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

At this moment, in the empty palace, a majestic and long voice echoed, "Your Majesty has arrived--" This call carried an irresistible solemnity and majesty.

All the ministers were awakened from their meditations, they quickly straightened their clothes and walked to the center of the hall with solemn expressions. They knelt on the ground in an orderly manner, with their heads bowed, their hands folded in front of their foreheads, and shouted in unison: "Long live the emperor!" This loud and orderly voice echoed in the empty hall, full of awe and loyalty to the emperor.

Xiao Xuanchen, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, slowly walked into the Taiji Hall. His face was slightly haggard, and the dark circles under his eyes showed that he had not slept well last night. He glanced at the people in the hall, and although his voice was a little hoarse, it still carried unquestionable majesty: "No need to be polite, everyone."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." All the ministers responded in unison, then returned to their seats, waiting for the emperor to speak.

In Weiyang Palace, Zheng Xiyan was sitting in front of the dressing table. She looked beautiful in the mirror and had a noble temperament. Zi Rui walked in lightly and reported softly, "Your Majesty, His Majesty was a few minutes late for the morning court this morning."

Zheng Xiyan frowned slightly when she heard this, and turned to look at Zi Rui: "Oh? Do you know why?"

Zi Rui lowered her head, her voice filled with hesitation: "I heard from people in Zichen Palace that His Majesty favored Concubine Zhang last night..." She paused here, as if she found it difficult to speak.

Zheng Xiyan understood and smiled gently: "I know." She turned around and continued to look at the bronze mirror, the jade comb in her hand gently sliding across her cascading black hair.

Seeing this, Zi Rui continued, "Also, Madam, His Majesty has just issued an edict to promote Concubine Zhang to Xiurong."

Biluo Shuangning, who was standing nearby, was shocked when she heard this: "Reshaping? This..."

"Madam, are you really..."

"Such favor is indeed unprecedented." Zheng Xiyan put down the jade comb in her hand, turned around, and looked at Shuang Ning and Zi Rui calmly, "However, it is his majesty's freedom to favor whomever he wants. As the queen, I naturally cannot interfere in your majesty's private affairs. As long as your majesty has an heir, which minister would care which concubine your majesty favors?"

"Your Majesty, it's not a bad thing that His Majesty is intoxicated by beauty." Zheng Xiyan chuckled.

Zi Rui opened her red lips and said softly, "Your Majesty is wise. As long as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is firmly seated in the East Palace, it doesn't matter who His Majesty favors."

Zheng Xiyan nodded slightly, a trace of deep thought flashed in her eyes: "Zi Rui is right."

Shoukang Palace was completely quiet. When the Empress Dowager heard about the morning court today, she couldn't help but frown. She asked in surprise, "The Emperor missed the morning court today?"

Nanny Yu bowed her head and said, "Reporting to the Queen Mother, it is correct."

The Queen Mother sighed and asked in confusion: "Since the Emperor ascended the throne, he has never missed a morning court session. What's going on?"

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Yu Ma's face. She whispered, "I heard that His Majesty summoned Concubine Zhang last night. By the way, he issued an edict this morning to promote her to Xiuyuan."

When the Queen Mother heard this, her face suddenly changed and she said angrily, "Ridiculous! Nonsense!"

Nanny Yu quickly comforted her: "Queen Dowager, calm down. Your Majesty may just be in a whim."

The empress dowager recalled the rumors she had heard a few days ago, about Zhang Mengying being the most beautiful woman in Shangjing. Although she had never seen her with her own eyes, she knew in her heart that this woman must have a beauty that could topple a country.

She couldn't help but worry. This woman had seduced the emperor right after entering the palace. If this continued for a long time, I'm afraid...

The Queen Mother sighed and asked, "What happened to the Emperor?"

Yu Ma Ma advised, "Queen Dowager, calm down and don't let it get you sick. His Majesty knows his limits and won't interfere with state affairs. Perhaps His Majesty was just in a momentary mood. After all, there hasn't been a beauty in the palace for a long time, and His Majesty just wanted something new. Besides, His Majesty didn't break the rules, otherwise Zhang Xiuyuan would have entered the palace on the day of the selection."

The Queen Mother sneered and said, "Isn't this exactly the same as what the late Emperor did back then? He brought her directly back to the Purple Palace on the day of the selection, favored her that night, and canonized her as a concubine the next day."

Yu Ma Ma hurriedly said, "Queen Dowager, calm down. His Majesty..."

The Queen Mother interrupted her and said in a deep voice: "How can I not be angry? I am worried that the Emperor will repeat the mistakes of the previous emperor, indulging in women and neglecting state affairs. It is the first time in my life that I have seen such a quick promotion."

She took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and said, "This queen is too indulgent to the emperor. She dares to choose such a woman into the palace."

Yu Ma explained, "Queen Dowager, you are wrongly accusing the Queen. His Majesty was present on the day of the selection. Zhang Xiuyuan was selected by His Majesty himself. What can the Queen do?"

The Queen Mother calmed down, thought for a moment, and said, "The Queen is indeed too weak. She indulges the Emperor again and again. This cannot go on."

"Queen, do you want to..."

The Queen Mother ordered, “Tell someone to go to the Purple Palace and ask the Emperor to come to Shoukang Palace after his morning court session.”

"Yes!"

Princess Shion

Zhang Mengying sat quietly in the bedroom, having long lost her sleepiness. The palace maids gently helped her bathe and change clothes, and put on the gorgeous palace dress embroidered with peonies for her. She gently arranged her clothes, but she felt a little uneasy. According to the rules, she should go to Weiyang Palace to pay her respects to the Empress as a sign of respect.

However, when she stepped out of the threshold of the Purple Palace, she was stopped by a palace servant. The palace servant bowed his head slightly and asked respectfully, "Madam Xiuyuan, please stay. May I ask where you are going?"

Zhang Mengying was slightly stunned, then replied: "I am going to the Weiyang Palace to pay my respects to the Empress."

The palace maid looked embarrassed and whispered, "Your Majesty, His Majesty has ordered you to wait in the Purple Palace. You'd better continue waiting."

Zhang Mengying frowned slightly, feeling conflicted. According to the rules, she should go to pay respects to the Empress. If she didn't pay respects after sleeping with the Empress, it would be impolite and she might even be scolded by the Empress. But she remembered that His Majesty had told her to wait for him to come back and have breakfast together.

After hesitating for a moment, she turned back to the Purple Palace and sat on the couch in front of the window. The sunlight shone through the window lattice onto her body, making her feel warm.