Chapter 58: Veterinarian

The inner hall of Millennium Palace.

The incense seemed mixed with a scent of blood, making the temples throb.

The Empress Dowager sat upright on the Luan Phoenix Throne, her armor intermittently striking the jade table, the "tap, tap" sounding like a death‑summoning talisman pressing on everyone's hearts.

Wan Tang knelt on the cold floor, the golden‑silk cushion beneath her knees already removed.

Xu Luoyan and Wang Jingyi were in the same state; after Xu Qinghuan's execution, they too knelt in terror.

They had been kneeling for an entire hour.

The sting in her knees crawled up her spine; she bit her lower lip unnoticed, tasting a hint of rust.

"Wan Pin is indeed unjustly accused," Chu Yunzheng suddenly opened his mouth: "Stand up first."

Li Ping'er and Qiu Ju, as if granted a pardon, hurried forward to help.

Wan Tang staggered slightly as she rose.

Her saluting posture remained flawless, but the fingers hidden in her sleeve trembled slightly: "I, your servant, thank the Emperor for his concern."

The Empress Dowager and the Empress glanced over, saying nothing more.

At that moment, the chief of the Imperial Medical Institute hurried into the hall, his white hair beneath the official cap drenched with sweat.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Your Majesty the Emperor, Lady Qi's life is unharmed, but…"

His Adam's apple bobbed as he bowed even lower, "The fetus is less than a month old and has encountered a deadly toxin; it may be impossible to…"

"It must be born!" the Empress Dowager thundered.

The chief pressed his forehead hard against the ground, daring not utter another word.

Xiao Mingshu met the Empress Dowager's sharp gaze, which seemed capable of killing.

"If the harem again fails to find peace," each of the Empress Dowager's words was chilling, "I would not mind cleansing it myself."

"When the time comes, do not blame me for having weakened your authority."

Xiao Mingshu's kneeling moved like flowing clouds: "I, your servant, am terrified."

When she lowered her head, a strand of broken hair slipped from her sunrise five‑phoenix bun, conveniently covering the dark swirl in her eyes.

Chu Yunzheng rose at the right moment: "I, your son, trust the Empress to handle this properly."

He pretended to support the Empress Dowager's arm, both respectful and affectionate: "Mother Empress, you have labored all night; I will escort you back to the palace."

The Empress Dowager's fierce brows finally softened a bit: "Very well, Emperor, you should also go see Lady Qi."

【Zhazha Long and the Empress Dowager are about to mutter again, discussing state affairs.】

【The only thing Zhazha Long does for people is to get Tangtang up, which counts as supporting her; no one may touch her now.】

【Come to think of it, they had been looking for a chance to strike the Xu Family, but their reputation kept them from finding one.】

【In the end, it was Xiao Mingshu and the Xiao Family who bore it all!】

Wan Tang, hearing the barrage's words, couldn't help but feel that the palace was as deep as the sea.

In this palace, everyone is full of scheming; not a single person has a sincere heart to speak of.

The moment the hall doors closed behind the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, Xiao Mingshu's complexion turned icy.

Xu Luoyan let out a light laugh at that moment: "Empress, do you have any other business?"

She twirled the coral bead forbidden to step near her waist and said, "If there is nothing else, I, your servant, will return to purge those disobedient lowly maids beneath my command."

She bit the last few words extremely hard.

Wang Jingyi remained kneeling, yet her expression carried a calm composure.

The Xu Jiachuan's illustrious achievements gave her confidence.

It seemed the seat before her was not the central throne but a temporary occupant destined to relinquish it sooner or later.

All the concubines in the hall held their breath, bowed their heads, and the silk handkerchief in their palms creased deeply.

"Snap!"

Xiao Mingshu suddenly flung the tea cup at Xu Luoyan's feet.

"Xu, for misconduct before the throne, is confined to Songbai Palace without an edict and may not leave." Her voice was crisper than broken ice, "punished with three years of salary reduction to serve as a warning."

Wang Jingyi had not spoken when the Empress continued, "Madam Xu is advanced in age; she shall set out for the capital tomorrow."

