The crabapple tree is fragrant in the tent, and the bright moon is in my arms

Huazhang Terrace.

The queen sat on the high throne, looking at the remaining concubines, speechless for a moment.

It was obvious that they had no idea what to say, and at a glance, you could count the words on your fingers.

Besides, His Majesty didn't come at all.

She looked at Huang Quan, who stayed here and gave the queen a simple smile: "Your Majesty, His Majesty will be here soon."

There is singing and dancing, and the lights and shadows are dreamy.

The snow outside showed no sign of stopping.

Quiet residence.

Zhu Dingyuan stood in the hall, wearing a wide-sleeved robe embroidered with gold and black dragon patterns. His clothes were getting darker and darker, and his face was becoming more gloomy and dark.

There was a dead smell about him that was unpleasant.

But the faint fragrance from the sachet tied on the gold-buckled belt did suppress the smell a little.

His dark eyes fell on the woman in front of him, and his voice was cold: "Where's Dongzhu?"

Flora shuddered. She had never seen such a person before. Was this the Emperor of Tianzhao?

There was thick fog covering his calm brows and eyes, and his face was strangely cold, pale and gray. What's more,

Looking into her pupils was like looking into a dead object.

"Dongzhu...is my dowry..." Flora spoke slowly, word by word.

Zhu Dingyuan had the patience to listen, but he didn't have the patience to argue with her.

His eyes were cold and he grabbed her neck: "I'll ask you one last time, where is Dongzhu?"

The princess's dowry was all placed in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. He searched carefully but could not find the pearl at all.

He did not send any servants in, and the princess had only one servant, Cassel, so Dongzhu could only be with her.

Di Ru was held down by the Jinyiwei behind him, with a cloth ball stuffed in his mouth, and he could only sob.

Flora felt dizzy, but she also felt relieved. It turned out that what His Majesty Tianzhao wanted was the Dongzhu.

She was having difficulty breathing because of being strangled. She raised her hand and pointed at the bed, her emerald eyes like gems.

Unfortunately, Zhu Dingyuan just quickly shook her off, and only smiled after getting the treasure behind the bed.

Flora didn't understand: "You want to get married just for this?"

Zhu Dingyuan looked at her again, stood in front of her and smiled at her.

Somewhat creepy and disturbing.

"The pearls are my dowry... You are the emperor, rich and powerful. Are you marrying me for this? Why are you imprisoning me here?"

Flora was confused. If she was a woman in the harem now, why did she have no identity?

Zhu Dingyuan chuckled and placed the Dongzhu in Xiao Xiazi's hand.

He reached out and picked up Flora's braid, looked into her emerald eyes, and said with his thin lips: "Princess, in Tianzhao, your value... is not as good as an oriental pearl."

It's Kassel.

Flora's pupils trembled. She didn't understand what he meant. She spoke again: "Aren't you doing this for the peace between Cassel and Tianzhao?"

"Peace?"

Zhu Dingyuan let go of her hair, showing no interest in her exotic face. There was only teasing in his narrow eyes: "Yes, the omen is peaceful."

He left with a puff of his sleeves.

Diru was released, and she even supported Flora: "Princess, are you okay?"

Flora was stunned for a long time before she spoke: "Di Ru...Casel...seems something happened."

-

Zhu Dingyuan arrived at the palace banquet and sat next to the queen. He was in a good mood. He picked up a glass of wine and drank it all, then looked at everyone and waved.

Huang Quan immediately picked up the imperial edict and stepped forward.

The queen's face turned pale and she said, "Your Majesty..."

She knew Zhaoyue would come out, but was it an overreaction to announce the decree here?

"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: Concubine Ning had an affair with a guard, defiled the harem, interfered in state affairs, and conspired with the Minister of Revenue to frame Concubine Zhao, spread rumors and caused trouble, and violated palace rules. She is demoted to an official lady and banished to the cold palace. I decree this!"

Zhu Dingyuan looked at the queen with a cold gaze.

Huang Quan took out the imperial edict again: "Noble Consort Zhao, Rou Jiawei Ze, was murdered for no reason, but she was respectful and obedient, gentle and virtuous. I feel guilty about this, and I promote her to Imperial Noble Consort and restore her title!"

Imperial Noble Consort Zhaochun.

The Buddhist beads in the queen's hand crackled with a sound.

Zhu Dingyuan approached her and looked into her eyes: "Queen, is there any problem with my decree?"

Cold sweat broke out on her forehead and her throat was dry: "Your Majesty... Concubine Zhao's father is only the Minister of Rites, and he hasn't even resumed his official position yet..."

"I forgot about that." Zhu Dingyuan raised his lips and said, "Reinstating the Minister of Rites is not enough to show my regret."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at everyone present, leaning lazily in his chair, his eyes filled with a chilling madness.

"In compliance with the Empress Dowager's instructions, the daughter of the Minister of Rites, Zhaoyue, is granted the surname Nahe and is canonized as Imperial Noble Consort Zhaochun. I decree this."

His words made everyone dizzy.

The queen felt like vomiting. She covered her lips and pinched the skin of her wrist tightly to wake herself up. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Zhu Dingyuan's face.

"Your Majesty... Nahe Zhaoyue... That's the Queen Mother's surname... You actually made her a royal..."

Zhu Dingyuan handed her the water and said, "So, is this worthy of her status?"

The queen did not answer it. She could hardly hold on any longer. This was the so-called dignity of a queen.

She stared into Zhu Dingyuan's eyes and said, "Your Majesty, you will be criticized by the world. She doesn't even have any children. There has never been such a precedent! Such an honor!"

"Take the queen away, to prevent her from having a miscarriage." She refused to drink, so Zhu Dingyuan finished the drink himself. He hissed in fear at the cold.

"It's too cold, the Queen can't drink it." The smile on his lips was sarcastic and glaring.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty! You can't... You can't let her become the Imperial Noble Consort! Are you crazy?" The Queen's tears rolled down her cheeks, and she looked extremely embarrassed.

She was helped down by the maids, dragged and pulled, looking extremely miserable.

The entire hall was in complete silence; one could even hear the rustling sound of falling snowflakes.

Zhu Dingyuan swallowed the wine and left without looking back. Huang Quan immediately shouted, "Go! Chuntang Palace!"

-

Chuntang Palace.

When Zhu Dingyuan stepped in here, he felt his blood boiling. He hadn't seen Yue'er for too long.

The corners of his eyes were crimson, his pupils were thick, the smell of alcohol mixed with deathly silence, his dragon robe was loose, and only his thin lips kept mumbling: "Yue'er... Yue'er!"

He almost fell down.

When he saw Zhaoyue standing there, tears quickly welled up in his eyes. He almost ran to her and grabbed her hand with great force.

He stared at her with his hollow eyes, tears streaming down his face: "Yue'er, I miss you."

Zhaoyue's hand was pinched so hard that it hurt, but she smiled gently. She raised her other hand and stroked his hair, her red lips smooth and rosy.

"Your Majesty, Yue'er misses you too."

As if bewitched, Zhu Dingyuan held her in his arms, rested his chin on her shoulder almost affectionately, closed his eyes and smelled the faint fragrance on her body.

"Yue'er, why don't you wear that dress?"

"Your Majesty, Phoenix flowers are not for Yue'er to use."

Zhu Dingyuan opened his eyes and held her waist tighter: "Really? What if I want you to be...the queen?"