The emperor was sent to heaven to carry the order, and the edict said:

The former Zhenyuan General Cheng Li held his own troops, deviated from the right path, plotted evil, and had a rebellious heart. The evidence is conclusive. I am reluctant to kill him because of his past merits. I order him to hand over his military power and grant him exile in Youzhou. He is not allowed to return to the capital without an imperial decree. He must leave immediately without delay.

This edict was issued and announced to the whole world to show fairness.

Admire this!

Cold Palace

Snowflakes fell on the dilapidated eaves, embellishing the coldness in front of the eyes. The cold wind whistled through the cold walls, making people feel a biting chill. The weeds in the courtyard were already withered and swaying in the wind, and the dry branches were covered with ice and snow, making it even more desolate.

In the year when the previous emperor passed away, all the concubines in the harem who had no children were buried alive with him, and all those in the cold palace were executed.

The current emperor ascended the throne. Half a year ago, the Cheng family was accused of harbouring treasonous intentions, and the entire family was raided. Ming Ran, a daughter of the Cheng family, became the first person to be banished to the cold palace.

The cold palace was bitterly cold, and she stood alone under the dry branches covered with fallen snow, her expression hollow and deep. Her frail figure swayed in the cold wind, as if it would be blown down at any moment.

The surrounding scenery was so bleak and desolate, with only a few broken leaves hanging on the dead branches still struggling tenaciously. She looked up at the gray sky, as if she was looking for something, but she couldn't find any hope.

The door of the cold palace was pushed open suddenly, and Concubine Xian and her men rushed into the cold palace aggressively. At a glance, she saw the woman who was banished to the cold palace, and a trace of contempt and ridicule appeared on her face.

"Someone, come and capture her!" A look of satisfaction flashed across Concubine Xian's face. Cheng Mingran seemed to have long been accustomed to this kind of situation. Soon someone forced her to kneel in front of Concubine Xian.

The virtuous concubine looked at the person kneeling at her feet and slapped him without saying a word. Cheng Mingran was already numb, and the burning pain on her face could not make her show any expression.

"Your Majesty issued an edict early this morning. The evidence of the Cheng family's treason is solid. From today on, they will be exiled to Youzhou and will never return to the capital. And you... the daughter of a guilty minister, harboring evil intentions and plotting to murder the heir to the throne, your crimes are extremely serious and you deserve to be put to death!" Concubine Xian pinched her face proudly: "I came here today to send you off."

Has this day finally come? She has been banished to the cold palace for more than half a year, and now this day has finally come? Treason... The evidence is irrefutable, Cheng Mingran smiled bitterly, she closed her eyes, and tears slid from the corners of her eyes and hid in her hair.

"Your Majesty has given you wine, but I naturally cannot let you die quickly. If it weren't for you, how could I have lost my unborn child? You caused me to lose my child, so today I will avenge my child!" The virtuous concubine's face turned grim, and she slapped Cheng Mingran viciously.

Half a year ago, Concubine Xian became pregnant with the dragon heir, but she died after only half a month. Later it was discovered that there was something wrong with the incense burning in the house, and the culprit was Concubine Shu Cheng Mingran!

Thinking of this, Concubine Xian was furious: "Your Majesty has ordered the death penalty for the guilty woman Cheng. Come, beat her to death!" Concubine Xian ordered, what is poisoned wine? If this bitch really died so easily, she would not be willing.

Cheng Mingran was pressed on the torture bench, and severe pain exploded from behind her. She had already given up resisting, so... that was fine.

Cheng Mingran endured the constant twitching and twisting of her body. Her clothes were soaked with sweat and stuck to her body, making her feel even more uncomfortable.

Cheng Mingran's lips trembled slightly. It was unclear whether she was enduring the pain in her body or praying silently, but she never made a sound.

The glass on the window was broken, and the cold wind blew through the gaps, bringing up snowflakes and frost. It was so cold...

"Stop!" An old voice came from outside the door. It was an old nanny who was also close to the Queen Mother.

Aunt... Cheng Mingran’s consciousness gradually became blurred, and finally she fainted completely.

The current queen mother's surname is Cheng. She was the only daughter of General Cheng. Later, she entered the palace as a concubine. Because she had no children, she adopted the current emperor. Half a year ago, she was implicated in the affairs of the Cheng family and moved to another palace.

Shoukang Palace

After a long coma, Cheng Mingran's eyelids began to tremble slightly, as if struggling to see everything around her.

Is this... Shoukang Palace? Her hands began to move gently, as if she wanted to grab something, but she was powerless. Her fingers bent and stretched, and a weak sound came out of her dry throat.

She was lying prone, and the pain behind her was tearing her apart. Wasn't she dead yet?

There were footsteps outside the door. Cheng Mingran looked up and saw that it was a palace servant carrying something in.

"Miss, are you awake? I'll go tell the Empress Dowager right away." The palace maid's eyes were full of surprise and she put down what she was holding. It was ointment.

Cheng Mingran tried to speak, but her voice was weak and hoarse, as if it had been forgotten in the depths of time.

"Ranran" a slightly old voice came from the door.

Aunt... Cheng Ming's eyes turned red. She tried hard to speak, but no sound came out of her throat.

The Queen Mother hurried to her bedside: "Ranran...Ranran, you finally woke up, finally woke up..." She hugged her tightly in her arms, her voice filled with tears.

"Aunt..." Cheng Mingran's eyes were red, and she finally couldn't help herself at this moment.

The Queen Mother looked at her and raised her hand to stroke her cheek. When their eyes met, the Queen Mother's heart was filled with guilt and heartache: "It's all Aunt's fault. Aunt is late. Ranran, don't cry." There was self-blame in the Queen Mother's voice.

Cheng Mingran hugged the Queen Mother's waist tightly, like a bird that had been wandering for a long time and finally found shelter, like a person with scars all over her body finally finding someone to lean on...

She lost her mother when she was young, and her father was away at war for many years. Therefore, Cheng Mingran was almost raised by the Queen Mother. To her, the Queen Mother was like her mother, the person who loved her the most in the world.

Living alone in the cold palace, she endured all kinds of hardships but had to hold back her tears. However, when she saw the Queen Mother, she could not hold back her tears and they poured out like a flood.

The Empress Dowager stopped Concubine Xian from beating her to death that day, and later begged the Emperor to save her life. The Empress Dowager kept her in Shoukang Palace these days, and under her careful care, her injuries were almost healed.

But... the Cheng family was irreversibly ruined. Although the Queen Mother saved Cheng Mingran, she was also imprisoned in Shoukang Palace by His Majesty in disguise.

They all knew that this was the last bit of face given by His Majesty.

But Cheng Mingran never believed that her father would have the intention of rebellion. The Queen Mother told her that the Cheng family was famous and had accumulated a lot of prestige. Now the king is not a king, the minister is not a minister, and only the minister's death is certain...

Since ancient times, if the ruler wants his subjects to die, the subjects have to die...

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