Peach Blossom.

Tao Ye looked carefully and, as she expected, the person kneeling in front of her was Zhang Xiaowan.

In this palace, this person is the only one who would be so bold as to come to her for help.

"Sister... the confession I wrote for the murder of Empress Dowager Meng was forced... I just wanted to stay alive... I didn't mean to harm you..." Xiaowan cried and put on her pitiful look again.

Tao Ye took a deep breath. When Emperor Xiaozong died inexplicably, Zhang Xiaowan put the blame on her. This kind of thing happened again this time, and she was no longer surprised.

She asked calmly, "Why do you think I have the ability to help you?"

"The Crown Princess calls you mother, and the Emperor admires you very much... As long as you speak, I will have a chance to survive..."

"Then why do you think I will save you?"

"I believe that my sister is a person who still cares about the sisterhood we once had..."

Tao Ye wanted to laugh but couldn't. Perhaps she was too easy to be fond of everyone, which made Zhang Xiaowan have expectations.

However, the death of Emperor Xiaozong and the death of Empress Dowager Meng have too many similarities, so Tao Ye couldn't help but be curious.

"Second brother, I want to talk to Zhang Shuyuan alone for a while, please step aside." Tao Ye sent Wang Jing away, not because she needed to hide something from Wang Jing, but because she felt that with Wang Jing here, it would be difficult for Zhang Xiaowan to speak freely.

Wang Jing nodded and went ahead.

Tao Ye helped Zhang Xiaowan stand up, left this place, and found another open place, because only such a place was not suitable for hiding people, and even if people far away could see it, they would not be able to hear it.

"Thank you, sister, for recognizing me..." Xiaowan held Taoye's hand, her eyes still red.

Tao Ye looked cold and indifferent, "I really admire you. When Emperor Xiaozong died, you were the witness. When Queen Mother Meng died, you became the only witness. You look the weakest, but you seem to have a golden medal in your hand, and you can escape unscathed every time. Do you still need my help?"

"No...it's not like that...Although I was conferred the title of a concubine, I came from a humble background. So whenever there is something difficult to get out of, everyone throws it to me..." Xiaowan lowered her head and hummed.

"Actually, I already know that the murderer who killed Emperor Xiaozong was Chen Ji, and you are basically an accomplice; I also know that the murderer who killed Empress Dowager Meng was Shen Hui, and you... are you an accomplice again?" Tao Ye looked at Xiaowan in confusion.

Xiao Wan quickly shook her head: "No... I was keeping watch for the Queen Mother that night. I went to the toilet once and found Empress Shen when I returned to the room... I didn't dare to go in. I was afraid that she would kill me too... So I hid outside... until she left..."

"Is that so?" Tao Ye pondered over this statement and basically believed it to be true. She then asked, "Was the person who forced you to write a confession a government official?"

Xiao Wan replied weakly: "It was Madam Han who came forward, so it should be the emperor's intention..."

Tao Ye was very puzzled after hearing this: "Since you are doing this under the orders of the government, you will not make any mistakes. Is there anything else you need my help with?"

“The Meng family is almost wiped out. The only ones left are the concubines left by Emperor Xiaozong. I heard Madam Han’s maid say… that the concubines left by Emperor Xiaozong were kept in the palace in the name of serving the empress dowager. Now that the empress dowager has passed away, they will be allowed to be buried alive with her on the day of her burial, and continue to serve the empress dowager in the underworld… that will be the best excuse… although I have no relatives or friends with the Meng family, I am also the concubine left by Emperor Xiaozong… and… I know too many facts, so it will be even more difficult for me to live…” Xiaowan said, and burst into tears again.

"In the past few years, I have had a hard time in the palace... I really want to be a commoner again, I really just want to live an ordinary life..." Xiaowan held Taoye's hand and begged with tears: "Sister, please ask for mercy in front of the emperor and let me leave the palace..."

