Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Wearing a veil, Su Jingyao walked slowly down the bustling street, her figure graceful and her steps light.

This time, Miao Yun and Miao Xue accompanied her, while Jun Zechen and Ling Yue were in front of her. The two were very affectionate, like a close-knit couple leisurely strolling through the streets.

However, as Jun Zechen strolled around, he would occasionally glance back at Su Jingyao.

The streets were teeming with people, shoulder to shoulder. At a certain corner, Su Jingyao took advantage of the crowd and quietly disappeared into the throng.

Although Jun Zechen brought many guards with him when he came out, these guards were mainly responsible for protecting the Crown Prince's safety, so how could they keep a close eye on Su Jingyao at all times?

After she quietly left, she nimbly made her way through several turns to a secluded corner.

There was a carriage parked there that looked ordinary on the outside, but was actually incredibly luxurious inside.

The carriage was covered with luxurious and expensive carpets, and the table was set with fresh seasonal fruits, which emitted an enticing aroma.

When Li Jing saw her come in, he slowly got up and sat down to the side.

Su Jingyao glanced at Li Jing indifferently, then lazily half-reclined on the soft couch in the middle, her posture relaxed and comfortable, yet exuding an indescribable elegance.

"Master, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess will probably continue their stroll for a while. It will take some time before they realize you are gone and send someone to look for you."

"I will have people closely monitor their movements. Why don't you go to Mofeng Tower to rest first, Master?"

Originally, the master had told him to wait at Mofeng Tower, but Li Jin wanted to come and pick her up personally.

"Um."

Su Jingyao nodded slightly.

He then calmly instructed, "Send someone to closely monitor the movements of the Marquis of Wu'an's heir."

"Yes, Master."

Li Jing's gaze fell on Su Jingyao, filled with complex emotions.

He really didn't understand. His mistress was clearly a noble lady from the Su family. If she didn't want to be the Crown Prince's concubine, she would definitely have a way to resolve the situation.

However, the master took the initiative to step into the treacherous harem and became the crown prince's concubine.

Even as the mistress, she could choose to be the legitimate wife of any high-ranking family. So what if he was the crown prince? The mistress was qualified enough to be the crown princess.

According to the information he received, since his mistress married into the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince did not have much affection for her, but instead deeply loved the Crown Princess.

Even on important days like the Flower Festival, the Crown Prince accompanied the Crown Princess throughout.

Now, the master is probably gone, and the crown prince probably hasn't even noticed yet.

Li Jing is a tragic orphan who was saved by Su Jingyao by chance.

At that time, Li Jing was taken in by someone with malicious intent. His body was covered in wounds. Those who took him in wanted to gain the sympathy of some wealthy families in the capital. They left him covered in wounds in order to receive some meager reward money.

However, all of these pitiful reward money were ruthlessly stolen by the people who took him in.

Su Jingyao saved him purely by accident. Since she had saved him, she couldn't let it go to waste. So she decided to make him someone useful to her.

So, Su Jingyao spent some money to hire a professional tutor to teach Li Jing.

Li Jing showed a strong interest in business and medicine, and Su Jingyao went to great lengths to buy him many books on these topics.

These books were not easily bought in the Kingdom of Jun, but fortunately, her father was the head of the Kingdom's civil officials. With his power and status, she could easily find all kinds of precious books for Li Jing.

He even secretly invited many learned teachers to impart knowledge to him.

Li Jing was indeed exceptionally intelligent. He displayed extraordinary talent in business, while studying medicine was his passion. He was also diligent and hardworking, and did both of them quite well.

Su Jingyao trusted him enough to employ him without any reservations.

When they arrived at Mofeng Tower, Li Jing led Su Jingyao down a secret path he had opened, which led directly to the third floor of Mofeng Tower.

Su Jingyao stepped into her private room at Mofeng Tower, which was decorated with exquisite luxury, with every detail showcasing its extraordinary nature.

The landscape paintings hanging on the walls are lifelike, while the three-dimensional paintings made with top-notch embroidery techniques are even more exquisite, adding a touch of elegance to this private room.

