Chapter 84: Coordinating the Imperial Harem

The Emperor has awakened!

A startled shout sliced through the stagnant air inside the hall.

Everyone's expression varied, yet each displayed a wildly joyous demeanor.

Wan Tang was the first to rush to the couch, tears brimming in her eyes, yet she forced herself not to let them fall: "Emperor......"

Her voice choked, her fingertips trembled as she tried to touch the dragon's visage, then halted mid‑air, finally only clutching tightly at her own robe hem.

Xiao Mingshu followed closely, her face full of concern: "I fear it has worsened......"

She reached out to tuck the Emperor's blanket, but Chu Yunzheng stopped her with a glance.

The Empress first stepped aside. "The Emperor's voice is weak yet indisputable," I have something to ask you,

Turning to Wan Tang, his tone suddenly softened: "Why are you dressed so thinly?"

His gaze fell on her thin garments, his brows tightly knit.

Wan Tang shook her head, her eyes seeing only the Emperor's ailing face: "I am not cold; as long as the Emperor is healthy......"

Chu Yunzheng grasped her hand, feeling a chill, and immediately said in a deep voice: "Li Defu, bring me my ink fox great cloak."

The Empress Dowager nodded beside him: "Wan Tang is indeed sensible."

She turned to the palace staff, "The snow outside is deep and the roads slippery; use my phoenix carriage to send her back."

Wan Tang could not refuse after repeated urging, and could only thank and take her leave.

Just as she stepped out of the hall, a plaintive wail from a young eunuch sounded behind her.

Master!

Xiao Shunzi and Li Ping'er paced back and forth at the courtyard gate, and when they saw Wan Tang return, they immediately rushed forward.

Li Ping'er's tears burst from her eyes, and Xiao Shunzi cried so hard he began hiccupping.

Wan Tang gently wiped the tears from Li Ping'er's face, then patted Xiao Shunzi's shoulder: "Fool, don't cry."

She looked toward the budding red plum in the courtyard, a slight smile at her lips, "Our good days are about to arrive."

【The scummy dragon really gave the Empress face; each one's heart was as clear as a mirror, yet they still had to exile Wan Tang before punishing.】

【Just kidding, the Empress is at least the Empress Dowager's niece, all for the Xiao Family's glory; how could such a scandal become known to outsiders?】

【Xiao Mingshu is truly scheming; the young eunuch couldn't hold out after a few attempts and gave everything up. Yet Xiao Mingshu kept a card up her sleeve, and that eunuch dared not implicate her, instead claiming the Noble Consort ordered him to act that way, all to sabotage Consort Wan.】

【Didn't expect that in the end, the Emperor only punished the Empress for a single oversight.】

【It's the Empress Dowager, truly a champion of palace intrigue, who had already seen through everything, saying the Empress should attend to illness, and the management of the Imperial harem would temporarily be handed to others.】

【But now there is no suitable candidate; the Empress cannot oversee, and the most fitting is Xu Luoyan. Unfortunately, the young eunuch's matter still haunts the Emperor, so he likely won't grant her. Consort Hui is also cold‑hearted; even if given to her, she wouldn't want to manage, and it's unclear whether Wan Tang could vie for it.】

Wan Tang listened to the Barrage's teasing, and the corner of her mouth couldn't help but lift.

It turns out that once a person begins to love chess, everything can indeed go as one wishes.

Snow covering the plum branches, Wan Tang stood in the courtyard, her fingertip lightly brushing a budding red plum.

A cold wind swept by; she gathered the ink fox great cloak around herself, the one the Emperor had personally draped over her.

"Master!" Xiao Shunzi hurried over, his breath white in the cold wind, "The Imperial Medical Institute has already been arranged; the two newly appointed imperial doctors are willing to serve us."

Wan Tang's lips curled slightly as she snapped off a plum branch: "Li Defu has held Yangxin Hall for a long time; our people cannot enter, and information cannot be passed out."

