Chapter 358: Emperor, I Just Love You Too Much

The scene was briefly awkward.

Zhao Hai and the people from Shenxing Si wore the same expression.

Bai Li Xiao's forward‑leaning and backward‑leaning posture made all tension disappear in an instant.

They only glanced disdainfully at Wan Tang, as if looking at a joke.

"Emperor has arrived."

A thin voice came, footsteps grew nearer, and Chu Yunzheng's face turned iron‑blue.

A palace maid who had slipped out followed beside him.

"Emperor..." At the sight of Chu Yunzheng arriving, Bai Li Xiao's tears fell instantly; she pouted coquettishly, broke free of her restraints, and lunged toward Chu Yunzheng.

Chu Yunzheng reached out, pulled her into his arms, his gaze icy as he stared at Wan Tang.

Bai Li Xiao pressed her face against Chu Yunzheng's chest, tears streaming: "Emperor, the Empress despises me and wants to take the chance while you are busy to eliminate me."

She spoke, her tears overflowing, choking continuously.

【I hate seeing Bai Li's expression the most, but I'm really worried about Wan Tang now.】

【When Dog Emperor saw Wan Tang return safely, his heart panicked. He began to investigate those who reported to him; they were all former members of the Mo Family. Their false reports have already been deemed treasonous by Dog Emperor and secretly executed.】

【Now he's on a hot head, and seeing Wan Tang still dare to use former Mo Family members—what a perfect chance to kill a chicken without a knife?】

【Tangtang wouldn't really be so enraged as to personally hand a knife to Dog Emperor, would she?】

Wan Tang stood there, still completely unruffled.

Chu Yunzheng's voice was cold: "How will you deal with my Pear?"

Wan Tang had not spoken.

The chief eunuch of Shenxing Si stepped forward cautiously, his voice trembling: "Pear Princess's crime is unforgivable; she should be sent to the Cold Palace."

"Heh..." Chu Yunzheng let out a sudden cold laugh; the chief eunuch trembled all over, hurriedly bowing his head.

At this moment, in this atmosphere, he naturally did not wish to speak.

But the Empress had already taken so many benefits; how could he stay silent?

"Emperor..." Bai Li Xiao called out in a coquettish voice, choking: "If you do not come again, I'm afraid you will not be able to see me any longer."

She said, lifting her head weakly, her shoulders trembling slightly, evoking pity.

This sight made the Emperor dazed; the two figures overlapped for a moment, then quickly faded.

Turning his face, there was no trace of him in the eyes of the person before him, only an inscrutable coldness.

Chu Yunzheng sneered, and when he opened his mouth, it was already mocking: "The Empress truly is no longer what she was; now she knows how to frame and trap, scheming against the concubines?"

"I have always cherished my Pear; haven't you always supported me? Why are you now resorting to these lowly tricks?"

"Emperor," Wan Tang's voice was clear and cold, the corner of her mouth slightly upturned, "How could I possibly be jealous because of you?"

"Do you want to hear what really happened?"

Chu Yunzheng turned his head aside, his chin slightly raised: "How could I not be aware of the affairs of the harem?"

"Women, aside from these tricks, what else could there be?"

Chu Yunzheng wanted to hear contemptuous words from Wan Tang, but his gaze fell on the former Mo Family members, and murderous intent surged in his eyes again.

Like a warning, he added: "I have said I can tolerate your arrogance. But regarding the Former Dynasty's harem, how you choose, you should have a sense of boundaries."

Wan Tang smiled wryly.

She said nothing further.

She only nodded at Zhao Hai.

"Emperor," Zhao Hai stepped forward, knelt, and hesitantly said: "Perhaps you should first listen to the evidence of Pear Princess's crimes."

Chu Yunzheng's gaze hardened.

He said lightly: "Do not use those baseless things to insult my eyes."

"But..." Zhao Hai, holding a tray with both hands, continued: "This is the incense commonly used by Pear Princess; I wonder if the Emperor is familiar with it."

Chu Yunzheng, not being foolish, said in a deep voice: "Continue."

Zhao Hai's voice boomed like a bell: "Upon examination, it contains a large amount of aphrodisiac, in a heavy dosage. It can make a man lose self‑control, crave endlessly, even desire daily pleasures."

Bai Li Xiao's face turned ashen.

Trembling, she pressed her supple body close to Chu Yunzheng: "Emperor, I was wrong."

"But I have waited for the Emperor for ten years, finally reaching your side, only to find everything has changed."

"I only wanted to keep my beloved."

Wan Tang sneered: "This is Forbidden Medicine."

"Emperor, I simply love you too much..." Bai Li Xiao sounded like a kitten, so helpless.

