White Fence Dream

Chapter 193 Discussion
The early morning in February was crisp and cold.

Mrs. Dongyang stood by the window and took a deep breath.

"Madam, don't be blown by the wind so early in the morning." Mother Xu said, "Hurry and sit down. I have good news."

The wife of the Marquis of Dongyang said coldly, "Now, what good thing has Zhou Jingyun done?"

"Madam." Mother Xu helped her away from the window, her face beaming with joy as she said, "All the gossip outside about the prince is a misunderstanding. Now the truth is out."

The wife of the Marquis of Dongyang said coldly: "What's the truth?"

"The late crown prince was framed by Mrs. Du, and you know that the late crown prince's son is still alive, right?" Mother Xu said.

This was the biggest news in the past few days. Although the wife of Marquis Dongyang stayed indoors, the people from the imperial court's announcement office announced it to almost every household.

The former crown prince restored his surname, was posthumously named King Daohui, and was buried in the imperial mausoleum.

Princess Jinyu and her husband rescued the late crown prince's son, the emperor's eldest grandson, Shangguan Xiaolang, who had always been regarded as the concubine of her husband Shangguan, from the fire.

Now Shangguan Xiaolang has also gone to the imperial mausoleum, but he will definitely not guard the mausoleum for the rest of his life. The court is discussing his title of prince.

And now many people have approached Princess Jinyu to inquire about her marriage.

The late emperor and Empress Jiang killed too many clan members, leaving only a few royal descendants. This new prince who suddenly appeared was indeed a very good candidate for marriage.

"Now everyone understands that Shangguan Yue's appearance as a playboy was all fake."

"When we were on our way to the imperial mausoleum, many people were watching from the roadside. It was really different from before, and the scenery was quite elegant."

The lady of Dongyang Marquis could not help but think of Zhou Jingyun when she heard this. She snorted coldly, "You can't tell a person's heart from his appearance. Don't be fooled by his appearance."

Mother Xu was stunned. Why was the Madam so hostile towards the eldest grandson of the Emperor?
"I'm not talking about him," said the wife of the Marquis of Dongyang, and waved her hand again, "After all, this is just a matter between father and son and brothers. It has nothing to do with us."

Mother Xu hurriedly shook her head and nodded: "It's true, it's true. When Mrs. Du was interrogated by the Ministry of Justice, she admitted many things, such as not being instructed by Empress Jiang..."

Having said this, he quickly covered his mouth.

Naturally, this news was not announced by the government, but spread on the streets.

It’s better to say less about things involving Empress Chiang.

The wife of the Marquis of Dongyang glanced at her, her expression showing neither uneasiness nor reprimand. She sneered, "What is there to be ashamed of? After all, how can a woman instigate a father to kill his son? It's obvious that the father had the intention to kill him long ago."

Mother Xu cried out, stepped forward and covered her mouth: "My wife, please say less."

After the lady and the prince became estranged, her temperament changed. She became very bold and looked cynical.

Mrs. Dongyang Hou snorted in her heart. She was not wrong. Zhou Jingyun married the girl from the Bai family. Could it be that the girl seduced him? She knew the girl's temper very well. There was no way she was coquettish. It was even more impossible for her to be humble to others. Humph, it was he who wanted to marry her.

Maybe it was cheated back.

结果
After a moment of impulse, facing Zhang Ze of the Supervisory Council and the White Concubine, he regained his sanity in the face of danger and was afraid, so he killed the person.
Thinking of this, Lady Dongyang Hou couldn't help but close her eyes and take a few deep breaths.

How did her son become like this?
It shouldn’t be like this. It shouldn’t be like this.

Mother Xu's voice continued, diluting her wandering thoughts.

"Du also confessed that she had framed Yang. Yang did not ask them to help destroy Jielin Tower and murder Concubine Bai."

"So, Madam, the Queen did not murder the heir to the throne, and her entire family will not be executed."

The wife of the Marquis of Dongyang said absentmindedly, "So what?"

