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

The next morning, the sky was just beginning to light up, and a few drops of crystal dew were still hanging on the glazed tiles of the Weiyang Palace, reflecting the morning light and shimmering softly. Gao Jieyu, wearing a light and elegant palace dress, with her hair tied up high and embellished with pearls and jade, stepped into the gate of the Weiyang Palace early, her steps were light and orderly, but she had some indescribable trepidation and expectation in her heart.

In Lu Lingyuan's bedroom, light gauze danced gracefully, and the scent rising from the stove was the finest ambergris, with a light and elegant aroma that made people feel relaxed and happy.

"Jiejie Gao came so early?" Lu Lingyuan was gently awakened by Yun'er, her voice carrying a hint of laziness and surprise as if she had just woken up. She quickly sat up from the soft quilt, her eyes a little hazy.

"Yes, Your Majesty, Concubine Gao came early in the morning and has been waiting in the main hall for about quarter of an hour." Yun'er answered in a low voice, her words full of respect. She then knelt on the ground quietly and put on the brocade shoes for Lu Lingyuan, her movements gentle and skillful.

Hearing this, Lu Lingyuan slowly stood up and walked to the dressing table and sat down. The person in the mirror had a beautiful face, but because she was not fully awake, her eyes were still a little hazy. She rubbed her eyebrows slightly, as if to dispel the remaining sleepiness, and seemed to be thinking about something.

"Please help me dress up! Don't keep her waiting too long." Lu Lingyuan said slowly.

"Yes, your Majesty." Yun'er responded quickly, speeding up her movements, taking out an exquisite comb, and carefully combing Lu Lingyuan's long hair.

In just a few moments, Lu Lingyuan had finished washing and dressed in luxurious palace clothes, and walked lightly into the main hall.

The morning light shone through the carved window lattices onto her, adding a touch of softness and solemnity to her.

Gao Jieyu was not as bright and lively as she was yesterday. She hesitated in her steps and had an indescribable cautiousness on her face. She walked forward slowly, knelt on both knees, and kowtowed. There was a subtle nervousness in her voice: "I pay my respects to the Queen, may the Queen be blessed with good health!"

Lu Lingyuan's eyes were gentle and deep, and she said softly, "Get up!" Her voice was gentle and powerful. After she finished speaking, she gently raised one of her slender hands and made a gesture of supporting.

"Thank you, Her Majesty!" Gao Jieyu whispered.

Lu Lingyuan's eyes wandered over Gao Jieyu, her eyebrows slightly frowned, like a distant mountain covered with smoke, revealing a hint of worry. She thought to herself, did something happen last night?

"I heard that you came so early in the morning. The weather is still cold. I'm sorry to trouble you." Lu Lingyuan's voice was as soft as the wind, but it contained a concern that could not be ignored.

"Your Majesty, you are too polite." Upon hearing this, Concubine Gao slowly raised her head and said, "Paying respects to Your Majesty is my duty. How dare I slack off in the slightest?" Although her words were slow, each one was clear and full of respect.

Lu Lingyuan asked her to sit down and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? I don't look as lively as yesterday. Are you worried about something?"

Gao Jieyu shook her head slightly, with a hint of helplessness flashing across her lips. Last night, His Majesty did not treat her with warmth, but was just perfunctory and had no sympathy for her at all, which made her quite disappointed.

After entering the palace, she did not expect the emperor's true love, but she could not help but care about it for the first time.

"Or was it last night..." Lu Lingyuan asked in a low voice.

Gao Jieyu quickly shook her head, "Your Majesty, I am fine, you don't have to worry."

Seeing this, Lu Lingyuan stopped asking and said softly, "I think you are exhausted too. Go back and have a good rest!"

Gao Jieyu did not refuse. She slowly stood up and bowed, saying, "Yes, I will take my leave now!"

After Concubine Gao left, Yun'er walked forward and whispered softly, "Madam, it's getting late. Let's eat first. Don't starve yourself."

Hearing this, Lu Lingyuan tilted her head slightly and nodded gently, with an imperceptible elegance and composure in her movements.

The next moment she seemed to remember something and frowned slightly - in a few days, it would be the happy day when Princess Changle would be married.

"Has everything been arranged for Princess Changle's marriage?" Lu Lingyuan's voice was low and majestic.

