Rebirth of the High Family's Beloved

Yan Ci and Xie Chengyin rushed to the Imperial Hospital to treat their wounds. At the same time, Zhou Chu also arrived at Mingyi Palace.

After being informed by the young eunuch, he went in to meet Emperor Tianqing.

Ever since the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince's wedding, Emperor Tianqing has been somewhat uneasy these past few days.

When he heard Yang Zhao report that Zhou Chu was asking for a meeting outside the palace, he immediately thought that there was something going on with the assassination of the crown prince.

Emperor Tianqing looked a little haggard, but it did not affect his majestic aura at all. He asked Zhou Chu: "But have you found out who wants to harm the prince?"

Zhou Chu knelt on one knee and said, "Your Majesty, apart from the deceased maid Cailan who has been identified, I have not found any new murderer. It's just that the maid who was detained at the wedding ceremony a few days ago was taken away by Young Marquis Xie."

Emperor Tianqing frowned, "Ayin? Why did he take that maid away?"

Zhou Chu hesitated for a moment, then said, "The true identity of that palace maid is actually Yan Ci, the imperial court lady appointed by Your Majesty. I don't know why she was included in the wedding procession."

He still left room for maneuver in his words and had no intention of complaining to the emperor. He was just telling the truth.

This matter involves the daughter of an official, so he cannot deal with Yan Ci the same way he dealt with the palace maid. He can only wait for the emperor's instructions.

Emperor Tianqing was a little surprised. Although he had not met Yan Ci yet, he still admired Yan Ci very much. He believed in his heart that a woman who could come up with good ideas that benefited the country and the people should not be a treacherous and evil person.

But she disguised herself as a palace maid and appeared in the wedding procession. She also became the only witness to the assassination of the prince. The murderer she identified was already dead. No one could explain how all this happened, and it was hard not to be suspicious.

"Let Xie Chengyin and Yan Ci come to see me together."

Yang Zhao took the order, glanced at Zhou Chu with an ambiguous look, then turned around and walked out of the hall.

This Zhou Chu, not only does he have no ability, but he also blames Young Marquis Xie. If this matter was handed over to him, he would have found out the truth long ago.

However, this Thirteenth Miss was indeed a person who surprised him. He just didn't know why she got into such trouble. But no matter whether she was really innocent or pretending to be innocent, her good impression in the emperor's heart would probably be damaged.

When they saw the eunuch delivering the imperial edict, Xie Chengyin and Yan Ci were also preparing to go to Mingyi Palace.

Xie Chengyin protected Yan Ci in public, so there was no need to hide Yan Ci's identity any longer. Instead of letting others find out and throw dirty water on them, it was better to say it out loud.

The reason why he came to the palace was that he originally wanted to report to the emperor the problems he had found in the past few days. However, as soon as he entered the palace, he heard that there were hostages and escapes in the imperial prison. Just in case, he came to the imperial prison first, and it turned out that Yan Ci really got into trouble.

When the two of them arrived at Mingyi Palace, they saw Zhou Chu standing inside at a glance. They thought that the emperor already knew what happened in the imperial prison without them saying anything.

As soon as they entered the room, Emperor Tianqing's eyes fell on Yan Ci. She looked like a delicate and weak little girl with a layer of gauze wrapped around her neck, looking a little pitiful.

She was still wearing the clothes of a palace maid, which confirmed what Zhou Chu had said before.

Emperor Tianqing withdrew his scrutinizing look and asked, "Do you two have anything to say?"

One of the two people was his nephew, and the other was a female official appointed by him personally, so he had to give them a chance to refute first.

Yan Ci had lived with Emperor Tianqing for nearly two years in his previous life.

As Hua Cijing's uncle, Emperor Tianqing had given Hua Cijing a lot of love and care.

It’s just that her identity has changed now, but Emperor Tianqing’s temperament has not changed.

Yan Ci walked in and knelt down without saying a word. There was a "bang" sound, which immediately surprised several people in the hall.

Yang Zhao couldn't help but feel sorry for Yan Ci. This Thirteenth Lady was truly honest.

Then Yan Ci said, "Your Majesty, I, your servant Yan Ci, have come to confess my crime to Your Majesty. Please punish me."

"Oh, what crime did you commit? Tell me in detail."

"I pretended to be a palace maid and disrupted the wedding. I also concealed my identity and caused chaos at the gate of the imperial prison. This is my crime. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

Emperor Tianqing raised his eyebrows, "What else?"

Yan Ci lowered her head and looked as if she was thinking. Suddenly, she raised her head slightly and said with a hint of hesitation.

"And... and I have also made contributions. I saved His Royal Highness the Crown Prince at the wedding. Will Your Majesty reward me?"

It was the first time that Emperor Tianqing saw someone openly asking for a reward from him. He couldn't help but find it a little funny, but he would not give in so easily.

He pretended to be unhappy and frowned, "The matter has not been clarified yet, and you still dare to ask for a reward?"

Yan Ci pursed his lips, "The guilty should be punished, and the meritorious should be rewarded, so I will certainly ask for it. Otherwise, why would Your Majesty appoint me as a female official in front of the emperor when I came up with the idea of ​​land tax for Your Majesty?"

"Well, if that's the case, then let's punish first and then reward. As for the punishment, for disrupting the wedding and the imperial prison, then give him fifty lashes. Yang Zhao."

Yang Zhao immediately cooperated and stepped forward and bowed.

After hearing this, Yan Cihou's heart sank. Fifty lashes of the cane would mean she would be half dead in this state.

Emperor Tianqing has always been lenient towards little girls, so why did he change when it came to her?

"Wait, Your Majesty, I don't want any reward. Since ancient times, merits and demerits can be offset. Can this fifty lashes of punishment be offset by the reward for saving His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

Seeing Yan Ci's pleading eyes, Emperor Tianqing laughed out loud, "You little girl, you know how to bargain."

Seeing Emperor Tianqing's anger turn into joy, Yang Zhao, who had been secretly observing Yan Ci, was suddenly surprised. This Thirteenth Girl was still so bold and unique.

He has followed His Majesty for nearly thirty years, and has never dared to speak to His Majesty like this, nor has he seen anyone else speak to His Majesty like this.

Oh no, there is one.

Yang Zhao immediately thought of the young girl of the Hua family who was temporarily living in Fengyao Palace when Queen Hua was still alive.

That lively and clever personality is very similar to that of Queen Hua before she married into the deep palace.

Therefore, Emperor Tianqing showed much more love to the little girl from the Hua family, treating her no differently from his own half-daughter.

Later, Queen Hua passed away suddenly, and the Crown Prince also became seriously ill. There was no one to take care of him, so the Hua family took her home and brought her to the battlefield.

Because of his love for her in his early years, after Hua Cijing came of age, Emperor Tianqing arranged a marriage for her with the second son without hesitation, thinking that if the position of crown prince were to change hands one day, the second son would be the one most capable of taking on the responsibility, and if she married the second son, she would be able to rule the country like her aunt in the future.

Unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes. The death of Hua Cijing made Emperor Tianqing feel heartbroken again.

Seeing the Thirteenth Miss who looked so much like the youngest girl of the Hua family, it was hard for Emperor Tianqing not to feel sympathy.

He looked at Yan Ci with a bit of melancholy in his eyes, "However, you remind me of someone. Although I haven't seen what she looks like when she grows up, she should be as outspoken as you."

These words shocked Xie Chengyin and Yan Ci.