Su Jingyao strolled to the inside of the private room and picked up a collection of poems.

This collection of poems records all the poems related to flowers in the country, thanks in large part to her father, a high-ranking official.

Because she had carefully copied this book from her father's study.

In the Kingdom of Jun, it is extremely difficult to read and study unless one is from a family with a profound heritage. Some precious books are even worth as much as gold.

The reason Su Jingyao took out this collection of poems to pass the time was naturally because she was going to participate in the traditional program of the Flower Festival, which was to play a game of flower drinking.

This was also part of her plan.

Su Jingyao reclined on the chaise lounge, holding a collection of poems in her hands, reading them carefully.

Although it was dark, the room was brightly lit by candlelight, illuminating every corner and preventing any feeling of darkness.

Li Jing sat to the side, his heart filled with a thousand words, yet he hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

Ever since his mistress married the crown prince, he had harbored doubts in his heart, but he had never had a suitable opportunity to ask her clearly.

Today, the master was finally able to leave the palace, and there was no one else with him.

After pondering for a moment, Li Jing slowly got up and walked towards Su Jingyao.

Su Jingyao was engrossed in the world of the book and didn't even lift her eyes before saying, "You're blocking my light."

In front of people who don't need to pretend, she is completely carefree.

Upon hearing this, Li Jing was slightly taken aback, and then he knelt down in front of her, shifting his body to let the light through so that it would no longer block her from reading.

Su Jingyao seemed used to his actions, not even lifting her eyelids, and continued reading the book in her hands.

"Why does my master want to marry the crown prince?"

Li Jing finally mustered up the courage to ask the question that had been lingering in his heart.

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao paused slightly in her hand as she turned the page, and casually asked, "Then who do you think I should marry?"

"As the master, even if she doesn't marry the crown prince, she can still be the principal wife of a king or general. Why should she marry the crown prince as a concubine?"

Li Jing's voice was urgent; in his heart, Su Jingyao was the most important person.

It was bad enough that she married the Crown Prince as a concubine, but the Crown Prince did not cherish her!

For this reason, Li Jing's aversion to the Crown Prince grew even stronger.

If his master was willing, he would kill the crown prince even at the cost of his own life to gain his master's freedom.

Su Jingyao slowly closed the book, sat up, and met Li Jing's gaze with indifferent eyes.

Su Jingyao raised her slender hand and gently stroked Li Jing's handsome face with the back of her hand, her movements gentle and intimate.

Li Jing's body trembled slightly, and an indescribable tremor surged in his heart.

"Li Jing, put away your unrealistic fantasies."

When Li Jing heard his master's merciless words, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, and the blood in his body seemed to freeze.

The master knew all along, and knew of his deep-seated, unspoken covetousness.

Li Jing lowered his eyes slightly, concealing the disappointment and pain in them.

"Master, I dare not have any illusions about you. I only wish you a smooth, peaceful and joyful life."

Even if the person by her side isn't him, it doesn't matter.

He only wished for her to be happy, even if that happiness had nothing to do with him.

"Li Jing, what I want is not an ordinary life. What I have always wanted is to reach the pinnacle, to become the empress, to become the empress dowager."

Therefore, being a concubine for a time is nothing; she will eventually become the noblest and most powerful woman in the kingdom.

"I don't care if Jun Zechen has someone he loves, I only care if he is the crown prince and the future emperor."

Su Jingyao's voice was as calm as an autumn lake, without the slightest ripple, but her eyes revealed determination and persistence.

Everyone needs a goal in life. A peaceful and happy life may be what many people dream of, but it is not what Su Jingyao longs for.

She was ambitious, wanting nothing more than to reach out and grasp the moon and hold the stars.

Li Jing raised his head and looked at Su Jingyao's face.

He felt a deep sadness in his heart, so... he could never have.

Su Jingyao met his gaze, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Will Li Jing help me?"

Her face was innocent and pure, like a masterpiece sculpted by heaven.

But Li Jing knew that beneath this beautiful exterior lay a heart full of calculation and ambition.

