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

Yun'er asked softly in a voice almost like a whisper: "Girl, whose letter is this?" Her fingers unconsciously wrapped around the corner of her clothes, and the subtle movements revealed her inner curiosity and uneasiness.

Hearing this, Lu Lingyuan folded the letter in half quickly without hesitation. Her face instantly returned to its usual calmness, except for the corners of her tightly pursed lips, which revealed a hint of anxiety that was hard to capture, like an undercurrent surging under a deep pool.

"Butler, carriage, I need to go out for a while!" Although Lu Lingyuan's voice was calm, it contained unquestionable power.

Upon hearing this, the butler's expression changed slightly, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, "Miss, this... let me go and report to the madam first." There was a hint of hesitation and helplessness in his words, and his hands were rubbing the hem of his clothes nervously, as if this could relieve the pressure in his heart.

Lu Lingyuan's brows knitted slightly, like a distant mountain covered with mist, adding a bit of hazy beauty. Her eyes instantly became cold, like the cold wind in winter, piercing and sober. "No need, prepare the carriage immediately!" After saying that, she turned around and was about to leave, her back was resolute and proud.

"This..." The housekeeper looked at Lu Lingyuan's departing back, feeling mixed emotions and hesitant, but he didn't dare to make a decision easily.

At this time, the maid from the palace spoke slowly, her voice low and powerful, with unquestionable authority: "The future queen has spoken, why don't you go quickly."

The butler's face suddenly changed when he heard this, as if he was hit by an invisible heavy object, and his body trembled slightly. He took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and said coldly, "Yes." Then, he turned around hurriedly and walked out of the hall with firm steps.

But in a few moments, Lu Lingyuan was sitting in the luxuriously decorated carriage. The furnishings in the carriage were exquisite, but it could not hide the waves in her heart. Yun'er followed closely behind and asked in a low voice: "Miss, what is written in this letter? Who wrote it to you?"

When Lu Lingyuan heard this, a barely perceptible chill flashed across her brows. Her voice was low and powerful, like icicles condensed in winter: "The one in the palace." These three words, concise and heavy, revealed her irresistible fate.

"Your Majesty?" Yun'er heard this, a look of disbelief flashed across her eyes, her hands unconsciously twisted the corners of her clothes, and her voice trembled slightly. She looked up at Lu Lingyuan, only to see that her daughter's face was calm, but her deep eyes seemed to have thousands of words that were not expressed, like endless secrets hidden under a deep pool.

Outside the carriage, a breeze blew gently, rolling up a few fallen leaves. After circling in the air for a few times, they finally fell slowly to the ground, making a subtle but clear sound.

The hustle and bustle of the streets seemed to be isolated in another world, leaving only the quietness and heaviness in the carriage.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Lu Lingyuan said in a deep voice, with a sneer on her lips. There was both helplessness and sarcasm in that smile.

Soon, the carriage arrived at Yumanlou.

As soon as Lu Lingyuan and Yun'er got off the carriage, Rong An came forward with a smile on his face and said respectfully, "Your servant greets the princess!"

Lu Lingyuan looked at him calmly and said in a deep voice, "Get up!" Although her voice was calm, it revealed an unquestionable majesty.

"Thank you, Princess!" Rong An replied in a flattering manner, "His Majesty is waiting for you in the upstairs wing, Princess!" Rong An respectfully greeted Lu Lingyuan and went upstairs.

In the wing room, Xiao Chengji stood in front of the window, his back was tall and majestic, and there was a strong sense of oppression just from behind. He seemed to be isolated from the world, immersed in his own world alone.

The door was gently pushed open and Lu Lingyuan walked in expressionlessly.

When Xiao Chengji heard the noise, he turned his head slightly and a smile appeared on the corner of his lips. There was both tenderness and expectation in that smile.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be blessed with good health!" Lu Lingyuan bowed slowly, her voice calm and distant.

Xiao Chengji's smile widened. He immediately stepped forward, held her hand, and said gently, "No need to be so polite!" His voice was soft but firm, as if he was trying to narrow the distance between them.

However, Lu Lingyuan pushed his hand away calmly and stood there motionless with a cold expression on her face.

Xiao Chengji was not annoyed, he just invited her to sit down together, "Sit down! I thought you have been staying in the mansion these days to learn the rules of entering the palace, you must be a little bored, so I thought of bringing you out to relax before the wedding!"

