Chapter 318: A Misunderstanding

"I, your humble servant, am terrified," Wan Tang knelt, her eyes full of panic.

Chu Yunzheng simply stared into her eyes, his cold voice overly indifferent: "Empress, if you cannot understand what you have done, then keep kneeling properly."

Having said that, Chu Yunzheng took Bai Li's hand, brushed past Wan Tang, and walked inside.

【Dog Emperor, are you truly unable to discern right from wrong?】

【What Bai Li said, when she turned around someone told us everything that happened here, but the Dog Emperor deliberately pretended not to hear. Why? Isn't it because after Xiao Dongzi came in, he relayed every word the ministers said to the Dog Emperor without omission?】

【This is plainly naked jealousy. Yes, the Dog Emperor is foolish, but the ministers' hearts are toward the Empress.】

Wan Tang knelt there, her face suddenly sinking.

So that's how it is.

Chu Yunzheng has always been sensitive to imperial authority; previously all the ministers unanimously supported him becoming Empress, and later he himself formed a Hundred Thousand Army.

If it weren't for Su Yanci's kind lie, the Emperor would have had her killed long ago.

Although she risked her life, she exchanged it for Chu Yunzheng's last shred of conscience.

But that was only as long as it did not threaten imperial authority.

Now, a few Armbone Ministers saying such words is practically pushing her into a fire pit.

Chu Yunzheng's love for himself has become increasingly less.

Given Wan Tang's current status, pretending to be completely helpless is certainly impossible.

Before the child is born, the only way is to make him feel that their love is as solid as gold.

Wan Tang, still kneeling, turned her body, crawling on the ground, refusing to let Chu Yunzheng see her eyes.

She said slowly: "Emperor, I, your humble servant, now know where I was wrong."

Chu Yunzheng sat upright on the main seat, Bai Li stood beside him, tears still glistening in her eyes.

"Emperor, I should hand over Kunning Palace," Wan Tang's voice was full of self‑mockery: "It is I, who do not know right from wrong!"

She stood at an absolutely disadvantaged position, yet her words contained a hint of provocation.

Chu Yunzheng's hand, which was resting on the armrest, suddenly clenched.

Yin Zhi's eyes fixed on Wan Tang, coldly saying: "Are you threatening me?"

Just now a minister stood on Wan Tang's side, and Wan Tang dares to say she will relinquish Kunning Palace—what does that mean?

Wan Tang slowly lifted her head.

Her voice was full of sorrow: "For the Emperor, I am willing to endure anything."

"But the premise is, what does my endurance exchange for?"

She gave a self‑mocking smile, then slowly turned her head toward Bai Li: "Only you can cry—does that mean I have no tears?"

"It's just that, in the Emperor's eyes, he only sees your tears; you can shed a few tears and easily invalidate everything about others?"

Wan Tang inhaled through her nose, her eye sockets reddening.

Chu Yunzheng felt irritable.

On the way back, he had already decided that today he must make Wan Tang understand that, whether in the Former Dynasty's harem or elsewhere, only he decides.

But the moment he saw Wan Tang, he suddenly panicked.

That woman... she was crying.

His heart softened involuntarily.

Between him and Wan Tang, too many things have happened, and moreover, the Empress Dowager's death is also a secret they share.

Chu Yunzheng's voice deepened a few tones, his manner no longer like before: "I thought you would treat Bai Li kindly."

"I also said I would love the house and the crows."

"I have no feelings for Concubine Bai, but I, love the Emperor," Wan Tang said forcefully.

Chu Yunzheng rose, looking down at Wan Tang: "You keep saying you love, so what are you doing?"

"Do everything within my ability," Wan Tang's gaze fixed on the Emperor.

"Emperor," Bai Li, feeling aggrieved, stammered while pulling Chu Yunzheng's sleeve: "Look, the Empress is now pretending to be innocent."

"It wasn't like that just now!"

"She even dares to act as your master and bully me."

Wan Tang laughed: "Concubine Bai, what you said is really funny—what exactly is your understanding of bullying?"

"Is it that any matter not complying with your wishes counts as bullying?"

"Hmph!" Bai Li turned her face away, looking as if she didn't want to speak to Wan Tang.

Wan Tang looked back at Chu Yunzheng, calmly saying: "Emperor, I have a clear conscience. Today, I indeed ignored Concubine Bai's words, only because she resides in Kunning Palace, which is truly against the rules."

"You say she wants to live in Kunning Palace?" Chu Yunzheng was also quite shocked.

He turned his head, slightly surprised, toward Bai Li: "Bai Li? What's going on?"

"Emperor, she had me come to Kunning Palace—so after I entered the palace, isn't that just my own residence?"

"Shouldn't I be allowed to comment a few words about my own residence?"

Bai Li, upright and assertive, said: "Moreover, I never wanted to enter the palace; it was only out of necessity."

"Who would have thought she would take matters into her own hands and reduce me to merely a Concubine rank."

