The widow becomes a fairy, and the time-traveling girl counterattacks and becomes the queen

The hall was magnificent and golden. Beneath the coiled dragon pillars, all the ministers bowed their heads. The air was so stagnant that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it.

At this critical moment, a woman's voice, filled with anger and majesty, pierced through from outside the hall: "Stop? What are you doing?"

Before the voice fell, the eunuch guarding the gate rang out in a sharp, hurried voice: "The Empress Dowager has arrived...!"

This sound was like dropping cold water into boiling oil, causing a slight commotion in the court.

All the civil and military officials bowed and saluted in unison: "Your Highness, we pay our respects to the Empress Dowager."

Although the voices were in unison, they could not conceal the uneasiness and wait-and-see attitude among them.

Queen Mother Luo Lan walked hurriedly into the hall, surrounded by a group of palace maids and eunuchs.

She was wearing a dark blue court gown with phoenix patterns and a pearl and jade phoenix crown on her head. Although she was over sixty years old, her brows still retained the elegance of the past.

However, at this moment, the pair of phoenix eyes contained not the kindness of the past, but surprise and anger.

"Haha... Zhao Guoan, the Queen Mother is here, let's see how you're going to explain this to her?"

When Zhao Yucheng saw his backer coming, he suddenly became brave and broke free from the guard and was about to touch his arm. His movement was so fast that he even knocked down a guard.

He took several steps at a time and almost rushed to the side of Queen Mother Luo Lan.

He grabbed her arm, his voice full of grievance and accusation.

"Mother, look! My brother, having believed the slander, is trying to kill me! If you had come a step later, I'm afraid... I'm afraid you wouldn't have been able to see me again!"

He choked up as he spoke, and his eyes turned red at just the right moment.

Luo Lan's eyes swept across the messy imperial desk, then looked at the emperor with a sullen face, and finally fell on his little son who was snuggling up to him. His mood was complicated and indescribable.

She forced herself to remain calm and raised her hand to support him: "Everyone, get up."

Zhao Guoan took a deep breath, took a few steps forward, frowned, and his tone was full of fatigue.

"Mother, this is the court for discussing state affairs. You are old, why are you here in person? If you have any instructions, please send someone to pass them on."

"I know this is the imperial court!" Luo Lan responded coldly, staring at Zhao Guoan with a burning gaze: "If I don't come, Emperor, do you really want to disregard our brotherly love and kill your brother?"

Seeing the Empress Dowager's tough attitude, Minister of Works Luo Zheng, who was also the Empress Dowager's nephew, had no choice but to stand up.

He bowed and said, "Aunt, this matter...this matter really cannot be entirely blamed on Your Majesty. It is really because Prince Yu was...too wrong this time. The evidence is irrefutable!"

Although he called her "Aunt", his tone was still respectful of a subject to the royal family.

Immediately afterwards, the Minister of Rites Zhao Feng also stepped forward to echo, his voice calm but firm.

"Your Majesty the Queen Mother, as you can see, Prince Yu has embezzled a huge amount of disaster relief funds, affecting the livelihoods of several states.

This is a serious crime that shakes the foundation of the nation. Your Majesty has no choice but to deal with it according to the law."

The Minister of Revenue Chu Xiong and the Minister of War Zhou Yuhan exchanged glances and moved their lips, but ultimately chose to remain silent.

And those officials who had previously defended Zhao Yucheng were now silent as a mouse, wishing they could shrink into the ground.

"Sister-in-law, the emperor cannot be blamed for this matter." A slightly hoarse but powerful voice sounded.

When everyone looked over, they saw that it was Prince Zhao Haoyang, who had not attended court for many years.

He stood at the end of the train, wearing Zeng Tong's official uniform, and was walking towards Luo Lan.

When Luo Lan saw him, a hint of genuine surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Royal brother? You...are attending court today?"

She remembered clearly that this royal brother had not set foot in the court for ten years and had been concentrating on recuperating in the palace.

Zhao Haoyang nodded slightly, his face expressionless, his tone calm but full of weight: "I didn't want to come at all,

However, today's matter concerns the stability of the country and the reputation of the royal family, so I have no choice but to make this trip."

"My royal brother is so thoughtful." Luo Lan patted Zhao Yucheng's hand to comfort him and glanced at everyone.

"But even if Prince Yu has done a thousand wrongs, if the evidence is irrefutable, he will be punished according to the law.

Why would you want to take his life so easily? After all, he is of royal blood, the son of the late emperor! "

Seeing that his mother was still defending him, Zhao Yucheng became even bolder and shouted, "Mother! They are colluding to frame me!"

I, your son, have been taught by you and am determined to be a wise king, to share my brother's worries and to work for the well-being of the people. How could I do anything that is detrimental to the court?

