Chapter 8: Identity Exposed

So good!

Wan Tang's mouth corner lifted; she said it perfectly.

She said without any fear, "But Empress, I am now serving the Qinghua Pool."

"If you wish to punish me, I would not dare to resist."

"But shouldn't you also inform the Emperor?"

Xu Luoyan was already very angry, but upon hearing this, she couldn't help but laugh in irritation.

She lightly placed her hand on her belly and laughed, leaning forward and backward.

"Ah, you madman!"

"You think bringing the Emperor out can scare this palace?"

Xu Luoyan clicked her tongue twice: "Fool, the Emperor is busy with court affairs every day; where does he have time to manage the harem?"

"It's only one missing palace maid; the Emperor wouldn't even notice."

"Thus, killing you is simply killing you."

"This palace has killed countless people; you are no different."

These words Xu Luoyan said with relish.

She felt a secret satisfaction, no longer having to put on a front before Wan Tang.

She straightened her back, gave a signal to the side, and pinched a handkerchief over her mouth and nose.

A few rough maidservants came up intending to restrain her.

"Stop!"

From behind the sheer curtain, an imposing voice sounded.

Chu Yunzheng, separated by a veil, had a voice like a dragon's chant, enough for those outside to instantly discern his identity.

In an instant, everyone fell to their knees.

Xu Luoyan's face turned pale in panic; she clearly hadn't expected Chu Yunzheng to be here.

Frightened, she trembled all over and hurriedly steadied her emotions.

She quickly forced a smile, twisting her waist as she walked forward.

A voice, both delicate and sweet, called: "Emperor…"

"How are you here? Subject misses you!"

That voice made one's bones feel like they were melting; how could anyone not like it.

If one hadn't just seen her arrogance with their own eyes, perhaps they would truly be moved.

Chu Yunzheng did not step out from behind the veil, and said coldly, "Just stand there."

Xu Luoyan's face turned ashen.

She knelt on the ground aggrieved, saying resentfully, "Emperor, I am merely disciplining the person in my hand."

"She dared to trespass the Qinghua Pool; it is because my supervision was lax."

"I will now take the person away for punishment, and later come to atone to the Emperor!"

The few rough maidservants, though trembling.

After all, they are the Noble Consort's people; even before the Emperor, they have some confidence.

They immediately came up, pulling Wan Tang outward.

Wan Tang's eyes were reddened, she bit her lips tightly, her gaze fixed on the area behind the veil.

Clap—clap—clap…

The sound of applause rang out.

Chu Yunzheng's voice was like an arrow piercing the veil; anyone could discern his joy and anger.

"Noble Consort, how majestic."

"You are good at making decisions for me."

Xu Luoyan's face suddenly turned white.

The rough maidservants instantly lost their strength, collapsed on the ground, and kept kowtowing.

They shouted, "Emperor, spare us!"

Xu Luoyan slowly turned her head, trembling, and said, "But she…"

"I like the tea she brews; keep her here. Does the Noble Consort have any objections?"

Xu Luoyan's delicate body trembled.

Tears kept swirling in her eyes.

Usually the Emperor would call her "Yan'er" in a single breath; now even the address feels so unfamiliar.

She dared not reproach the Emperor a single word; all her resentment fell onto Wan Tang.

The gaze fixed on Wan Tang became even more poisonous.

She turned, gave a graceful bow, and knelt on the ground.

"All women under heaven belong to the Emperor. If the Emperor likes, what can Yan'er do?"

Her tone naturally carried a hint of resentment.

"Even if Yan'er feels sorrow in her heart, she still must endure it."

Chu Yunzheng said coldly, "Just know it."

Xu Luoyan's complexion changed sharply, extremely surprised.

Her emotions became increasingly uncontrollable.

"Emperor."

"That Haitang woman is still vague, and wants to keep her in the Imperial Palace."

"Aren't you afraid someone will say the Emperor is lustful!"

Chu Yunzheng's face showed little emotion; it seemed he was smiling, yet perhaps not.

He asked lightly, "Oh? The someone you mentioned, who is it?"

When the words fell, his eyes narrowed, making others involuntarily shiver.

"Emperor, everyone else can, but not her; you cannot keep her!" Xu Luoyan became agitated.

Chu Yunzheng said nothing, but that cold, stern face allowed no one to question his decision.

Wan Tang saw that the moment was almost right.

At that moment, she knelt on the ground and respectfully kowtowed.

She shouted loudly, "I wish to serve the Emperor."

"You have no right to speak here!" Xu Luoyan glared fiercely at Wan Tang.

Seeing Chu Yunzheng's resolute expression again, she finally understood.

If this continued, Wan Tang would have to stay by his side in another capacity.

She was unafraid, instead sneering repeatedly, "Emperor, would you become a king who breaks his word for a palace maid?"

