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

Another month passed, time passed slowly, and on a clear and cloudless day, the concubines were finally allowed to enter the palace. The twelve concubines entered the palace, each with their own thoughts.

Among them, Princess Lingyang was canonized as a second-rank Chongyuan because of her distinguished family background, ranking first among all the beautiful ladies.

Following closely behind were the legitimate daughters of the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Works, both of whom were conferred the title of third-rank imperial concubines. They were dignified, elegant, and of extraordinary bearing.

The three beauties of the fourth rank were all from the families of civil officials. They were talented in writing and gentle and charming.

There are also three Baolin of the sixth rank, who are descendants of military generals.

In addition, there was a fifth-rank talent and two seventh-rank imperial concubines.

The twelve beauties, each with their own merits, are dazzlingly beautiful.

Early in the morning, the beauties entered the palace. Several of them made an appointment to come to the Weiyang Palace to pay their respects to the Queen as a sign of respect.

At this time, in the Weiyang Palace, Xiao Chengji was accompanying Lu Lingyuan. These days, Lu Lingyuan was suffering from premature ejaculation. She became thinner and thinner, her face was as pale as paper, her eyes were dark, and she looked exhausted, which made people feel pity for her.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Liu Chongyuan, Concubine Yang, and Concubine Cheng wish to see you and pay their respects to Your Majesty." Qinglan stepped into the inner room and reported in a deep voice, with a barely perceptible hint of worry in his voice.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengji's brows flashed with impatience, and he said in a cold voice: "Tell them that the queen needs to rest, and let them go back to their own palaces for the time being." His voice was as cold as ice, revealing unquestionable majesty.

Hearing this, Lu Lingyuan forced a smile, her face became paler, but her eyes shone with tenderness. "Your Majesty, they came to pay their respects to me, and that was very thoughtful of them. I am fine, and I can see them." She gently held Xiao Chengji's arm, her voice was low, but every word was clear and firm.

Seeing this, Xiao Chengji's irritability eased a little, but he still couldn't hide the worry between his brows. He suppressed his displeasure and held Lu Lingyuan's hands tightly with both hands, his eyes full of heartache and reluctance. "Okay, you don't have to care about these. The concubines have already scheduled to pay their respects tomorrow. Is there any rule for them to come now?" His words revealed a domineering attitude that could not be violated.

Lu Lingyuan frowned slightly, and quickly comforted him softly: "Your Majesty..." Her voice was as gentle as water, as if it could soothe all the irritability and anxiety.

Qinglan turned and left the bedroom. When she came to the palace gate, Liu Chongyuan immediately came to greet her and asked in a gentle voice, "Miss Qinglan, does the queen want to summon us?"

"My dear ladies, His Majesty said that the new concubines will pay their respects tomorrow, so please go back to the palace first. The Queen has been suffering from severe morning sickness these days and is feeling very uncomfortable now. She really cannot see you, ladies. Please forgive me!" Qinglan explained patiently.

Liu Chongyuan's expression changed slightly, a barely perceptible emotion flashed across her face, and she said with all her might, "Is that so? Then I will go back with Concubine Cheng and Lady Cheng first."

"Your Majesty is in the Weiyang Palace?" Concubine Yang asked in surprise.

"Yes, the Empress has been feeling unwell these days, and His Majesty is worried about her and the unborn baby, so he often stays in Weiyang Palace to accompany her." Qinglan sneered in her heart. His Majesty's imperial carriage was right here, and she didn't believe that they couldn't see it. They said they came to pay their respects to the Empress, but they were actually coming for His Majesty.

"Your Majesty really values ​​the Queen." The smile on Concubine Yang's lips deepened, making people feel unhappy.

"What do you mean, Concubine? The Empress is your Majesty's legal wife and now she is pregnant. Your Majesty naturally values ​​the Empress." Qinglan's expression became serious. This Concubine Yang was really bold.

Liu Chongyuan cursed in her heart, what a fool, and hurriedly said: "Miss Qinglan misunderstood, Sister Yang did not mean that. Your Majesty and the Queen are in love and harmony, which is a blessing for our dynasty. This palace and the sisters are very happy for your Majesty and the Queen."

"Since Your Majesty is not feeling well, let's go back first." Concubine Cheng said with a smile.

"Goodbye, my ladies!" Qinglan bowed slightly and turned back.

Liu Chongyuan raised her eyebrows, a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes, and she said in a deep voice: "Two sisters, let's go back!"

