Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Beside a secluded corner.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" A palace maid asked softly, bending slightly at the waist, her face full of concern.

"The drought in Jincheng has been really bad lately. My hometown is Jincheng, sob sob."

The second palace maid covered her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably, and she wept bitterly.

"Don't worry too much. Wasn't the First Prince sent to Jincheng by His Majesty? If it were serious, why would His Majesty send the First Prince there?"

The first palace maid gently patted the second palace maid's back and softly comforted her.

"I haven't received any letters from home for a while. The last time I received one, I heard that not only were bandits rampant in Jincheng, but there was also a plague and dysentery outbreak. I don't know how my family is doing now, sob sob."

The second palace maid sobbed and cried, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls.

"Everyone says that His Majesty's favorite and most valued son is the eldest prince. If the situation in Jincheng were really as serious as you say, why would His Majesty send the eldest prince there?" The palace maid said with a slight frown and a firm gaze.

"I heard that the First Prince hasn't returned for several days either, but His Majesty has been keeping it from the Empress. Perhaps the First Prince has already..."

The second palace maid hesitated as she spoke, her voice trembling.

On the way back to Kunning Palace, Jun Jiayue, who was in a good mood, froze on the spot when she heard the two palace maids talking.

She then angrily rebuked them, "What nonsense are you spouting? My eldest brother is in the capital; how could he possibly be in Chengdu!"

Jun Jiayue had heard her mother mention that recently the ladies of the harem had been cutting back on expenses to pray for Jincheng, and she had also heard her mother mention the dangers facing Jincheng.

But she was completely unaware that her eldest brother had gone to Jincheng.

Two palace maids who were whispering with their backs to the princess heard her voice and turned pale with fright. Without turning their heads or paying their respects to the princess, they ran away in a flash.

Jun Jiayue had never seen a palace maid so disrespectful to her. She was so angry that she stomped her feet, wanting to shout at her and have someone arrest her. However, she had come out secretly today and no one was with her.

She was both angry and anxious, her face scrunched up. "Damn it, I haven't even seen what these two palace maids look like yet."

The two palace maids ran away extremely quickly and soon disappeared from Princess Ruixi's sight.

As they turned a corner in a secluded spot, a eunuch appeared.

"You two did a great job, this is a reward for you."

The eunuch, with a sinister smile on his face, secretly passed something to two palace maids.

The two palace maids immediately beamed with joy, their eyes shining. "Thank you, sir."

"Keep your mouths shut. If you get caught, no one can protect you." The eunuch lowered his voice, his eyes filled with threat.

"Yes, sir." The two palace maids nodded repeatedly, their faces full of flattery.

Back at Kunning Palace, Jun Jiayue felt an overwhelming fear when she thought of her eldest brother being in such a dangerous place in Jincheng. Her eyes quickly filled with tears, which welled up as if they were about to burst forth at any moment.

She trotted into the hall with her short legs.

"Mother, Mother, sob, your son wants to see my eldest brother, sob."

Sobbing, Jun Jiayue ran towards her mother, looking like a frightened fawn desperately seeking comfort.

Su Jingyao was sitting on the couch when she heard Jun Jiayue crying. She was surprised and her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

What's wrong with this little devil today? Who else in the palace could make her suffer such injustice?

"Ning'an, why are you crying?"

Su Jingyao reached out and gently pulled Jun Jiayue to her side, asking softly.

"Mother, I miss my eldest brother. May I have him dine at Kunning Palace?"

Jun Jiayue clutched Su Jingyao's sleeve tightly, her face streaked with tears, her moist eyes filled with longing.

"Your eldest brother is currently involved in government affairs and is very busy. Ning'an cannot act willfully, understand?"

Su Jingyao gently patted Jun Jiayue's head and spoke patiently.

"But I just heard that my eldest brother went to Jincheng. Yesterday, Mother said that Jincheng was suffering from a severe drought and was rife with disease. I don't want my eldest brother to go there, sob sob."

Jun Jiayue's voice was choked with sobs, and her body trembled slightly.

She was genuinely afraid that her eldest brother would be in danger. She didn't want him to get sick; she missed him.

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao's eyes darkened instantly, and her expression became serious.

She gently wiped away Jun Jiayue's tears and comforted her softly.

"How could your eldest brother go to such a dangerous place? Someone must be spreading rumors. Where did Ning'an hear that from?"

"Your subject..."

Jun Jiayue then remembered that she had secretly run away from the palace servants without their knowledge, and hesitated for a moment, her little head drooping.

When Jun Jiayue saw her mother's expression suddenly freeze, she panicked.

He hurriedly admitted his mistake: "Mother, I made a mistake today. I ran away from home and on my way back I overheard two palace maids whispering about it."

"Mother, please don't be angry. Your son will never do such a thing again."

Her voice was choked with sobs, and she clutched Su Jingyao's clothes with her little hands, looking pitifully at her mother.

"Does Ning'an know which palace those two palace maids belong to?" Su Jingyao asked seriously.

"Your subject did not see their faces, and they were both very unruly. Upon hearing your subject's voice, they not only failed to bow but also ran away."

Jun Jiayue's little face was puffed up with anger, filled with resentment.

"It's alright, they're all wrong. It's time for dinner, let's eat."

Su Jingyao took Jun Jiayue's hand and prepared to have a meal. However, in the instant she turned around, her eyes met Miaoyun's. Her eyes held a complex mix of emotions, some of which were hard to decipher, as well as a hint of ruthlessness.

Has she been too lenient with the women in her harem all these years?

Miaoyun naturally understood her master's thoughts. She nodded slightly and then hurriedly left.