She handed the plum branch to Xiao Shunzi, "I've heard the palace staff have been gambling lately?"

Xiao Shunzi was startled: "Yes...... the eunuchs and maids of each palace, when idle, love to play a couple of dice rolls......"

His eyes widened suddenly, "Your meaning is......"

"You should join the fun as well." Wan Tang chuckled lightly, "Remember, must win, must not lose."

She tapped Xiao Shunzi's chest with her fingertip, "Especially those on duty at Yangxin Hall, you must make them win and grin broadly."

Xiao Shunzi suddenly understood: "I get it! The silver we win, we'll 'lend' to them to turn the tables."

"Smart." Wan Tang looked toward Yangxin Hall, her gaze deep, "Charcoal buried in the snow always needs someone to add a fire."

The candle flame flickered, the medicine's bitter scent filled the air.

Xiao Dongzi knelt before the dragon couch, cupping a medicine bowl, his voice trembling: "Emperor, the medicine is getting cold."

Chu Yunzheng leaned on his pillow, his complexion still somewhat pale, brows knit: "drinking these every day, yet no improvement."

He waved his hand, "Bring it down."

Xiao Mingshu was taking candied fruit from a gilt food box, and upon hearing it, gently advised: "Emperor, good medicine is bitter to the mouth."

Xiao Dongzi suddenly kowtowed heavily: "Please, Emperor, use the medicine! This...... this is Consort Wan's heartfelt offering!"

The Emperor's eyes flickered slightly: "Speak clearly."

Xiao Dongzi lay on the ground, his voice choked: "The Consort heard an ancient formula that says a close relative's blood can guide the medicine into the meridians...... she...... she cut her wrist to draw blood, to use as a medicinal conduit for the Emperor......"

"What?!" Chu Yunzheng sprang up abruptly, overturning the medicine bowl.

The brown medicinal liquid splashed onto the floor, faintly tinged with a dark red hue.

Xiao Mingshu's candied fruit fell to the ground with a "pop."

Xiao Dongzi continued: "The Consort forbade me to speak, fearing the Emperor would worry...... but I truly cannot bear it......"

Chu Yunzheng ripped open the brocade quilt: "Set the carriage, spare Tang's courtyard!"

"Emperor, where are you going?" Xiao Mingshu, just holding the candied fruit as she entered, happened to see the Emperor depart and hurriedly called out.

The Emperor did not even turn his head, and sped away.

Wan Tang was leaning by the window, the white silk wrapped around her wrist oozing tiny crimson spots.

Hearing hurried footsteps outside, she hastily slipped her hand into her sleeve......

The medicine furnace gurgled, steaming, its bitter aroma permeating the cramped room.

Wan Tang sat alone on a low stool, her slender wrist hovering over the medicine bowl, the other hand holding a silver hairpin, its tip glinting coldly in the candlelight.

She drew a deep breath, and the pin's tip traced a line across her snow‑white wrist.

"What are you doing?"

A sudden roar of a shout rang out.

Chu Yunzheng strode in, grabbing her wrist with one hand.

Crimson blood droplets slid down her slender wrist, falling into the medicine bowl and rippling outward.

Wan Tang looked up in panic, her face paler than paper: "Emperor... Emperor..."

She instinctively tried to hide her wrist, but the Emperor held it tightly.

"Are you mad?" Chu Yunzheng's voice trembled as he stared at the fresh wound on her wrist, shock and concern swirling in his eyes, "Is this what you called a 'medicine lead'?"

Wan Tang's eyelashes fluttered, forcing a smile: "Ancient texts record that the blood of close kin can draw medicine into the meridians... I, your humble servant, am only..."

Before she could finish, she was pulled into a warm embrace.

Chu Yunzheng's arm tightened around her, the force so great it nearly took her breath away: "Silly Tangtang..."

His voice muffled in her hair, "Do I deserve this from you?"

