After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 77

Upon hearing this, Qianlong frowned, his face instantly turned gloomy, and he asked angrily: "How could such a thing happen? Xiaoyanzi, tell me quickly, who is that woman? Why is she so bold?" His eyes were as sharp as torches, as if they could penetrate all hypocrisy and look directly into Xiaoyanzi's heart.

Xiaoyanzi stood aside, her face pale with fright, her hands clenched tightly, and she stuttered as she spoke: "She...she is someone I knew among the people, and maybe seeing that I'm living a good life now, she wanted to get some benefits, and when she didn't get any, she...she did what she wanted..." Her eyes flickered, and she didn't dare to look directly at Qianlong, but her heart was filled with mixed feelings.

In fact, she knew it clearly in her heart that the troublemaker was Ziwei, the real princess. Ziwei's appearance was like a sharp knife, cutting her peaceful life and putting her in an unprecedented predicament. She thought that if she told the truth, not only would she lose her wealth, but she might even lose her life. The scene of chatting with Concubine Ling before emerged in her mind. She had joked that she was not a real princess. Concubine Ling's face changed at that time, and she sternly warned her: "Since the emperor recognizes you as a princess, then you are the real one. You must believe it without a doubt. Otherwise, you will be beheaded for deceiving the emperor!"

When Xiaoyanzi thought of this, she couldn't help but tremble in her heart. She had been accustomed to the splendor and wealth in the palace, enjoying the love and respect of everyone. Now her heart was in a mess, she was afraid of losing these favors, and she was also afraid that death would hang over her like a shadow. She looked up at the window, the palace walls were so high, as if they had trapped her in a magnificent cage, making it impossible for her to escape.

Seeing this, the Queen was secretly pleased with herself, but pretended to be concerned about the country and the people. She took the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, although I am in the deep palace, I have heard that the reputation of Dayan is far-reaching. If this matter is not handled properly, it may cause disputes between the two countries, and the consequences will be disastrous. Fortunately, I persuaded her in time and calmed the anger of the Queen of Dayan. But this kind of thing must not happen again. If you indulge Princess Huanzhu's misbehavior, it will surely bring disaster."

The Queen's words were full of worry and responsibility. Her eyes were firm and deep, as if she could see through everything. She continued, "I know that Princess Huanzhu is deeply loved by your majesty, but state affairs cannot be neglected. As the Queen, it is my duty to educate my children. Even if your majesty blames me for this, I have no complaints."

The Queen's words were so passionate and righteous that Qianlong could not help but be moved. In the past, Qianlong might have thought that honest advice was unpleasant to the ear, but now that the Queen had a daughter like Li Qingge, who was so powerful, Qianlong had to listen even if he didn't want to. Li Qingge, this name seemed to have a special weight in Qianlong's heart. Her methods were ruthless, and even Japan was destroyed by her. How could such a woman not be feared?

Qianlong thought about it carefully and felt that the queen's words made sense. He pondered for a moment, and his eyes fell on Xiaoyanzi again, with a flash of disappointment and anger in his eyes. He glared at Xiaoyanzi and scolded: "Queen Dayan, I have to respect her three points, how dare you let people destroy her tomb relocation? Do you know the seriousness of this matter? If the queen hadn't discovered and stopped it in time, you would have died long ago! Not only do you not reflect on your mistakes, but you also blame the queen for being harsh on you?"

Xiaoyanzi opened her mouth, wanting to say something but didn't say anything. She just lowered her head and silently endured Qianlong's anger. She knew that no matter how she explained, she couldn't change the fact, nor could she eliminate Qianlong's doubts and anger. Her tears rolled in her eyes, but she forced herself not to let them fall.

Seeing this, Qianlong shouted angrily: "Shut up!" Then he said: "I have doted on you too much, so you don't know how high the heaven is and how deep the earth is, and you even forget the moral principles. The queen is your stepmother, and it is your blessing to be able to teach you! Go back to Shufangzhai and reflect on yourself now. If you don't learn the rules well, don't even think about coming out!"

Xiaoyanzi felt bitter when she heard this. She knew that she had really angered Emperor Qianlong this time. She bowed silently and turned to leave the palace. Her back stretched out in the sun, looking lonely and desolate. She knew that she had to face this cruel reality and learn to survive in this complicated palace.

