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

Concubine Yi's eyes wandered over Zhang Mengying, half suspicious and half scrutinizing, as if she wanted to see through her. She slowly asked, "What on earth are you trying to do?"

Zhang Mengying lowered her eyes slightly, a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and she said softly: "Sister, you misunderstood. I am really hungry. Please understand that I worked hard to serve you last night."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Yi's face darkened even more. She stood up suddenly and glared at Zhang Mengying, "Are you mocking my fall from favor, or are you showing off your favor to me?"

Zhang Mengying shook her head gently and said in a gentle tone: "Sister, of course I don't dare."

Caiwei, who was standing by, saw this and hurriedly stepped forward and said softly, "Your Majesty, calm down. This is Yuhua Palace after all."

Zhang Mengying looked at the palace maid waiting beside her and asked, "Is breakfast ready?"

The maid responded respectfully in a clear voice: "Your Majesty, breakfast is ready."

Zhang Mengying smiled slightly. She stood up and made a gesture of invitation to Concubine Yi, with a bit of pride in her smile: "Sister, please."

Yi Zhaoyi suppressed her anger and followed Zhang Mengying into the dining room with a cold face. The two sat opposite each other. The table was full of delicious food and the aroma was fragrant, but Yi Zhaoyi had no appetite. On the other hand, Zhang Mengying was elegant and ate every bite with relish. The satisfaction and enjoyment made Yi Zhaoyi feel even worse.

Finally, Zhang Mengying finished her meal, took the handkerchief handed to her by the palace maid, gently wiped the corner of her mouth, and then ordered: "Go away."

"Yes!"

After the palace servants cleared away the food one by one, the dining hall was completely silent, leaving only the atmosphere of the confrontation between the two. Concubine Yi's patience was also exhausted, and she could not hold it in any longer, and said coldly: "Now, you can finally speak!"

Zhang Mengying smiled slightly, waved her hand to signal the palace maids to leave, and said, "Everyone, leave!"

"Yes!"

When there was no one else in the dining hall, Concubine Yi said angrily, "Don't challenge my patience again and again."

"Why are you so anxious, sister? Being impatient is a big taboo." She slowly took out an exquisite wooden box from her sleeve and gently pushed it in front of Concubine Yi.

Confused, Yi Zhaoyi asked, "What is this?"

"A treasure used to consolidate one's favor." Zhang Mengying looked mysterious.

Concubine Yi frowned and stared at the wooden box, her mind full of doubts: "What on earth is this?" When she picked it up and was about to open it, she was stopped by Zhang Mengying, "Wait a minute, sister."

"what happened?"

Zhang Mengying chuckled and said, "Your Majesty has been very busy with government affairs recently. If you can personally make a tonic soup, add this ingredient to it, and send it to the Purple Palace, I can assure you that you will be able to regain the emperor's favor."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Yi's expression changed slightly, "Are you serious?"

"Of course I take it seriously." Zhang Mengying said with a smile.

Yi Zhaoyi stared at the wooden box closely, feeling both expectation and fear. She felt that something was not right with this thing, and seemed to have guessed what was inside. "Did you take any banned drugs?"

Zhang Mengying interrupted her, smiling in an unfathomable way, "Whether you use it or not is entirely up to you. I am just providing an opportunity, but it is up to you to grasp it."

Concubine Yi stared at the wooden box, her fingers trembling slightly, her heart full of contradictions and struggles. "Do you really want to use such a dirty trick?"

Zhang Mengying raised her lips in disapproval, as if all the means in the world were nothing but passing clouds in her eyes. "Humph! It doesn't matter what means you use, as long as they work. It's up to you whether to use them or not, but I want to remind you, don't use them too much, or it might backfire."

Concubine Yi couldn't resist the desire for grace in her heart. She held the exquisite box tightly and hurriedly left Yuhua Palace. In her heart, she had the desire to regain the emperor's favor, but also had a faint worry about the unknown consequences. But at this moment, there was no way back.

When Concubine Yi disappeared outside the door, Zhang Mengying raised her lips with a meaningful smile, "It's a pity that such a good thing is enjoyed by me alone."