Wan Tang leaned against his chest, listening to his rapid heartbeat: "The Emperor is my heaven."

She whispered, "Even if you demand a drop of blood, even my life, I am willing."

"Don't speak nonsense!" Chu Yunzheng snapped, cupping her face.

In the candlelight, a tear glimmered in his eyes: "In this Imperial harem, you are the only one who truly cares for me."

He suddenly removed the jade pendant from his waist and solemnly placed it in her palm: "From today, you shall co‑manage the Six Palaces."

Wan Tang's eyes widened: "Emperor, this is against the rules."

"My word is the rule." Chu Yunzheng hoisted her sideways, "Now, come with me to treat the wound."

The night wind brushed by, the blood medicine in the cauldron cooling gradually, reflecting the silhouettes of the two as they walked away hand in hand.

Moonlight was blocked by heavy clouds, leaving only a few pale shafts to spill down, illuminating the damp cold slate.

Xiao Shunzi gathered his sleeves, looked around, and after confirming no one was present, pulled a stack of yellowed papers from his bosom.

"Here, your IOU," he whispered, handing over the papers.

Xiao Dongzi's eyes widened, his fingers trembling slightly, barely daring to take it: "How... how do I use this?"

Xiao Shunzi snorted, shoving it into his hand: "The Master said you are loyal; you need not bring this up again."

Xiao Dongzi cradled the stack of IOUs, his eyes reddening.

He had once been "borrowed" by Xiao Shunzi at a gambling table, losing his entire fortune, and now these debts were erased in one stroke.

His knees gave way, nearly kneeling: "Shun Ge, I..."

"Enough," Xiao Shunzi grasped him, his tone impatient, though a hint of satisfaction lingered in his eyes, "From now on, you know how to handle the Yangxin Hall affairs."

Xiao Dongzi nodded repeatedly, clutching the IOU, his voice choked: "My life from now on belongs to Consort Wan!"

Xiao Shunzi patted his shoulder, turned, and vanished into the darkness.

The night wind swept by, scattering the last whispers.

When the Imperial Decree spread through the Six Palaces, the courtyard was awash with blooming plum blossoms.

"Co‑manage the Six Palaces?" Xu Luoyan flipped the case, shattering tea cups across the floor, "Does a lowly maid even deserve that?"

The palace maids knelt on the ground, trembling.

Xu Luoyan, barefoot, stepped over the broken porcelain, blood leaving a glaring red streak on the blue bricks: "Prepare the sedan! I am heading to the Xi Tang Courtyard!"

"Wan Tang! Get out of here!"

Xu Luoyan's scream sliced through the morning mist.

She shoved aside the obstructing Guanren, her gilded armor scraping the vermilion-painted doorframe: "Do you think using these tricks will get you above me?"

Wan Tang stepped out slowly, wearing a plain palace robe, a single white jade hairpin in her hair: "Sister Xu, what are you doing?"

"Wretch!" Xu Luoyan lunged forward, but was blocked by a guard, "What sorcery did you use to deceive the Emperor?"

She struggled hysterically, "I will kill you! Kill that bastard brother of yours!"

Wan Tang's eyes chilled, yet her face remained calm: "Sister Xu, watch your words. Plotting against the Imperial Heir is a crime that warrants exterminating the entire clan."

"Hahaha..." Xu Luoyan burst into a mad laugh, "Exterminate the nine families? My Xu Family is full of loyal heroes; the Emperor would... for a lowly maid like you..."

"Slap!"

Those two light words silenced the entire scene.

Xu Luoyan stared in disbelief, eyes wide: "How dare you?!"

Wan Tang brushed the unhealed scar on her wrist, calmly stating, "Speaking ill of the Imperial Heir, according to Palace Rules, warrants twenty lashes."

The guards surged forward.

Xu Luoyan's scream, mingled with the sound of a board, echoed outside the Xi Tang Courtyard, startling the plum trees into flight.