madam Xu and my mother give birth on the same day? My mother delivered at full term, while she had a miscarriage. Yet why was it my mother who died in a difficult labor?"

"Why was it my brother who was stillborn!"

Wan Tang's gaze grew increasingly cold.

Xu Chengyuan's stare was terrifyingly cold: "Do not bring this up again; a wretched life cannot compare to Madam Jin's nobility."

"But I clearly heard my brother's cries; did he die young, or was he killed?" Wan Tang stared intently at Xu Chengyuan's eyes.

A flicker of panic passed through Xu Chengyuan's gaze, but as a general he remained composed, even with murderous aura: "Old matters need not be raised again."

"The life and death of a lowly woman, what does it matter?"

"Heh, a lowly woman?" Wan Tang laughed terrifyingly: "When General Xu was still a pig‑butcher, it was my mother who, not despising you, married you. She gave her life to earn money for you, sending you to the Forbidden City to join the martial arts tournament."

"The characters you can read were taught by my mother, weren't they?"

"And you? After winning the top martial scholar, you married a Wang family daughter. You may marry her, yet you still coveted your mother's beauty, deceiving her into coming to the Forbidden City. The legitimate wife you publicly married, you kept her in the outer courtyard, making her your concubine."

"When the truth was exposed, did you ever take any responsibility, or admit that she was the wife you had publicly married before you came to the Forbidden City?"

"Enough!" Xu Chengyuan shouted angrily, cutting off Wan Tang.

Those ferocious eyes were truly frightening to behold.

He was like a fierce tiger, finally baring his fangs: "The daughter of a treasonous minister, had I not taken her in, she would have become an official prostitute long ago."

"You are all unsavory."

Wan Tang smiled deeply at Xu Chengyuan, with no trace of fear on her face: "Well said. Now watch how this daughter you despise receives the rightful punishment for your beloved treasure."

"After all, I am the offspring of the treasonous minister's daughter, yet I am also your daughter!"

"Father, now the Emperor must be troubled trying to find a flaw in you, right?"

"You say…"

"How dare you!" Xu Chengyuan roared.

Wan Tang burst into a hysterical laugh, as if mad: "Both sides are death; what is there not to dare?"

"Snap!"

The crisp sound of a slap rang out instantly; Wan Tang did not dodge at all.

When the officer struck, it was no longer comparable to a daughter's slap. Wan Tang was knocked sideways, and the wine flask in her hand flew out.

"Snap!"

The sound of the flask shattering rang together with Wan Tang's thud to the ground.

The slap made Wan Tang's eardrums throb, her vision blackened, and the pain made her want to vomit.

The commotion here startled everyone at the banquet.

A crowd of people swarmed in, following the sound; Chu Yunzheng led at the front, his stride steady and gaze austere. Behind him came the Empress, the Empress Dowager, and others, each with a different expression.

The Empress, upon seeing the scene before her, couldn't help but exclaim, covering her mouth, "Lady Wan, General Xu, what is this…"

Chu Yunzheng's gaze was deep; his eyes swept back and forth between Wan Tang and Xu Chengyuan, a hint of inquiry and coldness flashing in his pupils.

The Empress Dowager showed slight surprise, but quickly regained composure, merely furrowing her brows a little and watching calmly.

Xu Luoyan hurried forward, seized Xu Chengyuan's arm, her voice tinged with urgency and concern: "Father."

She turned her head toward Wan Tang, her eyes full of hostility.

Wan Tang was in severe pain, even lifting her head was especially difficult. Half of her face was swollen, blood still clinging to her mouth corner; she strained to stay calm and said, "It is I, the concubine, who was ignorant and went to fetch wine, met General Xu, and he dared to inquire about me."

Wan Tang tried desperately to stand, but failed. She cast her pitiful gaze at Chu Yunzheng and said, "Emperor… it is my fault, it is I, overreaching."

Xu Chengyuan's complexion turned ashen, the fire of anger still burning in his eyes, but with everyone present he had to suppress it.

Chu Yunzheng's eyes flickered slightly.

"She is ignorant and dared to disrespect this humble minister," Xu Chengyuan said, showing no sign of remorse on his face.

Xu Luoyan, seeing Wan Tang's disheveled state, was even more pleased and echoed, "Exactly, given her status, even if she is beaten, what can be done?"

Chu Yunzheng's eyes darkened; he personally helped Wan Tang up, his fingertips tightening slightly around her wrist, his voice hoarse, "Does it hurt?"

Wan Tang's eyelashes fluttered, a silent tear slipped down, yet she forced a smile and said, "I can still endure."

The blood at her mouth corner pricked Chu Yunzheng, but she smiled at him and nodded.

Chu Yunzheng raised his hand, wiping the blood from her mouth corner, his voice like an ice spear striking the ground: "I have said before that I will never let you be humiliated for nothing."

Minister of Revenue Xiao instantly understood, exchanged a glance with the Empress, then suddenly knelt on the ground, loudly proclaiming, "Emperor! Empress Dowager! I, the old minister, dare to speak."