The armor lightly tapped the almanac on the table, "The Summer Resort Palace is damp; do not shorten your lifespan."

Xu Luoyan's pupils contracted sharply, about to erupt, but the Empress spread her wide sleeves.

The Empress's icy gaze pressed her so that she dared not speak; this sickly girl also possessed such a chilling side.

Wang Jingyi's complexion drained of color, as the Empress publicly cursed her with a short life!

"Your Majesty!" Wang Jingyi sprang to her feet, only to see Xiao Mingshu smiling.

The smile never reached her eyes, like a blade glinting in snow: "Madam Xu, if you miss tomorrow's carriage at the appointed hour…"

Her jade-like finger brushed the Step Shake at her temple, and she said, "I must have the Imperial Guard escort you."

Under such a frigid aura, Wang Jingyi and Xu Luoyan could not retort, only casting resentful gazes at Xiao Mingshu.

"Enough, sisters; we are all weary tonight, let's return!"

The night was as black as ink, and the palace lamps cast trembling shadows in the Langxia.

The concubines streamed out like fish, the clink of jade and emerald gradually fading into the night breeze.

Wan Tang deliberately slowed her pace.

"Sister Wan, stay a moment."

A deliberately lowered voice came from behind.

Shun Pin held a plain silk palace lamp, standing there.

Wan Tang halted, a perfectly timed smile curving her lips: "Sister, something wrong?"

Shun Pin glanced around, then pulled her into a thicket of fragrant bamboo.

"Thank you, sister, for speaking up for the Princess before the Emperor," she said, her voice so light it was almost unheard, "so the Princess finally received the Emperor's approval."

In the moonlight, the fine lines at the corner of her eyes held a rare genuine affection within the deep palace.

"Sister, you speak heavily," Wan Tang plucked a bamboo leaf and twirled it between her fingers, "I am only..."

She paused suddenly, crushing the bamboo leaf in her palm, "I cannot bear to see a child suffer."

Consort Shun's eyes glistened with tears, but in the next second she stubbornly blinked them back: "All I have ever wanted in this life is simply to see the bright pearl grow up safely."

"Those disputes, I'm a fool; I cannot take part."

"In this palace, where is there any pure land untouched by blood?" Wan Tang suddenly cut her off, her voice still gentle, yet it made Consort Shun shudder all over.

She raised her hand to straighten the crooked magnolia hairpin for Consort Shun, her fingertip lingering a moment on the pearl at its tip: "When the wind is calm and the waves are still, even a single leaf falling into water can stir ripples."

From afar came the clanging of the night‑watch bell, startling a pair of sparrows perched under the eaves into flight.

Wan Tang stepped back half a pace, bowed slightly: "The night is cool and the dew heavy; sister, return early to keep the Princess company."

Consort Shun let out a long sigh, watching Wan Tang depart.

【Wan Tang is trying to win over Consort Shun?】

【Consort Shun is timid and cowardly; winning her over is useless.】

【Did you forget? It's exactly people like that who won't make Xiao Mingshu doubt; Wan Tang's actions are not wrong.】

Night dew soaked the blue‑stone palace path, and Qiu Ju's hand, holding a hexagonal glass lantern, trembled slightly.

Wan Tang, however, suddenly halted, gazing toward the Phoenix Ritual Palace.

"Master, return to the palace first to apply medicine; your knees are both injured." Li Ping'er looked at the still‑wet bloodstains on Wan Tang's hem, her voice trembling.

"First, go pay your respects to the Empress Dowager." Wan Tang brushed the crooked plain‑silver hairpin at her temple, pressing firmly on the pearl at its tip.

The vermilion‑lacquered great door of the Phoenix Ritual Palace was unusually half‑closed.

As if waiting for someone's arrival.

Aunt Bai Wei stood under the dripping eaves, turning to block the two of Qiu Ju: "The Empress is weary; Mistress Wan, you may go in alone."

Inside the hall, the heavy incense was so thick it choked people.

Xiao Mingshu sat alone on the Luan‑Phoenix throne, half of her face hidden in the shadow beyond the candlelight.