Even so, he would help her without hesitation as long as it was something she wanted and she asked for it.

"I will help you with everything you want, Master."

Li Jing's voice was firm as iron, and his eyes were filled with loyalty and protection.

From the moment he was picked up by Su Jingyao when he was only five years old, Li Jing had already decided that his life belonged only to Su Jingyao.

Upon hearing Li Jing's reply, Su Jingyao's lips curled into a wanton smile, like a poppy blooming in the night, beautiful yet dangerous.

"Li Jing is so good."

Her voice was as gentle as a breeze, yet it made Li Jing's heart skip a beat.

Su Jingyao lay back down on the chaise lounge and continued reading the book.

"Go out and come back in after you've found out about the Marquis of Wu'an's heir."

Her tone returned to its usual calm.

"Yes."

Li Jing responded softly, then turned and left the room.

-

Just past the halfway mark of the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), Li Jing walked in again.

"Master, the heir apparent of Marquis Wu'an, Si Nanyu, is currently on Linlang Street."

Su Jingyao put down the book in her hand, and Miaoyun quickly stepped forward to help her up and straighten her clothes.

"Let's go to Linlang Street."

Su Jingyao's voice carried a hint of anticipation, as she looked forward to Jun Zechen seeing her with another man.

Men are just shameless; if someone else is stealing something, even if it's a pile of shit, it smells good.

At this moment, Si Nanyu was casually strolling along Linlang Street with several young men and women. The soft light of the lanterns shone on the street, reflecting a bustling scene.

In the Kingdom of Jun, the separation between men and women is not so strict. On the Flower Festival, men and women can pledge their love to each other.

The reason Si Nanyu came out today is because these young men and women were all brought together by their elders, who hoped that they would take a liking to each other.

After all, they are all prominent families, so it would be good to marry into any of them.

However, Si Nanyu remained depressed and unhappy.

Ever since Su Jingyao was betrothed to the Crown Prince by His Majesty, his heart felt as if it had been torn apart, and he could never find peace with it.

Su Jingyao was clearly the woman he had long admired, the wife he had long considered.

If it weren't for the fact that Lady Wu'an, his mother, hadn't delayed proposing marriage, how could Su Jingyao have married the Crown Prince as a concubine?

She should have been his lawfully wedded wife, the Crown Prince's consort!

Memories flooded his mind like a tide. It was also during the Flower Festival that he fell in love with Su Jingyao at first sight. A fleeting glance made his heart sink for her.

After that, he tried every means to see Su Jingyao, even if it was just once.

However, the Su family has strict rules, and Su Jingyao never meets with men outside the family alone.

Therefore, he could only wait anxiously for the annual Flower Festival, hoping to bump into her by chance.

Even when Su Jingyao was with his brother or other members of the Su family, he would shamelessly stay behind, just to get closer to her.

Originally, he was looking forward to proposing marriage to Su Jingyao after her coming-of-age ceremony this year.

But now, everything has vanished, and his heart is filled with bitterness and helplessness.

Si Nanyu looked up dejectedly, and inadvertently glanced in a certain direction, where a stunningly beautiful figure suddenly came into view.

The figure behind him was graceful and alluring, seemingly possessing a mysterious allure. He rubbed his eyes, unable to believe his eyes, wondering if he was seeing things.

The moment the woman suddenly looked up, he saw her profile clearly. Even though she was wearing a veil, he could clearly recognize her as Su Jingyao, the woman he had been longing for.

One of the young masters beside Si Nanyu noticed his unusual behavior and asked with concern, "Young Master, what's wrong?"

Si Nanyu suddenly woke up from his dream and came to his senses.

"It's nothing. I have other matters to attend to today, so I won't keep you company. You may continue your stroll."

After saying that, he ignored the reactions of the young men and women around him and chased after Su Jingyao.

His eyes followed her intently, as if afraid of losing her in the crowded throng.

Su Jingyao knew that the fish had taken the bait, so she led Miaoyun and Miaoxue forward at a leisurely pace.

