Chapter 50: Opposing Points

In the courtyard, the zither music floated, Wan Tang and Lady of Grace Qi stood on either side, one as cool as the moon, the other as radiant as a flower.

Chu Yunzheng sat on a stone bench, his gaze never leaving Wan Tang.

Today she wore a light cyan long dress, with only a single white jade hairpin in her hair, exceedingly plain, yet it highlighted her snow‑white skin, and a dot of vermilion between her brows shone startlingly.

Lady of Grace Qi, seeing this, harbored secret resentment; she pressed her fingertips, and the zither music suddenly quickened, as if vying for favor.

Wan Tang remained composed; the music flowed like a gentle stream, neither fast nor slow, yet impossible to ignore.

After the piece ended, Chu Yunzheng clapped his hands and laughed, "Exquisite."

He rose, walked toward Wan Tang, and lightly brushed her hair tips with his fingertips, "Tangtang, you are especially enchanting today."

Wan Tang lowered her eyes, cheeks tinged pink, "Your Majesty overpraises me."

Lady of Grace Qi clenched her teeth, then in a coquettish voice said, "Emperor, I have just acquired a jar of fine Western Region wine; shall we share a cup?"

Chu Yunzheng did not look at her, but asked Wan Tang, "Are you feeling better? Can you drink?"

【Oh dear, Zhazha Long is trying to sleep with Wan Tang?】

【Pfft, Tangtang, kick him farther away.】

【Zhazha Long even rolled the sheets with Xu Luoyan yesterday.】

Wan Tang felt a chill in her heart, bowed her head in shame, eyes full of grievance and reluctance, "The imperial physician said it will still take some time."

"Emperor, I will accompany you tonight! I have just made a set of dance garments, and will wear them only for you," Lady of Grace Qi's voice grew even more delicate.

Chu Yunzheng glanced at her, half‑smiling, "Very well."

He took Wan Tang's hand and led her to the Side Hall, "Tangtang may not be able to drink, but she can appreciate dance."

Wan Tang felt a slight surprise in her heart.

Lady of Grace Qi's expression was odd, yet she dared not speak further.

After three rounds of wine, Chu Yunzheng's eyes grew darker, his gaze lingering on Wan Tang.

He reached out, his fingertips gently caressing her wrist, "Tangtang, it has been half a month since we…"

Wan Tang stepped back in time, whispering, "Emperor, I… I am not yet pure."

Chu Yunzheng frowned slightly, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

Lady of Grace Qi, seeing this, immediately pressed forward, cooing, "Emperor, I will accompany you."

Chu Yunzheng glanced at Wan Tang, then calmly said, "Then Tangtang, you should rest early."

Leaving the Side Hall, Wan Tang stood in the courtyard, her eyes growing cold.

Li Ping'er anxiously said, "Master, aren't you saddened? Do you really intend to hand over the Emperor's favor?"

Wan Tang let out a light laugh, "Why the hurry?"

She lifted her gaze, looking toward the Side Hall where Lady of Grace Qi resided, a trace of calculation flashing in her eyes.

Although the Emperor went to Lady of Grace Qi's place today…

what he truly thought of was her.

Inside the Side Hall of He Feng Yujing Palace, a warm canopy hung low, and red candles flickered.

Ambiguous sighs mingled with a warm, sweet, cloying fragrance seeped through the window cracks, spreading into a seductive mist in the chilly night.

Wan Tang stood alone in the courtyard, gazing up at the cold moon above, her fingertips unconsciously tightening around her sleeve cuff.

In the Side Hall, Chu Yunzheng's low laugh drifted faintly, blended with Lady of Grace Qi's coquettish acquiescence.

It was like a fine needle, silently piercing her heart.

Does it hurt?

She gently pressed her chest, a cold smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

This little pain… what is it?

