Chapter 94: Incident

The candles in the hall flickered, casting the faces of those present in dim, unreadable shadows.

Xu Luoyan was hoisted by the Guanren, a cloth stuffed in her mouth, only able to emit a muffled "wu‑wu" sound, blood vessels webbing her eyes as she stared dead‑staring at Wan Tang.

Wan Tang let out a cold laugh, her eyes sharp as knives, yet her voice was as gentle as water: "According to Palace Rules, handle it. Concubine Jing, you should return to the Cold Palace."

She paused, her gaze shifting to the Emperor, and whispered with implied meaning: "It's just that this matter …"

Her eyes flickered over Li Chongyi, as if and yet not.

Li Chongyi knelt on the ground, his whole body trembling like sifted chaff, his forehead pressed against a cold golden brick, cold sweat soaking the back of his official robe.

"Subject… Subject knows the crime!" his hoarse voice rasped, "But I am truly helpless, I beg the Emperor for mercy!"

The Empress Dowager's eyes hardened, and she seized the moment, saying coldly: "The Xu Family is audacious beyond measure, daring to deceive the ruler with a skinny horse, bribing the Imperial harem—this is a great treason! If not severely punished, how can the court's principles be upheld?!"

She narrowed her phoenix eyes, implying: "Emperor, this matter concerns the Former Dynasty and must be dealt with severely!"

Suppressing the Xu Family is the perfect opportunity for the Xiao Family to rise to power!

Chu Yunzheng lightly tapped the Dragon Throne's armrest with his fingertip, his expression deep, yet he had not spoken.

Xu Luoyan suddenly broke free from the Guanren, tore the cloth from her mouth, and laughed wildly:

"Hahaha… what a matter of the Imperial harem! What a family affair!"

Her hair bun was disheveled, the golden hairpin askew, madness filling her eyes, "Wan Tang! Do you think you have won?"

She thrust her finger at the Empress Dowager, then at the Emperor, "You, you are all the same scum!"

"Aren't we supposed to investigate? Then let's investigate!"

"Now let's see properly, the ones delivering gifts, the ones tampering …"

The Empress Dowager's face darkened abruptly: "How dare you!"

Wan Tang's eyes darkened; she had no intention of mentioning the Xiao Family at all.

Xu Luoyan, heedless, shrieked: "Emperor! You indulge Wan Tang today; she will become a disaster tomorrow! You will surely regret it and reap the consequences!"

"Enough."

Chu Yunzheng spoke lightly, his voice unhurried, yet like cold iron striking the ground, it reverberated through the hall's dead silence.

He rose slowly, his dark dragon robe flowing, his jeweled crown's jade tassels swaying lightly, concealing the edge in his eyes.

I said, today it is only a matter of the Imperial harem.

His gaze swept over the Empress Dowager, then returned to Wan Tang, "Concubine Wan, since you now hold the Phoenix Seal, you shall handle this matter."

He had intended to use this incident to cause a full‑scale uproar in the court and bring the Xu Family to its downfall, but now it seems impossible.

The Empress Dowager's fingertips clenched the Phoenix Throne's armrest; she finally closed her eyes and said no more.

Wan Tang made a respectful bow, her voice cold: "I obey the decree."

【The scummy dragon is just a scummy dragon; whenever trouble arises, they throw it to Wan Tang—he really doesn't offend anyone.】

【They keep claiming to protect the scummy dragon, but it's the same—they treat Wan Tang as the most useful pawn.】

【That's not the point; the point is that the Emperor acts this way merely to save Li Chongyi's life, yet does not wish to let him go. After all, for the Emperor, there is now a false piece of evidence, just waiting for the right moment.】

The Empress Dowager leaned back on the Phoenix Seat, her fingertips leisurely twirling the prayer beads on her wrist, a cold, sharp mockery glinting in her eyes.

She knows the Emperor's temperament all too well; in today's scheme, if Wan Tang makes even a slight mistake, it will be her own grave.

Wan Tang's gaze was calm and steady, slowly sweeping over everyone in the hall.

Xu Luoyan was held down by the Guanren, kneeling on the ground, her hair bun disheveled, hatred raging in her eyes, yet she dared not utter another word.

