Chapter 99 Breakthrough
Xiao Yan pursed his lips slightly, and ripples seemed to appear in his eyes.
He had been raised in the Qianqing Palace ever since he could remember. He was busy with his studies and was not very close to his biological mother, Concubine Wei Shufei, let alone his stepmother, Empress Xu, who stayed indoors all year round.
Knowing that Queen Xu might be his biological mother, he didn't feel much at first, but now he actually felt a subtle emotion in his heart.
Noticing his abnormality, Yang Manyan sighed, held his hand and patted the back of his hand gently.
After a moment, footsteps were heard from deep in the corridor, and the palace servants came in, escorting a woman in plain clothes, followed by a young woman.
The music stopped abruptly, and everyone present stood up and saluted, "Greetings to the Empress of Renshou Palace."
The birthday banquet was interrupted midway, and a hint of annoyance flashed across Concubine Wei Shu's eyes.
But she still bowed and saluted, smiling softly, "I didn't know Sister Xu would come. I'm sorry for not welcoming you. Please forgive me, Sister Xu."
Queen Xu said nothing, her face as gloomy as water.
If it weren't for her niece Miaohua's desperate pleas, she would never have come to the birthday party of the bitch Wei...
Yang Manyan quietly raised his eyes to look at Queen Xu, curious about why she came.
In recent days, she has taken the initiative to go to Renshou Palace several times, but was turned away every time, so she finally gave up.
It was noon, the sun was shining brightly, and the crowd received no response and could only maintain the posture of saluting. Their bodies were stiff, with a thin layer of sweat on their foreheads.
The entire Changyin Pavilion was silent and the atmosphere was strange.
After a long awkward moment, Xu Miaohua secretly thought that something was wrong, and called out "Aunt" in a low voice, then grabbed Empress Xu's sleeve and tugged at it.
Empress Xu finally came back to her senses and said coldly, "No need to be polite. Please sit down. Don't be so reserved."
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty." Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief and returned to their seats.
Concubine Wei Shu came forward with a smile, "Sister Xu, please take a seat."
Empress Xu felt like she had a lump in her throat when she heard the hypocritical "sister".
The pain of losing her daughter and her husband's betrayal are still vivid in her mind, but the instigator is still fine, enjoying a prosperous life and family happiness.
My heart felt as if it was cut by a sharp knife, and the pain buried deep in my heart suddenly surged up.
Thinking of her niece's tearful request, Empress Xu suppressed her discomfort and said, "You are the birthday girl today, Concubine Shu. I don't want to steal the show. You should take the main seat."
Concubine Wei was surprised for a moment, obviously not expecting the other party to be so humble.
At this time, Xu Miaohua, who was standing beside Empress Xu, suddenly stepped forward, presented the birthday gift with both hands, and said with a shy smile: "Your servant respectfully wishes Her Majesty the Concubine a happy birthday, and may Her Majesty live a long and healthy life."
As she spoke, she secretly glanced at the handsome young man sitting on the east side, her cheeks flushed.
Concubine Wei raised her eyebrows and immediately realized that the aunt and niece were coming for her Er.
She sneered in her heart, thinking how arrogant and domineering the Xu family was in the past, and how conceited they were. Now that they have lost their power, aren't they the only ones who can come and try to please them, mother and son?
But she still managed to save face, and quickly signaled the palace servant to take the birthday gift, and said with a kind smile: "Miss Xu is thoughtful."
Then she said, "There is a difference between the high and the low. How dare I sit above you, sister? Please take the seat."
Empress Xu was impatient to continue playing nice with her, so she walked straight to the main seat and sat down.
Concubine Wei's expression froze for a moment. She wanted to refuse again and then "half-heartedly" sit back in the main seat, but she didn't expect that Xu was so ignorant of her mood.
She felt unhappy, but she could only sit on the west side of the main seat.
The music started again, the music was cheerful, crisp, melodious and pleasant, but the atmosphere at the table became a little awkward.
Xu Miaohua looked at Song Minghui beside Concubine Wei Shufei with a look of vigilance and alertness on her face.
Recently, Song Minghui, the daughter of Marquis Wuding, has been frequently entering and leaving the palace, and has frequently gone to Qingning Palace to accompany Concubine Wei Shufei. Anyone with a discerning eye can see what's going on.