Compared with the hatred of her mother being killed alive, compared with Xu Luoyan's poisonous cup, compared with Wang Jingyi's deep‑seated scheming…

This fleeting pain of male‑female romance is not even a scratch.

The swift reports from Bei Mo arrived at the palace for days, uplifting the court and the ministries.

It is said that the eldest son of the Xu Family is invincibly brave, repeatedly achieving remarkable feats, almost a legend on the battlefield.

Because of these military merits, the Xu Family's standing in the court grew ever firmer, and even Xu Luoyan, demoted to Answering, showed faint signs of regaining favor.

At the same time, He Feng Yujing Palace became the liveliest spot in the Imperial harem.

Chu Yunzheng almost stayed overnight every night, his affection for Lady of Grace Qi visibly intensifying.

The Guanren whispered privately, saying Lady of Grace Qi could obtain the saint's favor, all because Wan Pin secretly assisted.

Yet no one knew that within the Side Hall, the scent of warm affection drifted nightly.

In Yuhuayuan, a hundred blossoms vied for brilliance.

Empress Xiao Mingshu sat regally on the main seat, clad in a bright red Phoenix Robe, dignified and splendid, a smile at her lips, yet a chill in her eyes.

"Today the scenery is perfect; sisters need not observe formalities, just enjoy to your heart's content."

The Imperial Concubines, hearing this, laughed in response, filling the air with chirping and chatter, a lively bustle.

Lady of Grace Qi wore a dazzling peach‑red palace outfit, golden hairpins swaying in her hair, her brows and eyes brimming with pride.

She sat beside the Empress, already a new elite of the Imperial harem, and even the high‑rank concubines who once ignored her now gathered forward to flatter her.

Meanwhile, Wan Tang sat quietly beside them, a faint smile at her lips, as if indifferent to the surrounding clamor.

Until that figure appeared.

"Xu Answering has arrived!"

The eunuch's thin voice abruptly cut through the laughter and chatter in the garden.

The crowd turned, seeing Xu Luoyan in a light jade palace outfit, strolling forward.

Although she had been demoted to Answering, her pomp was undiminished, with several palace maids following, exuding an imposing aura.

Two people were still following close by.

Xu Luoyan's mother, the principal wife of the nation's defending Grand General, is over forty yet still retains her charm and possesses an extraordinary bearing.

And the other one…

Wan Tang's pupils narrowed slightly.

She was a young woman, about seventeen or eighteen, skin whiter than snow, features like a painting; most astonishing was that her eyes were about eighty percent similar to Wan Tang's!

The difference was that this woman's gaze was more demure, like a startled fawn, pitiably delicate.

She was even younger, more youthful, and even more heart‑aching.

This was Wang Jingyi's scheme: since Wan Tang could use that face to gain the Emperor's favor, she could find the same eyes.

If Wan Tang could be charming, she could use an even more pitiful little white rabbit to deal with the Emperor.

"Who is this…?" the Empress squinted, her tone subtle.

Even though she already knew such a person existed, since the Emperor had never mentioned it, she had to pretend ignorance.

Xu Luoyan curved her ruby lips lightly, her voice sweetly syrupy: "Your Majesty, this is my father's newly adopted daughter, named Xu Qinghuan; today I have brought her to pay respects to Your Majesty."

Xu Qinghuan bowed timidly, her voice soft: "A humble maiden presents herself before the Empress, may the Empress enjoy boundless blessings and golden peace."

Within Yuhuayuan, the previously lively atmosphere suddenly solidified.

The gazes of the Imperial Concubines fixed rigidly on Xu Qinghuan, their eyes swirling with jealousy and resentment.

This woman, resembling Wan Tang, now enjoys the Emperor's favor even more than Wan Tang.

The Emperor summoned her to attend his bedchamber for seven consecutive days, bestowing gifts like a flowing stream into her palace; even at the Empress's garden banquet, she could arrive fashionably late yet still be treated as a distinguished guest.

