When they arrived at the Yangxin Hall, many ministers were already kneeling at the entrance. Mo Qinghuan was led inside by Bai Ke.
The queen, suspected of poisoning the emperor, had been placed under house arrest in the Central Palace.
So now, with Concubine Li at their head, the concubines were kneeling in rows in front of the emperor's bed, crying their hearts out. From afar, Mo Qinghuan could see that Concubine Li was kneeling upright, expressionless.
In front of her were Mu Yefeng and Mu Yanming.
Mu Yefeng was kneeling, while Mu Yanming stood there with a cold and solemn expression, his solid and rigid back slightly hunched.
Mo Qinghuan knew that he still cared to some extent. After all, the emperor was his uncle.
After a moment of grief, Mu Yanming was the first to turn around.
Only then did Mo Qinghuan notice that he was holding a roll of bright yellow imperial edict in his hand.
"Now, I will read out the late emperor's will."
"By the mandate of heaven, the emperor proclaims that the eldest legitimate son, Mu Shengze, and the second legitimate son, Mu Yichen, having been unfilial first and disloyal later, are to be demoted to commoners and exiled to the northwest. The third son, Mu Yefeng, is kind - hearted and capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities. I hope that all the civil and military officials inside and outside the court will assist him whole - heartedly to ease my mind. Thus it is decreed."
Prime Minister Gu stepped forward. "Your servant requests an audience with the queen. Why was the mistress of the Central Palace not by the emperor's bedside when he passed away? This is simply outrageous!"
Mu Yanming slightly curled his lips. His cold and hard features sent shivers down one's spine. He took a step forward and whispered into Prime Minister Gu's ear.
"The queen is suspected of murdering the emperor. The new emperor has shown mercy by not deposing her as the queen and exterminating her nine - clan. Prime Minister Gu had better be sensible."
After the new emperor ascended the throne, Mu Yanming was busy for several more days.
Mo Qinghuan originally planned to return to the prince's mansion. Just as she was about to leave, Concubine Li came.
She arranged for Mo Qinghuan to stay in the Minglan Hall, where Mu Yanming had been staying during these busy days in the palace.
"Imperial Concubine Li," Mo Qinghuan nodded as a greeting.
Hearing herself being called Imperial Concubine Li, she gave a self - deprecating smile.
"After the prince finishes this busy period, he will send me out of the palace. You can just call me Li'er."
Mo Qinghuan nodded.
Li'er motioned for her to dismiss the attendants around them and then told her some intimate words.
Mo Qinghuan was a little surprised. She clearly remembered that Concubine Li had hated the emperor, but every time she saw Mu Yanming, her eyes seemed to be glued to him.
But now she actually said that during the days since the late emperor's death, she had started to miss him a little.
"He was really good to me. He never shouted at or blamed me. I thought I would always be unmoved, thought my heart would always be as hard as a rock. But unexpectedly, just a few days after he left, I dream about him every day."
Mo Qinghuan handed her a cup of tea. "Don't be too sad. You're still young and you have a long life ahead. After the prince sends you out of the palace, you still have a long way to go."
But Concubine Li shook her head. A tear rolled down her cheek as she said hoarsely, "I was by the emperor's side when he was dying. He told me that he knew I was the person the prince had placed beside him, and that I had never truly treated him with sincerity. But he didn't care. As an emperor, he had never received true love, so he never expected it and never begged anyone. But he hoped that I could give birth to this child. Even if I didn't raise it myself, he hoped that I could give birth to a child that belonged to him and me."
As she said this, she lovingly stroked her lower abdomen. Mo Qinghuan never expected that she was pregnant with the late emperor's child at this time.
Judging from her current state, it seemed that she was going to give birth to the child.
"Qinghuan, don't worry. Even if I give birth to this child in the future, I won't let him know that he is from the royal family."
"But there is one thing I want to tell you, but don't ask the prince about it, because he wants to keep it from you."
Mo Qinghuan nodded. "Okay, I won't ask him."
Concubine Li leaned over and whispered the real content of the imperial edict into Mo Qinghuan's ear.
Mo Qinghuan couldn't help but find it ridiculous. What was this from the emperor? A belated repentance?
Now he wanted to pass the throne to Mu Yanming!
What had he been doing back then!
If he hadn't killed Mu Yanming's parents back then, perhaps there wouldn't have been so many tragedies.
With the benevolence of the former crown prince, he wouldn't have tried to kill his younger brother. So Mu Yanming's life should have been spent freely and unrestrainedly in his fief.
Instead, the emperor had worked hard all his life only to be killed by his own wife and two sons in collusion.
Not long after Concubine Li left, Mu Yanming returned.
He took off the python - patterned robe of the regent and put on a long white robe with gold and silver - threaded cloud patterns on the cuffs, looking every bit a young master from a noble family.
He pulled Mo Qinghuan into his arms.
"It's over. Everything is over. This prince can give you and the child a life of peace and security."
Mo Qinghuan held his face in her hands, her eyes full of pity.
She didn't know why he had made this decision. She had always thought that Mu Yanming wanted to be the emperor...
Unexpectedly, it wasn't the case. It turned out that he really just wanted to seek justice for his parents.
"Huan'er, do you know? I'm tired, so tired. I want to stay away from this big dye - vat of the capital. I want to take you away from here."
"Have all the matters been resolved? Do you know all the secrets?"
Mu Yanming nodded.
Most of the things were within his expectations. The only thing he didn't expect was that his uncle had once been in love with his mother.
And that was where the hatred had originated!
After that, Mu Yanming was busy for a few more days. While he was busy, Mo Qinghuan stayed in the Minglan Hall and didn't go anywhere.
Because Mu Yanming had told her that the queen was still imprisoned in the Central Palace, so the Gu family would surely not let it go easily.
They had to wait until the Gu family couldn't hold back any longer and came into the palace to rescue the queen, and then they could capture them all at once.
The Minglan Hall hadn't received the news that the entire Gu family had been thrown into prison when an unexpected guest suddenly arrived.
"I want to see the princess consort."
Jing Hua was standing guard at the door, his face solemn and a sword in his hand. He looked just like a general giving orders to the troops.
"The prince has said that no one is allowed to go in to see the princess consort. Miss Gu, please go back first. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."
Gu Qinglan had been spoiled since childhood and didn't care about anything. She stepped forward and pushed Jing Hua.
Hearing the commotion, Mo Qinghuan sent Dan'er out to inquire about the situation.
As soon as Dan'er saw Gu Qinglan, she immediately put her hands on her hips and said to Jing Hua, "Drive her away. If you disturb the princess's rest, be careful that the prince will punish you."
Jing Hua nodded, motioned to two people, and immediately they stepped forward and pulled her away.
But Gu Qinglan seemed determined. She shouted, "I want to see Mo Qinghuan. I want to see the princess consort of the regent."
Mo Qinghuan walked out of the room and motioned for Jing Hua to bring her over.
"Why are you so eager to see me?"
Gu Qinglan didn't say a word. She pursed her lips and knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"Princess consort, please. Please be magnanimous and forget about my past disrespect to you. I beg you to let me see my aunt."
Mo Qinghuan raised her eyebrows slightly. Going to see the queen at this time must mean that they were about to take action.
She waved to Dan'er. "Go and ask the prince. If it's okay, take her to see the queen."