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

"Mother, I want to ask you a question!" Lu Lingyuan suddenly stood up, folded her hands lightly in front of her abdomen, with a meaningful expression on her face.

"Oh? Go ahead and talk. I'm listening." Zheng Xiyan raised her hand slightly, signaling Lu Lingyuan not to be so polite.

Lu Lingyuan took a deep breath and said slowly: "Mother, do you still remember how you felt and how you spent that night when the late emperor favored his concubine for the first time?" If there is anyone in this world who can understand her, it can only be her mother.

Hearing this, the smile on Zheng Xiyan's face gradually faded, her eyes drooped slightly, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly, like the wings of a butterfly that were about to wither in autumn, with a hint of imperceptible sadness.

"It happened so long ago, I can't even remember it." Zheng Xiyan's voice was low and slow, and every word seemed to flow out slowly from the bottom of her heart. A complex and indistinguishable look flashed across her eyes, and there was an indescribable sense of relief.

That night, to her, was already a thing of the past life. She vaguely remembered that she sat alone in front of the window of her bedroom, from nightfall to dawn, without sleeping all night. Thinking about it now, it really seemed like a lifetime ago, like a dream.

"Now that I think about it, I don't know how I got here step by step over the years." Zheng Xiyan's tone was trembling slightly. Even though she was now the queen mother and had the power and status that many people in the world dreamed of, she did not feel truly happy and satisfied in her heart.

Lu Lingyuan looked at Zheng Xiyan and spoke slowly, her voice firm and serious, "Mother, I can see that the late emperor always has a place in your heart."

Zheng Xiyan's expression suddenly changed at that moment, like frost in autumn. She suddenly became emotional. Of course, she always had him in her heart, but it was because of hatred, overwhelming hatred.

"Queen, you have overstepped your bounds." Zheng Xiyan's voice sounded solemnly with unquestionable majesty. Her usually dignified face was now filled with a hint of anger, like a frosted leaf in the cold wind, appearing particularly harsh. Her words, like a blade, pierced into her heart.

"I said something out of turn, please forgive me, mother!" Lu Lingyuan knelt down hurriedly. Her eyes, which were usually as bright as autumn water, were now filled with fear and anxiety. There was a hint of trembling in her voice, like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind, helpless and drifting.

Zheng Xiyan took a deep breath, her chest heaving, obviously trying her best to suppress her inner anger, and said angrily: "Get up!" There was unquestionable majesty in her tone, but also a hint of imperceptible fatigue.

"Yes, thank you, mother." Lu Lingyuan whispered, her voice as thin as a mosquito. When she stood up, her body swayed slightly, like a weak willow in the wind and rain, appearing particularly lovable.

At this moment, a clear and pleasant voice broke the silence in the palace, "Mother..." Xiao Shuyue's voice, like the warm sunshine in spring, instantly dispelled the chill in the palace and eased the atmosphere a lot, "Mother, the Queen's sister-in-law is here too!"

Xiao Shuyue smiled as she stepped forward and bowed slightly. "I pay my respects to the Queen Mother and the Empress's sister-in-law."

"Get up!" Zheng Xiyan's expression softened a little, and her voice became gentle, like the gurgling of a stream, with a hint of imperceptible tenderness, "Why are you here at this hour?"

"My royal brother said yesterday that my third royal brother will attend court in the future and will not have to go to lectures. I can also take a break every other day and will not have to go every day." When Xiao Shuyue learned the news yesterday, the joy in her heart was like a spring. When she mentioned it now, she still couldn't hide her excitement.

"Imperial sister-in-law~" Xiao Shuyue walked forward, her bright eyes curiously falling on Lu Lingyuan's belly, "Imperial sister-in-law, there really is a child in your belly! How magical!" As she spoke, she gently stroked Lu Lingyuan's belly with her hands, her eyes full of tenderness and expectation, as loving as a mother.

"Yes! In another five months, you will be able to see her." Lu Lingyuan lowered her eyes slightly, with a hint of tenderness in her voice.

"Then I have to prepare a big gift for my future nephew, since I'm his aunt." Xiao Shuyue said excitedly, with anticipation gleaming in her eyes.

"Okay." Lu Lingyuan replied in a calm tone, but there were subtle changes of emotion in her eyes.

Xiao Shuyue's eyes lit up, and she continued, "Is it a little prince? Or a little princess?" She asked expectantly, but she was thinking secretly in her heart. She knew that the first child of the emperor's sister-in-law was highly expected by both the palace and the government. It would be best if she gave birth to a prince, which was what her mother and brother hoped for.

