Chapter 68: Xu Yanchuan

The barrage's words made Wan Tang's face turn red.

Fortunately, no one saw.

At this time, everyone's focus was still on preparing the next sky lantern.

In the courtyard of Cuivei Palace, moonlight like water, Wan Tang knelt before a stone table, hands clasped, eyes closed, whispering.

"May the Emperor's dragon body be healthy, and the court affairs run smoothly…" Her voice was soft, tinged with longing, "Although I, your humble concubine, long to see you day and night, I dare not disturb you in the slightest…"

Li Ping'er stood nearby, pleading with concern: "Your Highness, you are now bearing the dragon heir; if you send someone to request, the Emperor will certainly come."

Xiao Shunzi echoed: "Indeed, which master in the harem doesn't scheme for favor? You are wronging yourself like this…"

Wan Tang shook her head, the corners of her lips forming a gentle yet stubborn curve: "The Emperor is occupied with countless affairs; how could I, for my own selfish desire, make him troubled?"

In the deep shade of the trees, Chu Yunzheng stood silently, taking in the entire conversation.

He raised his hand to stop Li Defu, who was about to report, a rare softness flashing in his eyes.

The night wind brushed by as he moved forward silently, pulling Wan Tang into his embrace from behind.

"Ah!" Wan Tang trembled, and when she turned her head, her eyes instantly filled with surprise, "Em‑Emperor?"

Chu Yunzheng tightened his arms, his chin lightly brushing her crown of hair: "Silly girl, I'm right here."

Wan Tang's eyes and brows were all joy.

She leaned cautiously against Chu Yunzheng's chest, laughing: "It feels like a dream."

"Then go ahead and feel it carefully, look at it closely."

Wan Tang nodded repeatedly, watching the swaying leaves, thoughtfully saying: "Emperor, autumn has arrived, the night is slightly cool; perhaps we should stay inside."

Chu Yunzheng agreed.

The barrage began to boil.

【Wow, what's this? Not a plot twist, just thinking about that bit of male‑female romance?】

【Is there a possibility that Wan Tang deliberately had sex, then miscarried, and blamed the Emperor?】

【I can even see the Emperor's ashen face; I'm afraid he'll be haunted by this kind of thing from now on!】

Wan Tang found it funny inside.

The barrage is really cute; if this actually happened, does she still have a life?

The blame was indeed shifted, but I'm afraid the Emperor still won't know how to despise me.

At this moment, the Emperor's gaze toward Wan Tang grew increasingly hazy.

He reached out to twirl Wan Tang's hair: "I'll rest here tonight."

Wan Tang leaned on the edge of the couch, her fingertips lightly resting on Chu Yunzheng's chest, her lashes drooping, "The imperial physician said the first three months are the most critical; I, your humble concubine, cannot share the bed…"

Her voice was soft, yet she subtly shifted her body, letting the curve beneath her sheer nightgown flicker in the candlelight.

A golden Step Shake tucked in her hair swayed lightly with the movement, casting shifting light on her neck.

Chu Yunzheng's Adam's apple rolled as he grasped her delicate wrist: "I'll just watch you; when you fall asleep I'll leave."

The curtains draped down as Wan Tang "accidentally" knocked over the pear‑blossom scented lotion on the bedside.

The sweet cloying fragrance instantly filled the air; in her haste to wipe it, her collar slipped down half her shoulder.

"I'm so clumsy…" she whispered, biting her lip, lifting her eyes, water‑like light shimmering in her pupils.

The emperor's breathing grew rapid as he shoved her onto the brocade carpet.

Wan Tang let out a soft gasp, and in her frantic fingertips the Emperor's dragon‑patterned sash came loose.

"Tangtang… " Chu Yunzheng's voice was hoarsely strained, his palm pressed against her flat belly, "I'll be gentle…"

A sudden rainstorm battered the window, yet it could not conceal the room's sensual splendor.

In a pause of their entanglement, Wan Tang lifted her neck, revealing a fleeting light laugh.

What prenatal taboos could compare to letting the emperor savor the marrow of desire?

