Chapter 154 The Divorced Heiress of a Noble Family—Taking Power
This time, Xiao Heng did not choose to investigate secretly, but instead launched a high-profile investigation.
Apart from Guiyun, all the palace maids and eunuchs in Chenxi Palace were taken into a secret room for questioning.
At the same time, all the palace servants in Chenxi Palace were replaced, with Chen Bao personally selecting a group of palace servants from respectable families.
For a time, people in the palace were filled with anxiety.
After three days of investigation, the trail finally led to Consort Zhao.
Consort Zhao refused to confess.
"Your Majesty, I'm innocent! I didn't do it! Someone must be trying to harm me! I didn't harm Consort Chen!"
History seemed to repeat itself: Consort Zhao knelt at the Emperor's feet, embracing his thigh, and vehemently denied everything.
Xiao Heng frowned and said impatiently, "As long as you are innocent, I will naturally not wrong you."
Xiao Heng's voice was almost cold: "Guards, take Consort Zhao away and question her carefully."
"yes."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, no!" Consort Zhao was still crying out, but Xiao Heng had already pulled his leg out and turned to leave.
Consort Zhao's eyes lost all their luster, as if the whole world had abandoned her.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks, dripping onto the cold ground and splashing into desolate droplets. Her lips trembled slightly, but she couldn't utter a sound.
She collapsed to the ground, curled up in a ball, like a wounded little animal that could only protect itself in this way.
In the evening, news came from the secret guards that Consort Zhao had confessed to all her crimes.
Xiao Heng, on charges of murdering the emperor's son, directly demoted Consort Zhao to the inner palace.
The imperial seal of the harem was handed over to Yaoyao, and two relatively well-behaved concubines were also assigned to assist her.
Within a few months, the Empress and Consort Zhao were both involved in incidents. After learning what Consort Zhao had done, the civil and military officials had no objection to the Emperor's handling of the matter.
The palace was restored to its former tranquility, and Yaoyao emerged from the shadow of that day.
Guiyun's body slowly recovered, and Xiao Heng directly selected two women from his personal guards to serve as Yaoyao's bodyguards.
*
In March, a new baby was born into the Marquis of Weiwu's household.
On the evening of March 30th, He Wan gave birth to a girl.
The midwife, beaming with joy, carried the baby out and, seeing the three people waiting in the outer room, congratulated them with a smile:
"Congratulations General Zhao on the birth of your daughter! Congratulations to the Marquis's wife on becoming a grandparent!"
Zhao Fengyin was naturally happy to become a father for the first time. Looking at the tiny bundle in the midwife's arms, he was both excited and scared.
He was excited because this was his own flesh and blood child, but he was afraid because the baby was so small and he didn't dare to hold it, worried that he might hurt the child.
Marquis Weiwu also came to his granddaughter's side, feeling much happier. After more than half a year, the Marquis's mansion finally had a joyous occasion!
Zhao's mother remained seated on the stool, her fingers gripping the armrests tightly, her expression clearly displeased.
How could it be a girl?! The doctor clearly said it was a boy after taking her pulse! How did it become a girl?!
Zhao's mother was full of doubts. She had thought it would be the eldest son, so that the Marquis's family would have an heir. But it turned out to be a girl, which made Zhao's mother very unhappy!
Therefore, Zhao's mother didn't bother to go over and see. After seeing the happy expressions on her husband's and son's faces, she wisely refrained from saying anything that might spoil the atmosphere.
He Wan gave birth to the child without experiencing much pain; she was very lucky.
Therefore, He Wan remained very energetic after giving birth.
"Xia Yun, does the child look just like the general?" He Wan asked, her eyes shining and her voice full of happiness.
The baby was taken outside by the midwife as soon as it was born. He Wan didn't even have time to see it, but Xia Yun, the maid who was serving her, saw it.
Xia Yun nodded repeatedly and said excitedly, "Yes, Princess, Miss's face shape is very similar to the General's, but I think Miss's features are very similar to yours!"
Upon hearing the word "Miss," He Wan's eyes widened in shock.
"Is...is it a girl?" He Wan couldn't believe it. She asked again, her eyes fixed on Xia Yun.
Xia Yun nodded blankly. She didn't understand why the county princess had such a surprised expression. The midwife had clearly said it was a girl when the child was born.
A tear involuntarily rolled down He Wan's cheek; she had always believed that the child in her belly was a boy.
Before the child was born, she had already decided that as the eldest son of the Marquis's family, she would raise the child well. She would use her son to gain status and make everyone in the capital envious of her for having such an outstanding child!
However, all of this came to nothing.
"Has anyone arrived at the He residence?"
After a long silence, He Wan asked again.
Xia Yun shook her head. After shaking her head, she realized that the county princess was not looking at her, so she quickly said, "Your Highness, no one from the He family has come."
After the Empress was imprisoned, the Zhao and He families tacitly ceased all contact, and the in-laws became strangers overnight.
Even when she gave birth, no one from the He family came. Does that mean she has become an orphan with no one to rely on again?
Tears kept flowing, and no matter how Xia Yun tried to comfort her, He Wan couldn't stop crying.
The servants had already cleaned up the delivery room, and Zhao Fengyin went inside to visit his wife.
"Wanwan, why are you crying? Is childbirth too painful?"
Zhao Fengyin took a clean handkerchief from the side and tenderly wiped away her tears.
He Wan shook her head, wanting to continue crying, but seeing her mother-in-law come in, she immediately stopped crying. She knew that her mother-in-law disliked seeing her cry the most.
"No, it's... I heard the He family didn't send anyone, Ah Yin, I'm sorry, I didn't know Father... I'm sorry."
He Wan apologized, her voice choked with emotion.
Standing to the side, Zhao's mother rolled her eyes and pursed her lips. The He family was truly despicable. They had gone to invite them, but they didn't even send anyone to come and see their daughter during childbirth! Having such a family was worse than not having one at all!
Mother Zhao inwardly scoffed several times, completely forgetting the fawning look on her face when she first learned that her family had a connection with the Empress.
Knowing his wife's thoughts, Zhao Fengyin comforted her, saying, "Wanwan, don't be sad. You still have me and our child. You are not alone. I will always be by your side."
"A-Yin, thank you! Thank you for giving me a home of my own!"
Despite her discomfort, He Wan struggled to get up, hugged Xiao Heng's neck tightly, and buried her face in his chest.
Watching the young couple being so affectionate, Zhao's mother felt utterly frustrated. Her outstanding son was going to be dragged down like this!
Angrily, Zhao's mother walked out of the delivery room and into the courtyard. She looked around and saw no one.
She looked up at the moon, clasped her hands together, and prayed:
"I beg the heavens to open their eyes and make sure that vixen Su Yaoyao gives birth to a girl! Or twin boys! Let that ominous vixen be punished by heaven!"
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