Chapter 91: Bribery

Chu Yunzheng took the account book, his slender fingers flipping over the Account Book's front page.

At first his mouth still held a smile, and he even tapped a spot with his fingertip, saying to Wan Tang, "Lady Lin, the Vice Minister, is indeed generous."

Wan Tang cradled the tea cup, pursed her lips and smiled lightly, "I originally did not know that a mere appearance could be worth ten years of ordinary people's toil."

The sound of turning pages suddenly halted.

Chu Yunzheng's knuckle stopped at the center of a page, his joints gradually turning pale.

His inner brows first furrowed slightly, then his eyebrow peaks suddenly lowered, and the smile in his eyes faded like the receding tide.

When he saw the jade screen sent by Madam Xiao, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, his pupils abruptly contracted.

His voice was laced with ice, "These items, were they all sent voluntarily by them?"

Wan Tang was using a silver pin to lift the lampwick, and upon hearing that, she looked up blankly, "Yes, the ladies all say Yanmu I, but I truly cannot think of anything that is worthy of their Yanmu."

Before she could finish speaking, a sudden hush fell, because Chu Yunzheng's gaze scraped across her face like a blade.

"What did you say?" Chu Yunzheng asked.

One must know that the Former Dynasty's harem was a tangled web; buying and selling offices was explicitly prohibited, yet it was not uncommon.

No one would curry favor with someone without purpose……

The candlelight cast shadows of varying depth across Chu Yunzheng's face.

He suddenly closed the Shice, the force causing two wolf‑hair brushes to slam onto the desk.

Wan Tang seemed frightened, and the tea cup clanged against the desk.

"Emperor." she timidly picked up the fallen brush, "But did I receive them incorrectly?"

"What did you say?" Chu Yunzheng asked.

Wan Tang's eyes showed panic, and she whispered, "Every single character is written here, without omission."

Another small Shice was delivered into the Emperor's hand.

It was filled entirely with records of every visitor's interview at Xitang Courtyard.

Chu Yunzheng stared at her trembling fingertips, then suddenly reached out and lifted her chin.

When their eyes met, Wan Tang's clear gaze was filled with innocence: "The palace ladies have already received many gifts, but I didn't expect the Former Dynasty's ladies to be even more extravagant than the current ones."

"I truly cannot make up my mind," I said.

"If I don't accept them, I fear offending high‑ranking and powerful elders. If I accept, it always feels wrong."

"It's also my fault; my mother died early, and no one taught me."

Chu Yunzheng's expression finally softened a little.

Indeed, Wan Tang was merely an orphan.

She was cautious, merely trying to stay alive.

What malicious thoughts could such a little girl's family possibly have?

Chu Yunzheng's finger rubbed the shallow pinch mark on her chin, then he chuckled lightly, "Beloved Consort, lately you have indeed given me a good pretext."

Wan Tang lowered her gaze, hiding the turmoil beneath her eyes, her voice still soft, "I am foolish."

Chu Yunzheng suddenly rose, his dragon robe stirring a gust of cold air.

He strode toward the imperial desk, his fingers swiftly sifting through the mountain‑high piles of memorials, the red‑ink‑marked documents being roughly swept aside.

Wan Tang instinctively stepped back half a pace.

She kept her head lowered, yet could clearly hear her own pounding heartbeat.

"Indeed......"

Among the several memorials spread out in Chu Yunzheng's hands were, unmistakably, the greeting memorials of the ministers who had sent gifts in recent days.

His slender finger made a heavy stroke over a spot of ink, then a vague chuckle escaped.

Wan Tang quietly lifted her eyes, meeting Chu Yunzheng's unfathomable gaze.

That look was like a blade tempered with ice, yet also like a deep pool with hidden currents.

She hurriedly lowered her head again, pretending to fidget anxiously with the jade bracelet on her wrist.

"Tangtang." Chu Yunzheng suddenly called her, his voice gentle yet startling, "In the future, if anyone presents a gift, accept it in full."

Wan Tang raised her head in surprise, her eyes revealing just the right amount of bewilderment.

"If they ask you to do something."

Chu Yunzheng approached, a scent of dragon‑scent enveloping him, "Just comply, then tell me."

"I understand." She obediently bowed, the Step Shake's tassels swaying lightly at her cheek, shielding the fleeting dark glint in her eyes.

