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

The virtuous concubine slowly returned to the bedroom. She opened her red lips and asked the maid to serve her fragrant tea. She picked up the teacup and took a sip. The warm tea warmed her heart and slowly calmed her down.

The maidservant standing by her side, with concern in her eyes, whispered: "Your Majesty, you look worried, but what did Concubine Yi say to you?"

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian smiled slightly, shook her head gently and said, "It's nothing, everyone please leave and let me be alone for some time." After that, she waved her hand, signaling everyone to leave. The hall was silent, with only the occasional sound of wind coming from outside the window.

The words "join forces?" from Consort Yi echoed repeatedly in her mind, and ripples of emotion could not help but arise in her heart. "Join forces? Is she really crazy? The position of crown prince has been decided, how dare she have such thoughts?" Consort Xian muttered to herself, her brows furrowed. She was restless, her fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the teacup, struggling in her heart, not knowing whether she should tell the Weiyang Palace about this and expose Consort Yi's ambition?

But every time this thought flashed through her mind, she couldn't help but ask herself: "I also have a prince. Don't I also long to be the mother of the country and become the supreme empress dowager one day? Within these palace walls, how many people can truly be free of desires?" She stood up, walked to the window, and let the breeze from outside the window blow in, blowing away the loose hair on her forehead, and also seemed to ruffle the spring water in her heart.

The day before going to the palace, Zheng Xiyan came to Yuhua Palace.

Inside Yuhua Palace, Zhang Mengying's complexion was much better than in the previous few days, and her face looked much more rosy.

Zheng Xiyan sat beside her bed and gently said, "Tomorrow the royal palace will leave for the temporary palace. Zi Rui and Zi Luo will stay to take care of you. You must take care of yourself."

Zhang Mengying nodded in agreement, her eyes full of gratitude: "Don't worry, Queen, I will take good care of myself."

Talking about the upcoming autumn hunt, Zheng Xiyan frowned slightly, revealing some worry: "This autumn hunt, Concubine Xian, Xu Zhaorong and Li Jieyu were unable to accompany us, and I always feel uneasy. If they stay in the palace, I'm afraid..."

Zhang Mengying saw this and quickly held her hand, comforting her: "Your Highness, don't worry too much. The Queen Mother is here to protect me. I will be careful."

After leaving Yuhua Palace, Zheng Xiyan strolled along the palace road with a myriad of thoughts in her mind.

Seeing her solemn expression, Biluo asked softly, "Are you still worried about Concubine Yi?"

Zheng Xiyan sighed softly: "Yes, during this autumn hunting trip, the one I am most worried about is her. I really can't feel at ease if Concubine Xian and others stay in the palace."

Biluo quickly comforted her: "Your Majesty, don't worry. With Zirui and Ziluo here, and the Queen Mother here to take charge, they will not dare to act recklessly."

Zheng Xiyan forced a smile upon hearing this, but the worry in her eyes remained: "I hope so."

The next morning, the sky was just beginning to light up, and the palace gates were majestic. The concubines in the palaces were dressed in gorgeous clothes, with pearls and jade on their heads, like flowers competing for splendor in spring. However, Zhang Mengxi was the only one missing, as she was bedridden and did not go.

Xian Fei, Xu Zhaorong, Li Jieyu, and several concubines of lower status stood at one side of the palace gate, with different expressions, all unable to hide their displeasure. Their eyes swept over the concubines who were about to accompany them from time to time, with both resentment and deep jealousy in their eyes, and even worse, a barely perceptible hatred curled up at the corners of their mouths.

Zheng Xiyan arrived in the phoenix robe of the queen. She walked slowly in front of everyone, with a tone of majesty and kindness: "The queen mother is devoted to Buddhism, Concubine Yi is seriously ill, Concubine Xian and Xu Zhaorong are of high status, so I will temporarily entrust the affairs of the harem to you two."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian and Xu Zhaorong hurriedly bowed and said in unison: "Your Highness will obey your order."

Zheng Xiyan's eyes were deep, and she added a few words of warning: "I hope that the harem will be peaceful as usual when I leave, especially Yuhua Palace. Concubine Yi needs to rest during her illness. Please do not disturb her unless necessary."

"We will definitely keep the Queen's teachings in mind." The concubines said in unison, with awe and reluctance on their faces.

Xiao Xuanchen had already boarded the carriage, and Biluo gently reminded him, "My queen, it's getting late."

Zheng Xiyan nodded slightly with a complicated look in her eyes, and finally walked slowly forward and got in the same car with Xiao Xuanchen.

The carriage started slowly, and the wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a steady sound. Inside the carriage, Zheng Xiyan couldn't help but speak: "Your Majesty, there is something I don't understand."

Xiao Xuanchen tilted his head, his eyes gentle but with a hint of amusement: "Oh? What is the Queen wondering about?"

"Why didn't Your Majesty allow Concubine Xian, Xu Zhaorong and Li Jieyu to accompany him?" Zheng Xiyan asked directly, but she already knew the answer in her heart.

Xiao Xuanchen chuckled, with a hint of coldness on his lips: "Time is merciless. I see that they have aged a lot in the past few years, and I have no interest in them anymore. It is better to bring a few young and beautiful concubines."

Zheng Xiyan felt mixed emotions when she heard this, but she pretended to be calm. She had guessed this answer beforehand, but seeing his face now was really disgusting. "I understand."

Xiao Xuanchen seemed to see through her thoughts. He gently took her hand and said softly, "How can they compare with my Yan'er? In my heart, you are always as beautiful as when I first met you. My Yan'er is still as beautiful as ever."

Zheng Xiyan felt sick inside, but she had to put on a forced smile, "I am no longer what I used to be. I am indeed old. I am not as good as Concubine Yi and other concubines who have just entered the palace and are in their prime. Your Majesty will dislike me one day."

"No!" Xiao Xuanchen shook his head firmly, gently stroking her cheek with his hand, his eyes full of doting, "You are my first wife, how could I dislike you?"

Zheng Xiyan didn't want to stay with him for a moment, and said with a smile: "I hope Your Majesty will not forget what I said today. I still want to grow old with Your Majesty."

Xiao Xuanchen gently embraced her in his arms and said with a smile: "You and I will naturally grow old together. We will be married and love each other without doubt. You and I. I will keep my promise and spend the rest of my life with you."

Zheng Xiyan snuggled in his arms, listening to his gentle words, but she smiled coldly in her heart. Maybe there was some truth in his words, but she didn't want to believe it. She sighed softly and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to spend the rest of my life with you."

As the carriage gradually moved away from the palace, Zheng Xiyan looked through the half-open window, at the scenery passing quickly outside the window, with a myriad of thoughts in her mind.

She still snuggled gently in Xiao Xuanchen's arms, feeling the rare tranquility at the moment.

Xiao Xuanchen smiled and said, "I really want to go out more often. This palace is really boring."

Zheng Xiyan smiled faintly, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. How can the Son of Heaven leave the palace so easily?"

"Sometimes, I really don't want to be the emperor. Am I not trapped in this palace?"