A wicked mother swaps her son and sucks his blood? The true legitimate daughter is reborn and goes o

Empress Meng's words elicited various reactions from the crowd.

The officials present were surprised and puzzled. A hint of panic flashed in the eyes of Duke Shen Lin. Emperor Yuan's sharp eyes narrowed, and his gaze was full of resistance.

Only Xie Yuqi was stunned for a moment.

He never expected that Empress Meng would actually admit it!

Xie Yuqi sneered excitedly, "You admit it, you admit that you killed my mother. My mother wouldn't lie to me. She told me herself on her deathbed that the so-called accident was you..."

"You hate that my mother is favored by the Emperor; you're jealous of her!"

"So what if you are the Empress? In Father's heart, Mother is his only wife!"

Xie Yuqi spoke each word as if he were trying to prove something, and even more so, to prove something for his mother.

Those words sounded like a huge joke to Empress Meng and her court officials.

How could Meng, a woman, be trapped in love?

The courtiers had seen Empress Meng's former beauty; she was a dazzling and bright peony. Why should they be jealous of the wild grass in the flower bushes?

Consort Shen's family background was inferior to hers, her appearance was inferior to hers, and her talent, courage, and vision were even less than hers.

She only had one thing in common: the emperor's favor. But that favor was nothing to Empress Meng.

They even thought Emperor Yuan was blind, and that the Empress and Consort Shen should have known at a glance who was the one worthy of love.

It's just a matter of personal preference.

"I'm jealous of your mother's favor with the Emperor? Ha, Your Majesty, what do you think?" Empress Meng smiled, not glancing at Xie Yuqi, but staring at Emperor Yuan.

The disdain in her tone was as deadly as killing someone's spirit.

Emperor Yuan subconsciously swallowed.

Although Meng Fu had been married to him for many years, she treated him as her husband and as an emperor, but she never loved him like a woman.

Emperor Yuan felt an inexplicable anger rising within him.

He was once an unfavored prince, but he is no longer that unfavored prince. He is the emperor, so why shouldn't she love him!

The thought only briefly crossed his mind before being replaced by disdain.

His marriage to Meng Fu was an arranged marriage, a union bound by interests, not by love.

The Imperial Concubine had saved his life; she was gentle, virtuous, considerate, and generous, always thinking of him. She was the light in his heart!

But Meng's smile was truly jarring.

Empress Meng smiled and said, "Let's talk about Consort Shen's death. The Emperor loved Consort Shen deeply and understood her. He was devoted to her and should know better than anyone what really happened in that accident back then."

Emperor Yuan's face darkened.

Empress Meng continued, "Prince Rui has misunderstood me for a long time, and I cannot let him continue to misunderstand."

"Misunderstanding? You clearly admitted it, so how can there be a misunderstanding? Empress Meng..." Xie Yuqi was determined to seek justice for his mother.

He was afraid, afraid that he would never have another chance after today, so he had no choice but to go all out.

But before he could finish speaking, Emperor Yuan angrily interrupted him, "Enough!"

Xie Yuqi looked at Emperor Yuan, "Father..."

Emperor Yuan's face darkened. "After making such a mistake today, how dare you bring up anything else?"

"Father, your son..."

"Shut up!"

Emperor Yuan's headache worsened, and he stopped Xie Yuqi from continuing.

The evidence of him secretly possessing the imperial robe is conclusive and there is no way to reverse it.

Empress Meng and Xie Xuanjin's purpose this time was simply to get him to grant them a marriage.

Given the current situation, the only way for him to protect Xie Yuqi is to grant their request.

Emperor Yuan was unwilling, but he could only say, "Xuan Jin is of age and it's time for him to marry and have children."

The sudden change of topic left Xie Yuqi, Duke Shen, and Shen Yue dumbfounded.

But Cui Shangshu and other officials were not surprised.

It was as if they already knew the purpose of their visit to Prince Rui's residence today.