"it is good!"

……

Inside the hall, the sunlight shone through the window onto Lu Lingyuan's slightly pale face, making her look even more fragile.

Lu Lingyuan leaned on the bed, her body lazy, like a pear blossom waiting to bloom in spring. Although her face was a little languid, the faint smile at the corner of her mouth was like a newly bloomed petal, revealing a bit of tenacity and gentleness. She whispered: "Your Majesty, I am fine. Your Majesty should return to the Purple Palace as soon as possible to handle government affairs. If the state affairs are delayed because of me, it will be my fault."

Hearing this, Xiao Chengji frowned slightly, his eyes full of concern and reluctance, and said softly: "You don't have to worry about these, I know what to do." After that, soft footsteps were heard outside the door, and then Yun'er walked in slowly with a bowl of steaming, ink-black medicinal soup in her hand. Her steps were cautious, for fear of disturbing the tranquility of the room.

The bitter smell of the medicine soup spread instantly. Lu Lingyuan frowned, and an indescribable pain and resistance flashed across her face.

"Give it to me." Seeing this, Xiao Chengji hurried forward and took the medicine bowl. He blew away the heat gently, his eyes were as gentle as water, and slowly handed the medicine bowl to Lu Lingyuan's lips, whispering: "Come, drink it while it's hot, so that you can recover soon."

However, Lu Lingyuan seemed to be frightened. She turned her head away abruptly, her cheeks slightly red, her eyes showing some embarrassment, and she resisted in a low voice: "Your Majesty, just leave it there for now. I will drink it later. It won't take a moment." She secretly calculated in her heart that she would delay it for a while if possible. After all, the taste of the medicine was really hard to accept.

Xiao Chengji's expression became serious, and his tone was full of unquestionable determination: "Be obedient, drink it while it's hot so that it can be effective. If you want to secretly pour it out after I leave, then there is no need. If you don't drink this medicine today, I will watch you here. When you drink this medicine, I will leave."

When Lu Lingyuan heard this, her eyes suddenly widened, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and then turned into guilt and panic. She hurriedly explained: "How could I... I have never done such a thing, why does Your Majesty misunderstand me like this..." After that, she lowered her head, not daring to look directly into Xiao Chengji's eyes. She clenched her hands tightly, and her fingertips turned slightly white.

Yun'er stood aside, her legs trembling slightly involuntarily, and she dared not breathe, for fear of accidentally angering the emperor.

Seeing this, Xiao Chengji felt an inexplicable sadness in his heart. He took a deep breath and soothed her again in a gentle voice: "Okay, don't delay any longer, drink this medicine."

Lu Lingyuan frowned, her face full of grievance and helplessness, and anyone who saw her would feel pity. However, Xiao Chengji did not give in, and directly put the medicine bowl to her lips, saying firmly: "Drink it."

Lu Lingyuan knew that there was no way to escape today, and it was better to suffer a short pain than a long one. She gritted her teeth, took the medicine bowl with both hands, and drank the bitter medicine in one breath. Her action was so decisive that even she was surprised.

Yun'er was watching in amazement, secretly amazed in her heart, her young lady had always been afraid of taking medicine, every time she had to be coaxed for a long time, but today she was so readily accepting, which was really rare.

"Ah..." After drinking the medicine, Lu Lingyuan frowned, her face looked even uglier, and her voice became hoarse due to the bitterness: "It's so bitter..."

At this moment, a piece of candied fruit was gently put into her mouth. The sweet taste instantly spread in her mouth, alleviating the bitterness of the medicine.

Lu Lingyuan looked up and saw Xiao Chengji gently wiping the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief. His movements were meticulous and his eyes were full of tenderness.

"Okay, have a good rest! I'll go back to the Zichen Palace to handle government affairs first, and come to accompany you in the evening." Xiao Chengji stroked her cheek gently and kissed her forehead, his tone full of tenderness and reluctance.

Lu Lingyuan held his hand, a complex look flashing in her eyes: "Your Majesty, the concubines will enter the palace today. Your Majesty, please don't always accompany me..."

Xiao Chengji didn't want to hear her continue. Before she finished speaking, he gently pulled his hand away, turned around and left with a firm and resolute step.

"Oh..." Lu Lingyuan's hands stopped in mid-air, her face full of surprise and disappointment.

