Reborn Princess

Looking at Cao Shuyi's back, Zhou Hengyan wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say it.

"Your Majesty, it's time to go to court." Cheng Cisheng reminded from outside.

"Your Majesty, please go ahead." Cao Shuyi said this but did not turn around.

Zhou Hengyan turned thousands of words into one sentence: "The queen has been busy all night, go and rest."

"I'll come see you later."

After saying that, he left the bedroom.

At this moment, a tear rolled down Cao Shuyi's eyes. She reached out to wipe it away, not allowing herself to let a second tear fall.

"Empress." Xi Yuan walked into the bedroom and saw Cao Shuyi's lonely back and sighed in her heart.

"The Emperor has been waiting for His Majesty outside the courtyard for a long time."

"The Emperor is thinking about the Empress."

Cao Shuyi didn't say anything.

Xi Yuan wanted to say something, but opened her mouth and said nothing.

Cao Shuyi said, "You go down first. I am tired."

"Yes." Xi Yuan bowed and stepped back.

Cao Shuyi stared out the window in a daze. The sunlight shone on her body, but there was no trace of warmth.

After Zhou Hengyan left Renming Palace, he asked Cheng Cisheng beside him in a deep voice: "Who are the palace maids who usually serve Yang Ruowei to drink medicine?"

Cheng Cisheng followed behind Zhou Hengyan and said, "I will have someone check the book right away."

"After finding out, he will be beaten to death."

"Yes."

……

In Huining Palace, Yang Ruowei watched the palace maids and eunuchs coming and going, carrying away her bedroom's things one by one, and she sneered.

"Who gave you the guts to let you dogs touch my things?"

"Yang Jieyi had better obey the emperor's orders," said Cheng Cisheng.

"I am the concubine, Concubine Yang! I am pregnant with a prince, how dare you treat me like this? It is outrageous!"

Cheng Cisheng glanced lazily and said, "Yang Jieyu should know best how she got pregnant."

"The emperor's willingness to let you give birth to the child is a sign of the queen's generosity and consolation to the emperor. Concubine Jieyu should be grateful."

"The things in this palace have been moved. You will not be short of food, clothing or other expenses. Concubine Yang can rest assured and take care of your pregnancy in Huining Palace. The emperor has ordered that Concubine Yang cannot leave the palace even a step."

Hearing Cheng Cisheng's words, Yang Ruowei felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar. She said, "I want to see the emperor. I am his favorite concubine and the granddaughter of the prime minister. I am a noble lady from a high family. How can I be subject to your dictates as a eunuch?"

Cheng Cisheng glanced at her and said, "Jieyi, please take care of yourself." After that, he left Huining Palace with a group of palace maids and eunuchs.

Yang Ruowei rushed out like crazy, but was held down by the eunuch beside her.

……

In the dead of winter in the eighth year of Yongzhen, Marquis Yongyi presented a large amount of evidence of crimes committed by former ministers to the court, causing an uproar.

The emperor ordered all the criminals to be imprisoned and confiscated several mansions. They had embezzled more than two million taels of silver. Emperor Yongzhen was furious and ordered them to be executed after winter.

When Zhou Chao heard the news, he threw the wine glass in his hand to the ground, and the splashes of water and broken porcelain fell all over Zhao Feng.

Zhaofeng immediately knelt down to clean up.

Zhou Chao saw him kneeling on the ground and kicked him again. Zhao Feng fell on the debris and his palms were bleeding.

Zhou Chao felt blinded by the bright red liquid flowing out. He frowned and said to Zhao Feng, "Come here."

Zhao Feng was born with fair skin, and the red blood on his hands stood out particularly.

He crawled to Zhou Chao's side, and Zhou Chao pulled Zhao Feng up and held him in his arms.

"Does it hurt?" Zhou Chao asked.

Zhao Feng said nothing.

Zhou Chao was half lying on the couch. He restrained Zhao Feng and Zhao Feng could not move.