Her graceful figure stood out in the crowd, as if everything around her was merely a backdrop.

At the end of Linlang Street stands a Bodhi tree that has weathered over a century of wind and rain. Every year during the Flower Festival, many people hang five-colored paper on its branches, a custom known as "appreciating the red flowers."

To admire the red blossoms on the Bodhi tree in Linlang Street, one must play a game of flower-themed drinking games, and only the winner can be qualified to admire them.

Su Jingyao walked towards her destination at a leisurely pace, her steps light and steady, neither making Si Nanyu feel that she was deliberately trying to lure him in, nor failing to subtly control the distance between them so that he would lose track of her.

When she arrived at the Bodhi tree, a large crowd had already gathered there.

There is a platform in the middle under the Bodhi tree. If you want to admire the red flowers on the Bodhi tree, you need to go up on the platform and play a game of flower-themed drinking games. You have to win three rounds in a row to succeed.

Su Jingyao stood in the crowd, her expectant eyes fixed on the stage, her gaze sparkling with longing and anticipation.

Just then, Si Nanyu quietly appeared behind her, pushing through the crowd.

"Miss Su, what are you doing here?"

Su Jingyao's heart skipped a beat when she heard the familiar male voice, and she slowly turned her head.

Upon seeing Si Nanyu, a look of surprise appeared on her face, and a hint of panic flashed in her beautiful eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Young Master Si?"

"How was Miss Su able to come out?"

Once a woman marries into the royal family, she is no longer free and may never be able to leave the palace for the rest of her life. Moreover, since she has no crown prince by her side, how did she manage to get out?

Su Jingyao naturally understood the meaning behind his words. Their identities should not be exposed, so her reply was also rather veiled.

"My husband and I came out together."

She lowered her head, her long eyelashes trembling, concealing the disappointment in her eyes.

"Then why is Miss Su alone?"

Seeing her dejected expression, Si Nanyu felt a dull ache in his heart. Was she not doing well in the Eastern Palace?

"My husband is with my sister, and I didn't want to disturb them, so I came out by myself."

Su Jingyao's voice was soft, tinged with sadness, as if she had endless grievances in her heart.

But then she looked up at the stage, her face regaining its previous anticipation.

"Every year I come to the Bodhi tree to admire the red leaves. This year I will still hang up paper offerings to pray for my father, mother, and brother."

Her face wore a genuine smile, as if all her worries and sorrows had already left her behind.

But in Si Nanyu's view, her feigned strength only made her more pitiful.

The palace is a place that devours people without spitting out their bones, and she still has to be loved by her husband, so how much care should she have?

On such an important day as the Flower Festival, the Crown Prince actually abandoned her and spent time with his Crown Princess.

"Although Miss Su's status is different now, your brother and I have always been close friends. How about we accompany Miss Su to play a flower-reciting game and appreciate the beauty of the red blossoms today?"

Si Nanyu looked at Su Jingyao with eyes full of expectation and concern.

Su Jingyao hesitated for a moment. She looked at Si Nanyu, then at the stage, feeling conflicted, but still declined.

"Young Master Si, there's no need. I can go up on stage and perform the flower game by myself. My status is different now, so it's best not to cause you any trouble."

This game of flower-themed drinking games involves two people competing against each other, or rather, two teams competing against each other, but each team can have a maximum of two people. This rule was originally set up for couples in love.

Su Jingyao would never go on stage so intimately with a man in public.

-

Meanwhile, Jun Zechen and Ling Yue strolled through the bustling flower market.

Ling Yue's eyes sparkled as she gazed with delight at the exquisitely cut and packaged bouquets of flowers.

An Shun followed closely behind the two, buying things that Ling Yue liked from time to time.

While feeling bored, Jun Zechen glanced behind him casually, but did not see Su Jingyao.

He frowned and immediately asked, "Anshun, where is the Second Madam?"

Jun Zechen's voice revealed a worry that even he himself couldn't perceive.

When An Shun heard the prince's question, his heart skipped a beat, and he immediately became nervous and looked back.

