Chapter 92: Baoguo Temple

Baoguo Temple, the Zen Chamber was tranquil.

The Emperor traveled incognito, taking only a personal guard and a eunuch attendant.

Wan Tang accompanied him, wearing a plain robe, a single white jade hairpin in her hair, no makeup, yet appearing even more pure and unworldly.

Chu Yunzheng, guided by the abbot, went to the Grand Hall to pray, while Wan Tang claimed a slight illness and rested in the rear Zen Chamber.

Soon, a woman in purple robes led a middle‑aged man in official attire quietly inside.

The man's expression was tense, his eyes flickering; it was Li Chongyi, a disciple of Xu Chengyuan.

He had thought today was a "transaction", but upon entering he saw Wan Tang seated at the tea table, her plain hand holding a cup, expression calm, showing no trace of greed or flirtation.

"Lord Li," Wan Tang lifted her eyes, the corner of her mouth slightly up, "I've heard of you for so long, but seeing you in person is even better!"

Li Chongyi felt a tightening in his chest, forced a laugh, "Your Highness, you jest. I am merely a messenger, here to deliver a token of goodwill."

"Moreover, it was your own intention first."

Wan Tang smiled lightly, tapping the tea cup with her fingertip, producing a crisp sound.

"A token of goodwill?" she asked leisurely, "Or the life of this palace?"

Li Chongyi's complexion changed abruptly, cold sweat beading on his forehead, yet he forced himself to say, "Your Highness, why speak so? How could I possibly…"

"Dare not?" Wan Tang's smile grew cold, "Lord Li, I know exactly how many deeds you have done for Xu Chengyuan."

She rose slowly, a secret ledger slipped from her sleeve, and with a slap she tossed it onto the table.

"Embezzling military provisions, illicit salt‑iron trade, colluding with merchants… Are these enough to annihilate your nine families?"

Li Chongyi's legs went weak, he nearly fell to his knees, trembling, "Your Highness, you see clearly! I am innocent!"

"Innocent?" Wan Tang sneered, "Xu Chengyuan sent you here just to cement the charge that I sold offices for bribes?"

She walked closer, voice gentle, "But have you considered how the Emperor would react if I were harmed because of this?"

Li Chongyi's pupils contracted sharply.

"He will investigate," Wan Tang stared at him, "to the very end."

"When that time comes, do you think Xu Chengyuan will protect you?" she chuckled lightly, "Or… push you out to take the blame?"

Seeing Li Chongyi still exude confidence, Wan Tang smiled, "I have a speculation: knowing it's a dead end, why did you still send him?"

"Could it be that you offended General Xu, and he now harbors a desire to eliminate you?"

Li Chongyi trembled all over, finally collapsing, he fell to his knees, "Your Highness! I admit my mistake! Please save me!"

Wan Tang lowered her gaze at him, her eyes showing neither sorrow nor joy.

"I can give you a way out," she said calmly, "One hundred thousand taels of silver for the lives of your entire family."

Li Chongyi's face turned ghastly, "This… I cannot raise the sum at once…"

"That is your problem," Wan Tang turned, looking out the window, "The Emperor is returning soon, Lord Li, think carefully."

She tilted her head, her eyes deep, "If you agree, go in secret to find Xiao Shunzi."

"If you refuse… it doesn't matter."

"You bear the consequences yourself."

Outside the Zen Chamber, footsteps grew nearer.

Li Chongyi trembled all over, finally bowing heavily, "I… obey your command!"

Wan Tang's mouth curved slightly, a dark glint flickering in her eyes.

"Very well."

"Remember, you have only one day."

The woman in purple robes rushed in, flinging the door open.

"The Emperor has arrived," she whispered in a hushed tone, her fingertips tightly clutching the veil.

Li Chongyi's face ashen, he glanced at Wan Tang, his Adam's apple bobbing a few times, then he bowed and stepped back out.

As his official boots crossed the threshold, Wan Tang caught a glimpse of cold sweat beading on the back of his neck, sparkling in the sunlight.