"Zhou Hengyan asked you to come here to monitor me. You told me the truth. Aren't you afraid that he will blame you? Hmm?"

His fingertips brushed Zhao Feng's fair face, and Zhou Chao smiled playfully, "You are a eunuch, who taught you to seduce me like this?"

Zhao Feng trembled in Zhou Chao's arms. He whispered, "I have been in the palace since I was a child. No one treats me as a human being. Only you, Your Majesty, treat me well."

"Zhao Feng dare not have any ill will towards the prince. Zhao Feng is unwilling to deliver the prince's message to the emperor. He only hopes to stay by the prince's side and serve him for the rest of his life."

"Nothing else."

Zhou Chao chuckled and moved his hand down Zhao Feng's arm, gently stroking his waist. Zhao Feng trembled uncontrollably and looked at Zhou Chao with a pair of fox eyes as if infatuated. After Zhou Chao stared at him for a long time, he lowered his eyes again.

Zhou Chao asked him, "If I return to Western Xinjiang, what will you do?"

Zhao Feng looked at him pleadingly: "My Lord, please take this servant away with you, okay?"

Zhou Chao pinched the chin of the person in his arms and said, "Can't bear to leave me?"

Seeing the person in his arms lowering his head and keeping silent, Zhou Chao laughed heartily.

"Don't worry, I will not return to Western Xinjiang. What Zhou Hengyan can do, I can do too."

……

"My lady, a young eunuch just came to report that the queen has summoned you to the palace."

Shen Lilan was working on an abacus. She looked up and thought for a moment before saying to Chao Yun, "Is the prince here?"

"The prince is attending the trial in Jingzhao Prefecture today. Do you want Tang Song to go and invite him?"

Shen Yanlan said: "No need, go prepare the carriage."

"Yes."

Inside the carriage, Shen Xilan was thinking about what Zhou Cechen had said to him yesterday.

Empress Cao was born in the Cao family, and her aunt was the Empress Dowager. As a prominent family, the Cao family held a very important position. For several generations, they had been loyally assisting the imperial family and guarding this vast territory together with the emperor. Among the many princes, whoever could gain the favor and support of the Cao family would have the chance to ascend to the supreme throne.

The Cao family had a unique vision and far-reaching strategies. Once they had determined their goal, they would use their family's vast resources to spare no effort to build momentum for the prince they had chosen. They would skillfully use various means, including political marriages and buying people's hearts, to enhance the prince's power and prestige. At the same time, the Cao family would also offer advice to the emperor and recommend capable people to assist the prince in governing the country to ensure the smooth progress of state affairs.

Since she was born, Cao Shuyi was entrusted with the mission of marriage, and was given the title of "virtuous and kind" when she was in the boudoir.

What is commendable is that Zhou Hengyan and Cao Shuyi had loved each other since they were teenagers. When Zhou Hengyan was the crown prince, Cao Shuyi was the crown princess.

This marriage can be described as a beautiful story, and all the girls envy this relationship.

Since Zhou Hengyan ascended the throne and became emperor, he still treated Cao Shuyi as before. Even though he had two concubines, he was still full of love for Cao Shuyi.

But in the fourth year of Yongzhen, when Cao Shuyi was four months pregnant again, she was pounced on by a cat raised by Yang Ruowei, who had just entered the palace. After heavy bleeding, the imperial physician told Cao Shuyi that she might never get pregnant again.

The cat belonged to Yang Ruowei, but the person was innocent. No matter how they investigated, they could not find out the truth. Zhou Hengyan was furious. Yang Ruowei was confined to her house for several months, and infertility drugs were added to the medicine and food that Yang Ruowei drank every day. As a result, Yang Ruowei had not been pregnant in four years.

But now, she is pregnant.

When Yang Ruowei was caught red-handed and had no way out, she unexpectedly did something. The prince in her belly became her golden ticket to immunity from death.