Seeing this, Yun'er stepped forward and helped Lu Lingyuan up, saying softly but firmly, "Don't worry, Madam. The officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Shang Palace Bureau have made careful preparations, and I have often gone to urge them. Everything has been arranged in an orderly manner, and there will be no mistakes."

After hearing this, Lu Lingyuan raised a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, "That's good!"

……

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, more than a month has passed. At this time, Lu Lingyuan is already more than six months pregnant, and her belly is bulging.

The fetus in the belly was very active and often kicked in the middle of the night, making it difficult for Lu Lingyuan to fall asleep.

That night, Lu Lingyuan tossed and turned, and she still couldn't fall asleep until midnight. Her eyes were full of tiny bloodshot, dark circles were clearly visible, and her face was full of fatigue and helplessness.

The next morning, Xiao Chengji came in the morning light. When he saw Lu Lingyuan's appearance, he suddenly felt an indescribable pity and worry in his heart, "Why do you look so bad!" His voice was low and full of concern, and his eyes were full of heartache.

Lu Lingyuan forced out a pale smile, shook her head gently, and said in a thin voice: "I didn't get enough rest last night, Your Majesty, don't worry."

Hearing this, Xiao Chengji frowned, his expression tense and serious: "This child is bothering you again." There was a hint of blame in his words, but more of it was love and care for Lu Lingyuan.

Lu Lingyuan lowered her head and gently stroked her bulging belly, her eyes flashing with maternal tenderness and kindness: "I'm afraid this child will be a naughty child in the future."

Hearing this, Xiao Chengji's frown relaxed slightly, but the nervous look had not completely faded away. He looked at Lu Lingyuan deeply, as if he wanted to see into her whole heart: "When he comes out, I will definitely teach him a lesson." After that, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. There was a bit of seriousness and a bit of joking in that smile, like the breeze blowing across the lake in spring, with a bit of tenderness and unruliness.

"Your Majesty, you are willing to let go, but I absolutely cannot." Lu Lingyuan opened her red lips slightly, her voice carrying a bit of tenderness and determination. She stretched out her hands as delicate as onion roots and gently placed them on Xiao Chengji's broad palms, her fingertips conveying warmth and comfort.

"Counting the days, he will be born in just over three months. I am full of anticipation. As long as I can see him born safely, everything will be worth it." A gentle smile bloomed at the corners of Lu Lingyuan's lips. That smile contained endless love and tenderness, like the warmest sunshine in spring, illuminating everything around.

Hearing this, Xiao Chengji felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He gently took Lu Lingyuan into his arms and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work. This time, whether it's a prince or a princess, I promise you that I will treat them equally and will not show partiality. I am looking forward to our children."

If the first child could be a prince, it would be the best, he could inherit the throne and continue the royal bloodline. But on second thought, if he could have a daughter as gentle and intelligent as Lu Lingyuan, it would also be a treasure given by God, which would surely bring him endless joy and comfort.

Lu Lingyuan curled her lips and smiled softly, saying softly: "I think so too. Whether it is a prince or a princess, they are the children of your majesty and me."

Over the past month, the days in the palace seemed to be shrouded in a thin mist. Time flowed slowly, but with a subtlety that was not easily noticed.

Xiao Chengji did not stay overnight in the harem very often. Even when he summoned several high-ranking concubines such as Concubine Liu, it was only occasionally. Most of the time, he stayed overnight in the Weiyang Palace.

Xiao Chengji did not show much interest in the new concubines entering the palace. Most of the time, he was willing to stay by Lu Lingyuan's side, enjoying the tacit understanding that they could understand without much words.

Lu Lingyuan leaned in his arms and said, "I heard that sister Qingping's marriage has been settled. She is with the second son of Duke Xin." Her voice was soft and delicate. Originally, she should have prepared this matter herself, but in recent days, she had been feeling unwell so she had to leave it to her mother.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengji just responded nonchalantly, as if this marriage had nothing to do with him. "After much deliberation, my mother finally felt that the Duke of Xin's Mansion was the most suitable, so she decided on it." His tone was flat, but revealed an unquestionable determination.