The Queen looked at Xiaoyanzi's back, with a barely perceptible smile on her lips. She knew that although the storm had temporarily subsided, the real battle had just begun. She had to be vigilant at all times and not let Xiaoyanzi have another chance to ruin her plan. And Li Qingge, the daughter who was so powerful, would be her strongest support.

Outside the palace, the sun is still shining, but the undercurrents in the palace make people feel cold. The contest between Xiaoyanzi and the Queen, as well as Li Qingge's power that cannot be underestimated, make this palace more complicated and dangerous. And all this is just the beginning...

Xiaoyanzi was stunned, and her pretty face turned pale instantly, like a delicate flower suddenly attacked by the cold wind in winter. Her eyes were shining with disbelief, and she stared closely at the emperor who had doted on her in every way, with endless doubts and confusion in her heart.

"Father Emperor, what's wrong with you?" Her voice was trembling, as if she couldn't believe what was happening. "In the past, the Queen always found fault with me. Whenever I made a fuss, you would immediately blame her. Why doesn't it work now? Have you been bewitched by the Queen?" She muttered in her heart, full of confusion and grievance. Xiaoyanzi bit her lower lip tightly, as if to suppress the panting sound that was about to come out, and her bright eyes gradually became misty.

The queen saw it all and was delighted. A barely perceptible sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth. She thought to herself with pride: "This girl, today you finally know how powerful I am. Let's see if you dare to be arrogant again in the future!" A hint of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes, but then she returned to her usual dignity and gentleness. The queen thought about it again and calculated in her heart: "This is just the beginning. The good show is yet to come. There is a long time in the palace. I have plenty of time to deal with you slowly."

What could Xiaoyanzi do? She stood alone in the center of the hall, surrounded by the cold palace walls and the arrogant royal family members. She knew that she could not do anything. Even though Qianlong felt sorry for her loneliness, she had to put all these aside in the face of national affairs, the foundation of her ancestors and the safety of the royal family. She sighed helplessly, tears welling up in her eyes, but she tried hard not to let them fall. In the end, she had to hold back her tears, lower her head, and silently follow the maids to learn the tedious and boring palace etiquette.

After this incident, Xiaoyanzi seemed to have grown up overnight. She was no longer the innocent and carefree princess next to the Fifth Prince, but began to learn how to survive in this palace full of calculations and struggles. And after this incident, the Queen also thoroughly understood the essence of palace fighting. She sat on the gorgeous phoenix throne, her eyes deep and wise, thinking to herself: "Sometimes, not fighting is the greatest fight. As long as you wait patiently, your opponent will naturally reveal his flaws."

Qianlong had just dealt with Xiaoyanzi's matter and was feeling a little depressed. He wanted to go to the treasury to find some calligraphy and paintings to relieve his boredom, but he didn't expect to hear a lot of rumors along the way. The palace maids and eunuchs gathered together and whispered about the rumors about Li Qingge, the queen of Dayan.

"Have you heard about it?" a palace maid asked mysteriously, with a hint of gossip and excitement in her voice.

"What?" another maid asked curiously, her eyes wide open as if she was about to miss some important news.

"The Queen of Dayan has come to the capital and is staying in the inn. I heard that she had a lot of fun with a dozen handsome boys at night!" The first palace maid said in a low voice with an ambiguous smile on her face.

"Oh, how can we bear this?" The second palace maid covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes flashing with disbelief.

"What's the big deal? The queen has strong desires, so she's naturally not afraid of being tired." The first maid teased with a smile, with a hint of contempt and sarcasm in her voice.

The eunuch next to him couldn't help but interrupt: "Women should remain chaste, how can this be done?" There was a hint of dissatisfaction and indignation in his voice.

"What do you know? The queen is extremely noble. How can we mortals compare to her? She has three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two male concubines. She can do whatever she wants." The second maid retorted, with a hint of envy and jealousy in her voice.

"I heard that her private life is very messy and she has so many tricks up her sleeve that it's simply unimaginable." The third palace maid smacked her lips and said with a look of contempt on her face.

"Shh, keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear you." The second palace maid quickly reminded, a trace of panic flashing in her eyes.

But the third eunuch didn't care: "What are you afraid of? She can do it, so what's wrong with us talking about it? Women should be gentle and virtuous, how can she be so immoral?" There was a hint of anger and dissatisfaction in his voice.

