Chapter 33: Crushing Bones, Raising Ash

Xu Luoyan's complexion changed, and she trembled as she took the letter and slowly unfolded it.

"Emperor, I was struggling in the mire, and was fortunate to be rescued by you—truly a three‑life blessing. Now the tragedy repeats; I know well that within this deep palace such things are not new, and it has become a gray marginal zone."

"How can my fleeting body shake a tree, and how innocent can Ping'er be? Must it be because of my unwavering loyalty that we suffer such a fate?"

"I cannot turn a blind eye; relying on the Emperor's favor, I have taken it upon myself to intervene. If anything untoward occurs, I ask you not to hold it against me."

Xu Luoyan's hand trembled like a sifter.

The letter fell to the ground, and at this moment she finally began to react.

She stared at Wan Tang in shock: "You… you plotted against this palace?"

"Plot? If I hadn't come, could she have lived?" Chu Yunzheng's gaze shone with a cold light that seemed to see through everything.

Xu Luoyan's complexion turned slightly pale, forcing herself to stay calm: "It was Lady of Grace Wan who ignored the Palace Rules and killed someone. I am merely acting according to the law."

Chu Yunzheng sneered, his gaze falling on Wan Tang's blood‑smeared hands: "When did I ever grant you the authority to overstep your bounds and exercise the Empress's prerogatives?"

Xu Luoyan was at a loss for words.

Listening to the wailing inside, she hurriedly said with deep disgust, "Emperor, Wan Tang has appeared in the South Wu Chamber!"

"A woman of the Emperor, to come to such a filthy place."

"Emperor, please tell me, why would any respectable person come to this eunuch's place?"

"Then why is the Noble Consort also in the South Wu Chamber?"

Xiao Mingshu's voice came from outside the hall; the crowd turned, and saw the Empress in a phoenix crown and rosy robe, her ceremonial guard standing solemnly at the doorway. She walked in slowly, her gaze landing on Wan Tang, a hint of complexity flashing in her eyes.

"I am late," she said to Chu Yunzheng, then hurried forward. Upon seeing Wan Tang's blood‑smeared ten fingers, she involuntarily inhaled sharply: "Lady of Grace Wan is injured so severely? Quickly, summon the imperial physician!"

Wan Tang forced herself up from Chu Yunzheng's embrace, cold sweat soaking her hair which clung to her pallid cheek, yet she gritted her teeth and said, "No hurry... I... can still endure."

Chu Yunzheng waved his hand, Xiao Mingshu gave a slight nod, and looked toward Xu Luoyan.

Her gaze icy, she stepped forward, looking down from above: "I, the Empress, have been ill, making the Noble Consort labor. Now I am not gravely injured, so I will not trouble the Noble Consort further."

Having said that, she completely ignored Xiao Mingshu and turned to look at Li Ping'er and the others.

【The Empress once could not compete with Xu Luoyan, so she pretended to be ill. In truth, she has always harbored resentment over Xu Luoyan's control of the Imperial harem.】

【In the original work, Xu's father went on campaign, Xu Luoyan performed a dance. Moreover, she killed the troublemaker Rong Fu, broke Li Ping'er's legs, and again obtained the authority to co‑manage the Six Palaces.】

【Li Ping'er is pitiful; in the original, from the start she followed Xu Luoyan, was constantly used, and even felt grateful toward her.】

【When reading the original I sensed nothing, but after this adaptation I realized Xu Luoyan is actually a PUA master.】

Wan Tang's hand ached, but her heart ached more. Is there a halo surrounding her? Then extinguish her halo.

Wan Tang nestled in the Emperor's arms, her voice very weak: "Empress, I have erred; the Emperor and Empress have decided. The Noble Consort must be forced to confess, but I do not accept!"

Xiao Mingshu's eyes brightened, and she gave Wan Tang a slight nod.

After questioning each in turn, they learned the cause and effect.

Xu Luoyan said indifferently: "Li Ping'er and Noble Consort Rong truly love each other, yet she is dissatisfied at heart and even commits murder!"

"Empress, since you are just, please tell us, how should a Lady of Grace who kills be dealt with?"

Xu Luoyan pressed the issue aggressively.

Xiao Mingshu stood aside, her demeanor imposing.

