Chapter 491: The Pure-Clad Dark Heir 41

“You… you two have fused?” Tang Wan asked, even though she already knew the answer, widening her eyes in feigned surprise.

“Yes, lady,” Jiang Yuantong replied, unable to resist leaning down to peck her lips.

Tang Wan’s lips curved slightly, but she quickly put on a stern expression.
“So you deliberately scared me too?”

“How else would I know the lady has me in her heart?” Jiang Yuantong pulled her into his arms.

Tang Wan rolled her eyes at him, but the next moment, she pressed lightly against his chest and said in a low voice, “It’s enough that you’re fine.”

Now that his soul had returned completely, he would no longer devour wandering ghosts.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m fine,” Jiang Yuantong said softly, tightening his embrace.

At the same time, the strange phenomenon from the previous afternoon had already drawn widespread attention to Prince Lin’s Mansion—including from the emperor.

After asking Zhang Tianshi to keep Jiang Yuantong’s condition confidential, King Lao Lin personally went to the palace to report the situation.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, a ghost broke into Prince Lin’s Mansion yesterday and nearly harmed my grandson and granddaughter-in-law. Fortunately, Zhang Tianshi happened to pass by and subdued it. Otherwise, I fear the entire household would have perished that night!”

As he spoke, a trace of lingering fear showed on his face—this time, it was not an act.

The emperor was visibly surprised.
“So that explains the black mist above your residence.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. That was the result of Zhang Tianshi battling the evil spirit,” King Lao Lin replied.

Seeing his shaken state, the emperor reassured him,
“Since the matter has been resolved, you need not worry further.”

King Lao Lin nodded repeatedly.

Thus, the strange disturbance over the Lin residence was officially explained.

…

When Tang Li heard that Tang Wan had nearly been killed by a ghost, she could not help but feel a trace of regret.

If only Tang Wan had truly died.

What a pity—she had escaped.

At that moment, her maid rushed in with an excited expression.
“Miss! You’ve been granted the title of the prince’s consort!”

“What did you say?” Tang Li stood up abruptly, her face filled with disbelief and joy.

When she had previously met the prince’s mother, Consort Li, she had been disliked for her overly striking beauty. Consort Li feared she would distract the prince, so she had not favored her.

Tang Li had assumed entering the Prince’s Mansion would be difficult.

But unexpectedly, things had turned in her favor.

Although she was only a secondary consort for now, with her beauty and the prince’s affection, once he ascended the throne, becoming a favored consort—or even more—would only be a matter of time.

…

Tang Wan also soon learned of Tang Li’s promotion.

In the original storyline, Zhou Shixi and Tang Li had long been involved with each other. However, because Tang Li was born of a concubine, she could not become the principal wife, nor even a formal consort at first. Eventually, she entered the Prince’s Mansion in a lower position.

After entering, she relied on her exceptional beauty and the seductive techniques taught by her mother, Yue Niang, to win the prince’s favor completely.

Though many women attempted to scheme against her, Tang Li—clever and calculating, with the added advantage of protagonist-like fortune—turned every plot against her enemies, leaving them in miserable ends.

A year later, the emperor would pass away, and Zhou Shixi would ascend the throne.

 

 

 

Chapter 492: The Pure-Clad Dark Heir 42

After Zhou Shixi ascended the throne, he had once intended to make Tang Li empress—but was firmly opposed by the court.

Then everything spiraled.

After the death of King Lin, Jiang Yuantong in the original plot lost control and became a ghost king, slaughtering countless people in the capital.

Zhou Shixi and Tang Li fled under heavy protection.

The empress was killed—by Tang Li herself—and the blame was pinned on Jiang Yuantong.

Later, in the newly established capital, Tang Li rose step by step under Zhou Shixi’s favor, eventually becoming the most beloved woman in the empire.

And now—

her promotion to the Crown Prince’s noble consort was simply the beginning of that rise.

---

Recalling all this, Tang Wan curled her lips in mild disinterest.

At its core, this was just the story of a scheming beauty clawing her way to the top—starting from undermining her own sister, stepping over countless rivals, and finally becoming empress.

She had no intention of interfering.

As long as Tang Li stayed in her lane, Tang Wan wouldn’t bother with her.

But if Tang Li came looking for trouble—

then she wouldn’t be easy to bully either.

---

Because of the earlier Yin energy invasion, Tang Wan was now treated like royalty in Prince Lin’s mansion.

Every day brought nourishing soups, tonics, and endless care.

And Jiang Yuantong? He practically hovered around her constantly.

---

One month later—

Tang Wan’s cheeks had visibly filled out.

