Chapter 355: Take Down the Pear Princess

The next day.

Dawn was just breaking.

Jingren Palace was already shrouded in solemnity.

Su Yanci had, throughout the night, sent people into the palace; besides the Imperial Guard, there were also two carefully selected wet nurses.

Kunning Palace seemed no different from usual, but in fact it was as solid as copper walls and iron barriers.

"Sister, my poor sister! You leave like this—what will become of the child?"

From afar, Bai Li's mournful wail could be heard.

Wan Tang wore plain-colored garments; the Empress need not place a mourning wreath on the consort, yet Wan Tang still pinned a small white flower on her head.

Xiao Luzi stood beside her, looking considerably haggard after a night.

His eyes were full of guilt.

Wan Tang stepped forward steadily, her cold face revealing no trace of sorrow.

Hearing the feigned sobbing inside, she raised her voice: "Pear Princess need not worry; this palace will raise the child itself!"

Last night, Jingren Palace and Kunning Palace were guarded like copper walls and iron barriers; Chu Yunzheng thundered in Yangxin Hall, and no one dared to glean any information.

Someone who should have been awaiting death at Baoguo Temple now stood calmly before the crowd.

Bai Li, seeing this, let out a startled "Ah".

As if she had seen a ghost, her face filled with terror: "You… how did you return?"

"How audacious!" Wan Tang scolded loudly, her face displeased: "Bold Pear Princess, daring to disregard rank and propriety."

Bai Li's gaze was frantic, full of unease.

She could not fathom how Wan Tang was standing here so calmly.

Wan Tang walked straight to the spirit tablet, gazed at Hui Guifei's token, and her eyes were filled with grief.

She then turned, her authority evident: "Sister enjoys quiet; anyone unrelated, leave."

Wan Tang's pointed gaze landed on Bai Li.

Xiao Luzi immediately stepped forward, his teeth itching with hatred toward Bai Li, yet he dared not offend and could only say, "Please!"

"Empress, Hui Guifei is still my sister; I have come to mourn…"

"Shenxing Si, please come," Wan Tang said at once.

Bai Li's face flushed: "Empress, what do you mean?"

Wan Tang lowered her eyes, calmly saying, "Since you refuse to leave, over there in front of sister, we will settle a few matters lightly."

"For example, my experience at Baoguo Temple."

Wan Tang's gaze slowly fell on her; though the look seemed peaceful, at that instant Bai Li felt as if a thousand pounds pressed down.

She couldn't help but step back, panic in her heart: "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"I know you were close to Hui Guifei. But what does her death have to do with me?"

"I am also a victim; my child—who will atone?"

Wan Tang was not angry; she was like an abyss, revealing no emotion.

She smiled wryly: "I was attacked at Baoguo Temple; someone went there to explain the whole story."

"It is said that within the palace, someone harmed me."

She spoke bluntly.

Bai Li's eyes were in utter panic.

Wan Tang's safe return had taken her by surprise; now she so decisively raised the assassination incident.

What on earth is happening?

Didn't the scout say the Bai family was still guarding the courtyard?

Hadn't Nan Zhu already been dealt with by the assassin?

Why?

When exactly did she return?

Was the Emperor's thunderous wrath last night truly because of Hui Guifei's death?

Bai Li's mind was a tangled mess; instinctively she turned to look at the old woman beside her.

But the old woman's gaze was clearly more frantic than Bai Li's.

"Nubi has seen the Empress..."

In that instant, Shenxing Si's men arrived with reinforcements, their momentum fierce, as if prepared in advance.

The Emperor was absent, the situation unclear, everything too sudden; to engage now would clearly be disadvantageous!

"Ah!"

Bai Li suddenly let out a startled cry; a sharp pain shot through her waist, and the old woman beside her twisted her harshly.

The two exchanged glances, and Bai Li understood.

Having just suffered a miscarriage, she was already very weak.

Wan Tang, unceremoniously, raised her hand and pointed: "Take Pear Princess down."

Shenxing Si's men were terrified; who didn't know that Bai Li was the Emperor's favored consort.

But seeing Wan Tang's clear, icy gaze, the men hesitated only a moment before stepping forward.

They said to Bai Li: "Your fate is hard, Pear Princess, please come with Nubi for a walk!"

"Ah!" Bai Li's voice was weak, her face panicked, looking as if she could be blown away: "Don't come closer… what do you intend? Emperor, help!"

Bai Li kept stepping back.

Shenxing Si's men did not strike, only pressed forward step by step.

"You... you..." Bai Li, angry, gasped for breath, her eyes went black, and she suddenly collapsed to the ground.

The old granny's eyes were sharp and her hands quick; she hurriedly steadied Bai Li and called out slowly, "What are you all still staring at? Isn't anyone bringing the lady into the Imperial Palace? Quickly summon the imperial physician."

"Murdering the Empress, such a grave crime—do you think you can brush it off with these petty tricks?"

Wan Tang let out a cold snort and stepped forward, each step making her aura colder.

With a resonant, forceful voice, she issued the order again, "If she's unconscious, then carry her to Shenxing Si."

"Also notify the Ministry of Justice to cooperate in investigating this matter."

The amount of information kept getting larger; the people of Shenxing Si thought it was just a fight within the Imperial harem, never expecting it would involve the assassination of the Empress.

A quarrel among women is of no great consequence.

But once it touches the assassination of the Empress, it will involve the Former Dynasty.

The Shenxing Si officials dared not delay; wiping the cold sweat from their faces, they rushed forward and carried Bai Li away.

"You dog Nubi, such nerve! I wonder who dares Pear Princess."

The old granny still tried to block.

Wan Tang gave a glance.

Xiao Luzi stepped forward and slapped the old granny's face.

He used all his strength, cracking the old granny's mouth corner.

"Take them all away."

For a moment, Jingren Palace was filled with the old granny's wailing.

A palace maid in the corner, seeing this, hurriedly slipped away.

"Don't run." Xiao Luzi was about to stop the maid, but Wan Tang raised a hand to halt him.

She stared heavily at the direction the maid fled, whispering, "This is not a solo act."

"Our protagonists aren't all here yet; someone has to notify them, what do you think?"

Xiao Luzi hurriedly bowed his head, not daring to speak.

"Alright, Shenxing Si will have someone watching. You go to Gongmen and personally bring the Princess back," Wan Tang instructed.

Xiao Luzi was stunned, clearly not understanding how to bring the maid back at this moment.

He didn't dare to ask further and hurriedly complied.

Wan Tang turned around.

She picked up a stick of incense and lit it.

She walked to Hui Guifei's spirit tablet; the chilling aura on her body faded, and her eyes were full of sorrow.

She gave a bitter smile, "Sister, plans never keep up with change."

"To protect the over three hundred thousand people behind me, everything must start early."

"I only hope, sister, that you won't mock your little sister later for such an incomplete plan."

Wan Tang placed the incense into the censer and closed her eyes.

In her heart she whispered to Hui Guifei, "Sister, actually I knew, I have known from the very beginning."

"I know the Mo Family has a queen, and I also know I must plot more for him."

"But you are truly foolish; I originally wanted you to personally assist that child, to become a brilliant ruler."

She shed tears in sorrow.

A crying voice reached her ears, "Sister, wuwu…"

Ning Daying cried out while running out, "I'm the one who harmed you, I… wuwu… I'd rather die together with you!"