Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

"Shufei..." The queen's voice sounded again, like a wisp of smoke in the cold wind.

"Your Majesty, the other ladies were able to control themselves, understanding that things had come to this point and that they shouldn't say too much. They were also aware of their status and position. However, Concubine Shu ignored all this. Even though she was extremely disappointed, she shouldn't have lost her composure like this. The Emperor didn't bring her along, yet she still spoke without restraint. Who does she think she is? Your Majesty, you are the Emperor's legal wife, while the others seem to have no sense of discipline, repeatedly challenging the boundaries, even taking their anger out on the Emperor and complaining endlessly. If the Emperor learns of this, it will be no small matter... Your Majesty, you must communicate with the Emperor. Although you are tolerant and generous and don't make a fuss, Concubine Shu..."

The maids and the other palace maids recalled how Concubine Shu had spread rumors, leading to the Emperor sending his men to the palace. Now Concubine Shu had returned to her old ways. She was already under house arrest, and if the Emperor learned of this...

The Queen watched them silently.

"Your Majesty..." The nanny and the palace maids were worried when they saw that the queen was silent.

The Queen did not forget about Concubine Shu's matter: "I know what happened." She always kept it in mind.

"Your Majesty..." Hearing the Queen's response, the nanny and the palace maids finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing this, the Queen said softly, "I know you're worried. Concubine Shu's actions are simply due to her dissatisfaction with Concubine Xian's departure from the enclosure, and are not directed at me."

"Old slave, I understand." The nanny and the palace maids nodded.

"The virtuous concubine was taken away, but she did not accompany me. Although the virtuous concubine did not mention it, I guess that the virtuous concubine might be following the emperor, and she must be in that carriage." The queen recalled the palace servants who were sent to inquire about the news.

However, the palace maids have not returned yet.

The maids and the maids also thought of this. They left the enclosure with the queen and naturally knew the truth.

"Empress, Consort Xian..."

"And the niece of Concubine Xian." The Queen suddenly interrupted them, as if she had thought of something.

"The niece of the virtuous concubine was previously engaged to the Empress's family. Last time, the Empress..." The nanny hesitated to speak.

The queen fell into deep thought.

Soon, the palace maid returned. Upon inquiry, the empress learned that the virtuous concubine was indeed accompanying the emperor. The emperor had actually abandoned Miss He and taken the virtuous concubine with him.

"The Emperor treats Concubine Xian more and more differently." A hint of displeasure flashed across the Queen's dignified face.

The Queen no longer needed to ask about the person in the carriage.

At the same time, the Queen Mother also learned the news after sending Concubine Ning away.

"This emperor..." The Queen Mother sighed softly.

"Did the virtuous concubine bring her niece with her?" the Queen Mother asked again.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Nanny Qin answered respectfully.

The Queen Mother then suddenly realized.

"It turns out that the emperor brought the virtuous concubine with him. No wonder no one knew about it before. The people in that carriage must be the virtuous concubine and her niece. Whether this was intentional or unintentional..." The empress dowager didn't want to think about it anymore.

Nanny Qin also understood it in her heart.

"Empress Dowager, has Consort Xian's niece been betrothed to someone?" The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and seemed to remember that her niece was engaged, but she couldn't remember who she was betrothed to.

Nanny Qin knew that the Queen Mother hadn't paid much attention to this matter, so she reminded her, "The niece of Consort Xian is betrothed to Wei Qian from the Hanlin Academy."

"Oh?" The Queen Mother seemed to have understood something.

Nanny Qin also thought of other possibilities.

While the women were secretly competing, Murong Shuo met Wei Qian and others. They bowed and reported the situation.

After Murong Shuo asked some questions, he met other people he trusted.

At the same time, he also met some other people.

After inspecting the army, he and Eunuch An met with the princes and ministers. The princes and ministers in the enclosure, who had not participated in the incident, gathered together. Like the women in the harem, their families also paid their respects to the Empress and the Queen Mother.

Seeing that the emperor was safe and sound, the princes and ministers finally understood what was going on. It turned out that the emperor had set a trap.

"Your Majesty!" They bowed and greeted him, feeling fortunate that they had nothing to do with the matter and that they had not acted rashly.

Murong Shuo glanced at everyone but said nothing.

Those who were captured also saw the emperor later. Some were injured, some were in a state of disarray, and after seeing the emperor unharmed, they were horrified. Then, looking at Eunuch An, they finally believed that the person before them was indeed the emperor.

They knew the plan had failed.

The emperor is fine, the emperor is calculating them. All of this is a trap set by the emperor, they and the people behind them fell into the emperor's trap and were caught in one fell swoop.

Perhaps this is exactly what the emperor expects.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was assassinated and the Emperor was in danger twice, all in an attempt to capture them.

Thinking of the mastermind behind this, everyone fell silent and dared not say anything.

Murong Shuo had never expected to capture so many people. He had planned this for a long time, and although he had captured the traitors and uncovered the truth, the mastermind behind the incident remained hidden.

There were dupes among the princes and ministers, colluders among the border commanders, and even people from outside the border were involved.

If the army hadn't arrived in time...

"Are these the only ones?" Murong Shuo asked coldly.