Lu Lingyuan frowned slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but hesitated, "But, I heard the servants in the palace discussing privately that Sister Qingping seemed to be quite dissatisfied with this marriage. She was furious in Yongzhang Palace, and my mother was also very angry about it." A complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

Hearing this, Xiao Chengji finally raised his head. His eyes were deep and sharp, as if he could see through people's hearts. "Qingping is arrogant and proud. Naturally, she looks down on the Xin Guo Mansion. She even threatened to marry Cui Zhaoling. She didn't think about it. With her status, how could she marry into a family like the Qinghe Cui family?" There was some blame in his tone, but more of it was helplessness towards Qingping's unrealistic dream.

However, as soon as he said this, Xiao Chengji realized something and quickly lowered his head, carefully observing the expression on Lu Lingyuan's face.

When Lu Lingyuan heard this, a look of surprise first flashed across her beautiful face, as if a spring breeze blew across the quiet lake, creating layers of delicate ripples. But this surprise was fleeting, replaced by a deep tranquility. She whispered softly but with a firmness that could not be ignored: "I really didn't expect that Sister Qingping would have such thoughts in her heart."

After saying this, she gently raised her hand, and her fingertips gently stroked the exquisite tea set on the table, but her eyes never left Xiao Chengji's face, "Then what do you think of this marriage, Your Majesty?"

Hearing this, Xiao Chengji's brows flashed with a barely perceptible indifference. He slowly put down the teacup in his hand, his movements were elegant and calm, as if everything was under control. "The marriage that has been arranged should follow the etiquette and law, how can it be decided by her own will. Although the Xin Guogong Mansion has lost its glory in recent years and is gradually declining, its ancestors are a meritorious family in Daliang with a deep foundation. The second son of the Duke's Mansion is a gentleman with a well-behaved and gentle character in the capital. Qingping can marry into such a family, which is already her best destination."

At this point, Xiao Chengji paused slightly, his eyes inadvertently swept out the window, his eyes were like ice in winter, without any warmth, "Besides, Qingping's biological mother was a former criminal concubine, and her family was implicated and exiled. If it weren't for the queen mother's compassion, who specifically told the concubines to take good care of her, how could she have such a stable life today? Marriage is an important matter, and she should obey her parents' orders and the matchmaker's words as a child."

When Lu Lingyuan heard this, she couldn't help but feel a complicated emotion in her heart. She looked at Xiao Chengji's cold and distant face and fell into deep thought.

Xiao Chengji had little affection for his concubine sisters and their relationships were distant. To him, Qingping's marriage was just a piece of cake and a problem that could be solved with a dowry. It had nothing to do with emotions, but only with interests and trade-offs.

She sighed softly, her eyes revealing a bit of sympathy and helplessness, but she said no more, just nodded silently, tacitly agreeing with Xiao Chengji's decision.

"Speaking of Qingping's marriage, Yongan's marriage went much more smoothly in comparison. Lu Changqing, the youngest son of the head of the Lu family, is a rare talent with good looks and talent. The Lu family attaches great importance to such an honor as Princess Shang. After Princess Changle's marriage is over, we will prepare for Qingping and Yongan's marriage together." Xiao Chengji said again.

Xiao Chengji needed the help of the Lu family at this moment, so he had high hopes for this marriage, hoping that it could be settled as soon as possible without any problems.

Hearing this, Lu Lingyuan nodded slightly, her expression gentle but with some determination. She responded softly: "Yes, I understand, and I will make proper arrangements."

Xiao Chengji's eyes revealed endless tenderness and doting. He quickly stretched out his hand and gently placed it on the back of Lu Lingyuan's hand. He said earnestly, "You are pregnant now. How can I trouble you with such trivial matters? I will discuss this matter with my mother in person. You don't have to worry too much."

Hearing this, Lu Lingyuan shook her head gently, with a firm look on her face: "Your Majesty's kindness, I appreciate it. But Aunt Biluo left the palace half a month ago, and my mother is really short of capable people. As a daughter-in-law, how can I put all the burdens on my mother's shoulders?"

"Your Majesty, don't worry. I have Yun'er and Qinglan by my side. Besides, I don't need to be involved in everything. Just give the orders." Lu Lingyuan advised.

"My mother has been in charge of all the affairs of the harem for the past month. She has already been exhausted by Changle's marriage. How can I trouble her again?"

"If Your Majesty really loves me, then just transfer Rong'an to my service." As soon as Lu Lingyuan finished speaking, Rong'an, who was standing outside, shuddered all over. He rubbed his nose, not knowing what was going on inside.