Li Ping'er knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing: "Emperor, Empress, I, the serving woman, do not know this Rong Fu at all, let alone any feelings."

"It was the Noble Consort who directly bestowed me upon him."

"I only wish to serve Lady of Grace Wan properly, and have never had any other thoughts."

Wan Tang's gaze silently swept over Chu Yunzheng. Are Xu Luoyan's methods truly so clumsy that no one can see them?

Or perhaps, under the heroine's halo and powerful family background, everyone simply chose to ignore it?

Wan Tang had to speak: "So this is how the Noble Consort understands love?"

"A single declaration of love becomes a reason to eliminate dissent?"

Even in her weakness, Wan Tang knelt, voice trembling with tears: "Emperor, without noble birth I dare not even hope for equality, but at least I am a person, a life, right?"

"Emperor, Shang Rong is audacious to the extreme; even I, he dares to speak vulgarities—so brazen!"

"I have killed a person, but I am not wrong and do not regret it!"

"Since a servant's life is controlled by those above, what is wrong with punishing a person who dares to violate me?"

"Or is it that, as a woman, one must endure abuse and finally prove one's resolve through death?"

"I only wish to live, only wish to live a clean, pure life!"

After Wan Tang finished speaking, she pressed both hands to the ground and kowtowed heavily.

Where her hand touched was a blood‑stained claw mark, a sight that shocked onlookers. Wan Tang knew in her heart that whether in the Imperial harem or the Former Dynasty, women could only cling to men; those without connections were destined to become slaves.

A serving woman's life is not a true life.

Women can only become men's puppets, adhering to the three obediences and four virtues. If a grievance depends on a man to champion it, and the man cannot act in time, she loses any right to be respected and spends her life subjected to scorn.

The best ending is to die, leaving a chastity arch in her name, thereby earning a tale of virtue.

Wan Tang's act of striking back, even killing the opponent, is rare even within the harem.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze softened slightly. It seemed that at this moment he realized Wan Tang was different.

Xiao Mingshu's eyes were deep as she slowly looked toward Xu Luoyan.

She picked up the letter from the ground, and after considering everything, let out a snide laugh, mocking, "The Noble Consort truly has excellent methods."

"The eunuch and palace maid sharing illicit food is already a source of palace chaos; by rule, both should be executed with the staff."

"As the Noble Consort, you do not know how to lead by example, yet you even tied a red thread in the middle."

Xiao Mingshu looked at Xu Luoyan and said coldly, "Noble Consort, you are truly something."

"Emperor, what is your view?"

At this moment, Xu Luoyan's father had just gone to the barracks to mobilize troops for campaign. With this incident arising in the harem, even the Empress dared not decide on her own and had to turn to Chu Yunzheng.

Chu Yunzheng's voice was cold and indifferent: "Lawless and unrestrained, it is I, the Emperor, who have indulged you too much!"

Xu Luoyan's delicate body trembled, she fell to her knees, repeatedly calling out: "Emperor, I know I was wrong."

"I originally intended to make things right, and I will never dare again."

Wan Tang sneered in her heart, thinking that it was only by these sophistries that people were made to think she was a simple, kind‑hearted good woman?

Wan Tang suddenly spoke, ruthlessly exposing her hypocrisy: "Noble Consort, mutual understanding is called making things right. Yet you distort facts, violate Palace Rules, arbitrarily persecute Guanren; how can you have the nerve to claim you are doing good deeds?"

At this point, Wan Tang's tears fell in a rush, her reddened eyes looking at Chu Yunzheng.

She asked tenderly: "Emperor, now, can you understand the situation I was in that day?"

This remark was undoubtedly a reminder to the Emperor how Xu Luoyan had deceived him to obtain an Imperial Decree, and how she used that decree to blackmail him, even entangling his woman with a eunuch.

Wan Tang never imagined that her standing in the Emperor's heart could outweigh a Former Dynasty Commander. Not to mention that Li Ping'er was only an I. Yet the Emperor has been humiliated; can he tolerate it?

Chu Yunzheng's expression indeed turned very unpleasant.

Xu Luoyan's heart panicked, instantly sensing something was wrong. She hurriedly shouted: "Emperor, do not be provoked by her, it is not like that."

