Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Kunning Palace.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Ling Yue bowed slightly, her voice soft and melodious, her posture respectful and humble.

The Empress sat on her high seat, looking down at Ling Yue with a detached gaze, and felt that Ling Yue seemed to have become more and more gentle and dignified.

"Rise, sit down."

The Empress gently raised her hand, her tone neither hurried nor slow.

"What brings the Crown Princess to see me at this hour?"

The Empress sat regally on her phoenix throne, her posture dignified and majestic. The palace maid beside her was very perceptive and immediately began to serve tea.

"Mother, I may not be able to continue learning how to manage the affairs of the Eastern Palace from you for some time."

Ling Yue raised her head, her eyes dim and filled with disappointment.

"Oh? What happened?"

The Empress raised an eyebrow slightly, a look of confusion on her face.

"The Empress Dowager should also know that last time, when the prince went to Huamei Residence to visit Consort Lin, the maid Qingzhi asked the prince to leave on the grounds that the concubine had a headache."

The Empress nodded slightly; she knew, of course.

Now I really can't understand her son anymore. When he liked the Crown Princess, he married her without hesitation and didn't take any concubines for two years. The Empress thought he liked the Crown Princess very much.

However, after marrying a concubine, he has been doting on her exclusively for the past few months.

The Crown Princess was neglected. It was unclear whether it was because she had fallen out of favor and thus began to care about the power in the Eastern Palace, visiting Kunning Palace almost every few days, or whether her focus on palace power had caused the Crown Prince to dislike her.

Thinking of these things, the Empress frowned and secretly grumbled to herself.

Her son calls him a romantic, because every time he likes a woman, he's devoted to her, but once that initial infatuation wears off, he can fall for the next one. It's really hard to understand him.

"Indeed, the concubine was in the wrong in this matter."

The Empress narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression indifferent, her tone calm and unperturbed.

"No, Mother, His Highness said that the concubine does not admit to sending Qingzhi to Huamei Residence."

Ling Yue quickly shook her head.

"So Your Highness had Aokiji arrested and taken to the Imperial Prison for interrogation, but... but Aokiji said that I was the one who ordered everything."

Ling Yue's voice was clearly choked with emotion as she spoke.

The Empress frowned deeply, her expression growing increasingly grave.

"What evidence has the Crown Prince produced?"

"No, it's just that... the Crown Prince found contraceptive drugs in Qingzhi's body, and the concubine's body also showed traces of having taken contraceptive drugs for a period of time, as diagnosed by Imperial Physician Li."

Ling Yue sniffed, trying to keep her voice steady.

Upon hearing the word "contraception," the Empress's face instantly turned furious.

"How dare you!"

She roared, her eyes filled with authority and anger.

Seeing the Empress's anger, Ling Yue quickly got up and knelt down.

"Your Majesty, I know that before the new concubine entered the Eastern Palace, there were only me and the concubine in the Eastern Palace. Therefore, I was the most suspicious person. However, I really did not give the concubine any contraceptive drugs, and Your Highness did not find any evidence that Qingzhi had any connection with me."

Ling Yue's voice trembled, her face full of sincerity.

"I am now speechless and Your Highness has taken away my power to manage the affairs of the Eastern Palace. I can only wait for Your Highness to find out the truth and clear my name."

Ling Yue raised her head, her eyes firm and clear, looking upright and honest.

Having ruled the harem for so many years, the women in the harem were all adept at deception. She never readily believed anyone's one-sided words, only looking at conclusive evidence.

However, it is unfair and undermines the Crown Prince's authority to remove the Crown Princess's power without any evidence.

Does he intend to let everyone know that the Crown Prince is infatuated with women and punishes the Crown Princess without cause?

Thinking of this, the Empress felt genuinely dissatisfied with the Crown Prince's actions.

The royal family values ​​face above all else!

However, since the Crown Prince has already made this decision, the Empress naturally has to protect his reputation.

"Princess Consort, please rise. The Crown Prince's actions were probably not for the sake of his concubine, but for the sake of the imperial heir. Giving women contraceptives is truly despicable. It's understandable that he would be cautious."

The Empress slightly raised her hand and spoke with a calmer expression.

Upon hearing the Empress's words, Ling Yue slowly rose, her movements somewhat unsteady, and sat back down in her seat.

"Your Majesty is right. I do not resent Your Highness taking back power, nor do I care. My only wish is for the best for His Highness the Crown Prince."

Ling Yue nodded slightly, her gaze sincere and firm, her expression gentle and compliant.

"However, the effects of the contraceptive medicine in the concubine's body have not yet been completely eliminated, and Imperial Physician Li is still treating her. But His Highness has never stepped into the other sisters' chambers, this..."

Ling Yue bit her lip lightly, her brows furrowed slightly, and a troubled look appeared on her face.