"Whether it's a prince or a princess, it's all good." Lu Lingyuan smiled gently, caressing her belly with both hands, her eyes full of maternal love and expectation. To her, as long as it is her child, whether it is a boy or a girl, it is her child and the treasure she cherishes in her life.

"What the Emperor said is absolutely right." Xiao Shuyue's lips curled up into a gentle smile, her eyes flickering with a smart light, but she also took the opportunity to capture the subtle changes in Zheng Xi's expression.

"Okay, I'm tired, you guys can leave!" Zheng Xiyan's voice was a little hoarse, and a barely perceptible trace of fatigue and boredom flashed across her eyes like a tide.

"Yes, I obey your command and will take my leave now." Lu Lingyuan bowed and saluted with a dignified posture and a barely perceptible tremor in her voice.

Seeing this, Xiao Shuyue knew in her heart that her mother was in a bad mood today, so she tactfully said no more and just bowed softly, saying in a gentle and respectful voice: "Your son will also take his leave."

"Yeah." Zheng Xiyan responded softly, then slowly stood up without any extra expression on her face.

Xiao Shuyue carefully helped Lu Lingyuan walk out of Shoukang Palace. When they stepped over the threshold, she gently reminded her, "Be careful, sister-in-law. The threshold is a bit high." Her words were full of care and consideration.

Lu Lingyuan was in a complicated mood. She felt that what she had just said was inappropriate and she regretted it very much.

"Okay." Lu Lingyuan's voice was as calm as autumn water.

"Sister-in-law..." Xiao Shuyue's voice was gentle and concerned, with a bit of the delicacy and innocence that only a young girl could have. She gently waved the round fan in her hand, her eyes fixed on Lu Lingyuan's face, "I heard that the concubines officially entered the palace yesterday. When they paid their respects to the Empress this morning, were they still respectful to you, sister-in-law?"

Lu Lingyuan seemed a little absent-minded. She was completely unaware of Xiao Shuyue's question and did not give any response.

Seeing this, Xiao Shuyue couldn't help but frown slightly. She lowered her voice and called softly again: "Imperial sister-in-law..."

"Imperial sister-in-law..." Xiao Shuyue called again in a gentle voice.

Lu Lingyuan finally woke up from her deep thoughts, as if she had woken up from a long dream. She gently raised her hand and stroked the non-existent wrinkles on her sleeves, and forced a faint smile on the corner of her mouth. "Huh? What's wrong?" she asked. Although her voice was soft, it could not hide the fact that she was worried. There seemed to be endless waves hidden in the depths of her eyes.

Xiao Shuyue's eyes were gentle and concerned, and she whispered softly, "What's wrong with you, sister-in-law? Are you worried about something?" A hint of worry that was hard to conceal flashed across Xiao Shuyue's eyes as deep as autumn water.

Lu Lingyuan tilted her head slightly, a gentle smile appearing at the corner of her mouth, but beneath that smile, there seemed to be thousands of words hidden, and complex emotions flowed in her eyes. "Nothing, I'm just a little tired lately." Lu Lingyuan said casually with an excuse.

Seeing this, Xiao Shuyue frowned slightly, and the doubts in her heart became even greater, "Sister-in-law, are you in a bad mood? Or is it that our mother..." Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by Lu Lingyuan with a gentle but firm look.

"No, sister, you're worrying too much." Lu Lingyuan shook her head gently, "It's just that pregnant women always have some hardships, and they look a little haggard."

Xiao Shuyue understood what was going on, but she didn't want to ask any more questions. She smiled gently and said, "Then your Majesty's sister-in-law should go back and rest quickly. Your health is very important. Do you want to call the imperial physician to take a look?" Her words were full of concern and thoughtfulness.

Lu Lingyuan shook her head gently and said in a deep voice, "No need."

Hearing this, Xiao Shuyue no longer insisted and slowly bowed, "Then I won't bother you, sister-in-law. I respectfully send you off."

Lu Lingyuan suddenly said, "Sister Changle will be married soon. She is your eldest sister, and you should go and congratulate her."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shuyue quickly responded, "Don't worry, Imperial sister-in-law. I have already asked people to prepare the gifts, and I will send someone to deliver them personally later." She has always been careful and thoughtful in doing things and never makes others worry. The nanny beside her also often reminds her to avoid missing anything.

Although Xiao Shuyue's relationship with them was not close, there was no grudge between them either. They could only see each other a few times during the Chinese New Year and other festivals every year, and they rarely interacted with each other.

