Chapter 72: Begging Only for Death

Inside the Golden Throne Hall, the lanterns blazed brightly.

The palace banquet Xiao Mingshu had meticulously arranged had now become Wan Tang's arena of slaughter.

The full court of civil and military officials stood solemnly on both sides. Wan Tang knelt on the icy golden bricks, her fingertips trembling, her forehead pressed to the ground. The tassels of her pearl Step Shake pendant rustled with her shaking.

"Your Majesty! I am wronged!" Her voice carried a tearful tone, but it was drowned out by the whispers filling the hall.

Chu Yunzheng sat high on the Dragon Throne, the white jade wine cup in his hand smashing to the ground with a "bang."

His face was ashen. Those phoenix eyes that had once gazed at her with affection now held only the fury of betrayal.

"Wronged?" The Emperor sneered, taking the stack of yellowed papers from Xu Chengyuan and hurling them before her.

"Your diet records, your pulse diagnoses—written in black and white, crystal clear!"

She jerked her head up, meeting Wang Jingyi's mocking gaze.

"Your Majesty," the Empress suddenly sighed softly, the pearls hanging from her phoenix crown gently swaying between her merciful brows. "I am truly grieved."

She lifted her pheasant-robe and slowly knelt. "The affairs of the six palaces are my duty, yet I allowed such deception of the throne to occur."

Chu Yunzheng's brows were tightly knit.

The Empress continued, "Xie Taiyi has served three reigns and is the most steady of men. I, too, was overly eager for an imperial heir."

She choked up at just the right moment. "Ten imperial physicians all said Lady Wan only had bloating. But Xie Taiyi happened to fall unconscious—this... this is too much of a coincidence."

"Your Majesty, the Empress, please see clearly!" Wan Tang crawled forward on her knees two steps. "Xie Taiyi was attacked the day before yesterday and has yet to wake! Those records can be..."

She suddenly fell silent, because she saw the murderous intent rising in the Emperor's eyes.

"You mean someone framed you?" Chu Yunzheng's voice was terrifyingly soft. "Then I must ask—did all ten physicians of the Imperial Medical Institute misdiagnose you?"

He abruptly grabbed another document from the table. "Or are you saying even the record of your irregular menstruation was forged?"

Wang Jingyi suddenly let out a light laugh: "Is Lady Wan going to say that those nourishing hawthorn cakes were also forced on her?"

She spun the jade bangle on her wrist. "I hear sour for sons, spicy for daughters. The hawthorn you've used these three months, sister, should be enough to birth twins."

The hall burst into laughter.

Wan Tang trembled all over.

Those hawthorn cakes were clearly bestowed by the Empress!

She looked to the Emperor for help, only to see him personally helping the Empress up, his movements so gentle they were blinding.

"What crime does the Empress have?" Chu Yunzheng's thumb brushed over the back of the Empress's hand, but his voice was as cold as ice. "Someone has pushed me too far."

The officials were incensed.

"Faking pregnancy to vie for favor, deceiving the sovereign—this is high treason!" The Imperial Censor stepped forward first, his voice ringing, every word piercing the heart.

"Lady Wan is without virtue, unworthy to serve the sacred presence!" The Minister of Rites followed closely, his gaze icy, as if she were already a criminal.

"Your Majesty, this trend must not be allowed to grow! If not severely punished, how can the Imperial harem be purified?" The Vice Minister of War echoed harshly, his eyes darting toward Xu Chengyuan as if pledging loyalty.

In the court, the condemnation surged like a tide.

The Xiao Family faction watched coldly from the sidelines.

On the Empress's side, Lady of Grace Qi was already pregnant. To the Empress, whoever was pregnant was a threat.

On the Xu Family side, Wang Jingyi stood beside Xu Chengyuan, her eyes brimming with schadenfreude.

Wan Tang knelt in the center of the hall, like a deer surrounded by a pack of wolves.

She looked up, gazing at Chu Yunzheng.

The man who had once whispered in her ear, "I will surely protect you," now only sat silently on the Dragon Throne, his eyes churning with disappointment and rage.

Back then, when she had just been diagnosed with a "happy pulse," Chu Yunzheng was overjoyed. He personally pinned this golden-thread Step Shake into her hair, saying, "My child will surely be the most honored in this world."

She knew it was false, yet she was still burned by the tenderness in his eyes.

Her voice trembled slightly, but she still tried to struggle. "Your Majesty, I never intended to deceive you. I was framed by someone."

"Enough!" Chu Yunzheng suddenly rose, his dragon robe billowing like an angry sea.

He stepped down the Jade Stairs one by one, the sound of his boots on the ground like steps on her heart.

The officials fell silent; the hall was dead still.

Wan Tang looked up at him, a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Even if it were just a moment's hesitation, even if it were just a flicker of old feelings...