However, Lu Lingyuan still stood there, her face full of boredom.

She knew that she would probably live such a boring life for the rest of her life. Her eyes revealed a kind of helplessness and resistance, as if she was telling of her inner struggle and pain.

"Do you want to look at me like this?" Xiao Chengji raised his lips slightly, looking at her lovingly. He seemed not to care about Lu Lingyuan's indifference and resistance, but just enjoyed the time alone with her.

"These days, I have actually thought a lot." Lu Lingyuan finally spoke, her voice calm and firm, "Your Majesty made me the queen, firstly to send a signal to the noble families to prohibit marriages; secondly, our Fanyang Lu family will take the lead in breaking the convention of not marrying into the royal family, providing an opportunity for Your Majesty to take a daughter from a noble family as a concubine in the future. The noble families have always prospered together and suffered together, and Your Majesty wants to watch them fight so that he can reap the benefits. I wonder if your guess is right?"

Lu Lingyuan's words revealed a kind of calculation and planning, and her eyes flashed with wisdom. She seemed to have seen through Xiao Chengji's intentions and her own role in this power game.

Xiao Chengji's hand, which was pouring tea, stopped in mid-air, and his eyes showed a look of shock. He was stunned for a moment, as if he was shocked by Lu Lingyuan's words. He knew that Lu Lingyuan was smart, and the girls taught by the Fanyang Lu family were always different from ordinary girls. But he didn't expect that she would think of this step and expose his intentions so directly.

After a moment of silence, Xiao Chengji slowly put down the teapot with a half-smile on his face. He then stood up, stepped closer, walked up to Lu Lingyuan, and chuckled, "You are really smart!"

"Your Majesty's methods are indeed brilliant!" Lu Lingyuan said sarcastically, her voice revealing a sense of irony and dissatisfaction.

Xiao Chengji raised his eyebrows, his expression was gloomy, and a hint of unknown light flashed in his eyes. He said in a low voice: "Sometimes, being too smart is not a good thing!" After that, he turned around and sat on the couch. Although he looked up at Lu Lingyuan, the strong sense of oppression could not be ignored by her.

"Sit down!" Xiao Chengji nodded slightly to the seat beside him, with a very intriguing expression on his face. He seemed to be giving Lu Lingyuan a chance to choose, and also giving her space to struggle.

Lu Lingyuan pretended to be calm and walked over and sat down, her eyes revealing a firmness and determination.

Xiao Chengji picked up the teapot and poured her a cup of tea himself, "Try it! This is the pre-rain Longjing tea I brought from the palace, this year's new tea!" His voice was gentle and considerate, as if he was trying to ease the tense atmosphere.

Lu Lingyuan took the teacup, took a sip and said, "Not bad!" Her voice was calm and distant, as if she was commenting on an ordinary cup of tea.

However, Xiao Chengji could sense some perfunctory and resistance in her tone. He curled his lips and chuckled, "That's good. I've heard that you like reading books. After you enter the palace, I'll have someone send the key to the library to the Weiyang Palace. You can go and read any book you want."

Lu Lingyuan had a quiet temperament since childhood. After returning to Fanyang alone, she became even more depressed. She spent her time reading, playing chess, embroidering, playing the piano, etc. She had always longed for the world in books. She wanted to ride a horse outside the Great Wall and see the beautiful mountains and rivers of Daliang... However, these dreams were now imprisoned in this magnificent palace.

"Thank you!" Lu Lingyuan replied in a low voice, revealing a sense of helplessness in her voice.

"Just thank you?" Xiao Chengji looked at her with a smile, his eyes full of affection, as if he was expecting something.

However, Lu Lingyuan just drooped her eyes slightly, ignoring his expectations and deep affection. She did not respond, but said, "If your majesty has nothing else to do, I will go back first."

After saying that, Lu Lingyuan was about to stand up, but Xiao Chengji grabbed her hand. He quickly stepped forward and pressed her down on the couch.

He put his hands on Lu Lingyuan's shoulders, leaned over slightly and whispered in her ear: "Why are you in such a hurry to go back? Is there something wrong?"

Lu Lingyuan turned her head slightly, and the warm breath sprayed on her cheeks. She felt her face was very hot, very hot, and soon her cheeks turned slightly red. She struggled to get up, "You..." Her face was full of shame and resistance.

