ebookland Chapter 293 The True and False Queens
Chapter 293 The True and False Queens
Chapter 293 The True and False Empress
When Su Yinyin and Regent Zhou Yuan heard the eunuch report that the Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom was requesting an audience, they both thought they were hallucinating.
After all, they knew very well that the Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom had already been dealt with by Su Yinyin herself.
At that time, Regent Zhou Yuan personally inspected the empress and, after confirming that she was no longer breathing, ordered his subordinates to bury her. Moreover, he buried her under his own eyes.
But now, given the situation…! The two frowned simultaneously, exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with doubt and wariness.
The emperor and empress dowager were astonished upon hearing the eunuch's report, as if they had heard a fairy tale.
The Empress Dowager murmured in confusion, "What's going on? Isn't the Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom... why would she suddenly request an audience?"
The emperor, too, frowned deeply and fell into deep thought.
The Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom entered the country without a sound, and the Emperor felt a chill run down his spine as he thought of this, a sense of unease rising in his heart.
Su Yinyin and Regent Zhou Yuan exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with doubt and vigilance.
Su Yinyin lowered her voice and said to the Regent with a solemn expression, "This matter is too strange. The Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom is clearly dead, but now she suddenly appears to request an audience. There must be a bigger conspiracy behind it."
The Regent nodded slightly, his expression equally solemn, and replied in a low voice, "In any case, let's see what she's up to first, and then we'll act accordingly."
After a moment's thought, the emperor suppressed his doubts and unease and said to the eunuch, "Summon her in."
Before long, a woman dressed in a magnificent phoenix robe and wearing a phoenix hairpin slowly walked into the banquet hall.
The phoenix robe was embroidered with a lifelike golden phoenix, which shimmered with golden light under the candlelight, as if it were about to take flight at any moment.
The gemstones inlaid on the phoenix hairpin are dazzling and reflect a colorful brilliance.
Her figure was graceful, and every step she took was light and elegant, as if she were a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.
However, behind her beautiful face, there was a hint of coldness in her eyes, like frost in the dead of winter, which made people shudder.
As soon as the woman entered, she gracefully bowed and said in a clear but somewhat affected voice, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, it's been a long time. How have you been?"
I came here to offer my congratulations upon hearing of the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, but instead I have heard some disheartening news.
The Empress Dowager, the Emperor, the Empress, and everyone who knew the Imperial Noble Consort all stared wide-eyed at the Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom, as if they had seen a ghost.
The emperor, in particular, knew better than anyone that the Imperial Noble Consort had already died.
The Emperor struggled to calm himself, looked at her, and said coldly, "Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom, your words are strange. What do you mean by 'long time no see'? I have never seen the Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom before. However, you do resemble the Imperial Noble Consort. But…!"
The Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom raised an eyebrow curiously and asked, "Oh, but what is it, Your Majesty? Please speak frankly."
The emperor bluntly said, "You are much younger than the Empress Dowager."
The Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom smiled gently, her laughter carrying a hint of mystery, as if deliberately creating an atmosphere of mystery. "Your Majesty may not know, but there are many wondrous arts in the world, and changing one's appearance is not difficult."
Everyone was startled upon hearing this. Su Yinyin frowned and asked warily, "Are you a human or a ghost?"
The Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom glanced at Su Yinyin, her eyes filled with disdain. "Princess Protector, do not be anxious. I am alive and well."
The Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom continued, "I have heard that His Majesty suspects Princess Siran of being involved in a conspiracy against the Empress Dowager. This is a huge misunderstanding."
Princess Siran has always been kind-hearted; how could she have committed such a heinous act? Someone must have deliberately framed her.
Su Yinyin sneered inwardly, stepped forward without hesitation, and said righteously, "Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom, the evidence is conclusive, and Consort Li has taken the Truth Pill and confessed."
Princess Siran colluded with Su Yinhan, attempting to curse the Empress Dowager at her birthday banquet and disrupt the situation of our Great Zhou Kingdom. This is an undeniable fact, and there is no room for your sophistry.
The Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom glanced at Su Yinyin and said with a forced smile, "Princess Protector of the Nation, it seems too hasty to convict Princess Siran based solely on the words of a mere concubine."
Perhaps someone bribed that concubine to deliberately slander Princess Siran?
The Empress Dowager could no longer contain herself. Her face flushed with anger, and she shouted, "Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom, what do you mean by that? Are you implying that my Great Zhou Kingdom deliberately framed Princess Siran?"
"If something like this happens at my birthday banquet, would I joke about my own birthday?"
The Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom quickly feigned a look of fear and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I had no such intention."
However, this matter concerns Princess Siran's innocence, and we hope that Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager will handle it with care.
Do not let those with ulterior motives exploit this situation and damage the friendly relations between our Great Yan Kingdom and the Great Zhou Kingdom.
The emperor's face darkened, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes. He said, "Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom, I have always acted justly. I will not wrong anyone, nor will I let any guilty person go unpunished."
Now that the evidence is laid bare, Princess Siran cannot escape her guilt. As for your sudden appearance, what is your purpose? Speak frankly.”
The Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom paused for a moment, as if carefully choosing her words, and slowly said, "Your Majesty, I have come here for three reasons: first, to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday; second, to arrange a marriage alliance; and third..."
She paused deliberately, giving Su Yinyin a meaningful look.
He continued, "Princess Siran of the Great Yan Kingdom is in love with the Regent, so she wants to marry him."
Everyone was both shocked and furious upon hearing the words of the Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom.
Regent Zhou Yuan's eyes instantly turned icy cold, as if they could freeze the air.
He stared intently at the Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom and said coldly, "Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom, how dare you!"
Princess Siran has committed such a heinous crime, yet she still dares to try to marry me. Do you think I'm a dumping ground for garbage?
"Any Tom, Dick, or Harry wants to marry me. Are you openly challenging the laws and authority of my Great Zhou Kingdom?"
Princess Siran never expected that the Regent would compare her to a cat or a dog.
At this moment, Princess Siran no longer harbored any feelings of love.
All she felt was hatred. But tonight she finally understood.
The Regent only has eyes for Su Yinyin. What use is she to a man like that?
Looking at the Regent's cold face, the Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom felt a pang of sadness and guilt.
Was it really worth it for her to abandon her son for her father's absurd dream?
The Empress Dowager's face turned ashen with anger, and she said in a furious voice, "Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom, what do you mean by this?"
"For such a thing to happen at my birthday banquet, not only do you not apologize for Princess Siran's misdeeds, but you also make such an absurd request. What do you take my Great Zhou Kingdom for?"
The emperor was furious. He slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Empress of the Great Yan Kingdom, don't go too far!"
Princess Siran's crimes have been established, how could I allow her to marry the Regent?
"Is this how you propose a marriage alliance? This is clearly trampling on the dignity of my Great Zhou Kingdom!"