Zichen Hall

  "Your Majesty, Lord Meng requests an audience," Su Shun said softly as he walked in. To read the latest chapter of this book, please go to 800.

  Zong Zhengjin put down his brush and said, "Quickly announce."

  "Your humble servant has arrived to pay respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, and ten thousand more years." Meng Wentian walked in and paid his respects.

  Zong Zhengjin waved his hand, "No need for formalities, what's the outcome?"

  "Luckily, I did not disappoint the mission," Meng Wentian stood up with a smile, despite his tired face and dusty appearance, he rushed back on horseback as fast as possible, directly to the imperial palace.

  Zong Zhengjin also had a hint of a smile on his face, "You've worked hard, dear."

  "I dare not take credit for it, Your Majesty has a far-sighted vision," Meng said, taking out several papers from his pocket.

  Zong Zhengjin ignored his flattery, took it over and flipped through a few pages, "Indeed, as I expected, the person has been found"

  Meng Wen shook his head, "When I left, Xia Gugu had already passed away. She adopted an orphan who said that Xia Gugu's last words were 'no resentment, no hatred, only then can one start anew'. This phrase was often on Xia Gugu's lips, seemingly something her former master used to say."

  Meng Wen Tian carefully observed her expression, Xia Gugu was a palace maid who had been serving Xi Fei all along. After Xi Fei's death, she took advantage of her age to be released from the palace and had been hiding for many years to avoid being pursued by others. Before her death, she finally returned to Xi Fei's hometown and is now resting in peace there.

  It is said to be Hee Bin's last wish.

  "No resentment, no hatred, only then can one regain their original heart," Zong Zhengjin murmured to himself, lost in the vast expanse of memories.

  "Your Majesty"

  "Can you tell me how the queen mother died?"

  "Your Majesty, Xi Fei was not killed by illness as the outside world claims. She was actually framed and forced to take her own life, and the method of her death was not chosen by herself."

  "Go on."

  Meng Wen Tian spoke a few words in a disjointed manner, under his piercing gaze, he continued to say, "It's the poison of broken love and scattered emotions. After being poisoned, one will experience heartache that won't stop until cardiac arrest. During this time, they will suffer for seven hours before finally dying."

  "Never mind," Zong Zhengjin raised his eyelids, somewhat weakly.

  He closed his eyes and could imagine that night, the queen mother had coaxed him to sleep early, then gazed at him for a long time by the bed. Finally, the queen mother willingly drank the poison for him, choosing to leave in such an extremely painful way. Latest chapter full text

  After a long time, Zong Zhengjin raised his head and asked, "Are you sure there are only a few of them?"

  "Your Majesty, according to my investigation, Concubine Yu was only a participant. It was Empress Dowager who was the mastermind behind it all. At that time, all the palace ladies were resentful of Consort Xi's favor with the Emperor, so they conspired together with the then-Empress to frame Consort Xi for infidelity. Later, when the previous Emperor became enraged, he had Consort Xi placed under house arrest."

  Later, before Xi Fei washed away her grievances, Zong Zhengjin accidentally "ate" some poisoned pastries and fell into a coma for two days. During this time, his mother, the empress dowager, chose to die in order to save him and prove her own innocence, so that he would not be shamed by his birth mother's actions in the future.

  Finally, when he woke up, he not only failed to find his mother, but was instead sent to the palace of the Empress Dowager, who was then still a virtuous concubine.

  Many people were involved in this matter, and many knew about it. However, no one would report it because everyone was extremely afraid of Empress Hui at that time, to the point where they wished they could flay her alive. So now the empress dowager has won, winning not only Empress Hui's life but also her child.

  Yu Fei participated in how much "Zong Zhengjin's heart was extremely painful, but his tone was extremely calm.

  Yu Fei is the aunt of the current empress and a member of the Yu family from the previous dynasty.

  "Everyone involved was in on it. The person who framed Consort Xi as unchaste was the same person who had a marriage arrangement with her before, and also the one the Yu family found."

  Meng Wen Tian couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, thinking about the former Empress Xi. She was just a woman brought back by the previous emperor from his tour of Jiangnan, already betrothed to another man at that time. Unfortunately, imperial decrees were not to be disobeyed, and she had no choice but to enter the palace.

  Such a pure and beautiful woman attracted the former emperor, almost without any suspense, enjoyed the former emperor's endless favor, brought other concubines' jealousy, unfortunately, she was short-lived and eventually murdered.

  He is now almost middle-aged, still remembering when he was young and entered the palace as a servant to read for the emperor who was then the seventh prince. He had the good fortune to see such a woman, one glance could overthrow a city, another glance could overthrow a country. Even though he was still young at that time, he knew that she was the beauty mentioned in poetry. After that, he never saw a more beautiful woman again.

  It was a small bird flying in the vast sky outside, it should have seen the colorful world, but it couldn't resist the imperial order, and had to enter the palace reluctantly, becoming a wing-broken golden oriole within the four red walls.

  "How is that family now?"

  "At that time, the former emperor was enraged and, in a moment of impulsiveness, had the entire family executed, leaving no one alive."

