Xiao Wan’s words struck like a bolt from the blue, stunning everyone present into silence, but she didn’t seem to notice at all.
In fact, she raised her brows in triumph.
“Ci Yun-ge, just admit it. You don’t really feel nothing for me.”
Xiao Wan smiled sweetly and said, “Since you already knew I came to you with a request, why didn’t you expose me right away?”
At this, Rong Tan suddenly looked at Wu Ciyun, disbelief written all over his face.
Wu Ciyun: “……”
She had been scared out of her wits!
Who told Xiao Wan to start undressing the moment she came in!
Wu Ciyun had no idea how to explain her state of mind just now, and her strange silence at this moment only served to confirm Xiao Wan’s words.
In Rong Tan’s eyes, full of shock and pain, Xiao Wan left with the child in her arms, smug as a victor.
“A Yun…”
Rong Tan hurriedly tried to question Wu Ciyun about what had happened, but the moment she saw him, her head began to ache.
She spoke first, “Where did you go just now?”
“Miss Liu was standing outside with the child. I was afraid the child would get cold, so I took them to the warm chamber…”
“You’re awfully kindhearted, aren’t you.”
Wu Ciyun looked at him with a half-smile, half-not, causing Rong Tan to instantly swallow the words he was about to say.
He stood there at a loss, feeling he’d said something wrong yet again.
“You like children a lot?”
Wu Ciyun’s tone was still gentle.
Rong Tan hesitated for a moment, then nodded lightly.
Even now, Wu Mingzhu and Wu Liangyu had pretty much been raised by him, but in his dreams, he longed for a child who shared blood with Wu Ciyun.
Seeing this, Wu Ciyun suddenly chuckled softly.
She beckoned to Rong Tan, almost amiable, gesturing for him to come closer.
Rong Tan carefully sat beside her.
Wu Ciyun gently wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her chin lightly on his shoulder, her breath brushing softly past his ear.
Rong Tan’s face flushed, his heart skipping a beat.
In the next moment, Wu Ciyun spoke into his ear.
“Get lost. Don’t get in my sight for the next two days.”
Wu Ciyun shoved Rong Tan away.
Caught off guard, he crashed into the corner of a huanghuali table, the sudden pain in his lower back making his expression change.
He instinctively looked up at Wu Ciyun, but she was cold as ever, glancing at him lightly as if he were a stranger who didn’t matter at all.
“A Ming.”
Wu Ciyun called A Ming in and said coldly, “You and all the Shadow Guards on duty today, go receive your punishment. Are you all dead or what?”
The moment A Ming stepped in, he saw the room in chaos—torn bed curtains, a toppled screen, everything in a heap on the floor.
He was stunned, hurriedly kneeling to apologize, crying bitterly inside.
Wu Ciyun never allowed Shadow Guards to stay close for protection, so they were usually disguised as servants around the mansion, or observing from the trees at a distance.
When Xiao Wan went in, they heard all sorts of crashing noises—clothes being put on and taken off, chasing around, all kinds of suggestive commotion between men and women.
Their mistress was inside raising havoc with Princess Zhaoning—heaven knows what was going on.
They couldn’t very well barge in and interrupt their fun, could they?
A Ming glanced surreptitiously at Wu Ciyun.
Seeing her face was as pale and frail as ever, he couldn’t help but mutter inside.
He’d thought it was some beautiful widow throwing herself into her lover’s arms—an amorous scene of a hero and beauty.
Now it looked more like a poisonous widow breaking into her lover’s home at night, forcing herself on him, and their mistress ended up suffering the most…
A Ming didn’t dare linger.
Seeing Wu Ciyun already losing patience and Rong Tan still wanting to get closer, he hurriedly half-pulled, half-dragged Rong Tan out as well, afraid he’d set Wu Ciyun off again.
The System clearly disapproved of Wu Ciyun’s high-handedness.
[Isn’t this a bit too drastic? You’re being too harsh; this kind of behavior will only breed resentment.]
Wu Ciyun had all the classic villain traits—ruthless, capricious, suspicious, sensitive, and even a touch neurotic.
The author had planted many hints in the early chapters, laying the groundwork for Wu Ciyun’s inevitable betrayal and downfall.
Wu Ciyun immediately caught the implication in the System’s words.
She quietly decided she’d have to thoroughly investigate those serving around her in the coming days, but outwardly she was calm and nonchalant.
[I always reward and punish fairly. They really were at fault today.]
[If it had only been Xiao Wan who came, fine. But what if it was an assassin next time? My life would be forfeit just like that.]
The more Wu Ciyun thought about it, the more she felt this matter required serious attention.
She’d always disliked having people too close, afraid someone might discover her disguise.
But keeping her distance like this clearly had major drawbacks—as today, when Xiao Wan clung to her with no resistance possible.
If push came to shove, she’d have to find some hidden weapons or poison to defend herself, so she wouldn’t die in vain if she was truly ambushed one day.
***
That night, Xiao Wan rushed back to the Taishi Mansion and went straight to Grand Preceptor Zhao, handing over the letter Wu Ciyun had given her.
With a mournful expression, she claimed she was just a woman, terrified upon learning such a thing, and could only come seeking help.