As soon as Concubine Yi left Yuhua Palace, the news reached Weiyang Palace.

In the Weiyang Palace, sunlight shines through the window lattice, onto the woman who is embroidering a bellyband stitch by stitch. Biluo rushes in, breaking the silence of the room, "Your Majesty, Consort Yi has left Yuhua Palace."

Zheng Xiyan paused her embroidery needle when she heard this. She looked up at Biluo with a hint of deep meaning in her eyes. "You're leaving Yuhua Palace at this hour?"

Biluo explained, "Your Majesty, Concubine Yi asked Zhaoyi to have breakfast in Yuhua Palace."

Zheng Xiyan asked again: "Where is that thing? Did she take it with her?"

Biluo nodded and said, "I took it away, but do you think Concubine Yi will be able to use it?"

Zheng Xiyan chuckled, and that chuckle contained the calmness of someone who knew everything. "How could she miss such a good opportunity? If she wants to change her fate, she will definitely use it. We just have to wait and see."

"Yes!"

In Shoukang Palace, the Queen Mother finished worshipping Buddha and walked slowly in the courtyard behind the Buddhist temple. Nanny Yu followed closely beside her, reporting the trivial matters in the palace in a soft voice. "Last night, was Concubine Yi serving you again?" the Queen Mother asked.

"That's right, Your Majesty," replied Nanny Yu.

"I don't know what kind of magic potion she has given the emperor. When Concubine Yi was in the emperor's favor, he didn't favor only one person like this." The empress dowager was puzzled. She could never have imagined that her son would be so bewitched by a woman.

Yu Ma Ma gently consoled her, "Empress Dowager, His Majesty knows what's right. He has many children and his government is stable. These are all good signs. As for who His Majesty favors, it won't cause any more trouble. Just let His Majesty do as he pleases."

The Queen Mother sighed softly and looked into the distance, with a hint of worry in her eyes, "I am afraid that this is only calm on the surface, and there are still storms behind the scenes."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Perhaps you are worrying too much." Nanny Yu comforted softly.

"I hope I'm just overthinking it." The two continued their stroll in the warm autumn sun.

In Yihua Palace, the light gauze danced and the faint fragrance floated in the air. Concubine Yi returned from Yuhua Palace, her steps hurried with a subtle heaviness, her heart seemed to be burdened with a thousand pounds, but her face was trying her best to maintain her usual gentleness and composure.

"Cai Wei," she said softly, "Go and tell the kitchen to cook a pot of fish maw and chicken soup."

"Yes, your Majesty." Caiwei bowed and accepted the order, but she was secretly speculating in her heart and did not dare to ask more questions. Her master seemed to be acting strange after coming out of Yuhua Palace. There was a wooden box hidden in her sleeve, and no one knew what it was.

Yi Zhaoyi slowly walked into the inner room. She was lying on the soft couch. Her figure was frail, but she seemed to be able to carry thousands of thoughts. She stared at the wooden box in her hand. The box was simple and unadorned.

A clear child's voice broke the silence, and the Fifth Prince, with a carefree smile on his face, threw himself into the arms of Consort Yi. He accidentally touched the wooden box in Consort Yi's hand and knocked it to the ground.

"What is this?" The Fifth Prince squatted down and picked up the wooden box on the ground, with a curious look on his face. Seeing this, Concubine Yi's heart tightened, and she quickly stood up and almost instinctively took back the wooden box, while scolding: "You kid, do you still have any manners? You are so reckless all day long."

The Fifth Prince was startled by his mother's sudden severity. He looked up at Concubine Yi, his eyes full of confusion and grievance: "Mother, what's wrong with you?"

Concubine Yi looked at her son's clear and innocent eyes, and the reproach in her heart instantly softened. She took a deep breath, calmed down, hid the wooden box back into her sleeve, and said in a softer tone: "Mother is fine, just a little tired these days. You go and play, mother wants to be quiet."

She patted the Fifth Prince's head gently and watched him skip away. She turned around and sat back on the couch again, looking out the window, feeling mixed emotions.