On the glazed tiles of Jingren Palace lay unmelted snow; Bai Wei stepped into the house, the snowflakes creaking under her feet.

Xiao Mingshu was leaning on a soft couch, reading a book.

"Your Highness," Bai Wei whispered, "The items have been delivered, the memorials also submitted, but the Emperor's side shows no sign of movement."

Xiao Mingshu's lips curled into a cold smile, "It seems that our Consort Wan is even more virtuous than I imagined."

Bai Wei frowned, "Perhaps we were still too gentle; merely ordinary gifts, no matter how valuable, cannot stir a great wave."

Xiao Mingshu set the book down.

She said softly, "People are greedy; only after tasting the sweet, do they dare to let go."

Bai Wei felt a surge of joy, exclaiming, "Then we'll administer a strong potion; I (serving woman) will go notify them……"

"Fool." Xiao Mingshu "clacked" the scissors down, splashing a few drops of flower juice, "Does a scheme like buying and selling offices require me personally to get involved?"

She plucked a withered plum, crushing it between her fingers, "What this palace lacks most are not fools seeking their own death."

Bai Wei understood and was about to withdraw, but heard Xiao Mingshu suddenly say, "Go to Jingren Palace."

"Your Highness?" Bai Wei was startled, "But Madam Wang has already been barred from entering the palace……"

"Precisely because of that," Xiao Mingshu brushed the phoenix hairpin at her temple, her smile deepening, "I should indeed go 'concern' our Consort Jing."

The storeroom of Xi Tang Courtyard is already overflowing; even the Langxia is piled with gilt lacquer boxes.

The next morning, two unmarried beauties arrived to pay their respects under the guidance of the steward matron.

"Your Majesty, ten thousand blessings." The leading purple‑clad lady smiled gently, "These two are the daughters of Lord Li of the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau, specially come to greet Your Majesty."

Wan Tang leans diagonally on the soft couch, idly toying with a pigeon‑blood red ruby using her golden armor.

The two beauties immediately stepped forward to bow; their figures were willow‑like, their voices like nightingales.

Xiao Shunzi squints and examines; such bearing could not be that of a lady, it is clearly a meticulously trained Yangzhou gaunt horse.

"Just a token of goodwill, not a formal tribute."

The purple‑clad lady clapped her hands, and four young servants lifted two heavy sandalwood boxes.

When the lids opened, the room filled with golden light; they were perfectly aligned gold ingots!

Xiao Shunzi inhaled sharply, hurried to Wan Tang's ear: "Your Majesty, this gift is too heavy."

"Gold and silver in fine, soft forms still have some justification, but this solid gold and silver, I'm afraid…"

Wan Tang's eyes brightened, and she, barefoot, leapt off the soft couch.

She herself bent down, picked up a gold ingot, and gently bit it at the edge of her mouth.

"Lord Li has been thoughtful," she said, her smile blooming, tossed the ingot back into the box, producing a dull "Dong" sound.

The purple‑clad lady's eyes flashed: "Your Majesty, now that you are the Emperor's favored consort, might you be able to extend a little favor?"

"Look, these two young ladies are also water‑spirit like, and if they stay by your side, you will have someone beside you."

"As for other matters."

The purple‑clad lady's eyes softened, and she said meaningfully: "In the future, they will only have pleasant conversations with Your Majesty."

"Oh?" Wan Tang's gaze fell on the box, she gave a rough glance, pursed her lips: "This amount of silver, you expect this palace to risk its life for you?"

"Of course not."

The purple‑clad lady quickly added a smile, lowered her voice: "Just a little guidance from Your Majesty would suffice."

"If their fathers and brothers can enter the Capital as officials, they will naturally pay proper respect to Your Majesty."

"As long as Your Majesty…"

Before she could finish, Xiao Shunzi was already stamping her foot anxiously: "Your Majesty! This matter already involves the Former Dynasty, it must never be done."

"This palace understands," Wan Tang raised her hand to interrupt, "When we later see the Emperor in the palace, we will certainly give proper guidance."

When everyone withdrew, Xiao Shunzi fell to her knees: "Your Majesty, you're being foolish! This is selling offices and titles,"

"What are you afraid of?" Wan Tang toyed with the ingot, smiling naïvely yet greedily, "Now I'm not afraid they won't send; I'm only afraid they send too little."

