Chapter 41: Secret Meeting with an Outsider

Chu Yunzheng stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes deep as night, a faint, half‑present cold smile curling at his lips.

Behind him, a group of concubines, though lowering their brows and compliant, could not hide the glee of misfortune in their eyes; with silk handkerchiefs over their mouths, whispering to each other, their jeweled hairpins swayed lightly, and the lingering fragrance was filled with silent scorn.

Wan Tang's fingertips trembled, a fine sweat beading at her temples; Rong Ruo's back was taut, his knuckles in his sleeve turning white.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze scraped the two of them inch by inch like a blade, then he let out a light laugh: "Concubine Wan, you really are good at pretending."

"Last night I knelt and copied the women's edicts; I almost believed you were sincerely repentant."

"Today, you have truly opened my eyes!"

The words hung in the air, and a powerful oppressive aura burst forth, making it hard to breathe.

【These are good: Xu Luoyan told the Emperor both openly and secretly that Wan Tang and Rong Ruo are having an affair. The Emperor had kept some doubt, but now, the evidence is solid.】

【Is Wan Tang just unable to bear loneliness? Does she have to meet Rong Ruo?】

【Ladies, don't you think this is a bit strange? Why do I feel something is off?】

【Anyway, we're already in a dead end. After all, in the past ten years, all the letters and betrothal tokens between Wan Tang and Rong Ruo, Xu Luoyan has submitted them under the pretext of not daring to deceive the ruler.】

【Just need a caught‑in‑the‑act. Right now the two are meeting in secret, seen by so many; the best outcome is to be sent to the Cold Palace.】

Wan Tang let out a cold laugh: "All the letters and betrothal tokens, you say?"

Since Xu Luoyan is so eager to die, how could she not facilitate it?

"Emperor…" Wan Tang hurriedly knelt, slightly raising her head, her eyes full of overflowing longing and grievance.

Chu Yunzheng narrowed his eyes slightly, not even wanting to look at the person before him.

Xiao Mingshu was also quite startled; after a while she recovered, stepped forward, and said with heartfelt anguish: "Concubine Wan has always been gentle and self‑loving; is there perhaps some misunderstanding?"

"Only the Empress's kind heart would think there's a misunderstanding?" Xu Luoyan stepped forward gracefully, dismissively saying: "A self‑loving person would never so plainly climb the dragon bed."

The moment those words were spoken, everyone's face was filled with hatred.

After all, such a scandal that all refined ladies despise has allowed a lowly maid to rise a step to heaven.

The concubines chattered, about to discuss.

Chu Yunzheng abruptly stopped the prayer beads rotating in his hand; everyone hurriedly fell silent, straightened their backs, and stood stiffly beside him, faces tense.

"Speak!" Chu Yunzheng glanced at Wan Tang.

Wan Tang flinched, looking anxiously at the Emperor, and whispered: "Your Majesty, I did not; I just happened to pass by."

"I did not expect to see Commander Rong here; I am also surprised," she said.

"I do not believe in coincidences," Chu Yunzheng's voice was terrifyingly cold.

Wan Tang quickly fell silent.

Rong Ruo knelt on one knee on the green‑stone path, a fine sweat beading at his temples. From the corner of his eye he saw Xu Luoyan's skirt brush the flower cluster, yet he dared not look up.

Xu Luoyan lightly brushed a blooming crabapple with her fingertip, her smile full: "Sister, you say you met Commander Rong by chance at the Kanbi Tower?"

She suddenly leaned down, whispering into Wan Tang's ear: "But in this garden, even a single butterfly is watched; how is it that your 'chance encounter' is so conveniently timed?"

The Emperor stood with his hands behind him in front of the pavilion; the golden‑threaded cloud patterns on his dark dragon robe glimmered with a cold light in the sun.

He caressed a white jade ring with his fingertip, then laughed lightly: "Lord Rong, I recall you guard the outer palace gate."

The jade ring clicked: "The flowers at Kanbi Tower are more enticing than a military order?"

Rong Ruo's Adam's apple bobbed: "Your Majesty, I am only…"

"Only what?" the Emperor took a slow step forward, his voice low as a cold pool: "My concubine has been punished, yet you have the leisure to cherish the fallen blossoms in this garden?"

