Chapter 357 My mom said, I am a heartthrob, everyone has to like me!

She never asked for punishment when she was beaten, never hated when she was abandoned, and played with her two sons at her will. Her IQ and EQ were no less than her father's.

She is brave, resourceful, and efficient, worthy of being the mother of the country.

It’s just a pity that she was born into the wrong family.

"Your Majesty, Miss Qiao is frail and delicate. If she kneels all night, she might get hurt. Do you want me to go to Kunning Palace?" Su Xiao asked cautiously, glancing at Qiao Jibai not far away.

The emperor said calmly: "The queen is the mother of the country. Why should I intervene to stop the punishment of the daughter of a minister who committed treason?"

He raised his head and looked at Qiao Jibai who was grinding ink, "My dear, do you think I should go?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Jibai put down the ink stick, walked to the front, bowed and nodded, saying: "I think that the people that Minister Qiao cherishes most are his wife and daughter. It doesn't make any sense for the emperor if the queen punishes Qiao Wanyan, but if the emperor allows me to rescue Qiao Wanyan, Minister Qiao will trust me more. Being close to Minister Qiao will only benefit you and not harm you."

The emperor rubbed the ring on his finger, "You told Minister Qiao about Xiao Qiao's love poison. Minister Qiao is suspicious but he will accept your kindness. He takes advantage of his love for his daughter and is very good at finding loopholes."

Qiao Jibai: "The process is not important, as long as the result is right, that's enough."

The emperor said in a deep voice: "Go ahead."

Inside Kunning Palace, Qiao Wanyan knelt on the cold ground and looked at the brightly lit hall.

Aunt Xu stood aside and said, "Second Miss Qiao should learn a lesson now. The Queen is the mother of a country. When the Queen asks you to do something, you can only plead guilty and cannot contradict her. Otherwise, it would be disrespectful and contemptuous of the royal family. Today, it is the Queen who taught Second Miss Qiao, and I hope Second Miss will remember it."

After Aunt Xu finished speaking, she walked away into the main hall.

Zi Yuan knelt beside her and said distressedly, "Miss, how about I sneak out and ask the master to save you?"

Qiao Wanyan said softly, "The palace gates are locked. This is the imperial palace, not the market. If you wander around, you will be treated as a thief and executed on the spot."

Zi Yuan clenched her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning blue and white from squeezing too hard, "Then Miss will have to kneel here all night, I'm afraid her knees will be swollen the next morning!"

It was said that it was for the prince, but she felt that she was deliberately teaching the young lady a lesson because the young lady of Yulinyuan openly and tactfully rejected the Queen's "kindness".

"If we had resolutely refused to enter the palace, we wouldn't have been punished by the Queen like this."

Qiao Wanyan said helplessly: "If I just stand there and lie casually, it is inevitable that someone with ulterior motives will find out and use it to impeach Dad. I disobeyed the Holy Grace and was taught by Dad in a subtle way. Wouldn't that cause trouble for Dad?"

Ziyuan pursed her lips and stopped talking. What should I do?

Qiao Wanyan looked at the hall, her eyes full of light but without any warmth.

"This punishment cannot be taken in vain. If it does not bring me any benefits, it will be totally unworthy."

Qiao Wanyan was silent for a moment, "You wait here, and you are not allowed to follow me."

After saying that, he stood up and walked towards the hall.

Aunt Xu immediately scolded her for daring to stand up, "Second Miss, the Majesty said that you cannot stand up without her permission. Are you trying to disobey her order?"

Qiao Wanyan didn't listen and went straight into the hall, kneeling behind the pearl curtain.

"The Queen has punished me and I am willing to accept the punishment. I am young and do not understand the overall situation. The Queen has made me kneel and think carefully. Only then did I understand the Queen's painstaking teachings. I will learn from your teachings."

The queen lay on the couch, slowly opened her eyes and looked at her through the beaded curtain.

Qiao Wanyan spoke earnestly, "I love Your Highness, but I committed treason out of jealousy, which is a crime worthy of death. I came here only to thank Your Majesty for your teachings, and I will go back to continue to be punished and understand Your Majesty's good intentions."

After Qiao Wanyan finished speaking, she stood up and was about to turn around and leave when she heard a voice coming from inside.

"stop."

She turned around and lowered her head, not daring to look directly at him, and behaved herself properly without overstepping the mark.

The Queen asked, "You adore the Crown Prince? Then why in the Imperial Forest Garden did you want to cut off all ties with the Crown Prince?"

Qiao Wanyan pursed her lips, not knowing how to start. Aunt Xu said, "The Queen is asking questions, Second Miss, please don't break the rules."

Qiao Wanyan said softly, "I have admired Your Highness for many years. It was only because I accidentally saw Your Highness from afar that I knew what it was like to like someone. I also knew that childhood sweethearts are not admiration."

"But Your Highness, there is always a place for the elder sister in your heart. The elder sister was caned by the Emperor for disrespecting the Emperor, and accused my father of murdering his concubine in public, but failed, so she complained about everything at home, provoked the son of General Zhongwu, and caused many troubles. I really don't think I am worse than the elder sister, but Your Highness is unwilling to stop associating with the elder sister."

"I dared to offend the Queen's ears. My elder sister entered the Qiao family because she secretly climbed into the bed. I am really afraid that my elder sister will follow her mother's old path and ruin your wisdom! So I acted childishly and rejected your good intentions. Please forgive me."

Qiao Wanyan knelt down, her half-truthful and half-false words made it hard to tell whether she was lying or not.

The queen stood up, pushed aside the pearl curtain, walked in front of Qiao Wanyan, and helped her up. Her expression was less cold and indifferent.

The queen said gently, "You are young, and it is natural for you to be jealous. Your elder sister was born in a humble family, but she never thought that the young lady would be so despicable as to cling to power. No wonder your daughter is also so coquettish and lowly as to cling to the prince."

Qiao Wanyan didn't say anything, but her eyes turned red and she started crying silently.

The queen once had a daughter, but she died at the age of three.

Now seeing her so pitiful, pity rose in my heart.

"I know you are a sensible person. I have always intended to bring you and the prince together. Although you are a little childish in some aspects, you are the best in the capital in playing the piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs. I like you."

Qiao Wanyan curled her lips and threw herself into the queen's arms, sobbing softly with her face against her shoulder.

Aunt Xu hurriedly said, "Second Miss, don't be so presumptuous!"

The queen waved her hand to signal her to shut up, but Qiao Wanyan stood up from her arms and was about to kneel down, but was stopped by the queen.

"I am so lucky to be liked by the Queen. She is as gentle as my mother. I couldn't help but offend her. I hope you will forgive me."

The Queen now thought, how could the Prince only like such a delicate woman who looked as beautiful as a porcelain doll even when she cried, when she was mediocre in every way like Qiao Yihuan?

"Aunt Xu, the palace gates are locked today. Take the Second Miss to a side hall to stay. Tomorrow you will personally send the Second Miss back. By the way, bring Qiao Yihuan into the palace. I want to see her."

Aunt Xu nodded and said, "Yes, Madam."

Qiao Wanyan was taken to a side hall. After the door was closed from the outside, the expression on her face disappeared and she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes expressionlessly.

You old thing, when I become the queen, I will not let you have an easy life.