TFWYH – Chapter 209 The Story of Consort Li

“If you really want to reward me, then let me sleep with you!” Tang Wan declared righteously — making it very clear that kisses no longer satisfied her.

“In your dreams!” Ling the Beautiful curled his lips into a smile and turned away.

Tang Wan glared resentfully at his back, fuming inside.

Soon after, Ling Yu left for Qingshan Academy together with Ling Chen.

Not long after they went out, Tang Wan also headed to the Su residence.

The entire Su family was on edge. Even Su Yangyu had taken leave from the academy and stayed home.

When Tang Wan arrived, she was greeted with great enthusiasm and promptly surrounded as the whole family escorted her to Su Qing’s courtyard.

Su Qing sat at her dressing table, staring nervously at the reflection in the bronze mirror — her face still wrapped in bandages, hands gripping her skirt so tightly the fabric was wrinkled.

Tang Wan, however, was perfectly calm. She had changed Su Qing’s medicine several times and knew exactly how well her recovery was progressing.

She carefully unwrapped the bandages and then asked someone to bring water for Su Qing to wash her face.

After washing, Su Qing slowly turned to look into the mirror.

The hideous scar that had marred her face was gone — replaced by smooth, fair skin.

Su Qing trembled as she touched her face, tears spilling uncontrollably down her cheeks.

“It’s really healed! Qing’er, you’re all better!” Madam Su cried, overwhelmed with joy.

Su Yuan burst into laughter. “Sister, you’ve recovered!”

Su Wanting rushed to Su Qing’s side, her eyes shining with admiration just like before. “Auntie, you’re so beautiful!”

Su Yangyu added sincerely, “Congratulations on regaining your looks, Aunt!”

“Good… so good!” Su Qing’s voice quivered as she stared unblinkingly at the mirror, afraid it would all vanish if she looked away.

After a long moment, she finally composed herself, raised her head toward Tang Wan, and said softly, “Wan-niang, it’s all thanks to you. As I promised — if I recovered, I would take you as my goddaughter.”

Tang Wan: …

Su Yuan quickly chimed in, “Wan-niang, what are you waiting for? Hurry and greet her.”

Tang Wan remembered her beautiful husband’s words and obediently said, “Godmother!”

“Good! Good child!” Su Qing looked at her affectionately, taking her hand. “I am Consort Li, favored consort of His Majesty. Wan-niang, once I return to the palace, I will do my best to have you granted the title of County Mistress.”

Tang Wan blinked in surprise — not because of Su Qing’s identity (her beautiful husband had already told her that), but because of what she had just promised.

In her understanding, a County Mistress was a noble title equivalent to the daughter of a prince!

How could she possibly accept something like that?

But Su Qing misunderstood her silence, assuming she was frightened after learning her true status.

Su Qing’s smile grew gentler. “Did I scare you?”

“Not really!” Tang Wan nodded, then asked curiously, “Since Godmother is Consort Li, why are you living outside the palace?”

Her beautiful husband hadn’t told her about this — probably because he didn’t know either — and Tang Wan was very curious.

Had anyone else asked that question, Su Qing would have flown into a rage.

But this was Tang Wan.

Since she had accepted her as a goddaughter, there were things she could share.

“All thanks to that wretched Empress…”

Consort Li had been stunningly beautiful in her youth. During one of the emperor’s secret excursions, he had seen her and brought her back to the palace.

At first, Consort Li had been unwilling, but the emperor treated her exceptionally well — showering her with affection.

It was only later that she discovered the truth: the emperor favored her because she closely resembled his late empress.

The current empress, being the emperor’s second wife, naturally viewed this “substitute” with jealousy and fear.

She bribed servants to drug Consort Li, rendering her infertile and cutting off her future prospects.

When Consort Li found out, she punished that servant harshly.

But the damage was done — her health suffered, and bearing children became nearly impossible.

Fortunately, the wealthy Su family spared no expense hiring physicians to nurse her back to health, and the emperor’s favor toward her never waned.