Chapter 320: This Person, You Can't Kill

Ahhh! How vicious, that scoundrel Bai Li actually said this in front of the Dog Emperor.

Bai Li says nothing, kneels on the ground and cries, and even claims that Wan Tang spread the scandal about them.

The most detestable part is that the Dog Emperor truly became angry, ordering Ouyang Qing to send people to investigate openly and covertly, and anyone who discussed the matter was seized.

Those who spread the news were thrown straight into the death cell.

"Sss…" Wan Tang winces in pain, letting out a soft gasp.

The needle tip pierces her finger, staining it with a splash of bright red.

The Mountain and River Map in her hand now bears an eye‑catching bloodstain.

Qiu Niang, nervous, hurried forward.

Wan Tang avoids her hand, her voice full of pain: "Am I a villain?"

Qiu Niang hastily shakes her head.

Wan Tang smiles bitterly.

She was the one who spread the rumor, yet as soon as it began to fade, it caused all the caravans to leave Fengqi Kingdom and trade with neighboring countries.

Those who stayed behind were merely onlookers.

Are they innocent?

Wan Tang's heart harbors an indescribable feeling.

She sucks her finger, picks up the needle and thread again, embroidering while muttering to herself: "Across the endless mountains and rivers, where is there a place without blood?"

"The blood drips well; thus the Mountain and River Map comes to life."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty…"

Xiao Luzi's voice came from afar; he stumbled in, and with a thud he fell to his knees on the ground.

His eyes were full of panic: "It's chaos, total chaos."

"Stop!"

Wan Tang instantly stopped him, coldly saying, "Take a breath before you speak."

"Eunuch Shun has been captured, accused of spreading rumors; now the person has already been bound."

"The Emperor is extremely agitated; it looks like he wants to chop off Eunuch Shun's head!"

Wan Tang's hand trembled slightly.

She quickly regained composure.

In an even tone she said, "Give orders: the people of Kunning Palace, regardless of what they hear, should do what they are supposed to do."

"If anyone dares to act recklessly, don't blame me for taking their head."

Xiao Luzi's face was full of shock.

After all, in such a matter, logically Wan Tang should be the most anxious.

"Your Majesty, what about Eunuch Shun?" Xiao Luzi's voice trembled.

Wan Tang's gaze remained steady: "Kunning Palace has never done anything that wronged the Emperor; the Emperor is a wise ruler, and all matters will be investigated thoroughly."

"Yes!"

Xiao Luzi replied affirmatively, but his eyes still showed worry.

After a moment, Wan Tang was calm again; since the incident occurred within the Imperial harem, how could her people be in trouble?

Hui Guifei walked over, holding Minghui.

"Mother." Minghui ran over cheerfully, hugging Wan Tang and kissing her: "I missed you, Mother."

"Go." Wan Tang's face beamed with a smile, huffing pretended anger: "Go, it's been three days since you left Hui Niangniang; now you miss Mother?"

"That was because the daughter studied martial arts with Hui Niangniang; from now on the daughter will protect Mother."

"Look at you, now there's not even a hint of a princess's bearing." Wan Tang smiled reproachfully.

Minghui stuck out his tongue and gave a playful grin: "I don't want to be a princess; I'm like a lofty mountain, and a resentful concubine in a secluded chamber is not what I desire."

"Fine, fine, you have lofty ambitions." Wan Tang scolded Minghui with two remarks: "Mother left you the lotus seed cake you like, go now!"

"Mother is so nice." Minghui giggled, and was taken by Qiu Niang to go eat.

Wan Tang's gaze finally fell on Hui Guifei's prominently swollen belly, and she laughed, saying: "Look, the belly is pointed; it must be a son."

"You, still have the mood to worry about these things," Hui Guifei sighed.

"Xiao Shunzi's life is almost over."

Wan Tang lowered her eyes, then raised them again, calmly: "What is there to fear?"

She held a tea pick in her hand: "Whoever dares to move him, let him die."

Hui Guifei gently shook her head: "You've changed a lot lately."

"Sister, haven't you been the same?" Wan Tang, with a stubborn air, also laughed: "Once sister was thunderously decisive, solitary and cold."

"Back then, sister was like a legendary sword, causing people to only dare admire from afar."

"Now sister even begins to look ahead and behind herself."

Hui Guifei visibly froze, her hands trembling slightly, gently covering her lower abdomen: "You don't know how shameless Bai Li is."

"She and her mother are the same kind of person."