"Tonight's events truly surprised this palace," she said, her hand moving as if not, the candlewick fluttered, and the flame leapt suddenly.

Wan Tang's knee gave a perfectly timed soft bend, and she said, "I... I am also quite frightened..."

Her voice carried just the right tremor, and her lowered eyelashes cast uneasy shadows on her face.

"Heh." Xiao Mingshu suddenly leaned forward, staring at Wan Tang: "In this palace, no one has yet managed to stir up waves beneath my very eyes."

Wan Tang, her emotions calm, bowed lightly: "Your Majesty sees far and wide; it is my foolishness that I do not grasp the Empress's intent."

"If the Empress had not been here tonight, I fear I would have been wrongfully killed long ago."

Wan Tang, after speaking, lifted her head to look at Xiao Mingshu and asked, "Now that Lady Qi is already pregnant, when will the Empress's promised matter be fulfilled?"

Xiao Mingshu's face bore an obscure smile, and she whispered, "Anything I have spoken will, of course, be carried out."

"Mistress Wan, regarding this, you need not worry."

Having said so, she clapped her hands twice, "clap, clap."

The curtains of the western hall suddenly fluttered, and two dark figures escorted a hunched figure stumbling out.

That person reeked of rot, and amidst tangled hair a face covered in pus‑filled sores was exposed.

It was the veterinarian who had delivered Wan Tang's mother years ago!

Even after more than a decade without seeing him, his appearance had changed greatly, yet Wan Tang could still recognize him.

Wan Tang stared intently at that person's thumb‑less hand.

It was this hand that, as a beast medicine, was used as a birthing aid poured into her mother's mouth.

When her mother's blood spilled across the bed, this hand also received the silver reward from Wang Jingyi.

Xiao Mingshu's gaze softened, and the corner of her mouth lifted faintly.

"I am weary," Xiao Mingshu suddenly rose, "I no longer wish to involve myself in these matters."

Xiao Mingshu simply sat on the chair, one hand pointing at her head, looking as if she were drowsily about to fall asleep.

The candle crackled, flaring into a blossom of flame, reflecting Wan Tang's blood‑veined eyes like a spider‑web of ferocity.

She grabbed the veterinarian's graying tangled hair, forcing him to lift his head.

That pus‑covered face stared back at her, its cloudy eyes reflecting her furious, maddened visage.

"Do you still remember me?" Wan Tang's voice sounded like a demon crawling out of hell: "The little girl who knelt in a pool of blood, crying for her mother, the child who begged you to save her grandmother."

She violently slammed the old brute's head onto the ground, "Can you still recognize me now?"

With a muffled "bang," blood gushed from the veterinarian's forehead.

He stared in terror, his right hand clawing wildly in the air: "It... it's you; you have become a lady within the palace."

"No, the events of those years were not my fault."

"It was... it was Madam Xu who forced me!" Blood and pus mixed with tears smeared his face, "She said if I didn't comply, she would sell my granddaughter into a kiln..."

Wan Tang suddenly laughed.

That laugh was more unsettling than a night owl; when she turned to Xiao Mingshu, the hatred roiling in her eyes nearly solidified: "Empress, may I have an Imperial Guard at your service."

Xiao Mingshu's favorite sight was a person losing their sanity.

She nodded, and two dark figures appeared silently: "Tonight, you will obey Mistress Wan's orders."

Wan Tang pointed at the empty crate beside her: "Put it inside."

Her voice was as light as a lover's whisper: "Remember... leave a vent for breathing."

Xiao Mingshu leaned against the Luan throne, watching coldly: "Mistress Wan, what are you doing?"

"Just a gift," Wan Tang said with a sudden tilt of her head and a smile; this childlike gesture, paired with her blood‑red eyes, was eerily chilling.

She brushed the lid of the box: "Madam Wang will leave the palace tomorrow; considering our past bond, I of course must send a grand gift."

When the final word fell, a muffled "Dong—" suddenly echoed from the box.

The old beast is ramming the box wall with its head, emitting a trapped‑animal‑like whimper.

Wan Tang leans down, close to the box seam, gentle as if coaxing a child to sleep: "Don't rush… you'll soon see your good Master!"