Chapter 80: One Family

The teacup in Li Pin's hand nearly tipped over; she hastily rose to her feet. "Lady Qi, what brings you here? Didn't the Empress Dowager excuse you from paying respects?"

"I'd been lying down too long, so I came out for a walk." Lady Qi gave a faint smile, but her gaze went straight to Wan Tang.

The consorts who had been gathered around Wan Tang instantly fell silent, and a few of them quietly shuffled over to Lady Qi's side. "Your Ladyship's belly looks even bigger than the month the imperial physician spoke of — it must be a robust Little Prince."

Xiao Mingshu sat upright at the head of the room, taking in everyone's expressions.

She gently stroked her teacup and said in a warm voice, "You are all with child, and the Emperor has already exempted you from morning and evening respects. Why go out of your way to come here?"

Everyone voiced agreement, yet exchanged glances, each harboring her own thoughts.

Once the consorts withdrew, Xiao Mingshu deliberately kept Wan Tang and Lady Qi behind.

"You two are the most fortunate in the palace," she said with a kindly smile. "You must take good care of your health and bear more children for the Emperor."

Lady Qi immediately chimed in, "This pregnancy of mine has been nurtured under the Empress Dowager's care ever since I conceived. The imperial physician checks my pulse daily — it couldn't be more secure."

She cast a pointed glance at Wan Tang. "Some people, on the other hand, are pregnant one moment and not the next, making such a fuss that even the Empress Dowager doesn't want to hear it anymore."

Wan Tang unhurriedly stroked her abdomen. "Matters like bearing a child — it's perfectly normal for outsiders not to understand."

She raised her eyes and smiled serenely. "As long as the Emperor understands, that is enough."

Lady Qi's face stiffened. "Hmph, if I remember correctly, the Emperor stripped you of your title — what are you now?"

"What I am doesn't matter. As long as I can stay by the Emperor's side, I am already satisfied." Wan Tang's smile was faint.

Lady Qi's face flushed crimson, stung by Wan Tang's words. She shot to her feet and raised her hand, about to strike at Wan Tang.

Wan Tang neither dodged nor flinched. Instead, she slightly raised her eyes, a smile on her lips. "What's this — Lady Qi wants to get physical?"

Her fingertips gently brushed her own abdomen, her voice soft yet every word crystal clear. "In the past, I swallowed my grievances, and all it earned me was ever-worsening humiliation."

She swept her gaze across the consorts in the hall; wherever her eyes fell, everyone lowered their heads.

"Now, let's see who dares lay a finger on an Imperial Heir."

The hall was dead silent — even the sound of breathing was clearly audible.

Wan Tang had already been wronged, and with the great fire on top of that, the Emperor's heart was filled with even deeper guilt.

Now that she was with child and the Emperor personally attended to her, who would dare provoke her?

Xiao Mingshu rubbed her temples, seeming to have quite a headache. "Enough, all of you disperse."

She waved her hand. "For tomorrow's respects, Lady Qi and Consort Wan need only stay behind."

After Xiao Mingshu finished speaking, she shot a glance at Bai Wei. "Have the tea served again."

The Guanren served the tea again.

When Qiu Ju carried the teacup before Wan Tang, Wan Tang's gaze turned cold.

This palace maid who had once served her was now wearing the attire of a second-rank palace maid of Kunning Palace, eyes lowered and demeanor docile, as if she had never betrayed her at all.

Qiu Ju's hands trembled slightly, and the teacup let out a faint clinking sound.

Wan Tang did not take it. She merely gave a soft laugh. "Qiu Ju, I trust you've been well."

Qiu Ju's face turned deathly pale, and she nearly toppled the teacup.

"Clumsy oaf — don't startle the two Your Ladyships. Withdraw at once," Aunt Bai Wei scolded.

Qiu Ju left in disgrace.

Bai Wei said hypocritically, "Consort Wan couldn't keep anyone by her side a while back. This servant saw the poor girl and took pity — Her Ladyship is kindhearted, so she kept her on."

Without the Barrage informing her, these explanations might still have been one or two parts believable.

But Qiu Ju was the very person who had recorded her file and pushed down Xie Taiyi.

With her appearing here now, who was behind the matter of her false pregnancy to compete for favor — could it be any less clear?

