The eldest son, Prince Yan, lost to Emperor Jianxi in the battle for the throne.
After Emperor Jianxi ascended the throne, Prince Yan still caused trouble for him from time to time, intending to usurp the throne. For the sake of the empress dowager, Emperor Jianxi exiled his entire family instead of executing them.
However, the King of Yan lived a life of luxury and could not bear the hardship, and died in exile within half a year.
Originally, Prince Yan and Emperor Jianxi were friendly brothers, but the previous emperor's words "No matter who is the crown prince, Empress Xiaomin is the crown princess" prompted Emperor Jianxi to have the intention of usurping the throne.
Therefore, the Queen Mother always disliked Queen Xiaomin, believing that she was the culprit who killed her eldest son. She also disliked Queen Xiaomin's two children, Zhao Cong and Zhao Ying.
Since Concubine Ji Shu was from Prince Shou's Mansion, the Empress Dowager naturally treated her more kindly.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ziyan was seriously ill again, and Zhao Yao only brought Zhao Zihua to pay her respects to the Queen Mother.
As luck would have it, I met Zhao Ying's family right at the door.
Zhao Yao glanced at Shangguan Shu with great resentment, which was just caught by Zhao Ying.
She no longer felt any emotion in her heart. The adulterous couple even had a child together. She had already been cheated on. Her love for Shangguan Shu had also long since disappeared completely.
It’s strange to say, when you love someone, you think he is perfect in every way, but if you don’t have him, you feel that life is meaningless.
But now it seems that it is just like this.
Zhao Ying walked in with the children.
Then he saluted Emperor Jianxi and the Empress Dowager, "Your son greets Father, and grandmother!"
Several children also knelt down and saluted.
The Queen Mother smiled and said distantly, "Everyone, get up!"
Zhao Yao brought Zhao Zihua over and saluted.
The Queen Mother stepped forward and personally helped Zhao Yao to her feet. "Yao'er, why do you need such a grand ceremony? You have been a meritorious official of our Great Chu, bearing two spirit children for it. I can celebrate my eightieth birthday thanks to Ziya and Ziyin!"
Perhaps because Zhao Ziyin was mentioned, Zhao Yao's expression turned sad. She lowered her eyelids and sobbed twice, "Grandma, please don't mention Ziyin..."
The Queen Mother was horrified and asked, "But Ziyin's condition is not good again?"
Zhao Yao nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Seeing this, Princess Side, who was standing nearby, suddenly took two steps forward and knelt down, "Brother, Mother, I have wanted to say this for a long time, but I didn't say it because of Cheng Qian."
Everyone was startled when they heard this, and they all looked at Zhao Ying in confusion. Even Zhao Ying herself was puzzled as to why she was involved again.
Zhao Ying sent a few children away to play by themselves and left Shangguan Qingyue behind.
Princess Side looked at Zhao Ying with a reproachful expression, "Cheng Qian, as her aunt, you should be more magnanimous. Xue'er only said a few offensive words. Why did you let her stay in the inner prison for so long?"
A verbal dispute?
She almost killed her Yue'er, and this is called a quarrel?
Zhao Ying had a faint expression on her face. She glanced at a few people and was not in a hurry to argue. Instead, she looked at their expressions.
"If it were in the past, it would be fine. But Ziyin's life and death are uncertain now. How regrettable would it be if he couldn't see his biological sister before he died?"
"When Empress Xiaomin passed away, you, Chengqian, was giving birth, so you didn't get to see her for the last time. Logically, you should understand this regret the most. Just treat it as your aunt's request to show some mercy to Xue'er and let Ziyin see his elder sister!"
After Princess Side finished speaking, Zhao Yao glanced at Zhao Ying hesitantly, then pretended to pick up a handkerchief and wiped her tears.
There was complete silence all around.
The Crown Princess's expression darkened.
It’s Hu Yanxue again!
They tried every possible means to force Cheng Qian to release Hu Yanxue.
But how can things be that simple?
If she gave in and Huyanxue was released, then it would prove that Cheng Qian was the one who had imprisoned Huyanxue before, which really made her look petty.
If he doesn't let go, they will put one hat after another on him, and who knows what will be waiting for Cheng Qian!
"Princess Side is saying that if Hu Yanxue is released, Zhao Ziyin will be able to survive?"
"Hu Yanxue's medical skills are so superb?"
"You!" Princess Side had never been very smart. She would act bluntly and be used as a pawn after being goaded into doing something, without even realizing it. Now, after being rebuked by the Crown Princess, she was used to being unbridled and didn't give anyone face. So, she pointed directly at the Crown Prince and said, "Zhao Cong, did you teach your wife to disobey her elders like this?"
The Crown Princess frowned. The Crown Prince pulled her behind him and said with a smile, "Aunt, what are you talking about? Today is the Queen Mother's birthday, and Ah Shu was just trying not to spoil the Queen Mother's mood with those awful things. Why bring up someone who's been imprisoned on such a great day?"
"In my opinion, since my aunt is asking for mercy, we should change the date!"
Princess Side was furious and wanted to argue again, but Zhao Yao pulled her aside and said aggrievedly, "Aunt loves Yaoer and Ziyin, and I understand. Prince is right. Today is an auspicious day. To mention... woo woo..."
"You! How can you be so soft-hearted? You've been bullied to the point of being bullied, and all you can do is cry!"
"Xue'er is your biological daughter, why can't you mention her?"
The Queen Mother coughed heavily twice, her stern eyes sweeping over the Crown Prince and Zhao Ying one by one, then she said to Emperor Jianxi beside her, "Your Majesty, it's been a while since I've seen Xue'er. Why not let her out on this fine day?"
"She's just a girl who hasn't even reached the age of marriage yet. How serious a crime could she have committed?"
"Even if she is guilty, you should show mercy to her for Huai'an's sake. Huai'an suffered so much for the sake of the marriage, and Ziyin prayed for rain for the Chu State, and now his life or death is unknown. Emperor, can you bear to prevent them from seeing their daughter and sister?"
Originally, if these matters were not mentioned, the officials would have let the Queen Mother speak. However, the Queen Mother kept pleading for mercy, but in reality, she was blaming Emperor Jianxi, blaming him for ignoring the old favors and being too harsh on Huaian's family...
Even if the emperor was wrong, he couldn't say it, especially since the emperor's mother was not his biological son. More importantly, no one in the court thought Hu Yanxue was wrong.
Emperor Jianxi remained silent, with a hint of smile in his vigorous eyes.
In fact, he was about to scold his stepmother in his heart.
He spared her life and made her the queen mother, observing all the etiquette, filial piety and righteousness, which was already a great deal. Before he could find trouble with her, she started to find trouble with him.
Emperor Jianxi cast a glance at Shangguan Shu, who, as the head of all officials, immediately knelt and reported, "Your Majesty, the state has its laws, and the family has its rules. Princess Huyan's current situation is not the fault of Your Majesty, nor of Princess Chengqian. Her numerous crimes are deserved."
As soon as Shangguan Shu knelt down, Liu Xiang, the six ministers and other officials all knelt down. They had only one purpose, which was to speak for Emperor Jianxi and enumerate Hu Yanxue's crimes.
The Queen Mother was furious. She shouted at the ministers and, holding the arm of Nanny Sun beside her, began to act like an elder and said, "I just want to see a granddaughter on my birthday, and you are so unwilling to do so."
She pointed at Liu Xiang and said, "Tell me! Your granddaughter wasn't here on your birthday, so you didn't want to see her?"
Liu Xiang stiffened his neck, eager to survive, and said, "No!"
Queen Mother: ...
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