Chapter 35: Bestowing the Title of Wan Pin

Madam Zheng immediately reached out to pull Wan Tang, and Li Ping'er and Qiu Ju, seeing this, quickly protected her, and several people began to push and shove.

Wang Jingyi, seeing this, hurried forward to intervene: "Everyone stay calm, speak properly, and do not argue!"

Li Ping'er was being yanked hard; at this moment she could not care who was who, she only wanted to protect Wan Tang from harm.

She bumped into Wang Jingyi.

"Ah!" Wang Jingyi cried out, nearly falling to the ground. Fortunately, someone nearby caught her in time.

She remained gentle, calling anxiously, "I'm fine, pull them apart quickly. If the Empress sees this, I'm afraid they'll be punished again."

"Stop it now!" Xu Luoyan shouted angrily.

Concubine Xiu and Madam Zheng only then stepped aside.

Wan Tang looked at Wang Jingyi's expression and felt disgusted, saying with a forced smile, "Madam, you are truly kind‑hearted, but unfortunately I am unlucky and cannot accept your kindness."

"Wan Tang…" Wang Jingyi frowned slightly, full of helplessness.

The group of imperial maids, seeing this, immediately began to condemn her.

"Lady of Grace Wan is far too arrogant, isn't she? Even if ungrateful, it shouldn't be to this extent?"

"Just now she was her person, almost hurt Madam Xu!"

"Speaking so sharp and vicious, it seems the Consort is also pitiful."

"An orphan, from foot‑washing maid to palace girl, born so lowly yet so overbearing, I truly don't know what despicable means she used to win the Emperor's favor."

All the imperial maids, regardless of faction, looked at Wan Tang with contempt.

【Although… nevertheless, Wan Tang is actually quite good; everyone has misunderstood her.】

【I don't understand, Wan Tang hasn't offended anyone, so why has she provoked everyone's anger?】

【The Emperor, the Empress, and the ministers are separated by a wall. Less than a meter ahead, at the rockery, there is an exit.】

【To avoid inner and outer meetings, they all take detours. It doesn't mean they can't run into each other; if this keeps escalating, what will happen?】

【Dare to lay a hand on an imperial maid, even if the Emperor favors them, so many censors will see it, and the female side character will surely be removed.】

Wan Tang heard the barrage's words, sneered inwardly, yet her face showed a pitifully delicate expression.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her voice trembling a bit, yet deliberately elevated, "All of you have status, yet you speak so harshly?"

Madam Zheng lifted her chin, eyes full of contempt and disdain: "My daughter holds the Zhaoying, and my husband is a court minister. You, an orphan, still dare to compare status?"

Wan Tang raised her head, a barely perceptible coldness flashing in her eyes: "Concubine Xiu is indeed noble, but today the Emperor has shown grace, granting everyone a summer retreat."

"I also don't wish to quarrel with you; how can we bring this to an end?"

Seeing Wan Tang soften, Madam Zheng's face was full of triumph, and she gave Concubine Xiu a signal.

Concubine Xiu lifted her foot, shaking her shoe: "Lady of Grace Wan, I will not trouble you; since you have soiled the surface of my shoe, please kneel and clean it for me."

Wan Tang's hand trembled violently.

"Indeed, a mere Lady of Grace dares to disrespect my daughter?" Madam Zheng roared as well.

She had already suppressed her hatred, yet there was no reaction at all from the other side of the wall.

She paused, then her eyes turned toward Wang Jingyi and Xu Luoyan.

Xu Luoyan naturally wore a look of enjoying the spectacle, while Wang Jingyi's face was full of worry, yet she showed no intention to step forward and stop it.

Wan Tang sneered inwardly, responding calmly, "Although my status is low, I am also a Lady of Grace personally appointed by the Emperor. If Concubine Xiu feels I am at fault, you may ask the Emperor or the Empress to adjudicate."

"Why must you punish me publicly?"

Her voice was neither servile nor arrogant, calmly responding.

"Enough!"

With a shout, Chu Yunzheng stepped out from behind the rockery.

The ministers retreated behind the wall, yet they could still hear the argument.

Chu Yunzheng stood with his hands behind his back, his expression as calm as water, though a raging fire churned in his eyes.

When they saw the Emperor, everyone immediately fell to their knees, shouting, "We have seen you, Emperor, may you live ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years."

"Everyone rise."

