Quick Travel: Three Thousand Worlds Are Just Playthings

After everything was settled, it was almost time for lunch. Tuoba Hong came back from the imperial study and had lunch with Shi Miao.

After lunch, Tuoba Hong went to the royal study to discuss the funeral rituals of the queen and the eldest prince, and Shi Miao also officially started the daily routine of raising a baby.

Originally, Tuoba Hong planned to leave the funeral of the queen and the eldest prince to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and did not intend to hold the queen accountable for all past crimes.

Who would have thought that due to the death of the queen and the eldest prince, Duke Zhu's mansion would target Shi Miao, who was pregnant, and sent repeated warnings to Shi Miao. This move completely angered Tuoba Hong.

In a rage, Tuoba Hong made all the evidence of the queen's murder of the emperor's heirs and poisoning the concubines known to the world, and directly ordered the queen to be abolished based on this.

The Queen's culpability is too numerous to describe. As the mother family of the Queen, the Zhuguo Palace has also become the target of Tuoba Hong's anger.

The nine Xia clans could be killed for just murdering the emperor's heir. Because of the great contribution that Duke Zhu had made to the country, Tuoba Hong was not charged with the death penalty for ruling Duke Zhu's palace.

However, the death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be avoided. Tuoba Hong issued an order to depose Duke Zhu from his title, withdrew the royal title of Duke Zhu's wife, and also expelled all the descendants of the Xia family who were officials in the court and demoted them to common people. He was exiled to Lingnan and was not allowed to return to Beijing for life.

There are many doubts about the death of the eldest prince. Although the exact murderer has not been found, in Tuoba Hong's opinion, the only ones who have the ability to do this are Concubine Jing and Concubine De.

Concubine De was less suspected, and General Huwei was far away at the border and could not act rashly, so Concubine De was demoted to Concubine De.

Concubine Jing and her father, Prime Minister Xu, did not have such good luck.

Because of Zhu Luoguo, Concubine Jing was demoted three levels by Tuoba Hong, demoted to a noble concubine, grounded for three months, and fined for one year.

As soon as Concubine Jing was dealt with, the imperial censor Zheng Wei scolded Prime Minister Xu in court, accusing him of not only accepting bribes and buying and selling official positions, but also indulging his subordinates, seizing land and taking human life lightly.

He also produced conclusive evidence. Looking at the irrefutable evidence on the table, Tuoba Hong was so furious that he asked the Royal Forest Army to capture Prime Minister Xu in court, throw him in prison, dismissal and investigate.

Then the prime minister's party was strictly investigated, and a series of heavy penalties were imposed, which made the ministers feel sad and felt a lot more at ease for a while.

The harem also regained a rare peace due to the death of the queen and the demotion of the concubine.

It was already after March that things calmed down completely.

Shi Miao was already more than four months pregnant at this time, her lower abdomen was slightly protruding, her whole body became softer than before, and her whole body exuded the brilliance of motherhood.

In the imperial garden, the early winter sunshine had long lost its dryness in summer. It hit Shi Miao warmly, and Shi Miao enjoyed it very much.

On the path ahead, a figure suddenly appeared, walking slowly towards Shi Miao. After bowing, he sat on the stone chair opposite Shi Miao.

Shi Miao smiled and raised his hand to pour him a cup of tea: "Mr. Li, try the osmanthus fruit tea I made myself. It tastes quite good."

"Your Majesty's craftsmanship has always been good, and she has never let me down. The same goes for the scented tea this time."

Li Yuan took a sip of the fruit tea and praised it from the bottom of his heart.

Being able to be praised by such a great beauty as Li Yuan made Shi Miao's smiling eyes turn into crescent moons.

Shi Miao remembered the dismissal of Prime Minister Xu and wanted to salute and thank Li Yuan. Before he could squat down, he was helped up by Li Yuan who understood Shi Miao's intention:

"Your Majesty, it doesn't have to be like this. Prime Minister Xu has committed numerous crimes. Even if I didn't ask my Majesty to ask me, I would have gone to investigate."

"No matter what, I still want to thank Mr. Li. Concubine Jinggui is an enemy to me. If Prime Minister Xu does not fall, I and the child in my belly will be plotted by him sooner or later."

"Don't be afraid, Your Majesty. Your Majesty will protect your Majesty, and all the ministers are willing to do their best for your Majesty."

Li Yuan supported Shi Miao, emotions surged in his eyes, but he finally suppressed it and whispered comfort.

"Thank you, Mr. Li. Mr. Li, please sit down. I brought some pastries that Mr. Li likes. Mr. Li can try them."

Shi Miao seemed to have gotten rid of the nightmare he had been having, and invited Li Yuan to take a seat in a cheerful tone.

Li Yuan did not refuse. After sitting down, he ate a piece of each pastry brought by Shi Miao. Looking at Shi Miao's expectant eyes, Li Yuan suddenly wanted to tease Shi Miao:

"Mother, the pastry you made this time seems to taste a little different?"

Li Yuan looked at Shi Miao in embarrassment, as if he found it difficult to evaluate.

Shi Miao suddenly became nervous: "Does it taste bad? No way? Let me try it."

Shi Miao took a piece of pastry and tasted it. He found that Li Yuan didn't like it too sweet, so when making these pastries, Shi Miao deliberately added less sugar.

"It tastes okay. It's no different from what I made for you before. Don't you think it tastes good?"

Shi Miao looked at Li Yuan doubtfully, and Li Yuan also looked back at Shi Miao. In the end, Li Yuan couldn't hold back and laughed first.

Shi Miao understood immediately: "Okay! Li Yuan, are you actually teasing me on purpose?"

"My dear, please don't be upset. It's your fault."

Li Yuan stood up with a smile and saluted Shi Miao.

"Okay, I'm not angry with you, just sit down quickly!"

After Li Yuan sat down, Shi Miao looked at Li Yuan and said with a smile: "Master Li, when you smile, you look as beautiful as His Majesty. You should really smile more."

When Li Yuan was about to say something, he looked up and saw His Majesty walking towards him, so he reminded Shi Miao: "Your Majesty, your Majesty is here."

When Shi Miao turned around, Tuoba Hong had already walked over. Li Yuan and Shi Miao stood up together and saluted:

"We have met your Majesty. May your Majesty be safe!"

"I have met your majesty. May your majesty be safe!"

Tuoba Hong first stretched out his hand to help Shi Miao up, and then shouted: "Excuse me! What are you two talking about?"

While Tuoba Hong helped Shi Miao sit down, he motioned with his eyes to Li Yuan to sit down too.

"Replying to Your Majesty, I am discussing with Mr. Li how these cakes taste."

Tuoba Hong glanced at Li Yuan displeasedly: "Zhiheng, Miaomiao's craftsmanship is not even comparable to that of the imperial chef, so you can't be too picky!

Besides, besides me, you are the only one who has the honor to eat the pastries made by Miaomiao. If you still have to be picky, it’s your fault. "

"What your Majesty said is true, but it's not the humble minister's fault. I hope your Majesty won't mind."

Li Yuan didn't want to explain what happened just now, so he stood up and apologized obediently when Tuoba Hong blamed him.

Tuoba Hong knew that with Li Yuan's personality, it was impossible for him to say anything inappropriate.

It was just that Li Yuan and Shi Miao's frequent meetings made Tuoba Hong unhappy, but Tuoba Hong couldn't defeat Shi Miao, so he deliberately misinterpreted Shi Miao's words and accused Li Yuan of his fault.

Tuoba Hong originally didn't want Shi Miao to meet Li Yuan often, but Shi Miao had been suffering from morning sickness recently, feeling unwell and not in good spirits.