Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Shui Ning Palace.

At this moment, Miaoxia and Granny Lin anxiously gathered around the bed.

Miaoxia held a warm handkerchief in her hand, wiping away the cold sweat that kept pouring from her master's forehead with gentle yet urgent movements.

"Your Highness, Miaoyun has already gone to invite His Highness. The imperial physician will be here soon. Please bear with it."

Lin Mama whispered words of comfort to her, her face full of worry, her brows furrowed, and her eyes never daring to leave her mistress for a moment.

The woman on the bed was deathly pale, curled up with her head in her hands, occasionally hitting her head, her eyes tightly closed, her teeth clenched, in so much pain that she couldn't even speak.

Jun Zechen was stunned by the scene before him as soon as he entered.

His gaze instantly turned serious.

They were fine when I left, how did they suddenly become like this?

When Miaoxia and Granny Lin saw His Highness the Crown Prince enter, they hurriedly paid their respects and then quickly made way for him.

Jun Zechen quickly walked to the bedside and sat down, tightly holding Su Jingyao's hand, who was hitting his head, to prevent her from hurting herself anymore.

He then carefully helped her up, held her in his arms, and reached out to gently massage her temples, his fingers applying slight pressure.

Having practiced martial arts for many years, Jun Zechen's internal energy emanated continuously from his fingertips, making Su Jingyao feel much more comfortable, and her tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.

He just kept his eyes closed, looking as if he was not fully conscious.

"What happened?"

Seeing that Su Jingyao's pain had lessened, Jun Zechen breathed a slight sigh of relief and turned to ask Miaoxia.

"Your Highness, after Your Highness left, the master was unable to sleep. Miaoyue then brought the master a calming soup that had been kept warm. Fifteen minutes after drinking it, the master began to vomit, and then gradually developed a headache."

Miaoxia answered with her head down.

"Did your master drink this calming soup today?"

Is there poison in the calming soup?

"My master usually drinks a bowl of calming soup or beauty-enhancing soup every day, but today..."

Miaoxia's voice grew softer and softer as she hesitated, unsure how to begin.

"What's wrong today?"

Jun Zechen's eyes sharpened.

"Today, Your Highness went to Huamei Residence, and since then, you haven't been in the mood for any soup or dishes. You didn't drink this calming soup either, so Miaoyue has been keeping it warm."

Miaoxia bit her lip, mustered her courage, and finished speaking in one breath.

As the Crown Prince's concubine, such behavior is a sign of jealousy and envy, and should not be spoken aloud.

Jun Zechen's brow twitched suddenly.

When he came to Shui Ning Palace after leaving Hua Mei Residence, the woman was still openly playing cards, showing no signs of headache at all.

Jun Zechen thought she was acting recklessly because she was taking advantage of his favor.

After all, she didn't even bother to pretend when she sprained her ankle during the Flower Festival last time.

Furthermore, since this wasn't the first time Su Jingyao had sent people to other palaces to invite him away, Jun Zechen had no suspicions whatsoever.

They even thought she was smarter this time, knowing to just send any palace servant to invite her, so that even if the Empress Dowager investigated, pushing away an insignificant palace servant wouldn't cause any loss.

But now it seems that's not the case?

"Did your master send someone to Huamei Residence today to invite me to see her?"

Jun Zechen asked in a deep voice.

At this moment, Granny Lin spoke up: "Your Highness, when the master learned that you went to Huamei Residence today, he was in a bad mood and did not drink the calming soup. Later, Miaoxia played cards with the master to amuse him."

As she spoke, Granny Lin observed Jun Zechen's expression.

"Usually, if Your Highness doesn't come to Shui Ning Palace, Master can concentrate on reading, but tonight Master can't concentrate on reading either..."

Then, Granny Lin knelt down with a thud. "Your Highness, Master may have a bit of a temper, but he would never be so unruly as to deceive you! Master did not order anyone to go to Huamei Residence to invite Your Highness tonight!"

So the reason Su Jingyao admitted that she did it was because he didn't believe her, so she simply admitted it.

Jun Zechen couldn't describe his feelings at that moment; it was indeed his preconceived notion.

He looked down at the pale-faced woman in his arms, and his heart clenched.

She was still young and straightforward in her words and actions. When she first explained that the Crown Princess had framed her, he should have believed her.

"Go to Huamei Residence today and invite my palace maids in."

Jun Zechen's voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth.

