After the death of the host: the tyrant cried red eyes

"Alas, it seems that the affair between the queen and the guard is beyond doubt..."

The whispers all around came like a tide, and every word was like a sharp needle, piercing Shen Bingning's eardrums.

She was furious, her eyes were like torches, staring at the guard who had framed her, and her voice was filled with inviolable majesty: "How dare you slander me, saying that I had an affair with you, do you have any evidence?"

"At this point, why should your Majesty continue to struggle in vain?"

The guard's face showed no fear at all. His eyes were as cold as ice, but his tone was unusually calm. "Have you forgotten, Your Majesty, that not long ago you gladly accepted a small gift from me?"

Shen Bingning was so angry at this sudden accusation that she laughed instead. She fumbled at her clothes indignantly, trying to prove her innocence: "This is really ridiculous. How could I -"

However, before she could finish her words, her fingers touched an unexpected hard object, and her heart sank suddenly.

Seeing this, Xu Qingyou's eyes flashed with a gleam of victory. She quickly stepped forward and said in an attitude that could not be refuted: "How can the guards be so rude to the queen? Searching her body is really a great rebellion. Let me do it for you to show respect."

After saying that, without waiting for Shen Bingning to react, she swiftly reached into her bag, took out an item while Shen Bingning was stunned, and held it high to show it to everyone.

"what?!"

This scene shocked everyone present.

An uneasy lunch finally came to an end quietly amid subtle eye contact among everyone. Shen Bingning tried hard to straighten her back, which was a little stiff due to overeating, and sat on the stool with a dignified posture. Her abdomen was uncomfortable due to excessive fullness, and she could hear faint sounds of protest.

Xiao Yi washed his hands elegantly and threw the wet towel away. His movements were carefree and unrestrained. He raised an interesting smile and asked, "My beloved concubine, the poem you just improvised was quite charming. I wonder what books you like to read on weekdays. Would you like to share some with me?"

Shen Bingning burped silently, her cheeks slightly red, a hint of embarrassment flashed in her eyes, but she still pretended to be relaxed and answered: "Actually, I don't have any particular preference. I will read all kinds of books as long as I can get my hands on them."

This sounded casual, but it didn't seem to completely satisfy Xiao Yi's curiosity. His eyelids slightly closed, and his sharp eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. He gently locked onto Shen Bingning, and his tone carried a warning: "Books are like the sea, the depth is hard to predict. Some taboo books will bring trouble to you if you read them, and you might even lose your head."

There was a sharp edge in Xiao Yi's words, and it was obvious that he was looking for an opportunity to criticize the new concubine.

Although Shen Bingning was unhappy in her heart, her face was full of sincerity, and she quickly responded: "I understand. I will never touch those inappropriate books. I will only read serious and useful books."

Xiao Yi glanced at her calmly, and without saying anything more, he stood up and walked out, his steps revealing unquestionable majesty. Seeing this, Eunuch Wei hurriedly trotted a few steps and followed closely behind, fearing that he would be left behind.

As Xiao Yi left, Yu Meiren also stood up, bowed gracefully, and said with a gentle smile: "Sister Shen, thanks to your hospitality today, I will not disturb you any more, and we will meet again another day."

When Xiao Yi was present, the air seemed to be filled with an invisible pressure, making people feel tense.

As soon as he left the table, Shen Bingning seemed to have unloaded a huge burden. The smile she had been trying hard to maintain on her face disappeared instantly, replaced by a look of fatigue that was difficult to conceal.

She slumped down beside the couch without caring about her image, her voice lazily saying, "Sister Yu, walk slowly, and be careful on the road."

Behind the glamour of palace life, life is actually exhausting.

Just one day of dealing with it was more exhausting than a week of busy work in the outer court.

After leaving Fengqing Palace, Yu Mei's personal maidservant Huamei couldn't help but speak up, with a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice: "Miss, you see, the queen is indeed a servant. She is so rude that she casually lies down in front of you. It's really disgraceful!"

Yu Meiren glanced at Hua Mei lightly, with a hint of amusement in her eyes: "As both of us are beauties, our statuses are the same. Why does she have to pretend in front of me? Perhaps this is her true character."

"However, having said that, a woman who was born as a servant could actually write such a profound poem. This Shen Bingning is indeed not simple. There may be a lot of stories behind her."

Huamei continued, with a hint of inquiry in her tone: "Miss, I always feel that the queen today is a little different from the past. She seems to be... more calm and confident."

Yu Meiren naturally noticed these changes. In her memory, Shen Bingning was always cold and aloof. Since entering the palace, she hardly left the house in the three months. Except for necessary occasions, she was rarely seen. Today's closeness and relaxation was the first time.

"Do you want me to arrange some people to pay more attention to the movements in Fengqing Palace?" Huamei asked tentatively.

Yu Meiren raised her hand slightly to stop Huamei's proposal.

There are many eyes and ears in the Prince of Yan's Mansion. Any slight movement may bring unnecessary trouble, so one must act with extreme caution.

---

At the same time, inside the Chu Palace, the atmosphere was completely different.

A minister was dragged out of the Zidong Palace by the guards, staggering, still shouting for justice. The sound echoed in the empty palace, sounding particularly desolate.

King Xiao Yuji of Chu, wearing a dragon robe, stood majestically on the high platform. He glanced coldly at the other two ministers who were crawling on the ground and trembling with fear, and his voice was as cold as ice: "I eat the salary of the king, I am loyal to the king, and as a minister, I should put the country first.

Sun Dehui, convey my order. Anyone who commits corruption and breaks the law in the court, regardless of their rank, will be severely punished and beheaded in public!"

The two ministers trembled involuntarily when they heard this, and they immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying in unison: "Your Majesty is wise, and we will definitely remember your teachings, fulfill our duties, and help Your Majesty solve problems."

Xiao Yuji waved his hand gently, signaling the two to retreat.

The two ministers trembled and cautiously left the Zidong Hall.

Sun Dehui stepped forward at the right time and respectfully presented a secret report: "Your Majesty, this is the intelligence that the spies of the various royal palaces have recently collected. Please take a look."

After reviewing it carefully, Xiao Yuji tapped the table lightly with his fingers, his eyes gleaming with a deep light: "Send an invitation to the other three countries, using the Queen Mother's fiftieth birthday as an excuse, I want to invite them to attend the birthday banquet and join us in the celebration."

Sun Dehui replied respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty."