Chapter 85 (End)

The Empress Dowager clenched her fists tightly. These people really knew how to twist the truth. She was the one who got pregnant in the palace, but now she was being called Consort Liu. Moreover, the late emperor could never have favored her. Others might not know, but she had been with the late emperor all along and naturally knew the reason.

At that time, she and the late emperor had finally conceived a child. To allow her to focus on her pregnancy, the late emperor specially accompanied her to the imperial palace. Originally, only the two of them were going, but Consort Liu insisted on going along. Feeling indebted to her, the late emperor agreed to let her go, but little did he expect...

These two actually started plotting against her back then.

If she remembered correctly, Song's wife was also with them at the time. Later, they encountered robbers on the road and got separated from them. Then came the news that Song's wife died in childbirth.

Looking back now...

Perhaps the death of Madam Song was also orchestrated by these two.

The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened: "What if I insist on stopping you?"

Song Yunzhou waved his hand, and the soldiers continued to approach. Just a step away, thirty guards suddenly appeared out of nowhere, blocking their way. With swift strokes, the soldiers didn't even have a chance to resist and were instantly killed.

this......

The courtier gasped in surprise; he had been hesitant just moments before, but now his legs were trembling with fear.

These thirty-odd guards were clearly royal secret guards, and it was said that they could take on ten men at once. I originally thought that these royal secret guards had been disbanded long ago after the death of the late emperor, since no one had seen them for so long. I never expected that they would be in the hands of the Empress Dowager.

Xiao Yu was also startled by the people who suddenly jumped out in front of him. Although he already knew there were secret guards, his heart still couldn't help but skip a beat when they appeared out of nowhere.

These people were sent to her by the Grand Princess as a precaution, and she didn't expect to need them so soon.

etc.

There are only ten people, aren't there?

Where did the other twenty people come from?

She glanced at the Empress Dowager instinctively, and couldn't help but wonder if these people were the Empress Dowager.

Although curious, I knew the timing wasn't right, so I stood quietly to the side and watched.

Song Yunzhou hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to have a backup plan. He had originally thought that by transferring the Imperial Guards away, the mere five hundred guards in the palace would be no threat at all. He hadn't expected there to be secret guards. He clenched his fists, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes. So what if there were secret guards?

He has a thousand Imperial Guards and assassins under his command, so why would he be afraid of them?

It's just a bit troublesome; killing one person is the same as killing a hundred, so...

They want to die, so I'll grant their wish.

A ruthless glint flashed in Song Yunzhou's eyes. He looked at Song Luoning and said in a deep voice, "Ning'er, come here. Come to your father's side."

Song Luoning stiffened, frowning as she looked at the tall and upright father she once knew. She couldn't understand what had changed him, why the man who had once been so devoted to the well-being of the people had become so unfamiliar.

She wouldn't go there; she'd rather live and die with that fool who was completely devoted to her.

Song Luoning shook her head: "Father, please stop being so stubborn."

“I’m stubborn? I’m thinking of the people. Look at her for yourself. Since she ascended the throne, her behavior has been shocking. A woman in office? I’ve never heard of such a thing before. Now even the heavens can’t keep up and have sent down disaster. Ning’er, listen to your father and come here, or don’t blame your father for not showing any fatherly affection.”

Father-daughter relationship?

Song Luo Ning lowered her eyes. The moment he was about to kill her, that thought should have already vanished. She felt sad. After a moment of silence, she raised her head again, her eyes filled with determination: "If Father insists on this, Luo Ning has nothing to say. It is impossible for Luo Ning to leave His Majesty."

Her attitude was unusually firm, even resolute.

"My wife." Xiao Yu was moved.

She had even suspected the young lady, and she felt ashamed of her past behavior.

"Since that's the case, don't blame me for not showing any fatherly affection. Arrest them all."

At a command.

Song Yunzhou and the others stepped aside, and the soldiers outside the hall rushed in.

Xiao Yu instinctively shielded the young lady behind him and retreated to the steps with the Empress Dowager and Jiang Wanrou. A fight broke out below, and in no time, the hall was filled with dead and wounded, and the air was thick with the smell of blood.

Xiao Yu frowned. The enemy clearly outnumbered them. If they continued fighting like this, they would die of exhaustion even if they didn't die in battle.

Are they really going to die here?

