The blackened marquis insists that the husband should be more valuable than the son!

Xiao Yu stopped in confusion: "Mother?"

Empress Lu had a gentle smile on her face and waved at him. Xiao Yu walked up to her obediently and let her touch his head. Then he heard her say, "Mother will do something later. You just stay in the palace. Do you hear me?"

When Xiao Yu heard this, he nodded obediently.

When he turned around, he saw Xue Mingyue standing in the center of the palace. His eyes widened slightly and he subconsciously turned to look at Queen Lu.

...So the matter that mother was talking about was with Sister Xue?

Xiao Yu quickly felt a little guilty. He hadn't explained yet the last time he falsely conveyed his mother's order to run away from the palace. It couldn't be because of this incident that his mother summoned him into the palace today.

When passing by Xue Mingyue, he winked at her quietly.

Xue Mingyue, although Xue Mingyue didn't want to know, she guessed what he meant at once. Her expression was a little complicated. He wanted her to keep the secret of that day in front of Queen Lu.

Silly child, how could you leave the palace without Queen Lu's permission?

She thought so in her heart, but nodded calmly. Never mind, after today, he will know what he needs to know, so it doesn't matter if he looks a little childish now.

Sure enough, seeing that she understood what he meant, Xiao Yu became happy almost instantly.

Xiao Yu left the palace happily.

The light and lively footsteps disappeared, and the palace returned to its solemnity and tranquility, making it look more like a place for handling official business than a residence, without any human presence.

It was not until this moment that Xue Mingyue vaguely realized that something was wrong.

This queen seemed different from what she had imagined.

Xue Mingyue shook her head, put these inappropriate thoughts behind her, and bowed to Queen Lu first.

"No need to be so polite. You and I are now partners. Lord Xie has his own considerations for sending you to the palace."

Queen Lu's faint voice sounded above.

Xue Mingyue paused for a moment, stood up to thank him, raised her head and looked forward, just in time to meet the other person's gaze. Her expression was very calm, which was very different from the queen in her memory.

It was obvious that what they were going to do was equivalent to forcing the emperor to abdicate, even though their apparent intention was to make him admit his mistake.

But this expression shouldn't appear on his queen's face.

Xue Mingyue was stunned for a moment, and then she remembered what Xie Lang had said to her last night - the reason why Queen Lu was willing to help and even get involved was because of the deceased prince.

She has been searching for the truth about her child's death.

Now I finally have the chance to find out what happened back then...

At this time, Empress Lu said, "I have already dismissed the palace maids in the palace. You don't have to worry about others hearing what you and I say. If you have anything to say, just say it."

Xue Mingyue was stunned for a moment and subconsciously reached out to touch her face.

Was she being so obvious?

But she quickly reacted, pondered for a moment, and tentatively asked a question that she was more interested in but would not affect the plan:

"My Lady, is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really a very good person?"

·

at the same time.

The Chengqian Hall where Emperor Jingping lived was strictly guarded by layers of imperial guards inside and outside.

Only a few confidential ministers knew about the emperor's serious illness the day before yesterday. Since yesterday, a steady stream of court officials and royal family members have wanted to visit him, but without exception, they were all stopped outside.

This branch of the Imperial Guard was directly guarded by the commander of the Imperial Guard, Zhang Yao.

Like Lian Dongshu, he is a close confidant of the emperor and is responsible for the safety of the imperial city all year round.

Some time ago, Zhang Yao was rectifying military discipline in the Imperial Guards camp outside the city, indicating that the task of guarding the palace would be temporarily handed over to Earl Changning, who was Queen Lu's brother, Earl Changning Lu Ziji.

Until yesterday, the emperor urgently summoned Zhang Yao back to the palace.

When Xie Lang led his men to Chengqian Palace, the first person he saw was Zhang Yao, who was standing at the door of the palace loyally. His eyes dimmed and he turned his head and winked at the person next to him.

Xijiang immediately understood what he meant. This was a signal to take action.

He nodded and immediately retreated.

Zhang Yao, who was standing in front of the palace gate, also saw the figure walking towards him from afar. After recognizing who it was, he immediately frowned and subconsciously grasped the hilt of the knife at his waist.

Dingyuan Hou Xie Lang, why is he here?

The moment he saw him, Zhang Yao's vigilance reached its highest point. Before his majesty passed out last night, he had told him to be especially careful of Marquis Dingyuan. If he showed any rebellious intentions, he could take people to capture him without asking for permission.

"Commander Zhang, long time no see."

Xie Lang walked calmly and looked at him calmly.

Zhang Yao was extremely solemn about his appearance, but he could not show such a tendency on his face. He frowned and reminded: "Marquis Dingyuan, His Majesty did not summon you today, why are you here?"

"It's for official business, of course."

Xie Lang stated in a straightforward tone: "Lord Lian suspected that there was something wrong with the Taoist priest who refined the golden elixir for His Majesty. After inquiring about his whereabouts yesterday, he left the capital to chase him. He has temporarily handed over all official duties to me."

He raised his eyes and looked at Zhang Yao coldly: "I have important official business to report to His Majesty."

Zhang Yao suddenly clenched the handle of the knife.

impossible!

His Majesty is now so wary of him and is about to take back the power of the imperial guards that he has given away. How could Lian Dongshu not see it?

How could he leave Beijing at such a critical moment?

Zhang Yao narrowed his eyes and said sternly, "No one can enter the palace without your Majesty's summons. Marquis Dingyuan, please go back."

Xie Lang did not respond to his words immediately.

Instead, he looked past him and towards the tightly closed palace door, as if he could directly see Emperor Jingping inside.

After a moment, Xie Lang focused his attention on Zhang Yao.

"I discovered that the Crown Prince's death was not an accident, but was intentional. I wonder if Commander Zhang could report this to His Majesty?"

His tone remained unchanged.

But just this sentence was enough to make everyone present feel like a bolt from the blue.

Over the years, the emperor has never appointed a crown prince. As a crown prince who died young, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has appeared in public many times.

But it was the first time I heard someone say that there was something strange about the Crown Prince's death.

Zhang Yao's head buzzed, and he almost couldn't hold his knife. His pupils shrank suddenly, and his face was full of horror. After a long while, he finally found his voice:

"Xie Lang! What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Your Highness's accidental death on the battlefield that year was also confirmed by His Majesty..."

"Commander Zhang, why are you so anxious to deny my words?"

Before Zhang Yao could finish his words, he was interrupted by Xie Lang's voice.

"I sent people to visit everywhere and finally got relevant evidence. Whether it is true or not is up to your Majesty to judge. Or can you, Commander Zhang, handle this matter on your behalf?"