His gaze fell on Concubine Xiu, his tone indifferent: "Who are you again?"

Concubine Xiu's face turned pale with fear, hurriedly saying, "I am Concubine Xiu, your servant."

"Hmph, a Pin rank—when does it even have the right to be so overbearing?"

Concubine Xiu instantly panicked, hurriedly looking toward Xu Luoyan and Wang Jingyi.

Although Xu Luoyan made no sound, the shape of her lips clearly mouthed "fool."

Wang Jingyi still wore a compassionate expression like a living bodhisattva, yet she did not step forward to say a word.

"Emperor, Concubine Xiu was only joking," Madam Zheng hurriedly added from the side.

Wan Tang looked at the two, then glanced at Xu Luoyan behind them.

At this moment, moving those two is impossible, but since these people have bullied her, she must repay them.

Wan Tang smiled faintly, her face showing puzzlement: "It seems I, your humble servant, am foolish for not grasping Concubine Xiu's meaning."

Chu Yunzheng lifted his hand, his slender fingers gently taking Wan Tang's: "You are indeed magnanimous."

"It is not a grievance to become so, for the Emperor holds me in his heart, and I am already satisfied."

"Your not holding a grudge is your cultivation, but I, the Son of Heaven, cannot bear that you clean others' shoes."

"From today, Lady of Grace Wan is promoted to Wan Pin."

Concubine Xiu was already trembling with fear, shaking like a quail, collapsing onto the ground, daring not utter a single word.

Xu Luoyan's complexion changed abruptly, her nails nearly digging into her flesh. Yet Wang Jingyi tightly grasped her hand, preventing any movement.

Chu Yunzheng looked at Concubine Xiu and Madam Zheng, his voice like ice: "Concubine Xiu, very well, I have remembered."

"The Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Zheng He, has no proper conduct; all his duties are to be suspended. Concubine Xiu's virtue is in question; she is to be sent back to the palace immediately, forbidden to leave the palace gates. As for the Zheng family, they have trampled royal dignity, and shall be punished fiftyfold!"

All the ministers behind the wall were silent, and not a single one stepped forward to oppose.

Consort Xiu's face was pallid; after fifty battles, no man could survive, let alone the pampered lady.

Madam Zheng's vision went black and she died outright.

【Just a hopping clown, always thinks the Zheng mother and daughter are brainless, and they get stirred up by a few words.】

【Long Long is mighty, sparring Long Long and Tangtang.】

Wan Tang looked at Wang Jingyi; she was so composed.

Even when she looked at Madam Zheng being dragged away to be beaten, her face bore a look of compassion for the world.

Wan Tang slightly frowned, seeing that the road ahead would be much harder.

Xu Luoyan twisted a handkerchief in her hand and glared fiercely at Wan Tang.

Wan Tang, seeing this, insisted on standing by Chu Yunzheng, even quietly tugging at Chu Yunzheng's hem.

She knew Xu Luoyan was extremely jealous.

This action would further enrage her; the goal was to drive Xu Luoyan mad and utterly rejected.

Xu Luoyan almost lunged to push Wan Tang away; just as she was about to argue, a person stepped out of the crowd.

"Your Majesty, all patrol matters have been arranged. Here is the list of the ladies' residences for Your Majesty to review."

Seeing this person, Wan Tang's body trembled; Rong Ruo shouldn't have been stationed in the Imperial City—how did he come to the palace retreat?

【How is the supporting lady still spacing out? She couldn't still be thinking of Rong Ruo, could she?】

【She came to the palace retreat to escort the female lead, plain and simple!】

【Rong Ruo loves the female lead so much; who knows how many connections he used to get to the palace retreat.】

【Supporting lady, stop being disgusting; I've already got Long Long, why keep staring at Rong Ruo? He doesn't love you.】

Wan Tang sneered inwardly: He's just a dog; who would cherish him?

Xu Luoyan watched Rong Ruo arrive, a flash of pride appearing in her eyes. Even her gaze at Wan Tang gained more confidence.

Chu Yunzheng's eyes fell on Rong Ruo, and he said lightly, "These matters are for the Empress to handle."

The tone carried a hint of reproach.

Xiao Mingshu stepped forward, took the Shice of all affairs, and pointed to each palace on it for allocation; the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress each have separate palaces.

