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

Inside the Purple Palace, sunlight had quietly climbed up to the window frames, casting mottled golden rays all over the ground.

Xiao Xuanchen slowly opened his eyes. At first, his deep eyes were still a bit confused and tired, as if he had just escaped from an endless nightmare. He frowned slightly, feeling the powerlessness coming from his body.

Zheng Xiyan stood quietly beside the bed. Seeing Xiao Xuanchen wake up, a trace of joy flashed in her eyes. She hurried forward and gently helped him sit up. She said in a gentle voice: "Your Majesty, you are finally awake. I missed you very much."

"How long... have I slept?" Xiao Xuanchen's voice was a little hoarse, with a hint of disbelief.

"Your Majesty, it's already noon. You really slept long enough." Zheng Xiyan said softly. She deliberately put on a stern face and pretended to be angry: "Your Majesty, how can you be so careless about your health? Although state affairs are important, your Majesty's body is worth a lot of money, so you need to take better care of it."

Hearing this, Xiao Xuanchen's face flashed with a trace of shame, "The Queen is right, I have indeed been negligent these days, I will pay attention in the future." He took Zheng Xiyan's hand, his eyes full of tenderness and apology, "Queen, please don't be angry, okay?"

Zheng Xiyan's lips curled up slightly, and the reproach had already turned into a gentle smile, "How could I really be angry with Your Majesty? I just hope that Your Majesty can take good care of yourself."

Speaking of Consort Yi, Xiao Xuanchen looked around but did not see her. He could not help but ask, "Where is Consort Yi? I remember she did not leave."

Zheng Xiyan explained, "My mother came today and saw that Your Majesty was in a deep sleep, so she asked me to stay and look after him. I thought that Concubine Yi was exhausted from serving you last night, so I asked her to go back to the palace and rest first."

These words made Xiao Xuanchen feel guilty. He looked at Zheng Xiyan. He had neglected her again and again these days. Now seeing her being so considerate, he felt even more guilty.

"The Queen is so virtuous, I am very pleased." He said softly, his eyes full of sincerity.

Zheng Xiyan smiled slightly and said modestly: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. What I have done is my duty."

She then ordered, "Your Majesty must be hungry. I have ordered people to prepare cordyceps and duck soup. It is the most nutritious soup. Please enjoy it, Your Majesty."

Biluo came in with a jade bowl in hand. The soup was clear and fragrant. Zheng Xiyan took it, picked up the golden spoon herself, and carefully fed it to Xiao Xuanchen.

After lunch, Doctor Yuan was summoned to the Purple Palace again to check Xiao Xuanchen's pulse. He knelt in front of the two and solemnly warned them, "Your Majesty is not feeling well. You need to rest more and do not overwork at night."

Xiao Xuanchen nodded, his voice steady and powerful: "I've got it in mind, you can leave now."

"Yes, I'll take my leave." Doctor Yuan bowed and left.

Soon, the Queen Mother arrived at the Purple Palace. The two stood up from their seats almost at the same moment, walking in unison, extremely respectful. "Your son, Xiao Xuanchen, pays respects to the Queen Mother. May the Queen Mother be blessed with good health."

The Queen Mother walked into the palace with a solemn expression, confusion and anger condensed between her brows. Her eyes were like torches, scanning the surroundings, and finally fell on Queen Zheng Xiyan. She slowly spoke with unquestionable majesty in her voice: "Queen, the Emperor has awakened, and you are tired. It's time to go back to Weiyang Palace to rest."

Zheng Xiyan smiled gently upon hearing this. She lightly moved her lotus steps, walked to the Queen Mother, bowed, and said in a soft but firm voice: "Your Majesty, what you said is very true. I will take my leave now."

After the Queen disappeared from the palace gate, the Queen Mother became even angrier. She strode towards the couch and sat down heavily. Her momentum seemed to freeze the air around her. She waved her hand and said in a cold voice, "Everyone, leave. I want to talk to the Emperor alone."

"Yes!" The attendants in the hall retreated in response, and the huge Zichen Hall instantly became empty and silent, with only the mother and son standing opposite each other.

Xiao Xuanchen walked forward slowly and knelt in front of the Queen Mother, with a solemn expression: "I know I was wrong, please forgive me, Mother."

The Queen Mother looked at the son who had devoted all his efforts to her, and she felt mixed emotions in her heart, and was angry at him for not fighting back. "You are really getting more and more presumptuous. You favor Concubine Yi, and you want to do whatever you want. I have indulged you as much as possible, but what have you done? You are the ruler of a country, you are the emperor! Do you really want to follow in your father's footsteps?"

Xiao Xuanchen lowered his head, his hair falling down in front of his forehead, hiding the emotions in his eyes. He only whispered, "I dare not."

The Queen Mother sighed and said in a slightly slower tone: "Concubine Yi and Concubine Yi, these two are very scheming and definitely not good people. If you continue to be stubborn, I'm afraid..."

"Mother!" Xiao Xuanchen raised his head, a trace of determination flashed in his eyes, "This matter has nothing to do with them. It is the fault of this son alone."

Seeing this, the Queen Mother became even angrier: "Are you still defending them?"

Xiao Xuanchen explained: "Mother, this matter really has nothing to do with them, why do you keep blaming them?"

"So what the emperor means is that they are not at fault, but you, the emperor, can't resist their temptation?"

"That's not what I meant." Xiao Xuanchen looked guilty.

"What do you mean?" demanded the Queen Mother.

Xiao Xuanchen looked depressed and said, "Please rest assured, mother. I will never make this mistake again."

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother laughed out of anger, and finally said only one sentence: "You take care of yourself!" After that, she stood up suddenly, waved her sleeves, brought up a gust of wind, and turned and left.

"Your son respectfully sends you off, mother."