When Jiang Yuantong came again with food, she crossed her arms and said firmly:

“I’m not eating! Look what you’ve done to me these days!”

Jiang Yuantong immediately smiled, narrowing his eyes.

He pulled her gently into his arms and said in a serious tone:

“Not heavy at all. I’ve checked—same as yesterday.”

Tang Wan shot him a glare.

“You say that every day! But compared to a month ago, I’ve definitely gained weight!”

“Where? You’re clearly still thin,” he replied confidently.

Then he reached out to pinch her cheek—

…and accidentally grabbed a full pinch of softness.

A brief, awkward pause.

But Jiang Yuantong recovered instantly, loosening his grip and pretending nothing happened.

“See? Still the same. You’re imagining things. Come, try this roast duck—it’s delicious.”

He quickly wrapped a piece and held it to her lips.

Tang Wan hesitated.

“…I’m really not fat?”

“Absolutely not,” he said with complete conviction.

“Alright then.”

She brightened and opened her mouth to take the bite.

“…Mm. It is delicious.”

---

At that moment, Little Cutie chimed in bluntly:

“Host, he’s lying. You’ve gained about 20 pounds. Your old clothes don’t even fit anymore. Do you seriously not realize this?”

Tang Wan choked instantly.

“Ahem—!”

Jiang Yuantong hurriedly handed her tea.

“Lady, drink slowly.”

She took a sip, finally swallowing properly—

then snapped internally:

“Did anyone ask you to say that? Only you can calculate numbers? Only you can speak facts? Why don’t you just ascend to the heavens at this rate?!”

Honestly.

Tongtong just didn’t see her as fat.

And this system had to come ruin the moment?

Did it not understand that sometimes—

truth is optional.

“You… you two have fused?” Tang Wan asked, widening her eyes as if shocked—though she already suspected the truth.

“Yes, my lady,” replied Jiang Yuantong, unable to resist pecking her lips.

Tang Wan narrowed her eyes slightly.

“So you also deliberately scared me?”

Jiang Yuantong smiled, pulling her into his arms.

“If I didn’t… how would I know the lady truly had me in her heart?”

Tang Wan shot him a look—but the next moment, she leaned against his chest, her voice soft.

“…It’s good that you’re fine.”

Now that his soul had fully returned, he would no longer devour wandering spirits… no longer walk that dangerous path.

“Don’t worry,” Jiang Yuantong murmured, tightening his embrace. “I’m here.”

---

The strange events at Prince Lin’s mansion quickly spread through the capital.

Even the emperor took notice.

After arranging for Zhang Tianshi to keep the truth hidden, Old King Lin personally went to the palace to report.

“Your Majesty,” he said solemnly, “a ghost invaded my residence yesterday and nearly harmed my grandson and his wife. Fortunately, Tianshi Zhang happened to pass by and subdued it. Otherwise… the Lin family would have suffered a great calamity.”

His lingering fear was no act.

The emperor nodded, surprised.

“No wonder there was such a strange black fog above your residence.”

“Yes, Your Majesty—that was the result of Tianshi Zhang battling the ghost,” Old King Lin confirmed.

“Since the matter has been resolved, you need not worry further,” the emperor said.

And just like that—

the terrifying truth was neatly covered up.

---

Meanwhile, when Tang Li heard that Tang Wan had almost died at the hands of a ghost, she felt only regret.

What a pity… if only she had actually died.

But before she could dwell on it—

a maid rushed in, face bright with excitement.

“Miss! You’ve been granted entry into the Eastern Palace—you’re to become the Crown Prince’s consort!”

“What did you say?!” Tang Li stood up abruptly, eyes shining.

She had once met the Crown Prince’s mother, who disliked her beauty, fearing it would distract her son. Tang Li had thought her chances were slim.

And yet—

it had happened.

Though only as a concubine for now, Tang Li was confident.

With her looks… with the favor she already held…

Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne—

her rise would be inevitable.

---

Tang Wan soon heard the news as well.

In the original storyline, Zhou Shixi and Tang Li had long been entangled. But because of her status as a concubine-born daughter, Tang Li could not become the principal consort.

So she entered the Eastern Palace as a favored concubine instead.

Once inside, she relied on her beauty—and the seductive skills taught by her mother—to secure the Crown Prince’s devotion.

Many women tried to bring her down.

All failed.

Protected by both cunning and the “protagonist’s halo,” Tang Li crushed every rival.

And—

within a year—

the emperor would die.

Zhou Shixi would ascend the throne.

And Tang Li’s rise… would only just begin.