But what came was his icy slap.

"Slap!"

The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the hall. Her face turned to the side, the taste of blood spreading between her lips and teeth.

Chu Yunzheng raised his hand and viciously yanked the golden-thread Step Shake from her hair.

"You make me sick."

He said coldly, then hurled the Step Shake to the ground.

The golden threads snapped, pearls burst and scattered, rolling all over the floor.

Just like the sweet illusion between them, shattered completely.

Wan Tang lowered her eyes, looking at the broken pearls and jade on the ground, and suddenly smiled.

In this deep palace, what true feelings were there?

【Wuwuwu, so infuriating! This isn't Tangtang's fault at all!】

【This is the imperial harem—innocence is no crime, but possessing a treasure is. With a face like hers, Wan Tang was destined to be a perfect person.】

【Damn it, Wan Tang, the one who pushed Xie Taiyi was Qiu Ju, Qiu Ju!】

Boom!

The name Qiu Ju, like a thunderbolt, exploded above Wan Tang's head.

No matter what, Wan Tang had never imagined that the one who betrayed her would be Qiu Ju.

She had truly begun to trust this person...

Thinking of every little moment of their daily interactions, Wan Tang felt only a chill down her spine.

At this moment, Wan Tang's mind was racing frantically, but no matter how fast it spun, there were far too many things she could not account for.

After all, this concerned the Imperial Heir.

It was not unheard of for someone in the Imperial harem to fake a pregnancy to vie for favor—the consequence was invariably being consigned to the Cold Palace.

That was a household matter.

Today, Wan Tang's pregnancy had already been laid before the entire court of civil and military officials, and Chu Yunzheng had used it as grounds to lavish her with every manner of favor, even reprimanding a meritorious minister on her account.

Yet now, the pregnancy had become a joke.

A ploy for favor by a woman of the Imperial harem.

It was tantamount to taking the Emperor's face, dashing it to the ground, and grinding it over and over.

Wan Tang no longer dared to speak.

The hall was dead silent; only Chu Yunzheng's heavy breathing echoed.

He stared at Wan Tang, fury surging in his eyes, yet he could not bring himself to make a decision.

Wang Jingyi watched coldly, the corner of her lip curling in a sneer.

Without drawing attention, she lifted her foot and kicked Xu Chengyuan hard.

Xu Chengyuan winced in pain, snapped back to his senses, and immediately stepped forward, clasped his fists, and declared in a loud voice:

"Your Majesty! Consort Wan deceived the sovereign and misled the throne—her crime admits no pardon! Without severe punishment, how can the inner court be set right and the court's discipline upheld? This Subject requests that she be put to death!"

His voice was resonant and forceful. The entire court instantly echoed him, kneeling in unison and crying out:

"We beg Your Majesty to punish her severely!"

The tide of voices shook the hall until the candle flames flickered.

Chu Yunzheng's knuckles turned white from gripping, his eyes bloodshot.

He hated Wan Tang for deceiving him, yet flashing through his mind again and again was the image of her leaning against his chest, saying softly, "Your Majesty, I seek only to live my days in peace—I do not seek glory and wealth."

How could eyes that pure have been false?

But the officials were pressing him at court, and he could neither advance nor retreat.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the hall. A young eunuch stumbled and scrambled in, kneeling with a pale face:

"Emperor! It's terrible! The Empress Dowager heard of this matter and fainted from rage! The imperial physician... the imperial physician says the situation is dire!"

Chu Yunzheng's entire body jolted, and the last trace of hesitation in his eyes vanished completely.

If anything were to happen to the Empress Dowager because of this, he would be guilty of grave unfilial conduct!

Outside the hall, cold wind howled. Li Ping'er stood outside, witnessing everything.

She was only a palace maid—she did not even have the right to set foot inside the main hall.

Yet she rushed in recklessly, dropped to her knees, and slammed her forehead against the floor, her voice trembling but clear:

"Your Majesty! I stake my life to guarantee it—my lady had no knowledge of this! When Xie Taiyi examined her pulse, my lady prayed day after day for the Imperial Heir's safety. How could she have faked a pregnancy to deceive the sovereign?"

The entire hall fell silent.

Chu Yunzheng whipped around, fury surging in his eyes. "Drag her out!"

Wan Tang shuddered, snapped her head up, and shouted sharply, "Ping'er! Shut your mouth!"

She knew all too clearly.

She had been deliberately pushed before the assembled officials.

Then provoked to fury by the matter of Xu Yanchuan.

Qiu Ju was the mole, Xie Taiyi had been pushed down the steps and lay unconscious, and every shred of evidence pointed to her willfully deceiving the sovereign.

This was a fatal trap.