He looked at Eunuch An, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch An saw the Emperor's dissatisfaction. He knew the Emperor was not happy with the people who were arrested. But he had no choice but to do so.

Although catching only these people is not thorough enough, it is still a gain.

He didn't know how to report to the emperor.

At first, he had never expected things to develop to this point.

Murong Shuo didn't ask any more questions. He turned around and tried to leave.

"Your Majesty!" Eunuch An flicked his whisk and seemed to be about to speak but stopped himself.

However, he never expected it.

"Your Majesty, is Your Majesty really alright? You don't have any injuries at all. It seems that you haven't been poisoned at all. You are not lying in bed unable to move, nor are you being controlled by anyone?"

"All of this is just a trap set by the Emperor, I see."

"I understand, I understand." "I understand too."

"..."

"We are still thinking about saving the emperor. Your Majesty, we are all wronged. Please investigate this matter thoroughly. As long as you find out the truth, you will know that we are wronged." Everyone shouted.

"We heard that the Emperor is imprisoned and that someone is deliberately obstructing our access to him. We are deeply concerned, fearing that something bad may happen to His Majesty, and that is why we have taken this action."

"Your Majesty!"

"His Majesty--"

Someone in the crowd finally couldn't help but call out.

One cry after another, rising and falling, as if to convey their urgent feelings to the heavens, hoping that the emperor would hear and allow them to express their grievances. However, is it too late for these people to cry out now? What effect will their voices have?

Even at this point, they are still wasting their breath and shouting in vain.

Eunuch An watched the scene coldly, a mocking smile on his lips.

He knew very well that the emperor was about to leave and these cries were in vain.

However, the emperor suddenly stopped, and Eunuch An was puzzled, wondering why his majesty stopped.

Before he could ask, the emperor turned around, glanced around with a sharp gaze, and then continued walking without looking back.

Eunuch An hurriedly followed, knowing that the emperor was not in a good mood at the moment.

Those who were still shouting did not seem to realize the seriousness of the situation. Seeing that the emperor was safe and sound, they hoped that he would show mercy and release them.

They conceitedly believed that if only the emperor could hear their cries, he would understand their innocence. However, they forgot that within these palace walls, there was no such thing as innocence.

Their cries grew louder, but the Emperor and Eunuch An ignored them and left.

Seeing the emperor leave, more people began to cry out, some regretting, some despairing, some remaining silent. However, no matter how they cried out, they could not change their predetermined fate.

Eunuch An followed the Emperor out of the palace, his eyes scanning the surroundings sharply. He noticed the heavy security nearby and secretly wondered what the Emperor was thinking.

The emperor was also in deep thought. His gaze sometimes looked into the distance, sometimes looked close, and finally fell on Eunuch An.

"Your Majesty?" Eunuch An noticed the emperor's gaze and hurried forward, gently waving the whisk in his hand.

"The crown prince is also besieged? King Cheng is imprisoned? What about the others?" The emperor's tone was calm, but his eyes revealed unquestionable majesty.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch An replied respectfully.

The emperor was silent for a moment, then spoke again: "The prince should be locked up as well."

Eunuch An was stunned upon hearing this. He understood the Emperor's intentions, but a lingering feeling remained. The Crown Prince had no involvement in this matter, but due to his connections with certain individuals, he was inevitably implicated. However, how could he dare disobey the Emperor's decision?

"Your Highness the Crown Prince..." Eunuch An called out in a low voice, his eyes full of helplessness.

The emperor seemed to see through his thoughts and said calmly: "This is also to protect him."

Hearing this, Eunuch An sighed inwardly. He understood the emperor's painstaking efforts, but he also knew that within the palace walls, there was no real protection.

"There are some people I once valued and trusted," the emperor suddenly said, a hint of sadness in his tone. However, this trust he once had turned into a sharp blade of betrayal, deeply hurting his heart.

Hearing this, Eunuch An felt even more depressed. He understood that the Emperor's mood had reached its worst point.

Two princes are also involved. How can the emperor remain calm?

"It seems I haven't done enough." The emperor laughed self-deprecatingly, but his eyes revealed determination and resoluteness. "As soon as they knew something was wrong with me, they all jumped out. Their loyalty is completely gone."

Eunuch An sighed inwardly upon hearing this. He understood that the emperor's words were both a condemnation of those who betrayed him and a warning to himself.

The Emperor said nothing more, striding forward at a brisk pace. Eunuch An followed closely behind him, still pondering how to deal with this sudden change.

Meanwhile, the women of the princes and ministers had already paid their respects to the Queen Mother and the Empress. They paid their respects and were relieved to learn that they were safe. However, they also realized that the storm had not subsided and that many people were still caught up in it.

Some women's relatives were implicated and imprisoned. The capital was a complex web of relationships, especially those of in-laws. They sought help from the Empress Dowager and the Empress, but were told they could not intervene.

The Queen Mother and the Empress only left behind some of her close relatives and female relatives, and then let them go. After they came out, they talked among themselves, but none of them knew what to do.

The Xian Concubine's family wanted to see her, and Miss He's maternal family also wanted to see her. However, within the palace walls, how could they see her whenever they wanted?