As Miaoxia turned to leave, the anxious expression on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold smile.

With a cold sneer, he thought, "If you hurt your master, you can't escape unscathed. So what if the Crown Princess is behind you?"

Soon, Miaoxia brought Qingzhi in.

Aokiji was already terrified because of his mission to invite His Highness tonight, and he tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. When he was suddenly summoned, he was even more frightened and his heart was filled with fear.

"This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Her voice trembled violently, and she knelt on the ground, shaking uncontrollably.

Jun Zechen didn't wake her up or say anything, but his large hand continued to gently massage Su Jingyao's temples.

Aokiji knelt on the ground, head down, not daring to look up at His Highness's expression. However, when he came in, he caught a glimpse of the concubine's pale face.

What's wrong?

She was terrified. The unknown outcome made her hands tremble uncontrollably, and her body trembled slightly as well.

Having reigned as emperor for decades, Jun Zechen was a master of psychological warfare. When interrogating someone, he naturally chose to do so when their psychological defenses were at their weakest. Therefore, he remained silent, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

After a short while, Anshun hurriedly entered with Physician Li.

"Your Highness, this humble subject pays your respects."

Physician Li bowed respectfully, looking slightly tired.

"Come and see why the concubine has a headache."

Jun Zechen's eyes never left Su Jingyao for a moment.

Imperial Physician Li was on night duty at the Imperial Hospital when Anshun hurriedly pulled him from his bed. He was terrified the whole way, thinking something terrible had happened to the Crown Prince, but it turned out to be a concubine.

However, he dared not complain at all. He quickly picked up his medicine box and walked to the bedside. Then he took out a silk handkerchief and placed it on the concubine's slender wrist, and began to carefully take her pulse.

Physician Li frowned, his expression growing increasingly grave.

An increased pulse rate and rapid heartbeat are not good.

Then, he asked in detail about the concubine's symptoms, what she had eaten, and what she had drunk.

Miaoxia dared not be negligent in the slightest and answered in detail.

"Bring me the calming soup so I can take a look," Physician Li said solemnly.

Miaoxia quickly brought it over, and Physician Li dipped his finger in it and gently put it in his mouth to try it.

Then, his expression became more serious. "Your Highness, this calming soup contains oleander juice."

"If the concubine drank this, it's normal for her to have a headache. Fortunately, she didn't drink much. Oleander juice is poisonous, and drinking too much would be extremely dangerous."

Upon hearing the words "oleander," Miaoxia's eyes flashed with anger, and she immediately reported to Jun Zechen: "Your Highness, it is currently the season when oleanders are in full bloom. The master likes the beautiful scenery of oleanders in full bloom, so he had the flower room send over quite a few."

"However, the palace servants in the flower room repeatedly warned that this flower was only for viewing and should never be eaten. I never expected that someone in the Shui Ning Palace would use this flower to plot against their master."

"Aokiji, you tended these flowers, and you were the one who started the fire and watched over this calming soup. Was it you who plotted to harm your master?!"

Miaoxia suddenly turned to Qingzhi and angrily rebuked him, her eyes seeming to spit fire.

Aokiji trembled as she looked up, her face filled with terror. "This servant has never harmed my master. This servant has done nothing. This was not done by this servant."

He kept kowtowing as he spoke, his forehead hitting the ground with a "thump" sound, and soon it became red and swollen.

She was only following the Crown Princess's orders to go to Huamei Residence to ask His Highness to leave; she knew nothing else. Could it be that the Crown Princess had sent someone to poison the concubine?

Does the Crown Princess want her to be a scapegoat?

Jun Zechen completely ignored Aokiji's terrified pleas for mercy.

"Imperial Physician Li, please prescribe medicine for the concubine first; she has a terrible headache."

Jun Zechen didn't dare to loosen his hand on her temple for a moment. If he loosened his hand even slightly, she would show a look of pain, which made his heart clench.

"Yes."

However, Imperial Physician Li hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself. "Your Highness, the concubine..."

"What happened to the concubine?"

Jun Zechen couldn't stand the way these imperial physicians stammered, and his irritation grew stronger, causing him to raise his voice.

"It seems the concubine has contraceptive drugs in her system," Physician Li said, forcing himself to speak.

"What did you say?"

Jun Zechen practically squeezed each word out through clenched teeth.

For more than three months since she entered the Eastern Palace, Jun Zechen had only favored her. He originally thought that she was still young and that pregnancy depended on fate, so he never suspected anything else.

but!