"This is really too much! They dare to bring up such a scandal and even involve the relocation of graves. This is simply disrespectful!" The first palace maid scolded angrily, with a hint of indignation in her voice.

"Fortunately, her background is unknown, otherwise she would have brought shame to our ancestors." The fourth palace maid added, with a hint of relief and sarcasm in her voice.

When Qianlong heard these rumors, he was furious. His face suddenly became gloomy and terrible, as if he was about to burst into a rage that shook the world. He treated Li Qingge as his beloved daughter, how could she be slandered by these people? Endless anger and heartache surged in his heart.

Li Yu watched Qianlong's face getting worse and worse, and he began to panic. He knew Qianlong's temper and character very well, and knew that once this anger erupted, the consequences would be disastrous. So he wanted to find an opportunity to escape and avoid being affected by this anger.

However, Qianlong suddenly shouted in a stern voice: "Li Yu!" His voice was as deafening as thunder, and Li Yu was frightened and trembled all over.

"Tear these people's mouths off immediately! Give them fifty lashes! If anyone dares to talk nonsense again, kill them without mercy!" Qianlong's voice was filled with endless anger and determination. His eyes flashed with a cold light, as if he wanted to tear those who dared to slander his daughter into pieces.

"Yes!" Although Li Yu had doubts in his heart, he did not dare to disobey the emperor's order. He hurried to execute Qianlong's order, secretly praying that the storm would be settled as soon as possible.

Qianlong watched Li Yu hurriedly leave, and the anger in his heart gradually subsided. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He knew that as a king, he could not be easily swayed by emotions. He had to remain calm and rational in order to handle state affairs and disputes within the royal family.

However, he could not ignore the rumors and gossip about Li Qingge. He knew that these rumors had caused great damage to Li Qingge's reputation and image, and made him feel extremely sad and angry. He decided to visit Li Qingge in person at the posthouse to understand her true situation and thoughts. He wanted everyone to know that his daughter was innocent and noble, and no one could slander or insult her.

Deep in the Forbidden City, the sun shines through the mottled glazed tiles and onto the magnificent palace, but it seems that it cannot shine into the heart of Emperor Qianlong. He sits on the high dragon throne, frowning, his eyes revealing unprecedented irritability and worry. In the past, he might have been able to stay out of the outside world's fabrication and smearing of the woman named Li Qingge, and sometimes, those rumors even became his after-dinner talk. But now, everything is different, because he already knows that Li Qingge, the woman he once ignored, is actually his blood-related daughter.

"If a child is not well educated, it is the father's fault. If the education is not strict, it is the teacher's laziness." This old saying echoed repeatedly in Qianlong's mind, like a sharp blade, cutting his heart again and again. He imagined Li Qingge's lonely and helpless figure in those rumors, and his heart was filled with indescribable guilt and anger. In particular, the words of the fourth palace maid were like an awl, piercing deep into his heart. "I don't know where this wild child came from, and he brought shame to the ancestors of the Jin family." This not only hurt his dignity as a father, but also made him feel unprecedented shame.

Li Qingge, a woman who was not pampered since childhood but grew up tenaciously in adversity, has Aixinjueluo blood flowing in her body, and is a true descendant of the phoenix and dragon. Qianlong closed his eyes, as if he could see her standing tall in the wind and rain, her unyielding and strong spirit made him feel both distressed and proud. However, when these rumors came like a flood, trying to drown her innocence and reputation, Qianlong knew that he could no longer sit idly by.

He was a man who cared a lot about his reputation. Once upon a time, a sentence like "Qingfeng is illiterate" could have put people into the abyss of literary inquisition, not to mention these rumors that directly smeared his face? Qianlong clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost embedded in his palms. He was determined to thoroughly investigate the matter and clear Li Qingge's name.

However, when he ordered a thorough investigation, hoping to find the culprit who spread the rumor, the result surprised him. It turned out that the instigator was actually himself! Yes, ever since Li Qingge established the Great Yan and ascended the throne to become Queen Mingde, he and those old ministers of the previous dynasty secretly said a lot of bad things about her behind her back. Those words, like poisonous arrows, shot at the innocent Li Qingge and also shot at Qianlong himself.

