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

Xiao Chengxu would never forget the moment in his previous life when Feng'an read out the imperial edict to depose the empress. Xie Yaoqing looked up in disbelief, her eyes widened little by little, thinking she had heard it wrong. When she found that Xiao Chengxu still had that condescending attitude, with indifference and impatience on his face, she faced the reality, lowered her head and revealed a pale and miserable smile, like a flower that blooms and withers in the grass in an instant, brilliant for only a moment, and then forever forgotten and silent in the next moment.

He thought Xie Yaoqing would make a big fuss, argue with him, question him why he deposed the queen, or even cry at the top of her lungs.

But nothing happened. From disbelief to acceptance, Xie Yaoqing's reaction finally calmed down. He was so disheartened that he no longer tried to struggle and could only accept his fate.

Xiao Chengxu knew even more clearly that even without the tragic massacre at the Yongchang Marquis' Mansion, the relationship between him and Xie Yaoqing would still be a mess, and Xie Yaoqing would still hate him and resent him. A three-foot-thick ice does not form overnight, and a warm heart will not suddenly turn cold overnight without any warning.

Xiao Chengxu suddenly felt very powerless. Even if he did not touch the Yongchang Marquis Mansion, how could he make Xie Yaoqing believe him?

Qingqing would not believe him, nor would she believe anything he said. She would not believe that the Yongchang Marquis' Mansion would be safe and sound. She would only think that he was quibbling and deceiving.

He had no way to prove that he was telling the truth because there was no evidence. He couldn't find any witnesses, no human or physical evidence.

How sad.

A familiar pain filled his heart, the dense pain seemed as if he was being stabbed by thousands of needles at the same time, but Xiao Chengxu was able to endure this heart-piercing pain without changing his expression. Pain is something that needs to be endured. At first, it feels excruciating, but after enduring it once, twice, three times... slowly, you will get used to it.

His hands were clenched tightly into fists under his wide sleeves, with his nails digging deep into his palms. Xiao Chengxu took one last look at Xie Yaoqing, then turned and left.

After leaving Kunning Palace, Xiao Chengxu went to the imperial study.

There were still several ministers kneeling firmly at the door of the imperial study, and their figures looked particularly tall in the wind.

These ministers not only had a tenacious character and willpower, but also had very good physical fitness. You know, if they didn't have a good physique, how could they kneel for three or four hours without eating a drop of water or a grain of rice? Many ministers fainted on the ground because they couldn't bear it, and then they were carried out of the palace and sent back to their homes.

However, when the imperial carriage, symbolizing the emperor's arrival, slowly drove over and the bright yellow figure appeared in sight, the ministers who had held on to their posts instantly became energetic, with excitement flashing in their eyes. They secretly thought that their sincerity must have finally been favored by the heavens and moved the emperor. The emperor must have come here in person because he felt their painstaking efforts and was moved by their loyalty.

For a moment, several ministers were delighted and full of expectations. They imagined the following scene: the emperor would personally come forward and help them up one by one; then, the emperor would patiently and humbly listen to their advice and realize the inappropriateness of his own behavior; finally, the emperor would retract the absurd remarks he made in the court this morning.

Thinking of this, the ministers couldn't help but reveal expressions of relief and excitement on their faces.

The ministers' hearts were filled with beautiful fantasies, but the cruel reality was like ice-cold water, ruthlessly extinguishing the fire of their hope.

When Xiao Chengxu passed by, he didn't even give the ministers a glance. He walked straight past them without looking around, as if the people in front of him were not living people, but a few lifeless pieces of wood. In his eyes, they were dispensable.

However, these ministers are not stupid. Since the emperor turns a blind eye to them, they naturally have ways to make the emperor notice themselves.

Then, a minister shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, please stay, I have something to report."

Xiao Chengxu naturally heard the shout, but he chose to pretend that he heard nothing. His steps did not hesitate or pause at all, and he took the meaning of playing deaf and dumb to the extreme.

As time passed, the few ministers who had been standing strong began to lose strength. Some of them had numb legs due to kneeling for a long time, some had dry mouths and smoke in their throats, and some were so hungry that they felt dizzy and finally fainted.

Despite this, Xiao Chengxu never summoned any ministers from beginning to end.

The next morning.

In the court, all the ministers knelt down in unison, even though Xiao Chengxu said, "My dear ministers, please stand up."

But still no one stood up, and everyone knelt respectfully.

On the surface, the court officials seemed very respectful and obedient, but in fact, this was a silent protest and a silent challenge to the emperor's majesty.

Xiao Chengxu sat on the dragon throne, expressionless and calm, like a pool of stagnant water. But if you look closely, you will find that he is turning the jade ring on his finger. People who know him know that Xiao Chengxu's heart is already turbulent at this moment, far from being as calm as his appearance. He is silently accumulating and suppressing his inner anger, waiting for this anger to reach the critical point, and then it will suddenly explode, which will surely trigger a thunderous rage.

Xiao Chengxu's eyes slowly swept over the people kneeling on the ground below, and noticed that no one from the Yongchang Marquis' Mansion was among them. Instead, there were several leave letters submitted due to illness.

"The emperor has no children so far, and the position of the crown prince is vacant. This is actually due to the queen's jealousy. This fact is known to everyone in the court and the country. Since the emperor inherited the throne, he has never favored other concubines except the queen. If the queen can give birth to an heir, so that the East Palace has a master and the country has successors, then everything will be fine..."

The first person to speak was Qi Chaowei, the empress dowager's brother, the father of Concubine Qi, and Xiao Chengxu's uncle. Looking at the civil and military officials in the court, except for the Qi family, who were relatives by marriage, no one else would dare to speak so rudely in front of Xiao Chengxu, even forming a confrontation.

Qi Chaowei had the confidence. His elder sister was the current empress dowager and of noble status. In a country that ruled the world with filial piety, even if he was the emperor, he had to respect and support his mother. If the emperor insisted on not listening to the advice of his ministers and still insisted on going his own way and taking the risk of disbanding the harem, the empress dowager would not ignore it. If something happened to the empress dowager and she got sick from anger, the emperor would become an unfilial son.