Chapter 314: Just a Little Too Impatient

"What?"

Bai Zijun was astonished and bewildered; even though a guard held him back, he still shouted resentfully, "Emperor."

"You can't treat me this way; sister is the most distressed for me."

It would be fine if it weren't about Bai Li, but as soon as Bai Li is mentioned, Chu Yunzheng recalls that humiliating scene from just now.

"How dare you!" Chu Yunzheng roared.

His chilling aura pressed down like Mount Tai: "Open your dog eyes and look carefully—who am I?"

That roar frightened Bai Zijun, making him shiver.

Like a sudden enlightenment, he came to his senses.

The person before him, regardless of his attitude toward Bai Li, is ultimately the Emperor—a ruler below no one and above ten thousand.

Likewise, he is the sovereign who holds the power of life and death, the supreme ruler of the realm.

Bai Zijun's legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground.

Like a dead dog, he was dragged away by the guards.

The Duke of Ning was so ashamed his old face turned crimson, and he bowed his head deeply.

His pallid hair was a bit disheveled, and he looked considerably haggard.

Wan Tang merely stared coldly; even so, the Duke of Ning remained an unworthy object of sympathy.

Even knowing it was wrong, he could still have a second child with a concubine; a person like that deserves a fitting end.

"Return to the palace!"

Chu Yunzheng, already irritable, barked coldly, then turned and walked ahead.

Xiao Dongzi hurried to follow.

The group of ministers followed behind.

The Duke of Ning swallowed hard, hesitated repeatedly, yet forced himself to step forward.

Standing before Wan Tang, his face awkward, he asked, "May I ask, Empress, about my daughter…"

Wan Tang turned her head, her gaze icy.

In her tone there was not a trace of emotion: "I, of course, have heard the Emperor."

"Duke, please rest assured; I will never make things difficult for the other party. Or, if you have any requests or orders, you may tell me all, and I will try to accommodate them."

Clearly the victim is Wan Tang, yet she still acts so magnanimously.

Hearing this made the Duke of Ning feel even more mortified.

He felt deeply ashamed: "Empress, I, the old minister, apologize to you, I apologize to the Mo Family."

"I know, it's that unfilial girl who is foolish. Your Majesty need not trouble yourself over that rebellious woman…"

Although he said so, Wan Tang could still clearly sense that the Duke of Ning continued to protect that daughter at every turn.

She slowly lifted the corner of her mouth.

Her voice carried resentment and helplessness: "Speaking of it, Consort Hui is already seven months pregnant, a very sensitive time."

"Yet as soon as she heard the Duke was in trouble, she still went to see him recklessly."

"Some people are naturally hard‑mouthed but soft‑hearted; just because they don't speak up doesn't mean they don't need help."

Wan Tang finished speaking and tilted her head slightly upward.

The Duke of Ning was stunned.

He kept muttering word after word about Bai Li, but had he ever thought of that eldest daughter?

She was, after all, his officially wedded wife, the legitimate daughter of the Ning family, who had trained in martial arts and swordplay by his side since childhood.

Though a woman, she fulfilled all his fantasies about a son.

Moreover, her entering the palace was already a betrayal by the Ning family.

"Please, Your Majesty, take good care of the young lady," the Duke of Ning bowed his back, "I, the old minister, am immensely grateful."

Wan Tang's expression remained cold: "Rest assured, I will only take good care of my sister."

Without casting another glance at the Duke of Ning, she abruptly left.

The way back.

Wan Tang sat in the phoenix carriage.

She happened to glimpse Su Yanci standing by the street.

Their face bore a hint of haggardness, they clutched a box in their hand, their steps hurried, destination unknown.

Beside them, Qiu Niang's gaze followed, her face showing unabashed infatuation.

Wan Tang observed everything, unable to suppress a soft sigh in her heart.

Since Su Yanci had left the mute girl beside Wan Tang, Wan Tang rarely spoke to the mute girl.

But it must be said, she was indeed very useful.

【Dog Emperor, truly paranoid. The front foot just left, and the rear foot already sent Ouyang Qing to investigate today's matters.】

【Clearly suspecting Wan Tang of scheming, first sending Ouyang Qing to uncover why Wan Tang and others appeared so conveniently, then taking away the items from Bai Li's residence.】

【If Bai Li truly becomes a consort, I will die of anger.】

Consort?

Wan Tang sneered inwardly.

A woman whose reputation is utterly ruined, a widowed woman who climbs onto the dragon bed in this way—just getting into the palace is already a good thing.

That title of 'Consort' would surely become a laughingstock to the world.