Someone must be jealous of my reputation and slandered me in front of my brother, the Emperor!

"Mother, you must make the decision for me!" He wept bitterly, his acting skills were superb.

"The Empress Dowager is wise!" Prime Minister Ouyang Ming, who had been observing silently, finally couldn't help it at this moment.

He stepped forward and spoke in a loud voice, "Just now in the palace, Prince Yu not only refused to plead guilty, but in desperation, he even tried to assassinate Your Majesty! This was witnessed by your own eyes. If the guards hadn't reacted quickly, the consequences would have been disastrous!"

"Assassinate the Emperor?!"

Ouyang Ming's words were like thunder.

Luo Lan's whole body trembled, and his face turned three inches pale in an instant.

She knew Ouyang Ming. As the prime minister, he would never speak without thinking in the court.

She suddenly looked at Zhao Yucheng, her eyes filled with disbelief and horror.

When did these two brothers come to the point of fighting each other to the death?

With a barely perceptible tremor in her voice, she asked the emperor again, her tone no longer as tough as before.

"Emperor! Tell me, what exactly is going on?"

"Mother," Zhao Guoan's voice was heavy and tired, and he pointed to the scattered files and letters on the imperial desk.

"Please look! These are irrefutable proof that the Emperor's brother colluded with court officials, accepted bribes, and formed a clique for personal gain! Furthermore, he has repeatedly secretly sent assassins to kill the Crown Prince!"

Luo Lan said in disbelief: "Assassinating the prince? How is that possible!" Luo Lan's heart sank suddenly, and he had an extremely ominous premonition.

"Not only that, there is something else that makes me even more heartbroken..." Zhao Guoan's voice paused here, filled with great humiliation and anger.

"Mother, do you know the true identity of Concubine Yin, who is deeply trusted by this son?"

He practically gritted his teeth as he spoke word by word: "She is not some orphan Yin Ling'er at all!

She is Liu Linger, the daughter of former Prime Minister Liu Wenfeng, who was executed by the previous emperor for treason more than 20 years ago!

Liu Ling'er's true identity is the real ruler of the Wolie Kingdom.

Mother, I was wrong. I shouldn't have ignored your advice and been deceived by her appearance, letting a wolf into the house!

And Zhao Yucheng, not only did he commit many crimes that are unforgivable by heaven, but he also...had a long-term affair with Concubine Yin!

They even conspired to have the Third Prince, Li'er, born to Concubine Yin, ascend the throne in place of the Crown Prince! They were completely disregarding the Zhao Dynasty!

Zhao Guoan presented all the evidence one by one, with detailed information and clear logic.

With every sentence he spoke, Luo Lan's face turned paler and his body shook slightly uncontrollably.

When she heard the words "adultery" and "plotting to usurp the throne", she felt dizzy, her vision went dark, she staggered and almost collapsed to the ground. Fortunately, the personal nanny beside her supported her in time.

"No...! How could the Imperial Concubine be Liu Ling'er? They don't look alike at all! Mother! Don't listen to their nonsense!" Zhao Yucheng argued hoarsely, with the word "wronged" written all over his face.

"This is all a trap designed by my brother the Emperor to eliminate this threat from me!

All the evidence can be fabricated! They...they don't have any solid evidence at all!

"How can you sentence me to death with nothing but empty words? Mother, you must believe me!" He cleverly grasped the seemingly weak link of "witness".

Luo Lan's heart was completely confused.

Concubine Yin's appearance is indeed different from Liu Ling'er.

On one side were the emperor and his ministers who spoke with certainty, and on the other side was his youngest son, whom he had loved for many years, crying out for injustice.

The palms and backs of her hands are all made of flesh. She hoped so much that all this was just a misunderstanding, a nightmare.

"Who said there were no witnesses?"

Just as the situation was at a stalemate and Luo Lan was torn between his conscience and his conscience, a clear yet calm voice, which was inconsistent with his age, came clearly from the door of the hall.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw the third prince, Zhao Haoli, dressed in the prince's regular clothes. His small figure stood straight as he walked into the hall step by step.

He has a childish face, but his eyes are extremely firm.

"It's the third prince! The third prince is here!" an official exclaimed in a low voice.

"He's the son of Concubine Yin. What...why does he come here now? Which side will he stand on?"

Whispers spread among the officials, and everyone's eyes were focused on the eight-year-old child.

Seeing Zhao Haoli, Zhao Yucheng's eyes lit up instantly and he shouted anxiously:

"Li'er! Quick! Come here! Tell the Empress Dowager and your father that your mother and I are innocent!

There's nothing going on between us, right? You know best how the emperor's uncle treats you!"

This was the child he had poured countless efforts into and was even willing to fight for the world!

