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

Inside the Phoenix Palace.

Emperor Yuan himself came.

The emperor entered the room wrapped in a cold wind, bringing with him a chill that quickly dissipated as it melted into the warmth of the room.

However, the sharp, cold look on the emperor's face did not diminish; on the contrary, it grew stronger.

"emperor……"

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

Song Qingning rose to pay her respects, but Empress Meng remained seated on the couch, only calling out "Your Majesty" once, without any intention of rising to pay her respects.

Since returning to the palace from Prince Rui's residence that day, the Emperor and Empress have not seen each other again.

However, they knew each other's whereabouts and status perfectly.

Empress Meng lived a very comfortable life.

They even brought out their long spears that they hadn't used for years, and built a martial arts practice platform in Fengqi Palace, where they practiced every day, finding it very pleasant.

Emperor Yuan was in a terrible mood.

She was tricked into a marriage by Xie Xuanjin, and was shocked to discover that Meng Fu's years of docility were actually a result of her forbearance and lurking, and that most of the officials and noble families in the court had been secretly won over by her and the Meng family.

That anger pressed down on my chest like a boulder, with nowhere to vent it.

The angrier Emperor Yuan became, the more pleased Empress Meng was.

After nearly two months apart, he found that Meng Fu's expression was even more relaxed and content than he had imagined.

"Your Majesty, is there something you need?" Empress Meng asked indifferently, without inviting Emperor Yuan to sit down.

After two months of separation, the emperor's personal visit must indicate that something is amiss.

With a gloomy face, Emperor Yuan strode forward and sat down in the other main seat next to Empress Meng.

"The matter of the Imperial Concubine's death anniversary..."

Before Emperor Yuan could finish speaking, Empress Meng interrupted, "Didn't Consort Hui tell His Majesty?"

It was precisely because Consort Hui spoke that Emperor Yuan's pent-up frustration became even more unbearable.

He thought Empress Meng would defy the imperial decree.

But she readily agreed.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, it has been ten years since Consort Shen passed away. On the anniversary of her death, I will go to pay my respects." Empress Meng did not mind repeating this to him again.

Emperor Yuan's face visibly darkened.

Empress Meng ignored his displeasure.

She had previously endured and remained humble because Xuan Jin was not yet powerful enough. She wanted to deceive Emperor Yuan, make him lower his guard, and make him believe that she and the Meng family were no longer a threat under his suppression.

But she was never the type to be subservient.

She was unrestrained and flamboyant in her youth, but now that she has come out on top, she is free from shackles and has no need to restrain herself.

She didn't like to read Emperor Yuan's expression, so she simply ignored it.

"Your Majesty, is there anything else?" Empress Meng dismissed him.

Emperor Yuan, seething with anger, finally roared, "Meng Fu, I am the emperor!"

The emperor's aura made even Song Qingning, who was standing to the side, tremble.

Empress Meng remained composed. "Your Majesty, I have always remembered that Your Majesty is the Emperor. So, Your Majesty, is there anything else?"

The air was thick with tension.

Emperor Yuan's fist gradually clenched.

Meng Fu has never taken him seriously, not when he was young, and not now.

He longed to extinguish her unbridled and flamboyant nature, but now he was restrained, just as he had relied on the Meng family to help him seize the throne back then.

The Xie family has held the throne for a century, but the throne has never been exclusively for the Xie family.

The Xie family was a powerful family back then, having seized the throne from the previous dynasty.

The powerful families of Dajing had deep-rooted influence. He thought that by dismantling the Meng family army, he could rest easy, but as it turned out, he was wrong.

It was his carelessness that led to the current situation.

Given the current situation and power dynamics within the court, no one dares to make any moves unless they are absolutely certain of overwhelming the other side.

Emperor Yuan was not confident and felt defeated.

The only way is to use the anniversaries of the deaths of the concubine and the imperial concubine of the Prince of Huai to make Xie Xuanjin and Meng Fu unhappy.

Use this as an opportunity to find leverage against the other party.

He had chosen Shen Wan'er as the concubine for Xie Xuanjin, and was just waiting for the right opportunity to issue an imperial decree to bestow the marriage upon her.

Shen Wan'er can become his spy by entering the Prince of Huai's mansion.