Wasn't the concubine following behind us the whole time? How come she suddenly disappeared?

"Sir, I'll send someone to look for them." Anshun's voice trembled slightly.

Just as Jun Zechen was about to lose his temper, Ling Yue overheard their conversation and her expression changed slightly.

He then stepped forward, a smile on his face, and said, "Aze, my sister said she's tired and wants to go back to Zuixiao Tower first. Let's stroll around some more."

Ling Yue knew in her heart that Su Jingyao must not want to disturb them, which was why she secretly left.

She felt a little happy, because when Su Jingyao was behind him, Jun Zechen would always look back from time to time, which made her feel a little uncomfortable.

When did she tell you?

Jun Zechen looked at Ling Yue suspiciously; how come he didn't know?

"There were a lot of people just now, and Miaoyun, who is with my sister, came to report it. Aze, don't worry too much. Let's continue shopping. I want to try on the fairy dresses sold at the flower market ahead. I've never seen them before."

The overall design of the flower fairy dress is very dynamic and flowing, with each flower design being unique, making it both beautiful and ethereal.

Jun Zechen looked at the dresses, but his mind was still on Su Jingyao. He reluctantly believed Ling Yue's words and continued shopping with her.

In less than half an hour, Jun Zechen felt somewhat tired.

"Yue'er, let's go back to Zuixiao Tower and rest for a while, then we'll set off back."

Ling Yue hadn't had enough of the sightseeing yet. The night market during the Flower Festival was supposed to last until 3 AM, but it was only halfway through 7 PM.

But she could also tell that Jun Zechen was a little tired, and they had almost finished exploring the bustling street.

Let's go back now. Go back to the palace, wash up, and rest. It's about time.

Zuixiao Tower.

Jun Zechen's face was terribly gloomy, and the entire Zuixiao Tower seemed to be shrouded in a layer of ice.

"Yue'er, didn't you say she went back to Zuixiao Tower early? Where is she?"

Jun Zechen asked in a deep voice with a stern face.

This was the first time Ling Yue had ever seen him with such a terrible expression.

She only knew that Su Jingyao had asked her to cover for her, but she didn't know where she had gone.

The reason why Ling Yue said that Su Jingyao had returned to Zuixiao Tower was simply because Ling Yue believed that Su Jingyao would definitely be there when she and the Crown Prince returned.

Where else could she go?

"Aze, my sister said she didn't want to bother us, so she left alone. I just didn't know she didn't go back to Zuixiao Tower..."

Ling Yue's voice carried a hint of grievance.

Jun Zechen rudely interrupted her.

"So, he was a woman, all alone, without any guards, and spent the better part of an hour outside?"

Ling Yue was startled by Jun Zechen's tone.

She didn't know why Jun Zechen was so angry. Was he really that worried about Su Jingyao?

The capital city is right under the emperor's nose, what danger could there be?

"Aze, my sister has two maids with her. Those two maids have some martial arts skills, so they shouldn't be in any danger."

Ling Yue tried to explain, but Jun Zechen's face remained gloomy, and a sense of oppression was overwhelming, especially in Anshun, who felt it most keenly.

The Crown Prince's anger was about to erupt. If it weren't for the Crown Princess making this mistake today, she would have been punished by the Crown Prince long ago.

Anshun stood trembling to the side, trying his best to minimize his presence.

"Anshun, take men and go look for them."

"Yes."

Anshun dared not delay in the slightest and immediately led his secret guards and the guards from the Crown Prince's residence to begin the search.

Jun Zechen calmed his anger and said to Ling Yue, "Yue'er, you should go back to the palace first. I will have someone escort you back."

"No, Aze, I'll wait for your news at Lingxiao Tower. I won't be at ease until my sister returns safely," Ling Yue said firmly.

Jun Zechen nodded, then walked out without saying a word.

Ling Yue stared blankly at Jun Zechen's retreating figure. She had never seen Jun Zechen so terrifying before, as if he were about to devour her.

Is he really that worried about Su Jingyao? Ling Yue asked herself again.