After the death of the previous emperor, the Empress Dowager became arrogant

After all, she was a delicate and beautiful woman. The two jailers felt more tender-hearted when they saw her. They couldn't help but say, "Our lord was summoned by His Majesty this morning. He ordered us to bring you to the palace."

Has the new emperor ascended the throne?

Yuan Qing was escorted to the main hall with several heavy shackles tied around his neck and wrists, which made clanking sounds when he walked.

Perhaps because he was afraid that her previous attire would offend the eyes of the nobles, the jailer kindly asked someone to change her into clean clothes.

It's just a public execution, there's nothing to be afraid of.

If she didn't do it, then she didn't do it. No one can throw dirty water on her.

Yuan Qing had a calm expression as she walked steadily past the many ministers. She looked around and silently memorized these faces in her mind.

Things were indeed not as bad as she thought. Thinking of this, she felt much more at ease.

She remembered the original book's prologue describing how Empress Yuan was demoted:

The daughter of the Yuan family has her own pride. Even if she is in the cold palace, she will make those people pay the price! Then she stepped into the dense palace wall step by step without looking back.

Although she doesn't have as much momentum as others, she has to maintain her face and not lose it.

Yuan Qing walked calmly to the front of the new emperor with lowered brows, knelt down gracefully, and placed his hands in front of his forehead, ready to salute.

Just as she was about to lean forward, a pair of large hands with distinct joints held her up, and a gentle voice came from above her head: "No need to be polite, please take a seat."

Yuan Qing was dumbfounded. Could criminals be treated so well?

Just as he was about to express his gratitude, one of the ministers disagreed and immediately stood up to refute: "Your Majesty, this is against the rules. She is a serious offender..."

"How dare you! You have to follow the rules. Otherwise, let Zhang Qing sit on the throne?" The new emperor became angry and coughed violently a few times while covering his handkerchief.

All the ministers knelt on the ground and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty, calm down."

Yuan Qing also wanted to kneel, but the new emperor held his shoulders and he could not move.

After a long while, the new emperor slowly spoke: "From a public perspective, she was personally appointed as the second-rank imperial concubine by the previous emperor. From a private perspective, she is even more of my cousin. Why can't she sit here?"

It was not until now that Yuan Qing understood who sat on the throne.

He is the only legitimate son of the dog emperor, ranked second, and the original owner's equally sickly cousin.

Wow, another golden thigh.

Seeing her lost in thought, Wen Chengyu reached out and quietly touched her head, and asked in a low voice: "What are you thinking about?"

Yuan Qing answered subconsciously: "Golden thigh."

Wen Chengyu was stunned for a moment, then looked down at his legs. The bright yellow pants did look like gold.

Yuan Qing realized that his words were ambiguous and was about to explain, but the next moment a gold ingot as big as a palm appeared in his hand.

"I gave it to you. How come you still haven't changed your money-grubbing nature?" Wen Chengyu said with a smile.

Holding the heavy gold ingots in his hands, Yuan Qing felt like crying but had no tears.

Although she was happy to get the gold, this was not what she meant.

The ministers below knelt for a long time, and some of them couldn't stand it anymore and started whispering to each other.

"My Lords, please don't be anxious." The chief steward, Eunuch Shun, stood in front of the steps, took out the booklet and slowly unfolded it, "I will tell you the results of the investigation right away.

The death of the late emperor had nothing to do with Concubine Yuan. "

Someone in the audience started to complain, "He died in the witch's bed, how come it has nothing to do with her?"

Yuan Qing was sweating profusely.

She hadn't had time to do anything yet, and the person who called her a witch really thought highly of her.

"You are rude in front of the emperor, slap him in the face!" Eunuch Shun shouted sternly.

A young eunuch immediately ran out and slapped the man. Although the blow was not heavy, being beaten in front of all the officials was more painful than death.

With his example in mind, the ministers dared not speak out anymore.

What a joke! This is obviously His Majesty protecting his own family. Anyone who doesn't understand this is a fool.

