novelhk Chapter 126 Queen Mother
Chapter 126 Queen Mother
Zhongtian threw Zhao Jing's body on the ground and looked at her with some pity. It wasn't Zhongtian who killed her, but the people of Li Zhen whom she wanted to protect.
Knowing that things couldn't end well, Zhongtian shook his uninjured right hand, glanced at Le Xingxi, and rushed forward.
With all her might, she punched the person closest to her, who immediately fell to the ground.
Zhongtian snatched the iron weapon from her hand, and with the iron weapon in hand, he felt even more powerful.
She killed them one by one with a knife. At this moment, being too kind would only harm herself and others. She showed no mercy and targeted vital points. Before long, a pile of them lay on the ground.
Catch the thief first to catch the king.
Nakata captured the leader, who was a woman in her forties.
"stop!"
However, they did not stop. Instead, Zhongtian's actions enraged them, and their attacks on Zhongtian became even more ferocious.
Nakata hadn't worked this hard in a long time; she was surrounded by 20 people.
Everyone was fighting with all their might to kill Nakata, and Nakata also abandoned his compassion, focusing his attacks on the opponent's weak points: the head, eyes, and heart.
She felt her arm gradually go numb, she felt her strength gradually disappear, and she felt Le Xingxi's cries and calls growing fainter and fainter.
Fortunately, she could clearly sense that fewer and fewer people were attacking her. Finally, she squinted and looked at Le Xingxi, who was crying in the distance.
Seeing Li Zhen lying on the ground, already powerless, and then seeing Qian Mu and Du Chen rushing over, he fainted with relief.
. . . . .
The room was filled with the rich scent of sandalwood. After Xia Muning devoutly offered incense to the Buddha, he instructed his attendant to prepare the clothes he would wear to the palace.
Xia Muning had no official rank, but the Imperial Household Department had already prepared clothes and sent them over. When Xia Muning got into the carriage in the palace, he was still anxious and uneasy.
Last night, news came from the palace that Xia Muning was to be summoned to the palace, as the Empress Dowager wanted to see him.
Xia Muning entered the palace under the guidance of Master Li.
Although it is now autumn, the area outside the Empress Dowager's palace is still full of spring. Various precious flowers are being carefully tended by the young scholars, especially the clusters of magnolias in the courtyard that are blooming very profusely.
Xia Muning was quite surprised when he was led into the palace. He was not allowed to look up, but he still glanced up briefly.
The Empress Dowager was not served by the tutors in the palace, but by a group of dignified-looking monks, Taoist priests and nuns.
Xia Muning glanced at her briefly and noticed that the Empress Dowager was also wearing a Buddha statue, and even the phoenix chair she was sitting on had several yellow talismans pasted on it.
Xia Muning understood that her last visit to the palace had left a deep psychological scar on the Empress Dowager.
However, his expression remained unchanged; he simply knelt on the ground and respectfully kowtowed to the Empress Dowager.
"Raise your head." The voice wasn't sharp, but it carried the composure of someone who had seen it all. Xia Muning obediently raised her head.
Xia Muning could clearly see the Empress Dowager's face, and the moment she saw it, she was amazed.
Xia Muning was a beauty, and he had seen many beauties, but he was still amazed by the Empress Dowager's exquisitely beautiful face.
Time has left no trace on her face; instead, it has transformed her into a fine wine, whose aroma alone is enough to amaze even those who haven't tasted it.
He was even more attractive than Le Wentao, who was in the prime of her youth and standing behind him.
When the Empress Dowager saw Xia Muning's face clearly, her smiling expression faltered, and her tone became somewhat reprimanding: "Lord Xia, what is your relationship with the deceased Consort Xia?"
Xia Muning bowed her head and said, "Your Majesty, that is my cousin."
"No wonder, no wonder," the Empress Dowager murmured, her hand unconsciously clenching her phoenix chair, making the talismans pasted on it wrinkle.
After calming herself down, the Empress Dowager remembered the purpose of summoning Xia Muning to the palace.
He wanted to step forward and help Xia Muning up to show his affection, but he gave her a signal, and Le Wentao, who was serving nearby, stepped forward and helped Xia Muning up.
"Thank you very much, Lord Le."
Le Wentao smiled outwardly, but inwardly he felt a little worried. He had rushed over to serve the Empress Dowager upon hearing that Xia Muning had entered the palace, fearing that His Majesty might suddenly decide to meet with Xia Muning again after court.
His Majesty is busy with affairs and usually doesn't think of Xia Muning, but whenever he sees Xia Muning, he thinks of his deceased Consort Xia.
The Empress Dowager slowly took a sip of tea and said, "Zhongtian cheated on the imperial examination and harmed important officials of the court. I pity you for your loneliness and wish to arrange a marriage for you."
"She is Prime Minister Jiang's adopted daughter..."
Xia Muning wondered what the Empress Dowager would want to summon him to the palace for. He thought of many things, but he never expected it to be this!
The anger in his heart burned like a raging fire! Everyone hoped that Xia Muning would abandon Zhong Tian and take the huge fortune left by Zhong Tian into the arms of someone else!
Everyone assumed that Nakata wouldn't come back!
A man cannot marry two wives.
If something were to happen to Nakata during her exile, he would naturally follow her.
But Nakata is fine, and he promised him he would definitely come back.
Xia Muning understood that if he didn't stop him before the Empress Dowager spoke, her words would become an imperial edict.
The Empress Dowager is of noble status, and given his current position, he has no way to refuse her.
He raised his head, looking at the Empress Dowager with considerable offense. After Zhongtian was exiled, he was naturally stripped of his official position, so Xia Muning could only refer to himself as a servant.
"Your Majesty, this servant is unwilling. Even if Your Majesty pities this servant and finds this servant a very good marriage, this servant is still unwilling. This servant has made up his mind to marry Zhongtian alone. If Your Majesty forces this upon me, this servant will die on the spot in front of you."
"Better to be a broken jade than a whole tile"—Xia Muning had this integrity and courage for Zhongtian.
He pulled the hairpin from his hair, pressed it against his neck, and said in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, if you really force me, then this servant will shed my blood before Your Majesty. My wife also instructed before she passed away that the Zhong family's wealth was taken from the people and should be used for the people. If this servant really dies, Shun Ning Express will be dissolved, and all the Zhong family's wealth will be donated!"
Xia Muning's words were a blatant message to the Empress Dowager.
If he continues to pressure them, they will not only lose the people, but they will also lose all the money in the Zhong family!
The atmosphere in the entire palace became tense.
Just then, the Emperor, who had just finished court, walked in from outside. He looked around the palace and spoke in a way that revealed neither his mood nor his emotions. He asked, "What is going on here?"
The others immediately knelt down to pay their respects, but Xia Muning remained standing there coldly, confronting the Empress Dowager.
His Majesty slowly walked up to Xia Muning and, facing Xia Muning's cold expression, said, "Lord Xia, put down the hairpin. I will stand up for you."