The Legend of Zhen Huan Reborn: Overthrowing Zhen Huan to Become the Queen Mother

Before the empress could be moved, she heard the emperor speak in a deep voice, "Slandering the imperial concubines is an unforgivable crime! Just..."

"Your Majesty, Aunt Zhuxi is here." Su Peisheng led Zhuxi in with a bitter face, interrupting the emperor.

Zhu Xi lowered her eyebrows and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has missed you terribly in a few days, so she sent this servant to come and invite you."

The emperor threw the bracelet from his right hand to his left hand with a "pop" sound. "Got it. I'll go see the Empress Dowager now."

Zhu Xi added, "Since Her Majesty the Queen is here too, please come along."

After saying that, he left.

Concubine Jing and Concubine Xin looked at each other.

The emperor's slightly cold eyes slid across Concubine Xin's lowered head. Before leaving, the emperor left an order, "All palace servants are to be taken to the Ministry of Punishment and interrogated personally by Su Peisheng."

In Shoukang Palace,

The Queen Mother was dressed in casual clothes, leaning against the main seat, looking sick.

The emperor strode in and asked with concern, "Your son greets the Empress Dowager. She looks unwell. Has the imperial physician been summoned?"

"It is a big taboo to avoid seeing a doctor when you are sick. Jianqiu, go and ask Zhang Mi, the director of the Imperial Hospital, to come." The queen, who followed closely behind, got off the sedan chair and gave the order.

The Queen Mother waved her hand and said, "It's all old troubles, not worth mentioning."

The emperor wanted to say something more, but the empress dowager waved her hand and asked Zhuxi to take the servants out.

The emperor had a bad feeling in his heart, and sure enough, the empress dowager gave him a reproachful look.

"This huge harem is dull and boring. If there is any news, it must be known to everyone in the palace."

The emperor sat up straight, and the queen lowered her head, looking helpless.

"I'm asking you, what's going on between you and Zhen?"

really!

The emperor frowned and glanced at the queen. The queen didn't even look at him and said guiltily, "It's all my fault. If I had dealt with those palace maids yesterday, this wouldn't have happened."

"Yesterday?"

"It's like this..." The Queen repeated what she had just said in Jingren Palace.

After hearing the Queen's explanation, the Queen Mother, though still frowning, softened her tone considerably. "This matter is ultimately the Emperor's fault. Zhen has been plagued by constant trouble since she entered the palace. In my opinion, this title is truly unworthy of her."

The emperor sighed softly, "Empress Mother, I am wrong in this matter. Zhen is like an old friend returning, and I can't help but feel attached to her. However, I was the one who bestowed this title, and I personally restored her to her position. It's not right to change my mind overnight."

Seeing that she could not suppress the emperor, the queen said, "This matter is also due to my failure to discipline her properly. Why not let Zhen go to Baohua Palace to chant scriptures and pray for blessings for two hours every day? This will be considered as making up for her mistake." After she finished speaking, she looked at the emperor worriedly, as if she really cared about the emperor's face.

The emperor looked at the queen seriously and wondered whether his queen was really doing this for his own face.

The Queen Mother closed her eyes. "Alright, let's do it this way. Those things about spreading the tents and the pepper walls are fine. But what happened outside the palace has actually reached the inner palace. There must be someone behind this."

"My son has sent them to the Ministry of Punishment, and Su Peisheng will be interrogating them personally. I think..." Before he finished speaking, Su Peisheng came in again with a sad face.

The emperor frowned. "What's the matter?"

Su Peisheng said tremblingly, "The Ministry of Punishment has sent word that all the servants we just sent over have committed suicide."

The atmosphere in the room stagnated.

The emperor's face darkened, and as he prepared to return, he ordered his men to keep a strict watch on the clan affairs office.

The Empress cautiously observed the Emperor's expression. Since he had already decided to frame the Eighth Master and his group, she naturally wanted to add fuel to the fire. "Such a large-scale move, I'm afraid the person behind it is after the Emperor's reputation. When I return, I will conduct a thorough investigation of the harem and will not allow the evildoers any opportunity to take advantage of it."

The emperor patted the queen's hand, and the last trace of doubt he had about her disappeared.

"I have a rough idea about this matter now. I'm sorry to have caused Empress Dowager Cixi's concern." The emperor said with a guilty look on his face.

The Queen Mother nodded in satisfaction. "I cannot dwell on the affairs of the previous dynasty. However, I must not allow anyone to take advantage of this matter. I summoned you here before I had finished reciting the sutras today. Now I must continue praying for the country."

"Yes, son. I'll take my leave."

Before leaving, the queen looked back and happened to see the queen mother frowning at her. Her heart trembled and she quickly turned her head away.

After leaving Shoukang Palace, the emperor stood in front of Shoukang Palace in his court robes, surrounded by a large group of people, looking quite pitiful.

"Your Majesty, you must be tired after a long morning. I have prepared some fresh mushroom and vegetable porridge in my palace. Would Your Majesty like some?" asked the Queen.

The emperor smacked his lips dryly and clapped his hands, "Go to your palace."

Poor Zhen Huan felt like the sky was falling when she received this decree.

"...I have received the order. Please help Eunuch Su to go there, Huanbi." Zhen Huan said with all her might.

Huanbi was stunned by the news. After being poked several times by Liuzhu, she took out a purse from her sleeve and wanted to give it to Su Peisheng.

Su Peisheng dodged nimbly and said with an apologetic smile, "It's not right for us to accept your things all the time, my lady. Please take a rest first. I have to go back to work."

Liu Zhu was in disbelief. As soon as Su Peisheng left, he immediately said angrily, "What does Su Peisheng mean?"

Zhen Huan slumped down on the couch in despair, and looked at Zhen Huan worriedly.

Huanbi came back to her senses and cried out in disbelief, "What does the emperor mean by this? He's the one who did it, and he's the one who's punishing us!"

"Miss Huanbi!" Cui Jinxi sent Su Peisheng back and heard these treasonous words, so she quickly stopped them.

After the others had left, Cui Jinxi comforted Zhen Huan, saying, "The Emperor would never change his mind so easily. I just asked Eunuch Su, and he said it was someone in the palace who deliberately spread rumors, and the Empress Dowager learned of them. That's why she punished you."

Zhen Huan grabbed Cui Jinxi's hand as if she had grasped the backbone, and murmured, "Yes, Aunt Jinxi is right, I was careless."

Cui Jinxi looked at Zhen Huan, who looked heartbroken, and sighed silently.

Throughout the day, the emperor had breakfast in Jingren Palace after the morning court and then devoted himself to government affairs. It was not until the evening that he had time to send people to deal with the Eighth Master, the Ninth Master and others.

It happened that the Jingshifang sent a sign, and although Zhen Huan was punished, she did not remove the green sign.

The emperor's gaze lingered on Concubine Wan's nameplate for a few seconds before he finally chose Concubine Qi.

"Concubine Qi hasn't been in my bed for a long time. I'm going to see her," he said.

......

......

"Is Fangqing asleep?"

"Your Majesty!" Jiang Ruyin said in astonishment.

When he saw the visitor, Jiang Ruyin put on his outer robe and bowed.

The emperor helped her up and said gently, "I'm late and I'm sorry to disturb your rest."

Jiang Ruyin sorted out her thoughts and said softly, "As long as the emperor comes, it's never too late."

The emperor laughed, put his arm around Jiang Ruyin's waist and walked into the inner hall.