He pointed sharply at Xu Chengyuan: "General Xu's arrogance has reached this point, daring to publicly humiliate Lady Wan! Even though she was once a maid of the Xu household, she is now a consort of the Son of Heaven! Such disregard for protocol, contempt for imperial authority…"

"Father." The Empress pretended to scold, deliberately letting the final syllable tremble, "The great battle in Bei Mo is imminent; General Xu is the unquestionable choice for the campaign."

"Hmph, knowing the war is coming, General Xu keeps creating obstacles. The treasury is in crisis; how can the troops not eat these stored rations?" Minister Xiao bowed heavily, his forehead dusted with soil, "Now General Xu has not yet set out, yet he makes the Emperor repeatedly difficult, even slapping Lady Wan."

"I cannot help but wonder whether General Xu truly regards the Emperor,"

"Enough." Chu Yunzheng suddenly let out a light laugh, his fingertips brushing Wan Tang's reddened swollen face, the sleeves of his dragon robe casting a solid shadow over her: "Minister Xu."

When he lifted his eyes, ice glimmered in his pupils: "You have greatly disappointed me."

Xu Chengyuan's complexion changed dramatically, and with a thud he knelt: "I am loyal to the Emperor, may Heaven bear witness. The Duanwu rites are over; tomorrow I can set out for Bei Mo to defend the Emperor against foreign foes."

"Father." Xu Luoyan's eyes were full of doubt, even a hint of anger, as if she had deviated from the original plan.

【Arriving, Xu Chengyuan sets out on the campaign.】

【In the original, wasn't it Xu Luoyan pleading to her father that led to the expedition? Hence the Emperor favored her more?】

【Regardless, with General Xu departing, the time for Xu Luoyan's great favor has arrived.】

"Please all rise!" Chu Yunzheng handed Wan Tang to Li Ping'er for support, stepped forward two paces, and personally helped Xu Chengyuan up: "It seems what happened earlier was just a misunderstanding."

"Emperor, tomorrow's expedition still has many matters to discuss," Minister Xiao hurried forward to say.

Xu Chengyuan looked at Xu Luoyan.

The Empress Dowager's gaze fell on Wan Tang, carrying a hint of meaning. She then walked toward Xu Luoyan, looking at her more warmly, and said, "I find your hair ornament a bit too plain."

"These are phoenix hairpins bestowed by the Late Emperor, three in total. I think they match your makeup today exceptionally well."

While speaking, the Empress Dowager took the phoenix hairpins from her head and placed them on Xu Luoyan's head.

Xu Luoyan was overjoyed, quickly kneeling to give thanks.

Xu Chengyuan also hurried to kowtow: "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your great favor to your little daughter."

The Empress Dowager nodded, looking at Chu Yunzheng: "Emperor, the situation in Bei Mo is urgent; you go first. I and the Empress will stay here."

"Yes, Mother." Chu Yunzheng's eyes also showed urgency; the ministers ended the banquet early and hurried to the Imperial Study.

Xu Luoyan looked at Wan Tang with intense hatred. That gaze clearly meant she could devour her whole at any moment.

Just as the Emperor and his party had taken their first steps away, the Empress Dowager said, "Lady Wan."

Wan Tang quickly withdrew the gaze that had followed Chu Yunzheng and looked at the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager's face turned terrifyingly cold: "Today's incident originated from you; I will not be lenient."

"You are fined half a year's salary, then you must go to Cining Palace to kneel and copy Buddhist sutras. It will also calm your restless heart."

Everyone's eyes held a mocking expression, as if watching a stumbling clown.

"Thank you for the Empress Dowager's grace." Wan Tang bore no resentment, instead kowtowed heavily in gratitude.

In front of Cining Palace.

Two hours later, Wan Tang had finished copying the sutra.

The Empress Dowager looked at Wan Tang, sighing softly: "Lady Wan, you were clearly wronged. I punish you, why do you still thank me?"

"Empress Dowager, you are protecting the concubine," Wan Tang replied decisively.

The Empress Dowager's eyes lifted slightly, surprised, "You are indeed sensible."

"Enough, the reward is given, the punishment is given, you may return!"

Wan Tang was about to step forward to thank, but the Empress Dowager turned her head disdainfully: "Since you serve the Emperor, your incense taste should be refined. The scent on you is too foul!"

The Empress Dowager outright rejected her, refusing even the thanks, and went straight back inside.

Wan Tang was shocked inside; was she really smelly? No… that couldn't be the literal meaning of foul.

【Interesting, truly worthy of the previous generation's palace‑intrigue master; what looks like a punishment is actually a reward.】

【Although Xu Luoyan's phoenix hairpins are only three, the Late Emperor's gifts number in dozens of boxes for the Empress Dowager.】

【Incense is different; the Empress Dowager clearly wants Wan Tang to bear a son, right? What gold and silver ornaments can compare to the importance of a Prince?】

Hearing the Barrage, Wan Tang felt shocked.

So the incense is the issue? Then which kind of incense is it?

Wan Tang couldn't help but quicken her steps, wanting to return and investigate.

Who would have thought that before even reaching the gate of Cuivei Palace, they would see Shang Zhi anxiously peering.

Seeing Wan Tang's figure, they hurried forward and shouted, "Young master, it's not good—Ping'er has just been taken away by the noble concubine's men."

"They say it's because Ping'er is obedient and sensible, that they want to fulfill Ping'er, giving her a good marriage."