Huang Yao, this existence was like a nightmare in ancient times. Once it was touched, it was difficult to get rid of it. Qianlong knew very well that a woman's reputation for chastity was like a man's life. Once it was damaged, it was difficult to recover. He imagined that Li Qingge might hear those rumors about her in every corner of the capital, and how tormented and painful she must be. What he was more afraid of was that Li Qingge would get angry and leave without saying goodbye. By then, there would be no one to inherit the Qing Dynasty, and she would have left him.

Qianlong was filled with remorse and self-blame, but he did not want to admit that it was his fault, so he transferred his anger to his ministers. He stood up suddenly, strode out of the palace, and said to Heshen, who was waiting beside him, with a tone full of sarcasm and anger: "My dear Heshen, you see that there are rumors everywhere in the capital, saying that the Queen of Dayan has moral problems. You have to handle this matter for me!"

Heshen was shocked when he heard this. He looked up at Qianlong, but found that Qianlong looked particularly lonely and desolate. Heshen knew that Qianlong was taking advantage of the situation, but he also understood that the complexity of the matter was far beyond their imagination. He bowed respectfully and whispered, "Your Majesty, rest assured that I will do my best to investigate the matter and clear the Queen's name."

Qianlong did not look back, but waved his hand gently, signaling Heshen to leave. He stood on the steps of the hall, looking at the sky in the distance, with mixed feelings in his heart. He knew that this storm was not only a test for Li Qingge, but also a test for him as the emperor. He had to find a solution to both save the face of the royal family and give Li Qingge justice.

However, the speed at which rumors spread was far beyond Qianlong's imagination. Even if he ordered severe punishment for the palace maids and eunuchs who spread the rumors, he could not stop the spread of the rumors. They burned quickly inside and outside the palace like wildfire, burning Li Qingge's reputation beyond recognition.

Qianlong paced back and forth in the palace, and each step seemed extremely heavy. He recalled the scene when Li Qingge came to Beijing. At that time, she was still a little immature and shy, but she had already shown extraordinary temperament and talent. He thought that with the passage of time, those rumors would gradually dissipate, but unexpectedly, they were like a demon, tightly entangled with Li Qingge, making her unable to escape.

He was more worried that Li Qingge would be hurt and even resent him. He couldn't imagine what his life would be like if Li Qingge really left him. He needed a solution, a solution that could both save the royal family's face and make Li Qingge feel at ease.

However, this problem, like a mountain, weighed on Qianlong's heart, making him breathless. He knew that this storm was not only a test for Li Qingge, but also a test for him as a father. He must face it all bravely. No matter what the result is, he must try his best to make up for the past mistakes and win back Li Qingge's heart.

So, Qianlong took action. On the one hand, he sent Heshen to investigate the matter thoroughly. On the other hand, he began to reflect on his own words and deeds, trying to find the root of the problem. He knew that this storm was not only a test for Li Qingge, but also a test for him as an emperor. He must face it all bravely and take on the responsibilities that a father and an emperor should have.

In the following days, Qianlong devoted almost all his energy to this matter. He personally interrogated the suspected palace maids and eunuchs, trying to find clues from their mouths. He also sent people to Dayan to understand the true situation of Li Qingge and try to find loopholes in those rumors.

However, things were not as simple as he imagined. Those rumors, like an invisible net, tightly wrapped Li Qingge in it. No matter what he did, he could not completely get rid of their influence. Qianlong began to feel desperate, and he even began to doubt whether he could really clear Li Qingge's name.

However, at this time, an unexpected news came, which made Qianlong see hope again. It turned out that the source of those rumors was a banished official who deliberately spread rumors because of his hatred, trying to destroy Li Qingge's reputation. After Qianlong learned of the news, he immediately ordered the arrest of the official and severely punished him. At the same time, he also sent people to Dayan to explain everything to Li Qingge and expressed his apology and care.

When Li Qingge received the letter from Emperor Qianlong, a warm current surged in her heart. She knew that this storm was finally coming to an end. She also knew that no matter what the future held, she had a strong backer, and that was her father, Emperor Qianlong.

In this storm, Qianlong and Li Qingge both experienced unprecedented tests. The misunderstandings and estrangements between them were resolved in this storm. They began to cherish the affection and fate between each other more, and also understood their responsibilities and missions more.

