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

Emperor Yuan finally raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Empress Meng's bleeding hand. He frowned slightly and said, "You're injured."

His tone was concerned.

He then questioned the imperial physicians, "Why didn't you treat the Empress's wound? Why were you just leaving it exposed like this?"

The imperial physician was terrified and immediately stepped forward to treat Empress Meng's wounds.

Empress Meng did not refuse and allowed the imperial physician to handle the matter, while also waiting for Emperor Yuan's decision.

Finally, Emperor Yuan spoke: "I believe it was not the Empress who intended to harm the imperial heir."

"The Empress has always been benevolent and virtuous, and she has been devoted to the concubines and princes. She is my good Empress, and also the good Empress of the Great Jing Dynasty. If anyone has framed her, I will certainly not let them off lightly!"

Emperor Yuan praised Empress Meng, and every word he uttered was an affirmation of her virtues.

Song Qingning could detect a hint of the emperor's compromise.

My earlier suspicions became increasingly certain.

At this moment, one of the concubines exclaimed in surprise.

Everyone looked over at the sound and saw the palace maid who had just bitten Empress Meng lying on the ground, blood flowing from the corner of her mouth.

The imperial physician stepped forward and checked her breathing. "She's dead. There must have been poison in her mouth."

Everything that has happened now further proves Empress Meng's innocence, but it has also cut off all leads.

Everything was as Empress Meng had anticipated.

Emperor Yuan still ordered a thorough investigation.

The palace banquet thus came to an end.

Emperor Yuan ordered someone to send Consort Lan back to her palace, and he personally escorted Empress Meng back to Fengqi Palace.

Everyone at the palace banquet knew that what had just happened involved palace secrets, so they dared not say anything and left the palace to return to their residences.

After escorting Madam Lu back to the Marquis's residence, Song Qingning left the residence again.

She is going to Cangling Pavilion.

But she had barely stepped outside when a face wearing a fox mask approached her, "Second Miss Song..."

Although the person in front of me had changed his clothes and was wearing a mask, I couldn't tell who he was.

But she recognized the voice.

"Young Master Yun." Song Qingning bowed to him.

She recognized his voice, and Xie Yunli was pleasantly surprised. "We're so familiar with each other, so let's not call each other 'Young Master Yun' anymore. You call me Yunli, and I'll call you... Fourth Sister-in-law?"

He liked the nickname very much.

Fourth Sister-in-law?

Song Qingning was startled, and then she heard Xie Xuanjin's voice coming from behind Xie Yunli, "Yunli, do not be rude."

Xie Xuanjin also changed his clothes.

He was still dressed in all black, but the fabric was much more ordinary, and he wore a mask, as if to conceal his identity.

Xie Xuanjin walked over to her and handed her a rabbit mask.

Song Qingning asked in surprise, "For me?"

"Hmm." Xie Xuanjin responded lightly, "I'm going somewhere later, wearing this won't attract attention."

That's how it is.

There is no curfew tonight for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the streets and alleys of the entire capital are bustling with activity. There are vendors selling lanterns and masks on the streets.

There were many people wearing masks and carrying lanterns parading through the streets.

Song Qingning took the mask and looked at it again and again.

The rabbit mask is exquisitely made, with its two ears standing upright, as if the rabbit has been frightened.

Song Qingning put it on, and it fit perfectly.

"Fourth Brother chose this especially for you." Xie Yunli smiled mischievously.

Xie Xuanjin resented Xie Yunli for being so talkative, but then heard Song Qingning generously express her gratitude, "Thank you, Your Highness, I like it very much."

She still referred to herself as "your subject," not considering herself a woman.

Xie Xuanjin was disappointed.

But seeing that she was wearing a rabbit mask and had a bright, shining gaze, it was clear that she genuinely liked the mask, so I stopped caring about how she addressed me.

The three of them paraded through the streets with the crowd.

The three were originally walking side by side, but Xie Yunli had fallen behind at some point, leaving only Song Qingning and Xie Xuanjin.