From outside the Zen Chamber came footsteps, neither hurried nor slow.

When Chu Yunzheng entered, a string of prayer beads still twirled on his fingertip, a few ginkgo leaves clinging to his dark formal robe.

His gaze swept over the still‑warm tea cup on the table, the corner of his mouth lifting, "Is Tangtang feeling better?"

"Thanks to the Emperor's blessing," Wan Tang replied, the jade hairpin's tassel swaying lightly, conveniently masking a flash of sharpness in her eyes.

"Do you still wish to pray?" Chu Yunzheng asked again.

Wan Tang's face showed a sweet smile, "I have the Emperor, I have a child, I am already content."

Chu Yunzheng nodded, his eyes falling on the lingering footprints on the ground, a dim, indistinct light shining in his gaze.

He reached out, brushing away nonexistent dust from Wan Tang's shoulder, "Now that your wish is fulfilled, return to the palace."

As the two stepped out of the Zen Chamber, the copper bells at the eaves rang in the wind.

Wan Tang's peripheral vision caught the flash of the purple‑robed woman's sleeve disappearing behind the trees, while Chu Yunzheng's fingertip idly twirled the prayer beads.

The imperial litter had just passed Xuanwu Gate when the chief eunuch of Cining Palace blocked the road.

The elderly eunuch knelt respectfully, his voice sounding like a dull blade scraping stone, "Empress Dowager requests the Emperor and Consort Wan to proceed to Cining Palace at once."

Chu Yunzheng paused his fiddling with the beads, then laughed lightly, "What a coincidence, I was just heading to pay respects to the Empress Mother."

He turned his head toward Wan Tang, "Can Tangtang still walk?"

Wan Tang placed a hand on her slightly rounded belly, smiling gently, "How could I keep the Empress Dowager waiting?"

Inside Cining Palace, sandalwood incense wafted, yet could not conceal the lethal atmosphere filling the hall.

The Empress Dowager sat upright on the phoenix throne, her brows sharp, the prayer beads in her hand clicking.

The Emperor Chu Yunzheng was forced by the Empress Dowager onto the main seat, his expression calm, yet dark currents swirled in his eyes as if weighing something.

Xu Luoyan knelt in the center of the hall, head held high, chest out, her eyes flashing with the thrill of revenge.

"Empress Dowager, your keen insight!" Her voice was sharp, each word like a knife, "Consort Wan has violated Palace Rules, secretly taken heavy money, colluded with the Former Dynasty, intending to sell offices and titles! This is a grave crime!"

Wan Tang stood silently beside, complexion pale, fingertips trembling slightly, as if stunned and at a loss by this sudden accusation.

She lowered her lashes, lips pressed together lightly, a look of being unable to defend herself.

Empress Dowager gave her a cold glance, "Emperor, is this the person you have tolerated?"

Chu Yunzheng's eyes darkened slightly, "Mother Empress, this matter has not yet been clarified…"

"Investigate?" Empress Dowager sneered, "The evidence is conclusive, what more investigation is needed?"

She slammed the table hard, causing the tea cups to clatter.

"A lone orphan girl overseeing the Imperial harem is absurd! If it were not for the dragon lineage in her womb, I would have intervened long ago!"

Wan Tang's eyes reddened slightly, seeming extremely aggrieved, she whispered, "Empress Dowager, I am wronged…"

"Wronged?" Xu Luoyan scoffed, leapt to her feet, finger pointing at Wan Tang's nose, "Those gold and silver, could they have been placed by me into your treasury?"

She turned to the Empress Dowager, pressing aggressively, "Empress Dowager, Consort Wan not only accepted bribes, but also conspired with court officials to interfere with state affairs! This is a great treason!"

Empress Dowager's gaze was sharp as a blade, piercing Wan Tang, "You, do you have anything to say?"

Wan Tang's lips trembled slightly, as if driven to a dead end, yet she forced composure, "I… have nothing to say."