This storm has become a turning point in their lives. It has made them more mature and stronger, and has made them cherish the time they spend with each other even more. In the days to come, they will work together to face the challenges and difficulties in life and create their own glory and legend.

Return of the Phoenix: The Return of the Princess
Not long after Li Qingge left, all kinds of rumors began to spread in the prosperous and complicated capital city, as if blown by an invisible wind. These rumors were like fireflies in the dark night, although small, they flickered in the darkness and attracted attention. The man behind all this was none other than the powerful Heshen.

Li Qingge, this name is not unfamiliar in the capital. She is a legendary woman. In the vast land in the south, she single-handedly nationalized a large area of ​​land that did not originally belong to the Great Yan Kingdom, adding rich color to the country's territory. Her achievements, like bright stars, illuminated the southern sky and made powerful officials like Heshen feel unprecedented threats.

He Shen, a man with deep thoughts and vicious means, how could he allow a woman, especially a woman like Li Qingge, to threaten his position? Moreover, Li Qingge's actions in the south had caused him heavy losses. The wealth that could have flowed into his pocket had now become the assets of the country. This made his hatred for Li Qingge, like a river, unstoppable and difficult to calm down.

When Li Qingge returned to the capital with the fruits of victory in the south, she did not choose to keep a low profile, but slapped Heshen in the face in front of everyone. That slap was crisp and loud, not only hitting Heshen's face, but also hitting his heart. At that moment, Heshen's hatred for Li Qingge reached its peak, and he vowed to make her pay the price.

He Shen knew that Emperor Qianlong disliked the Queen of Great Yan, Li Qingge's mother. This gave him an opportunity, an opportunity to please the Emperor and avenge his personal grudge. He began to secretly plan to ruin Li Qingge's reputation and make her have no place in the capital.

He sent people to secretly watch Li Qingge's residence. As long as she made any movement, the rumors would spread like wildfire. Some said that she went to the south to enrich herself, some said that she was involved in treason, and some said that she had evil intentions and wanted to usurp the throne. These rumors, like invisible knives, stabbed Li Qingge fiercely.

However, Emperor Qianlong was very clear about these rumors. He knew that there must be some ulterior motive behind them. When he saw Heshen's smug expression, he was even more clear-headed. He asked Heshen with a smile, "You made all these up, right?"

When Heshen heard this, he was so happy that he quickly said modestly: "How dare I take credit for it? It is all because of your wisdom and bravery, Your Majesty, and your insight." His words were full of flattery and fawning, but Emperor Qianlong just smiled, and there was a bit of sarcasm in his smile.

"Wise? You are quite good at reading the wind." Emperor Qianlong said with a hint of coldness, "You know that I don't like a woman ruling the country, so you follow my wishes and throw dirty water on the queen. If she knew, would she let you go?"

When Heshen heard this, he turned pale with fear. He quickly expressed his loyalty: "Everything I have was given by the emperor. If the emperor tells me to go east, I will never go west, even if I die." His voice was trembling and fearful, and he was obviously frightened by Emperor Qianlong's words.

When Emperor Qianlong heard this, he was furious, but he smiled instead: "What a 'smashed to pieces'! You are quite loyal!" After saying this, his face darkened and he slapped Heshen in the face again. This slap was heavier and more brutal than the one Li Qingge had given him, and Heshen's face instantly swelled up like a peach.

Heshen knelt on the ground and pleaded guilty. He was filled with fear and panic, not knowing why Emperor Qianlong suddenly became angry. He asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, I really don't know what I did wrong. I beg Your Majesty to show me a way out. I will be willing to die for it."

Emperor Qianlong snorted coldly and stared at Heshen with a sharp gaze: "Do you know who the Queen of Dayan is?" There was a hint of majesty and unquestionableness in his voice.

Heshen answered quickly: "Of course I know, she is the enemy of our Qing Dynasty, a traitorous female bandit leader!" His words were full of contempt and hatred for Li Qingge's mother.

However, Emperor Qianlong sneered and revealed a shocking secret: "She is my biological daughter, the empress's flesh and blood!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone around was stunned. They couldn't believe their ears, let alone this shocking secret. He Shen was so frightened that his face turned pale and his voice trembled: "Your Majesty, your daughter? How... How is this possible..."

