I died tragically in my previous life, and I want to be an empress in my next life

Inside the secret room of Fuyun Building

Xuanyuan Che sat upright on the cushion, wearing a dark blue luxurious robe, the hem of which swayed gently with his movements. The teacup in his hand exuded a faint tea fragrance, which intertwined with the sandalwood scent on his body, creating a peaceful and deep atmosphere.

He tilted his head slightly and looked at Pei Zhiyan who was sitting opposite him, with a hint of deepness and expectation in his eyes. Pei Zhiyan was wearing a lavender dress, the hem of her skirt dancing lightly, like a blooming purple lotus. Her face was beautiful, but her eyes were a little cold and distant.

Xuanyuan Che gently put down the teacup in his hand, and said in a low and magnetic voice, "Yongtai has gone to Xiliang. I hope the grudge between you can end here."

Pei Zhiyan heard this and sneered, with a sharp light flashing in her eyes, "As long as she doesn't offend me again, I won't provoke her."

Xuanyuan Che frowned slightly. He knew that the grudge between Pei Zhiyan and Yongtai was deep and could not be easily resolved. He looked at Pei Zhiyan deeply, with a hint of complex emotions in his eyes. He understood that this grudge was much more complicated than he had imagined.

He sighed softly and decided not to say anything more. He knew that some things could not be solved with just a few words.

"If everything is fine, Sixth Prince, please leave as soon as possible." Pei Zhiyan picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, and said lightly. There was no emotion or warmth in her voice, only indifference and alienation.

Xuanyuan Che knew that Pei Zhiyan might still have some resentment towards him, so he gave her some time. He stood up and left dejectedly.

Pei Zhiyan put down the teacup in her hand and sneered in her heart. Since Princess Yongtai has married into Xiliang, the matter has come to an end. Next, she should deal with the eldest princess and Xuanyuan Si.

Ten days later, the Queen Mother’s birthday banquet was held.

Although this birthday banquet was not held with great fanfare, all the royal relatives gathered together to celebrate this special day for the Queen Mother.

Shoukang Palace was carefully decorated, with palace lanterns hanging high, red candles flickering, and various flowers clustered around the longevity peach and the Chinese character for longevity in the center, symbolizing the Empress Dowager's longevity and health. The musicians in the palace played melodious music, adding a festive atmosphere to the birthday banquet.

At this moment, a mother dressed as an old palace maid suddenly walked to the center of the hall and knelt on the ground.

"May the Queen Mother be blessed with longevity and good health!"

"Who are you?" Concubine Ning put down the wine glass in her hand and asked puzzledly.

Although this old lady was wearing palace maid's clothes, she was not from Shoukang Palace. Moreover, today was a royal family banquet, and there was no segment for palace maids to congratulate her on her birthday.

The empress dowager and the emperor, who were sitting in the upper seats, also noticed the old palace maid and looked at her in surprise.

"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, I am incompetent and failed to protect Concubine Hua!" The old palace maid's eyes were filled with tears and her voice was filled with endless guilt and grief.

Concubine Hua? Everyone's heart was moved. This name seemed to touch some dusty memories. Some old people still remembered who Concubine Hua was. She was Xuanyuan Si's biological mother.

The emperor's face changed, and he looked at the old maid carefully. He vaguely recognized that this was Cuiyun, the personal maid of Concubine Hua. However, after Concubine Hua passed away, she disappeared.

She was just a little maid at that time. Even if she was missing, no one would notice. Why did she appear here today?

Cuiyun's sudden appearance surprised the emperor and everyone present, especially the eldest princess who was sitting below the empress dowager. Her face was terribly gloomy.

"Today is the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, how come anyone is allowed in?" The eldest princess said dissatisfiedly, "Someone! Take her out!"

Upon hearing this, the guards at the door immediately walked in. They were about to drag Cuiyun out, but she fell to the ground and couldn't get up. "Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, Concubine Hua will not be able to close her eyes in death!"

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere in the entire palace suddenly became solemn. Everyone's eyes were focused on this woman who suddenly broke in. Who was she? And why did she mention the deceased Concubine Hua on the day of the Queen Mother's birthday banquet?

The princess frowned and ordered unhappily, "Bad luck! Don't offend the queen mother! Get him out now!"

"Wait a minute!" The emperor said, "Let her speak!"

Cuiyun raised her head, tears glistening in her eyes, "Your Majesty, back then, Concubine Hua was murdered by a traitor and gave birth to the second prince in the mountains. But someone wanted to kill her to silence her, so I had no choice but to take the second prince into the mountains, hide there, and live a life isolated from the world."

The second prince? At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on Xuanyuan Si again. Didn't the second prince grow up in the capital?

Xuanyuan Si's face flashed with displeasure. He walked up to Cuiyun and said coldly, "Don't talk nonsense! Do you know who this prince is?"

Cuiyun looked up at Xuanyuan Si and shook her head blankly.

"How ridiculous! He is the second prince! I don't know what you, a crazy woman, are talking about!" The princess sneered, her words were full of disdain and contempt. However, her eyes revealed a trace of panic, as if she was afraid of something.

It was she who brought Xuanyuan Si back from the mountains that year, but unfortunately Concubine Hua lost too much blood and could not be rescued, so she had to take the newborn Xuanyuan Si back to Prince Ning's Mansion.

"Impossible!" Cuiyun shook her head. "The Second Prince was raised by this old slave."

"Back then, the conditions in the mountains were simple, and it was I who delivered Concubine Hua myself. When the Second Prince was born, there was a birthmark the size of a soybean on his left shoulder."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's expressions changed slightly. The Emperor also had a birthmark the size of a soybean on his left shoulder. Was it such a coincidence that the child Cuiyun mentioned was also there?

Xuanyuan Si's face also darkened. It seemed that there was no such birthmark on his left shoulder.

At this time, the eldest princess looked at Cuiyun with a sharp gaze, "You said that you raised the second prince by yourself, so where is the second prince you mentioned now?"

Cuiyun lowered her head even more. "Three years ago, the Second Prince left the mountain. I...I don't know where he went."

A stern look flashed in the eyes of the eldest princess. "Cuiyun, do you know how serious a crime it is to confuse the royal bloodline? If you dare to lie, I will not let you off easily!"

However, Cuiyun's voice was surprisingly calm. "Princess, everything I said is true. If I lied, I will be punished by being struck by five thunderbolts."

The hall fell into silence, and everyone's heart was in turmoil. If Cuiyun was right, then where was the real second prince? And who was this person in front of him?