Could it be that she was given contraceptive drugs after entering the Eastern Palace?

So you've never been pregnant?

who is it?

Ling Yue has been targeting Su Jingyao ever since she entered the East Palace. She is swift and decisive, and has taken charge of the internal affairs of the East Palace. Only Ling Yue has the opportunity and the purpose to do so.

"Anshun, investigate thoroughly. Check all of the concubine's personal belongings in Shui Ning Palace to find out why she has contraceptive drugs in her body."

Jun Zechen's voice was so cold it seemed to freeze the surrounding air.

"Your Highness, the concubine doesn't have much contraceptive in her body, but judging from her pulse, she has been taking it for some time."

Physician Li continued cautiously.

Jun Zechen's face grew increasingly gloomy, his lips remained tightly pressed together, and he did not speak.

"Your Highness, I will first prepare some medicine to relieve the concubine's headache and to counteract the oleander poisoning."

After speaking, Physician Li hurriedly withdrew.

Jun Zechen then turned his icy gaze to Qingzhi.

"Anshun, take the man to the Censorate and torture him severely. Don't let him die until he spills some information."

Although he kept saying he wouldn't let anyone die, the way he looked at Aokiji was as if he were looking at a dead man.

"Your Highness, spare me! Your Highness, spare me! I know nothing! I never poisoned the concubine!"

Aokiji cried out in a hoarse voice, his voice shrill and desperate, his terrified eyes seeming to beg for a last shred of pity.

She struggled desperately, trying to break free from the eunuch's grip.

Anshun simply raised his hand and gestured expressionlessly. Several strong eunuchs quickly stepped forward, grabbed Qingzhi tightly, and dragged her away without any mercy.

Not to mention His Highness's current frustration and anger, An Shun's mood has become quite irritable after all this back and forth late at night.

This palace maid is probably completely ruined.

The medicine from Physician Li was brought up shortly afterward. Jun Zechen helped Su Jingyao up and personally fed her the medicine.

Seeing that her headache had subsided and her complexion had gradually become rosy, I finally felt much relieved.

Su Jingyao was not actually unconscious; she had just drunk some oleander juice, which caused her to feel dizzy and lightheaded, so she could only keep her eyes closed.

After drinking the herbal medicine, I felt my eyes slowly opening.

Seeing that she had opened her eyes, Jun Zechen asked softly, "How are you? Does it still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you, Your Highness, for summoning the imperial physician for me. I wish to rest."

Su Jingyao remained indifferent, her eyelashes lowered. Without looking at Jun Zechen, she broke free from his embrace and lay down.

"I'll stay with you tonight."

Jun Zechen's voice softened considerably.

"Your Highness, there's no need to force yourself. I won't be unreasonable. Your Highness should go back to Yude Palace and rest well."

Su Jingyao's tone was cold and distant.

Jun Zechen knew she was sulking. It was normal for a young girl to be a little temperamental after being wronged. He sighed helplessly in his heart.

Jun Zechen took off his outer robe and lay down as well. The two faced each other and looked at each other. Su Jingyao was unwilling and did not want to see him. She was about to turn around when Jun Zechen reached out and stopped her.

"Why admit to sending someone to invite me away?" Jun Zechen's gaze was deep.

Having regained some strength, Su Jingyao glared at him with her beautiful eyes, refusing to back down: "It was I who did it!"

"Your Highness has already punished me. Since I have been confined to my quarters for three days, Your Highness should not break the rules by coming to Shui Ning Palace."

Su Jingyao's words were clearly tinged with resentment.

"Since I can't have children anyway, Your Highness should go to the new sisters' place."

Su Jingyao's voice was filled with self-mockery. Her once beautiful face was now full of sorrow, her eyes were red, and tears were welling up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

When Jun Zechen heard her say the words "cannot have children," he felt as if his heart had been struck by a heavy hammer, and he was heartbroken.

He never expected Ling Yue to be so ruthless. Su Jingyao was only fifteen years old and had only been in the Eastern Palace for three months, yet she was given contraceptive drugs.

Jun Zechen felt a pang of heartache and quickly pulled the person into his arms to comfort him, his voice gentle.

"My dear, I will investigate this matter thoroughly, and Physician Li will certainly take good care of your health. How could Jiaojiao not be able to have children?"

His eyes were full of tenderness, and he gently rested his chin on the top of her head, stroking it softly, trying to soothe her inner pain and unease.