This villain has become a ghost

It is true that when a person is sitting at home, the pot comes from heaven.

Concubine Hui said she was wronged.

She only wanted to expose Qiu Shuangwan and Xia Ruzhi's affair, but she didn't expect that he would be entangled with an assassin, which is a serious crime punishable by the death of nine generations of the family.

Concubine Qing was clearly very understanding and very helpful. She continued to accuse, saying, "Your Majesty, please be advised. A few days ago, Concubine Hui instigated me to falsely accuse Concubine Xian in public!"

Concubine Hui turned pale. She had never thought that Concubine Qing would add fuel to the fire at this critical moment. Although she had no connection with the assassin, it was true that she asked Concubine Qing to report Concubine Xian.

"Your Majesty, this... this is a complete misunderstanding on Concubine Qing's part," Concubine Hui's voice trembled slightly, but she tried her best to sound calm. "I have never intended to frame Concubine Xian, let alone be involved with the assassin!"

At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall was extremely tense, and all eyes were focused on the emperor. The emperor's face was as gloomy as water, and he sat quietly on the dragon throne, his eyes deep, making it difficult to guess what he was thinking.

However, Yue Liuyun's inner activities are extremely rich.

Hahahahahahahaha - of course I know you didn't, the assassin was sent by the eldest princess, and Concubine Hui is from a noble family, they are totally unrelated.

But you could pick on anyone else but Qiu Shuangwan, so now you’re in trouble.

Concubine Hui was anxious. She even cast her gaze towards Qiu Shuangwan and said with a slightly tearful voice, "Sister Xianfei, although I don't have a good relationship with you, please believe me. I will never send anyone to kill you, and I have nothing to do with the assassin!"

Qiu Shuangwan looked at her red eyes and the flashing tears, and couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

Well, she is a girl after all, and he, a grown man, can’t bully her like this.

He coughed lightly, breaking the silence: "Your Majesty, I...have something else to say."

"Although Concubine Qing saw the assassin heading towards Yonghui Palace, that doesn't necessarily mean he's connected to Concubine Hui," his voice was gentle yet powerful, slowly reaching Concubine Hui's heart and giving her a glimmer of hope. "But I believe there must be a misunderstanding. Concubine Hui and I have been sisters for many years, so I naturally trust her character."

Concubine Qing: “…”

Depend on.

Didn't you ask me to report her? Why are you pretending to be a good person now?

I'm the only one who got hurt?!

Yue Liuyun said calmly, "Everyone, get up."

Her gaze swept over every concubine present with an oppressive air, and she spoke with a hint of coldness, "I will definitely send someone to thoroughly investigate this matter. For the time being, Concubine Hui will be confined to Yonghui Palace. You are not allowed to take a single step outside without my order!"

"Also, all the concubines in the harem had better behave themselves. If I find out that you are framing each other again, I will directly imprison you in the cold palace."

Yue Liuyun paused, then continued, "As for the power of assisting in managing the harem, it will be handed over to the virtuous concubine and the virtuous concubine. The Phoenix Seal will be held jointly by the two of them for the time being."

All the concubines were shocked.

This means that the future queen will be either the virtuous concubine or the virtuous concubine!

This virtuous concubine is understandable, as His Majesty already favors her. However, this virtuous concubine has never been favored by His Majesty since she entered the palace. Why is that?

Is it...

Is this related to the previous dynasty?

Not only were the other concubines confused, but even Shufei herself was very surprised, and the sadness on her face was replaced by suspicion.

She remembered how the Emperor had treated her with such indifference and distance when she first entered the palace, as if she were a distant and distant air. Now, this sudden surge of power made her feel uneasy. She couldn't help but wonder if anything had happened during this time that had changed the Emperor's mind.

In the palace, a place full of intrigue and schemes, everyone wears a mask and no one knows what others are really thinking.

True love is the most impossible thing to exist.

No one dared to believe it.

Luo Tong stood up calmly and stepped forward, accepting the order together with Qiu Shuangwan: "Your Highness obeys your command."