Xu Luoyan covered her mouth with a smile: "Commander Rong has always been loyal; surely he was deceived by someone."

She lightly tapped Wan Tang's shoulder: "Sister, do you think so?"

Wan Tang's fingertips trembled, her lowered lashes casting shadows on her face: "Your Majesty, I assure you, I have not."

The Emperor suddenly reached out, gripping her chin to force her to look up, his gaze like a blade: "I give you one chance; think it through before you speak."

Wan Tang's smile was mournful, answering off‑topic: "I have only one thing to say: I love the Emperor. Do you believe it?"

Chu Yunzheng's eyes were an abyss no one could penetrate.

In the distance, distant thunder rumbled faintly, dark clouds gathered, and the once bright spring light suddenly turned gloomy.

【What does this mean? Is the heroine trying to dump all the blame onto Wan Tang, making her entangle endlessly with Rong Ruo?】

【Does Xu Luoyan not know that Rong Ruo originally received her letter, which is why he came here to meet?】

【She obviously doesn't know, since that letter was also written by Wan Tang. Hahaha, how amusing—the letter is still on Rong Ruo, this bootlicker thought the goddess summoned him, rushed over, only to find a fire pit.】

Xu Luoyan watched the shift in their gazes, a faint cold smile curling her lips, then immediately changed to a look of heartfelt anguish.

She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, her voice low and mournful: "Wan Tang, Wan Tang, I, the palace, still wanted to spare you some face, but you refused it yourself."

She stepped forward slowly, her gilded armor brushing Wan Tang's shoulder as if reluctant to touch: "From childhood you have always wanted to soar onto the branches and become a phoenix, yet a servant dares to dream of marrying the legitimate son of the Rong family."

Her tone carried a hint of regret, but also sarcasm: "It would make both our families suffer unbearably."

Xu Luoyan suddenly turned, her wide sleeves fluttering, sighing as if forced: "Before, I always gave way to you; who could have thought your ambitions were so lofty, that you would…"

Her words halted abruptly, her gaze flickering over the Emperor as if ashamed to speak.

She waved her hand, her face full of unspeakable shame: "At first I wanted to urge you to reform, but you were obstinate, even scheming against me at every turn…"

Her voice grew deeper, tinged with pain: "Now the Emperor has only neglected you for a few days, and you cannot stand the loneliness, again entangling yourself with Rong's guards…"

Chu Yunzheng stood with his hands behind him, his knuckles in his sleeves turning bluish‑white, a frosty smile lingering on his face.

That smile, though not reaching his eyes, made the palace staff's knees go weak and tremble uncontrollably.

Xiao Mingshu stood by the vermilion railing, her phoenix eyes slightly lowered, sighing: "Concubine Wan, is it truly so?"

Her tone was gentle, yet it left everyone breathless.

Wan Tang's lowered lashes trembled lightly, a cold laugh in her heart. That fool Rong Ruo actually kept the letter on his person.

"Return, Emperor, Empress…" she suddenly lifted her head, a tear poised on the brink: "I, a servant, am devoted to the Emperor, yet cannot gain any trust."

Her plain hand clenched the brocade box, knuckles whitening: "I remember the words the Emperor said yesterday."

"But you, have you forgotten?"

"How dare you!" Xu Luoyan's gilded armor slashed across the stone railing, emitting a harsh sound: "Even now you still dare to fabricate evidence?"

A startling thunder boomed, and dark clouds covered the sun.

Wan Tang suddenly let out a light laugh, tears falling like pearls: "Whatever the Empress says it is… that shall be enough."

She staggered back, the brocade box slipping from her hand and hitting the ground: "In any case… I, the Subject, should have understood long ago…"

"Snap!"

A scroll of letters rolled and fell before the dragon‑patterned boots.

Xiao Mingshu bent down to pick it up; the phoenix crown's dangling pearls rustled. Upon seeing the contents, she suddenly changed color: "Your Majesty! Take a look at this."

Chu Yunzheng gave a cold glance, but his pupils contracted sharply when his eyes touched the writing.