Wan Tang turned her head, looking at the mute girl Qiu Niang who followed her.

She asked coldly, "Can you be certain that that scent has no issue?"

Qiu Niang heard the words and immediately began gesturing respectfully, her movements urgent.

After seeing it, Wan Tang roughly understood.

That fragrance, when used alone, shows no abnormality.

Its real purpose is to make the already aphrodisiac contents in Bai Li's Fragrance pouch even more intense.

Night fell.

Yangxin Hall.

Chu Yunzheng sat on the Dragon Throne, his expression gloomy.

He clenched a Fragrance pouch in his hand, with an incense burner lit beside it.

The scent inside was exactly the one he had smelled at Jingxin An during the day.

Xiao Dongzi reported.

Wan Tang entered.

Seeing the scene, she feigned doubt: "Emperor, isn't this the Fragrance pouch you picked up that day?"

Chu Yunzheng slightly frowned, forced a smile, and set it aside.

Whether it is or isn't, it doesn't matter at all.

The pouch from that day got wet; even after drying, rings of stained color remained on the outside.

But this one is brand‑new and even has a tiny pear blossom on it.

"Just pulled it out, taking a casual look."

Chu Yunzheng finished speaking, his face full of disdain, and tossed the item away.

【Laughing to death, now you know it's lost, but you have no idea how prized it was when Bai Li gave it to him a couple of days ago?】

【Exactly, it could stay close to him, he couldn't bear to take it out.】

【Turns out today there were no issues anywhere; it's just this Fragrance pouch that's haunted. Got it, huh?】

Wan Tang pretended not to understand, merely gazing softly at Chu Yunzheng.

He immediately pointed to the mountain‑high stack of memorials on the desk and raged: "Look, the whole court of civil and military officials is impeaching me over the matter with Bai Li!"

"Their words are sharp; they barely consider me at all."

Wan Tang, in a gentle voice, consoled: "Emperor, you are the supreme ruler of the realm; your actions have their own reasoning."

"Subject believes the ministers will understand."

Chu Yunzheng snorted coldly: "Their mouths aren't so easy to shut up, are they?"

"It is indeed improper for the young lady Bai to remain outside the palace," Wan Tang weighed, "If she is welcomed into the palace as an Imperial Concubine with the Emperor's rightful and proper endorsement, all criticism will naturally subside."

Chu Yunzheng's gaze flickered: "Under what status should she enter the palace?"

"She cannot be a palace maid, nor is it appropriate to use a kinship title."

Wan Tang lowered her eyes: "The Emperor and Yan Wang were originally brothers. Among the people there is an old saying about shouldering two households."

"The Emperor bringing Bai Li into the palace is the most proper course."

Chu Yunzheng's eyes clouded: "Entering the palace is naturally good, but according to the Empress, what status should I grant her?"

Wan Tang came here, wasn't it precisely for this purpose?

Chu Yunzheng doesn't he like Bai Li?

Doesn't he want to obtain anything he wishes?

Wan Tang, of course, wants to fulfill them.

And also to make Chu Yunzheng become a ruler despised by all.

A tyrant who, for a widowed aunt and sister‑in‑law, disregards moral principles.

Wan Tang smiled, took out the Shice in her hand, and said: "Subject cannot make the decision, so I had the Imperial Household Department draft the wording for the Emperor to review."

Chu Yunzheng examined the Shice; the characters were neatly written.

All of them were what Wan Tang had planned, several characters more suitable for bestowal.

Only the final character bore a faint smudge of tear‑stained ink.

Chu Yunzheng saw this, his heart stirred slightly, looked up at Wan Tang, and said with emotion: "Tangtang's calligraphy is even more neat."

"I still recall that you once could not even write your own name properly."

Wan Tang smiled gently: "That was because the Emperor taught you well."

Chu Yunzheng, with a hint of guilt, asked: "You let me personally draft the document to this extent; does it not feel aggrieved?"

"Aggrieved." Wan Tang lowered her eyelids, her voice full of restraint: "As long as it can quell the rumors of the Former Dynasty's harem and prevent the Emperor's reputation from being tarnished, any deed is worthwhile."

"After all, Subject loves the Emperor, wishes the Emperor well, not as if to possess him."

Chu Yunzheng was deeply moved.

He reached out and pinched Wan Tang's nose.

As if recalling the past: "You're different; you've always been a little fool, but your foolishness is endearing."

"I am willing to protect you, willing to wipe your bottom."

"Because no matter how foolish you are, you safeguard me, giving me peace of mind."

Speaking so, Chu Yunzheng's face was full of sorrow, and he sighed: "She… ah!"

"Just a bit impatient."