But Li Ping'er refused to stop. Tears streaming down her face, she continued kowtowing: "Your Majesty, see clearly! My lady's heart is true toward you—how could she deceive you?"

Wang Jingyi cut in coldly, "A lowly slave dares behave so insolently before the throne?"

"So this is the rule of the Imperial Palace."

Xiao Mingshu's expression turned cold, and she gave a look.

A guard immediately stepped forward and slapped Li Ping'er hard across the face. Blood instantly seeped from the corner of her lips.

Wan Tang's fingertips dug into her palm, her teeth clamped tight.

She could not save Ping'er—the more she pleaded, the faster Ping'er would die.

Chu Yunzheng swept a cold glance over them, and the last trace of warmth in his eyes dissipated entirely.

Wan Tang slowly lowered herself, pressing her forehead against the cold floor tiles, her fingertips digging into the crevices between the bricks, her knuckles turning white.

Better to die alone than to drag Ping'er and Xie Huairen down with her.

She slowly straightened up, raised her eyes to Chu Yunzheng, and a faint, mocking smile actually rose to her lips.

"Your Majesty." Her voice was as light as wind. "Do you truly believe that I faked a pregnancy to vie for favor?"

Chu Yunzheng's gaze darkened, his knuckles tightening on the armrest of the Dragon Throne, but he did not answer.

Wan Tang gave a low laugh, the light in her eyes extinguishing bit by bit.

"Alright." She nodded gently, as if finally acknowledging something. "Then let it be that I vied for favor."

She bowed her head slowly, her voice terrifyingly calm.

"This matter has nothing to do with Xie Taiyi. I bribed him."

"It has nothing to do with Ping'er either. I forced her to give false testimony."

"I am willing to die, and ask only that no one else be implicated."

As the last word fell, she raised her eyes and gazed deeply at Chu Yunzheng.

That gaze was too complex—like mockery, like sorrow, and like a final farewell.

Chu Yunzheng's heart lurched sharply, and he averted his eyes from hers almost without thinking.

The hall fell dead silent; even Wang Jingyi was stunned.

After a long moment, Chu Yunzheng spoke coldly: "Granted."

A single word, deciding life or death.

Wan Tang slowly closed her eyes, yet the corners of her lips curved upward slightly.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

In the Grand Hall, the ministers cried out in unison, every face wearing a look of deep satisfaction.

Wang Jingyi stood at Xu Chengyuan's side, the corners of her lips curling into an unconcealable smugness.

Finally, that eyesore of a woman was removed.

Wan Tang knelt in the center of the hall, her expression so calm it bordered on indifference.

She did not even raise her head to glance at those who wished her dead, only quietly awaiting the final judgment.

But Chu Yunzheng suddenly rose to his feet and walked toward her, step by step.

"Do you want to die this badly?" His voice was low yet laced with suppressed fury. "Not even a trace of reluctance?"

Wan Tang slowly raised her eyes to meet his and said softly, "Hasn't my life always been in Your Majesty's hands?"

Something in those words struck a nerve in Chu Yunzheng. A deeper fury surged in his eyes as he seized her wrist with a grip so fierce it nearly crushed her bones.

"Fine, very fine." He gave a cold laugh. "You deceive Us, so We will deliberately deny you your wish."

He flung her hand away and turned, barking:

"Decree! Consort Wan is stripped of her title and confined to Cuivei Palace—none may enter or leave without Our order! Only two Guanren shall remain by her side to serve; all others are to be expelled!"

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

Wang Jingyi's expression changed and she hurried forward. "Your Majesty, is this not too lenient..."

"Shut your mouth!" Chu Yunzheng shot her a cold glare. "Our judgment is no concern of yours."

Wang Jingyi choked on the rebuke, her face turning livid. She could only grit her teeth and withdraw, yet a glint of venom flashed through her eyes.

Wan Tang slowly prostrated herself, her forehead lightly touching the floor, her voice so calm it held not a single ripple:

"I thank Your Majesty for your grace."

Chu Yunzheng stared at her, his chest heaving violently, but in the end said nothing more—only turned with a fierce sweep of his sleeve.

Two wet nurses immediately stepped forward, roughly seizing Wan Tang's arms and dragging her out.

As she passed Wang Jingyi, the general's wife leaned in slightly and sneered in a low voice:

"Don't be in a hurry. The days ahead are long—you'll have plenty to suffer."

Wan Tang did not so much as lift her eyelids, letting them drag her away.

Her back was ramrod straight, as though she were not being hauled off to imprisonment but calmly walking toward a long-foreseen ending.

Chu Yunzheng stood atop the high steps, his gaze fixed dead on the direction she had gone, his knuckles cracking from the force of his grip.

How dare she?

How dare she refuse even to beg for mercy, showing not the slightest trace of attachment!