The dawn light was faint when Chu Yunzheng suddenly opened his eyes, still cradling Wan Tang's soft body in his arm.

His brows knit, and irritated, he propped himself up.

He hadn't been able to hold on last night!

Wan Tang woke in time, her fingertips gently smoothing his furrowed brow, "It's my fault."

She pressed her face to his palm, her long lashes trembling slightly, "But the imperial physician also said that when passion arises, a little caution is acceptable."

Chu Yunzheng's expression softened a bit, pinching her nose tip: "Only you know how to coax me."

When the dragon carriage departed, Wan Tang's complexion changed instantly.

She ran barefoot to the dressing table, trembling as she opened the hidden compartment.

In a white jade porcelain bottle, three crimson pills glowed with an eerie light.

"It will surely make me conceive…" she murmured, tilting her head to swallow one.

The pill was fishy‑bitter, making her eyes redden.

The gilded palace lanterns hung high, illuminating the hall as bright as day.

Civil and military officials lined both sides; the generals returned from Bei Mo wore battle armor, their swords sheathed at the waist, yet the murderous aura in their brows remained unchanged.

Chu Yunzheng sat high upon the Dragon Throne, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze sweeping the hall before settling on Wan Tang's seat on the left.

Today she wore a scarlet palace robe, a single white jade magnolia Step Shake pinned in her hair, pure yet exuding a calculated delicacy.

"General Xu, your hard work and achievements are great." Xiao Mingshu raised her cup with a faint smile, her phoenix crown's dangling pearls swaying lightly, "I toast you."

General Xu rose to return the salute, his armor clanking: "Thank you, Empress Dowager."

As he tipped his head to finish the drink, his hawk‑like eyes glanced at Wan Tang's flat belly.

Wan Tang timely covered her mouth with her sleeve, letting out two light coughs.

"Is Princess Wan's body unwell?" the Empress Dowager suddenly said, the dragon‑headed staff pausing heavily, "Li Defu, bring my humble family's golden silk cushion."

That voice of concern instantly made countless probing gazes pierce toward Wan Tang.

Amid the sound of silk and bamboo, Li Pin suddenly approached holding a pot and said, "Sister, have some honey dew."

She bent down to pour wine, her voice so low that only the two of them could hear, "Rest assured, I've tested it for poison."

Wan Tang's fingertip just touched the cup when Wang Jingyi, seated opposite, sneered, "Lady Li Pin is indeed attentive, but pity my child, you are unwise in judging people."

"All along, I've trusted you so much."

"Snap!"

Chu Yunzheng crushed the crystal goblet in his hand.

The hall fell into dead silence.

"Lady Wan," the Empress Dowager's dragon‑headed staff halted heavily, her voice cold, "You only need to look after your own body; what others say, you need not heed."

Her phoenix eyes swept across, her gaze like a blade, and the hall instantly fell silent as if chilled cicadas.

Wang Jingyi's complexion stiffened, and the wine cup in her hand nearly spilled.

Chu Yunzheng rose slowly, the golden‑threaded dragon pattern on his dark dragon robe radiating a fierce aura in the candlelight.

"General Xu," his voice was neither light nor heavy, yet it made the entire hall hold its breath, "In the battle of Bei Mo, your contribution was indeed indispensable."

Xu Chengyuan clasped his fists, "I dare not accept the honor."

"Dare not accept?" the Emperor sneered, his fingertips lightly tapping the Dragon desk, "I see you are quite daring."

"The Hundred Thousand Army is stationed in Jingjiao; yesterday your deputy general publicly flogged a civil official, and today you again allowed your family members to collide with my beloved consort."

With each sentence he spoke, the hall's temperature dropped a point, "What, do you think my blade is not sharp enough?"

Xu Chengyuan narrowed his hawk‑like eyes, his armor emitting faint clinks with each breath, "Your Majesty, see clearly, the soldiers of Bei Mo are habitually coarse; they cannot change in a moment."

He suddenly looked at Wan Tang, "But Lady Wan…"

"Minister Xu," Chu Yunzheng cut him off, a dangerous curve lifting his lip, "Are you questioning my judgment?"