Li Chongyi trembled on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold golden brick, cold sweat soaking the back of his official robe.

"Concubine Jing of the Xu clan," Wan Tang began, her voice measured yet each word struck like a nail, "Framing a consort, disrupting Palace Rules, should be severely punished."

She paused, her eyes shifting slightly, "But considering the Xu Family's generations of loyal heroism, and Lord Xu still serving at the border for the nation,"

We cannot yet stir the grass and scare the snake, lest the Xu Family panic and leap over the wall.

"But if you are so long‑tongued, then punish you by cutting out your tongue, confining you to Jingren Palace; you may not leave without an edict."

Xu Luoyan jerked her head up, eyes widening in disbelief.

She roared, "You bitch, how dare you cut out my tongue? How dare you?"

Wan Tang's expression remained calmly composed.

Seeing Xu Luoyan's frantic posture, Wan Tang said lightly, "Concubine Jing, you are still too arrogant."

"These are merely punishments for you."

Wan Tang's lips curled slightly.

Tongue‑cutting and confinement cannot ease the hatred in my heart, but if Xu Luoyan were to vanish suddenly, Xu Chengyuan would surely become alert.

Better to keep her alive, yet she will not stir up any more trouble.

After all, the debt between them cannot be settled by death.

She turned her gaze to Li Chongyi, eyes deep; between them was merely a transaction.

Likewise, it was today's greatest dilemma; any slight mistake would inevitably make one a sacrifice in this game.

Wan Tang turned to Chu Yunzheng, brows knit, with a hint of coquettishness: "Emperor, as for Li Chongyi, he too should be punished."

"After all, he crossed the Former Dynasty to find me; even if it was to save a life, it was wrong."

"From my perspective, he should be struck harshly."

Chu Yunzheng remained unmoved, not even bothering to lift an eyelid.

Wan Tang continued, "But I also feel that merely beating him cannot serve as a warning to others."

"Better to have him tend the horses, so everyone knows the fate of crossing the Emperor."

Chu Yunzheng at this moment finally reacted, his tone softening slightly: "Li Chongyi, though at fault, has shown repentance and contributed by exposing the truth."

"He shall be stripped of his position as Deputy Minister of Revenue, temporarily reassigned as Junior Secretary of the Imperial Stables, bearing punishment while earning merit."

The Imperial Stables oversee horse affairs; though demoted, he remains in the Forbidden City, under the Emperor's very eyes.

He both saved his life and kept him from slipping from his grasp.

It seemed the Emperor made the decision, but in fact it was Wan Tang's idea.

It was merely announced through the Emperor's mouth. It was done according to Wan Tang's instructions, and also kept Wan Tang out of the council.

A hint of surprise flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes, then she understood.

This handling turned out to be more thorough than she had expected.

Chu Yunzheng's eyes grew deep, his fingertips lightly tapped the Dragon Throne's armrest twice, and finally he bowed his head:

"Then let it be so!"

His word was final.

Xu Luoyan collapsed on the ground, the madness in her eyes gradually faded, leaving only a dead gray.

Li Chongyi bowed repeatedly, tears streaming: "Subject… thank the Emperor for his great favor! Thank the Empress for her grace!"

Wan Tang lowered her gaze, covering the sharpness in her eyes.

Outside Jingren Palace, Fēng xuě howled.

Wan Tang personally escorted Xu Luoyan back to the palace; before stepping through the hall doors, she heard a sharp argument coming from inside.

"You wall‑grass scum!" Cai Wei's sharp voice pierced the cold wind, "When that lowly Wan Tang is executed, see how you'll still be arrogant!"

Li Pin sneered: "Cai Wei, you have such a big mouth; if I didn't know better, I'd think you were the Master!"

"Pah!"

Cai Wei placed her hands on her hips, haughty, "Even if our Empress is placed under house arrest, she is still the legitimate daughter of the Xu Family! What is Wan Tang? A despicable orphan girl, she doesn't even deserve…"

"Deserve what?"

A clear, cold voice suddenly rang out.

The hall doors burst open, Fēng xuě swirling in with cold, and Wan Tang, clad in a plain white fox fur, stood at the entrance, her eyes like knives.

