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

When the emperor passed away, the whole country mourned. Xiao Chengji ordered that the coffin be kept for twenty days. These twenty days passed quickly, and Xiao Chengji announced to the world in the Hall of Supreme Harmony that he had ascended the throne and become emperor.

On the second day, he issued an edict to honor his biological mother, the late emperor's original wife, Zheng, as the Empress Dowager, and his grandmother, Sun, as the Grand Empress Dowager.

On the third day, he issued an order to promote the third prince Xiao Chengyi to the title of King Cheng.

Because Xiao Chengji was still young and his wedding would take several years, and the Empress Dowager had suffered a stroke and was difficult to move, the two of them did not move to another palace. The Empress Dowager still lived in Shoukang Palace, and Zheng Xiyan lived in Weiyang Palace and was still in charge of the affairs of the harem.

The rest of Xiao Xuanchen's concubines all moved into the Cining Palace, and the young princes and princesses also moved to the Yanqing Palace.

A month later, Zhang Menghan suddenly fell ill in the middle of the night. When the imperial physician arrived, he was already dead.

Zheng Xiyan ordered the palace servants to bury her according to the regulations for a concubine dowager and to be buried with her in the imperial mausoleum.

Outside Shangjing City, Zhang Menghan, dressed as an ordinary woman, was sent out of the city by Zirui. There was already a carriage outside the city, and a young man was standing next to the carriage.

"Yunlang!" Zhang Menghan looked at the man she longed for day and night and ran over.

The Yunlang that Zhang Menghan mentioned is her sweetheart Li Yun. When Zhang Shangshu was not yet successful in his early years, he had a friend with whom he often interacted, but unfortunately he later fell ill and died.

Before his death, he entrusted Li Yun to Shangshu Zhang. When Li Yun was ten years old, he moved into the Shangshu Mansion. To the outside world, Li Yun was the adopted son of the Zhang family.

The two of them had been childhood sweethearts and had long been secretly in love with each other, but they could not resist the arrangement of Minister Zhang, so Zhang Menghan had to enter the palace as a concubine.

The night before entering the palace, the two agreed that no matter what happened in this life, they would never leave each other and would only stay together until the end of their lives.

Now, they have finally waited for the day when all their hard work will pay off.

"Mengxi!" Li Yun hugged her tightly in his arms, and finally a smile appeared on his face, "Let's never separate again!"

"Okay." Zhang Menghan's eyes were moist and she felt deeply moved.

Zi Rui, who was standing not far away, was moved when she saw this scene. After a moment, she slowly stepped forward and said in a gentle voice, "Miss Zhang, I will take you here."

Li Yun let go of Zhang Menghan. Zhang Menghan turned around and quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. She said gratefully, "Aunt Zirui, please tell the Queen that I, Zhang Menghan, will never forget her kindness. I hope I can have the opportunity to repay her in the next life."

Zi Rui smiled and said softly, "Miss Zhang, you are too kind. You have earned all this yourself." As she spoke, Zi Rui took out a stack of banknotes from her bosom and stuffed them into her hands. "This is what the queen meant. Miss Zhang would rather give up the hard-earned glory and wealth to travel the world with her beloved. The queen admires this courage and luck. I hope that Miss Zhang and Mr. Li can love each other as before and grow old together!"

Li Yun put his arm around Zhang Menghan's shoulders. His heart and eyes were filled with her. He was truly happy and relieved from the bottom of his heart.

Zhang Menghan heard the hidden meaning. In fact, the queen was also very pitiful. So what if she was the queen? She could only be trapped in the deep palace for her whole life, without freedom. She had never experienced the deep love of ordinary people, let alone dared to experience it. She would be trapped in that square world for her whole life...

"Aunt Zirui, please thank the Queen for me. I hope that the Queen will be safe and sound in the future and get what she wants!" Zhang Menghan wished sincerely.

"I will definitely convey Miss Zhang's words." Zi Rui nodded with a smile.

Li Yun helped Zhang Menghan get on the carriage, and he drove away alone.

……

Weiyang Palace

Zheng Xiyan's life was no different from before. Now that Xiao Xuanchen was dead, how should everyone in the harem live their lives or do what they did?

The previous dynasty had the assistance of Duke Zheng and several other ministers, and everything went relatively smoothly.

Under Zheng Xiyan's management, the harem has always been peaceful and calm. No one dares to show up, and everyone behaves like a good person.

The princes and princesses would go to the Funing Palace to study every day, and they would select the sons and daughters of several ministers in the court to enter the palace to study with them.

However, the person Zheng Xiyan most wanted as her study companion, Lu Lingyuan, the eldest daughter of the head of the Fanyang Lu family, did not enter the palace.

Lu Lingyuan is only eight years old this year and seldom enters the palace, but she is said to be very smart. She could read at the age of three and could speak eloquently at the age of five. She has the demeanor of a talented woman of her generation.

The Fanyang Lu family has been a prominent family well-known in the court and the country since the Eastern Han Dynasty. At its peak, it was even able to decide the candidate for emperor.

Zheng Xiyan's purpose in doing this was very simple. His father and grandfather only had the military power in their hands, and they could suppress the enemy with force. If he had the support of the Lu family of Fanyang, Ji'er would be able to sit more firmly on the throne in the future.

Moreover, the daughter of the Fanyang Lu family is famous for her virtue. If Lu Lingyuan can become the next queen, it will be a blessing for Ji'er.