Emperor Qianlong looked at Heshen's horrified expression, and a sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart. He slowly explained the reason: "My fifth princess died young, and her body disappeared not long after she was buried. The queen and I thought she was stolen, but we didn't expect that she was faking her death and was rescued by the Jin family. It was not until we met the queen again and dropped blood to identify our relatives that the truth was revealed."

He Shen was so frightened after hearing this that he kowtowed like crazy, crying, "Your Majesty, please calm down! I am ignorant and have offended your Majesty. Please spare my life!" His heart was filled with fear and regret. He knew that he had really gotten into trouble this time.

Emperor Qianlong looked at Heshen's panic and his anger subsided a little. Although he was still angry, he didn't really kill Heshen because he thought it was an unintentional mistake: "If it weren't for your ignorance, I would have taken you out and beheaded you in public! And you are still quibbling here!"

He Shen was both afraid and relieved when he heard this. He kowtowed repeatedly to express his gratitude and secretly vowed that he would never dare to provoke Li Qingge again. He knew that this woman was not only a height he could not reach, but also a reverse scale he could not touch.

Li Qingge was completely unaware of all this. She was busy dealing with the affairs in the south and didn't care about the rumors. She knew that she had to walk her own path and other people's gossips could not stop her. She believed that one day, she would prove everything with her own strength.

As Li Qingge was busy, time passed quietly. She didn't know that the mystery of her life had been revealed by Emperor Qianlong; she didn't know that Heshen was scared to death because of her life. She only knew that she still had a lot to do, and she had to work harder for this land and this country.

Emperor Qianlong, looking at Li Qingge's determined back, felt a sense of relief in his heart. He knew that this daughter was the pride of him and the queen, and also the pride of the Great Yan Kingdom. He believed that one day, she would use her own strength to impress everyone.

Rumors in the capital continued to spread. But those rumors could no longer have any impact on Li Qingge. She was like a flower that bloomed proudly in the wind and rain, using her beauty and tenacity to interpret the true meaning of life. And those who once tried to step on her could only become stepping stones on her road to success.

He Shen looked at Li Qingge's increasingly high status, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions. He knew that he could no longer compete with her, and could only accept this fact silently. He began to restrain his edge, no longer easily provoking trouble, and instead put more energy into handling state affairs.

The story of Li Qingge and Heshen quietly unfolded in the capital. Their grievances and hatreds became the topic of conversation after dinner. But no matter how people comment, they cannot change the fact that Li Qingge, this legendary woman, has proved her worth with her own strength. And Heshen also learned to restrain and grow in this process.

Time flies. In a blink of an eye, Li Qingge has grown from a young girl to a mature and steady queen. With her wisdom and courage, she has written one legend after another for the Great Yan Kingdom. And He Shen, under her influence, has gradually become a more mature and steady minister. Their story has left a strong and colorful mark in the long river of history.

He Shen's heart felt like it was being weighed down by a huge rock, and fear was like ice corroding every inch of his flesh and bones. He knew that if he was not careful, he might anger the high and mighty Emperor Qianlong, and bring unprecedented trouble to the royal family. This fear made it almost impossible for him to breathe, and he could only carefully guess the emperor's thoughts, trying to find a glimmer of hope in this crisis-ridden palace.

In the Yangxin Palace, the candlelight flickered, and Emperor Qianlong's face looked particularly stern in the light and shadow. He sat upright on the dragon throne, his eyes as sharp as torches, as if he could see into people's hearts. Heshen knelt on the ground, his head buried low, not daring to look directly into the emperor's eyes. He could only feel the invisible pressure, like a mountain pressing on his shoulders, making him almost breathless.

"Heshen, do you admit your guilt?" Emperor Qianlong's voice sounded coldly, like the chilly winter wind, piercing and icy.

He Shen trembled all over and kowtowed quickly: "I know my crime, I know my crime. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy on me and forgive me this time."

Emperor Qianlong snorted coldly, his eyes flashed with a hint of coldness: "You have caused such a disaster, I should have killed you immediately. But considering your past hard work, I will spare your life. However, you can't escape the crime alive. This disaster is caused by you, you have to clean it up yourself. If you can't clean it up, you will be beheaded!"

"Yes, yes." He Shen was so scared that he trembled all over and quickly agreed. His heart was filled with fear and anxiety, but he knew that he could not give up like this. He had to try every possible way to save the situation.