The last trace of warmth in Wan Tang's eyes vanished as well.

Xiao Mingshu spoke up at just the right moment. "We are all sisters — why make things so unpleasant?"

Her tone was gentle yet carried a veiled warning. "In this deep palace, we ought to stand together through thick and thin."

Wan Tang finally took the teacup, but only set it aside. "Your Ladyship, even a chess piece should be played with understanding."

She raised her eyes and looked directly at Xiao Mingshu. "The path of dealing with Xu Luoyan from now on will not require your trouble."

After saying that, she rose, curtsied, and left directly.

"Your Ladyship! Look at how insolent she is!" Lady Qi trembled all over with anger. "Only I am utterly loyal to you — she doesn't put you in her eyes at all."

"This kind of petty person, once she gains power and influence, forgets whose dog she used to be."

Xiao Mingshu patted her hand with an affectionate smile. "There, there. As long as the Emperor is happy and the Prince is safe, I am completely content."

Lady Qi was deeply moved. "Your Ladyship is simply too kindhearted!"

After Lady Qi also took her leave, the smile on Xiao Mingshu's face vanished in an instant.

Aunt Bai Wei said in a low voice, "Consort Wan is this audacious — should we make her understand exactly who is the mistress of this Imperial harem?"

"No need." Xiao Mingshu toyed with the tea lid, her eyes cold and dark. "Didn't she say she wants to deal with Xu Luoyan?"

The tea lid snapped shut with a "click."

"We aren't the vicious ones of this Imperial harem, so let's not interfere."

Aunt Bai Wei nodded and replied, "Yes!"

Jingren Palace.

"She wants to see me, so I must see her? Dream on!"

"Tell her to get out of my sight!"

Xu Luoyan smashed her teacup; shards splashed onto the back of a kneeling, trembling palace maid's hand, cutting a bloody line.

"Get out! All of you, get out!"

She grabbed the Jiangjin Xianglu from the table and hurled it viciously at the hall door.

With a creak, the hall door was pushed open.

Wan Tang, wearing a moon‑white cloak embroidered with silver crabapple, stood at the doorway, a single white jade hairpin in her hair, her plainness dazzling.

The incense burner brushed her skirt hem and hit the doorframe, "Clang—" a huge sound.

"Empress, forgive me!" the young eunuch rolled and crawled, kneeling, "Nubi truly could not stop it."

Xu Luoyan's pupils narrowed sharply, her scarlet nails digging into her palm: "Wretch! You still dare to appear before me?"

She suddenly gave a grim smile, pointing at the water stain on the floor, "Be careful; Jingren Palace has no gestation period, nor does the floor have a stall laid out."

"If someone falls, the bystanders can't be blamed."

Wan Tang lowered her eyes and glanced, not only not retreating but stepping forward, her embroidered shoes firmly on the water stain: "Thank you, sister, for the reminder."

She placed a hand on her abdomen, smiling serenely, "But this child is examined daily by Your Majesty, so surely even King Yama would not dare to claim it."

Xu Luoyan's complexion twisted instantly.

"I truly underestimated you," Xu Luoyan rushed forward, "At the original consultation of ten imperial physicians, they clearly said you only had a bloated stomach, so how after three months did you suddenly become pregnant?"

Her nails were nearly piercing Wan Tang's belly, "I have served Your Majesty for ten years without offspring; on what grounds can you?"

"On what grounds?" Wan Tang cut her off, suddenly lowering her voice, "Because someone does not want you to bear a child."

Xu Luoyan was startled.

"Sister, have you never doubted?" Wan Tang's fingertip lightly brushed the withered orchid in the case, "Why after each night you attend, the Empress always bestows 'supplementary medicine'? Why do the prescriptions from the Imperial Medical Institute always contain a single safflower?"

Xu Luoyan staggered back, knocking over the low table.

Earlier Wang Jingyi had said that the Incense in the palace was problematic, and thereafter they dared not use it.

But after three months, still could not conceive a Prince.

"Sister, in ten years, your body is probably already damaged."

"Even with all precautions, to conceive again, one must nurture the body for ten to eight years at least."

Xu Luoyan's eyes kept widening, her face feral: "Where do I have that many ten‑year periods!"

