Forced to die for his loyalty, he was reborn in the arms of the cold and cruel regent!

***'s smile looked particularly gentle under the candlelight, as if she was really immersed in the beautiful vision of her future with Qi Suian.

However, Shen Mengyao's heart was filled with ripples. She tried hard to control her emotions and not let her disappointment show.

The Queen Mother gently put down the album and rubbed her temples, seeming a little tired.

"Shaohua, I have been too picky. When you get married, you must remember your duties as a wife and stop being so willful and reckless like you are now."

"What the Imperial Grandmother said is true. Shaohua will definitely keep it in mind."

*** nodded obediently, then his eyes inadvertently swept over Shen Mengyao, with a hint of complacency in his eyes.

Shen Mengyao felt her heart tighten when she felt that gaze, but she quickly adjusted her breathing and maintained her outward calm.

"Put the book down. I'll take a closer look when I have time."

The Queen Mother seemed to be getting more and more uncomfortable. She pressed her fingers on her temples and narrowed her eyes.

Shen Mengyao was just about to bring a cup of hot tea forward and let the Queen Mother drink it, perhaps she would feel better, when *** glanced at her.

"Princess, the Empress Dowager is about to take a rest, why don't you send me out so we can have a chat. You've been married once, and I still want to learn from you."

An indescribable bitterness surged in Shen Mengyao's heart, and she just forced a smile.

"it is good."

Shen Mengyao stood up, feeling mixed emotions, but she also understood that a refusal at this moment would only add to the embarrassment.

She walked slowly towards the emperor, and they walked out of Xingqing Palace side by side, stepping on layers of bluestone roads covered with snow, and their footsteps echoed in the silent palace.

The night wind blew gently, bringing a biting chill, but it also seemed to blow away some of the depression in my heart. Shen Mengyao tried her best to make her tone sound relaxed.

"You are right, princess. Marriage is something that needs to be managed well. But my last marriage was a disaster, so I am afraid I can't say anything to you, princess."

*** smiled slightly, and there was some subtle depth in that smile.

"The princess is very experienced, so she naturally knows more than me. But, I wonder what the princess thinks of Brother Sui An's sweetheart?"

Shen Mengyao's heart tightened, but she didn't want to lose her composure at this moment. She shook her head gently, her tone indifferent.

"I cannot guess what the prince wants. But when it comes to love, it is ultimately the most precious thing when two people are in love with each other."

***When she heard this, a hint of barely perceptible anger flashed in her eyes, but she quickly returned to normal and sighed softly.

"Yes, it is rare for two people to be in love with each other. But if that woman is not a good match, wouldn't it be a waste of your life?"

Shen Mengyao's heart skipped a beat. She understood what the man meant, but she didn't want to be involved in this vortex of power, so she could only speak vaguely.

"Princess, what you said is very true, but the prince has his own opinions. I am just an outsider and have no right to say anything."

When they reached the long street outside the palace, *** stopped, turned around and looked at Shen Mengyao, his eyes becoming more serious.

"Princess, I won't play dumb with you anymore. From now on, I am no longer a concubine, but the regent princess. I hope that the past can be wiped out and there will be no more misunderstandings between you and me."

Shen Mengyao was slightly stunned. She didn't expect *** to say such a thing.

But looking at her expression, it seemed full of sincerity.

Shen Mengyao lowered her eyes and smiled calmly: "There is no deeper rift between me and ***. It would be best if we could turn hostility into friendship."

"That's good!" *** nodded with a smile: "My father and grandmother have both told me that a woman should be gentle and submissive, and I agree with that."

"If this is the case, Your Majesty will definitely be happy in the future." Shen Mengyao smiled awkwardly.

"Well, you stay." After saying this, *** quickly left Xingqing Palace.

Shen Mengyao looked at her back and felt a little puzzled.

She had always regarded herself as a thorn in his side, so how could he suddenly show goodwill? But she really couldn't think of what the other party might be planning.

At night, Queyue walked in quietly, holding a slightly wet envelope in her hand.

"Princess, this is what the prince asked me to pass on to you."

"Is the prince asking how things are going? Unfortunately..." Shen Mengyao didn't know how to open the letter.

Things did not go as smoothly as expected, and the Queen Mother seemed to have given up trying to persuade the Emperor to cancel the engagement.

"It's not the prince's private matter. This is a letter from the border." Queyue reminded.

The border guards are my father and brothers. They finally wrote to me!

Shen Mengyao was so excited that she quickly opened the envelope. From the two large pages of written words, it could be seen that her father and brother cared about her.

First there was a long paragraph of greetings and thoughts, and then he got down to business, saying that they, father and son, were enjoying themselves quite well at the border.

Moreover, the situation at the border is tight at this time and they cannot leave at all. If they were replaced by other generals, if they are not familiar with the border, they would definitely not be able to react in time if there is a sudden movement in the Northern Desert. The two of them have to guard the border and may not be able to return during the New Year.

Finally, he said that maybe someone in the court didn't like the Shen family, and now their power was at the border. If Shen Mengyao stayed alone in the capital, she must be extra careful.

"My father and brother are still thinking about me at this time." Shen Mengyao sighed slowly: "I don't know what that person's purpose is, but I replied to the letter, and they should be careful of Li Hu."

Queyue nodded: "No matter how dangerous the border is, the forces in the capital cannot affect the border for the time being. The princess should worry most about the current situation."

Shen Mengyao lowered her eyes slightly and nodded: "That's right."

The Empress Dowager's condition did not improve. She was carefully taken care of day by day, but later on she could not even get out of bed, she was very weak.

Fu Qing boiled some medicine and brought it over. He originally wanted to wake up the empress dowager to feed her the medicine, but after calling her several times there was no response.

She raised her voice: "Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, it's time to take the medicine!"

Still no response, she was startled and rushed out, shouting, "Hurry up, hurry up, go get the imperial physician."

Shen Mengyao, who heard the noise, walked in from outside: "What's wrong, aunt?"

Fuqing was very anxious.

"The Empress Dowager is in a coma. I have asked someone to invite the imperial physician. We need to invite the Emperor as well."

"Then I'll go." Shen Mengyao saw that everyone was in a hurry and volunteered.

Upon hearing the news, the emperor was very worried. He put down the government affairs at hand and hurried to Xingqing Palace.

The imperial physician has come and is taking the patient's pulse with trembling hands.

The emperor rushed forward anxiously and asked, "How is the Queen Mother's condition?"

The imperial physician withdrew his hand and fell to his knees with a thud: "The Queen Mother is seriously ill and barely breathing. I'm afraid..."

"What are you afraid of?" The emperor looked at him coldly and kicked him over. "You useless people, the more you treat the empress dowager's illness, the worse it gets. What's the point of having you?"