Chu Yunzheng's expression was displeased, yet he hesitated: "You are foolish; you may not..."

"Emperor, do you know the consequences of long‑term use of this medicine?" Wan Tang laughed.

Chu Yunzheng lifted his gaze.

The imperial physician, already kneeling on the ground, could only shiver as he stepped forward: "Emperor, I am guilty."

"Such Forbidden Medicine, with prolonged use, will make a man listless; over time, it may even become inhumane."

"What?!" Chu Yunzheng roared, pushing Bai Li Xiao away.

Bai Li Xiao's footing gave way, and she fell to the ground.

She cried out in pain, collapsing limp on the ground like a butterfly battered by a storm.

A hint of softness rose in Chu Yunzheng's eyes, and Zhao Hai's voice followed.

"Emperor, after investigation, you and Pear Princess's bodies have long been affected by it. Thus, when Pear Princess became pregnant, the imperial physician already diagnosed that the child could not be kept."

"It was Pear Princess who threatened the imperial physician, forcing him to conceal the reason. I, still in Changchun Palace, uncovered the abortifacient."

Chu Yunzheng's complexion was chillingly cold.

He stepped forward, glowering at Bai Li: "You know, to me, you are one of a kind."

"I can tolerate many things about you, including your little cleverness."

"But how dare you use my body, my Imperial Heir as a pawn!"

With each sentence, Chu Yunzheng clenched his fists a little tighter.

"Emperor... I am simply too scared. You keep saying you love me alone, yet you treat her differently."

"I am very scared; you clearly said it was only because you missed me so much that you sought her. So why, when I am by your side, do you repeatedly look for her shadow on me?"

Bai Li lost control, her shouted voice grew more frantic, and finally her eyes reddened as two streams of hot tears fell.

Chu Yunzheng was dazed.

Countless images flashed in his mind; countless times Chu Yunzheng called "Tang'er" in his dreams.

Wan Tang sneered with a smile, "This pair of infatuated man and resentful woman truly disgusts me!"

Zhao Hai added, "Emperor, this is a matter of the harem; I am not in a position to intervene, we will take our leave."

Chu Yunzheng nodded.

He stood there, looking down at Bai Li, and, disappointed, ordered, "Regardless of the reason, you ultimately harmed Hui Guifei."

While speaking, Chu Yunzheng also glanced at Wan Tang.

Though the two were within arm's reach, they seemed worlds apart.

He said weakly, "In the end, I have owed her; I will posthumously elevate Hui Guifei to Yongde Imperial Noble Consort and inter her in the Imperial Mausoleum."

Having finished, he turned his gaze again to the shattered Bai Li.

Chang let out a sigh, his heart finally softening: "Li'er acted foolishly, but only because her obsession with me is too deep."

"Naturally, that cannot be a reason to forgo punishment. Demoted to Answering, confined to Changchun Palace."

"Heh..." Wan Tang laughed, "My sister has lived a life of lofty virtue, yet she would protect a foe to obtain the Imperial Noble Consort title, fearing she cannot rest in peace."

"Scoundrel!" Chu Yunzheng barked low, "You now are even more outrageous."

"Your matter, I have not yet settled accounts with you, but I already consider your contributions to me."

Wan Tang, unafraid, looked straight into his eyes: "Emperor, why deceive yourself and others? Yan Wang has truthfully revealed the events of those years. If Bai Li loved you, how could she have plotted Yan Wang?"

"What she loves is merely the power a man can give her. Back then you could not achieve anything, she had already abandoned you, hadn't she?"

The veil of shame was torn, Chu Yunzheng's face showed a rich expression; how could he still deceive himself?

Bai Li, frightened, hurried, "Emperor, I have always loved you; as your consort I am also a victim."

She, fearing her reasoning would not hold, grabbed the departing Zhao Hai: "Didn't you catch these two? Why not tell the Emperor you want to shield the Empress?"

"Emperor," Bai Li glared, her face full of ferocity, "I also intend to expose the Empress; she staged her own assassination, secretly rallied the Mo family remnant, and framed my family."

"She not only sought to harm me, but also to destroy my Bai family."

"She not only wants to dominate the palace, but also to eliminate dissent, seize control of the court; her heart deserves execution!"

The final sentence was the dagger that pierced deep into Chu Yunzheng's heart.

He sneered, stepping toward Wan Tang.

Two fingers, like iron tongs, clamped Wan Tang's chin, and he said gravely, "Empress, how do you explain?"

"You are already Empress, rallying the Mo family remnants; what do you intend?"

"Have you been blinded by power, also wishing to point a finger at my realm?"