However, after only a moment, Empress Dowager Du had already adjusted her emotions, and the expression on her face gradually softened.
She sighed softly, her tone softening slightly: "If Your Majesty says so, perhaps I have indeed made a mistake."
The next moment, she walked towards Xie Yizhi. When she got closer, her face was now adorned with a gentle smile that also carried a hint of apology.
She raised her hand, as if to take Xie Yizhi's hand, her tone so gentle that it was as if her previous aggressiveness had never existed.
"My son, I have misunderstood you."
Xie Yizhi stood still, neither avoiding nor responding, but simply narrowed his eyes and looked at her coldly.
Jiang Luoluo watched as Empress Dowager Du's expression changed so smoothly; it was simply breathtaking.
Empress Dowager Du, if she didn't have some tricks up her sleeve, how could she have survived the palace intrigues and firmly held the position of the empress?
"Since this is a misunderstanding, I take back what I just said." Empress Dowager Du even had a smile on her face that she hadn't seen for a long time.
Of course, she didn't forget to give her final command. She turned to Xie Qiyu and said, "You must investigate this carefully. Princess Anrou's death was suspicious. You must find out the reason and make sure no one misunderstands your brother."
Xie Qiyu's mouth twitched. He had experienced his mother's fickle behavior many times, but what could he do? Since the late emperor, the Great Qi had ruled the country with filial piety. This was his own mother, and he couldn't find a good solution.
However, a few days ago, Xie Yizhi told him about Empress Dowager Du and Prince Yan. He didn't believe it at first, since the two were in the palace and Yuanhua Temple respectively, and had no interaction at all. How could they have gotten together?
However, after this test, it was discovered that Lu Anrou was the daughter of the Prince of Yan. The Prince of Yan, as her father, was not worried about Lu Anrou's death, but Empress Dowager Du was anxious and ordered her faction to impeach Xie Yizhi, even blaming Xie Yizhi for Lu Anrou's death.
In recent years, Xie Yizhi has built the Flying Eagle Army in the northern desert and obtained the military seal of the Yunchuan Flying Feather Army. It can be said that his wings have grown stronger and he has blocked the path of that bald monk.
That's why the assassination attempt on Xie Yizhi occurred when they returned to the capital from Yunchuan. The assassination used a double-edged arrow with a spine. That bald old monk really schemed and plotted, trying to sow discord between the two brothers.
These days, Xie Qiyu has secretly instructed Xiao Lingchuan to investigate everywhere. The chef from Liuyun Pavilion who goes to the palace every month to prepare vegetarian banquets for Empress Dowager Du is their contact person, and the monthly trip to Yunhua Temple to offer incense and worship Buddha is the best cover for their secret meetings.
A cold smile slowly crept onto Xie Qiyu's face. "This is the last time I'll tolerate this. After so many years of forbearance, it's time for him to use this remaining life to launch an attack."
It is absolutely impossible for Empress Dowager Du to hand over the Great Qi kingdom to that old bald monk, the Prince of Yan.
As the younger siblings sing, "War? War! With the humblest of dreams, we pay tribute to the sobs and roars in the darkness. Who says only those who stand in the light are heroes?"
"Then Mother should go back and rest well. I will handle the affairs of the court. I hope that Mother will enjoy her old age in the palace." Xie Qiyu said coldly. This was a desperate counterattack he had never made before, and it was also the beginning of his awakening.
Tremble, you old bald monk!
Empress Dowager Du's smile froze on her face. Xie Qiyu had been constantly treading on her sensitive spots all day, but since she was in the wrong, she couldn't lash out.
Suddenly an idea struck her. She held her head, her brows furrowing, and said weakly, "Oh dear, I suddenly feel a terrible headache and want to go back to rest. Your Majesty, you may handle this matter as you see fit."
As she spoke, the maids and nannies rushed forward to support Empress Dowager Du, and the group fled the main hall as if they were escaping.
Even now, the ministers are still kneeling. They are all old, and in the dead of winter, they are kneeling so hard that their bones feel like they don't belong to them anymore.
But Xie Qiyu stubbornly refused to tell them to get up. Instead, he leisurely returned to his throne and casually ordered, "Serve tea."
Soon, a eunuch brought out tea and snacks. Xie Qiyu picked up the teacup and leisurely blew on the surface of the tea.
He greeted her warmly, "Sister-in-law, Yizhi, come quickly, come and have a cup of hot tea to warm yourselves up."
Xie Yizhi and Jiang Luoluo exchanged a smile and then went forward to sit down.
Xie Qiyu completely disregarded the lives of the kneeling ministers and began to entertain Xie Yizhi and Jiang Luoluo as if they were in his own courtyard.
The ministers looked at each other, inwardly groaning. Empress Dowager Du had slunk away with her tail between her legs, while they were left to suffer here in the dead of winter.
Finally, one of the ministers could no longer hold back and asked, "Your Majesty..."
Xie Qiyu's eyes were icy as he glanced over coldly. "What is it, my dear minister? Do you have any objections?"
The minister flinched, but still forced himself to ask, "Your Majesty, Princess Yi has brought such a large entourage; is she planning to besiege the main hall?"
Xie Qiyu sneered and said calmly, "Today, I will make you all submit."
As he spoke, he put down his teacup, his tone so gentle that he seemed afraid of frightening Jiang Luoluo, "Sister-in-law, please tell us more, so that my ministers can see for themselves."
Jiang Luoluo took a sip of hot tea, gently set the teacup down, and smiled slightly, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Then she turned to Dingdang and ordered, "Bring Cuiliu and the rest of the people up."
At this moment, a large group of people walked in from outside the door, and the ministers all turned to look.
Some of them were dressed as maids, some as servants, some walked unsteadily, some had difficulty moving their hands and feet, and some had faces covered with scars, making them appear disabled.
Everyone knelt down in unison. Cui Liu, who was at the head of the group, raised her head and said in a trembling but clear voice, "This humble woman wishes to inform His Majesty that Princess Lu Anrou committed numerous crimes during her lifetime!"
She recounted in detail how Lu Anrou plotted against Xie Yizhi at the flower-viewing banquet, and how Lu Anrou and the servant were caught in an affair by Empress Dowager Du and Prince Yi's wife.
Immediately afterwards, each servant boy and maidservant rolled up their sleeves and trouser legs, revealing the scars on their bodies.
"Please, Your Majesty, grant us justice. We were working at the Princess's residence when..."
Princess Anrou would use us as live targets for archery practice whenever she was in a bad mood, and sometimes she would even whip us directly.
Sometimes they would scald us directly with boiling water. The servants and maids who were beaten to death in the princess's mansion were thrown directly into the mass grave.
Fortunately, we were all blessed with good fortune and survived, though we were left with lifelong disabilities. Princess Yi, being kind-hearted, arranged jobs for us, which allowed us to survive in the capital.
As they spoke, some even broke down in tears. Before meeting Jiang Luoluo, no one had ever stood up for them or helped them.
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