In the midst of the crisis, a soldier suddenly burst into the hall: "Report! A group of people has suddenly stormed into the palace and is heading this way."

Um?

Someone's here. Who could it be?

Xiao Yu was taken aback, and then saw Song Yunzhou's face darken as he met her gaze: "Never mind what's outside, take them down first."

"Yes!" The soldiers charged at Xiao Yu in unison.

"......"

They knew their reinforcements had arrived and wanted to drag her down with them.

Xiao Yu was startled and tightened his grip on the young lady's hand. This old man, seeing that he couldn't gain any advantage, was going to die together with her. The battle in the main hall was chaotic. As the soldiers approached step by step, Song Luoning suddenly pulled her hand out and stood in front of Xiao Yu.

"Husband, don't worry about me," Song Luoning said.

Xiao Yu paused for a moment, then immediately pulled the person back to reality.

The young lady wasn't trying to save him; she clearly wanted to kill him.

If anything were to happen to her, I would go crazy.

There was no time to lecture her, so Xiao Yu said sternly, "You better stay behind me." The two of them took two steps back.

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but look over, her expression indescribable. She glanced at Jiang Wanrou, who was also looking over, and finally opened her mouth but didn't say a word.

At this moment, another group of soldiers rushed in from outside the hall and surrounded everyone inside.

Xiao Yu felt a surge of excitement when she saw Liang Chengqiu walk out of the crowd.

The Imperial Guards are back.

She doesn't have to die.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Song Yunzhou burst into laughter, but quickly suppressed his laughter: "Liang Chengqiu, what are you still standing there for? Go and seize him."

"..."

What does Song Yunzhou mean by this?

Xiao Yu looked at Liang Chengqiu in confusion, while Liang Chengqiu expressionlessly raised the long knife in his hand and walked step by step towards the steps.

"Liang Chengqiu, are you crazy? Why are you listening to him?" Chen Yu shouted.

“Because she is Song Yunzhou’s person,” Xiao Yu said calmly.

At this moment, she was perfectly clear-headed. Liang Chengqiu had played an indispensable role in her coming to the capital. It was Liang Chengqiu who handled Chen Ziyi's case, which was why she was able to be convicted despite insufficient evidence.

No wonder she risked her life to escort me to the capital? No wonder Song Yunzhou knew so much about me.

Xiao Yu couldn't describe what it felt like to be betrayed by someone she trusted.

She couldn't bring herself to hate Liang Chengqiu; her eyes were filled with mixed emotions as she watched the person approaching step by step.

Suddenly, Liang Chengqiu turned around and swung his knife. The soldier behind him fell to the ground, blood seeping from his forehead.

"Liang Chengqiu, you..." Song Yunzhou roared, "You want to disobey my orders?"

What's going on?

Xiao Yu pulled Song Luo Ning back a little.

Liang Chengqiu: "You did save my life, that's true. I've killed a lot of people for you over the years, and I've long since repaid that debt. Now I just want to protect the people I want to protect."

Song Yunzhou snorted coldly: "The person you want to protect? So, you're going to go against me today?"

That damned Liang Chengqiu actually betrayed us at the last minute! Song Yunzhou gritted his teeth. These secret guards were already a bit troublesome, and now there's another Liang Chengqiu. Song Yunzhou said angrily, "You'd better think this through. You have more than one life on your hands. Killing Xiao Chengze and framing the emperor is a capital offense. Do you think she'll let you off?"

Liang Chengqiu paused for a moment, said nothing, walked past him to Xiao Yu, and knelt down: "Your subordinate is late in rescuing Your Majesty, please punish me."

Xiao Yu frowned, looking at the sudden turn of events with mixed feelings. He said solemnly, "Get up. You've come at just the right time. Take down all the rebels."

"yes."

The court officials were all panicked. They hadn't come here to be rebels. If they were labeled as rebels, not only would they lose their official positions, but treason was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their families. Among them were many scions of noble families.

Not only would they be convicted, but their entire family would also be implicated. The emperor had the Imperial Guard, and although they were a large family with a certain prestige in the court, they couldn't withstand the fact that the emperor had an army. If they encountered an unreasonable emperor who could kill them at will, they would be doomed.

This Prime Minister Song is a scourge to humanity.

The officials were filled with unspeakable bitterness. As the Imperial Guards approached, they panicked, knelt on the ground, begged for mercy, and cried out for justice.