"Just because of Xu Guifei, no, Consort Jing's few words, should I be wrongfully executed?"

"Ha." Empress Dowager sneered, "If so, then first place her under house arrest; I will investigate personally!"

"Hold!" Xu Luoyan abruptly interjected, a smug smile appearing, "Empress Dowager, I am not fabricating accusations for no reason; I have human witnesses!"

The previously silent Chu Yunzheng let out a light hum, coldly saying, "Consort Jing, I recall, I ordered your house arrest."

"You simply do not keep my words in mind, repeatedly testing my limits."

The Emperor scolded, and Xu Luoyan flinched briefly.

She quickly regained composure.

She said aggrieved, "I acted for the Imperial harem, for the Emperor, which is why I seemed ignorant of the rules."

"How can the Emperor still have the heart to blame me?"

【Idiot. The Emperor now blames not only you; looking at Chu Yunzheng's demeanor, he must be thinking of many things.】

【At least they have already contacted Xu Chengyuan; the members of the Xu Family, one by one, look down on everyone, and do not regard the Emperor at all.】

【Xu Luoyan had no choice but to act so; after all, the Emperor ignored the memorials, forcing them into desperation.】

【A bunch of idiots, the snow disaster is about to arrive, and they still have the mood to vie for favor.】

Chu Yunzheng's eyes were full of contempt.

The Empress Dowager, dissatisfied, said, "I initially understood Consort Wan's grievances, but I did not expect such a slip after she had managed the Imperial harem for so little time."

"Regardless of who it is, if they err, they shall be treated equally."

"Since there are human witnesses, bring them in."

【Old hag, at first pretended ignorance to punish the small and admonish the great, allowing the Emperor to dote on Consort Wan.】

【Now seeing Wan Tang sailing smoothly, they intend to reclaim the Phoenix Seal and consolidate the Xiao Family's position.】

【In this Imperial harem, everyone has eight hundred scheming eyes.】

Xu Luoyan, hearing this, was delighted, clapped her hands, and three people immediately entered from the hall.

It was that lady in purple robes and two beauties.

The lady in purple knelt, bowing, her voice thin, "Empress Dowager, your keen insight! Consort Wan indeed received Lord Li's silver, even demanding a hundred thousand taels of silver, promising to secure a high position in the Ministry of War for him!"

The two beauties also knelt, weeping like rain on pear blossoms, "Consort Wan threatened us; if we dare reveal a single word, she will take our entire family's lives!"

The Empress Dowager's face grew darker, the prayer beads in her hand snapped, the beads scattering on the ground.

"Absurd! Absolutely absurd!" she thundered, "Imperial harem consorts dare to meddle in state affairs! Emperor, is this the disaster you have fostered?!"

Chu Yunzheng's eyes were deep and dark, yet he remained silent.

Seeing this, Xu Luoyan became even more smug, "Empress Dowager, the evidence is conclusive; Consort Wan's crime is unforgivable! If not severely punished, where are the Imperial harem's rules?!"

The Empress Dowager inhaled deeply, coldly saying, "If we do not punish her heavily, she will not know her place!"

"Mother Empress." Chu Yunzheng suddenly spoke, his voice low and chilling.

The hall fell silent instantly.

He slowly lifted his gaze, his eyes sweeping from Xu Luoyan's face to finally rest on the Empress Dowager.

"You all say, who bought offices?"

Xu Luoyan and the lady in purple exchanged glances and in unison said, "Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Li Chongwen!"

The Emperor's lips curled slightly, a smile that did not reach his eyes.

"Very good."

"Li Defu, go, bring Li Chongyi here." Chu Yunzheng ordered.

"Impossible!" Empress Dowager objected, "Emperor, this concerns the Imperial harem and Former Dynasty matters; how can they be intertwined?"

"Mother Empress." Chu Yunzheng said with a smile, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Today, I will conduct it right here in the Imperial harem!"

"Who has any opinion?"