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

Xiao Chengji nodded gently, took the teacup, and took a sip. The warm tea slid down his throat, bringing a hint of warmth, but it was difficult to dispel the fatigue and worries in his heart. He put down the teacup, his eyes turned slightly, as if he remembered something, and asked lightly: "Where is A Yiren? Why don't I see him today?"

Upon hearing this, the eunuch in front of the emperor hurriedly bowed and reported: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Cheng may be in Weiyang Palace right now."

Hearing this, Xiao Chengji snorted, "Humph, he is diligent and goes to Weiyang Palace every day. Well, after the rain stops, I will go to Weiyang Palace and see what new tricks he has learned recently."

"Yes! I obey your command."

He looked out the window again. The rain seemed to have slowed down a bit, but the sky was still gloomy, just like his mood at the moment, complicated and indescribable. In this Purple Palace, he was not only an emperor above all others, but also a young man who longed for family affection and warmth. The contradiction and struggle between the two made him difficult on this long road to becoming an emperor.

Soon after, the drizzle stopped, and the sky gradually blossomed with the freshness and tranquility after the rain. Xiao Chengji stood in the corridor, his eyes penetrating the sparse mist and looking into the distance. After a moment, he whispered, "Go to Weiyang Palace."

"Yes! Your Majesty." The eunuchs attending him responded and prepared the imperial sedan chair busily and orderly.

Xiao Chengji slowly stepped into the magnificently decorated imperial carriage. As the wheels slowly turned, he closed his eyes to rest, but a ripple involuntarily arose in his heart.

In the Weiyang Palace, the fragrance of flowers and tea intertwined, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere. Xiao Shuyue and Xiao Chengyi surrounded Zheng Xiyan, telling jokes or making faces, making the Queen Mother Zheng Xiyan laugh repeatedly, with a gleam of love and doting in her eyes. The laughter was crisp and pleasant, like the most beautiful music in spring, penetrating every corner of the palace.

When Xiao Chengji stepped into the courtyard, the laughter and joy greeted him like a spring breeze. The corners of his mouth could not help but slightly raise, and his eyes revealed a hint of tenderness that was hard to detect. Seeing this, the eunuch in front of the emperor smiled and said at the right time: "Your Majesty, you see, His Royal Highness Prince Cheng and the Princess have made the Queen Mother so happy that even the haze after the rain has dissipated a lot!"

Xiao Chengji shook his head slightly and said with a smile: "They both knew how to please their mother since they were young. With her protection, they acted even more recklessly."

"Your Majesty, you are wrong. Don't you often indulge the two princes? This favor is known to everyone in our palace." The eunuch's words were a little teasing, but also full of warmth.

"Let's go. Don't let our mother wait anxiously." Xiao Chengji waved his hand lightly, and the imperial carriage continued to move forward until it stopped outside the main hall of Weiyang Palace.

The eunuch in front of the emperor cleared his throat and announced loudly: "His Majesty has arrived--" His voice was loud and echoed over the palace, startling a few resting birds, which flapped their wings and flew high.

Inside the palace, Xiao Chengyi and Xiao Shuyue heard the voice and instantly stopped smiling. They stood up subconsciously, with a hint of nervousness and uneasiness in their eyes. "The emperor is here," they said in unison, with a bit of awe in their voices.

Seeing this, Zheng Xiyan patted the backs of their hands gently and said with a smile: "Look at the two of you. You are usually fearless, but why are you like this when you hear that Ji'er is coming? Although he is strict, he is still your brother after all. Why are you so afraid?"

Xiao Shuyue curled her lips and muttered in dissatisfaction: "Mother, you know my brother's temper. Every time he sees me and my second brother, he always has a stern face. How dare we act unruly in front of him?"

Xiao Chengji walked slowly into the main hall with steady steps. His eyes passed through the layers of beaded curtains and finally landed gently on Zheng Xiyan. He bowed and saluted with a gentle and respectful tone: "Your son greets the Queen Mother. I wish the Queen Mother good health and happiness."

Zheng Xiyan sat in a high seat, with a kind face and a gentle light in her eyes. She gently raised her hand and spoke in a gentle voice like a spring breeze: "Ji'er, stop being so polite and come and sit down."

Xiao Chengji stood up as he was told, and inadvertently glanced at Xiao Shuyue and Xiao Chengyi standing on the side. Both of them lowered their heads slightly, with a bit of awe and uneasiness in their expressions, their eyes flickered, and they didn't dare to look him in the eye.

Although Xiao Chengyi and Xiao Chengji were born of the same mother, they did not look alike. However, Xiao Shuyue and Xiao Chengyi were indescribably similar, and her eyebrows revealed a gentle temperament similar to Zheng Xiyan. They looked at each other and tacitly bowed and greeted each other: "Greetings, my royal brother. May my royal brother be well."

Xiao Chengji slowly sat down beside Zheng Xiyan, his tone gentle but with unquestionable majesty: "Everyone, stand up. We are siblings. No need to be polite."

"Thank you, brother." Xiao Shuyue and Xiao Chengyi said in unison, with a hint of relief in their tone.

Xiao Chengji's eyes fell on Xiao Chengyi again, with a look of scrutiny in his eyes: "I have ordered you to come to the Purple Palace every day, why didn't I see you today?"

Xiao Chengyi showed an innocent look on his face and explained, "Brother, you really misunderstood me. I was originally planning to go to the Purple Palace, but I heard that my brother was busy with government affairs recently and worked day and night. I couldn't bear to disturb him, so I stayed in the upper study to review my lessons in order to live up to my brother's expectations."

"Do you believe what you said?" Xiao Chengji's lips curled up into a faint smile, but his eyes were as cold as frost, penetrating people's hearts.

Xiao Chengyi smiled helplessly, a hint of pleading flashed in his eyes, and he turned to Zheng Xiyan for help: "Royal brother, I have been very well behaved recently and have not made any mistakes. If you don't believe me, you can ask mother."

Seeing this, Zheng Xiyan chuckled, "Ji'er, you are too demanding on Yi'er. Playfulness is human nature, why do you have to be so strict?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengji frowned, and said with some displeasure: "Mother, you always favor them like this. As princes and princesses, how can you only know how to have fun and not make progress? If this continues, how can you take on the responsibility of the country?"

Xiao Shuyue heard this, a trace of dissatisfaction flashed in her eyes, she straightened her back and retorted: "Royal brother, we are naturally not comparable to you, who works hard for state affairs every day. But everyone has their own aspirations, we just want to live a comfortable and happy life, why not?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengji's face changed slightly, and anger emerged faintly: "Mother, listen to what she said? As the eldest princess of Daliang, how can you be so unmotivated and waste your mother's painstaking efforts!"

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn for a moment, Zheng Xiyan sighed softly, her eyes full of love and helplessness for her children. She knew very well that every child had his or her own way to go, whether it was Xiao Chengji's diligence or Xiao Shuyue and Xiao Chengyi's casualness, it was all due to their personalities and could not be forced.