"Qingqing, what do you think of this flower?"

"Very good."

"The climate and soil in the palace are excellent, so these precious flowers can naturally grow very well."

"Yeah." Shen Qing nodded.

"Rich soil breeds precious flowers. A few days ago, I had someone plant a few wildflowers from the countryside and told Xinzhu to take good care of them. But who knew they would struggle to survive? What do you think?"

The corners of Shen Qing’s mouth rose slightly, and he said nonchalantly: “It must be that this Xinzhu is not attentive, with high standards but low skills, and only looks up to these rich flowers and looks down on wild flowers.

Such a servant should be beaten to death."

"...In life, we should always be kind-hearted."

"Then this retribution must be due to evil deeds, right? As expected, if one does evil, even if one holds a high position, it will be difficult for them to stay long."

Shen Qing's words were meaningful, and Shangguan Xi secretly clenched the handkerchief in his hand.

Isn't this a satire on Murong Zhi, and also a hint at her!

It was said that Murong Zhi lost his position as crown prince because he did evil, and that she had such a son because she did evil.

"It's not the servants' fault. The wild flower is used to being outside. It suddenly changed its environment and couldn't stand being pampered." Shangguan Xi took a deep breath and said what she really wanted Chen Qing to understand. "This flower is just like people. It should stay where it belongs. If it forces itself to go to a place that doesn't suit it, it will probably end up withering like that wild flower."

"Hahaha, I don't think so. As the saying goes, a tree that is moved dies, but a person who is moved lives. We have to move it to find out whether it is suitable or not. Don't you agree?"

"Chen Qing! Do you really not understand what I mean?!" Shangguan Xi shouted with a cold face.

"I, your humble servant, do not know how I have offended Her Majesty. I was merely teasing you. If Her Majesty cannot tolerate theories that contradict yours, I will remain silent."

Logically speaking, Shen Qing should have knelt down after Shangguan Xi got so angry, but she just stood there with her head held high, not even a hint of admitting her mistake.

"You, come here, Shen Qing dared to contradict me, take her to the cold palace and lock her up. No one is allowed to release her without my permission."

Logically speaking, Shen Qing was not a concubine, so it was inappropriate to lock her up in the cold palace, but this crime was not enough to send her to the dungeon.

She also wanted to punish her, but the emperor only said to give her a few words of warning and lock her up on some pretext, but not to lay hands on her.

Chen Qing did not resist and followed the palace maid obediently. When she turned around, she raised the corner of her mouth towards Shangguan Xi subtly.

The people in this palace are all used to being pampered.

Shen Qing was taken into the so-called cold palace. She lived there peacefully without any struggle or protest.

It's better for her to stay here, so that she doesn't have to be surrounded and stared at by a group of people, which would make her feel uncomfortable.

“Woohahahaha…”

"Come and play with us!"

"Hey, give it back to me..."

Shen Qing turned and came to a mottled door. She took a deep breath, reached out and gently pushed the door open. In an instant, a rotten and damp smell hit her face.

Inside the door, a group of disheveled women were chasing each other, chirping like frightened birds.

Their clothes were tattered, their hair was disheveled, their faces were covered in dirt, and they had lost their former beauty and glory. These women were concubines who had been ruthlessly banished to the cold palace because of their mistakes.

Some had glazed eyes and muttered to themselves, some frantically snatched the meager food on the ground, completely disregarding their image, and some wept bitterly, their cries echoing through the cold and desolate palace, chilling one's spine.

Shen Qing watched all this quietly, with mixed feelings in his heart, pity, helplessness and sadness intertwined.

People who were once so glorious have gradually become lonely here.

Chen Qing closed the door, turned around and pushed open the door of the side hall. A woman in a white dress was sitting inside. She seemed to be still sane.

Hearing the sound, she turned her head and looked over.

"Are you the new concubine?"

"I'm not." Shen Qing raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "I contradicted the Queen's Huayue Princess because of her theory of flower cultivation, Shen Qing."

"A princess with a different surname?" The woman was a little surprised. "Oh, Shangguan Xi is really getting more and more confused."

"Yeah, I think so too." Shen Qing raised his hand and pointed inside, "Can I go in?"

The woman nodded. "This palace has no owner."

Shen Qing nodded, and he should be polite when he should be polite.

The woman looked through the bronze mirror in front of her and saw Shen Qing behind her with a calm expression. He was not at all anxious about his situation, and she couldn't help but feel curious.

Doesn't she know where this place is?

"Once you enter the cold palace, it's not so easy to get out."

"It's quite easy, just climb over the wall and you can get out." Shen Qing pointed outside, "If you want to go out and take a look, I can take you out."

The woman frowned, "Leaving the cold palace without permission is a capital crime."

"To be honest, I might really be in here for a capital crime."

Rebellion is definitely a capital crime with the family's property confiscated and their entire family exterminated.

"What? Your family was also slandered for attempting rebellion?"

"Your Highness, you are a divine fortune teller!" Shen Qing asked in surprise, "But why do you say that?"

The woman laughed sarcastically, "The people of the Murong family only know this one trick."

The more Shen Qing looked, the more she felt that the woman in the mirror looked familiar. Who was she?

"Excuse me, which lady are you?"

"I am not Murong Sheng's woman. If you make me your concubine, I would rather die than be your concubine!"

The woman stood up, straightened her dress, and turned to look at Shen Qing.

"My name is Song Siyu."

Her last name is Song? !

Outside the palace.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!