Tao Ye looked at Xiaowan crying so sadly, and her request was completely reasonable, so she softened her heart unconsciously.

"I can try, but I'm not sure whether the emperor will grant me the honor." Tao Ye had agreed unconsciously.

Xiao Wan was overjoyed and knelt down again: "Thank you, sister..."

After finishing the meeting with Zhang Xiaowan, Tao Ye once again walked with Wang Jing on the way to Shiqian Palace.

Stepping into the Shiqian Palace and looking at every tree and blade of grass in the courtyard, Tao Ye seemed to see again yesterday's rain of arrows, the men of the Meng family who were burned to ashes, and the old and young women who were shot to death. She felt her heart deeply hurt once again.

She looked again at the man walking beside her. As he walked through this land, everything seemed normal, without any sign of disturbance.

But when Tao Ye walked past there, she felt as if every step was stepping on blood. Even just a few steps made her hair stand on end.

She thought, maybe they really shouldn't be together.

A voice called out from outside the Zhongzhai Gate: "The Emperor has summoned Marquis Anfeng and Miss Tao to see you."

Wang Jing and Tao Ye walked into the hall together, only to see Si Yuan sitting in the middle, with Madam Han still serving him. Both of them bowed according to etiquette.

"Since becoming the father-in-law of the emperor, Marquis Anfeng has become much more daring than before. Not only did he rescue people from the death row, he also dared to bring them into the palace. Even my son has been trained by you and has become more promising." Si Yuan said with a nonchalant smile, as if he was casually chatting.

But when Tao Ye heard these words, her heart began to pound. The nervousness might have come from her fear of Jun Xin, or from her unwillingness to be the scapegoat.

Wang Jing nodded and answered respectfully: "If the emperor does not allow it, I will naturally be unable to move forward."

"You are good at guessing people's thoughts..." Si Yuan nodded slightly, smiling: "Now that the matter is settled, do you have anything to ask of me today?"

Tao Ye glanced at Wang Jing slightly. It was not her turn to speak now, otherwise she really wanted to mock him: For such a great achievement, you should ask for a reward well. After all, it was earned by burning someone into ashes.

Wang Jing bowed to Si Yuan again and made a request: "I have only one wish, please show mercy and cancel my marriage with Princess Si Yao."

After hearing this request, Si Yuan couldn't help but frown. He certainly remembered that this was what Wang Jing asked for on the day he ascended the throne, and it was still the same today.

"I know that the emperor was unwilling to issue an edict to cancel this marriage because he was concerned about the Meng family. Now that the Meng family has been destroyed and the eldest princess is guilty, it is reasonable to cancel the marriage." Wang Jing's eyes were dull and his words were full of bitterness. He reiterated what he asked for.

Si Yuan smiled and looked at Wang Jing, seeming a little curious: "You urged the prince to get rid of the Meng family, is it just to divorce the princess?"

"Yes, but not entirely." Wang Jing looked very honest and answered frankly, "I am worried that the Crown Prince is kind-hearted and will be dragged down by the Meng family sooner or later. I only have one daughter, so I naturally want to protect her."

Si Yuan nodded, still puzzled: "I have already ordered the eldest princess to be confined to the princess's mansion for life. She has long ceased to affect your life. What remains is just a false name. Why do you go to so much trouble to get rid of this status completely?"

"So that I can be buried together with my first wife, Ms. Man, after my death." Wang Jing answered promptly.

For some reason, when Tao Ye heard this answer, his tears flowed silently. Everything he did was either for his beloved late wife or for the only flesh and blood left by his late wife. This point has never changed.

"Just for this?" There was a look of disbelief in Si Yuan's eyes.

However, Wang Jing's expression remained the same: "Yes, that's all."

Of course the blind man could not see the silent tears of the woman beside him, but Si Yuan and Madam Han both saw it.

Madam Han raised her eyebrows and asked jokingly, "Why is Miss Tao crying?"

