After reading my mind, Daddy, why don't you smile?

The eldest son, Prince Yan, lost to Emperor Jianxi in the battle for the throne.

After Emperor Jianxi ascended the throne, Prince of Yan still caused trouble for Emperor Jianxi from time to time, intending to usurp the throne. For the sake of the empress dowager's face, Emperor Jianxi exiled the prince's entire family instead of executing them.

However, the Prince of Yan lived a life of luxury and could not bear the hardship, and died in exile within half a year.

Originally, Prince Yan and Emperor Jianxi were friendly and respectful to each other, but the previous emperor's words "No matter who is the crown prince, Empress Xiaomin is the crown princess" prompted Emperor Jianxi to want to seize the throne.

Therefore, the Queen Mother always disliked Queen Xiaomin, believing that she was the culprit who killed her eldest son. She also disliked Queen Xiaomin's two children, Zhao Cong and Zhao Ying.

Since Concubine Ji Shu was once from the Prince Shou's Mansion, the Empress Dowager naturally treated her more kindly.

Meanwhile, Zhao Ziyan was seriously ill again, and Zhao Yao only brought Zhao Zihua to pay tribute to the Queen Mother.

As luck would have it, I met Zhao Ying's family right at the door.

Zhao Yao glanced at Shangguan Shu with great resentment, which was just caught by Zhao Ying.

She was no longer moved by this. The adulterous couple even had a child. She had already been cheated on. Her love for Shangguan Shu had also disappeared completely.

It’s strange, but when you love someone, you think he is perfect in every way, but if you don’t have him, you feel that life is meaningless.

But now it seems that it is just like this.

Zhao Ying led the children in.

Then he bowed to Emperor Jianxi and the Queen Mother, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you, Father, and Grandmother!"

Several children also knelt down and saluted.

The Queen Mother smiled and said distantly, "Everyone, get up!"

Zhao Yao brought Zhao Zihua over and saluted.

The Queen Mother stepped forward and personally helped Zhao Yao up. "Yao'er, why do you have to perform such a grand ceremony? You are a meritorious official of our Great Chu, and you gave birth to two spiritual children for the Great Chu. I can celebrate my eightieth birthday thanks to Zihua and Ziyin!"

Perhaps because Zhao Ziyin was mentioned, Zhao Yao's expression became sad. She lowered her eyelids and sobbed twice, "Grandma, please don't mention Ziyin..."

The Queen Mother was horrified and asked, "But Ziyin is in bad condition again?"

Zhao Yao nodded, tears rolling down her eyes.

Seeing this, Princess Side, who was standing next to her, suddenly took two steps forward and knelt down, "Brother, mother, I wanted to say it a long time ago, but I didn't say it because of Cheng Qian."

Everyone was startled when they heard this, and they all looked at Zhao Ying in confusion. Even Zhao Ying herself was puzzled as to why she was involved again.

Zhao Ying sent a few children away to play by themselves and only left Shangguan Qingyue behind.

Princess Side looked at Zhao Ying with a reproachful look on her face, "Cheng Qian, as an aunt, you should be more generous. Xue'er only said a few offensive words, why did you let her stay in the inner prison for so long?"

A verbal dispute?

She almost killed her Yue'er, and this is called a quarrel?

Zhao Ying had a faint expression on her face. She glanced at the few people and was not in a hurry to argue. Instead, she looked at their respective expressions.

"If it was in the past, it would be fine. But now Ziyin is in danger of death. How regrettable would it be if he could not see his own sister before he died?"

"When Empress Xiaomin passed away, you, Chengqian, was giving birth, so you didn't get to see her for the last time. Logically, you should understand this regret the most. Just treat it as your aunt's request to you to give Xue'er a break and let Ziyin see his big sister!"

After Princess Side finished speaking, Zhao Yao glanced at Zhao Ying hesitantly, then pretended to pick up a handkerchief and wiped her tears.

