Chapter 333: A Scapegoat

The two of them walked over hand in hand.

Both knew full well how many unspeakable things lay between them.

Yet precisely because they shared so many dark secrets, it made one all the more aware of the people, the affairs, the schemes, and the pitifulness within the Imperial Palace.

Bai Li's little sob story—something anyone could see through with their toes—Chu Yunzheng could not possibly fail to notice.

"Don't bring up those days!" Chu Yunzheng spun around abruptly. "I detest this moral blackmail of yours the most."

"Past feelings and past favors are no excuse for your current overreaching and domineering ways!"

Wan Tang's smile grew even paler: "So in the Emperor's eyes, strictly abiding by Palace Rules is already overreaching and domineering."

"If it were the Emperor of those days, you would never have come to question me. Because you would understand that in my heart, the rank of Consort is nowhere near enough to shake my reverence for you."

"What the Emperor gives, I accept."

"What the Emperor wants, I will naturally arrange properly."

"The Grand Ceremony is exceedingly tedious. If you insist on nitpicking, I have nothing more to say."

Chu Yunzheng's expression suddenly shifted.

Wan Tang continued with a cold smile: "By the way, did the Emperor come today only for the matter of the Consort rank?"

"Or is there something else?"

"For instance, the slap mark on Ning Daying's face?"

Far from backing down, Wan Tang instead launched an attack.

She was gambling that Bai Li would never dare tell the Emperor the full details.

Naturally, Ning Daying would not dare admit to calling her a demon consort either.

After all, everyone knew in their hearts whether the advice and ideas she had given the Emperor were for the nation and its people, or a scheme to cut the ground from under his feet.

Matters of interest should be a taboo between her and the Emperor.

Sure enough, Chu Yunzheng's eyes flickered slightly, yet he still said coldly: "Li'er has a straightforward nature; it's inevitable that some of her actions are a bit extreme."

"Straightforward?" Wan Tang let out a light laugh. "If the Emperor considers beating and scolding Princes and humiliating Imperial Concubines as straightforward, then I truly have nothing to say."

"Wan Tang, why have you become like this?!" Chu Yunzheng's voice was low.

He said coldly: "Do you know what people outside are saying about you now?"

Wan Tang, without any restraint, gave a slight bow: "I beg the Emperor to enlighten me."

"Hmph!"

Chu Yunzheng gave a cold snort: "I don't want to argue with you over much. I'm tired tonight as well."

"We'll talk about many things another day."

Even as Chu Yunzheng said this, he showed no sign of leaving.

Wan Tang found it amusing and said coldly: "Now there is no trace of trust left between the Emperor and me."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I feel the same."

With that, not even waiting for Chu Yunzheng to speak, Wan Tang said coldly: "I am tired. Please return, Your Majesty."

Chu Yunzheng's face changed abruptly.

Was she driving him away?

But after all, he was the Emperor—how could he bow his head to a woman?

It had always been women who looked up to him from on high.

The more Chu Yunzheng looked at Wan Tang's confident, proud face, the more irritated he felt, like a hedgehog bristling.

He said coldly: "Then, Empress, you had better take Li'er's enfeoffment as Consort seriously!"

"Since you love talking about rules so much, then go ahead and handle things strictly according to the rules!"

Chu Yunzheng gave a cold snort and stormed off in anger.

Wan Tang listened to the angry footsteps and her own face darkened.

Xiao Shunzi stood nearby, his voice full of worry: "Master, how could the Emperor be like this?"

"Can the Emperor really not tell right from wrong about what Consort Li did?"

"Heh heh!" Wan Tang found it amusing, narrowing her eyes: "How could he not see it?"

"It's just that compared to long-term planning, isn't this path a shortcut?"

"Since ancient times, emperors have never been at fault—it's always the demon consort who bewitches the ruler."

"If things succeed, he'll be a wise ruler remembered for a hundred generations. If they fail, at worst it's just a phrase: 'a femme fatale.'"

"What youthful bond, what beloved of the heart—it's nothing more than having a scapegoat to take the blame for wrongdoings."