Although they are sisters, most of the time, they are no different from strangers.

"Okay." Then Lu Lingyuan slowly sat on the phoenix carriage, and Yun'er hurriedly shouted, "Your Majesty, get going!"

"Farewell, Empress Dowager!" Xiao Shuyue said slowly.

In the evening, Xiao Chengji accompanied Lu Lingyuan for dinner and stayed until the end of the Xu hour, but Xiao Chengji had not left yet.

Lu Lingyuan sat on the couch, holding an ancient book in her hand and flipping through it slowly.

Although Xiao Chengji's face was calm, his eyes seemed a little erratic, and his absent-mindedness was obvious. He hesitated several times, his lips moved slightly, as if thousands of words were stuck in his throat, but in the end, they only turned into silent sighs and dissipated in this empty and lonely hall.

Lu Lingyuan gently raised her eyes as clear as autumn water and glanced at him lightly, with a barely perceptible detachment and indifference in her tone: "Your Majesty, you should return to the Purple Palace."

Hearing this, Xiao Chengji finally woke up from his deep thoughts and looked up at her. His deep eyes were filled with complex emotions, including reluctance, helplessness, and deep guilt. He spoke slowly, his voice low and gentle: "Is it not okay for me to accompany you tonight?" After saying this, his eyes revealed a hint of pleading.

"The beauties have already entered the palace. If His Majesty does not summon them, I'm afraid there will be a lot of criticism in the harem." Lu Lingyuan's voice remained calm.

"Rong'an, prepare the imperial sedan!" Lu Lingyuan waved her sleeves and ordered. Although her tone was light, it carried unquestionable majesty.

Rong An couldn't help but glare at the words, and subconsciously looked at Xiao Chengji, lowering his head, and speaking in a voice as thin as a mosquito: "Your Majesty, this..."

"Yuan'er..." Xiao Chengji was about to say something when he was gently interrupted by Lu Lingyuan. She shook her head slightly, with a bitter smile on her lips: "Your Majesty, during the day, every word I said was from the bottom of my heart. Although I feel disappointed, I am not sad."

Lu Lingyuan slowly stood up, her sleeves fluttering, and walked towards Xiao Chengji step by step. She reached out and gently held his cold hand, and said softly: "The fairy couples written in the storybooks may really exist in this world, but in the royal family, they are like flowers in the mirror and the moon in the water, which are out of reach. Although I am a woman, I also understand the overall situation. Your Majesty does not need to blame yourself."

"Go! Don't let Sister Gao wait anxiously. She is a good girl." Lu Lingyuan raised the corners of her mouth slightly and said softly.

The next second, Xiao Chengji pulled her into his arms, closed his eyes tightly, and said in a low voice: "Yuan'er, I regret it. I shouldn't have agreed to you."

There seemed to be stars twinkling in Lu Lingyuan's eyes, but in the next moment, they were gently shrouded by a layer of light mist. She slowly closed her eyes that contained endless emotions, and her slender hands stretched out involuntarily, hugging him tightly, with a barely perceptible tremor and determination in her voice: "Your Majesty, you are the emperor, respected by all the people, you really shouldn't be so emotional."

Her tone was filled with deep worry and indescribable tenderness. "If those people with ill intentions knew that I was your weak spot, they would use this as a weapon to threaten me and even force Your Majesty to do something against your will."

At this point, Lu Lingyuan frowned slightly, "Your Majesty, please agree to my request!"

In fact, Lu Lingyuan's heart was already surging. She admitted that she was a selfish person, and she never shied away from this. She was indeed moved by Xiao Chengji, and that feeling was like a flower quietly blooming in spring, beautiful and deadly.

However, in her heart, she still loves herself the most. She will not allow herself to fall into danger that may drag her into the abyss because of a momentary emotional impulse.

At this moment, inside the palace, the candlelight flickered, illuminating Lu Lingyuan's beautiful yet slightly complicated face.

The next moment, Lu Lingyuan, with an indescribable determination and indifference, slowly stretched out her hand, and her fingertips gently touched Xiao Chengji's solid chest, and then gently pushed. Her face showed no sadness or joy, just like the water in a cold pond, deep and unfathomable. When she turned around, her voice was low and firm: "Your Majesty, let's go!"

Xiao Chengji's brows were tightly knitted, as if he was bound by a heavy shackle. His heart was surging, and his struggle and reluctance intertwined into an invisible net that tightly entangled him. He had never expected that one day, his heart would be so moved by a woman. This care made him feel strange and terrified.