Marrying a concubine and swallowing her dowry? The mistress turns around and marries a high-ranking

Chapter 661

He raised his gaze and looked at the blood-red, blurry full moon on the horizon.

Thin clouds shrouded the night sky, and a hazy lunar halo surrounded the moon, making the full moon appear even larger, strangely eerie, and filled with ghostly energy.

Twenty years ago, on a night just like this, Xie Qingmo, who had suffered endless humiliation, died silently in the Beiying Palace.

At this moment, it's as if time has turned back, and the cycle of destiny has begun.

Mo Zhonggui closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.

......

The palace was as peaceful as the day before, so peaceful that it was almost eerily so.

The imperial power of Western Qi passed from one generation to the next in this rare tranquility.

Emperor Huo Tingsheng, due to poor health and low spirits, was no longer able to handle state affairs and secluded himself in the palace to recuperate.

Crown Prince Huo Jinghuai temporarily took charge of the government and oversaw all state affairs, effectively becoming the true supreme ruler of Western Qi.

It wasn't that no one in the court raised questions. However, Huo Tingsheng's recent actions—acting perversely, wronging loyal officials, and being utterly incompetent—had greatly alienated the people. Truly loyal ministers were few and far between, and any dissenting voices that emerged were quickly suppressed.

As the crown prince, Huo Jinghuai's appointment to act as regent is perfectly legitimate, and given his popularity, he has smoothly assumed the power of regency.

Although Huo Tingsheng was recuperating in the deep palace and did not see outsiders, some rumors circulated in the palace, saying that he was too ill and had gone a little crazy, constantly talking about the Xie family and Xie Qingmo from back then.

It sounds like there's something fishy about the Xie family's treason case back then.

These rumors gradually sparked much discussion outside. When a court official brought it up during court, Huo Jinghuai seized the opportunity to declare that the Xie family case from years ago should be thoroughly investigated.

It was quickly discovered that the Xie family had not committed treason. The crime was entirely fabricated by Emperor Huo Tingsheng out of fear of the Xie family's power, with the sole purpose of eliminating the entire Xie family.

Xie Qingmo's drastic change in temperament back then was not due to arrogance, but because Huo Tingsheng and Jiang Yunwan had given him a slow poison, which made him irritable and completely lose his rationality.

Huo Tingsheng was afraid that Xie Qingmo and the Xie family would become too powerful, so he not only eliminated them, but also smeared them with a bucket of mud, making them carry this huge injustice for twenty years.

When the results came out, everyone involved in the investigation was utterly shocked and their worldviews were shattered.

Logically, to save face for the Western Qi royal family, they should have immediately ordered the truth to be covered up.

But Huo Jinghuai did not do that. Overnight, it seemed that everyone in Ancheng knew about it, and the topic was being discussed extensively.

Not content with this, Huo Jinghuai ordered the truth to be revealed to the world, exonerating Xie Qingmo and the Xie family and clearing their names.

This is tantamount to tearing Huo Tingsheng's face off and stomping on it, causing the entire Western Qi royal family to lose face as well.

Naturally, some members of the royal family opposed the move, but Huo Jinghuai already held immense power. Moreover, he acted first and reported later, disclosing everything without anyone's consent. There was no way to take it back now.

What's done is done. It's impossible for everyone to make a fuss with "Huo Jinghuai" over something that has already happened. Helpless, they could only let it go.

"Huo Jinghuai" is the son of Fang Kui, who was Xie Qingmo's loyal subordinate back then, so it's understandable that "Huo Jinghuai" would do this.

This old case, which was twenty years old, has become one of the most significant stains on the history of the Western Qi royal family.