However, Xiao Chengji was afraid of really angering her, so he continued, "I know you don't want to, but it doesn't matter. The wedding day is in three days, so be prepared and don't make any mistakes!"

Lu Lingyuan said nothing, her body swaying slightly, as if pushed by an invisible wind, she took several steps back, bowed hastily, and then turned and left in a hurry as if she was avoiding something. There was a hint of panic in her steps, but she forced herself to be calm. There were too many unspoken emotions hidden in her back, like the last fallen leaf in autumn, with endless bleakness and determination.

Rong An, who was standing outside the door, looked confused. How could Princess Wenping end the meeting so quickly? "Princess..." He called softly, but only saw the figure walking away without stopping.

Lu Lingyuan turned a deaf ear and walked straight forward. Seeing this, Yun'er became anxious and hurried to catch up, calling out, "Miss..." with a bit of anxiety and worry in her voice.

When the two were going downstairs, Cui Zhaoling happened to walk slowly towards them from the other end. Their meeting in the stairwell made the air seem to freeze for a moment.

Yun'er was sharp-eyed and reminded in a low voice: "Miss...Miss..." At the same time, she gently tugged at Lu Lingyuan's sleeve, trying to attract her attention.

The moment Lu Lingyuan's eyes met Cui Zhaoling, there was not the slightest ripple, as if he was just an insignificant passerby. She continued her pace, calmly and resolutely.

Cui Zhaoling's eyes flashed with a complex light, obscure and unclear, his heartbeat accelerated inexplicably at that moment, and his cheeks flushed slightly, as if he was touched by some inexplicable emotion. He stared at her back, and an indescribable impulse surged in his heart, wanting to reach out and keep her, but reason eventually overcame emotion, and he didn't dare, and couldn't.

"Young Master..." the servant beside him whispered a reminder, breaking the delicate silence.

Cui Zhaoling took a deep breath, slowly retracted his gaze, turned around, and stepped heavily onto the stairs. The waiter was sharp-eyed and immediately came up to him with a smile on his face: "Sir, please come in!"

Just as he passed a box, he glanced inside and unexpectedly discovered...

Xiao Chengji was sitting upright inside, his deep eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, and he took in everything that had just happened. Cui Zhaoling paused, then stepped forward, speaking in a low and respectful voice: "I greet Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be blessed with good health!"

Xiao Chengji stood up slowly, walked to him, raised a meaningful smile, and said softly: "What a coincidence, Minister Cui is here too!" There seemed to be endless amusement and deep meaning hidden in his words.

"I came here only to see a good friend." Cui Zhaoling answered in a deep voice, his eyes firm, but he could not hide the waves in his heart.

Xiao Chengji looked down at him. The identities of the two as love rivals made the atmosphere delicate and tense. "Alright, you can leave now!" he ordered calmly.

"Yes, I'll take my leave." Cui Zhaoling bowed and turned to walk towards the side room, with a hint of loneliness and determination in his back. All of this did not escape Xiao Chengji's sharp eyes, and the smile on his lips became even wider, as if everything was under control.

After Lu Lingyuan returned, Madam Lu had been waiting in her yard for a long time. When she saw her coming back, she immediately stepped forward and asked in a deep voice, "Yuan'er, who sent you the letter?"

"Your Majesty!" Lu Lingyuan said as she walked in without hiding anything.

"What did His Majesty say to you?" Madam Lu asked as she chased after Lu Lingyuan, with an anxious look on her face.

Lu Lingyuan replied as she walked away: "She didn't say anything, she just invited me to drink tea."

Madam Lu frowned and continued to ask, "Drinking tea? Then...then what else did you say? Did you say anything else? Yuan'er, you can't..."

"Mother, did His Majesty really not say anything? There is no need for me to hide anything from you?" Lu Lingyuan said calmly.

Lu Lingyuan continued, "The wedding will be in three days. Your Majesty just told your daughter not to make any mistakes on that day!"

"Others..." Madam Lu hesitated to speak. Just as she was about to enter the door, Lu Lingyuan turned around and replied calmly, "Mother, I'm a little tired. Please go back first!"

After saying that, Lu Lingyuan closed the door and locked herself in the room. She couldn't hide the fatigue on her face and could only sigh helplessly.

"Madam, why don't you go back first!" Yun'er said in a low voice.