Wan Tang found it amusing in her heart.

Repeated endurance, and now that we have already reached the palace, a white moonlight already in hand only loses value.

Given that, why be so courteous?

Wan Tang exclaimed in disbelief: "Concubine Bai, the Emperor treats you like his heart and liver, and you claim you are forced?"

"Is serving the Emperor supposed to make you so aggrieved?" Wan Tang, of course, defended her.

"Indeed, what some disdain as unworthy is truly a lifelong pursuit for others."

Wan Tang lifted her head, gazing into Chu Yunzheng's eyes, already hot tears welling in her eyes.

Chu Yunzheng felt restless in his heart.

Clearly he had heard this from Bai Li countless times, yet today it sounded especially harsh.

Seeing Wan Tang's tears, as if a giant hand were gripping his heart, he found it hard to breathe.

"Li'er."

Chu Yunzheng said in a thin breath, his voice deep: "I do not know what you are dissatisfied with?"

"Do you think Concubine Li's position does not match you?"

"Naturally." Bai Li raised her head: "The Emperor said, I am a Noble Consort."

"Then you should know, if it were not for the Empress's repeated pleas, you would be merely a Lady of Grace…" Chu Yunzheng's voice was dreadfully low.

Bai Li's face was full of shock.

Yet she reacted extremely quickly.

When she saw the revulsion flash in Chu Yunzheng's eyes, she immediately came to her senses.

She forced a look of guilt, stepped forward, and helped Wan Tang: "I see, Empress, this is a misunderstanding."

"I thought it was you who was meddling."

She inhaled: "Thank you, Empress, Subject… Subject, I will kowtow to you now."

She pretended to kneel.

Wan Tang simply watched calmly.

This woman can successfully marry Yan Wang and still cling to Chu Yunzheng; she truly is a character.

She truly can be both yielding and assertive.

But Wan Tang would never give her that chance: "Concubine Li, now that the misunderstanding is cleared, please understand why you must obey the Palace Rules."

"Your kneeling shows you uphold the Palace Rules. Those who don't know might think I have wronged you again."

"After all, Concubine Li is like crystal; she should be well cared for."

With these words, Chu Yunzheng's face was full of shame.

He stepped forward, brushed past Bai Li, personally helped Wan Tang, and softly said: "I have misunderstood you."

"The Emperor and Empress are of one heart; since the Emperor can ask me, it shows he trusts me."

Wan Tang opened her mouth to speak.

Chu Yunzheng gave an awkward smile.

The two held each other's hands, eyes full of mutual empathy.

It made Bai Li, standing beside them, seem like an unnecessary person.

She suddenly sighed, brushed her tears, and softly said: "Seeing the Emperor and Empress's deep affection makes me feel like an unnecessary person."

"Indeed, I am merely a concubine rank, only able to live in that dark, sunless place."

She pretended to leave.

Chu Yunzheng also keenly caught the key word.

Gripping Wan Tang's hand tightly again: "Even though you are a concubine rank, Li'er, you are a very special existence to me. As for residence, it should not be equated with a concubine rank."

"Emperor, you should ask her where she lives!" Wan Tang's tone was full of fatigue and helplessness.

Bai Li pretended to smile bravely: "Your Majesty, it's fine. I have lived in Jingxin An before; even if Cuivei Palace is small, remote, and dilapidated, it is still better than living in a nunnery, isn't it?"

As usual, Chu Yunzheng would be flustered, for such a place could not possibly match his own white moonlight.

But at this moment, Chu Yunzheng's face was full of shock and loss.

He asked blankly: "In your heart, is Cuivei Palace not good?"

"Your Majesty, that's a place where even birds don't poop; even the trees are dead," Chun Xing muttered discontentedly.

Chu Yunzheng laughed: "Li'er, what about you?"

"If you think it's not good, I will change it for you."

Bai Li's face still held that pitiful pose: "Subject can live wherever, but I do not wish to wrong the Emperor."

"After all, Subject is very afraid of the dark."

The last glimmer of light in Chu Yunzheng's eyes vanished: "Living in Cuivei Palace indeed wronged you."

"Then, let's go to Changchun Palace!"

Chun Xing's eyes lit up instantly, whispering beside them: "Changchun Palace rivals Jingren Palace, but only a Noble Consort can reside there."

Bai Li's gaze was deeply affectionate; having gotten what she wanted, she also knew when to stop.

Holding Chu Yunzheng's hand, she softly said: "Your Majesty, today is just a misunderstanding."

"It's getting late; why not, Your Majesty, follow me back to the palace to rest?"

Chu Yunzheng's body stiffened, gently pulled Bai Li's hand away, his voice tinged with distance: "Li'er, you go back first!"

"Tonight, I will stay with the Empress."

Saying so, he gave a bitter smile, then turned to Wan Tang: "I smell the scent of spicy crab; it's been a long time since I tasted Tangtang's cooking."

"Tonight, I will dine in Kunning Palace."