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

A few days later, Pei Zhiyan had just finished lunch and was sitting in the house, holding a celadon teacup in her hand, sipping the fragrant tea to help digest the food.

Suddenly, the door curtain was opened, and Xuanyuan Ping hurried in, saying solemnly, "Yan'er, Xuanyuan Si committed suicide!"

Pei Zhiyan's hand trembled slightly, and a few drops of tea splashed out of the cup, but she quickly regained her composure, with a complex look in her eyes. She put down the cup and sighed softly, as if she had expected this outcome.

Xuanyuan Si, the man who once boasted of being noble and elegant, now ended up like this. He was physically weak, but he refused all treatment and would rather wait for death in the cold palace.

How could a man as proud as him accept his illegitimate identity? All the wealth and glory he once had was now gone. His pride and self-esteem made it impossible for him to face this cruel reality.

After Xuanyuan Si committed suicide, the princess fell into a state of madness. The emperor could not bear to punish her any more, so he ordered her to be imprisoned in the princess's mansion and no one was allowed to visit her.

Xuanyuan Ping was overjoyed. Xuanyuan Si's disappearance meant that he had one less strong rival in his bid for the throne. But there was still a problem. The real second prince was still living among the common people.

The emperor has issued an order to search for the second prince nationwide.

"Who exactly is this second prince?" Xuanyuan Ping muttered to himself, frowning.

Pei Zhiyan put down the white jade teacup in her hand, the faint fragrance of tea lingering around her lips. She opened her red lips and said, "Why is your Highness so worried? This Second Prince has been growing up in the mountains with Cuiyun. He has no foundation, so he should be fearless."

When Xuanyuan Ping heard this, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. The road to competing for the throne is full of unknowns and variables, and the biggest enemies are often not those opponents in the open, but those shadows hidden in the dark.

He was not afraid of the Second Prince's power, but was worried that his appearance would disrupt the existing balance.

Pei Zhiyan's heart was a little shaken. According to her memory from her previous life, the emperor's body would not last much longer. The emperor already suffered from heart disease, and this series of blows made his condition worse.

Although the palace had been keeping the news secret, she had already received news from Xuanyuan Che that the emperor was ill.

Not long after, another explosive news came from the palace that the second prince had been found.

To celebrate this happy event, the palace decided to hold a grand banquet for the second prince.

However, before attending the banquet, no one knew who the second prince was, which added a bit of mystery to him.

On the day of the palace banquet, all the dignitaries and royal relatives in the capital came to the palace early, wanting to catch a glimpse of the real Second Prince as soon as possible.

It was still early in the banquet, but the seats in the Hall of Supreme Harmony were already full of people, who were talking among themselves, discussing various rumors and deeds about the Second Prince. Some said he was extremely smart, some said he was brave and good at fighting, and some said he was gentle and a true gentleman.

While everyone was talking, the arrival of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager and Concubine Ning instantly quieted the atmosphere in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and they all bowed and paid their respects to the distinguished guests.

After the ceremony, Eunuch Fu beside the emperor announced, "Call the Second Prince into the palace!"

At the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a young man in luxurious brocade robes slowly walked in. He was the Second Prince that everyone had been waiting for for a long time.

His appearance seemed to brighten up the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony. His handsome face and upright figure all revealed the dignity and majesty of a royal child.

In this silence and reverence, Pei Zhiyan's eyes flashed with surprise. She couldn't believe her eyes. The ragged beggar who used to wander the streets, Chu Xifeng, turned out to be the second prince in front of her.

Chu Xifeng was recommended by Pei Zhiyan to join the Lin Family Army. After several years of hard work, he has already made a name for himself in the Lin Family Army and has even become a general in the Lin Family Army. Now he is standing in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, looking extremely handsome and elegant.

"Your son pays homage to His Majesty, Father!" Chu Xifeng bowed respectfully.

The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his eyes were like torches. He nodded slightly and said in a steady voice, "No need to be polite. Please take a seat."

Chu Xifeng stood up, his posture as straight as a pine tree. Although he was living among the common people and had experienced many hardships, his innate royal spirit had not diminished at all.

The emperor's eyes wandered over him, and a hint of admiration flashed through his heart. This second prince was not only a skilled martial artist, but also a man of extraordinary wisdom. He was able to rise from an ordinary soldier to a general in a short period of time with his own abilities. This ability and courage were truly rare.

Now that there is no crown prince in the palace, the second prince is the oldest among the princes in terms of age, so he naturally sits below the emperor. Xuanyuan Ping, who is sitting next to him, has mixed feelings.

He thought that after defeating the prince and Xuanyuan Si, he could finally become a big shot, but he didn't expect that Cheng Yaojin would appear halfway.

At this moment, the palace banquet officially began, and the atmosphere gradually became lively. The emperor smiled and said to everyone, "Today's banquet is to welcome the second prince to recognize his ancestors. Everyone, don't be restrained, drink as much as you want."

As soon as the emperor finished speaking, everyone stood up and raised their glasses to express their congratulations to Chu Xifeng.

At this time, a highly respected minister stood up, holding a wine glass in his hand, and paid high tribute to Chu Xifeng. He said excitedly: "The Second Prince is brave and good at fighting in the army, and has made many military achievements. He is not only the pride of our dynasty, but also the pillar of the country. On behalf of all the court officials, I would like to express my most sincere respect and warmest congratulations to the Second Prince!"

The minister's words were full of admiration and praise, which resonated with everyone present. They nodded in agreement, their eyes revealing admiration and blessings for Chu Xifeng.

Chu Xifeng felt the enthusiasm and expectations of the crowd. He stood up, raised his glass and said in response: "Thank you, father and all the ministers, for your love and support. I will live up to everyone's expectations and contribute my own strength to the prosperity of the country."

After saying this, he raised his head and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, showing his heroic spirit.

Seeing Chu Xifeng being so generous, everyone exclaimed, "The Second Prince is really a generous person!"

At this moment, seeing Chu Xifeng being admired and blessed by everyone, Xuanyuan Ping felt even more uncomfortable. At this moment, he felt an unprecedented pressure, and a trace of jealousy and uneasiness appeared in his heart, and a trace of embarrassment appeared on his face.

Xuanyuan Ping took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He raised his head, looked at Chu Xifeng, and forced a smile on his face.

"Congratulations, Second Brother, for returning to the palace!" Xuanyuan Ping raised his glass to congratulate.

Chu Xifeng turned around, looked at Xuanyuan Ping, raised his glass and said, "Thank you, Third Brother."

After the two finished drinking and put down their glasses, Chu Xifeng looked over Xuanyuan Ping at Pei Zhiyan, "Thank you, Princess Jing. The one I should thank the most is Princess Jing. If Princess Jing hadn't saved me that day, I wouldn't be where I am today."