After killing four concubines, the queen was sentenced to death and reborn

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have failed in my duty and I am willing to accept the punishment." Lu Ran immediately knelt on the ground and pleaded guilty.

Zheng Xiyan didn't want to make a big deal out of this, so she whispered back, "Your Majesty! I'm fine, the guards are doing their best. In my opinion, we should just..."

Xiao Xuanchen didn't want to listen to her pleading for them, and said coldly: "Go back and each receive twenty military sticks."

"Yes!"

Lu Ran looked up at Zheng Xiyan, shook his head gently at her, his eyes firm.

Zheng Xiyan had no choice but to listen to him. If she continued to beg for mercy, the fact that he had just saved her would spread quickly, which would be detrimental to her reputation.

Xiao Xuanchen carried Zheng Xiyan onto the horse, then got on the horse, and the two of them rode together. He said to everyone, "Return to the palace."

"Yes!"

Helian Cheng and Princess Xuanhua were not in a hurry to catch up with them. Instead, they followed them leisurely.

The two of them were also riding on the same horse, with Princess Xuanhua nestled in his arms. Helian Cheng asked in a low voice, "What happened just now?"

"The Empress's horse was frightened, and Lu Ran saved her, and as a result he injured his arm." Princess Xuanhua looked straight ahead and replied in a low voice.

"How is your injury?" Helian Chen frowned slightly and asked in a low voice.

"It shouldn't be that serious. He used his body as a cushion, and the imperial sister-in-law fell off her horse onto his back, so she wasn't hurt." Princess Xuanhua still felt a little scared when she thought of the scene just now. If Lu Ran had not been able to save the imperial sister-in-law in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Helian Cheng also knew the seriousness of the matter. Once it got out, the Queen's reputation would be damaged and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would also be implicated. This matter was of great importance and had to be kept secret.

"My third and fifth brothers also went there just now. They had bad intentions. Fortunately, they didn't see that scene. Those guards were all Lu Ran's men, so this matter won't get out."

Helian Cheng said: "The Queen's reputation cannot be damaged. This is a serious matter. The fewer people who know about it, the better."

"Yes."

"However, I feel that there is something strange between Your Majesty and the Queen, but I can't tell what's strange about it?" Helian Cheng whispered.

"What's strange?" asked Princess Xuanhua.

"I don't know, but I just feel it's weird. The relationship between your majesty and the queen seems to be close yet distant. It's very strange, and the queen treats your majesty the same way."

"The Empress is impeccable as the Empress Dowager and has always had a good reputation. However, when it came to appointing a crown prince, His Majesty kept declining. I'm afraid there is a rift between the two of them." Although Helian Chen didn't know the Empress, he knew His Majesty well.

His Majesty respects the Empress, but does not love her much. In the past, the Empress was deeply loved by His Majesty, and no one in the harem could compare to her. But now, even a little dancer can be favored. It seems that the Empress's status in His Majesty's heart has plummeted.

"After all, it was my royal brother who was wrong in this matter. Ji'er is the eldest son, and the enthronement of the crown prince is in accordance with the ancestral etiquette. I don't know what my royal brother was thinking. He had to make such a fuss. My sister-in-law must be very sad and must be disappointed in my royal brother." Princess Xuanhua was ignorant of the ways of the world and could not understand the calculations and conspiracies behind this.

"These days, my royal brother has a new favorite and doesn't visit my royal sister-in-law as often as before. It's only been a short time, and things have changed. You men are all heartless." Princess Xuanhua was dissatisfied with her royal brother and even scolded Helian Chen.

"I am very sad when Princess says this. Your Majesty is Your Majesty and I am my subject. In my life, I will only protect you, Princess." Helian Cheng pinched her lower back and said ambiguously.

Princess Xuanhua blushed and whispered, "There are so many people here, you...you should behave yourself."

"Are you going to talk to me anymore?" Helian Cheng pinched her waist and threatened.

"No more talking, no more talking, let go." Princess Xuanhua pinched the back of his hand.

The two people in front were riding the same horse, which made Zheng Xiyan feel uncomfortable all over. The two were so close that she could even hear each other's breathing.

But she didn't want to get too close to him, so she sat up straight. After all, there were so many people around, and she couldn't be impolite.

Xiao Xuanchen held her hands and whispered softly in her ear: "If you are tired, just lean on my arms for a while."

Zheng Xiyan said: "No need, I am not tired."

"Don't be so stubborn. I'm here and I won't let you fall off your horse." Xiao Xuanchen said in a deep voice.

Zheng Xiyan smiled, "Of course I believe Your Majesty, but as the queen, my every move is being watched by others, and I cannot lose my manners outside."

Xiao Xuanchen heard this and said, "Okay!"

When they arrived at the palace, the concubines and ministers were all there to welcome them.

When Murong Yue saw them riding on the same horse, she felt so angry that her teeth were itching. She cursed in her heart, "What a vixen!"

Xiao Xuanchen jumped off his horse, then carried Zheng Xiyan off the horse, held her hand, and said, "Let's go!"

"Ah."

Murong Yue glared at her fiercely, and she had the urge to rush up and slap her in the face.

Die Yun had been paying attention to her expression. She gently tugged at the corner of her clothes and said softly, "My queen, please don't be angry. His Majesty is still here."

Murong Yue had no choice but to suppress the anger in her heart.

That night, Xiao Xuanchen stayed in Chaoyun Palace and discussed with her, "It has been half a month since I came to the palace. It's time to return to the palace."

Zheng Xiyan replied nonchalantly, "Your Majesty, please make the decision."

"Do you like the palace?" Xiao Xuanchen suddenly looked up and looked at her seriously.

Zheng Xiyan smiled faintly, "Of course I like it."

"Because the temporary palace doesn't have as many rules as the imperial palace, which constrains you to abide by those rules all the time?" Xiao Xuanchen chuckled. He also liked the temporary palace. Compared to the depressing imperial palace, this place was simply a paradise.

Zheng Xiyan smiled and said, "Your Majesty thinks so too?"

"Yes! I have liked the palace since I was young, and I look forward to this time every year the most. My father brings us to the palace for hunting, and sometimes we stay here for half a year." But he also knew why his father always came to the palace. Every time he came to the palace, his father was reluctant to go back and spent the whole day having fun. Batches of dancers were sent to the palace, and the best Chenlian wine was also brought to the palace.

The emperor's father would spend the whole day having fun with his concubines and court officials. Every time at that time, the queen mother would do her best to advise and remonstrate with him, but that would always anger the emperor. His father became more and more disliked of the queen mother, and also of him, so he wanted to change the crown prince, depose him, and depose the queen mother.

Thinking of this, Xiao Xuanchen felt complicated. Now, he seemed to understand his father.

Zheng Xiyan had heard before that the late emperor was addicted to alcohol and sex in his later years and did many ridiculous things in this palace.

"There are few rules here, but Your Majesty and I are the emperor and empress, and there are certain rules that we must abide by no matter where we go." Zheng Xiyan smiled lightly, but her expression was very serious, with an air of majesty that rules were more important than anything else.