Emperor Yuan saw their reactions and felt a surge of anger rising within him, but he could only suppress it and continued, "Since Xuan Jin and Song Qingning are mutually in love, I will bestow marriage upon you."

Xie Yuqi: "..."

Xie Xuanjin and Song Qingning...

"Father, how could you bestow a marriage upon them? Song Qingning, she..." Xie Yuqi was shocked.

Song Qingning is now supported by all officials. Her marriage to Xie Xuanjin will make Xie Xuanjin even more powerful!

But before he could finish speaking, Minister Cui interrupted him, "Miss Song and Prince Huai are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. Your Majesty is wise."

"Your Majesty is wise."

Other officials echoed this sentiment.

Xie Yuqi's face turned even more ashen.

At the welcoming banquet, he watched as these people protected Song Qingning and prevented her from getting married, as if Song Qingning were their daughter and no one was good enough for her.

But at this moment...

A perfect match, a match made in heaven!

Xie Yuqi then realized that these people had already sided with Xie Xuanjin.

And Xie Xuanjin...

Xie Yuqi looked at Xie Xuanjin, who calmly bowed to Emperor Yuan and said, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for bestowing this marriage. The auspicious day will be in a month, and your subject wishes to welcome Qingning into the family as soon as possible."

They want to grant us a marriage and set a date!

Emperor Yuan was so angry that his beard trembled slightly.

"Very well, as you wish!" Emperor Yuan spoke, his sharp gaze fixed on Empress Meng. "The dragon robe I wore today was placed at Prince Rui's residence by my own decree, intended to protect Prince Rui's well-being with the dragon's aura!"

The implication was that a marriage decree was acceptable, but in doing so, Xie Yuqi would be protected from being implicated in this matter.

This was within Empress Meng's expectations, and also within Xie Xuanjin's expectations.

Emperor Yuan would compromise to protect Xie Yuqi, after all, he was the son born to the woman he loved.

They also knew that if they insisted on killing Xie Yuqi on the charge of "possessing the dragon robe," it would provoke the emperor and them to fight to the death.

They had the Shence Army, and Emperor Yuan also held military power.

The current political situation in the court is merely balanced; neither side can completely overpower the other.

She wasn't afraid of death, and neither was Xuan Jin.

But the common people will suffer, and the court officials and their families will also suffer.

A head-on confrontation is not a wise move.

"Very well!" Empress Meng lowered her eyes.

He then ordered, "Guards, take today's witnesses to the Meng family's villa for a month's rest."

One month later, Xuan Jin got married, and then they could settle down.

"You..." Emperor Yuan's face darkened; she didn't believe his word was law.

Empress Meng nodded and smiled, without any attempt to hide her feelings.

Trust gentlemen, not petty men.

Because I know him, I don't believe him.

Before leaving, Empress Meng gave him and Xie Yuqi a meaningful look, "Prince Rui is really pitiful. He still doesn't know the truth about his birth mother's death. Since the Emperor loves him so much, he shouldn't be kept in the dark."

He then instructed Eunuch Gao, "Please remind His Majesty to send the imperial decree of marriage to the Marquis of Yongning's residence first thing tomorrow morning!"

After saying this, Empress Meng left.

Minister Cui and several other court officials, along with Song Qingning and Xie Xuanjin, also left the Prince Rui's residence together.

Minister Cui walked beside Song Qingning: "Second Miss Song, I knew you would be the future Princess Consort of Huai from that day in the Cui residence's library!"

"Did Lord Cui know that day?" Song Qingning was very surprised.

She glanced again at Xie Xuanjin, who was seeing Empress Meng off to her carriage, and asked, "Did the Prince and the Lord speak of this?"

"No, no, how could His Highness reveal his true feelings to outsiders like us?"

Minister Cui followed Song Qingning's gaze and looked at Xie Xuanjin.

His smile held a deeper meaning. "Your Highness, I treat you exceptionally well."