Jiaojiao, how did you become like this?

When Meng Guifei heard this, her whole body began to tremble again.

When she turned around, tears were streaming down her face: “Now, no matter what I say, you won’t believe it, right?”

“Without any evidence, you have concluded that I was the one who assassinated Lu Mingyu. You keep saying that you love me and trust me, but that’s all. You said I changed, but it’s obviously you who changed.”

“You are the Emperor, sitting on the dragon throne, and you have beauties in your harem. I am gradually getting old and losing my beauty, but you can keep embracing young beauties. You have legitimate sons and daughters, illegitimate sons and daughters, and who knows how many little princes and princesses will be born in the future.”

“There has never been equality between you and me. I am devoted to you, but are you devoted to me? You said I have changed, but it is obviously you who has changed!”

Meng Guifei didn’t look pretty when she cried.

Unlike Su Fei, who shed tears one after another, sad and gentle, and cried like a pear blossom in the rain.

When she was young, she was bright and cheerful, even a little bit willful, and her temper was not so good. When she was angry, she would glare, and when she cried, she would cry and have snot, never caring about her manners.

At this time, her eyes were red, she was crying sadly and desperately, and her face was a little distorted.

In the past, Emperor Yongjia would have surrendered to such crying and walked forward to whisper comfort. But now, Emperor Yongjia just watched Meng Guifei crying silently.

Meng Guifei did not stomp away in anger as she had done before but kept crying until her voice became hoarse. Her heart gradually sank to the dark and desolate cliff.

“Go back to Yanxi Palace!”

Emperor Yongjia finally opened his mouth, his voice full of fatigue and indifference: “From tonight on, you will stay in the palace to recuperate.”

Was he going to banish her to the cold palace?

Meng Guifei couldn’t cry anymore and suddenly looked up at Emperor Yongjia.

Emperor Yongjia was no longer willing to look at her, and ordered, “Come here, send the Guifei back to the palace.”

At the command, Eunuch Liu and two other eunuchs stepped in. One could not help but suspect that Eunuch Liu had been waiting for this order.

Meng Guifei was proud after all.

At this point, she stopped crying, wiped her tears with her sleeve, and turned around with her head raised without saying goodbye.

The familiar slender figure tripped and nearly fell when she stepped out of the door. Eunuch Liu stepped forward to help her, but Meng Guifei waved him away.

Meng Guifei straightened her back and walked out, and her figure quickly disappeared from Emperor Yongjia’s sight.

Emperor Yongjia stood there for a long time and felt extremely cold all over.

……

In the Jiofang Room.

The palace maid Cailan walked in quietly and whispered a few words in Empress Qiao’s ear.

Empress Qiao’s expression darkened, her brows furrowed, and a series of thoughts flashed through her mind.

Emperor Yongjia went to Shouning Palace because the assassination involved the Zhao family. When Qin Fei heard the news, she panicked and went to Shouning Palace to seek support from Empress Dowager Zhao.

What did Meng Guifei say to Emperor Yongjia when she went to Wenhua Palace? Why did she return to Yanxi Palace with red eyes?

Empress Qiao thought for a long time, then ordered, “Have someone continue to pay attention to the movements in the palace. If there is any unusual movement, report to me immediately.”

Cailan responded in a low voice.

Empress Qiao added, “Send someone to the Lu residence to bring more supplements for pregnancy protection. Also send someone to send a letter to the princess’ residence, asking Hui’an Gōngzhǔ to come to the palace when she has time.”

Hui’an Gōngzhǔ was also shocked by the stabbing of Lu Mingyu and went to Lu’s mansion early this morning.

After confirming that Lu Mingyu was not seriously injured, Hui’an Gōngzhǔ was relieved and returned to the Gōngzhǔ Mansion afternoon. Then, she happened to meet the palace maid from the Jiofang Room who came to deliver a message.

Just over half an hour after Empress Qiao delivered her oral order, Hui’an Gōngzhǔ entered the palace.

Both mother and daughter looked worried and had a lot on their minds. When they met, neither of them was in the mood to chat. All they asked about were the things that concerned them the most.

“How is Lu Shi’s health?”

“Nothing happened in the palace!”

Hui’an Gōngzhǔ rushed to answer, “Lu Shi’s pregnancy is relatively stable. She has taken pregnancy-maintaining medicine and is resting in bed. There is nothing serious. Mother, don’t worry.”

Empress Qiao felt relieved and whispered about the unusual movements in the palace: “…Everything is abnormal. I have thought about it over and over again, but I can’t figure out what your father is thinking.”

In fact, Empress Qiao never understood her husband.

Perhaps it was because Emperor Yongjia was also very reserved in front of her. Although they were husband and wife, their hearts were far apart.

Hui’an Gōngzhǔ didn’t know her father very well. She grew up in the inner palace and didn’t see her father very often. As she grew up, Emperor Yongjia began to lead his troops to conquer territory.

In the past few years, Hui’an Gōngzhǔ got married and moved into the Princess Mansion. She went to the palace to pay her respects ten times but did not meet Emperor Yongjia once.

“Even my mother can’t see through it, so I have no idea.” Hui’an Gōngzhǔ muttered, “Every time I come to pay my respects to my mother, I can’t see my father.”

Empress Qiao was shot in the chest by an arrow, but she couldn’t argue with her daughter. She twitched her lips and changed the subject neatly: “By the way, Ah Jing went to the Ministry of Justice. I don’t know how the case in the Ministry of Justice is going.”

Hui’an Gōngzhǔ was also very concerned about this matter. After thinking for a while, she said, “It’s not convenient for us. Why don’t we let the Fùmǎ go to the Ministry of Justice to take a look?”

That was fine.

Empress Qiao’s expression relaxed: “Fùmǎ has a calm temperament, is reliable, and is tight-lipped. It’s just right for him to go.”

Hui’an Gōngzhǔ called her personal maid and whispered a few words to her. The maid whispered a response and went to find someone to deliver a letter to Wu Fùmǎ.

Empress Qiao thought for a moment, and whispered to Hui’an Gōngzhǔ, “You and your husband have been married for more than four years, but you still haven’t gotten pregnant. This is not a solution. Why don’t you find a personal maid to serve your husband? If a son is born, you can bring him home to raise him.”

In the past, Hui’an Gōngzhǔ would get angry whenever this matter was mentioned.

This time, Hui’an Gōngzhǔ was not angry. She was stunned for a moment and said, “Let’s wait until the end of the year!”

If there was no movement before the end of the year, it would not be too late to select someone.

Her daughter was overbearing and willful, which often gave Empress Qiao a headache. Suddenly, she became sensible, and Empress Qiao felt distressed. She held Hui’an Gōngzhǔ’s hand and comforted her for a long time.

……

In the evening, Wu Fùmǎ came into the palace and was about to bow.

Hui’an Gōngzhǔ was worried and said impatiently, “It’s already this late, why bother with all these empty formalities? Tell me quickly, how is my second brother? Has the Ministry of Justice found any useful information?”

Empress Qiao glanced at Hui’an Gōngzhǔ in a reproachful manner: “Look at your temper.”

Hui’an Gōngzhǔ curled her lips and said nothing.

Wu Fùmǎ smiled good-naturedly, “I went to the Ministry of Justice. Your Highness has been staying there, and the Ministry of Justice has not been lazy in trying the case and has put in a lot of effort. The manager of the Zhao family, who has close ties with Third Zhao, was also taken to the Ministry of Justice for questioning. He hasn’t confessed yet, but I guess he will confess tomorrow.”

At this moment, a palace maid came in with a panicked look on her face: “Empress, something terrible has happened!”

(End of this chapter)