The entire Kunning Palace was kept in the dark about the Crown Prince's trip to Jincheng. Either the Crown Prince didn't go at all, or His Majesty intentionally kept the news under wraps.

If Miaoyun wanted to find out the truth of the matter, she had no choice but to inquire with people outside the palace.

When Miaoyun returned, Su Jingyao had already gone to great lengths to coax Jun Jiayue back to her own palace.

After all, she is only eight years old and has a simple mind. A little coaxing can quickly make her forget her troubles.

However, Su Jingyao felt very heavy-hearted. She frowned and her unease grew stronger. Perhaps the news Ning An brought was correct!

"Your Majesty, the First Prince was sent to Jincheng a month ago, and ten days ago, all correspondence with the capital was completely cut off."

Miaoyun's voice trembled as she struggled to deliver the news to her master.

Because she knew all too well how much her mistress valued the eldest prince, Miaoyun couldn't even imagine how devastated her mistress would be if something happened to him.

Su Jingyao pursed her lips, which were slightly pale, and clenched her fists tightly in her sleeves, trying her best to control her surging emotions.

"Go to Qianqing Palace." Her voice was icy.

She needed to know whether her son had truly been missing for ten days or whether the father and son had set a trap.

Su Jingyao took a deep breath. She couldn't panic or lose her composure.

However, before she could even step out of the palace gate, Jun Zechen strode in.

Seeing that she looked like she was about to leave, he raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of surprise, "Yaoyao is going out?"

"I originally wanted to go to the Qianqing Palace to see His Majesty, but since His Majesty has come, there's no need to go." Su Jingyao's expression was calm, and her tone was indifferent.

Hearing her say that, Jun Zechen felt somewhat comforted, but he did not notice anything unusual about her. He took her hand and walked towards the warm pavilion.

He teased, "Why did you decide to come to the Qianqing Palace to see me? Don't you like this big bed in the Kunning Palace?"

Su Jingyao had no time for flirting with him; her brows were furrowed.

"Your Majesty, I haven't seen Xingxing for a month and I miss him. Please summon him now."

Upon hearing this, Jun Zechen's smile froze instantly, and he became somewhat flustered.

"Now? Isn't it getting a bit late? Xingxing has a lot of court affairs to attend to and study these days. I'll have him come to Kunning Palace to see you when he has some free time."

His eyes darted around as he spoke, avoiding direct eye contact with Su Jingyao.

"It's alright. If he's busy, I can go see him. It's just that I'm feeling uneasy today and won't feel at ease if I don't see him."

Jun Zechen was silent for a moment, unsure how to continue his lie, as he had never been good at it.

"Yaoyao, Xingxing is alright...he..."

Su Jingyao had been subtly probing Jun Zechen ever since he entered, but his slightly flustered reply instantly ignited her anger, making her completely lose control of her temper.

"Xingxing went to Jincheng, right?"

Su Jingyao abruptly interrupted Jun Zechen, her beautiful eyes flashing with anger.

Jun Zechen was stunned for a moment, and then he thought to himself, "This is bad. How did she know?"

His heart sank. Seeing the serious look in her eyes, Jun Zechen knew he couldn't hide it anymore. He nodded helplessly, "Mm."

"Has Xingxing really been missing for ten days?"

Su Jingyao's eyes widened, her voice trembled, and her face instantly turned ashen.

Su Jingyao knew that becoming an emperor required going through many trials, but she simply couldn't accept Xingxing going through such a life-or-death ordeal.

She knew all too well the perilous situation Jincheng was in. Even with Xingxing protected by others, accidents could happen at any moment in a place ravaged by disease.

Moreover, everyone is now eyeing Prince Xingxing with covetous intent. If someone were to plot against him, Su Jingyao dared not even imagine the terrible consequences.

Xingxing is only ten years old!

Tears welled up in Su Jingyao's eyes, and her heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer.

She has always been selfish. In her heart, even if Xingxing does not grow into the outstanding person she expects, she will still put the throne in front of Xingxing.

Xingxing was her first child, and she gave him most of her love without reservation.

However, this love was not purely selfless; it was mixed with her intense selfish desires.

Su Jingyao never asked Xingxing if he wanted to be emperor. From a young age, she subtly made Xingxing accept the responsibility that she, as his mother, imposed on him, driving him to move firmly toward that supreme throne.

He was forced to study hard, and he never had a happy childhood. Xingxing never disappointed her mother's expectations.

Therefore, she not only had a deep love for the stars, but also felt guilty.

"Yaoyao, you must trust Xingxing. He will handle everything. This is a test I have given him."

"Snapped!"

A crisp slap echoed suddenly in the hall, the sound seemingly capable of shattering hearts.

"If anything happens to Xingxing, I will never forgive you!"

Jun Zechen froze for a moment, as if his whole body had been frozen in place.

An Shun, who had been keeping his head down, just wanted to minimize his presence; his heart was in his throat.

Good heavens! The Empress actually slapped His Majesty?!

When Jun Zechen came to his senses, he pursed his lips tightly. This was probably the first time in his life that he had been hit.

He pressed the tip of his tongue against his slapped cheek, his dark eyes fixed on her. She was becoming more and more lawless!

Su Jingyao didn't know if she was so angry that her emotions were extremely unstable or for some other reason, but she suddenly felt a strong nausea and wanted to vomit.

She couldn't hold it in any longer, bent over, covered her mouth, and tried to vomit, but nothing came out.

Jun Zechen completely forgot his anger and suddenly panicked, "Yaoyao, what's wrong?"

Su Jingyao's legs suddenly went weak, her vision went black, and she fainted.

Jun Zechen quickly reached out, put his arm around her waist, and lifted her up. "Go and summon the imperial physician!"