Concubine Hui, slumped on the ground, breathed a sigh of relief. At least she had saved her life. The emperor was moody, had killed countless people, and was extremely suspicious. He let her go today, probably because... Qiu Shuangwan.

Although she was very jealous of the favor Qiu Shuangwan received, she had to admit that it was because of this favor that she escaped danger today.

Qiu Shuangwan knew that Yue Liuyun might give him great power in order to protect him, but she didn't expect that he would give him the Phoenix Seal directly.

only……

Why is she called Shufei?

-

"Yes, I also want to know why you gave the Phoenix Seal to Qiu Shuangwan and Luo Tong?" Nangong Mingzhu's eyes were deep and unfathomable, staring at Yue Liuyun solemnly.

It was late, the air chilled by the aftermath of a thunderstorm. The night sky was as black as ink, dotted with stars, and the palace lights seemed exceptionally bright after the rain, yet tinged with a chill.

Yue Liuyun returned to Qinghe Palace, wearing a purple-black fur coat with gold cloud patterns, and sat beside the desk.

She said calmly, "I'm sorry, Qiu Shuangwan is the one I want to protect, so I let her take charge of the Phoenix Seal. This way, she will feel much safer in the harem..."

Furthermore, she felt that she had not known Qiu Shuangwan well enough. He was actually a very smart person and certainly did not want to be confined to a corner of the harem and live until the end.

She gave him the Phoenix Seal to help him with his future achievements, so that he could accomplish the things he wanted to accomplish, such as the reform of the Imperial College and the manufacture of firearms...

"You know, I'm not talking about him." Nangong Mingzhu interrupted her, his tone suddenly becoming a little tough.

Yue Liuyun thought about it, then suddenly understood. He explained seriously, "I have seriously considered the matter of Concubine Shu. Firstly, the Qiu family will not treat her as a useless chess piece and get rid of her. Secondly, no one in the harem dares to bully her. Thirdly, if I complete my mission and leave in the future, she will be yours in the name of justice..."

"I understand," Nangong Mingzhu slowly approached her, the gloom in his eyes as dark as the dark clouds of today, and repeated, "Of course I understand what you said!"

Yue Liuyun asked in confusion, "So? Or... do you think your method is the only way to protect her? Don't you know how miserable it is for an unfavored concubine in the harem? And the legitimate daughter of the Qiu family will cause trouble for her as soon as she enters the palace. She has no power and can only be bullied. Do you know all this?"

Moreover, by improving the status of Concubine Shu in the harem, the status of the Qiu family in the court will be very delicate, and it can also effectively check and balance Zhang Jing and Wei Yanzhi, forming a situation of mutual restraint.

But Nangong Mingzhu's attitude was too strange. It was clearly a three-pronged approach. It would be beneficial in the court, protect his beloved, and allow her to become the queen legitimately after the mission was completed.

Even if Yue Liuyun's mission failed and Nangong Qianshang became the emperor in the end, Qiu Shuangwan and Luo Tong were only temporary substitutes for the Phoenix Seal and did not become the real queens. They would not be implicated by him and their lives would not be in danger.

So why did he look so angry?

Nangong Mingzhu slowly approached her again, looked directly into her eyes, and spoke word by word, "So... you want me to marry her as queen?"

"Is this what I want?" Yue Liuyun felt a little puzzled. "Shouldn't this be what you want?"

Suddenly, a very scary thought emerged in Yue Liuyun's mind.

She frowned and asked, "Or are you just like Qiu Shuangwan back then, with no real feelings for Luo Tong at all?"

Could it be that... just like he used Qiu Shuangwan back then, he was also just using Luo Tong?

Luo Tong had helped him and saved his life when they were young. If he still couldn't get his sincere treatment, then he was really cold-hearted and a little scary.

Nangong Mingzhu sneered, his aura exuding an unprecedented danger. He said in a deep voice, "Tong'er saved my life. As far as friendship is concerned, I will never allow anyone else to hurt her!"

Yue Liuyun asked curiously, "Then what are you angry about?"