The Queen sealed her heart and locked up her love, and the Emperor was trapped in the crematorium

Yongchang Houfu.

Seeing that his father had a few more white hairs on his temples and looked older than the last time they met, while his third brother standing beside him became more heroic and steady. Xie Yaoqing looked at all this and couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness in her heart, and the corners of her eyes began to turn red and wet unconsciously.

For Yongchang Hou and the others, the last time they met was a year ago, which was not a long time ago, but for Xie Yaoqing, it was already a thing of the past life, and they had also experienced the separation of life and death.

Although Xie Yaoqing did not witness her father and brother die in front of her, with the mentality of an emperor, how could he easily let go of someone who posed a threat to him? He could even abolish her position as queen, so what else could the Marquis' Mansion not allow him to do?

"Why have you become a crybaby? You weren't like this before." Seeing this, Xie Yichen smiled and teased his sister.

"Third brother, you must not be rude to the Queen." Marquis Yongchang spoke in a serious tone and glared at his son with dissatisfaction, thinking that his words were too indulgent.

Today is different from the past. As the mother of a country, the Queen has an extremely high status. As subjects and relatives, they must always maintain awe. Even if they are father and daughter, or brothers and sisters, they can no longer laugh and play as they did in childhood. After all, there is a difference between the monarch and his subjects. If outsiders knew about it, they would probably say that the Marquis's family lacked education and rules.

Hearing her father's rebuke, Xie Yaoqing felt embarrassed. She turned her head away in a hurry, trying to hide her embarrassment. At the same time, she also responded softly: "I'm not crying, Third Brother, don't talk nonsense..."

Xie Yichen didn't seem to realize that there was anything wrong with his words, and continued to smile and said, "Okay, okay, I didn't cry, I was just blinded by the wind."

There was a hint of sarcasm in his words, which eased the atmosphere a little.

Xie Yaoqing turned to look at the Marquis of Yongchang and said softly, "Dad, it's okay. We are a family. In the Marquis's Mansion, I am just your daughter and your brother's sister, not the queen, so there is no need to be too restrained."

Xie Yichen also smiled and agreed, "Yes, the queen finally came back, Daddy, please don't always have a stern face and preach to her. I don't know who is talking about the queen all day long. Yesterday, he specially ordered the kitchen to make a steamed sea bass. My son wanted to eat a Huadiao drunken chicken, but I waited for half a month and still couldn't eat it. This is such a fair and open partiality, the queen, you have to make the decision for me."

Steamed sea bass is Xie Yaoqing's favorite dish, but other than her, no one else in the mansion has a particular fondness for fish. It is obvious that Yongchang Marquis is concerned about his daughter and asked the kitchen to prepare fresh ingredients early.

Hearing this, Yongchang Hou's expression eased a little, but he still couldn't help but glared at Xie Yichen, and said with a little anger: "Will I suffocate you to death if I say less?"

However, Xie Yichen raised his eyebrows, chuckled and responded: "Son, I am just telling the truth. Dad, please don't get angry just because I said it right."

Marquis Yongchang couldn't help but snort to express his dissatisfaction.

Looking at the familiar scene of the father and son bickering in front of him, Xie Yaoqing shook his head helplessly, but a sincere smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Although Xie Yaoqing had been married for several years, the mansion still retained her residence when she was a boudoir. Everything inside remained the same, as if no time had passed. Since someone had cleaned it beforehand, the room was tidy and clean, and could be moved in at any time.

In the afternoon, Xie Yaoqing took a short rest. In the evening, Xie Yiming came back from the Imperial College. Except for Xie Yisui who was far away in Huzhou and could not make it back, almost all the family members gathered together to enjoy a warm reunion dinner.

The next day was the anniversary of the death of the wife of the Marquis of Yongchang. As soon as the sun rose, the family got up early and went out of the city to Jiu'an Mountain to pay homage.

Along the way, everyone looked solemn and silent, with sadness on their faces, especially Marquis Yongchang, whose brows were filled with deep longing and mourning for his first wife.

Let’s not talk about the Marquis’ Mansion for now, let’s talk about the Cining Palace.

After Concubine Qi arrived, she sat next to Xiao Chengxu with a smile on her face, and said in a coquettish voice: "My cousin is also here to visit my aunt, but what a coincidence that we met on the same day."