"Wan Tang, what exactly do you intend!"

The hall doors were pushed open again, Xu Jingyi wrapped in cold air rushed in: "Princess Wan! Jingren Palace does not welcome you!"

Wan Tang calmly adjusted her sleeve cuff: "I have come today to surrender."

"Surrender?" Xu Jingyi sneered, "Do you even deserve it?"

Wan Tang's fingertip lightly brushed her slightly swollen abdomen, the corner of her mouth curling a faint, ambiguous smile.

"Sister, aren't you curious why I could conceive a dragon seed?" her voice was gentle yet each word clear, "Because I used Forbidden Medicine."

"Forbidden Medicine?" Xu Luoyan's pupils suddenly narrowed, she sprang to her feet, "What Forbidden Medicine?"

Wan Tang drew a yellowed prescription from her sleeve, her fingertip lightly tapping the paper: "After taking it, even if the Empress watches daily, it can forcibly induce pregnancy."

"As long as there is a single chance of imperial favor."

Xu Luoyan's breathing quickened, her eyes instantly flashing with frantic desire, she reached out to snatch: "Give it to me!"

"Yan'er!" Wang Jingyi barked sharply, gripping her daughter's wrist, her cold eyes on Wan Tang, "Why trust you? Who knows if this is poison?"

Wan Tang calmly put the prescription away, her gaze steady: "I also have conditions."

"Treat my brother Xu Yanchuan well, and later let my mother's spirit tablet be placed in the Xu family ancestral hall."

She paused, "The Empress is ruthless; I cannot handle her alone, I need the Xu family as backing."

"Therefore, I wish to be recognized as a descendant, becoming Xu Chengyuan's daughter."

Wang Jingyi sneered: "A wild offspring, even worthy of bargaining?"

"Whether fitting or not, Madam Xu knows clearly in her heart." Wan Tang placed the prescription on the low table, her fingertip giving a gentle push, "The prescription is here, use it or not as you wish."

Xu Luoyan could no longer restrain herself, snatching the prescription, clutching it as if a treasure, her eyes filled with frantic joy: "If it truly can cause pregnancy, I will give you whatever you desire!"

The hall doors had just closed, and Xu Luoyan clutched the prescription tightly, her knuckles white, her whole body trembling.

"Mother! I must use it!" her voice hoarse, eyes flashing with near‑madness, "Ten years, I've been in the palace ten years, finally I can have a child."

Wang Jingyi seized her wrist, her nails almost digging into flesh: "Are you mad? You even dare use what that wretch gave?"

"I am indeed mad!" Xu Luoyan violently shook off her mother's hand, staggered back two steps, the golden phoenix hairpin on her bun swinging wildly, "Do you know how I have endured these ten years?"

She suddenly seized the bronze mirror on the table; the reflection showed her exquisitely made‑up face, yet her eyes were blood‑shot, like a trapped beast.

"Every selection, new entrants come into the palace one after another," she brushed her fingertip across her eye corner.

"I watched helplessly as my first wrinkle appeared, watched Your Majesty leave me to favor those fresh‑as‑flowers faces..."

The bronze mirror "Clang—" hit the floor, shattering into fragments.

She suddenly knelt on the ground, clutching her mother's hem: "Mother, I am already twenty‑six this year."

Tears washed away her makeup, "How much youth can I still waste?"

Wang Jingyi looked at her daughter's twisted face, vaguely recalling how she first entered the palace at fifteen.

At that time her eyes and brows brimmed with pride; she had vowed to bear a Prince, to let the Xu family shine for another hundred years.

Now, those eyes contain only madness.

"If this medicine has a problem..." Wang Jingyi's voice trembled.

"Then let me die!" Xu Luoyan threw her head back and laughed, the laugh sounding worse than crying.

Outside the hall, Fēng xuě wailed, as if lamenting this madwoman.

Wang Jingyi finally, with trembling hands, brushed her daughter's disheveled bun: "Fine, mother will help you."

Xu Luoyan was stunned, then curled into her mother's arms like a child, sobbing heartbreakingly.

And that prescription had already been crumpled into a wrinkled mess, resembling their shattered destinies.

Some obsessions will ultimately lead to irreversible ruin.