Thinking about the events at the palace banquet, Song Qingning said, "Your Highness, I have a question, but I'm not sure if I should ask it."

"speak."

Having received permission, Song Qingning no longer held back, saying, "If the person behind this scheme is trying to use Tuantuan to provoke the Empress, then that person must know the Empress very well."

"Even so, that person made too many mistakes in his plan today. If His Majesty had not been so enraged, none of what followed would have happened."

The most crucial element was the emperor's wrath.

But who can be sure that the emperor will be furious?

She suspected one person.

Xie Xuanjin seemed to know she had some suspicions. "Whom do you suspect?"

Song Qingning stopped in her tracks.

To doubt the emperor is utterly rebellious.

Song Qingning dared not say it aloud.

Suddenly she saw Xie Xuanjin's hand.

"May I borrow your hand?" Song Qingning took Huai Wai's hand, carefully wrote the words "Your Majesty" in his palm, and then looked at the Prince of Huai questioningly, "Am I right in my suspicions?"

Xie Xuanjin felt a tingling sensation in his palms.

The face beneath the mask had become burning hot without anyone noticing.

Her eyes were clear and pure, still waiting for his answer.

Xie Xuanjin should answer her immediately, but her hand was still holding his, reminding him of his dream where he wanted to touch her countless times, but when he reached out, he only found emptiness.

She was right there; he could hear her voice, but he couldn't see or touch her.

The touch feels so real right now.

"Your Highness?" Song Qingning called out to him when she saw him in a daze.

Xie Xuanjin withdrew his hand and turned his gaze away. "Your suspicions are correct."

Song Qingning suppressed the shock in her heart.

The fact that the Prince of Huai was so certain of her suspicions suggests that he must have some evidence.

But that was an emperor.

Even if you have evidence, you can't break ties with him unless you're prepared to rebel and have the ability to confront him.

Until that day comes, we can only endure and lie low.

Fortunately, today Empress Meng was not forced to draw her sword by the emperor like in her previous life, and she was not stripped of her imperial seal and banished to the cold palace.

"Her Majesty the Empress..." Song Qingning thought of Empress Meng and felt a little worried.

When they left the palace, Emperor Yuan personally escorted Empress Meng back to Fengqi Palace.

Xie Xuanjin saw her worry. "He understands Mother, and Mother understands him as well. I have people in the palace, so Mother will be fine. He has no legitimate reason and would not dare to harm Mother."

Song Qingning was finally relieved.

Behind Empress Meng were the Meng family, the Prince of Huai, and the prestige she had cultivated over many years.

Emperor Yuan devised this scheme to force Empress Meng to draw her sword against him, thereby destroying her reputation.

Meanwhile, in the Phoenix Palace...

Emperor Yuan stayed with Empress Meng for quite a while.

He reminisced about the loving relationship they had when they first got married, and thanked her for her hard work in managing the harem, saying she was his virtuous and capable wife.

Empress Meng felt nauseous upon hearing this.

Emperor Yuan did not leave Fengqi Palace until she said she was tired.

Only Empress Meng and Aunt Ling remained in the room.

Empress Meng, who had been lying down, got up and sat on the edge of the bed. Aunt Ling squatted at her feet, feeling lingering fear.

"Your Majesty, although the Emperor has ordered a thorough investigation, I'm afraid this matter will likely be left unresolved, or it will end up like the Crown Prince's case back then, with only a scapegoat taking the blame."

Aunt Ling felt indignant on behalf of the Empress.

Empress Meng's gaze was deep and thoughtful.

She was unwilling to accept this either. For so many years she had endured it, fearing that he would also harm Xuan Jin. So she ruthlessly distanced herself from Xuan Jin, making everyone think that she resented this son.

They even banished him from the capital, forcing him to distance himself from Emperor Yuan and the capital.

She had grown accustomed to the hypocrisy and ruthlessness of emperors.

She and the emperor will eventually have a battle!

"This time we can't let it go like this. Someone can make him pay the price," Empress Meng said.