Chapter 331: You

On the bluestone slab, the carriage sounded.

Su Yanci was ahead, urging the carriage, and could only hear the wheels turning.

On the bluestone road, the carriage clattered forward, strikingly clear in the quiet night.

The carriage curtain hung low, separating inside from outside.

Wan Tang's voice came from behind the curtain, calm and unruffled: "I never thought you would step in like this."

"Have you ever thought about what the consequences would be if things go wrong?"

Su Yanci's hand on the reins was steady as a rock, his gaze fixed on the night ahead: "The worst is just death."

"All that the Su Family has cultivated for a hundred years—aren't you afraid it could be ruined in an instant?"

Wan Tang knew that Su Yanci cared most about the Su Family.

His younger sister, his family.

It was for this reason that, back then, Chu Yunzheng used members of the Su Family as leverage, forcing Su Yanci into helplessness, leaving him only to lead troops to war.

Su Yanci heard this and gave a bitter smile.

He said slowly: "When I returned to the capital that year, I already had an answer in my heart."

"The family's honor and disgrace are indeed important, but I am not the Su Family's only descendant, so why should I bear everything on my shoulders."

"As for the younger sister, she has already been settled."

Wan Tang felt moved; Su Yanci's openness was a level she could not reach.

When alone, she still merely eked out a life.

Later, burdened with countless concerns, she never truly considered what she would want if she abandoned everything.

After a moment of silence in the carriage, "Qiu Niang is now by my side; aren't you considering anything for her?"

Each time this was mentioned, Wan Tang inevitably felt something different in her heart.

"She has nothing to do with this," Su Yanci cut off his words, "I have never chosen any path for her."

Wan Tang's body swayed.

The carriage continued forward.

When the door curtain fluttered in the wind, one could see his straight back.

The two were less than half a meter apart, yet a single curtain completely separated them.

Questioning voices came from outside.

Soon followed respectful greetings.

When the carriage stopped again, it had arrived at the Imperial Household Department Procurement Office.

The carriage curtain was lifted; Wan Tang looked up anxiously and saw Xiao Shunzi's worried eyes.

"Madam, we have arrived."

All around, the tall palace walls rose again.

The red of the palace walls always made one's eyes weary.

Wan Tang forced a bitter smile: "Hmm, let's return!"

Kunning Palace.

From afar, Minghui's laughter could be heard.

In this cold place, only such laughter could bring a hint of warmth.

Ning Daying was playing with Minghui, while Hui Guifei leaned by the window, holding an unfinished little garment, comparing it with Wan Tang's embroidery pattern, stitching it carefully.

Wan Tang stepped into the hall, and upon seeing this warm scene, couldn't help but smile: "Sister, why are you making this yourself?"

"It strains the eyes to be meticulous; leave it to me."

Hui Guifei is skilled with dancing knives and spears, but when it comes to embroidery, it's a nightmare.

Hui Guifei didn't lift her head, deliberately keeping a stern face: "I insist on making the clothes myself; you don't dare snatch them away."

Wan Tang stepped forward to look.

The pattern on the little garment was all crooked; after a long time trying to make sense of it, she sighed, "No kidding, my sister is good at everything."

"Look at this little rabbit; it's almost lifelike."

Minghui tilted his head, asking puzzled, "Is it a rabbit?"

"Hui Niangniang is lying; she clearly said she would embroider a little tiger for my brother!"

Hui Guifei's hand holding the needle and thread was a bit stiff, and she said awkwardly, "A little tiger and a little rabbit are both animals; it's the same."

"Right, the most important thing is the mother's intention," Wan Tang quickly added.

Ning Daying chuckled, "Exactly."

"Being my sister's child is truly a blessing!"

"Let my sister swing that Fangtian Painted Halberd, that's fine; but this embroidery needle—oh, honestly, it's impossibly delicate."

Just as they were joking, a commotion suddenly came from outside the hall.

From afar, Bai Li's sharp voice rang: "Empress, I know you're inside."

"If you hadn't overstepped today, I wouldn't have rashly barged in."

Now Bai Li's status is steadily rising.

In less than a month, her reputation spread throughout the Fengqi Kingdom.