Xiao Yu glanced at him indifferently: "Whether it's a wrongful conviction or not will only be known after the trial."

Trial?

Just thinking about those instruments of torture, especially those from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, made the faces of those court officials turn deathly pale.

No matter how they protested, they were eventually taken away, the hall returned to silence, and the farcical rebellion came to an end.

Xiao Yu's gaze fell on Song Luo Ning, and he pursed his lips: "Wife..."

Although the young lady didn't show it on her face, she knew in her heart that those were the young lady's most important relatives. She held the young lady's hand tightly, thinking of giving her some comfort.

Song Luoning paused for a moment, skillfully concealing the sadness in her eyes, and smiled slightly.

The Mid-Autumn Festival should have been a time for family reunion, but the atmosphere in the palace was unusually bleak. A soldier pushed open the prison gate, and a putrid stench assaulted his nostrils. Xiao Yu went inside and stopped in front of the cell.

Sitting in the cell was Song Yunzhou, dressed in a white prison uniform, his hair slightly disheveled, and he looked extremely tired.

He was completely different from the profound and reserved Prime Minister Song of the past.

Xiao Yu waved his hand, and the palace servants around him consciously retreated to the outside of the door.

Song Yunzhou hung his head, seemingly lost in thought.

Xiao Yu: "Don't you have anything to say?"

After a long pause, Song Yunzhou tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and sighed, "What are you doing here? Did you come to watch me make a fool of myself?"

Xiao Yu: "Is it worth it for this position?"

Song Yunzhou remained silent.

Xiao Yu continued, "For your own selfish desires, you indiscriminately kill innocent people and disregard the safety of the people. The people are already suffering from disasters, but you have started a war just to get rid of the Imperial Guards. How many people will be displaced and even lose their families because of your selfishness?"

Song Yunzhou smiled and said, "You really are just like that dog emperor. All of you Xiao family members are hypocritical in the same way."

What's the meaning?

Xiao Yu frowned, and then heard Song Yunzhou say, "Back then, Liu Yan and I were childhood sweethearts and were going to get married, but we were forced to separate because of an imperial decree. Just because he is the emperor, does that mean he can break up other people's marriages at will?"

Xiao Yu remained silent. The emperor did indeed have the power to summon any woman he desired to the palace with a single imperial decree. Could that be a reason for you to disregard the lives of others?

This grand drama must have started more than twenty years ago.

Sure enough, the next second, Song Yunzhou suddenly burst into laughter: "She stole my woman, then I'll let my son steal her empire..."

"So, did you kill my daughter?" A very authoritative voice rang out from behind.

The Empress Dowager walked in, with Song Luoning beside her.

Xiao Yu quickly stepped forward and took Song Luoning's hand, saying softly, "Why are you here?"

Song Luoning looked towards the prison cell and shook her head.

Xiao Yu came alone because she was afraid that the young lady would be upset. In the end, she didn't expect them to come. She was also worried that Song Yunzhou would say something even more hurtful.

She squeezed Song Luoning's hand tighter, as if this could give the young lady strength.

Everyone was there at once. Song Yunzhou looked somewhat deranged, and his words were filled with obsession and hatred: "So what if I killed her? Her daughter deserved to die. I will not only kill her daughter, but also kill her. Do you know why she died so young?"

Xiao Yu was startled and subconsciously looked at the Empress Dowager. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager seemed very calm.

“I bribed her chief eunuch long ago to poison her daily meals. It’s the same poison that killed her children years ago. They were both killed by the same poison. Don’t you think this is retribution…?”

The Empress Dowager clenched her fists, her eyes brimming with hatred.

"You hate her so much? Did she have a choice back then? If it weren't for Grand Commandant Liu relying on his merits and coveting power to send his daughter into the palace, do you think she would have married Liu Yan?"

"Impossible!" Song Yunzhou's eyes widened in disbelief as he loudly retorted, "Liu Yan is his daughter, how could he do such a thing?"

"What's impossible? Do you know why I knew at a glance that Consort Liu's bastard child was yours?"

"Why?" Song Yunzhou stared intently at the Empress Dowager.

"Because the late emperor was a woman, it was impossible for her to have any son with Consort Liu."

What?