"I'm happy for Marquis Anfeng. It's a thought that has been hidden in his heart for many years. Now that his long-cherished wish has come true, it is such a great joy." Tao Ye's lips curled up slightly, and the tears in her eyes were gradually controlled.

Wang Jing listened quietly without saying a word.

Si Yuan held the table with his hands, shook his head and smiled, then looked up at Tao Ye: "Miss Tao, what are your plans for the future?"

Tao Ye put her hands together at her waist and bowed gently: "The emperor has announced to the public that I died in prison, and there are so many people in the capital who recognize me, how can I choose? I can only drift away and end my life."

"From what Miss Tao said, are you blaming me?"

"How dare I?" Perhaps Tao Ye was already feeling resentful, which she revealed inadvertently, and when she suddenly heard Si Yuan ask that, she was startled.

"I deliberately wronged you in order to deal with the Meng family's matter. If you feel resentful, it is understandable." Si Yuan put his hand on his forehead, thought for a while, glanced at Wang Jing and Tao Ye, and asked with a smile: "How about... I grant you a marriage and hold a grand wedding as compensation?"

Tao Ye refused without thinking: "No need, I and Marquis Anfeng have different ideas and cannot make plans together."

Wang Jing heard this clearly, but remained silent.

"If we are on different paths, we cannot work together?" Si Yuan repeated in a low voice, looking at Tao Ye with a faint smile on his face: "I wonder which path it is?"

Tao Ye was shocked again. She was just unhappy and unwilling to accept the arranged marriage under such circumstances. However, after she came to her senses, she realized that she had not thought it through.

Even though she was indignant about Wang Jing's actions, Si Yuan obviously appreciated it. How could she criticize him to his face?

She had to answer Si Yuan's question quickly, so she had to change her words: "Your Majesty, I should be grateful for your kindness. But I have a long-standing relationship with Marquis Anfeng, and everyone in the city knows it. Now that your Majesty has abolished his marriage with the eldest princess and turned around to marry me, what will others say? Is the concubine becoming the principal wife? Did the concubine squeeze out the principal wife?"

At this point, Tao Ye couldn't help but smile bitterly and shook her head gently: "Marquis Anfeng may not care about his reputation, but I am a woman, I can't not care about it."

Si Yuan nodded: "What you said seems to make sense. But I don't want to owe you anything, so what should I reward you with?"

At this time, Tao Ye thought of Zhang Xiaowan.

She had to speak up, "I have the guts to ask you something. The concubines of Emperor Xiaozong were originally kept in Anshou Palace to serve the Empress Dowager. Now that the Empress Dowager has passed away, how do you plan to deal with them?"

Before Si Yuan could say anything, Madam Han interrupted with a strange tone, "Why is Miss Tao concerned about them? Could it be that someone intercepted and instigated you to get involved in this matter?"

Tao Ye's heart skipped a beat. She should have expected that there was no place in the palace that was not within Si Yuan's sight.

She had no choice but to tell the truth: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty, I asked this question because Zhang Shuyuan asked me to do so."

Madam Han smiled brightly, pinched Si Yuan's shoulder, and said sarcastically: "I vaguely heard that Miss Tao and Zhang Shuyuan had some grievances in the past, and it seemed that the grievances were not small."

Tao Ye dared not hide anything, so she confessed honestly: "Your Majesty, when Emperor Xiaozong passed away, Zhang Shuyuan falsely accused me of murdering Emperor Xiaozong, and I almost lost my life because of it. It is impossible for me not to blame her. But we used to serve in the Princess's mansion together, and we were like sisters at that time. I think that friendship should be greater than grudges."

"Is that so?" Si Yuan nodded meaningfully, but followed up with another question: "Since she falsely accused you of murdering Emperor Xiaozong, then at least one of you and her should know who the real murderer was, right?"

Tao Ye was stunned. She was so stupid. Why didn't she expect Si Yuan to ask about the murder of Emperor Xiaozong because of this incident?

"Can you tell me who the real murderer is?"