Forced to die for his loyalty, he was reborn in the arms of the cold and cruel regent!

Shen Mengyao had just put her hand on the Queen Mother, ready to accompany her back to Xingqing Palace and then find an excuse to stay.

Just as she was about to give Qi Suian a look to show that she was fine, *** suddenly chuckled: "The princess's music is good. Let's think about it on the way and think about what kind of music is suitable to play during the winter solstice."

Upon hearing this, Lord Xu, who was so enchanted by the music last time that he wrote a poem, was the first to have his eyes light up.

"Well, the princess sang a song, the sound lingers in my ears and is endless to savor. It seems like we are in for another treat today."

"It seems that the princess's music is what everyone expects." *** smiled charmingly: "Princess, remember to come back soon, don't let me down."

The Empress Dowager was already feeling very uncomfortable. Shen Mengyao, upon seeing this, simply agreed hastily and helped the Empress Dowager leave Weiyang Palace.

After getting on the sedan chair, the empress dowager supported her head and her breathing became a little rapid.

"I was in good health two days ago, but now I feel worse and worse. I can't hold on at all."

Shen Mengyao quickly followed the sedan chair and said with a smile, "Grandmother, you are just overthinking. It is not good for your health. Let's find an imperial physician to take a look at it when the time comes."

"That's true. Sometimes, even though there's nothing wrong with your body, you scare yourself into becoming ill." The Queen Mother raised her head wearily.

The sedan chair moved faster.

In front, there were some young palace maids whispering and gossiping under the palace wall.

"Today I heard from the guard brother that *** sent a box of dumplings to the prince. Could it be that *** is interested in the prince?"

"You just found out today? There were always rumors in the palace before. Everyone said that it would be over when the emperor granted them the marriage."

"There are some rumors, but you know, I saw the prince get off the carriage in person to thank him. It looks like there's a chance for the two of them."

"That's really great, a talented man and a beautiful woman. If the girl can get married, I guess the reward will be more." The two little palace maids were talking excitedly and didn't notice the approaching sedan chair at all. The empress dowager was upset and didn't hear clearly what the two said, just frowned.

"Who is gossiping?"

Fu Qing understood immediately and walked over to scold him coldly: "How dare you discuss the master's right and wrong here!"

The two palace maids were so frightened that they fell to their knees on the icy ground and kowtowed.

“Aunt, please spare us. We won’t dare to do it again. Please forgive me?”

"Deduct three months' salary and demote him to the laundry department." Fu Qing said mercilessly.

She also knew that the punishment couldn't be too light since the Queen Mother had spoken.

The two palace maids did not dare to complain and kowtowed tremblingly to express their gratitude.

All the way back to Xingqing Palace, the empress dowager's face looked extremely ugly and she felt dizzy.

The imperial physician came tremblingly to ask about the diagnosis. After taking the pulse, he put his hand on it for a long time before saying, "Empress Dowager, you may have injured your foundation. You need to take good care of yourself."

The Queen Mother closed her eyes, rubbed her temples with her slender fingers, and coughed softly with a look of distress on her face.

"I don't know how many doses of this medicine I've taken, but my mouth is bitter. Why is there still no improvement?"

"This..." The imperial physician rolled his eyes, trying to find an excuse. After a long while, he finally came up with a reason: "It's normal that Shen Ke is difficult to treat. Since there is no improvement, it would be more convenient to change the medicine."

The Queen Mother waved her hand impatiently, signaling him to leave.

Shen Mengyao heard the imperial physician leave, and then she brought up the medicine she had just prepared.

"Grandmother, let Mengyao prepare the medicine for you."

"This medicine is very bitter. It's useless to take it. I'd better not drink it. I have a severe headache. Please rub my head for me."

The Queen Mother waved her sleeves, leaned back on the bed and closed her eyes.

Shen Mengyao had no choice but to put down the bowl of medicine in her hand and pressed her slender fingers on her temple, her movements as gentle as the breeze and drizzle.

"Empress Dowager, if you think the imperial doctors in the palace are useless, you should look for more folk doctors."

The Queen Mother did not reply to her, but just enjoyed the compliment.

"Your fingering skills are becoming more and more exquisite. I am so lucky."

Shen Mengyao said in a slightly coquettish tone: "If the Queen Mother likes it, Mengyao will enter the palace every day."

"Okay, your filial piety is a rare thing. It's very cold tonight, so just stay in Xingqing Palace." The Queen Mother's voice became softer and softer.

Shen Mengyao secretly breathed a sigh of relief when she heard this, but she didn't show it on her face. She just smiled gently and said, "It is Mengyao's honor to be able to accompany the Royal Grandmother."

The Queen Mother seemed so exhausted that she didn't even have the energy to speak.

Fuqing quietly turned off a few lights.

There was silence in the Xingqing Palace, but in the Weiyang Palace of the previous dynasty, there were bright lights, singing and dancing.

As the night deepened, the banquet in the Weiyang Palace was reaching its climax. The musicians played cheerful tunes with all their might, and the dancers, dressed in glittering and colorful clothes, spun and leaped lightly in the palace.

However, behind this prosperity, there is a subtle undercurrent.

Qi Sui'an had no intention of drinking. He was playing with an exquisite wine glass in his hand, and his eyes kept scanning the people who had their own ulterior motives.

Shen Mengyao had not returned for a long time, and he was worried inside, but he maintained dignity and composure on his face.

"A toast to His Majesty."

From time to time, drunken words were heard, and Qi Suian just raised his glass to show his respect from a distance without drinking it, but no one dared to say anything.

*** was wearing a gorgeous palace dress, which made her look particularly dazzling. She chatted with the princes and nobles beside her from time to time, with a gentle smile and decent manners.

She noticed Qi Sui'an's occasional distraction, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. It was at this moment.

Halfway through the banquet, a young palace maid hurried in and whispered a few words into the queen's ear.

*** raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled calmly: "Go find my royal brother."

The little palace maid nodded hurriedly, walked awkwardly to the drunken prince, and lowered her voice.

"Your Highness, *** said that everything has been settled."

A faint smile flashed across the eldest prince's eyes, and he waved his hand and said, "Okay, go down, this prince knows."

The young palace maid did not dare to doubt and retreated in a hurry.

The wine was being drunk and everyone was tipsy. The eldest prince left the table in a hurry and few people saw him.

Qi Sui'an watched all this silently. Thinking of Shen Mengyao who had not returned for a long time, he became anxious. At this moment, he did not care about much else and got up and left.

In the main hall, the charcoal was as warm as spring, but once you walked out of the side door, the biting cold wind blew outside, and you realized how cruel winter is.

On the palace road outside, the candlelight flickered slightly. In the cold air, shadows were looming and everything was blurred into phantoms.

The eldest prince threw the wine glass in his hand, looked around, and seeing that there was no one around, he quietly went into a side hall nearby.

Qi Suian immediately chased after him. He couldn't see clearly what was going on inside through the window screen. He poked the window screen with his fingers and saw a woman lying on the couch under the candlelight.