"Lotus Breeze Imperial View Palace?" Xiao Mingshu read aloud, a gentle smile at the corner of her lips: "It's the most interesting among the palace retreats. Lotus blossoms perfume the air, quite elegant."

"Though its area is a bit small, when it comes to rest and recuperation, it's the best place."

Xiao Mingshu looked at the assigned names, her brows briefly furrowed, then relaxed, and said to Xu Guifei, "It seems the Emperor still dotes on you. This fine residence is for you alone."

Xu Luoyan's face instantly showed a shy blush.

But Chu Yunzheng's expression suddenly turned cold: "The consort's mood is restless; how can she appreciate the moonlit lotus pond?"

"Actually, Consort Wan's temperament is a bit weak; she isn't suited to communal living, and she's more at ease alone."

Chu Yunzheng lightly tapped his prayer beads on his palm and said, "The consort's majesty is imposing; she'd be suited to reside in Pine and Cypress Palace."

Xiao Mingshu, smiling broadly, continued, "Since the Emperor loves the consort's younger sister, this Pine and Cypress Palace, though shared with a few sisters, is the largest palace."

"Most importantly, Pine and Cypress Palace is only a few steps away from the Emperor's palace retreat."

Xiao Mingshu's smile was gentle as she soothed the Xu Family: "Now General Xu has fought bloodily, and the Emperor's generosity is vast; he has made an exception allowing the consort and Madam Xu to share a residence."

"This favor is truly unique."

Hearing this, Xu Luoyan's ashen face finally relaxed, and a smile appeared.

Wang Jingyi also took Xu Luoyan's hand and whispered, "Where we live doesn't matter; the point is the Emperor holds us in his heart."

"Of course." Xu Luoyan said proudly, smoothing her hairline, "The Emperor has favored my palace for years, naturally unlike those who seek novelty."

As she spoke, she gave Wan Tang a cold glance.

The Emperor stepped forward, patted Wan Tang's hand, and gave a look that only the two of them could understand.

Wan Tang's complexion instantly turned a bit shy.

The group of ministers departed.

As Xiao Mingshu left, everyone else followed suit.

【Did you see? The supporting lady is looking at Rong Ruo.】

【After a decade of unrequited love, she still can't let go.】

【Unfortunately, Rong Ruo's love ruined the female lead, who is actually the supporting lady; she was sold and still counts money for others.】

【All the words Rong Ruo said before were to use her. Now that Rong Ruo has come to the palace retreat, the supporting lady's love‑struck brain is triggered; she's doomed.】

【The supporting lady really deserves death; I've been chewing dragon candy for so long.】

Wan Tang was indeed watching Rong Ruo, but it was not love—it was hatred.

Looking at him again, Wan Tang really wanted to poke her own eyes; only a blind person would fall for this clueless pretty face.

She could have left the palace, but he forcibly sent her back.

She clearly only wanted a stable life with him, yet it was still him, all along just using her.

Wan Tang's hand tightened even more.

Li Ping'er gently tugged her sleeve beside her and whispered, "Young master, no, Master, let's go!"

"Commander Rong is actually an outsider."

Wan Tang gave a bitter smile, wondering if even Li Ping'er also fell for Rong Ruo's looks.

Qiu Ju silently stuck out her tongue, clearly having been a bit dazed by what she saw.

Just as she was about to leave, Xu Luoyan seized her hand; she looked at Wan Tang with hatred, her voice hoarse and low: "Little Hoof, do you think you've beaten me?"

"Don't you ever wonder why Rong Ruo came?"

Wan Tang's expression remained calm, replying with a smile: "Sister, what are you talking about? I am utterly devoted to the Emperor; how could these eyes accommodate any other man?"

"Pretend!" Xu Luoyan mocked with a cold laugh: "When you look at him, his soul is already gone. Shei can be deceived!"

"Your feelings for him are indeed quite deep!"

It was indeed deep, as if she wished him dead. Wan Tang coldly drew back her hand and smiled nonchalantly.

These words, by the time Rong Ruo dragged her back from the Gongmen entrance, could no longer wound her.

"Yan Er must not speak nonsense; you are the Empress's Noble Consort, how can you utter such shameless words."

Wang Jingyi stepped forward at this moment, looked at Wan Tang and said softly: "It has been ten years since we last met; I have missed you greatly."

"Consort Wan, may I have a moment to speak? Let me also take a good look at you."

In her eyes was a full expression of kindness, like a mother looking at her own daughter.