Lady of Grace Qi, fingers clutching her round fan, turned slightly pale; Consort Shun lowered her head to conceal the gloom in her eyes, and the other Imperial Concubines could not help but furrow their brows.

How can a newly entered palace beauty claim that?

Amid a suppressed silence, Wan Tang suddenly let out a light laugh.

She stepped forward slowly, her apricot eyes narrowed, her gaze like a blade stabbing at Xu Luoyan: "Xu Answering hasn't had enough punishment yet, yet still dares to appear?"

"Do you just disregard the Emperor's words like that?"

Xu Luoyan's complexion stiffened, and she instinctively stepped back half a pace, her eyes flickering, clearly now fearing Wan Tang.

Having been wronged by Wan Tang many times, she now also began to feel fear toward the person before her.

She forced a cold laugh, yet dared not look Wan Tang in the eyes, turning her face to the side, her voice wavering: "I… I have now been released from confinement; it is not your place to lecture me!"

"I?" Wan Tang chuckled lightly, turning her head toward Xiao Mingshu: "Empress, I, the Subject, do not understand—just Answering, and you still address me like that?"

"Of course not." Xiao Mingshu's face showed displeasure, "Xu Answering, mind your status."

Xu Luoyan bit her lip hard, snorted, and turned her face aside.

Wan Tang knew Wang Jingyi's tactics were not simple. Yet the current Wan Tang could no longer let them trample over her head.

After all, having seen many little white rabbits, occasionally a little wildcat can also seem cute.

Wan Tang pressed aggressively: "So, Xu Answering, in front of us, how should you address yourself?"

Seeing this, Xu Qinghuan stepped forward immediately, her posture demure, her soft voice each word laced with thorns:

"Madam Wan, please calm your anger; the Xu Family's recent battle achievements have delighted the Emperor, which is why my sister's confinement was lifted. Why must you keep pressing so harshly?"

She lifted her gaze, eyes shimmering with watery light, appearing innocent and naive, yet the corner of her mouth subtly curved in a teasing arc.

She was showing off.

She flaunted the Xu Family's military merits, the Emperor's favor, and her own current pride.

【Although… but… I like the current Wan Tang.】

【Ladies, don't be cowardly; we are all consorts, why still fear them?】

【Better to restrain yourselves! The Emperor has already arrived; that old fox Wang Jingyi had long plotted, specifically inviting the Emperor.】

The Emperor has arrived? Isn't that even better!

Wan Tang sneered inwardly; since Wang Jingyi loved scheming so much, why not turn the scheme back, pulling the Emperor's heart at the right moment.

After all, playing the pitiful one—who wouldn't?

"Did I ask you?"

Wan Tang abruptly cut in with a cold voice, her tone icy.

She stepped forward a pace, her face still bearing a smile, yet the smile never reached her eyes, instead exuding a chilling coldness:

"What is your status? A beauty? Or an official lady? Do you even deserve to interject before me?"

Xu Qinghuan trembled at her sudden aura, her eyes reddening instantly, retreating two steps like a frightened rabbit.

Wan Tang, however, would not relent, sneering: "People of the Xu Family are always this unruly?"

Wang Jingyi stood aside, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips.

She said nothing, yet her sharp eyes fixed on Wan Tang like a viper eyeing prey, waiting for the moment to strike deadlier.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

A eunuch's thin voice sliced through the stagnant air.

Everyone hurriedly turned to bow, and Chu Yunzheng, clad in a dark dragon robe, strode forward with a stern expression.

Xu Qinghuan's eyes lit up, and she darted forward like finding a backing, sprinting into Chu Yunzheng's arms, her voice trembling with sobs:

"Your Majesty… I, a humble girl, do not know how I offended Sister Wan, she… she is so fierce…"

She lifted her face, tears rolling like pearls, appearing utterly pitiful.

Chu Yunzheng's brows twitched slightly, his gaze sweeping the crowd before finally resting on Wan Tang, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.