Chapter 323: How Dare You Lay a Hand on My Sister

That night, Wan Tang slept so soundly.

A night without dreams, with neither nostalgia for the past nor fear of the future.

Since losing the child in her womb, Wan Tang's ideal sleep state has been having nothing at all.

The next day, she did her makeup in front of the mirror.

Wan Tang watched Qiu Niang's silhouette standing behind her and recalled the scene of Su Yanci's departure.

At that moment, Qiu Niang turned around.

She watched Su Yanci walk away.

Watching his eyes, which had never held her image.

She shed a tear sadly.

Then she lifted the corner of her mouth, her eyes full of blessings.

As always, she carefully inspected Wan Tang's food and daily necessities.

"Empress." Ning Daying's steps were somewhat hurried.

"Quick, go see sister quickly."

"Oh dear, Ning Daying, please catch your breath and speak slowly; look how exhausted you are…" Xiao Luzi said nearby, genuinely concerned.

He hurriedly fanned Ning Daying.

Ning Daying couldn't help but remark, "That crazy old woman actually came to our Jingren Palace, and now she's leaning on sister."

"What!"

Wan Tang sprang to her feet.

Her face turned ice‑cold, she threw on her outer robe and stepped out.

Jingren Palace.

The Consorts in the Side Hall each stood nearby, uneasy.

Li Pin has now moved out of Jingren Palace; after all, she raises the Second Prince under her care and also holds a principal position in the palace.

Hearing the commotion, she also rushed over.

Upon the Empress's arrival, everyone hurriedly performed their bows.

Li Pin greeted at the doorway, "Empress, you finally arrived."

"Please stay calm; this matter has far too many loopholes. In my view, it's clearly meant to provoke you deliberately."

"Shall we wait here for a moment first?"

Wan Tang looked at Li Pin's overly cautious demeanor and hummed.

She cast a complaining glance, "Can my palace still be impulsive?"

"Rest assured."

Li Pin remained worried, trailing behind Wan Tang.

Upon entering, what met them was not a quarrel but a terrifying silence.

Li Pin knelt in the courtyard, already weeping into a puddle of tears.

Beside her lay a toppled gift box and a bowl of glutinous rice balls.

As for Hui Guifei, no one was seen.

When Wan Tang arrived, Li Pin hurriedly knelt two steps forward and immediately kowtowed, "Empress, I have erred; please punish me!"

Wan Tang felt a sudden thud in her heart.

This woman, even before the Emperor, always addressed me as an equal, never willing to lower her head even a bit, and now she does this?

"Playing the victim?"

"Feigning pity?"

"Are these tactics new?"

Seeing this, Wan Tang sighed lightly, "Li Pin, what are you doing?"

"If you do this, won't the Emperor feel even more sorry?"

"The Emperor can't bear to keep you kneeling; if my palace doesn't let you rise, does that mean both my palace and sister are at fault?"

Wan Tang retorted.

Bai Li looked up, smiling at Wan Tang; though her voice still carried guilt, her eyes also showed triumph.

Her tone remained charmingly delicate, "So, Empress, you have forgiven me?"

"Do I no longer need to kneel?"

Wan Tang, repulsed by her, still replied, "Naturally."

"If you err, the Emperor will dispense justice himself."

Bai Li was trying to force her to enforce Palace Rules, which wasn't difficult at all.

Even if the Emperor learned of it, since she acted according to protocol, the Emperor naturally could not object.

But doesn't this give Bai Li a chance to play the victim before the Emperor? Either way, she and the Emperor will naturally harbor resentment.

The key is that, by doing so, all the personas Wan Tang had fabricated in the Emperor's mind will be undone.

Seeing such harmony, Li Pin was about to sigh in relief.

But unexpectedly, Li Pin actually rose.

She even reached out and seized Wan Tang's hand.

With tears still on her eyes, "Since the Empress says so, I have no choice but to kneel before the Emperor."

"After all, this time I truly did something wrong."

She released her grip and turned away.

Deliberately stretching her voice: "Ah! After all, Subject came early this morning to deliver a gift to the Noble Consort."

Who would have thought Consort Hui would actually refuse to accept it.

"Subject only wanted to get on good terms with the Noble Consort, sigh, never imagined the item would fall and cause the Noble Consort to slip!"

Boom!

Wan Tang was as if struck by lightning.

Bai Li waved her hand and walked out.

Her voice choked: "Subject will go to Yangxin Hall and kneel right now."

She truly is a weak willow supporting the waist.

And put everything out in the open.

Punish her, and the Emperor's image in his heart will collapse.

If not punished, a rift will arise between her and the Noble Consort.

"Stop!" Wan Tang hissed low, her voice sounding as if from hell.

The people nearby were covered in goosebumps, frightened enough to step back a pace and quiet their breathing.

Bai Li turned, a smile at the corner of her mouth: "What? Empress, are you going to punish Subject?"

"Do you want to teach Subject a lesson for the Emperor?"

Saying so, she pinched the hem of her skirt, about to kneel.

Slap!

A crisp sound of a slap.

Bai Li hadn't reacted yet, Wan Tang's slap had already landed on her face.

"Ah!" Bai Li cried, her expression changing, staring at Wan Tang in disbelief: "You actually dare hit me?"

Wan Tang's breathing was heavy.

This slap made even her own hand burn with a fiery pain.

She stared straight at Bai Li, asking the people beside her: "Sister, how is it?"

The attendant to Consort Hui's matron hurriedly knelt, trembling like a sieve: "Reply Empress, since Hui Guifei became pregnant, her heart has been constantly depressed."

"The child has been unstable, and later rebelled, taking up a sword in battle, causing considerable impact."

"The Imperial Medical Institute has continuously required quiet convalescence."

"Today's fall left slight bloodstains, and it has now been sent to the Imperial Medical Institute…"

Wan Tang could clearly feel that she was so angry she trembled.

She walked step by step toward Bai Li.

Bai Li had already prepared for Wan Tang's anger, but didn't expect that when Wan Tang was angry, it would be so terrifying.

She swallowed a mouthful of saliva with difficulty: "What? Empress, one slap isn't enough, you still want to act?"

"You are the Empress."

"To do such an indecent thing."

"Slap!" another slap.

"Ah!"

Bai Li screamed, hurriedly covering her face.

"You're mad, you actually dare hit my face…"

Wan Tang said nothing, and delivered several more slaps.

The slap sounded crisp, Wan Tang's voice icy cold: "Relying on the Emperor's favor, thinking no one dares to lay a hand on you, can you do whatever you wish?"

"The Emperor favors you, we indulge you."

"You may comfortably live in the Imperial harem."

Wan Tang said, grabbing her neck, forcing her to lift her head and look into her eyes.

"You… what do you want to do? Let go of me!"

Bai Li finally began to feel fear.

Wan Tang's voice, though tinged with a smile, sounded chilling: "How dare you strike at sister!"

"If anything happens to sister or the child, I'll take your life!"

Wan Tang said, her hand suddenly tightened.

From the doorway came Xiao Dongzi's voice: "Emperor has arrived!"