Xiao Yu was no less surprised than Song Yunzhou. The late emperor was actually a woman like her? Then... the daughter the Empress Dowager mentioned, wasn't she also not the late emperor's?

What kind of melodramatic plot is this?

The old emperor was cuckolded twice, and the empress dowager was even willing to wear the green hat.

Song Yunzhou was clearly shocked, muttering, "How is this possible..."

The Empress Dowager said, "You've schemed and plotted, even going so far as to poison your own wife and daughters. Do you really think that will allow your bastard child to ascend the throne?"

Murdered his wife and daughter?

Xiao Yu suddenly looked at Song Luoning. The young lady had been frail since childhood, and Physician Jiang had also said it was poisoning. Could it be...?

Xiao Yu felt a pang of sadness, her breath quickening, as if her heart were being gripped tightly by a large hand. She endured it and pulled the young lady into her arms.

How heartbroken the young lady must be, knowing that her mother was poisoned to death by her respected father. Xiao Yu tightened her arms.

The Empress Dowager didn't give Song Yunzhou another chance to speak. She waved her hand, and two palace servants entered from outside the door: "Since Lord Song likes to poison others, then he should taste the poison himself." After saying that, she didn't look at him again and turned to leave.

Xiao Yu glanced at the Empress Dowager's figure disappearing through the prison gate, then at Song Yunzhou, and sighed inwardly. Now he was reaping the consequences of his own actions. Even if she could forgive him, the Empress Dowager would never let him go.

She felt even more sorry for the young lady: "My lady, let's go."

In August of the 223rd year of Bai Sheng's reign, a 20-year-long scheme came to an end. All the officials involved were stripped of their posts and imprisoned, but their families were spared. By the end of October of the same year, after a month, the disaster victims in Jiangnan were able to be resettled. In March of the following year, Lin Qingyue returned to the capital with a map of the terrain of Jiangnan.

At the same time, the first girls' college in Baisheng's history was established, and all women could enroll. Later, women could also participate in the imperial examinations and become officials in the court, just like men.

In the same year, the imperial court issued an edict that all land in Baisheng belonged to the imperial court, and each household would be allocated land according to the number of people, and would pay taxes to the imperial court annually according to the harvest. The people were overjoyed when this edict was issued.

After a year of rectification, the country finally stabilized. Xiao Yu finally had some free time and decided to spend some time with the young lady. She walked briskly, and as soon as she entered the Funing Palace, the system, which had been dormant for over a year, suddenly typed a message in her mind: [Congratulations to the host for completing the mission of eliminating treacherous officials and stabilizing the country. The system will reward you with a child.]

Xiao Yu: "..."

Who can tell her what this reward is and why there is such a reward?

What about the child? Did she give birth?

She doesn't want to...

Xiao Yu's heart sank into a deep abyss. She was now an emperor disguised as a man. Was she supposed to handle state affairs while heavily pregnant?

Instantly, he lost all interest in accompanying the young lady and looked listless.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong? Have you encountered any problems in handling state affairs? Or have some ministers made things difficult for you again?" Song Luoning came out to greet you.

What's wrong?

Xiao Yu raised her head and forced a smile. She didn't want the young lady to worry, but she didn't know how to tell her, so she could only keep it to herself. Several days passed, and she became more and more uneasy. She knew that she couldn't hide it for long. If she told the young lady about such a bizarre thing, would the young lady believe her?

Will they treat her like a monster?

Even if the world knew she was actually a woman, it wouldn't matter. She could simply give up being emperor; they still had a home in Chenjia Village. The real concern was for the eldest daughter...

The more you worry about something, the more likely it is to happen. Her period, which is usually very regular, was inexplicably delayed this month. She didn't dare to ask for a diagnosis, and she was filled with anxiety.

Her unease, of course, did not escape Song Luoning's notice.

Seeing this, Song Luoning secretly summoned a palace servant to inquire. Nothing major had happened in the previous dynasty, nor had any ministers made things difficult for His Majesty. What exactly was going on? Song Luoning pursed her lips, her brows furrowed with deep sorrow.

A few days later, the emperor remained listless and even deliberately avoided her. Sometimes he would not return to Funing Palace for an entire day and would only return late at night. At night, he would not hold her in his arms and sleep together as before.

Song Luoning's heart sank little by little, and her appetite also decreased.

Cuizhu: "Your Majesty, I see that you do not look well. Perhaps we should summon a royal physician to take your pulse?"