Wan Tang's gaze never left her hand: "Are you worried about the child?"

"Hmm." Hui Guifei faced the truth: "You both still have chances to conceive again, but I have none…"

"As long as sister wishes, the Emperor's treatment of you will not be biased."

Hui Guifei smiled it off: "I don't want anything that Bai Li has touched."

Having said that, she slowly lifted her head, a hint of smile in her eyes: "And you? Why did you light this Calming Incense?"

Facing Hui Guifei, Wan Tang was clearly uneasy.

Who would want such filthy things?

The two exchanged a smile and no longer tangled over this issue.

"When I just sent Minghui back, I saw Li Pin. She was with the Second Prince, just heading to pay respects to the Emperor."

Hui Guifei stared at Wan Tang and slowly said, "I can't be sure whether Xiao Shunzi is in trouble, but you…"

"Bai Li, that woman, not only acts aloof, she also knows how to press people's soft spots."

"How could someone as clever as Yan Wang still fall into the trap?"

Wan Tang answered without hesitation, "Bai Li is ultimately the Duke of Ning's child; knowing it's wrong, who could refuse a father-in-law like the Duke of Ning?"

"Indeed!"

Hui Guifei laughed, "She never cares about reputation; she only wants what she desires."

"Only our Emperor truly believes she is that pure, flawless pear blossom."

"Indeed!" Wan Tang snorted lightly, "She is very purposeful, and crucially her luck is great; truly a hard opponent."

The two smiled, and when mentioning her, their words were full of contempt.

At that moment, Xiao Dongzi arrived.

His face full of worry, "Nubi has seen the Empress, and the Emperor has issued an edict for the Empress to go on a visit."

"Good!" Wan Tang adjusted her cuff and stood up to leave.

"Your Highness," Xiao Dongzi said beside her, hinting, "The Emperor may not have seen the Princess for a long time; perhaps bring the Princess along…"

"Thank you."

Wan Tang thanked him, then shifted her gaze, her tone sharp: "Don't let such greasy things stain my daughter's eyes."

West Side Hall.

Chu Yunzheng sat steadily in the main seat.

Bai Li stood aside.

Xiao Shunzi was pressed to the ground, with the arrogant Chun Xing beside him?

The Second Prince and Li Pin were writing nearby, eyeing the last row, about to finish.

Wan Tang walked over.

Seeing this, she knit her brows and exclaimed, "Xiao Shunzi, why are you here?"

"Did you do something wrong that offended the Emperor?"

Wan Tang pretended not to understand, yet bowed to the Emperor, "Subject has seen the Emperor."

"Your Majesty, since I became your master, Xiao Shunzi has always followed me, always cautious, but what did he do wrong?"

Chu Yunzheng's expression turned sour, unwilling even to look at Wan Tang: "Ask yourself."

Wan Tang looked at Xiao Shunzi, frowning displeased: "Speak!"

"Master, Nubi is wronged!" Xiao Shunzi hurriedly knelt, repeatedly kowtowing, "Nubi is merely, as always, only following the master's orders, delivering a message to the big fellow."

"Then tell us, what did you say?!" Bai Li sneered from beside.

Xiao Shunzi lowered his head, his voice trembling: "Today's words—if anyone can't keep their mouth in check, they shouldn't keep their head."

"Words? What words!" Bai Li sneered, "You wouldn't dare say them now, would you?"

"Your Majesty, do you know why the matter of Jingxin An is known by everyone?"

"It was the Empress's eunuch spreading it outside the palace!"

"Think back to that day; those ministers dared not speak of the ultimate technique, the senior nun had her tongue cut long ago. Only the Empress and the eunuch beside her knew."

Bai Li began to get agitated.

Wiping tears, her voice shaking severely, "From now on, how can I, a subject, be a proper person!"

"The common folk, how will they evaluate the Emperor!"

Chu Yunzheng's gaze turned icy: "Attendants, drag that slandering Nubi out and behead him!"

He gave Wan Tang a cold stare: "You can't control your subordinates; I will for you."

Wan Tang stepped forward, standing before the trembling, kneeling eunuch: "Do not kill him."

"This matter hasn't been fully investigated; how can we kill him?"

"If I say he's wrong, then he's wrong," Chu Yunzheng said, unwilling to argue, his eyes only burning with anger.

What he killed was not Xiao Shunzi, but the resentment toward Wan Tang.

"Your Majesty," Wan Tang met his gaze, "Since I have come today, you cannot kill this person."