I just want to live a happy life

Everyone heard what Concubine Chun said, and there was an uproar in the room.

Most of the people present were smart and now understood the whole story. It seemed that Jiapin was quite ambitious. She wanted to eliminate the threat posed by the Fourth Prince so that he could take the throne.

The eldest prince also knew that he had fallen into a trap.

"Father, on the anniversary of my mother's death, I met Empress Jia in the Buddhist temple. She told me that my mother was killed by Empress Xiaoxian. I was confused and listened to Empress Jia's instigation, so I was disrespectful to Empress Xiaoxian today."

Upon hearing what the eldest prince said, Yonglian and Jingse also spoke up.

Empress Xiaoxian is Yonglian's biological mother. Even if she really harmed people, as a son, he cannot say that his biological mother is wrong.

"Brother, what are you talking about? The Empress Dowager is not a cruel person. She has always been tolerant and has never harmed anyone else, let alone killed Empress Zhe. You didn't even investigate the matter and just blamed the Empress Dowager. Don't you have a brain?"

Yonglian spoke directly, making the eldest prince Yonghuang feel ashamed.

When Gao Xiyue heard this, she really wanted to refute her. If she really had never harmed anyone, then who put the lingxiang in the bracelet she had worn before?

Su Lian was very nervous. After all, it was she who caused the death of Imperial Noble Consort Zhemin during childbirth without telling Empress Xiaoxian. What would she do if she was really responsible?

Fortunately, the focus was not on her now, and no one noticed Su Lian sitting in the corner.

Jingse's voice was still tearful as she questioned Jin Yuyan, "Empress Jia, the Queen Mother was always kind to you when she was alive. Now that she's gone, you're so quick to backstab her. You're really loyal."

Jin Yuyan's expression did not change at all in the face of such sarcasm.

Hongli looked at her and saw that she still did not repent: "Jiapin, if you treat the queen like this, then I really have to doubt whether Yu is also pretending to obey me but secretly disobeying me."

Now Jin Yuyan was really panicked. All she did was for Yu family. If Yu family was punished because of her, it would be more painful than killing her.

Jin Yuyan's expression changed now, and she was no longer as calm as at the beginning: "Your Majesty, I was wrong. Yongcheng didn't know anything about what I did, and it had nothing to do with the Yu family. Your Majesty, if you want to punish me, punish me."

. . . .

In the end, Jin Yuyan was punished. As the culprit, she was demoted to a concubine and locked up in Qixiang Palace, and was not allowed to come out without permission.

Hongli also completely separated Jin Yuyan and Yongsheng. Without his permission, Yongsheng was not allowed to visit Jin Yuyan privately.

Concubine Chun's hopes were shattered. Hongli was fed up with the stupidity of these three people, so Concubine Chun was demoted to Concubine Chun and imprisoned in Zhongcui Palace for reflection.

Yonghuang and Yongzhang were also imprisoned in their respective mansions.

Although Hongli had issued a gag order, forbidding anyone to tell anyone about what happened in the mourning hall that day, the truth could not be hidden and the matter became a hot topic.

But due to Hongli's authority, they only dared to talk about it in private and did not make it public.

After the funeral of Empress Xiaoxian, the concubines in the harem returned to their normal lives, some vying for favor, some taking care of their children.

But not long after, news came out that Ruyi was dying.

At this time, Chen Wanyin was holding Yongheng in the palace to appreciate the flowers. Now was the time when flowers were in full bloom, and because of Chen Wanyin's special abilities, every flower bloomed extremely brightly, and some had even mutated.

Among them, two pots are the most eye-catching. Each flower in these two pots has a different color and is very distinctive.

There were originally four pots, but the other two were moved to the Hall of Mental Cultivation by Hongli.

Alas, Chen Wanyin felt sad when she thought of the day when Hongli moved away.

Yongheng was very strong. While Chen Wanyin was not paying attention, he grabbed a flower with his little hand. No matter what Chen Wanyin said, Yongheng refused to let go.

There was no other way, Chen Wanyin could only help him pick the flowers he had caught.

Chen Wanyin was not angry. Instead, she looked at him lovingly: "You little naughty boy."

Yongheng didn't understand what Chen Wanyin said, but he looked at the flowers in his hand and burst into laughter.

Soon, Yongheng felt sleepy, and after coaxing him to sleep, Chen Wanyin had some free time to do her own things.

Regarding Nianrui's news that Ruyi was not doing well, she just replied, "I know," and didn't care anymore.

In Yikun Palace.

Ruyi lay on the bed with a numb face and lifeless eyes.

She has lost a lot of weight due to the torture these days. There is not much flesh on her cheeks and she no longer looks like her former self.

Rong Pei was the only one serving her in the room, and the entire palace was silent. The palace maids and eunuchs who had been serving her knew that she didn't have much time left, so they all found other ways to leave Yikun Palace.

Suddenly, there was a sound outside.

Ruyi's voice was hoarse: "Who is outside?"

Rong Pei looked outside and said, "My Lord, it's Eunuch Sanbao. He is sweeping the floor in the yard."

"It's Sanbao." Ruyi murmured softly.

Ruyi just felt that her life was a joke. She was once a favorite concubine, so how could she have fallen to such a state now?

"The emperor still hasn't come?" Ruyi asked unwillingly.

Rong Pei just shook her head.

It seems that the emperor also dislikes her. Well, she looks like this now, neither human nor ghost, so it’s better for her not to come.

Ruyi stopped talking. Rong Pei said something and went out to get the medicine.

After Rong Pei left, Ruyi stared blankly at the tent above her head for a long time, and finally closed her eyes unwillingly.

When Rong Pei came back, she saw Ruyi closed her eyes and thought she was asleep, but the medicine had to be taken while it was hot.

"Master, master." Rong Pei shouted.

No matter how Rong Pei called out, Ruyi did not wake up. At this time, Rong Pei had a bad feeling, and she carefully reached out her hand to feel Ruyi's breath.

There was no sound of breathing.

"Master." Rong Pei knelt in front of the bed and shouted loudly.

Sanbao, who was sweeping the floor outside, heard Rong Pei's shrill cry, and quickly threw away the broom and ran into the house.

Over the years, Sanbao has followed Ruyi. He has had his moments of glory, but mostly he has suffered. Now Sanbao has a slightly hunched back and many wrinkles on his face.

Now, tears were sliding down his rough face. He staggered to Rong Pei, knelt down, and kept calling "Master".

Upon hearing the news, Li Yu hurried into the Yangxin Palace and looked at Hongli with a heavy face, "Your Majesty, Empress Xian just passed away."

Hongli paused while flipping through the memorials, then continued, as if the pause just now was an illusion. His expression was natural: "I understand. Concubine Xian has been with me for a long time, so I will promote her to a noble concubine and follow the funeral rites for a noble concubine."

Li Yu couldn't guess what Hongli was thinking at this time, so he could only bow his head and say, "Yes."