After killing four concubines, the queen was sentenced to death and reborn

Concubine Yi's heart was like being shrouded by dark clouds. Her brows were furrowed, and her eyes were filled with indescribable anxiety and doubt. She knew very well that her son, Prince Xiang, was a man of strong character. No matter how many storms he encountered in his daily life, he never backed down. But at this moment, he seemed to have changed overnight and let go of his obsession. How could she not be confused?

Prince Xiang slowly raised his head, his eyes seemed to contain thousands of words, but he dared not look directly at his mother's sharp eyes. He tried to make his voice sound calm, but it was still trembling: "Mother, nothing really happened, but... I feel that these days of fighting are too tiring, I... I don't want to fight anymore."

Concubine Yi's eyes were like two sharp swords, staring at Prince Xiang closely, refusing to miss any slight change in expression on his face.

She took a deep breath, as if she wanted to suck all the dust in the palace into her lungs, and her voice trembled slightly. "Your eyes tell me that you are lying. His Majesty was unable to touch you this time. Obviously there was external interference. Why did those ministers plead for you? The people you are friendly with are not powerful enough to shake His Majesty. Who is helping you behind the scenes?"

King Xiang was forced to have nowhere to escape by his mother's words. He had to lower his head and avoid the eyes that seemed to see through everything. He clenched his hands into fists, his knuckles turned white, as if silently telling of his inner struggle and pain.

Concubine Yi's heart moved. She recalled the tearful complaints made by Princess Xiang when she entered the palace, and she had some guesses in her mind. She knew her son. He had repeatedly ignored the princess and other women in the palace over the years, but under that indifference, there must be a hidden affection. Looking at the entire court, who else could make so many ministers join forces to plead for him except the powerful Duke Zheng?

"My mother didn't believe it before, but now she has to believe it." Concubine Yi sighed, with endless helplessness and disappointment in her voice. She seemed to see her years of hard work and expectations vanish in an instant.

King Xiang raised his head, his eyes full of shock and confusion: "Mother... have you guessed it all?"

Concubine Yi nodded gently, with a complex emotion flashing in her eyes: "You are my son, how can your every move be hidden from my eyes?" She paused and continued: "Over the years, you have repeatedly ignored the princess and ignored other women in the palace. Although I didn't point it out, I already knew it in my heart."

After hearing this, King Xiang lowered his head in guilt, his voice full of self-blame: "It is I who have let you down."

Concubine Yi sighed, her voice full of regret and disappointment: "Xuanqi! You are so confused! How can you give up your future for a woman?" She clenched the armrests of the chair with both hands, as if she wanted to vent all her anger and disappointment.

King Xiang raised his head, with a determined light in his eyes: "But mother, if it weren't for her this time, I would have had no way out. She not only saved my life, but also made me see my own heart clearly." Although his voice was calm, every word seemed to carry a thousand pounds of power, making it impossible to ignore his determination and firmness.

Concubine Yi looked at Prince Xiang. Her eyes, which had once been full of sharpness, now showed some hesitation and struggle.

"Have you really thought it through?" Concubine Yi's voice trembled slightly, as if she was carrying too much expectation and disappointment. She stared at the eyes of the King of Xiang, trying to catch a trace of hesitation from his deep eyes. However, the King of Xiang's eyes were as firm as a rock, and his persistence and determination made her heart sink.

Prince Xiang took a deep breath, straightened his spine, raised his head and looked at his mother. His voice was firm and powerful: "Mother, I think clearly. You can also see the current situation clearly. The military power in my hands is just a drop in the ocean in this big game. I can't win at all. If I insist on fighting, I will probably end up in disgrace and ruin, and the palace will be in ruins."

There was a sharp light in Concubine Yi's eyes. She stared at Prince Xiang closely, as if she wanted to see through him. Her voice was filled with disappointment and confusion: "Can't win? Is it true that you can't win, or do you simply not want to win?"

Prince Xiang lowered his head slightly, avoiding his mother's eyes that seemed to see through everything. He clenched his hands tightly, veins popping out, trying his best to suppress the struggle in his heart. He spoke in a low voice with a bit of humility: "Mother, please don't force me. There are some things that we can't change. Even if we are unwilling, we are powerless to change them."

Concubine Yi frowned, and a trace of anger flashed in her eyes. Her voice trembled, with a bit of helplessness and disappointment: "Okay! Now you think that your mother is forcing you!"

King Xiang raised his head, his eyes sparkling with pleading. He clasped his hands together, and said in a pleading voice, "Mother, Rong Le has married to Southern Xinjiang. Can you bear to see your son leave you too?"

Concubine Yi was silent for a moment and sighed. She looked at the pleading eyes of Prince Xiang, and an indescribable pain surged in her heart. She spoke slowly, with a trembling voice: "Are you threatening my mother?"

Prince Xiang shook his head hastily, his voice filled with urgency: "I dare not! I just want you to let go of your obsession. Over the years, you have been worrying about the future of the palace, but there are some things that we cannot control."

A trace of pain flashed in Concubine Yi's eyes. She slowly closed her eyes, as if trying to calm down her emotions. When she opened her eyes again, they were clear. She spoke in a low voice with a bit of determination: "Obsession? You were the one your father chose as the crown prince, and now you should be the one sitting on the throne. You have paid so much, are you going to give up so easily?"

Prince Xiang sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness in his voice: "But mother, the person sitting on the throne now is Xiao Xuanchen, not me, Xiao Xuanqi. He is the eldest son of father, and the throne cannot be mine. Father did pay attention to his sons and ministers back then, but human hearts are unpredictable, and things in the world are unpredictable. But father finally made him the crown prince, and he ascended the throne smoothly with the support of the royal family and court officials."

Concubine Yi was silent. She knew her son was right. But the reluctance and obsession in her heart were like a heavy shackle that she could not let go easily.

Prince Xiang sighed, turned around and looked out the window, his voice filled with endless sadness and helplessness: "The eldest son is the crown prince by right, we can only accept our fate, right?"