Cai Wei's complexion changed abruptly, stumbling backward: "Y‑you… how…"

Wan Tang stepped in slowly, her embroidered shoes striking the blue bricks with a faint sound.

"How am I still alive?" she giggled lightly, "Disappointing, isn't it?"

Li Pin immediately stepped forward, excitement flashing in her eyes: "Empress! That wretched maid just cursed you moments ago."

"I heard it," Wan Tang raised her hand, and the guards behind her immediately pressed Xu Luoyan forward.

Xu Luoyan's face was ashen, yet when she saw Cai Wei, a final spark of hope flashed in her eyes.

Cai Wei was still there, able to inform the Xu Family.

As soon as the Xu Family makes a move, everything will have a turning point.

But before she could speak, Wan Tang calmly said, "Jing Pin of the Xu clan, framing a concubine, must have her tongue removed according to Palace Rules."

With a glance, Wan Tang signaled, and the members of Shenxing Si stepped forward.

Wan Tang had arranged it; they dared not defy, for the Emperor himself had marked it, and who could oppose that?

"No!" Xu Luoyan screamed, struggling, "Wan Tang! How dare you?"

"I and the Emperor have a ten‑year bond; we are in love."

Wan Tang only gave a mocking, cold smile.

A guard pressed her down, prying her mouth open with iron‑clamp‑like fingers.

Cai Wei collapsed on the ground, her crotch soaked.

Li Pin's cheeks flushed with excitement, urging repeatedly: "Quick! Cut cleanly!"

Xu Luoyan, in extreme pain, fainted, her face pale, startling the members of Shenxing Si.

"Continue!" Li Pin urged.

Wan Tang suddenly raised her hand: "Hold on."

She crouched, lifted Xu Luoyan's ghastly white face with her fingertips, and sighed lightly: "Fetch the imperial physician."

It seemed the thing she had been awaiting was finally about to happen.

Li Pin stared in shock: "Empress?!"

Hou Yishou hurried in, and after taking a pulse, exclaimed, "Your Empress, Jing Pin… is pregnant!"

The hall fell into dead silence.

Cai Wei's eyes widened, Li Pin's complexion turned ashen.

Wan Tang smiled, though the smile didn't reach her eyes: "Truly… destiny."

In her heart she thought, Mother, did you see this?

You also wanted to make Wang Jingyi truly taste the pain you endured back then, right?

"Hahaha."

Cai Wei suddenly burst into a manic laugh, stumbling up from the ground, tears still wet on her face, her eyes flashing with twisted glee.

"Our Empress is pregnant! And it's a dragon's seed!"

She shrieked, her finger nearly poking Wan Tang's nose, "How dare you touch her?! If the Emperor finds out, he'll certainly order your death."

"Noisy."

Wan Tang's two gentle words fell like a bucket of water poured over the head.

She still smiled, even lifting a hand to smooth the stray hairs at her temples, her tone gentle as if discussing today's tea: "Jing Pin is pregnant, naturally noble."

Her gaze suddenly sharpened, "What are you?"

Cai Wei's arrogant expression froze instantly.

She looked at Wan Tang's smiling eyes and felt as if she'd fallen into an ice cave. There was no anger in those eyes, only a dead‑matter coldness.

"M‑Mother, spare me…" Her knees gave way, she knelt and kowtowed, her forehead pounding loudly.

Wan Tang, however, had already turned, her delicate hand lightly raised: "Come."

The men of the Shenxing Si immediately stepped forward, their iron‑pincer‑like hands pressing down on Cai Wei.

"Ah! Let go of me! Mother, save me!"

Xu Luoyan, just having been choked awake, saw the terrifying scene of Cai Wei being held on the ground, an iron hook prying open her mouth.

"No..." she trembled all over, her body, which had just been propped up, sagged softy again, and she fell unconscious once more.

A flash of blade passed, and a bright red tongue fell onto the ground, still twitching faintly.

Cai Wei, mouth full of blood, let out a hoarse screech, like a chicken whose throat had been cut.

Wan Tang produced a handkerchief, leisurely wiping at the nonexistent blood on her fingertips, and softly said to the unconscious Xu Luoyan, "Sister, don't sleep."

"This is just the beginning."

"If you don't watch, it's so boring..."