Chapter 5: From Now On, Only Enemies

Wan Tang's head hung so low that she couldn't see Rong Ruo's expression.

Yet at this moment, it was clear that the person before her was no longer her brother Rong Ruo.

She trembled as she spoke, "Do you have any grievance? Or are you just this kind of person?"

"I..."

Rong Ruo had just spoken a word when a familiar voice came from beside him, "Scoundrel, are you here?"

"You hurt Li Gong Gong; you could have killed the Empress Dowager."

"Watch how I deal with you."

The back of her head suddenly ached, and when she woke again, the candlelight before her flickered.

Inside the room, only Xu Luoyan was present.

The candlelight reflected on her face, shadows dense, making it impossible to see her originally beautiful visage.

When Wan Tang awoke, Xu Luoyan's armor was slicing across her face, leaving a streak of blood.

Watching her open her eyes, Xu Luoyan lifted the soup bowl before her, brow furrowed, "Wan Tang, I know everything about your case…"

"I never expected Li Gong Gong to treat you like this."

"Alas!"

Xu Luoyan brought the bowl to her lips, "Don't be afraid, drink the Calming Soup and get a good sleep."

"As for Li Gong Gong, I will give him an answer."

Xu Luoyan's tone remained as before, as if nothing had happened.

Wan Tang's heart turned completely cold.

The person she loved desperately had once again sent her back into this demon lair.

"Wan Tang, why won't you open your mouth?" Xu Luoyan's expression grew grim, "Do you think there's something wrong with the soup?"

Wan Tang's heart trembled, meeting Xu Luoyan's grim eyes.

【Wan Tang, don't drink; this soup has been laced with a soporific.】

【The so‑called solution is to sacrifice you.】

"If I don't drink... can I escape fate?"

Wan Tang's mouth was full of bitterness; knowing the soup was flawed, what could she do?

She had no other choice.

She only said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager."

She slowly took the soup from Xu Luoyan's hand, stared at the oil flecks on the surface, tilted her head back and drank.

As the soup disappeared, a smile returned to Xu Luoyan's brows and eyes.

Her hand rested on Wan Tang's face, "Your mother is a fox seductress, and you are a fox seductress too."

"Looking at your face, even I feel jealous."

"Don't blame me; if you must blame someone, blame your good looks that made Li Gong Gong fall for you."

She smashed the bowl in her hand.

The room door was pushed open from outside.

Rong Ruo entered expressionless.

He once again hoisted her onto his shoulder and left Jingren Palace.

Earlier, when going to Li Defu's place, Wan Tang had already prepared.

But now, her heart was utterly dead.

She could not escape.

She could no longer flee this palace.

The person she longed to grow old with was, at this moment, being taken to Li Gong Gong's residence.

Within the Barrage, there was also a wail of sorrow.

【Rong the scumbag, not a thing; this kind of thing even a beast couldn't do.】

【Wan Tang is so tragic; if this keeps going, I'm going to abandon the drama.】

【Can't accept Wan Tang being... by a eunuch.】

Wan Tang found it amusing; who could accept it?

The soporific made her body grow increasingly weak.

She trembled as she asked Rong Ruo, "Do you still remember, when I was thirteen, the great snow in the Capital?"

"You once said: 'Two loves sharing snow, this life we shall grow old together.'"

Rong Ruo's steps did not halt; he simply said, "It's been too long, I can't recall clearly."

So, from beginning to end, leaving the palace to marry Rong Ruo was all her one‑sided wish.

The so‑called fiancé was a lie that Xu Luoyan fabricated for her?

Wan Tang trembled, feeling for the hairpin on her head, aligning its sharp tip toward Rong Ruo.

She drove it in hard.

"Sss!"

Rong Ruo winced in pain, his hand shook, and Wan Tang fell to the ground.

She staggered up, Wan Tang's both hands clutched a tree tightly, glaring fiercely at Rong Ruo.

The white clothing was quickly stained red with fresh blood.

Rong Ruo stared at Wan Tang, coldly saying, "Useless."

"Today, I must deliver you to Li Defu's bed."

To be able to speak this from Rong Ruo's mouth means the bond between the two of them is already exhausted.

Rong Ruo is the guard commander in the Imperial Palace; taking a palace maid to Li Defu is easy.

Wan Tang's head went dizzy.

She bit her own tongue hard, forcing herself to stay awake.

"Rong Ruo, you let me off today, and I will treat you only as a benefactor."

"You still intend to give me to Li Defu; between us there is no longer any affection, you are my enemy."

Rong Ruo's voice fell like an ice spear: "Don't be foolish; in the deep palace, you are nothing but a rootless, leafless dodder."

"Without clinging to a big tree, you simply cannot survive."

"Li Defu can keep you alive."

"Don't underestimate your husband."

This remark pierced the heart like a sharp sword. He actually called a rootless person her husband?!

In Wan Tang's laughter lay far too much despair.

"In this deep palace, who isn't a mere ant? Only the Emperor is the king who rules everything."

"Even if I am that dodder, I will climb the highest tree!"

Wan Tang's smile was overly resolute; in that instant, her heart completely died.

He whispered, "If you dare move again, regarding Xu Luoyan, I can't guarantee my mouth will stay tight."

Rong Ruo's heart suddenly trembled.

He froze stiffly in place.

A flash of pain suddenly crossed Wan Tang's mind; she was merely testing.

But Rong Ruo truly stayed still, his gaze complex as it stared at Wan Tang.

In the critical moment, he couldn't allow Wan Tang to think further, turned and fled.

【Run left; the right side is all patrols.】

【Do you see the willow grove ahead? Dive in.】

【The archway ahead, run inside.】

【Did you see the doghole at the base of the wall? Quickly crawl in.】

Night is deep and the dew heavy; even the most stringent guards cannot withstand the audience's godlike perspective.

Under the Barrage's direction, Wan Tang did not hesitate to run toward any inconceivable corner.

The whole process was smooth and unobstructed.

When the head feels heavy, she thrust a hairpin hard into flesh.

After crawling into the last doghole, the courtyard inside was extremely quiet.

Step by step she entered; inside was a huge hot spring pool.

Inside, one could even swim.

Petals floated on the water surface; the water was calm, as if no one was there.

Wan Tang's head was extremely dizzy.

But she knew the danger had not been removed.

She staggered to the pool's edge, crouched, and tried to scoop a handful of water to clear her mind.

The heavy-headedness, like a thousand‑pound boulder, made her unable to bear any longer.

Her body swayed and collapsed into the pool.

Splashing water everywhere, Wan Tang's body kept sinking.

It seemed countless waters pressed against her chest, the feeling of suffocation growing stronger.

Under the drug's effect, she could not lift a single ounce of strength, and, like a massive stone, sank to the bottom.

Is she about to die?

"Whoosh!"

On the other side of the pool, a figure rose from the water.

The jet‑black hair hung behind the head, the firm facial lines exuded an undeniable pressure.