Li Defu, ever diplomatic, carefully gauged the Emperor's mood.

When the Emperor protected Xu Luoyan at that moment, Li Defu had already guessed most of it.

These past days the Emperor has been at Qinghua Pond every night, apparently for Wan Tang.

He had long dared not speak, fearing to anger the Emperor.

Who would have thought Xu Luoyan would bring this up now.

Li Defu gave a persistent suggestive glance.

But now, without Wan Tang beside him plotting, Xu Luoyan could no longer control her temper.

She shouted angrily, "Emperor, don't forget, I once asked you for an Imperial Decree."

"You like the tea Wan Tang brewed, I have no objection."

"After all, Lord Li also serves the Emperor; after they are together, they can also serve the Emperor."

Li Defu's eyes were about to steam with irritation, yet Xu Luoyan still ignored it.

The Emperor said nothing.

Xu Luoyan therefore assumed the Emperor tacitly approved it.

He cast a disdainful glance at Xu Luoyan.

His eyes held unabashed hatred.

He sneered, "You think climbing onto the Emperor lets you step on me?"

"Wan Tang, I'll speak honestly: you and Lord Li share mutual affection, bound for life and death."

"The Emperor is benevolent; considering Lord Li's hard work, to prevent his loneliness in old age, he specially grants you a marriage."

"To Wan Tang and Li Defu!"

Upon saying this, Xu Luoyan covered her mouth and laughed wildly.

It seemed that just thinking of it made her feel exhilarated.

Wan Tang knew the situation in her heart, yet still displayed the desperation of just hearing the news.

She fell weakly, knocking over a flower bowl.

Li Defu said nothing, carefully observing the reaction of the person behind the pearl curtains.

After all, at this moment he also did not understand what exactly the Emperor and Wan Tang were about.

If she were merely a cleaning palace maid, she could still only be Li Defu's woman, and could still be thoroughly tormented.

If she were the Emperor's woman…

Li Defu's eyes were clouded with shadows; whatever the case, he would never let Wan Tang go.

This woman actually dared to hurt him!

After all, there are three thousand in the harem; after the novelty fades, how many can the Emperor still remember?

Behind the pearl curtains, the silence was terrifying.

Chu Yunzheng finally walked out.

Dressed in plain clothes, he held a scroll in his hand, as if from beginning to end he had never cared about the outside affairs.

But when he turned the next page, Xu Luoyan shouted excitedly, "Emperor."

"The Imperial Decree granting marriage is still with me; even if you keep her, how long could you keep her?"

"Sss…"

Chu Yunzheng's finger paused while turning the page; a fine page of the book was torn apart like that.

Chu Yunzheng slightly frowned, his gaze remaining fixed on the book.

In a dissatisfied tone, he shouted, "The noble consort's words are disorderly; confine her for three days, fine half a year's salary, and let her reflect on her faults."

Xu Luoyan's complexion drained of color.

One moment of favor, and she rose straight to the clouds, indulged beyond all limits.

This was still her first time being confined.

She slowly shifted her gaze to Wan Tang, like a venomous snake, as if she could swallow her.

She had never even uttered a harsh word, yet now she was confined.

This was fiercer than a hard slap across Xu Luoyan's face.

She had always stood above all the imperial concubines; she didn't know how many would see this as a joke.

This time, the tears that rolled from Xu Luoyan's eyes were a genuine expression of feeling.

She felt anger and humiliation, yet in front of the Emperor she dared not speak.

Seeing her in such pain, Wan Tang felt a lightness in her heart.

Can't you bear this?

The days are still long?

"Crying and wailing, how am I supposed to read?"

"Get out!"

Chu Yunzheng raised his tone, and with a slap he slammed the book onto the table.

Even though Xu Luoyan was still unwilling and aggrieved, she could only bow and kneel to thank the Emperor's grace.

She left in anger.

Li Defu, of course, arched his back and retreated to the doorway.

But those eyes had never left Wan Tang.

A fierce possessiveness and a madness for destroying things both shone in his eyes.

Qinghua Pool lay silent and still.

Wan Tang fell to the ground, her expression mournful.

The Emperor punished Xu Luoyan, fearing it was not just for today's conduct.

For several days he had come to Huaqing Pool, and the thing he hated most was Incense.

Night-blooming incense was inconvenient to light, but it was merely an excuse to beat Xu Luoyan.

If it were the past, Wan Tang would have sent someone to replace all the Incense in the Imperial Palace at once, and would have devised schemes to win back the Emperor's heart.

But now…

Wan Tang will change her incense habit; the scent in the house will only come from fresh flowers and fruit.

Time is slipping away.

Chu Yunzheng's gaze finally fell on Wan Tang.

She looked at the desperation in the frail woman's eyes and sighed, "So, you are Wan Tang."