Xiao Shunzi truly spun around in anxiety.

Large beads of sweat rolled down her face, and she said urgently: "Your Majesty, we have struggled hard to reach today."

"Recently the gifts have become increasingly suspicious; I'm afraid it will give Schemer a chance to exploit a loophole."

In the hall, the golden beast furnace exhaled wisps of blue smoke; Xiao Shunzi fell with a thud, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

"Your Majesty! Those two women's origins are unknown; they are neither Capital officials' families nor of noble background, yet they suddenly approach you with heavy gold—there must be something fishy behind it!"

Their voice trembled, "If someone deliberately…"

Wan Tang leaned by the window, fingertips lightly toying with a gold ingot on the desk, and upon hearing it, gave only a faint smile: "No problem."

Xiao Shunzi widened her eyes: "Your Majesty!"

"Let them send," Wan Tang said lightly, as if discussing today's weather, "What this palace needs is one hundred thousand taels of silver."

She nudged with her fingertip, and the gold ingot clanged "Danglang" as it rolled to the ground, "These are but a drop in the bucket."

"Ten… ten hundred thousand taels?!" Xiao Shunzi shivered all over, actually fell to sit on the ground, her face turning ashen, as if meeting this master for the first time.

Wan Tang let out a light laugh, bent down herself and helped him up.

Her fingertips were icy, yet her strength steady: "Xiao Shunzi, don't be afraid."

Xiao Shunzi's lips trembled, yet she saw Wan Tang's eyes deep as a pool, showing no hint of the usual coquettish, greedy demeanor.

"This palace knows exactly what it is doing," she said, her voice extremely soft yet each word like a nail, "Just follow what this palace says, and in time you will understand."

【Although the Emperor consented, this person was sent by the Xu Family. He can be considered a disciple of Xu Chengyuan.】

【He was originally a local official, corrupt and taking bribes rampant, essentially a local official who funded most of the capital officials. Sooner or later trouble will arise, and the Emperor is worrying how to deal with them.】

【Wan Tang fell into a trap; the Xu Family wanted a double‑edged arrow, both to eliminate Wan Tang and to handle the trouble. Even if the Emperor knows, the other side keeps clinging, the whole court erupts, and the Emperor, wanting to protect, may be willing but powerless.】

【He is the Emperor, and also, haven't you all realized Wan Tang's true purpose? The snow is falling heavier, the roadside already begins to freeze people to death…】

Wan Tang let out a light sigh, placed both hands on her pregnant belly, and headed again to Yangxin Hall.

Inside Yangxin Hall.

Chu Yunzheng's slender fingers lightly brushed the page, a dark glint flickering in his eyes, as if weighing.

"This Li Chongyi embezzles military funds, forms cliques for personal gain; the people on Xu Chengyuan's side protect him tightly," he sneered coldly, lifted his gaze toward Wan Tang, "Now he still dares to reach into my Imperial harem, bold indeed."

Wan Tang lowered her eyelashes, fingertips gently twisting the handkerchief, voice soft: "I, the Subject, do not understand these matters; everything depends on the Emperor's decision."

Chu Yunzheng's gaze sharpened as he examined her, as if to read her thoughts: "Oh? Then, in your view, how should I deal with it?"

Wan Tang slightly pursed her lips, showing a hint of timidity and hesitation: "I am foolish… I only think that if we only deal with Li Chongyi, the people behind him will find another way."

Her voice lowered further, as if fearing she spoke too much: "Emperor, forgive me, I should not speak rashly about state affairs."

Chu Yunzheng's eyes deepened slightly, his knuckles lightly tapping the desk.

The hall fell silent for a moment, only the candlewick's "crackle" could be heard.

After a while, he suddenly reached out, pulling Wan Tang to his side: "Tangtang and my imperial son have endured many hardships."

The warm palm rested on her slightly rounded abdomen, "Tomorrow I have time, I will take you to Baoguo Temple to pray for the imperial son."

Wan Tang's eyes flashed with just the right hint of surprise, then immediately turned to worry: "But court affairs are busy…"

"No problem," Chu Yunzheng chuckled lightly, his eyes yet carrying deep meaning, "It's just right to let those specters bounce around for a few more days."