Grand Preceptor Zhao opened the letter, only to find it was Prince Rui urging Xiao Wan to poison him to death, so he could seize control of the Zhao Family’s military command.
At first, he was suspicious, but after comparing the letter with earlier ones from Prince Rui, the handwriting and personal seal matched exactly.
He was so furious he almost spat blood on the spot.
Xiao Wan secretly passed the news to Wu Ciyun.
Wu Ciyun then kept sending assassins to the Taishi Mansion every other day—one day arson, the next poisoning.
Anyway, Prince Rui got blamed for every crime.
Prince Rui ended up shouldering several baseless charges, while Wu Ciyun remained at ease, reconnecting with her Teacher’s Sect old friends and former colleagues one day, reminiscing with the Old Ministers over tea and chess the next.
Outwardly, she claimed she was helping Prince Rui recruit influential officials.
[…Aren’t your methods a bit too despicable?]
The System was at a loss.
The System’s imagined Wu Ciyun: Long-hidden informants, painstaking planning, a shocking conspiracy.
The real Wu Ciyun: Forged seals, fake documents, framing people, and all sorts of scams.
The Wu Family’s former disciples naturally followed her lead.
With officials who’d once been close to Wu Nanshan, she reasoned with heartfelt emotion, even bringing them to tears.
With the Capital’s impassioned sons of noble families, she spoke of ideals and ambitions, painting one grand vision after another until they stared at her in awe, nearly swearing brotherhood on the spot.
As for officials who still looked down on her no matter what, Wu Ciyun used force when persuasion failed, bringing out their records of past corruption and reading them out one by one until they turned pale and shook like leaves.
Then she would coerce them into submission.
None of it required any special skill at all.
Wu Ciyun didn’t care in the least.
[So what if it’s despicable? As long as it works.]
[Aren’t you just treating Prince Rui like a fool?]
[The difference between Prince Rui and a fool is that he doesn’t drool.]
[…Aren’t you afraid Grand Preceptor Zhao will confront Prince Rui and expose you?]
[Oh, I’m sure Prince Rui will say he didn’t do it.]
Wu Ciyun’s eyes curved in a smile, feigning innocence.
[But who would believe him?]
System: [……]
Damn, what shameless logic.
No matter how much the System lamented, nothing could hinder Wu Ciyun as she moved openly and struck in secret, stalking her prey like a tiger in the forest.
Three days later, the New Emperor’s enthronement ceremony concluded.
For the first time since the Palace Coup, the court convened.
Prince Rui attended with the New Emperor, accepting the ministers’ kneeling obeisance, relishing the glory of being above all.
His confidants promptly petitioned, using the New Emperor’s youth as an excuse to request that Prince Rui be named Regent and act as the overseer of state affairs.
Prince Rui thought it a done deal, but to his surprise, more officials opposed it than he’d anticipated.
The Old Ministers from the previous dynasty, like Grand Preceptor Zhao, insisted that the urgent matter was to choose a Grand Tutor.
The aristocratic faction worried Prince Rui’s regency would destabilize the government, while the Wu Family’s disciples withheld their opinions.
Whenever Wu Ciyun was questioned, she played dumb, offering useless responses like, “Grand Preceptor Zhao makes a good point,” or “Minister Li’s words are reasonable”—pure filler.
Su Wuke listened to the factions argue for a while, then said, “In my humble opinion, with the court still unsettled and many offices vacant, we should reward the meritorious to uphold the virtue of the court.”
“I second that!”
Han Shangshu, once a disciple of Wu Nanshan and now Minister of Revenue, immediately spoke up.
“Now that the court’s traitors are gone, the Wu Family’s past injustice should be thoroughly re-examined. Master Wu was innocent yet implicated and has now rendered great service—such merit deserves the highest reward.”
Prince Rui wasn’t so dense that he missed the trap Wu Ciyun had set for him.
He forced a smile and said, “Then what does Lord Han think is a suitable reward for Master Wu?”
Han Shangshu’s face was calm.
“Since ancient times, those who have done great service for the nation and the people have all been enfeoffed as generals or dukes.”
“So you mean I should grant Master Wu a noble title?”
Prince Rui looked at Wu Ciyun, who had remained silent.
“Sir Wu, is this what you wish?”
Hearing this, Wu Ciyun’s brow creased slightly, her voice trembling with fear.
“Such an honor, I truly dare not accept. Please, my lords, say no more.”
“I also believe it’s inappropriate!”
Grand Preceptor Zhao stepped forth with his jade scepter, full of righteous indignation.
Prince Rui was delighted and asked, “Grand Preceptor, what is your opinion?”
“Though young, Master Wu has toiled hard and achieved much. He is a pillar of the state.”
Grand Preceptor Zhao paused, then said slowly, “I petition to grant Master Wu the title of Duke of Supporting the Nation, First Rank, so that he may assist Your Highness in managing state affairs.”
“Grand Preceptor, you flatter me too much. How could I possibly bear such a responsibility?”
Wu Ciyun offered a few false words of modesty, then raised her eyes to look at Prince Rui, smiling faintly.
“I wonder, Your Highness, what do you think?”
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