Recently, I have indeed been worrying too much and feel very weak. Song Luoning nodded, and Cuizhu got up and called a palace maid to summon the imperial physician. The physician arrived shortly afterward and happened to meet Fushun, who then informed Xiao Yu.

"What?"

Forgetting all about imperial decorum, Xiao Yu ran all the way back to Funing Palace and grabbed the imperial physician: "How is the Empress's health?"

Although the young lady has used the system's medicine and is almost indistinguishable from a normal person, who can say for sure...?

The old imperial physician said in a panic, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress is not unwell, but rather..."

"And what is it? Tell me quickly!" Xiao Yu was on tenterhooks, her heart clenching with anxiety.

"She is pregnant," the imperial physician said.

Is she pregnant?

Xiao Yu was stunned, the imperial physician's words replaying in her mind countless times, and she looked dazed.

so......

It wasn't that she was pregnant, but that the young lady... If it was the young lady, she would be even more worried. Song Luoning's health had always been poor, and if she were pregnant, would her body be able to handle it?

What should we do about all of this?

"How is the Empress's health? Can she withstand the hardships of pregnancy?" She urgently needed to know.

Having served as a royal physician for so many years, this is the first time I've heard of a husband whose first concern during his wife's pregnancy wasn't the baby's well-being, but rather whether his wife would be alright. And this husband was the emperor! It seems the rumors of a deep and loving relationship between the emperor and empress are indeed true.

The imperial physician replied respectfully, "The Empress is in good health, but she should still take care of herself during her pregnancy and avoid overexertion..."

As the imperial physician spoke, Xiao Yu dared not slack off in the slightest and carefully memorized the words.

After the imperial physician left, the palace servants were dismissed.

Xiao Yu sat on the couch, holding the young lady's hand against his cheek, and whispered softly, as if treating a precious treasure: "My lady..."

"Does my husband trust Luo Ning?" Song Luo Ning asked, frowning.

"Of course," Xiao Yu replied without hesitation.

"Regarding the pregnancy, let's summon another imperial physician." Song Luoning lowered her eyes. She had only consummated her marriage with the man before her, and yet the man before her was a woman...

Song Luoning looked somber.

If she is indeed pregnant, it's hard to say.

"There's no need for such trouble. Although it's absurd that two women are pregnant, I'm certain this child is mine. My wife, just listen to the imperial physician and take good care of yourself." Xiao Yu's face lit up with joy, sweeping away the gloom of the past few days.

"Does Your Majesty truly believe Luo Ning?"

“Of course, Niangzi is indeed my flesh and blood,” Xiao Yu said firmly.

Seeing her like this, Song Luoning didn't say anything more. Perhaps after a few more days, she would find out that it was just a misunderstanding. She just didn't know if this person would be disappointed then.

She curved her lips into a smile, a hint of shyness on her face.

The two hadn't been this tender together in a long time. The tranquil palace was bathed in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows, creating a serene and harmonious atmosphere.

As time passed, Xiao Yu would rush back to Funing Palace to accompany Song Luoning after finishing his duties in court each day, treating the young lady with utmost care and concern, as if she were a precious jewel.

Originally, Song Luoning thought it was just a false alarm and didn't think much of the pregnancy. But as time went on, her belly actually grew bigger. Song Luoning began to feel uneasy, especially since the person in front of her was so certain that she was carrying her child.

She felt a little more at ease.

Until she gave birth to a beautifully sculpted little baby, whose features were exactly like the person in front of her, she had some doubts, but she gradually accepted the fact.

She only had a marital relationship with him, so how could she be pregnant with another man's child?

After figuring things out, Song Luoning's face radiated a motherly glow.

As the little dumpling grew a bit more, especially its peach blossom eyes, which were exactly like Xiao Yu's, and its nose and mouth, which were very similar to Song Luoning's.

"I thought Ling'er was already cute enough, but I didn't expect our daughter to be even cuter." Xiao Yu hugged his daughter and grinned foolishly.

Song Luo glanced at her and said, "Yes, yes, our daughter is the cutest." Her smile widened.

Xiao Yu took her hand and pulled her into his arms. Holding the little dumpling in one arm and Song Luo Ning in the other, his eyes were filled with deep affection: "My wife, thank you. I am already content with having you and our daughter in my life."