There was silence all around.

The Crown Princess's face darkened.

It’s Hu Yanxue again!

They tried every means to force Cheng Qian to give in and release Hu Yanxue.

But how can things be that simple?

If she gave in and Hu Yanxue was released, then Hu Yanxue's previous imprisonment would prove to be Cheng Qian's doing, which really made her look petty.

If he doesn't give in, they will put accusations on him one by one, and who knows what will be waiting for Cheng Qian!

"Princess Side is saying that if Hu Yanxue is released, Zhao Ziyin will be able to survive?"

"Hu Yanxue's medical skills are so superb?"

"You!" Princess Side has never been very smart. She was pushed around and used as a gun by others without realizing it. Now that she was scolded by the Crown Princess, she was used to being unbridled and didn't give face to anyone. So she pointed directly at the Crown Prince and said, "Zhao Cong, did you teach your wife to disobey her elders like this?"

The Crown Princess frowned, and the Crown Prince pulled her behind him and said with a smile, "Aunt, what are you talking about? Today is the Queen Mother's birthday, and Ah Shu also wanted to avoid spoiling the Queen Mother's mood with those bad things. Why would you mention a person who has been imprisoned on such a good day?"

"In my opinion, since my aunt is asking for mercy, we should change the date!"

Princess Side was furious and wanted to argue again, but Zhao Yao pulled her back. She said aggrievedly, "Aunt loves Yaoer and Ziyin, Yaoer understands, Crown Prince is right, today is an auspicious day, mention... woooo"

"You! How can you be so soft-hearted? You've been bullied to the point of being bullied, and all you can do is cry!"

"Xue'er is your biological daughter, why can't you mention her?"

The Queen Mother coughed twice, her fierce eyes swept over the Crown Prince and Zhao Ying one by one, and then said to Emperor Jianxi beside her: "Emperor, I haven't seen Xue'er for a while. Why not let her out on such a good day!"

"She is just a girl who has not yet reached the age of marriage. How serious a crime could she have committed?"

"Even if she is guilty, you should be lenient with her for Huai'an's sake. Huai'an suffered a lot for the sake of the country and marriage, and Ziyin prayed for rain for the Chu State and is now missing. Emperor, can you bear to prevent them from seeing their own daughter and sister?"

Originally, if these things were not mentioned, the officials would let the Queen Mother talk. However, the Queen Mother kept begging for mercy, but in fact she was blaming Emperor Jianxi, blaming him for ignoring the old favor and being too harsh on Huaian's family...

Even if the emperor was wrong, he couldn't say it, especially since she was not his biological mother. More importantly, no one in the court thought that Hu Yanxue was wrong.

Emperor Jianxi remained silent, but there was still a hint of smile in his vigorous eyes.

In fact, he almost wanted to scold his stepmother in his heart.

He spared her life, made her the queen mother, and observed all the etiquette, filial piety and righteousness, which was already a great deal. He hadn't even found trouble with her yet, but she was finding trouble with him.

Emperor Jianxi cast a look over, and Shangguan Shu, as the head of all officials, immediately knelt down and reported, "Your Majesty, the country has its own laws and the family has its own rules. Princess Huyan's current situation is not your Majesty's fault, nor is it Princess Chengqian's fault. Her numerous crimes are just what she deserves."

As soon as Shangguan Shu knelt down, Liu Xiang, the six ministers and other officials all knelt down. They had only one purpose, which was to speak for Emperor Jianxi and enumerate Huyan Xue's crimes.

The Queen Mother was furious. She shouted at the ministers, and holding the arm of Nanny Sun beside her, she began to take advantage of her age and said, "I just want to see a granddaughter on my birthday, but you are unwilling to do so."

She pointed at Liu Xiang and said, "Tell me! Your granddaughter wasn't here on your birthday, don't you want to see her?"

Liu Xiang stiffened his neck, wanting to survive, "No!"

Queen Mother:…