Then people will stop talking about and scolding the prince for bringing trouble, saying things like confiscating the family property and exterminating the whole family, saying that he is not an immortal but a good-looking judge, etc. The lady will no longer have to be angry with the prince, Mother Xu looked at the wife of Marquis Dongyang.

Madam Dongyang looked at Mother Xu and sighed, "I know."

She was never angry at Jingyun for holding the queen accountable for his wife's death. If it was really the queen who did it, she would go straight to the palace gate and kneel down to question the queen, without fear of other people's gossip.

But in fact, this matter was all lies told by Zhou Jingyun from beginning to end.

The Prince of Dongyang knew best how his young wife died.

Forget it, not wanting to listen anymore, Lady Dongyang stopped Mother Xu and just said, "Set the table."

……

……

Mother Xu walked out from the inner courtyard and looked at Zhou Jingyun standing outside the courtyard gate.

"She can eat, drink, and comment on worldly affairs." She said to Zhou Jingyun with a wry smile, "Don't worry, my lord. Madam is in very good spirits."

But I still don't see him.

As long as the person I care about is safe and healthy, it is enough. Whether I can see him or not is not important. Zhou Jingyun smiled and said, "Okay, then I will go to the government office."

When they reached the Imperial Street, officials gathered in groups of three or four to talk. Perhaps the Du case had taken a turn unexpectedly, or perhaps it had been referred to the Ministry of Justice for investigation, so there was no need to worry about Zhang Ze implicating and killing innocent people, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed.

"So is Shangguan Yue going to be made a prince?"

"Still calling her Shangguan Yue? You should call her Li Yu now. She has been registered in the Zongzheng Temple."

"I heard that the court is still arguing about the title. I don't know when it will be decided."

"How old is Li Yu this year?"

"Ha, what? Brother Liao also has a girl of marriageable age in his family?"

This time, fewer people turned their heads and pretended not to see Zhou Jingyun. Those who were close to him even came forward to tell him the good news, "Du admitted that she had framed Yang. She was just making random accusations and wanted to use Yang to escape from being exposed for framing the late crown prince."

Zhou Jingyun said, "What's the result? Did the Board of Supervisors say that Yang is not guilty?"

This statement made people stunned. Well, there really is no…
But Du said it was an act of slander, so could Yang still not escape the blame this time?
……

……

Sitting in the Queen's Palace, the emperor was a little dazed, as if he hadn't been here for a long time, and it felt a little strange. Previously, the Yang family had been questioned, but considering the Queen's status, the emperor did not put her in jail, but only confined her to the Queen's Palace. It was not until the Queen ran out of the palace and fought with him that he ordered the guards to keep her.

The palace maids and eunuchs here were also taken away by the Supervisory Office for questioning, and many of them never returned.

The remaining palace maids and eunuchs were in a state of constant fear and had no intention of serving. The huge palace was empty in broad daylight, the dust had not been swept for a long time, and the once gorgeous low curtains had become dim.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing here if you are not with your beloved child?"

A hoarse female voice came from inside. The emperor looked over and saw a figure standing behind the curtain. He didn't know whether he had just walked in or had always been there.

"Are you here to chop off my head?" the queen's voice came again.

"Ayuan." The emperor was somewhat helpless. "Why would I chop off your head?"

The Queen lifted the curtain and came out: "Even if I was sent by Queen Jiang to spy on you, you wouldn't chop off my head?"

The queen was not wearing gorgeous robes as usual, but an old dress that she had found from somewhere. She had no hairpins or rings on her head, and her head was wrapped with cloth. She wore no makeup, and at first glance she looked ten years older.

Seeing the queen's appearance, the emperor was a little surprised and took a step back.

The Queen sneered, "Liu Lang, when we were in exile, I dressed like this every day, with unkempt hair and dirty face, but you didn't dislike me. Instead, you hugged me every day and didn't dare to leave me for a moment. Now you don't even dare to look at me?"

The emperor sighed, walked over and hugged her in his arms: "Ayuan, even if you were sent by Queen Jiang to spy on me, I would not chop off your head. I know you have a bad temper, but you are really good to me. Even if Queen Jiang really asked you to spy on me, you must have deceived Queen Jiang for me."

