Xia Dongchun from Legend of Zhen Huan: I want to live till the last episode

"What's more, the emperor has always loved Ling Yuan. Why should I do such a stupid thing that hurts people's lives to fight for the favor that he already has?" Xia Dongchun sneered and turned away, looking like she didn't want to bother with Concubine Qi.

Xia Dongchun secretly glanced at Yinzhen's expression. She didn't care what others said, but if the emperor had doubts in his heart, then she really wouldn't be able to explain it clearly.

"You!" Lady Qi was so angry that she couldn't say anything more to refute him. She could only repeat, "You are just quibbling!"

"Enough!" Yinzhen spoke at this time. His voice was not too loud, but full of majesty.

Concubine Qi closed her mouth reluctantly.

Yinzhen first reprimanded Concubine Qi: "Zhaopin is above you in rank, and there is a way to respect and inferiority. No matter what the matter is, you shouldn't talk to Zhaopin like this."

Concubine Qi was filled with anger. She did not expect Yinzhen to teach her a lesson on behalf of Xia Dongchun. She was even more angry and dissatisfied. However, she did not dare to say anything to Yinzhen. She could only follow Yinzhen's meaning and said, "Your Majesty is teaching me a lesson. I know I was wrong. But I was anxious at the moment, so I offended Concubine Zhao with my words. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

"Your Majesty, although Concubine Qi's words were harsh, she had good intentions in order to find out the real culprit who instigated the princess to murder the royal heir." The Queen also pleaded for Concubine Qi.

There was silence in the palace for a long time. Xia Dongchun looked calm, but she was nervous. If the emperor really believed what the queen and noble lady Qi said, she couldn't explain it clearly now. After all, Ningfang was dead. As she said just now, the person who could best prove her innocence was gone.

Besides, although what Concubine Qi said just now sounded ridiculous to her, it made sense to others, didn't it?

Everyone looked at Yinzhen, waiting for him to speak finally.

After a long while, Yinzhen looked at Xia Dongchun and asked, "Does this matter... have anything to do with you?"

Xia Dongchun's breathing stagnated. The fact that the emperor asked this question showed that he had been persuaded and had doubts in his heart.

The Queen breathed a sigh of relief quietly, while Concubine Qi became complacent again, staring at Xia Dongchun with her chin raised.

Yun Ling helped Xia Dongchun to stand up, and Xia Dongchun bowed: "This matter has nothing to do with me. If it weren't for Concubine Duan noticing the clues, I would have always thought that this matter was really just an accident."

Yinzhen didn't say anything.

The queen sighed, seemingly caring about Xia Dongchun, but she directly condemned her: "Your Majesty, Zhaopin was probably confused for a moment, Your Majesty, please forgive her this time."

After taking a look at Yinzhen's face, the queen continued to test him, "Since he has done such a wrong thing, it is not right not to punish him. Logically speaking... he should be stripped of his title or demoted. But Zhaopin is pregnant now, and it is not good to hurt her feelings. How about..."

Yinzhen looked confused: "What does the Queen think?"

"Why not take Princess Lingyuan away from Concubine Zhao and send her to the prince's house to be raised. Firstly, it can be regarded as a lesson. Secondly, Concubine Zhao did something wrong. What if Princess Lingyuan learns from her?" said the queen. In fact, she also wanted to say that after the baby in Xia Dongchun's belly was born, she should also send it to the prince's house or simply find another concubine to raise it, but it would be too obvious, so she did not say it out loud.

Yinzhen said nothing, just looked at the queen.

Xia Dongchun was horrified and knelt down quickly: "Your Majesty, Empress, in this situation, I know I can't defend myself, but I believe I am innocent. Your Majesty must believe me, but I just don't have any evidence at the moment. Your Majesty is wise, I believe you will clear my name in the future, so I am willing to be demoted, and I only ask Your Majesty to keep Ling Yuan by my side."

No matter who it is, don't even think about taking the daughter she gave birth to at great risk away from her!

If one's rank is demoted, it can be raised again, but if her daughter is taken away, the queen will never let her bring her back easily.

"Are you really willing to abdicate?" Yinzhen cleared his throat, stood up, walked to Xia Dongchun, lowered his eyes and asked her.

Xia Dongchun raised her eyes and said, "I only ask that you don't separate me from the princess and her daughter."

Concubine Duan then spoke up: "Your Majesty, I also believe in Concubine Zhao. It is indeed as Concubine Qi said. This matter is too coincidental. But precisely because it is too coincidental, it seems more like someone is deliberately framing and slandering Concubine Zhao."

Zhen Huan also said, "Your Majesty, what Sister Duan Fei said is absolutely right. If this matter is really related to Zhaopin, Ningfang has already confessed. What's the point of killing Ningfang? So someone must have done it on purpose, in order to use Ningfang's confession and death to frame Zhaopin."

Yinzhen looked at Xia Dongchun for a long while. Just when everyone thought he was determined to punish Xia Dongchun, Yinzhen stretched out his hand and said, "Okay, get up."

Xia Dongchun's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she was a little bit unbelievable, but she still stretched out her hand and placed it on Yinzhen's palm, and stood up: "Your Majesty..."

“Your Majesty—” The Queen did not expect things to turn out this way, and spoke subconsciously.

Yinzhen held Xia Dongchun's hand and did not look back at the queen. However, the words he said made the queen's back shiver: "Based on a few nonsense words of a palace maid and the speculation of noble lady Qi, the queen has already convicted Zhaopin? Is this how you manage the harem for me?"

Yinzhen did not completely trust Xia Dongchun, nor did he have any doubts, but he was very dissatisfied with the queen's behavior this time.

The Queen was too anxious. From her words just now, he did not hear how much the Queen wanted to find out the real culprit who instigated Wen Yi to murder Chun Guiren's unborn child. Instead, he heard that she was 100% calculating and that she was eager to separate Xia Dongchun and her daughter.

When Xia Dongchun was pregnant with twins, the queen had already been thinking about who to give the children to before they were born.

Xia Dongchun was quite suitable for his taste. She had a high position and was not unqualified to raise a prince or princess. She had never committed any serious mistakes. Why would he give the child to someone else when her biological mother was still alive?

"Your Majesty, please calm down. I just wanted to find out the truth as soon as possible, and I made a mistake in my haste." The queen was shocked and immediately apologized.

"Impatient?" Yinzhen sneered. He had to give the queen a warning. "I see that you are well prepared. You are not in a hurry at all."

After that, regardless of the Queen's reaction, she said to Concubine Duan, Concubine Jing, and Zhen Huan, "Go back. Since the maid who instigated Wen Yi is dead, this matter is over. No one is allowed to talk nonsense anymore."

"Yes, the concubine is retiring."

"I haven't had lunch yet, let's go to your palace." Yinzhen let go of Xia Dongchun and walked in front.

Xia Dongchun was stunned, but hurried to follow after being reminded by Yun Ling.