He firmly believed that at this critical moment, Li'er would definitely stand by his side.

As long as the children are willing to speak for him and with the Queen Mother's protection, the situation will definitely be able to turn around!

However, what happened next completely shattered his last fantasy.

Zhao Haoli didn't even glance at him. He walked straight forward and bowed politely: "Your son greets the emperor, father, and the grandmother."

Zhao Guoan looked at his son with a complicated expression, and a hint of imperceptible pity. He said softly, "Li'er, this is not the place for you. The emperor and the ministers will handle the important matters of the court. You should go back to the palace and review your lessons first."

"Thank you, father, for your concern." Zhao Haoli thanked him, but did not leave as he was told.

He turned around and faced the entire court, his small body seemed to contain great courage, and he said loudly: "I, Zhao Haoli, am willing to testify as a prince!

Prince Yu, Zhao Yucheng, and my mother, Concubine Yin, do have an affair!

They have met privately in my palace many times under the pretext of checking on my studies and caring about my well-being. Their words and actions... have been so intimate and inappropriate that... I've even witnessed it myself!"

"boom--!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire court was in an uproar as if a huge rock had been thrown at it!

Who could have imagined that an eight-year-old child would stand up at this moment and personally testify against his own mother and the emperor's uncle whom he regarded as a father!

What kind of determination does this require, and what a shame it confirms!

Zhao Yucheng opened his eyes wide, almost bulging out, his face full of disbelief, as if he had heard the most ridiculous words in the world.

"Li... Li'er! Are you... are you crazy?! Why do you want to wrongly accuse the emperor's uncle? Who forced you to do this? Was it your father?" He seemed to be insane and pointed at Zhao Guoan.

This is his son, and logically speaking, Zhao Haoli should have known since that time that he is Li'er's real father. Why doesn't he stand on his side?

Zhao Haoli finally turned his gaze towards him. There was no longer the dependence and closeness of the past in his eyes, only cold alienation and deep disgust.

"Uncle? At this point, are you still worthy of me calling you uncle?

You and my mother have done such a shameful thing, violating social order. Now that it's been exposed, you still want to drag me into this, and encourage me to seize the throne from my brother, the Crown Prince?

Although I, Zhao Haoli, am young, I know the principles of propriety, integrity, loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness! How could I be deceived by you and do such disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unjust things?

"You...you..." Zhao Yucheng was speechless after hearing these righteous words. His face turned from red to blue, and then from blue to white.

The Empress Dowager Luo Lan, who was standing by, shook violently the moment she heard her grandson's personal confirmation. She could no longer hold on and fell backwards. Fortunately, the palace maids on both sides held her tightly and prevented her from falling.

She looked at Zhao Haoli, then at Zhao Yucheng who looked like a madman, and felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife, and she was completely hopeless.

She never imagined that her son, whom she had loved so much since childhood, would actually do such a shameless and treasonous thing!

Zhao Guoan stepped forward at the right time and supported her mother's shaky body, her voice low and sad.

"Mother, the facts are all there, with witnesses and evidence. The laws of the land are as strong as a mountain, the rules of our ancestors cannot be abolished, and the dignity of the royal family cannot be violated! I hope that Mother... will put the country first and make a wise decision on this matter!"

"No! Mother! I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" Zhao Yucheng roared miserably, as if he were a trapped beast in a desperate situation. "Li'er is only eight years old. How can the words of an eight-year-old child count?

It must be the emperor's brother! It was the emperor's brother who threatened him with Concubine Yin's life, or some other means!

Li'er was forced! He's talking nonsense! Mother! You must believe me! I'm innocent!

His eyes suddenly became fierce, and he swept them fiercely towards the officials in the train whose interests were most closely tied to his, silently conveying orders.

In an instant, as if receiving a signal, nearly half of the officials stepped out and knelt down in unison, their voices rising one after another, with an almost aura of forcing the emperor to abdicate:

"Empress Dowager! Prince Yu must be wrongly accused! You must not so easily sentence him to death based on these specious evidences and the words of a child!"

"Yes, Queen Mother! Prince Yu is well-known for his virtue and loves his people like his own children. How could he do such a treasonous act? There must be something hidden!"

"I beg the Queen Mother, Your Majesty, to examine this matter with your own eyes! If we hastily punish the prince before the evidence is fully convincing, it will chill the hearts of loyal ministers and generals, and even more so, the hearts of millions of ordinary people!"

They must protect Prince Yu!

Only if Prince Yu survives can they keep their official hats and even their lives!

Concubine Yin's identity has been exposed, which means that their past dependence on Prince Yu and even possible involvement in conspiracy may be liquidated at any time.

Perhaps, only when the emperor sitting on the throne is replaced can they be truly safe.