As a strong and pungent smell of powder hit him, Xiao Chengxu couldn't help but frown slightly.

He responded in a cold tone: "Since the imperial concubine has entered the palace, she should abide by the palace rules. You should change your words in the future and stop calling me cousin."

Hearing this, Concubine Qi's face turned pale instantly.

She never expected that her cousin was unwilling to give her even such an insignificant right to be addressed.

Did their relationship really become so distant and indifferent since she entered the palace and became a concubine? Was she no longer her cousin's sister? Could the relationship between them only be that of an emperor and his concubine?

If her title is changed, what is the difference between her and other concubines in the harem?

Concubine Qi was really unwilling in her heart, but she did not dare to openly disobey the emperor's will. She could only look at the empress dowager with a pleading look, hoping that the empress dowager would stand up and say a good word for her.

Seeing this, the Queen Mother said, "Your Majesty, it's just a title. Yan'er is your cousin. There's nothing wrong with calling her cousin. Why are you so demanding?"

However, Xiao Chengxu responded expressionlessly: "What mother said is very true. It is indeed just a title. What's the harm in changing it? The queen has to abide by the rules and etiquette, so why can't the imperial concubine do the same?"

His tone was as unpredictable as his expression.

After hearing this, the Queen Mother was suddenly speechless.

How could Concubine Qi admit that she was not as good as the person she hated and despised the most? So she immediately changed her address and said, "I know I was wrong. Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I will follow your teachings in the future."

It's just a name. If Xie Yaoqing can change his words, then naturally she can change it too and she will never lose to Xie Yaoqing.

Concubine Qi still clearly remembered that before Xiao Chengxu ascended the throne, Xie Yaoqing called him by his name or courtesy name.

Xiao Chengxu said nothing, but nodded expressionlessly.

Next, no matter how hard Concubine Qi tried to arouse his interest and brought up all kinds of fascinating topics, Xiao Chengxu remained silent and did not give any response.

Faced with Xiao Chengxu's obvious indifference, Concubine Qi felt extremely aggrieved. She lowered her head silently, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

After all, she was still young, thin-skinned and had a strong self-esteem. She couldn't stand the cold reception she received after taking the initiative to show her friendship several times, so she had to find a reason to leave first.

When the Queen Mother saw this scene, she couldn't help but blame Xiao Chengxu.

However, Xiao Chengxu's answer was simple and direct, with only four words: "This is my nature."

The Queen Mother was choked and speechless.

When Xiao Chengxu was about to get up and say goodbye, he suddenly heard the empress dowager let out a long sigh.

"Your Majesty, you have a deep relationship with the Queen and you are unwilling to get close to the concubines in the harem. I can understand this. When you were young, who didn't long for a close friend?"

"It's just that the Queen seems to have a hidden illness, and I have not been able to give birth. Delaying this way is not a long-term solution. Not to mention that the former court and the harem will criticize this, I'm afraid that public opinion will be difficult to calm down." The Queen Mother said earnestly.

Xiao Chengxu raised his eyes, stared at the Queen Mother, and asked, "What do you mean by that, Mother? I have already taken a concubine, isn't that enough?"

"Your Majesty, all the subjects are eager to see the royal bloodline continue and a dragon son be born." The Queen Mother looked worried.

A sneer appeared on Xiao Chengxu's lips. "Want a dragon child? Ha, you are greedy and wishful thinking. My son can only be born by the Queen. Other women are not qualified to bear children for me. If anyone dares to conceive a dragon child, I will kill them. No one will be spared."

His tone suddenly became fierce in the last sentence, and the murderous intent contained in it made people shudder.

It is obvious that Xiao Chengxu holds an extremely ruthless attitude towards the concubines' attempts to conceive a dragon son. Any concubine who dares to plot and try to give birth to a dragon son will not only be unable to find support for the rest of her life, but also unable to bring glory to her family. More fatally, she will die, and even the extravagant hope of leaving the mother and saving the son will not be realized. In the end, she will only end up with a tragic end of one corpse and two lives.

The Queen Mother couldn't help but gasp.

He downplayed it as if nothing had happened and lightly mentioned killing his own child. It is no exaggeration to say that such a cruel and ruthless person is cold-blooded and heartless.

It turns out that all emperors in the world are cold and indifferent.