Before Xu Luoyan's words finished, her chin was already grasped by Chu Yunzheng. She was forced to tilt her head back, tears shimmering in her eyes.

"Originally, I, the Emperor, intended to cherish you tonight," Chu Yunzheng's voice was low, each word like a knife: "Even for several days, I only wanted to be with you."

Chu Yunzheng's fingers slowly tightened, and alarming red marks already spread on her fair skin: "But you truly have greatly disappointed me?"

He violently flung his hand away, Xu Luoyan fell to the ground, her jeweled hairpin scattered, her dark hair in disarray. Tears finally burst forth, she raised her head and shrieked: "Emperor, do you remember tonight Answering father, to take good care of I?"

"My father… but he must sacrifice his life for Fengqi Kingdom!"

"My commanders, which one is not for Fengqi Kingdom?!" Chu Yunzheng roared in fury, looking down from his height: "For the sake of Xu Chengyuan's face, I can spare you punishment."

"From now on, you are not allowed to perform the Jinghong Dance again." Chu Yunzheng turned his head, leaving only a cold side face: "And you must not approach Qiankun Palace!"

Xu Luoyan collapsed on the ground, her face full of despair and resentment.

"I don't understand why, after all my scheming, I am always suppressed by you?" Xu Luoyan stared angrily at Wan Tang: "You are just a scoundrel."

Wan Tang turned a deaf ear.

Chu Yunzheng directly lifted Wan Tang and was about to leave.

Xiao Mingshu, seeing this, hastily said: "The events of tonight must not be spread."

Xu Luoyan's punishment was still insufficient. Wan Tang looked at Li Defu inside, showing a provocative smile.

Li Defu's eyes suddenly darkened, he rushed forward, sobbing and shouting: "Emperor, Noble Consort, Shang Rong is my old servant's adopted son!"

"I have raised him by my side since childhood, waiting for him to support my old age and see me off, and he died so senselessly; I am unwilling!"

He glared angrily at Wan Tang.

【Although the plot was changed, I now really like this female supporting character.】

【Li Defu owes the Emperor a life‑saving debt; when the two clash, Wan Tang will likely perish.】

【I truly hope Wan Tang learns that Xianhuang once issued a secret decree to kill Li Defu and eradicate eunuch dominance. It was also Li Defu who saved the Emperor's life, allowing him to live until now.】

【Indeed, the Emperor fears people will call him cold‑hearted and uncharitable, which is why he repeatedly indulges him.】

Wan Tang listened to the Barrage, her heart trembling. She pressed her face against the Emperor's chest and whispered: "Emperor, today Li Gonggong can ignore Palace Rules, and in the future all palace women and eunuchs can share meals, causing bloodlines to become confused…"

"Mixed accounts!" Chu Yunzheng roared.

He stared fiercely at Li Defu: "Li Defu, you are advanced in age and no longer suitable to serve in Qianqing Palace."

"Take a rest first!"

Li Defu was instantly drained as if his soul were pulled out, kneeling on the ground and crawling forward.

He shouted: "Grandfather, I, the old servant, know my mistake, Grandfather…"

Chu Yunzheng's face bore only the oppressive weight of authority: "As for that Shang Rong, a rootless person also dares to enjoy male‑female love."

"Crush the bones and scatter the ashes, to serve as a warning."

Eight words, all matters, have become decided.

The palace guards outside the hall immediately dragged Shang Rong's corpse; Li Defu could not even utter a plea, staring rigidly at Wan Tang.

Xu Luoyan trembled all over, her fingernails digging deep into her palm, yet she dared not move, dared not cry, not even breathe.

At this moment, Chu Yunzheng made everyone shiver in fear.

Even Wan Tang, who was closest, was enveloped by a surging killing aura.

Her body trembled slightly.

She just lifted her head, meeting Chu Yunzheng's bottomless black pupils.

Chu Yunzheng leaned down, whispered by her ear with a light laugh: "Tangtang, everyone around me is clever. But my eyes cannot tolerate sand either."

"Watch closely, this is the fate of betraying me!"

Everyone stayed behind, witnessing the scene of Shang Rong's bones crushed and ashes scattered after his death…