Chapter 9: Bestowed Residence in Cuivei Palace

Wan Tang's voice was bitter, yet she still answered softly, "Yes."

Chu Yunzheng seemed to be recalling.

He then turned his gaze to Wan Tang's face, his voice a bit ethereal:

"That day someone forced you, so you stabbed yourself to stay clear‑headed?"

"Yes." Wan Tang dared not lift her head.

Only tiny tears fell to the floor: "One life, one person, is no falsehood."

Chu Yunzheng's gaze softened considerably.

He looked at Wan Tang's face and let out a sigh.

A ruler's heart is inscrutable; the women of the Imperial harem employ countless strange tricks, and Chu Yunzheng never believes coincidences exist.

But at this moment, he believed.

A woman fleeing for her own safety, in disarray, stumbled and fell into the water.

Had he not pulled her out, she would likely have drowned.

"Get up!" Chu Yunzheng raised his hand half‑heartedly.

"Thank you, Emperor."

Wan Tang's body swayed a bit; Chu Yunzheng stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

Fresh, fragrant blossoms filled the air between them.

Chu Yunzheng truly looked into her eyes and said, "When she came to beg me that day, I thought that lovers in the world could eventually grow old together."

"So Emperor, am I truly being granted to Li Gonggong?"

Wan Tang already knew the truth, yet she pretended just now to learn it.

She knew that crying could make a man feel pity, but she must not cry uglily.

After all, it is the beautiful woman's tears that evoke pity.

She could only let the tears swirl in her eyes, then, just right, two droplets fell like rolling jade beads.

Indeed.

A hint of compassion added to Chu Yunzheng's gaze.

He said, "The Imperial Decree has been issued."

"All is settled!"

When he finished speaking, Chu Yunzheng released Wan Tang and turned his head away.

【Wan Tang, don't cry, don't make a scene; the Dog Emperor is the most ruthless.】

【Don't think that because you slept with her for a few nights, the bond could be any deeper; it's useless.】

【Hold back, and relying on your face, the Emperor won't send you to Li Defu.】

Face?

Wan Tang's hand gently supported her face.

If something is incomprehensible, it's best not to risk it.

She neither cried nor made a scene.

Instead, she steadied her emotions and swiftly tidied the mess on the floor.

She brewed fresh tea again for the Emperor.

As if nothing had happened.

"You…" the Emperor was a little dazed: "Do you not resent me?"

"Emperor, you are the ruler of all under heaven; I being able to serve you is my blessing."

"The matters you decide, Emperor, naturally have your reasons."

Wan Tang smiled purely radiant, and said, "I am dim‑witted and cannot understand, but as long as I follow the Emperor's arrangements, it will always be right."

Wan Tang gazed at Chu Yunzheng's face with a hint of greed.

She gave a foolish smile: "You, Emperor, are heaven."

"If that day ever comes, I only ask that you let my corpse depart cleanly."

She wasn't without sorrow, but she pretended not to make Chu Yunzheng's situation difficult.

To encounter such a simple girl, any man would find it hard not to be moved.

Chu Yunzheng stared at Wan Tang with increasing determination.

He stepped forward, hoisted Wan Tang sideways in his arms, and walked toward the inner chambers.

When the first morning ray slipped through the window lintel and fell on Wan Tang, Chu Yunzheng had already been attending court for a while.

She sat before the mirror, delicately fixing her makeup.

She recalled last night's words.

"Wan Tang, tomorrow, move to Cuivei Palace!"

"It's clean there, not so many worries."

"As for the granted marriage, from now on, do not bring it up again!"

The palace maids and eunuchs have been waiting outside Hua Qing Pool.

Along with them came the Imperial harem ladies who alone are qualified to sit in the small sedan chair.

The new occupant of Cuivei Palace moved in; the palace's crabapple blossoms filled the hall with festive cheer.

Though no formal title has been set.

But within the Imperial harem, anyone below the rank of Consort cannot become the head of a palace.

Even though Cuivei Palace is modest, being allowed to reside there alone shows how much the Emperor values it.

They also dispatched eunuchs and palace maids to serve, plus a supervising granny.

That day, a stream of gifts kept arriving at Cuivei Palace.

Even the Empress sent people with brocade silks and mountain and sea delicacies.

A group of unfavored Answering scholars resembled cats smelling blood, coming by every day.

One could say that all the crabapples of the Imperial harem are here, coming to sniff the fragrance.

Shei doesn't know, it's just that they think with a new favorite, the chance to see the Emperor is a bit larger.

Everything in the courtyard is fine, except that in the garden several non‑fruiting pear trees stand.

Compared with the courtyard full of crabapples, they look out of place.

【Wan Tang watches the pear trees, nervous. If they send someone to cut them, she'll have to log off too.】

【Indeed, Cuivei Palace holds special meaning for the Dog Emperor, who strolls around from time to time.】

【Especially each spring, he comes to see whether the pear blossoms have opened.】

"Huh? These crabapples are beautiful, but this pear tree is really eyesore!" a Lady of Grace suddenly exclaimed.