The Emperor has praised her many times in court.

More importantly, officials of the Ministry of Revenue revere Bai Li as a deity.

Having heard it often, Chu Yunzheng gradually came to believe that Bai Li was the lucky star Heaven sent him.

Every day, Changchun Palace receives gifts.

In the palace, the sisters scrambled to enter and exit Changchun Palace, currying favor.

Even the lowly maid Nanzhu, though a chicken‑and‑dog rise to heaven, can also stride boldly in the Imperial harem.

Even the unfavored Answering can be slapped by Nanzhu.

Wan Tang restrained her smile.

Ning Daying cursed, "Ill‑omen."

Hui Guifei lowered her head and continued embroidering.

"Minghui, go to sleep with the wet nurse," Wan Tang instructed.

Only then did she nod, allowing them to depart.

Bai Li stepped in a few strides.

Wan Tang preemptively said, "Pearl Concubine, you truly are imposing; no wonder the maid beside you dares to act against the Master."

"This matter, I originally intended to ask Pearl Concubine about."

"Only I didn't expect that you would actually come?!"

Wan Tang's expression changed; her face suddenly became sharp: "I recall that Pearl Concubine is still under house arrest."

The previously arrogant Bai Li's aura weakened a few degrees.

The wound on her face hasn't healed for long, has it?

I don't want to suffer that kind of mute setback again.

Hardly restraining the fire in her heart, Bai Li perfunctorily performed a bow: "Empress, peace."

"The question you raised earlier can be discussed later."

"Now, I have come to ask the Empress why, after the Emperor issued the decree to confer the title of Consort, two hours have passed and the Empress has not shown any movement."

"Could it be that the Empress wishes to defy the decree and cannot?"

Wan Tang gave a casual glance at Xiao Luzi, who hurriedly knelt: "Your Majesty, forgive me; it was my negligence."

"Seeing you overly fatigued, I intended to let you rest for a while. Who could have thought I would forget."

Where is it that I forgot?

It was clearly Wan Tang's departure from the palace that caused the delay.

According to custom, for such a conferral, Wan Tang as Empress must read the decree at once.

But this is often decided privately, which is why it happens.

Looking at Bai Li's appearance, it must have been Chu Yunzheng who personally bestowed it.

【Bai Li is nauseating; after the Dog Emperor heard her plan, he was delighted and directly made her a Consort.】

【It was she herself feigning sincerity, saying she would obey the Palace Rules, personally saw the Dog Emperor write a letter, and had Xiao Dongzi deliver it to Kunning Palace.】

【Clearly she wanted to show off in front of Wan Tang, and now she seems anxious.】

So that's why.

Wan Tang found it amusing.

This kind of trick is truly childish.

It seems that Bai Li's tactics truly remain stuck in the past ten years!

Indeed, Yan Wang suffered a loss because of her, so he naturally wants to cherish and protect her.

How could we give her the chance to grow, only for her to bite us back one day?

"I understand," Wan Tang interrupted him, turning to Bai Li, "In that case, tomorrow we shall hand it over to the Imperial Household Department for processing; Pearl Concubine, return to the palace and wait."

"Wait?" Bai Li sneered, stepping forward two paces, "Your Majesty, do you know why the Emperor suddenly decided to make me a Consort?"

"It is because the strategy I presented brought three million taels into the Treasury within half a month!"

"It is because I helped the Emperor solve a long‑standing headache of a problem."

She surveyed the lavish décor of Kunning Palace, her gaze finally resting on Wan Tang, and said with sarcasm, "While Your Majesty spends the whole day in Kunning Palace embroidering and admiring the scenery, I am the one relieving the Emperor's worries and solving his difficulties."

"Shouldn't this Consort position be mine?"

"Does the Empress not wish to be useful?"

"This is what I deserve."

The embroidered sash in Hui Guifei's hand fell heavily onto the desk.

Ning Daying's breathing suddenly quickened with shock.

Hearing these words, she couldn't help but roar, "How dare you?"

"Bai Li, you are still someone who came out of the Ning family."

"That is truly shameful."

"Your idea brings disaster to the nation and its people; you still have the face to come here seeking credit."

"You are nothing but a demonic Consort!"