Chapter 423: Restoration of the Crown Prince

Three days later,

At Cheng Huan's funeral, the empress, concubines and royal heirs all cried together, all of them were grief-stricken.

Only Ning Wanshuang, who was acting as the biological mother, stood in front of the child's coffin without shedding a single tear.

He just stared blankly at the tiny person placed on the ice in the coffin.

Zhao Hua tried to persuade her, but because Xiao Jingheng was standing between them, he couldn't say anything too considerate.

"My Lady, the deceased is gone, please don't be too sad."

Xiao Jingheng also put his arm around Ning Wanshuang's shoulders and said:

"I know you love Cheng Huan, and I know you feel bad. If you want to cry, just cry. I am with you, and everything will pass."

He exerted force on his palm, embraced Ning Wanshuang in his arms, and sighed:

"Wan'er, Cheng Huan has been tormented by that disease for a long time. Now that he is gone, it is a relief."

Ning Wanshuang stared blankly at the incense in front of the memorial tablet that was about to burn out. She said nothing but silently in her heart:

'Son, I was born into a military family. I haven't read much and I don't understand much. But my father and brothers taught me since I was a child that debts should be paid and murder should be paid with one's life. This is the most natural thing.

You are my mother's son and a descendant of the Ning family. My mother cut off your life with her own hands, returning it to Jinghe and Chengjing, so that you can die with a clear conscience.

Don't blame me for being cruel. I'll treat you like this today and make you pay for the blood debt you owe with my own hands. In the future...'

She raised her eyes, tears in them, but she met Jamel Xiao's eyes with tenderness, still complaining in her heart:

"One day, I will personally ask your father to pay back the debt he owes."

Finally, she buried her head in Xiao Jingheng's arms.

In the end, she didn't want anyone to see her tears, so she sobbed silently.

*

It was more than a month later when Ning Wanshuang finally recovered from her sadness.

During this period, the harem was relatively peaceful.

Only the fact that Dong's father occupied land in Jizhou and became the king became the focus of everyone.

Xiao Jingheng privately ordered the Anbu people to go to Jizhou to thoroughly investigate the matter.

This was discovered by Ning Baichuan when he passed through Jizhou.

Because he was leading troops outside at the time and could not be distracted, he did not report the matter to the court immediately.

But he also forced Dong's father to return power to the prefect and made him promise not to bully the people at will in the future.

Seeing that he swore that he could do it, Ning Baichuan felt pity and let him go.

When Xiao Jingheng was interrogating Concubine Dong, he learned from her that Ning Wanshuang had known about this matter for a long time and had used this matter as a handle to let Concubine Dong use incense as a lure to harm Queen Jiarui.

However, Empress Jiarui had committed many evil deeds during her lifetime, and Xiao Jingheng could not bear to blame Ning Wanshuang seeing the grief she had suffered from the loss of her son, so he did not pursue the matter.

On this day, when Xiao Jingheng came to Fengluan Palace for lunch, he mentioned the matter of establishing a crown prince to Zhaohua.

"It's been a month since Cheng Huan's funeral was completed. Accidents have happened to the heirs of the palace one after another. To be honest with you, Zhao Er, I am a little panicked.

I asked the Imperial Astronomical Observatory yesterday, and they said that the Purple Star is surrounded by evil spirits, and only when there is a happy event in the royal bloodline can the ominous sign be alleviated. So I plan to reinstate Cheng Yu as the crown prince soon. What do you think, Zhaoer?"

At this moment, Zhaohua was chewing a small piece of fresh mushroom heart.

Hearing Xiao Jingheng's question, she suddenly felt that the cabbage in her mouth had turned into lime, so bitter that it was difficult to swallow.

Xiao Jingheng appointed Cheng Yu as the crown prince for the first time.

It is to plant the foundation for one's own well-being;

Xiao Jingheng appointed Cheng Yu as the crown prince for the second time.

It is to protect oneself from disasters and break the evil spirits.

Such disgusting words, but he can say them openly.

And he looked at Zhaohua with a beaming face, as if making Chengyu the crown prince was a supreme gift bestowed upon them...

Zhao Hua's heart was churning, but he quickly calmed down his emotions on his face, put on a light smile, and looked back at Xiao Jingheng.

She hadn't looked at Jamel Xiao seriously for a long time.

Even when serving the emperor in bed, he would blow out the lights and go about his business as a routine.

Now take a closer look,

Zhao Hua found it hard to recognize him.

Looking back to when he first entered the palace, Xiao Jingheng had a handsome appearance and a muscular body. When he undressed, his slightly bulging thin muscles were clearly visible. He was truly dashing and romantic.

And now?

In Zhaohua's eyes, he only saw the man's round cheeks and oily face.

Even though he was wearing a wide dragon robe, his bulging belly could still be clearly seen after he sat down.

It is common for people to gain weight when they reach middle age, but Doctor Zhang's "thoughts" are also involved here.

A while ago, Xiao Jingheng was hit hard by Shang Yang's betrayal and Jing He's death.

In addition, state affairs were heavy and the weather was getting hotter, so he had no appetite.

It was Zhaohua who considerately said that the dragon's health was the most important, and asked Imperial Physician Zhang to prescribe some appetizing and spleen-strengthening soups for Xiao Jingheng to nourish him well. When Xiao Jingheng came to her palace for meals, she often prepared some greasy and meaty food to whet his appetite.

If you eat too much of these things, you may look full of energy and vitality, but the weakness inside is eroding you day by day and accumulate into evil.

Zhao Hua looked at Xiao Jingheng affectionately for a while.

Next to him was a piece of tender braised pork elbow in Xiao Jingheng's bowl.

Bian Shi smiled and replied, "Chengyu is still young and still lacks experience. I think it is not the right time to make him the crown prince."

Xiao Jingheng took a bite of the elbow and said with a smile:

"That's fine. Becoming the crown prince sooner means knowing how heavy the burden on your shoulders is, and you will work harder."

Zhao Hua could tell that Xiao Jingheng was not here to ask for her opinion at all.

In Xiao Jingheng's opinion, no one in the world would refuse such a great thing.

So he just informed Zhaohua as a matter of routine and said:

"That's settled. There's one more thing..."

He took a handkerchief and wiped the oil stains on the corners of his lips, and said casually:

"Empress Yun has served me for a long time. You punished her, and now she has realized her bad habit of being a nagging person. She cried and promised me that she would be careful with her words and actions in the future. Therefore, I plan to restore her title and position, and only fine her half a year's salary as a light punishment."

Zhao Hua was shocked when he heard this.

Dong's problem was not her gossip, but her mother's family's political affairs in Jizhou.

It is said that Xiao Jingheng has always been most afraid of these things.

But why was he so abnormal this time? Instead of severely punishing her, he restored Yun Fei's position?

Although he had doubts in his heart, Zhaohua knew that he couldn't ask these questions.

She knew that what Xiao Jingheng needed was a submissive and sensible queen, a presentable and obedient vase.

So she acted as if she didn't take his words seriously at all, and smiled gently:

"I was so angry that I punished Concubine Yun so severely. Cheng Huan was so ill, and as a mother, I couldn't bear to see someone say such inappropriate things at this time. But thinking back on it, I also felt that the punishment was a bit too severe."

Xiao Jingheng shook his head and said, "Zhao'er is clear about rewards and punishments, and has managed the harem very well for me."

As he spoke, he took her hand and pressed it hard.

"Next month, a newcomer will enter the palace, and Zhao'er will have to take care of her."

Zhaohua smiled and said, "This is my duty as a concubine."