She shouted, "Why not have someone cut it down?"

The other Imperial Concubines also chimed in.

Wan Tang smiled, "We can't just look at this moment; next spring, a tree of pear blossoms will dwarf the crabapples."

Everyone laughed.

The people before them have no rank and are hard to address.

Only sisters keep calling each other nonstop.

"Sister, you are perceptive and truly likable; compared with future achievements, you might not be beneath the Noble Consort."

"Mind your words," Wan Tang hurriedly said.

"How majestic!"

From outside came Xu Luoyan's voice.

Immediately a large group of guards and eunuchs stepped forward.

The tone was full of difficulty.

"Consort, you are still under house arrest; you must not come here."

"Let the Emperor know…"

From afar one could hear her frantic voice: "Am I dead? One by one, they all dare to step on my head."

"You forbid me from coming out, yet allow that scoundrel into the palace?!"

Xu Luoyan's steps were heavy, making a noticeable sound.

"Today I must see, this so‑called crabapple girl, who exactly is the shameless scoundrel!"

She stormed in with fierce momentum.

She rudely pushed aside the Imperial Concubine blocking her way.

Only upon seeing Wan Tang did she suddenly freeze.

Her expression seemed as if she had seen some primeval beast, her body trembling violently.

Wan Tang stood there, her brows and eyes radiating gentle smiles; the little red spot at her brow, against the garden full of crabapples, was even more charming.

Inside the courtyard, everyone dared not breathe loudly, stepping back one step.

In unison they greeted, "We have seen the Noble Consort."

Their peripheral glances kept drifting between the two: one the Emperor's new favorite, the other a long‑cherished but unproductive old love.

"Who did I think I was, only to find it was you!"

Xu Luoyan's mouth curved upward, but her gaze grew sharper.

The handkerchief in her hand kept tightening, the vicious energy in her eyes trembling, unable to hide.

Behind her, senior palace maid Cai Die clenched her teeth in anger, also a Nubi from General's Residence.

She is a prominent figure beside the Noble Consort, the overseer of Jingren Palace, respectfully called "Aunt."

And Wan Tang is merely a shadow without status.

Now, this shadow suddenly became the Master, pressing down on her.

The voice held hatred: "Consort, she dared betray you."

Xu Cairen heard it, couldn't help laughing, and asked, "What? Does the Noble Consort know sister?"

Xu Luoyan raised her hand and slapped Xu Cairen across the face.

Xu Cairen's delicate face instantly swelled high, her expression full of confusion.

"What sister?"

"Nameless, rankless thing, just a lowly maid."

Xu Luoyan scolded angrily.

She again assumed a lofty posture: "It's merely a fleeting affair with the Emperor; a nameless, rankless thing, still inferior to that palace maid."

"You, as the Emperor's Imperial Concubine, yet you disregard hierarchy and lack propriety."

"Are you still fit to serve by the Emperor's side?"

Xu Cairen's tears streamed down as she hurriedly knelt, pleading softly.

That slap was meant for Wan Tang to see.

Xu Luoyan walked forward step by step, sneering: "In the Imperial harem, there are countless women who climb onto the Emperor."

"Thinking this makes you equal to me?"

"I am the Noble Consort, what are you!"

Xu Luoyan has already walked up to Wan Tang.

Her face full of ornaments, refracted by the sunlight, stings the eyes.

Wan Tang smiles without saying a word.

Indeed, just a new pet, what does that amount to?

It's just that the Emperor is in a good mood; Shei disturbs his mood, Shei offends him.

【It looks like Wan Tang is about to endure hardship.】

【What hardship? The Dog Emperor has finished his audience and is rushing over here.】

【Already reached Yuhuayuan, how much farther from here can one go.】

Has Chu Yunzheng arrived?

Wan Tang slowly lifts her head, and that face, about seventy‑to‑eighty percent similar to Xu Luoyan's yet more beautiful, appears perfectly before everyone.

She looks at Xu Luoyan without any fear.

She speaks slowly: "Since ancient times, newcomers surpass the old; I am nothing special."

"But Empress, why are you under house arrest again?"

"The seven‑day favor at Huaqing Pool, Empress, I recall you, it's only been two days."

"Oh, right!"

Wan Tang smiles in her eyes and says in a voice only the two of them can hear: "To be precise, only one day, perhaps!"

Xu Luoyan's face is extremely gloomy.

She endures again and again, and the final sentence, like a thorn, drives hard into her.

"Bastard!"

Xu Luoyan roars in anger, raises her hand and slaps Wan Tang's face.

"Attendants, hold her down for me!"

"Today I'll waste that fox‑beauty face of yours."

"Without that face, I'd like to see whether the Emperor will still glance at you again."

Two rough maidservants step forward and forcefully press Wan Tang onto the ground.