Emperor Qianlong added, his voice as cold as if it came from the underworld: "Also, the true identity of the Queen of Dayan is a top secret of the royal family. Even the old Buddha does not know it. If you dare to reveal a word, not only will you die, but the entire Niuhulu clan will also suffer. Do you understand?"

He Shen was so frightened when he heard this that he kowtowed and promised: "I would never dare to do that! I will do everything I can to dispel the rumors and will never damage the reputation of the Great Yan Girl... Oh no, the Fifth Princess." He was filled with fear and anxiety. He knew how important this secret was. Once it was leaked, the consequences would be disastrous.

However, it is easier to spread rumors than to dispel them. As soon as Heshen left the Yangxin Palace, he quickly sent people to beautify Li Qingge's image, using all the good words he could. But the rumors still spread like wildfire. The previous smear campaign was too fierce, and even if Heshen was powerful, he couldn't stop the momentum. He tried to clear up the rumors several times, but the situation only got worse, and Li Qingge's reputation became even worse.

He Shen was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, running around in circles. He knew that he had fallen into a dilemma and could not extricate himself. He could only watch the rumors spread more and more, but he could do nothing about it.

When Emperor Qianlong learned about this, he was furious. He called Heshen over and scolded him, and also gave him fifty lashes of the board. Heshen's buttocks were bruised and he was exhausted physically and mentally. He lay on the ground, groaning in pain, his heart full of regret and helplessness.

Emperor Qianlong looked at Heshen's miserable appearance without any sympathy in his heart. He knew that if Li Qingge's reputation was not clean, it would not only be Heshen who would suffer. The entire Aisin-Gioro royal family would suffer. Li Qingge might even feel resentful and refuse to accept the abdication. At that time, even if the queen pleaded to save his life, his descendants would inevitably suffer.

For the survival of the royal family, Emperor Qianlong had to take ruthless measures. He linked the four words "Queen of Great Yan" to the literary inquisition and issued a severe decree. From then on, anyone who dared to speak ill of Li Qingge would be dismissed from office and exiled, or even have their property confiscated and their family exterminated.

When this decree came out, the entire court was shocked. The ministers looked at each other, their hearts filled with fear and anxiety. They knew that Emperor Qianlong was really angry this time, and no one dared to touch this taboo easily.

However, despite Emperor Qianlong's repeated warnings and severe punishments, some people still refused to believe in evil and took risks. These people had a deep-rooted idea of ​​male superiority and female inferiority, and regarded women as tools for childbearing and objects for sexual gratification. They thought that women in power was a huge joke, which was hated by both humans and gods and intolerable by heaven and earth.

These people discussed privately and even openly laughed at Li Qingge. Their words were full of malice and slander, as if they wanted to throw Li Qingge into an abyss from which there was no return.

Emperor Qianlong was furious when he heard this. He was so angry that he ordered a thorough investigation of the matter and severely punished those who dared to slander Li Qingge. He used all possible means, including dismissal, caning, property confiscation, exile, beheading, etc. Among those punished were important officials of the court, relatives of the royal family, and even the iron-hatted kings were not spared.

The Iron Hat King was a hereditary title, extremely noble. Although Emperor Qianlong could not directly revoke his title, he could replace him with another king. So he found an excuse and said that the Iron Hat King had committed a crime of disrespect, stripped him of his title, and let his half brother succeed him. He himself was exiled to Xinjiang to grow Hami melons.

After this series of actions, the entire court and the harem were in a state of panic. The ministers and concubines were afraid that it would be their turn one day, so they kept their tails between their legs and did not dare to discuss Li Qingge's affairs easily.

Li Qingge herself was completely unaware of all this. She was busy handling government affairs in the south and was not interested in these rumors and court struggles. She only knew that she still had a lot of things to do and could not be distracted by these insignificant things.

However, she didn't know that the storm caused by her had swept the entire court and the harem. Her reputation and status were also seriously affected. However, she didn't care about these false fame and profit, she only cared about whether she could make more contributions to the Great Yan Kingdom.

Emperor Qianlong looked at all this, feeling helpless and emotional. He knew that the root of this turmoil was the identity dispute between him and Li Qingge. If he wanted to completely solve this problem, he had to find a suitable opportunity and way to disclose Li Qingge's true identity.