Yun'er stepped forward, holding a cup of hot tea in her hand, and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, His Majesty will favor the concubines sooner or later when they enter the palace. Why do you always push His Majesty out? Aren't you afraid that His Majesty will really stop visiting you after a long time?"

Hearing this, Lu Lingyuan smiled faintly, her eyes revealing a kind of detachment and calmness: "I am really not afraid. In this palace, if you are worried about gains and losses and afraid to act because a man does not come to see you, that is the most terrifying thing."

"Besides, I am only fulfilling my duty as the queen. It is my duty to share the worries of His Majesty. If he really loves me deeply and is willing to stay with me forever, no matter how I refuse or how I persuade him, he will not leave easily."

"In the beginning, didn't he also make all kinds of excuses and refuse to set foot in Hanyue Palace? But after that, didn't he still summon Qingcai to sleep with him? However, after just a few days, his steps were involuntarily heading towards Hanyue Palace." The corners of Lu Lingyuan's mouth curled up slightly. In that smile, there was an imperceptible sarcasm and self-mockery, as if it was the most profound irony on love in this world.

She did have a place in Xiao Chengji's heart, and Lu Lingyuan had already known this, so there was no need to say more.

However, a man's heart is as broad as the sea, how much affection can it hold? She knew very well that in this long journey of life, his heart would eventually be shared with more women, and would never stay with her alone.

"Yun'er..." Lu Lingyuan suddenly spoke, with an unprecedented seriousness in her voice, her eyes fixed on the slightly confused face of the maid Yun'er beside her, "Have you ever thought about how long a man's loyalty to a woman can last?"

When Yun'er heard this, confusion and bewilderment were written all over her face. She lowered her head, twisted the corners of her clothes nervously with her hands, and was unable to utter a word for a long time.

"I've tried!" Lu Lingyuan sighed softly, with an imperceptible tremor in her voice. She looked out the window with empty eyes and whispered, "Five months, but only five months. His true love for me was only five months." An indescribable loneliness flashed in her eyes, but was immediately replaced by determination.

Fortunately, she was not deeply involved in this relationship. Five months was enough time for her to see everything clearly, and it was not too late.

From the day of their wedding to the time when he favored Qingcainv, a full five months, no more, no less, was exactly the witness of the disappearance of the pure feelings in her heart.

"I guess that after the beauties pay their respects tomorrow morning, he will summon them to sleep with him tomorrow night." A meaningful smile emerged on Lu Lingyuan's face, which showed both helplessness towards fate and indifference towards the future. "I just don't know who will be the first beauty?" Her eyes flashed with complex emotions, making it difficult to grasp and guess what she was thinking.

Yun'er stood there in a daze, her eyes fixed on Lu Lingyuan. Her eyes were filled with indescribable heartache and worry for her.

Outside the window, a breeze blew by, gently swaying the tender green leaves on the branches, but it seemed unable to blow away the faint sadness in the room.

"My queen..." Yun'er couldn't help herself and slowly squatted down, gently covering her hands with both hands. Her voice was as thin as a mosquito, with a barely perceptible sob. Her eyes were slightly red, as if she would cry at any time, but she held back.

Lu Lingyuan smiled gently, with a hint of bitterness and relief in that smile, "It's okay, I'm fine." Her words were gentle but firm, telling herself and Yun'er that all this was in the past and there was no need to mention it again.

"These five months have always given me a feeling of living in a fantasy. Sometimes I feel dazed and everything seems so real, yet it also feels like a dream that I don't want to wake up from. Unfortunately, I was overthinking it after all."

She shook her head gently, with a self-deprecating smile on her lips, which contained too many unknown emotions. She was extremely thankful: Fortunately, fortunately, I didn't fall so deeply; fortunately, fortunately, I can completely let it go now; fortunately, fortunately...

Every "okay" was like a comfort and relief to herself.

Lu Lingyuan retracted her gaze and said in a light voice: "It's good this way. Since ancient times, there has never been an emperor and empress who were truly in love. It is rare for them to be able to respect each other like guests." Her tone was calm and indifferent, as if she was telling a story that had nothing to do with her.

After saying that, Lu Lingyuan's eyes fell on her slightly bulging belly, and she smiled gently: "Now that I have this child, I am satisfied."

"I had thought about all this before I entered the palace. Now things are much better than what I imagined at the beginning. So, Yun'er, you don't have to worry about me. Life must go on. Let's take it one step at a time!" Lu Lingyuan said in a deep voice, with a firm look in her eyes.