The queen was about to break away from him, but after hearing this, tears started to flow and she grabbed the emperor's arm: "Since you know, why don't you believe me?"

"Ayuan, I believe you." The emperor said, looking at her helplessly, "But you are you, and the Yang family is the Yang family. Although you didn't harm me, the Yang family..."

As he spoke, he took out a scroll from his sleeve.

"The Board of Supervisors has investigated and found that the Yang family has made many improper remarks over the years. In addition to plotting to murder the heir to the throne, they have also said many things about plotting to murder me."

The empress was about to say something, but the emperor interrupted her and said, "Don't say that Zhang Ze framed you. You know very well what kind of personalities your father and brother have."

The queen opened her mouth and said with tears in her eyes, "You know, Liu Lang, they have always been outspoken. When they were at home, they complained a lot in front of you. They were just complaining because they treated you as their own family."

Why can’t I listen to it now, even though I used to?

The emperor's voice came down from above.

"The past is the past. The past is in the past. I don't want to hear about the past anymore."

Although the emperor still held her in his arms, she could not feel any warmth. The queen raised her head and looked at her husband. She had known him since she could walk, and had lived with him since she was seven or eight years old. He would follow her around, calling her sister all day long...
Half of my life has passed, but the person in front of me seems more and more unfamiliar.

"Then your majesty..." She did not address Liu Lang again, "how do you want to deal with us?"

The emperor stroked her shoulder and said, "You are still my queen, Ayuan. When we got married, I said that we would be husband and wife forever, but you can't stay in the Yang family."

The queen looked at him and asked, "What do you mean by not being able to stay? Do you want my father and brother to stop being officials?"

The emperor shook his head.

The queen pushed him away violently, with an expression of disbelief: "You, you want to kill them!"

……

.......
"Keep the queen, kill the Yang father and son, and demote the rest of the Yang family to commoners?" In Hanliang Palace, Bai Ying frowned, "The queen's position is reserved for her?"

Zhang Ze laughed and said, "Your Majesty is very affectionate."

Bai Ying was annoyed: "If the position of Queen is not vacated, what will I be in the future?"

"She is just a queen without family and children." Zhang Ze said, looking at Bai Ying, "She can't be compared with you, an imperial concubine without family but with children."

Hearing that there was no family, Bai Ying suddenly laughed: "I wonder how the Queen, a noble lady who has been pampered by her family since she was a child, feels. I should go and see."

……

……

"You're going to kill my whole family!"

"Li Liulang, Li Xin!"

"You are crazy!"

The queen pushed the emperor away, screamed, and rushed over to grab the emperor's clothes.

"Those are my parents and brothers! They are the ones who took you in and fed you since you were a child! My parents raised you, and my brothers protected you! My sisters-in-law made shoes, socks and clothes for you, and you actually want to kill them?"

"I know they have done me a favor, but it is also true that they are corrupt, accept bribes, seize land, and bully men and women. You know that if you send a letter to the Yang family without a gift list, it will be thrown out--"

"That's not a crime punishable by death! Many powerful and wealthy families do the same thing! Li Xin, you just can't tolerate them because I'm the queen!"

"That's right, because you are the queen, so they can never do this! They can't look down on me like before, order me around, and eat your family's food and obey your family's orders!"

With this shout, the emperor suddenly pushed the queen away. It was not known whether he had finally made up his mind to use force, or whether the queen was weak after being locked up in the palace for too long, but the queen fell directly to the ground with this push.

"Yang Yuan, I have done my best!" he shouted, "Think about it carefully!"

After that, he turned around and left.

The queen supported herself and climbed up from behind.

"Li Xin! Now that you are the emperor and have become a decent human being, you can no longer tolerate us!"

"Because we represent the shame of your past!"

The emperor quickened his pace without even turning his head. The guards outside came over in time to block the queen's sight.

The queen stumbled a few steps and fell to the ground again. She did not get up again, but leaned over the ground sobbing.

Her husband, her Liulang, is gone.