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

Xiao Xuanchen said slowly: "If I am determined to appoint Meng Xi as my consort, what will you do, mother?"

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother's face suddenly changed, her lips trembled slightly, and her eyes were full of disbelief. She almost trembled as she asked, "You...are you really so determined to do this?"

"I am the supreme ruler, the Son of Heaven. If even such a small matter as appointing a concubine needs others to interfere, then isn't it too cowardly for me to sit on the throne?" Xiao Xuanchen's every word was sonorous and echoed in the empty palace.

"Emperor!" the Queen Mother shouted angrily, her voice filled with disappointment and heartache that were hard to conceal. She stood up abruptly, her wide sleeves swaying gently with her movements.

Xiao Xuanchen was unmoved, staring at the Queen Mother with a sharp gaze: "Mother, I am no longer the child I once was, nor am I the new emperor who has just ascended the throne and needs your guidance in everything. Now, I have the ability to rule the world on my own, so why do you have to hold on to me so tightly?"

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother turned pale as paper, with a complex emotion flashing across her eyes, with both pain and reluctance: "Are you saying that you no longer need me and can support this vast country by yourself?"

"I do have the ability, but your Majesty Mother is unable to resolve the knot in her heart and has never been willing to let go." Xiao Xuanchen's answer was calm and direct, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, but every word was like a needle that pierced the Queen Mother's heart.

The Queen Mother's body swayed, and she almost lost her balance. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her eyes were dead silent: "Good! Good! I really raised a good son, but he is so eager to get rid of me."

At this time, Zhang Mengying took light steps, stepped forward and said, "Empress Dowager, please calm down. It's all my fault. This matter is caused by me and has nothing to do with Your Majesty. I am willing to take all the blame. I only ask that the Empress Dowager don't hurt the harmony between mother and son because of this."

The Queen Mother glanced at Zhang Mengying coldly, her tone full of sarcasm: "Humph, of course all this is your fault. If you hadn't deceived the emperor, how could the emperor be deceived by you?"

Zhang Mengying lowered her head and begged again: "Your Majesty, please calm down. I know I have committed a serious sin, but I beg you to take care of yourself."

Upon seeing this, Xiao Xuanchen protected Zhang Mengying behind him without further ado, his eyes firm, "Mother, this matter is all my fault, it has nothing to do with her. I beg you not to vent your anger on her."

The Queen Mother sneered, her eyes full of sarcasm: "It has nothing to do with her? Emperor, you really have deep feelings for her!"

The atmosphere in the palace suddenly dropped to freezing point. Xiao Xuanchen's move was actually his long-standing desire for the freedom of imperial power and his determination to break free from the shackles and take sole power. It was not only for Zhang Mengxi, but also for himself, in order to no longer be controlled by others and to take sole power.

"Mother! I have made up my mind on this matter and I will never back down." Xiao Xuanchen looked determined.

The Queen Mother sighed softly, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes, and finally turned into a faint sigh: "I hope you will not regret this decision in the future." After that, she slowly turned around, with a heavy step, and left the Purple Palace. As the Queen Mother's back gradually faded away, the atmosphere in the Purple Palace also sank.

At this moment, a crisp bell rang outside the palace, and along with the brisk footsteps of the maids, Zheng Xiyan's phoenix sedan slowly arrived. She hurriedly got off the sedan, her skirt fluttering. She walked forward quickly, with a bit of urgency and worry in her tone: "Mother!"

The Queen Mother had already sat in the sedan chair and looked at her with a hint of tenderness in her eyes: "I have come to understand how difficult it is for you today. The Emperor is determined to do what he wants. How can you persuade him?"

"Thank you, mother, for understanding my difficulties." Zheng Xiyan bowed respectfully.

"Go back to the palace." The Queen Mother ordered softly, and the sedan bearers immediately lifted the sedan chair upon hearing her words.

"Your son respectfully sends you off, mother."

When Zheng Xiyan turned around, a faint smile appeared on her lips, and she was secretly delighted. Seeing this, the eunuch in front of the emperor hurriedly stepped forward to salute, with a bit of flattery in his tone: "Your servant greets the queen, and the queen is blessed with good health."

"No need to be so polite." Zheng Xiyan waved her hand lightly, her demeanor showing the style of a queen.

Inside the palace, Xiao Xuanchen was gently helping Zhang Mengying to stand up, his eyes full of tenderness and comfort: "Don't be afraid, this has nothing to do with you." Zhang Mengying lowered her head, her eyes slightly red, and her voice was as thin as a mosquito: "Your Majesty, it's all my fault..."

"It's not your fault. I want to protect you." Xiao Xuanchen's words were like a spring breeze. He held Zhang Mengying's hand tightly, giving her the most solid support.

The eunuch in front of the emperor announced at the right time, breaking the warmth in the palace: "Your Majesty, the Queen is outside asking for an audience."

"Let her in." Xiao Xuanchen said softly, his eyes never leaving Zhang Mengying.

Zheng Xiyan walked into the palace, with a look of anxiety and self-blame on her face: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be well." Zhang Mengying also hurriedly bowed, with a bit of uneasiness in her voice: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be well."

Xiao Xuanchen raised his hand to signal the two to excuse themselves from the formalities, "Don't be so polite."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xiao Xuanchen then pulled Zhang Mengxi to his side, "Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Mengxi said in a tender voice.

Zheng Xiyan saw it all, but she didn't care. Instead, she slowly apologized, "It's all my fault. I failed to do what Your Majesty asked me to do. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

"This matter has nothing to do with the Queen. I knew from the beginning that my mother would not agree. The Queen does not need to blame herself."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xiao Xuanchen said softly, "Queen, I have decided to appoint Meng Xi as Consort Yi. The word 'Yi' means beautiful and dedicated, and Meng Xi is worthy of this word."

Zheng Xiyan smiled gently upon hearing this, but a subtle complex emotion flashed across her eyes: "I understand, then congratulations to Concubine Yi."

Zhang Mengying was flattered, but then she realized something and quickly bowed to express her gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty, and thank you, Queen."

At this moment, in the Purple Palace, the three people had their own thoughts. Xiao Xuanchen stood in the center, his eyes were like torches, but he only gently locked on Zhang Mengxi. Zhang Mengxi stood at the side, her sleeves fluttering, like a fragrant orchid blooming under the moon, elegant with a hint of struggle that was not easily detected.

Zheng Xiyan stood quietly by the side, with a barely perceptible smile on her lips, which was full of pride and calculation. She thought to herself that her plan was moving towards the preset track step by step, and under that secret joy, she also felt sympathy for Zhang Mengxi's fate.

Zhang Mengying's fingers gently stroked the corners of her clothes, and her delicate movements revealed her inner entanglement and anxiety. She looked up at Xiao Xuanchen, her eyes full of love, but she also knew that her original intention of entering the palace was not for this favor, but to repay King Xiang for saving her family from danger. She could not forget this favor and King Xiang's kindness.

Seeing this, Zheng Xiyan's eyes flashed with a subtle tenderness, and she sighed softly, as if she could understand every struggle in Zhang Mengying's heart. A young girl who had just come of age was sent to the palace as a pawn, but received Xiao Xuanchen's supreme favor. Anyone would lose themselves, and even sink into it, forgetting everything else.