Chapter 69: Breaking the Siege

Inside Taihe Hall, golden goblets and jade cups, the wine vessels intermingled.

Chu Yunzheng sat high upon the Dragon Throne, his expression stern, his gaze sweeping the officials before finally resting on Wan Tang, a hint of softness flashing in his eyes.

The Empress Dowager sat upright on the phoenix seat, a smile at the corners of her lips, yet exuding an undeniable oppressive aura. Empress Xiao Mingshu held herself with dignified grace, occasionally turning her head to whisper, a hidden edge in her eyes.

Wan Tang, seated among the consorts, felt her fingertips tremble slightly.

She still stared unblinkingly at Xu Yanchuan, her hands clenched, as if she could crush him in her grasp.

These bastards, why treat her own brother this way?

Wang Jingyi's attention quickly shifted to Wan Tang; seeing Wan Tang's face full of hatred, Wang Jingyi finally let a smile appear on her face.

Xu Yanchuan still bowed his head, polishing his shoes.

"Look, it's all that slut's doing, yet she gave birth to such a nemesis." Wang Jingyi complained in Xu Chengyuan's ear: "Even the woman from the Cold Palace has emerged, my Yanchuan…"

Wang Jingyi said, then began wiping away her tears.

Xu Chengyuan truly had no recourse; the matters were already many and troublesome, and now he also had to handle family affairs.

He watched Xu Yanchuan and Wan Tang's gazes grow increasingly cold.

"Yanchuan, why are you standing there? Aren't you going to pour wine for the honored elders!"

Xu Chengyuan rebuked coldly, his tone full of contempt.

Xu Yanchuan rose in silence, his Xuan Tie Light Armor glinting coldly in the candlelight.

He walked to the seats, head bowed, pouring wine for each minister.

Such tasks were meant for I (serving woman). Seeing Xu Yanchuan's meek, compliant demeanor, Wan Tang's heart felt as if cut by a knife.

She had once endured this humiliation herself, never expecting it to fall on her brother.

Do they only ever humiliate people like this?

"Consort Wan, are you truly all right?" Li Pin sat beside her, her voice now tinged with urgency.

Consort Wan shook her head.

"Hey, isn't this Junior General Xu?" Deputy Minister of War Li sneered, "In the Bei Mo battle, I heard you broke the enemy formation single‑handed; why today do you look like a servant?"

Xu Yanchuan tightened his fingers slightly, yet still replied respectfully, "You flatter yourself, sir."

"Hahaha!"

A harsh laugh rang out; Xu Luoyan's elder brother, Xu Mingde, waved his folding fan, his face full of mockery.

"My brother is no general at all; he's just the tail running behind me!"

He snatched the wine flask from Xu Yanchuan's hand, deliberately spilling it onto his armor, "What, wearing a suit of armor makes you think you're a person?"

The wine dripped down the armor; Xu Yanchuan's jaw tightened, yet he remained silent.

Wang Jingyi sat upright among the seats, a smile at her lips, as if watching a fine drama.

The civil officials covered their sleeves and chuckled, their eyes full of contempt.

The military generals frowned in silence, yet no one dared speak for Xu Yanchuan.

The Empress Dowager slightly furrowed her brows, but ultimately said nothing.

Chu Yunzheng watched with cold eyes, as if weighing pros and cons.

Wan Tang pressed her fingertips into her palm, almost drawing blood.

Her brother, under everyone's gaze, was subjected to such humiliation!

Even Li Pin, sitting beside her, kept shaking her head, lowering her voice repeatedly, whispering to Wan Tang, "The Xu Family's affairs are simply too interesting."

"Father once said the Xu Family's eldest son is a good‑for‑nothing, but the younger son is exceptionally brave, a rare talent ready to be shaped."

"Yet the Xu Family repeatedly suppresses him, ensuring he never gets a chance to rise."

"Only this time in the Bei Mo great battle, the good‑for‑nothing elder brother broke his pattern, becoming the most decorated, completely crushing his younger brother."

Li Pin said, clicking her tongue twice, "What a pity."

【What a damn pity, I despise everyone in the Xu Family, but Xu Yanchuan is the only one I truly like.】

【I feel the same, watching those Bei Mo battle scenes makes me want to weep to death.】

【In the previous battle, killing enemies and arranging troops, all were Xu Yanchuan's merits; it was the old thief Xu Chengyuan who let Xu Mingde take the credit.】

【Come to think of it, both are his sons; any talent is good for Xu Chengyuan.】

【I think Xu Chengyuan has some leverage, held by Wang Jingyi.】

Wan Tang's heart raced as she listened.

She felt relieved, for the most outstanding person was her brother.

Similarly, her heart ached. The achievements earned with her life were turned into a wedding dress for others, yet she still faced such unfair treatment.

At this moment, Wan Tang felt especially uneasy, constantly thinking she was useless, even lacking the ability to protect her brother.

Wang Jingyi, like a coiled beast, stared continuously at every subtle expression of Wan Tang.

"Mingde." Wang Jingyi suddenly spoke softly, "Yanchuan is your brother after all; don't go too far."

Her tone was gentle, but her eyes were full of calculation: "However… he really should learn some manners."

Xu Mingde understood, a snarling grin as he grabbed Xu Yanchuan's collar, "Did you hear? Mother told you to learn manners!"

He shoved hard.

"Bang!"

Xu Yanchuan staggered backward, toppling the table, cups and plates shattering across the floor.

"Stop!"

Wan Tang sprang to her feet, her voice trembling yet firm.

The entire hall fell silent in an instant.

Xu Yanchuan lifted his eyes, staring blankly at her.

He does not understand why this concubine, whom he has never met, would stand up for him.

