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

Zheng Xiyan stroked her sleeves gently, her eyes full of tenderness and expectations for her children, and slowly advised: "Yuer, Yier, your royal brother is right. You need to restrain your temperament, study hard, and stop indulging in play. Do you understand?" Her words were like the drizzle in spring, moistening everything silently, but every word fell into the children's hearts.

Xiao Shuyue and Xiao Chengyi looked at each other, a trace of reluctance flashed in their eyes, but they lowered their eyelids obediently, nodded lightly, and said in unison: "Your sons will follow your mother's teachings and will not disappoint you." Their voices were crisp and pleasant, with a bit of childish innocence.

Xiao Chengji looked at this scene, a wry smile appeared on his lips, a helplessness flashed in his eyes, and he sighed softly: "Mother always pampers them like this, and the child has become the bad guy." Although his words were teasing, he could not hide the tenderness and pampering in his heart.

"Children always have to grow up." Zheng Xiyan murmured to herself, her eyes soft and deep, as if she could see through the years and see what the children will look like in the future. "They will always grow up, and people also have to learn to grow through hardships."

When Xiao Chengji heard this, a warm current surged in his heart, but it was also mixed with a little bit of subtle sadness. He nodded gently, and said no more, "What the Queen Mother said is very true."

The atmosphere became warm and peaceful for a moment, until Zheng Xiyan smiled gently, breaking the peace: "Ji'er, you have been on the throne for eight years. Under your governance, this country is becoming more and more stable, and your mother is very pleased. However, you are also at the age to start a family. Your mother thinks that it is time to choose a queen for you to rule this vast land together. What do you think?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Xiao Shuyue and Xiao Chengyi's faces suddenly lit up with excitement. Xiao Shuyue could not contain her joy and said quickly, "The emperor is going to marry his wife. That's great!" Her eyes were sparkling with anticipation and curiosity.

Xiao Chengyi was not willing to be outdone and asked excitedly: "Mother, do you have a candidate in mind?" His voice was full of curiosity and excitement about the unknown.

Zheng Xiyan clapped her hands twice, signaling the two to stay calm, and said with a smile: "You two little brats, this is your brother's lifelong event, and your mother will discuss it with him. You just need to give your blessings from the sidelines."

After that, she turned to look at Xiao Chengji, her eyes full of tenderness and determination: "Now that the political situation is stable, as an emperor, you should have a successor, and you also need a virtuous wife to help you. Mother plans to hold a flower viewing banquet and invite the noble ladies in the capital to enjoy the flowers and drink tea, and also to select a queen with both virtue and talent for you, the emperor. What do you think?"

Xiao Chengji felt mixed emotions when he heard this. He knew very well that this was not only his mother's expectation, but also his responsibility as an emperor. He nodded slowly, his voice steady and firm: "It is your mother's arrangement, I have no objection. But..." He paused slightly, a trace of barely perceptible loneliness flashed in his eyes, "But the position of queen is too much to bear after all, I just hope she can treat me sincerely and spend this life together."

Zheng Xiyan was filled with emotion when she heard this. She gently patted the back of Xiao Chengji's hand to comfort and encourage him: "Don't worry, Ji'er. Your mother will definitely find you a queen who can help you stabilize your kingdom and stay with you forever."

Xiao Chengji bowed, his eyes gleaming with gratitude, and said in a gentle voice: "Thank you, mother."

Zheng Xiyan opened her red lips slightly, her voice soft and full of love: "On the day of the flower viewing banquet, spring is in full bloom, and all the flowers are in full bloom. You should come too! Your queen is the future queen mother of Daliang, so you should choose her yourself to show your importance. After all, she is the one who will stand shoulder to shoulder with you at the top of the world, weather the storms together, and be your lifelong partner. The queen mother also hopes that you can find a woman you love, enjoy the prosperity of the world together, and grow old together."

Hearing this, Xiao Chengji's lips curled up into a warm smile, which contained his vision and expectation for the future. He bowed again, his voice more firm: "Thank you, mother, for your help."

Zheng Xiyan nodded gently, with a touch of relief and complexity in her eyes. She raised her hand lightly, motioning Xiao Chengji to stand up, and then she swept her eyes over the three of them gently, saying, "Okay, it's rare that you three are here today, so you can have lunch with your mother in Weiyang Palace. It's rare for a family to be happy and harmonious."

"Yes!"

At lunchtime, the Weiyang Palace was filled with fragrance. The four people sat around a table, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious. Zheng Xiyan savored each dish carefully, with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction in her heart. In her previous life, such a family happiness was a luxury she had always dreamed of but could not reach. Now, in her new life, she not only has supreme power and status, but also has children around her, enjoying the purest happiness in the world.

But under this satisfaction, Zheng Xiyan's brows inadvertently revealed a hint of melancholy. She knew very well that behind this power and status were countless political struggles, countless sacrifices and tears. Only she could savor the ups and downs of life, and no one could understand the true meaning. But she also understood that this was her choice, a choice she had never regretted.

Even if she had to do it all over again, she would still do the same.

The lingering aroma of lunch seemed to still linger in every corner of the Weiyang Palace. The sunlight shone through the sparse clouds and sprinkled on the bluestone road, adding a bit of laziness and warmth to this spring afternoon. Xiao Chengji slowly left the Weiyang Palace and embarked on the long journey back to the Purple Palace.

Walking to the Imperial Garden, a breeze blew by, carrying the faint fragrance of peach blossoms, attracting people to stop. Under a peach tree, a woman in plain palace clothes, with loose hair and a few strands of black hair dancing in the wind, seemed to have forgotten all the troubles in the world, dancing in the scene of flying petals in an almost crazy manner. Although her movements were messy, there was an indescribable innocence and freedom, which blended into the spring scenery and was particularly eye-catching.

Xiao Chengji stared at the scene in front of him. The woman seemed to sense something and suddenly raised her head. Her gaze penetrated the gaps between the peach blossoms and fell directly on the imperial chariot he was riding. Instantly, a gleam of disbelief flashed in her eyes, and then, her madness became even more intense. She ran towards the imperial chariot regardless of everything, and kept calling out: "Your Majesty~ Your Majesty~"

Upon seeing this, the eunuch in front of the emperor's wife's face suddenly changed, and he hurriedly shouted: "Protect the emperor! Protect His Majesty!" Before he finished speaking, the well-trained guards surrounded Xiao Chengji like an iron wall and copper wall, isolating the crazy woman outside.

Faced with this sudden change, Xiao Chengji's brows flashed with doubt and confusion. Then the eunuch in front of the emperor rebuked, "Where did this madman come from? How dare he disturb the emperor!"