"After investigation, it was found that the poison in the late emperor's body was the Southern Gu, and he had been poisoned for a long time. It was definitely not murdered by the newly entered palace Concubine Yuan." After he finished reading, he looked up and said, "Anyone else has doubts?"

When the booklet was handed over to the officials, the investigation process was clear and concise, and they could not find any loopholes after reading it many times.

The jailer kneeling outside the palace was very perceptive. After getting the emperor's permission, he hurriedly bowed and entered the palace to pay his respects, and then opened all the shackles on Yuan Qing.

Yuan Qing slightly turned his neck, which was sore from the pressure of the chains, and felt a lot more relaxed.

At present, they have only been cleared of suspicion of murdering the late emperor. These people will not easily let go of this opportunity to suppress the Yuan prime minister and the new emperor.

As expected, another minister stood up and said, "What about the previously discussed list of people to be buried with the deceased? According to the rules, all concubines in the harem who do not have children must be buried alive with the deceased—"

Before he could finish his words, he was immediately glared at by several colleagues.

The families of those adults all had daughters in the palace, some of them high and some low, and they were all concubines without children.

Among them, the upright Censor Liang said: "Lord Xu is so anxious to kill Lady Yuan. I'm afraid he is being instigated by someone to target the Prime Minister."

Lord Xu turned pale and stammered, "You are talking nonsense! I am here for--"

"Quiet." Wen Chengyu was so annoyed by the noise that his head hurt. He immediately raised his voice to stop them. He looked at Eunuch Shun and said, "Read it."

Eunuch Shun immediately understood and took out the imperial edict from behind him.

Yuan Qing decided to give up thinking.

With this golden thigh by her side, she only needs to wait patiently for the results.

"According to the Empress Dowager's decree: 'Since the throne has just been established, it should benefit the world, so it is decided that from this dynasty onwards, the old system of burying concubines alive with the emperor will be abolished. In addition, the title of Concubine Yuan will be changed to Lord, and the nineteenth prince will be adopted under her name and given to the northern suburbs of the palace.'"

Since the Empress Dowager had spoken, no one in the court dared to protest in public and had to give up for the time being.

Yuan Qing knelt down respectfully to express his gratitude.

Whether it was a stepson or a palace, at least his life was saved.

As long as the Empress Dowager and the Emperor cousin can secure their positions, their lives in the future will be comfortable.

Delicious food, beautiful women, here I come!

Yuan Qing just kept grinning foolishly.

Wen Chengyu had just dismissed the court officials and was about to return to the palace when he turned around and saw Yuan Qing still lying on the ground with his shoulders shaking.

Eunuch Shun immediately walked over and wanted to help her up, wondering if the Concubine Dowager was frightened silly.

"Mrs. Dowager?" Eunuch Shun tried his best to lower his voice. "Please stand up. You don't have to kneel."

"what?"

Yuan Qing was bewildered, and then she realized that she had been immersed in fantasy and got too carried away.

When I looked up, I even forgot to retract my grinning mouth.

Hearing the suppressed laughter around me, I immediately felt a burning sensation on my face. This was the first time in my twenty-plus years of life that I felt so embarrassed.

With the help of Eunuch Shun, Yuan Qing stood up, straightened his clothes, and said softly, "Excuse me."

"Take her downstairs to wash and change her clothes." Wen Chengyu instructed Eunuch Shun, and then said to Yuan Qing, "Come with me to pay respects to the Queen Mother."

That's right, since I've helped her so much, I should go and pay her a visit.

Because there was a great funeral in the palace, all the palace maids brought were plain clothes.

Although the clothes she wore were very ordinary white brocade, upon closer inspection there were silver embroidery patterns. Her black hair was tied up high and fixed with several silver hairpins.

Yuan Qing looked at the original owner's appearance in the mirror.

She is about 80% similar to her, but because of the difference in identity and personality, her style is more like a mature woman.

The original owner was a daughter of a noble family, with delicate and elegant features, and a face that was both pure and lustful, a temperament completely different from hers.

When she was helped out of the palace by the palace servants, Wen Chengyu was waiting outside.