But I never expected Shen Wan'er to be so stupid.

He tried to drug Xie Xuanjin, but his scheme failed.

Now that he has lost his virginity to a servant, he is a useless person to both the Shen family and himself.

But when she knelt outside Consort Shen's palace and gave her a speech, this seemingly useless person suddenly became somewhat useful again.

Emperor Yuan glanced at Xie Xuanjin, and after a long while, he spoke:

"Xuan Jin, I know that you requested an imperial decree to grant Shen Wan'er a marriage, and it was for Shen Wan'er's own good."

"But the anniversary of the Imperial Concubine's death is approaching, and the Imperial Concubine appeared to Shen Wan'er in a dream, asking her to serve her. She is filial and wishes to become a nun, so let her wish be granted. The matter of the arranged marriage will be dropped."

The implication was that Shen Wan'er should become a nun.

But I fear that this is merely a delaying tactic.

"Father..."

Xie Xuanjin frowned.

He was interrupted as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Xuan Jin." It was Empress Meng who interrupted him.

Everyone looked at her.

Empress Meng smiled and said, "It is a good thing that Consort Shen has such a filial niece. Consort Shen has been dead for ten years, and she has never appeared in a dream to her own children, but she appeared in a dream to this niece. It seems that the aunt and niece have a deep affection for each other. Her wish should be granted."

If she wants to serve, wouldn't it be more filial to serve in the underworld?

Xie Xuanjin reacted for only a moment before changing his words, "Yes, that's how it should be."

This surprised Emperor Yuan.

Emperor Yuan frowned, his brows unable to relax for a long time.

Meng Fu's smile was too piercing, and Xie Xuanjin's obedience was too unusual, as if the two of them had dug a pit for him to jump into.

But it was clearly him who wanted to lure them into a trap.

"Your Majesty, is there anything else?" Empress Meng asked again.

Emperor Yuan rose angrily and said, "The Imperial Concubine is an elder. On the anniversary of her death, you juniors must do your utmost. Starting tomorrow, the Princess Consort of Huai and the Princess Consort of Rui shall both enter the palace to copy the prayer flags for the Imperial Concubine."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Ten years after Consort Shen's death, a grand celebration was held to mark the anniversary of her passing.

People are praising the steadfast love between Emperor Yuan and Consort Yang.

The stories of emperors and imperial concubines meeting and falling in love, which were once popular in restaurants and teahouses, were once again told by storytellers.

Before entering the palace, Song Qingning passed by a teahouse, intending to stop and listen to this tragic love story between the emperor and his concubine.

They happened to meet Lady Anguo.

The two sat together in a private room, listening to a storyteller recount how deeply the emperor loved his concubine.

"Although the Imperial Concubine is a weak woman, she is very courageous. When His Majesty was still the Prince of Qin, the Imperial Concubine saved his life. It is said that she rescued him from bandits. That year, the Prince of Qin was ordered to suppress the bandits..."

"His Majesty is loyal and compassionate, and has not let down his savior. Even though the Consort has been gone for ten years, she still holds a special place in His Majesty's heart..."

Song Qingning sipped her tea.

She believed that Emperor Yuan deeply loved Consort Shen, but she didn't believe that a weak woman could save someone from bandits.

Even with courage, without wisdom and strength, one will only become another victim of the blade.

Song Qingning just listened, when Lady Anguo suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"Ha, more than ten years have passed, and this storybook is still the same as before. Now that she's dead, her children have probably come up with several more even more enjoyable versions."

Lady Anguo took a sip of tea.

Seeing Song Qingning's surprised expression, he winked at her, "The Ye family has many disciples. This version was written by one of the Ye family's disciples. Consort Shen spent a thousand taels to commission him to write it."

That's it!

Song Qingning smiled.

After listening for a while, Song Qingning bid farewell to Lady Anguo and entered the palace.

Emperor Yuan ordered the younger generation to copy the prayer flags in Consort Shen's palace.

She originally intended to go to Fengqi Palace first, and then to the Imperial Concubine's Palace.

Passing through the Imperial Garden, she encountered someone she had always wanted to see.

"Princess Consort of Huai..." The man nodded to her, as if he was deliberately waiting for her.