Chapter 325: Confession of Sins

Ten days later, the day to return to the palace finally came.

Early in the morning, everyone gathered outside the palace.

At the front was naturally Hawking's carriage, but only his carriage.

The others finally realized that the Queen Mother's carriage was not included in the procession back to the palace.

The queen frowned immediately.

Shen Bin naturally noticed it as well, and immediately looked at Yun Qin.

I always feel like she knows something.

But Yun Qin didn't look at her, as if she didn't notice anything.

When Hawking Chi came out, the Queen stepped forward and moved her lips, but in the end she did not ask any questions.

Everyone got on the carriages and the team headed towards the palace.

Within a day, everyone in the imperial palace and the former court knew that the Queen Mother had not returned to the palace.

After it fermented overnight, someone asked about this matter during the morning court session the next day.

The question was asked very tactfully. He did not ask why the Queen Mother did not return to the palace, but only asked about her health.

After him, some court officials once again urged Huo Jinchi to re-investigate the past and give the people the truth.

After just a few words, the two groups started arguing in the court.

Huo Jinchi sat behind the desk and glanced at His Highness's ministers. He knew their thoughts clearly.

He ignored the courtiers who were waiting for his answer and glanced at Xu An beside him.

Xu An stepped forward and took out the imperial edict that Huo Jinchi had drafted when they were in the palace.

"The Emperor, by the Will of Heaven, declares..."

——

In the Yanning Palace, the boxes and cages that had been packed up a few days ago now had to be opened one by one.

So the palace servants were walking back and forth, a busy scene.

Yun Qin was the only one who had free time, so Rong Xin arranged for her to sit under the ginkgo tree in the courtyard to drink tea and enjoy the view.

Yun Qin looked up at the ginkgo tree above her head. When she first moved here last year, most of its leaves had already fallen.

I have never seen the trees covered with yellow leaves before, it is really beautiful.

However, Yun Qin brushed away the fallen leaves on her book.

Falling leaves is annoying too.

She was about to lower her head and focus her attention back on the contents of the book when she saw Xiao Shunzi walking towards her quickly.

"master."

"What's the matter?" Looking at his expression, Yun Qin knew that something must have happened.

Xiao Shunzi said solemnly, "This morning, the Emperor issued two imperial edicts. One was a self-criticism edict, which stated that for the sake of the ancestors' foundation and the people's country, he had no choice but to be unfilial and expose the Queen Mother's crimes."

"The second is to order the Queen Mother to be imprisoned in the palace."

Yun Qin was clear about the second imperial edict, but she was also surprised by the first one. She did not expect that Huo Jinchi would actually issue an edict of repentance.

You know, looking at history, there are few emperors who have such courage.

"How did the court officials react?" Yun Qin asked with a frown.

Xiao Shunzi said: "Master is wise. As soon as the two imperial edicts were issued, the court officials were furious. Lord Fang even scolded the emperor in court, saying, saying..."

"What?"

"They say that the emperor is an unfilial son, and that the empress dowager's motherly love was wasted by raising an ungrateful person." Xiao Shunzi lowered his head.

Yun Qin sneered when she heard this.

"Now?"

Xiao Shunzi replied, "The court has already been dismissed, but some court officials who are opposed to this matter are kneeling outside the emperor's study, asking the emperor to withdraw his decision."

"How is the emperor?" Yun Qin asked with a frown.

"The emperor told them to kneel down, and not a single one of them was seen."

As they were talking, Rong Xin also came over and asked what happened.

Xiao Shunzi briefly explained the situation. Rong Xin was very surprised after hearing it and looked at Yun Qin.

Yun Qin waved her hand at Xiao Shunzi and said, "Go ask around outside and report back if you find anything."

"Yes." Xiao Shunzi took the order and left.

Rong Xin felt a little uneasy, looked at Yun Qin solemnly and asked, "Aqin, nothing will happen, right?"

"Let's see how the emperor handles it."

If the stalemate continues like this, it will not be a good thing.

Rong Xin nodded, but her wrinkled brows did not relax. Although she did not understand state affairs, she understood that it would be difficult for the emperor to handle this situation.

"If the Queen Mother could..."

Yun Qin stood up halfway through her words and said to Rong Xin, "Change your clothes, let's go see the Queen."

Rong Xin didn't quite understand what she was going to do, but nodded anyway.

After changing clothes, Yun Qin went directly to Fengyi Palace.

The situation here with the Queen is not much better.

The two imperial edicts also made the empress somewhat distraught. She had thought that the rumors about the empress dowager might not be easy to get over.

But no one could have imagined that the Emperor would actually order the imprisonment of the Empress Dowager.

She was filled with hatred in her heart, she hated it so much, but when she heard the news, she also felt worried for the Queen Mother.

But as a member of the Fang family and as the empress, she couldn't even ask the empress dowager for mercy.

Just when the Queen was feeling grief-stricken, she heard someone say that Concubine Xi was coming.

"What is she doing here at this time? Is she here to see the Queen making fun of herself?" Lan Ying frowned when she heard this.

The Queen looked thoughtful, for she knew that Concubine Xi was more than just beautiful, she was also deeply trusted by the Emperor.

She may not know things that I don't know.

"Please let her in."

"Empress?" Lan Ying was puzzled.

The Queen's tone became a little stronger, "Please let her in!"

Lan Ying did not dare to say anything more and immediately asked someone to invite Concubine Xi in.

Yun Qin walked in, bowed, and glanced at the empress's face before she said anxiously, "Have you heard what happened at the court this morning? I was really scared when I heard it."

Seeing her like this, the queen frowned slightly and snorted, "Are you afraid too?"

Yun Qin's expression did not change in response to her words. Instead, she asked, "Are you in a bad mood, Madam?"

Isn't this nonsense?

Lan Ying glared angrily, "What are you talking about, Concubine Xi?"

Yun Qin glanced at her, then smiled at the Queen, "In my opinion, the Queen Mother doesn't seem to be as kind to you as before. You are somewhat controlled by others."

"So I thought that Your Majesty would be relieved that the Queen Mother could not return to the palace."

"You, you are so outrageous!" Lan Ying said angrily again.

A trace of anger flashed across the queen's face, but she had to admit that when she heard the news, her first feeling was relief.

It was as if the mountain that had been weighing on me was finally removed, and I could breathe more easily.

"What do you want to say?" The queen looked at her with cold eyes.

Yun Qin smiled slightly, her hand on her chest, "I just feel that I am afraid when I hear the emperor's decree. Your Majesty may be more afraid than me."

"Yunqin!" The queen finally slammed the table and shouted angrily.

Seeing her like this, Yun Qin raised her eyebrows slightly. Seeing how popular she was, she must be like a villain now.

"Are you angry, Madam, or is it because I have hit upon your thoughts?"

Yun Qin looked at her quietly, with a sharp light in his clear eyes, as if he could see through people's hearts.

The queen had only seen such a look from one person, and that was the emperor.

The once humble little palace maid, after blowing away the dust, revealed her sharpness, and was able to compete with the emperor!