  Zong Zhengjin was furious and turned to smile. When his mother, the empress dowager, was still alive, his father, the emperor, almost came to visit them every day. Occasionally, he would stay overnight. At that time, Zong Zhengjin was young and only knew that his father treated him well and also treated his mother well. Whenever his father came, his mother would smile and be extremely happy.

  Sometimes, when the emperor was not around, the empress would have him sleep with her. At that time, he was completely absorbed in his own excitement and ignored the few hints of sadness between the empress's eyebrows.

  Such a woman, so good, was wronged by the world. She was framed and lost her chastity. Her good emperor father not only did not choose to believe her, but also knew that after being confined, something might happen, yet still let the empress face it alone. He even knew that the man was an important evidence of the empress's innocence, yet chose to have his whole family executed.

  Was it because of deep love and bitter hatred, or was it just for the dignity of the emperor, that he didn't mind hurting a woman who loved him with all her heart.

  "Your Majesty, shall we carry out our plan?"

  "No," Zong Zhengjin refused almost without thinking, "I want to clear my mother's name and wash away her grievances, let those people keep their dog lives for now."

  Now that "the adulterer" is dead, the only ones who can prove the queen's innocence are those who framed her. To achieve this, it doesn't matter if they live a little longer.

  He has endured humiliation and borne heavy burdens for over twenty years, he cannot afford to fail at the last step.

  "I understand," Meng Wen said with a serious tone.

  Zong Zhengjin glanced at his stern expression and said, "I have a few things for you to do."

  Meng Wen Tian leaned in closer, listening carefully to his instructions. If possible, he was willing to go all out for such a beautiful woman, no matter how insignificant it might seem.

  Zong Zhengjin watched his back disappear, no resentment, no hatred, just a return to his original heart.

  It was already late November, Su Jing's injuries had fully recovered, and she had been gaining weight every day for these days. She clearly felt that she had gained some weight and also grown taller.

  She has been in the palace for less than a year, and her old clothes are not available. Only last month, she had made several sets of winter clothes according to the season, but they were a bit small. Zong Zhengjin waved his hand and let people redo them, so now she is standing here re-measuring her size.

  "Master, you've really grown a lot taller," said the excited servant girl who was helping her take measurements. She had been serving their master for many years and knew that growing taller had always been his dream, even if she couldn't understand why.

  In her opinion, it's normal for women to be a bit shorter than men, delicate and petite is the most suitable.

  Su Jing swept her hand across herself and her height, smiling lightly, "That's natural, but there's no need to make many of these clothes. Just making a few pieces will be enough to wear, after all, Ben Piao is still growing up, otherwise she won't be able to wear them after the New Year."

  "Yes, I'll go and tell the people at the clothing store later."

  Su Jing looked out at the sky and said, "Ben Pei wants to eat pot tonight, I don't know if the emperor will come or not."

  Xiangya and the others apparently didn't know either, Su Jingfan hadn't expected to get an answer from her anyway. "Let's just use the old mushroom broth then, prepare some fresh ingredients."

  "The slave understands and will go and inform the kitchen staff later," Yu heard Yao respond.

  At first, the emperor agreed to set up a small kitchen for the master and also sent over some cooks and several experienced palace maids who were good at making pastries. As a result, these few palace maids still only served the master on this side and no one went to manage the kitchen.

  At the hour of You, Zong Zhengjin still hadn't arrived, nor had there been any news that he had gone to another palace. Su Jinglian didn't even dare to send someone to ask privately.

  Sitting in front of the desk with her hands supporting her cheeks, she took a glance at the bubbling broth in front of her, the aroma wafting up, and just thinking about it made her want to devour it eagerly.

  "Master, wait a bit longer, perhaps the Emperor will arrive soon," Xiangyu said, seeing the look in her master's eyes, and immediately advised.

  Su Jing's gaze remained focused, "Perhaps His Majesty has already eaten."

  "How did you know I've eaten?" Zong Zhengjin had just walked to the door when he heard her words, meaning she didn't wait for him and ate by herself.

  Su Jing heard this and immediately came to life, the dog's legs stood up, "Concubine sees the emperor," only the movement of her body was slow and shocking.

  Zong Zhengjin found it amusing and helped her up with a smile, "No need for formalities."

  "The concubine said maybe, not necessarily, Your Majesty, look, the concubine has still prepared a special hot pot for you, it's most comfortable to eat this on a winter day."

  Zong Zhengjin glanced at it, but in fact he wasn't very interested in these things. As an emperor, he didn't indulge in food, drink, and fun, and was strict with himself, which was a decision he had made for himself long ago.

  A meal of three bites, drinking soup without making a sound, eating without showing teeth, not speaking while eating or sleeping, every move and gesture must be absolutely standard, symbolizing the dignity of the imperial family.

  It's just that since coming here, many things have been destroyed, and the eunuchs who used to supervise the serving of dishes have long been driven away. When the two of them dine together, he has become accustomed to having no outsiders present.

  Palace Concubine (Yi)

  Gong Shu