TFWYH – Chapter 760 The Empress Makes Her Move

Tang Wan was no exception. However, this time she remained in a crouching position—after all, her skirt was long enough to hide it!

But then…

The moment she looked up and saw the so-called envoys from the Feng Kingdom, she was completely dumbfounded!

Murong Hong and Tang Tianyang also spotted Tang Wan immediately.

The former gave her a guilty smile, while the latter’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Tang Wan: …

What was going on?

Why had her father and second brother, who had vanished for so long, suddenly appeared as envoys of the Feng Kingdom?

“Rise, my ministers,” the emperor said from his lofty seat.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

The officials all took their seats.

Tang Wan remained utterly bewildered, clearly still unable to process what she was seeing.

Only after Ling Yu helped her sit down did she foolishly ask her beautiful husband,

“Husband… are those really my father and second brother?”

“They are.”

Ling Yu smiled and nodded.

But when his eyes landed on Ling Shang, the National Preceptor of the Feng Kingdom, the smile at the corner of his lips gradually faded.

Keeping his expression calm, he said softly,

“The Feng delegation includes more than just them. The National Preceptor is here as well.”

The National Preceptor?

Tang Wan frowned.

Reluctantly pulling her gaze away from her father and brother, she looked in the direction Ling Yu indicated.

At that exact moment, the National Preceptor looked back at her.

He raised an eyebrow, one hand casually spinning the jade flute hanging at his waist while the fingers of his other hand tapped rhythmically on the table.

That familiar gesture…

Tang Wan’s eyes slowly widened.

Then she abruptly sprang to her feet.

Doctor?!

“Wan-niang, what’s wrong?”

The voice of Su Qing rang out at just the right moment.

“Nothing…”

Tang Wan suppressed the shock and joy surging within her. Though she answered Su Qing, her eyes remained fixed upon the National Preceptor.

“I just…”

“You simply think the National Preceptor of the Feng Kingdom is handsome, don’t you?”

Ali Zhuo, the Third Prince of the Southern Barbarians, let out a chuckle, his eyes filled with contempt.

He certainly remembered Tang Wan.

“County Lady Wengnai, you are, after all, a county lady—and a married woman at that. Staring so openly at another man isn’t very appropriate, is it? Though our Southern Barbarians may be a small nation, we have no women as… bold as you.”

Tang Wan: ?

What nonsense was this?

Everyone else: …

The hall instantly fell silent as all eyes turned toward Tang Wan.

The Empress let out a cold laugh and immediately seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire.

“Prince Ali Zhuo jests. The noble ladies of our Celestial Empire are educated, refined, and value propriety and reputation above all. As for Wengnai… she comes from a humble rural background. Naturally, she differs from true noblewomen.”

Everyone: …

Those words were extraordinarily harsh.

She was practically calling Tang Wan a shameless woman to her face.

When such remarks came from the mother of the nation herself, what reputation could a woman possibly retain afterward?

Jiang Shi grew anxious and wanted to speak, but Huangfu Yi stopped her and gave her a look, signaling her to remain calm.

Jiang Shi was gentle, honest, and almost excessively kindhearted. Challenging the Empress would bring her nothing but trouble.

Besides, plenty of people would defend Tang Wan. There was no need for Jiang Shi to be one of them.

And indeed, he was right.

Su Qing was so furious that her nose nearly twisted out of shape.

She immediately leaped to Tang Wan’s defense.

“Empress Sister, are you questioning His Majesty’s judgment?”

The Empress frowned.

“When have I ever questioned His Majesty? Imperial Noble Consort, do not slander me.”

Su Qing sneered.

“Wengnai was personally granted the title of County Lady by His Majesty himself and given a fief of a thousand households. Looking throughout the history of our empire, how many women have ever received such an honor?”

“Was it not because His Majesty recognized her exceptional virtues and regarded her as a model for all women?”

“Yet from what I see, Elder Sister seems to harbor no small amount of dissatisfaction toward Wengnai.”

The Empress: …

That wretched woman!

To accuse her of dissatisfaction was practically the same as saying she opposed the emperor’s decisions!

The Empress was so angry that her liver ached.

She opened her mouth to explain, but before she could speak, Su Qing had already tugged on the emperor’s sleeve with a pitiful expression.

“Your Majesty, you and Elder Sister are husband and wife. Husband and wife ought to stand as one. Yet why is it that this humble concubine feels Elder Sister bears resentment toward so many of Your Majesty’s decisions?”