The ministers also showed surprised looks.

The Xu Family's actions were indeed excessive, but this is ultimately a family matter; no one may interfere.

Out of feminine compassion, even the Empress has not spoken; what right does a single concubine have to speak?

Just because she is pregnant?

Wang Jingyi narrowed her eyes, her smile growing cold: "Consort Wan, what does this mean?"

Wan Tang's fingertips trembled, yet she forced herself to stay composed: "At the palace banquet, Young Master Xu's behavior is rather impolite."

Xu Chengyuan sneered: "Your Majesty's supervision is overly lenient."

Chu Yunzheng's eyes darkened, about to speak.

"Your Majesty." The Empress Dowager suddenly spoke, her tone flat, "I am weary; let today end here."

The Empress Dowager rose, lightly tapping the ground with her dragon‑head staff, and the hall fell silent in an instant.

Everyone rose to see them off, but in the silence Xiao Mingshu gently stroked her tea cup, smiled, and said: "Consort Wan, the Xu Family's domestic affairs are best left untouched by you."

Her tone was gentle, yet every word cut like a knife.

Wan Tang lowered her eyes, her fingertips pressed tightly into her palm, saying nothing.

The Empress Dowager's steps faltered slightly, her brows briefly furrowed, but she said nothing and left on her own.

"The Empress said it very well." Wang Jingyi rose gracefully, poison glinting in her eyes, "I discipline my own son; what does it have to do with others?"

Before the words fell, she raised her hand.

"Bang!"

A heavy slap struck Xu Yanchuan's face; the young man turned his head, blood‑streaked at the corner of his mouth.

"Mother…" his hoarse voice trembled with incomprehension and pain.

Wang Jingyi flicked her numb hand, disgusted: "Your bones are hard, but you hurt my hand."

"Mrs. Xu!" a Bei Mo deputy general could not help but stand up, "In front of the Emperor and Empress Dowager, this is… what decorum?"

Xu Chengyuan sneered: "My family's affairs are none of your business."

His hawk‑like gaze swept over the deputy, who instantly fell silent as a chilled cicada.

Chu Yunzheng tapped his fingers lightly on the dragon table, each knock echoing in everyone's hearts.

A cold light flashed in his eyes, yet he said nothing.

The Bei Mo army had not yet been reorganized; now breaking with the Xu Family was far from an opportune moment.

Seeing this, Wang Jingyi grew even more smug, her spear aimed at Wan Tang: "It's you, Consort Wan, that the whole hall of officials ignores, yet you single out my unworthy son?"

"Exactly!" Xu Mingde shook his gold‑sprinkled folding fan, reeking of wine, "Could it be you have taken a liking to my brother?"

He gave a lecherous smile, "What a pity, the lady is already about to become a mother."

"Silence!"

Xu Yanchuan jerked his head up, his eyes blood‑red. This was his first rebellion of the night.

In Xu Yanchuan's heart, no matter how incomprehensible his family's deeds were, he could always choose forgiveness.

Yet he could not bear to watch them drag an innocent person into it, especially when that person was Wan Tang.

Once, in the mansion, Wan Tang despised him greatly, yet he liked that older sister.

【Wuwuwu, wretched siblings, recognize each other quickly!】

【Yanchuan, that's your own sister!】

【Useless Xu Mingde, clearly a waste, still daring to oppress the male god.】

Wan Tang's heart burned; even if she wanted to recognize him, she needed a chance!

Xu Mingde was stunned by the shout, then erupted in fury: "I have turned against you!"

He lifted his foot to kick.

"Enough."

Chu Yunzheng finally spoke, his voice light, yet it left Xu Mingde frozen on the spot.

The emperor's gaze was like a blade, slowly sweeping over the Xu Family members: "At the palace banquet, I do not wish to see blood."

Wan Tang's fingertips clenched the hem of her skirt, yet her face maintained a proper smile: "Mrs. Xu is joking; I merely cannot stand anyone being disrespectful at the banquet."

She raised her eyes, her cold stare fixed on Wang Jingyi: "General Xu is at least a meritorious official; Mrs. Xu's public humiliation shows little regard for the royal face."

As soon as the words fell, the hall fell silent.

"Royal face?" Xu Chengyuan sneered, "Consort Wan does wear a label."

His hawk eyes swept the ministers, his tone grim: "Our Xu family has been loyal for generations, and today we are to be dictated by a harem woman?"

Wang Jingyi snickered further: "The Empress caring for my son, perhaps she has ulterior motives?"

The Ministry of War officials immediately echoed: "General Xu has labored and earned great merit; why not discipline his son?"

"Consort Wan is being too lenient!"

A branch of the Xiao Family from the Ministry of Revenue shouted angrily: "How dare you be arrogant at the banquet!"

"High merit lets you bully the sovereign? Is the Xu family planning rebellion!"

Neutral officials lowered their heads to drink, pretending not to see.

Just as the scene was about to get out of control, a clear, resonant voice came from a corner.

"Gentlemen, may I, your humble servant, say a word?"

Su Yanci lifted his fan, his jade crown and tied hair giving an air of elegance.

He walked into the hall with a smiling chant: "Today is a celebration banquet; why let trivial matters spoil the harmony?"

He lightly tapped Xu Yanchuan with his folding fan: "General Xu's battle in Bei Mo, single‑riding breaking the enemy formation, truly a youthful hero."

He looked again at Wan Tang, "Consort Wan's heart is with the soldiers; it is also a compassionate sentiment."

Finally, he bowed to Chu Yunzheng and said, "Emperor, why not have General Xu perform a sword dance for amusement, thereby preserving the Xu family's face and also fulfilling the Consort's caring intention?"