Chapter 322: He Keeps Wearing It

Oh my, this price is indeed a bit high. The Emperor is angry and, in one breath, implicated more than thirty thousand people, all thrown into the big jail.

Those thrown into the big jail are already the light ones; several thousand more lost their lives because of this rumor.

The point is, Tangtang, the Son of Heaven, was actually detained—what a living joke!

I never expected Bai Li's tactics to be so lowly, actually thinking of using this method against Wan Tang.

Chun Xing is already dead; she no longer has any useful person by her side. It seems she has now woken up, realizing that relying solely on favor cannot deal with Wan Tang, and has begun to understand the use of strategy.

Exactly, look—she's recently selecting people she can use.

Wan Tang listened to the words of the barrage in her mind and slowly raised her head.

She looked at Xiao Shunzi, who was checking the accounts, and asked: "Who is managing the newly opened Nightless City?"

"Answering the Master, it's a cousin of the Qi Family."

Xiao Shunzi shouted while multitasking, handing the accounts to Wan Tang: "Master, lately there are many new faces, all girls from bad families who were sold by their parents."

"According to your orders, teach them to read and write; these few children are the most outstanding."

Wan Tang glanced at the list.

She smiled and nodded: "Not bad."

"By the way, wasn't Chun Xing dead?" Wan Tang seemed to recall something: "Pear Concubine is lonely in the Imperial Palace; she must have someone to talk to."

"Select a few clever ones who have never shown their faces, and send them to Pear Concubine."

Xiao Shunzi was slightly surprised: "Isn't that cheapening Pear Concubine?"

Wan Tang's gaze darkened: "Pear Concubine holds a slight prejudice against my palace; we shall also act as good people this time."

"Just let them have a chance encounter."

"Let her stay close to Pear Concubine, and no matter what Pear Concubine wants to do, help her to the utmost."

Xiao Shunzi suddenly understood, his face full of surprise: "Master wants to be by Pear Concubine's side…"

Wan Tang smiled and nodded.

She lazily adjusted the accessory on her forehead: "Sister's delivery day is drawing nearer; I don't want the palace to become unsettled."

"Pear Concubine can adapt to palace life, that's fine; the Emperor also needs a close confidante."

"If she can't adapt, she'd be an eyesore…"

Wan Tang's gaze suddenly turned cold, and her tone sharply became icy: "My presence here is not to waste time with them."

"Yes!" Xiao Shunzi quickly replied.

She put away the organized accounts and asked again: "Master, now because of the Jingxin An incident, the whole City is in turmoil, everyone is terrified."

"Alas!" Wan Tang sighed lightly: "The Emperor wants to hold everything in his own hands; how can he not be weary?"

Wan Tang glanced at the accounts and casually tossed a ledger away.

"Use all the profits from this shop to appease those implicated this time."

She emphasized: "Especially those connected to the Former Dynasty."

"Yes!"

Xiao Shunzi took the items and set off immediately.

At night, Qiu Niang attended to the sides.

Wan Tang sat under the Ginkgo tree, watching the bright moon in the sky.

On a midsummer night, the sky was dotted with countless stars, and insects sang low beside her ears.

Wan Tang leaned on the lounge chair, closed her eyes and pretended to nap.

Ginkgo leaves drifted down slowly; Qiu Niang hurriedly looked up, her face full of delight.

Looking again at Wan Tang beside her, a faint dimness appeared in her eyes; she instinctively stepped back a few paces and went to guard the courtyard entrance.

"Having Qiu Niang guard the gate, it seems you have arrived."

Wan Tang did not open her eyes; with eyes closed she said: "Aren't you tired of standing on the wall all the time?"

A faint sound rang, and Su Yanci stepped forward slowly, coming to Wan Tang's side.

Only then did Wan Tang open her eyes, sit upright, and maintain her bearing.

Looking at the shallow scar on his face, a faint pain rose in her heart, but she quickly suppressed those unwarranted emotions.

She smiled faintly: "I don't have Peach Blossom Brew today."

"What a coincidence, I just happened to bring it." Su Yanci's voice was full of joy as he took a bottle of Peach Blossom Brew from his bosom.

He laughed cleanly, his voice light and a bit proud: "This time, it was specially brewed for me by Younger Sister."

He fetched a cup himself, poured the wine, and pushed the glass toward Wan Tang.

"Taste it?"

Wan Tang reached out, her pale fingers touching the rim of the cup, and a sip of Peach Blossom Brew slid down her throat into her belly.

"Fragrant and sweet, indeed, my imitation still hasn't grasped the essence." Wan Tang smiled and shook her head.

Su Yanci took everything in with his eyes.

He closed his eyes and drank the wine in the cup.

He said softly: "It seems that the Pear Concubine Madam's influence on you is still considerable."

He turned the cup, emotions unreadable hidden in his eyes: "Regarding this cup of wine, I have a different perspective."

"Even if it's all Peach Blossom Brew, the Madam's wine is richer, more worthy of savoring slowly."

"And drinking too much can make one become immersed in it."

While speaking of the wine, Su Yanci's gaze never left Wan Tang's face.

Wan Tang's body trembled slightly, and she lowered her head in silence.

"The wine is finished; it's time to discuss business."

Su Yanci smiled faintly, gently set the wine cup on the table: "Today the Emperor ordered me to enroll your one hundred thousand troops into the military camp."

"Scattered among the various military camps."

"Do you understand what this means?"

Wan Tang's gaze instantly darkened, she sneered: "It seems our Emperor has never truly trusted me."

"What does the Ministry of Revenue say?" Wan Tang asked lightly.

Su Yanci laughed out loud: "Naturally it's a string of complaints; for one hundred thousand troops, how much money and provisions are needed?"

"If contributions to the military camps cease, what then will the Ministry of Revenue do?" Wan Tang asked.

Su Yanci sighed deeply: "In that case, the basic supplies for those one hundred thousand troops will surely give the Ministry of Revenue a headache."

"Whatever the Emperor orders, we'll do it!" Wan Tang said evenly.

Yet her gaze held a fierce edge: "Fengqi Kingdom's reputation has been poor lately; this caravan's dealings among nations, its own country is its greatest backing."

"When a country encounters trouble, how can the caravan make profit?"

"If it can't earn money, where could it donate?"

Wan Tang helplessly spread her hands, bitterly smiling at Su Yanci: "In any case, Lord Su will probably have to ask the Ministry of Revenue for money."

Su Yanci's mouth curved upward, his eyes full of Wan Tang's little clever spirit.

He nodded: "I have no way; since I can't manage it, that side must hand it over to the Emperor."

The two exchanged a smile; there was no need to spell everything out so clearly.

But seeing Su Yanci venture forward, Wan Tang's tone couldn't help but carry a trace of lingering sorrow.

With a sidelong glance at Qiu Niang by the doorway, she said bitterly: "Lord Su, why are you helping me like this?"

"If you wish to grant marriage to anyone, this palace will certainly fulfill any request."

When the last word left her lips, Wan Tang visibly felt a pain in her chest.

Su Yanci's expression changed abruptly, and he clenched his teeth fiercely.

He lowered his head: "The first time I saw you, you were like an injured kitten, curled up and quietly crying."

"Seeing the blood on you, I thought you must have been forced into a corner."

"If you were not one of the Imperial harem, that day I would have taken you away."

Wan Tang suddenly lifted her head.

Su Yanci let out a sigh, leapt, and reached the top of the wall.

Under the moonlight, the ill‑fitting bracelet on Su Yanci's wrist shone brilliantly.

"That is…" Wan Tang suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes unusually bright, "the bracelet I gave to Qiu Niang."

"He has been wearing it all this time…"