"As the Crown Princess, many of my younger sisters have asked me about this matter during their morning greetings. I don't know what to do, so I can only ask Your Majesty for a decision."

Ling Yue's tone was filled with helplessness and worry as she looked at the Empress with anticipation.

She was virtuous and generous, and every word she spoke was for the sake of the Crown Prince's offspring and the other concubines in the Eastern Palace.

"It's excellent that the Crown Princess has this idea."

The Empress nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction on her face.

"I've been so busy managing the affairs of the Six Ministries of the Inner Palace that I've neglected the Eastern Palace. I never imagined that now that the young ladies have entered the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince hasn't favored a single one of them?"

The Empress's face darkened again.

I heard that the Crown Prince went to Consort Lin's place. Although he was asked to return by the concubine, the Empress thought that the Crown Prince did not object to favoring other women, so she did not care much about the Crown Prince's harem. As long as he was willing to favor them, some of these women would be able to give birth.

But more than ten days have passed, and all seven new concubines have entered the palace, yet none of them have been favored by the emperor!

What does the Crown Prince want to do?

Several of these women come from wealthy families, and one of them is the eldest daughter of the Ye family, who is his concubine. How could he be so indifferent to the situation in the court?

The more the Empress thought about it, the angrier she became, and her complexion grew increasingly grim.

"Your Majesty, on the day His Highness went to favor Consort Lin, the concubine had a headache. According to His Highness, the concubine was poisoned. It was even discovered that the concubine had been given contraceptive drugs. Perhaps His Highness cherishes the concubine's health, which is why he is unwilling to favor his other sisters."

Ling Yue answered carefully, her voice soft and cautious, as if she were speaking on behalf of the concubine.

"Once the concubine's health improves in a while, His Highness will probably start to favor his other sisters."

Has the Empress seen few women over the decades?

How could she not know what these women were thinking? She originally thought that the concubine had already gained a reputation as a noble lady in the capital while still in her maiden home, so she must be a sensible and well-behaved woman.

Unexpectedly, after entering the Eastern Palace, she not only publicly humiliated the Crown Princess, but also became jealous, arrogant, and domineering. Now, even though she knows she cannot have children, she still tries to take the Crown Prince for herself.

Why did she select candidates for the crown prince?

Isn't the goal simply to ensure the Crown Prince has an heir before ascending the throne, thus reducing the obstacles he faces and extinguishing any hopes of Consort Shu and Prince Duan?

Thinking of this, the Empress's anger intensified.

"After the concubine entered the Eastern Palace, apart from the first day she came to pay her respects to me, I don't think I have summoned her yet."

"Jinhua, send someone to invite the concubine to Kunning Palace."

The Empress's eyes were filled with majesty, but her voice carried a hint of coldness.

Upon hearing this, Ling Yue picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

The teacup obscured the upward curve of her lips, but a barely perceptible smugness flashed in her eyes.

Now that she has lost her power in the palace, she will certainly not let Su Jingyao get away with it.

Shui Ning Palace.

"Your Majesty, the people from Kunning Palace say the Empress requests your presence." Miaoyun frowned, her face full of worry.

Su Jingyao raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

"I've waited so long, and the Empress is only now summoning me. Is it because the Crown Princess went to complain today?"

"I heard that the Crown Prince summoned the Crown Princess to the Yude Palace today. I don't know what the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess talked about, but after the Crown Princess came out of the Yude Palace, she went directly to the Kunning Palace."

Miaoyun lowered her head, her brows furrowed, and explained the reason.

"Go to Yude Hall in half an hour and tell His Highness the Crown Prince that I was summoned to Kunning Palace by the Empress for quite some time and I haven't taken my medicine today. You were very worried, so I went to Yude Hall to request an audience with His Highness."

Su Jingyao said slowly and deliberately.

"Yes, Master," Miaoyun replied quickly.

"Miaoxia, come with me to Kunning Palace today. It might be a bit tough."

Su Jingyao said casually, without the slightest fear on her face.

Although the self-inflicted injury tactic is overused, if used well, it can be the most flawless strategy.

"Master, this servant is not afraid."

Miaoxia's eyes were firm, without any hesitation.

Su Jingyao turned around and changed into a beautiful dress. The skirt swayed gracefully. She didn't wear many jewels, but each piece was a precious gift from Jun Zechen, radiating a unique brilliance.

It's certainly not something that the Bureau of Clothing and Apparel could create casually.

Her attire exudes an air of domineering favored concubine.

The Empress must have already learned of Ling Yue's domineering behavior in the Eastern Palace, so there's no need for her to act innocent in front of the Empress today. It might even give the Empress the impression that she's scheming.

Then let's make the favored concubine a reality.

The reason for letting Jun Zechen go half an hour later was naturally to give the Empress and Ling Yue more room to perform.

Thinking of this, Su Jingyao's smile deepened.