Though the summer heat was intense, a chill instantly spread through her whole body upon hearing Wan Tang's words.

Xiao Shunzi couldn't help but shiver, not daring to think too deeply about it.

"Oh, right!" Wan Tang suddenly smiled, her whole body relaxing: "Didn't the Emperor tell us to handle things according to the rules?"

"Look into it carefully—what rules are most suitable for our soon-to-be-enfeoffed Lady Consort."

Xiao Shunzi immediately grasped Wan Tang's meaning.

He quickly lowered his head: "Yes!"

The Grand Ceremony was held under the scorching sunlight.

It wasn't that there were no Imperial Concubines in the palace, but one so grand was the first of its kind.

The key point was that the set of court attire exclusive to a Consort was exceedingly elaborate.

Wearing the full set, one wouldn't feel cold even in winter.

Bai Li, clad in the heavy Imperial Concubine's Court Attire, was drenched in sweat.

She couldn't help cursing: "Damn that Empress, how dare she mess with me like this."

Nanzhu, upon hearing, hurriedly explained beside her: "Consort, you must not say that."

"This palace attire is indeed top‑grade, enough to show the Emperor's favor toward you. It is also a symbol of being the head of the Four Consorts."

"I think this is because last night the Emperor scolded the Empress into fear, and now he's trying to please you."

"It is still your words that please this palace the most," Bai Li snorted a laugh, their expression relaxing.

Taking a deep breath under the scorching sun, she said: "This palace will endure for now; today I will make the Empress see clearly."

"Let all the women of the Imperial harem see who truly sits on the Emperor's heart."

She was about to ascend the jade steps with the aid of the palace staff.

Ning Daying suddenly, smiling brightly, lifted an Ice Block basin forward: "Pear Princess, hold on!"

"The Empress has ordered that today's ceremony follow the Ancient Rite."

She placed the Ice Basin beside Bai Li's feet: "Please, Consort, walk barefoot on the ice to demonstrate the quality of Ice Purity."

The concubines fanned themselves, and Hui Guifei calmly said: "If sister finds this difficult, you can still withdraw now."

Bai Li gritted their teeth and glared at the seated Wan Tang on the phoenix throne, but saw her lowering her eyes to sip tea, not even glancing their way.

"Please, Consort," Ning Daying smiled even sweeter, "this ice was taken specially from the Ice Cellar; it will melt quickly."

All the women of the Imperial harem watched.

Even the Emperor, seated there, showed no reaction.

Nanzhu, still beside, reminded: "Heavens, the Emperor is over‑valuing the Consort."

"Such an ancient ceremony has only ever been enjoyed by the Founding Empress."

"Is that so?" Bai Li asked, puzzled for a moment, then their face instantly turned proud.

Under everyone's gaze, Bai Li had to remove their shoes and socks, stepping barefoot onto the broken ice.

A bone‑piercing chill rose from their soles to their crown; they forced themselves up the jade steps, the hem of their court robe already damp.

Chu Yunzheng frowned, about to speak, when Wan Tang suddenly giggled: "I wonder, is the Emperor displeased by this arrangement?"

"The Founding Empress, after being divorced, encountered her ancestor."

"The two together seized the world, yet in the Grand Hall, civil and military officials harassed them, demanding they walk on ice to prove innocence."

"Yet the Founding Empress did not even walk barefoot on the ice. She rebuked the officials, saying a woman's reputation is paramount and must not be insulted."

"The Emperor and Empress are one, cannot be split."

"In the future, if anyone questions a concubine, they may lay out ice as a warning. If a woman respects her husband, she need not prove her innocence; the couple should be united, facing together."

"The ancestor, upon hearing, immediately smashed the ice block and personally helped the Empress onto the throne."

Wan Tang spoke slowly, looking toward the Emperor.

She smiled and asked: "The Emperor says the Pear Princess is delicate, yet now it seems she has a strong mind and is especially demanding."

Chu Yunzheng's complexion changed, his expression displeased.

He let out a cold snort: "It's merely a helpless act."

"Enough then, Pear has already yielded; the Empress need not argue. The banquet can begin today."