After all, the discord between Concubine Wei Shufei and Yang Shangyi was known to everyone.
It was not the first time that Concubine Wei Shu had said in public what she had just said, implying that Yang Shangyi was unfilial. Her dislike for Yang Manyan had long been evident in her words.
Our dynasty governs the country with filial piety, and the Crown Prince is kind and gentle, so there must be more people in the Eastern Palace.
If Yang Shangyi had not been highly valued by the emperor, it is possible that even Yang Shangyi would have to be replaced.
The more Xu Miaohua thought about it, the more anxious she became, fearing that Song Minghui would enter the Eastern Palace before her.
Taking advantage of Concubine Wei's birthday, she tried every means to beg her aunt to accompany her.
Legend has it that after the late emperor favored Concubine Wei Shu, the aunt had made things difficult for her in every way. Now, asking the aunt to come and be humble will also allow Concubine Wei Shu to see the sincerity of their Xu family.
When the banquet ended, it was already dusk and the sky was filled with red clouds.
Empress Xu led her niece to leave first. Yang Manyan hesitated for a moment but still followed them, "Your Majesty, please stay."
Her hair was puffy and full of pearls and jade swayed as she walked so fast. Her gold satin dress was illuminated by the sunset glow, and it shone brightly and beautifully, giving her an indescribable brilliance.
Xu Miaohua whispered: "The lotus flower of the past has now become a weed with broken roots. How long can you be happy if you use your beauty to please others?"
Although she didn't want to admit it, she actually knew that she was jealous of Yang Manyan.
I was jealous of her beauty, and even more jealous of the fact that she could easily control the six harems.
Yang Manyan pretended not to hear and said, "Your Majesty, I have something important to report. Can you please dismiss the attendants first?"
Empress Xu frowned, with a hint of impatience in her eyes.
"It's about Princess Changle." Yang Manyan said in a low voice.
After hearing these words, Empress Xu was stunned, and her heart was in turmoil.
After a long silence, she finally spoke: "Miaohua, please go back to Renshou Palace first."
Xu Miaohua widened her eyes in disbelief.
But after sending everyone around away, Yang Manyan did not elaborate on Su Qinglan's matter, but instead talked about the treasure box behind the plaque of "Zhengda Guangming" in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
After that, she asked tentatively: "Madam, do you know where the key to the treasure box is?"
"What the hell is that treasure box? Are you kidding me?" Queen Xu's face flushed with anger.
"Your Majesty, calm down." Yang Manyan forced himself to remain calm, his expression serious, "That treasure box was left by the late emperor, and it is indeed related to Princess Changle. Your Majesty, do you know how to open the treasure box?"
In the past month, she has sent people to search the entire palace as well as the West Garden, South Garden and other imperial gardens, but she has not been able to find the key to open the treasure box.
Dowager Jiang, Concubine Wei Shu and Yang Manyan have all tried hinting at the issue but to no avail. Now the only remaining breakthrough point is Empress Xu.
When Empress Xu heard that it was related to her deceased daughter, her expression changed slightly.
She lowered her eyes, took a deep breath, and said in a trembling voice: "What did the late emperor put in that treasure box? Why is it related to Changle?"
Yang Manyan pursed his lips and said nothing.
According to Su Jingyi, there was a secret decree stored in the treasure box, which was also written by the late emperor himself.
The letter in Su Jingyi's hand might be a forgery, but the Qianqing Palace was the emperor's residence and was heavily guarded, so the secret decree in the treasure box could be used as evidence.
But now the treasure box has not been opened, and it is unknown what is inside. She can't just tell Empress Xu without any evidence that she gave birth to a son instead of a daughter...
But before she could think of the right words, Empress Xu spoke awkwardly, "I have never heard of any treasure box key, but the late emperor once said something vague to me."
"What?" Yang Manyan asked subconsciously.
The golden crow set in the west, and a few stars appeared faintly in the sky. The red clouds cast a strong rouge color on the palaces and palaces of different heights.
Queen Xu raised her eyes and stared at the beautiful girl in front of her, and many past events came to her mind.
"Xuanguang Pavilion." She said softly, "The late emperor said that if you are desperate in the future, you should go to Xuanguang Pavilion."
Yang Manyan was startled when he heard this. Xuanguang Pavilion was the emperor's residence when he was in the palace, and it was also the place where they first met...
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