Among the civil officials, the Grand Censor stepped forward, "Your Majesty, General Xu's troops have repeatedly violated the edicts lately; I have already received thirteen memorials!"

From the military camp, someone immediately retorted, "Nonsense! When the border soldiers risked their lives, where were you sour scholars?"

"Enough!"

The Emperor struck the jade paper on the desk with a palm, the splintered fragments slashing across Xu Chengyuan's cheek, leaving a bloodstain.

"Today I hold a feast to reward the three armies, not to watch you run amok!"

He stared at Xu Chengyuan's bleeding wound, his tone grim, "If it happens again, what falls will not be just a layer of skin."

Chu Yunzheng lightly tapped the Dragon desk with his fingertip, a slight smile at his lip, his gaze sweeping the hall's ministers before settling on Wan Tang.

"Today, I also have a joyous matter to announce to all ministers."

His voice was deep yet each word clear: "Lady Wan, is already bearing a dragon heir."

Xu Chengyuan sat upright at his seat, his expression unchanged, as if he had never heard of it.

He slowly drained the wine in his cup, then, as if suddenly enlightened, lifted his head, "Oh? Lady Wan has joyous news?"

A faint curl formed at his lip, but there was not a hint of mirth in his eyes.

"Heaven blesses Great Chu!"

"The Imperial Heir is born, the nation's fortunes flourish!"

"Lady Wan's blessings are profound; this child will surely be an auspicious sign!"

Congratulations rose and fell throughout the hall, the civil officials quoting classics, elevating Wan Tang's pregnancy to great heights.

"The Minister of the Ministry of Rites says, 'When a sage ruler obtains a worthy heir, the four seas enjoy peace!'"

"If this child of the consort is a prince, it must be of qilin talent!"

"I observed the heavens at night; beside Ziwei Star a new auxiliary star has appeared, precisely matching this omen!"

Chu Yunzheng cast a cold glance at Xu Chengyuan, his fingertip lightly tapping the Dragon Throne armrest, "Minister Xu, why no congratulations?"

Xu Chengyuan rose slowly, his armor clanking, "I, congratulations, Your Majesty."

He paused, his hawk eyes like blades, "Only wish the lady… longevity and peace."

The final four words were bitten out with great emphasis.

He knew full well that at this moment, the banquet's situation could not be taken lightly; it must be analyzed meticulously.

But Wan Tang could not concentrate at all.

Even if it were a mountain of swords and sea of fire, all traps, she still ignored everyone.

Wan Tang's fingertips clenched tightly into her palm, her gaze passing over the hall's clamor, fixed firmly on the upright figure behind Xu Chengyuan.

It was her brother, Xu Yanchuan.

The seventeen‑year‑old young general, clad in dark iron light armor, features as sharp as a blade, silently stood behind Xu Chengyuan, like a sword yet unsheathed.

But Wan Tang saw clearly.

His wrist beneath the armor was wrapped with a blood‑soaked cloth, and a lingering bruise remained at his lip corner.

It had long been heard that he marched with the Xu family father and son; on the battlefield, swords show no mercy, some injuries are inevitable.

But these lash marks were truly punishments.

How exactly did they treat their own brother!

Wan Tang's eyes grew increasingly red.

Xu Yanchuan seemed to sense something, and suddenly raised his eyes.

In the instant their gazes met, the youngster's pupils abruptly contracted.

Yet the emotion in his eyes carried deep hostility.

His lips twitched slightly, but ultimately, under Wan Tang's scorching gaze, he lowered his head, forcing the surging emotions back into his eyes.

"Consort? Your complexion doesn't look good…" Li Ping'er whispered.

Wan Tang suddenly came to her senses and only then realized she had actually squeezed the golden goblet into a deformed shape.

She forced out a smile: "No problem, I'm just tired."

Wan Tang originally intended to brush it off, but some emotions were ones she should restrain.

But a particular scene was hard for him to accept: Xu Chengyuan pointed to his own soiled shoe upper, and it turned out that his younger brother had knelt down at the palace banquet to clean his shoes…