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

Shen Mengyao swallowed her tears. In her previous life, the Queen Mother must have been extremely disappointed with her and unwilling to recognize her anymore.

Seeing her regain her former glory, wearing a lightly embroidered blue shirt, gentle, calm, and graceful, the empress dowager noticed that she had lost a lot of weight, and a trace of heartache flashed in her old eyes.

"Be flat!"

Someone at the table was slightly tipsy, laughed heartily, and praised loudly: "I heard that Miss Shen's music was hard to come by, and now it's the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, so we are lucky to hear it."

The Queen Mother was in a good mood and said, "Lord Xu is right. Meng Yao's piano music is like the sound of nature."

Her eyes were full of appreciation and satisfaction when she looked at Shen Mengyao.

After Lord Xu finished speaking, he sobered up a little. Seeing that the Queen Mother did not blame him, he suddenly became poetic and said in a loud voice: "The lady in the cloud shirt, pouring birthday wine frequently, adding her feelings to the sound of the sheng, everyone's heart is on the incense in the jade censer. Celebrate the good party and wish it to be extended."

The last syllable fell over the hall with a resounding sound!

"Good poem." The emperor praised: "Lord Xu has not produced such a masterpiece for a long time."

Lord Xu laughed and replied, "Today I heard wonderful music from the heavens, which inspired me. It is the princess's wonderful playing of the zither."

"Reward! Reward them all!"

The atmosphere in the hall was full of joy, with people drinking and toasting to each other.

Only Li Junfeng looked at Shen Mengyao, who was sitting down gracefully amid the flattery of the crowd, with his eyes full of indignation. The more glamorous and beautiful she was, the more it seemed that he was climbing up the social ladder, which was shameful.

Several people nearby praised him: "Mrs. Ling is truly stunning, you are so lucky."

Hearing this, he was not happy at all and could only smile perfunctorily. As he drank and exchanged cups, a hint of coldness seeped into his eyes: "Yes, you are right."

When the banquet was almost over, Shen Mengyao wanted to take the zither and leave, but Aunt Fuqing, who was beside the Queen Mother, came to find her. She bowed and said, "Princess, the Queen Mother said that she hasn't heard the sound of the zither for a long time. Please stay in the palace for two days."

Shen Mengyao smiled and said, "Since it is the Queen Mother who invited me, then I will obey your order."

Just as she was about to leave with Aunt Fuqing, Li Junfeng, who had just come out, grabbed her. He looked at Fuqing warily before saying calmly, "You are already married, how can you stay in the palace? It's against the rules."

Fu Qing glanced at him coldly with his sharp old eyes.

Shen Mengyao replied in a cold voice: "I grew up beside the Empress Dowager since I was a child. After I got married, I have never been filial to her for a single day. I feel very uneasy. Now the Empress Dowager invites me? How can I refuse?"

Li Junfeng obstructed: "Anyway, this is against the rules."

He was afraid that she would return to her previous status as a noble princess and would be of no help to him in the future. If she had a strong backing, he would not be able to touch her easily.

Shen Mengyao raised her chin, sneered and said, "I know what you are thinking, but I dare not reply to your request to disobey the imperial decree. Why don't you reply for me?"

Li Junfeng was speechless for a moment. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single syllable.

Shen Mengyao gave him a mocking look and said, "My husband, please go back without any worries. I will stay with the Queen Mother for a few more days. Maybe I can ask for a favor for you and find you a job."

As soon as she finished speaking, Qi Suian walked out of the Yan Palace. He was the regent with great power in the court, so naturally there were many flatterers around him, and many of them took advantage of the alcohol to fawn on him.

These words naturally drifted into his ears with the wind. He glanced over here with a complicated expression, and there was an indescribable coldness in his dark eyes.

Shen Mengyao was completely unaware. After sending Li Junfeng away, she followed Aunt Fuqing to Xingqing Palace, where the Queen Mother lived and where she grew up.

Every flower and tree, every brick and tile here seemed to have not changed. Even in the dark night, the glazed tiles glowed faintly under the candlelight. She had not been back for many years, so long that it seemed like a lifetime.

In the past, she didn't understand why Li Junfeng did everything he could to prevent her from meeting the Queen Mother. Now she understood that for the man's pitiful self-esteem, in order to avoid being accused by outsiders of marrying up, he tried every means to drag her into the mud and trample her under his feet.

When she arrived at the palace, she paid her respects to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother looked at her and said kindly and gently, "You little girl...how long has it been since you last came to the palace to see me? You are really like water spilled after a girl is married off."

I originally thought I would hear words of blame, but I didn't expect to hear such considerate words. Shen Mengyao's eyes were sore and she couldn't help but let her tears flow in two lines.

The Queen Mother beckoned her with concern, asking her to come over to her, wiping away her tears, and asked distressedly, "Why are you crying for no reason?"

Shen Mengyao sniffed and said, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed the Queen Mother. I thought the Queen Mother would never forgive me."

The Queen Mother looked at her and felt that she had been wronged. She didn't want to ask her any more questions to make her sad. She just smiled and said, "Perhaps it was my fault in the beginning. I watched you grow up. Even if this marriage is not a good match, if you are willing, I can't disown you no matter how angry I am."

"Mengyao knows she was wrong and will listen to the Queen Mother in the future." Shen Mengyao wiped away her tears and fell on her knees.

The warmth of her childhood seemed to have returned to her again.

The Queen Mother stretched out her fingers and gently stroked her cheek, sighing: "You little girl, you have no family in the capital, and you don't know how to enter the palace when you are wronged. Don't you plan to take me with you?"

Shen Mengyao choked with emotion and said, "As long as the Queen Mother doesn't mind, Mengyao is willing to serve her for the rest of her life!"

"Although it's just coaxing words, I'm happy to hear it." The Queen Mother smiled with relief.

The next day, Shen Mengyao accompanied the empress dowager for breakfast and then took a walk in the imperial garden. The weather had just cleared up, the leaves were covered with dew, and the flowers were gorgeous.

The Queen Mother looked at the bright weather and said with a smile, "Such good weather reminds me of a poem you once played about living in the mountains."

"It's not difficult for the Queen Mother to listen to it." Shen Mengyao instructed the maid beside her: "Go and get my Raoliang."

She sat in the pavilion, plucking lively music on the piano with her bare hands. The breeze was blowing gently, and she was quietly enjoying the leisurely time listening to the music.

After the song was finished, Shen Mengyao stood up and bowed gracefully.

"Not bad, not bad." After the Queen Mother finished praising him, she gently raised her hand and yawned, "I am sleepy again this time. Fuqing, accompany me back to the palace for a nap. Mengyao, you can wander around by yourself."

"Farewell, Queen Mother." Shen Mengyao watched the Queen Mother go away with mixed feelings.

When they were a little further away, the Queen Mother sighed and said, "When do you think this girl will speak?"