Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

The palace servants in the Eastern Palace saw the Crown Prince carrying his concubine back from afar, and their eyes involuntarily revealed expressions of shock.

Their gazes seemed to freeze, staring blankly. Then, as if realizing their lapse in composure, they quickly lowered their heads, not daring to look any longer, but secretly marveling to themselves.

The concubine is truly favored; His Highness is so intimate with her in public, showing no regard for etiquette or propriety whatsoever.

Lin Miaoyin, who had just come out for a walk from Huamei Residence, was walking on another path. Huamei Residence and Shui Ning Palace were close by, and she happened to see the Crown Prince carrying his concubine and hurrying towards Shui Ning Palace.

After His Highness left Huamei Residence that day, he never came back. Every day, Lin Miaoyin could only watch the brightly lit Shui Ning Palace, from which laughter and cheerful voices could be heard from time to time.

Her eyes dimmed instantly, and her face was full of disappointment.

She suffered such humiliation upon entering the Eastern Palace, but fortunately, Ye Yaqin and Mu Liyue, who entered the palace with her, were not talkative people and never mentioned it to her.

But whenever Lin Miaoyin thought of the day when His Highness was worried about the concubine and went to Shui Ning Palace without hesitation, she felt endless sorrow.

Does she still have a chance?

The concubine must have done it on purpose, to show off the prince's favor in front of her.

The newlyweds had to pay their respects to the Crown Princess every day, but the concubine, relying on the prince's favor, would only go every few days. When the Crown Princess asked, she would only say that the prince was considerate of her hard work and exempted her from paying her respects.

Despite this arrogant attitude, His Highness claimed that the palace maid who came to Huamei Residence that day was not acting on the orders of the Consort, but rather that someone was framing the Consort. However, in the past ten days, His Highness has not been able to find out the real culprit behind this.

Although there are rumors that the Crown Princess deliberately framed the concubine, His Highness has no evidence of any private dealings between the Crown Princess and the palace maid Qingzhi. It seems that His Highness may simply be favoring the concubine and not wanting her to be caught up in the rumors, so he did it on purpose.

These days, His Highness has not favored any of them, and Lin Miaoyin doesn't know what to do. Every time she tries to run into His Highness, Anshun stops her.

Moreover, if even a noblewoman like Ye Yaqin, from a high-ranking family, could remain silent and restrained, she naturally couldn't act rashly.

Lin Miaoyin slowly withdrew her gaze from the Crown Prince embracing the concubine and sighed softly.

She would always have a chance; no one's favor lasts forever. She silently comforted herself, and her eyes became firm again.

Shui Ning Palace.

Jun Zechen placed her on the bed, then sat down beside her and gently lifted her legs onto his own.

She lifted her skirt, revealing her knees, which were already bruised and purple. Her skin was fair to begin with, so the sight of them was shocking.

As soon as Miaoxia returned, she informed Granny Lin, who then came in anxiously with the ointment in her hand.

Jun Zechen reached out and took the ointment, his eyes filled with heartache, his brows furrowed tightly.

"Didn't I say last time that if the Empress Dowager summons you, you should send someone to inform me?"

"If your maid hadn't come to Yude Palace today to tell me you'd been summoned by the Empress Dowager because she was worried you weren't taking your medicine and it was affecting your health, would you have been kneeling in Kunning Palace for an hour, or even two hours?"

Jun Zechen's tone was filled with disappointment and frustration; his voice rose slightly, and his expression was serious with a hint of annoyance.

"I just don't want the Empress to think that I'm disrespecting His Highness because of his favor. The Empress is His Highness's closest person. She may not like me, but I still have to respect her."

Su Jingyao's eyes were clear and sincere, her words earnest, and her tone firm yet gentle.

Jun Zechen stopped talking and gently applied the ointment to her knee.

"The Empress Dowager values ​​rules and cares deeply about my offspring. That's why she's unhappy that I only favor you. Once you become pregnant with my child, the Empress Dowager will no longer dislike you, so there's no need to worry too much."

Jun Zechen's voice was deep and gentle as he spoke while carefully applying the ointment.

He understood his mother and knew what she cared about, so he didn't think she was wrong.

It was Ling Yue who went to the Empress Dowager to sow discord!

A dark aura surged in Jun Zechen's lowered eyes, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed across his gaze.

When he was first reborn, Jun Zechen didn't care who his empress was.

But just now, in the Empress Dowager's palace, seeing Ling Yue sitting beside the Empress Dowager, looking at Su Jingyao kneeling on the ground with contempt, Jun Zechen felt a surge of nameless anger.

I just feel that this shouldn't have happened!

Ling Yue, she doesn't deserve it.

Since Ling Yue was an empress for her entire previous life, and she also has memories of her previous life in this one, then Jun Zechen has no need to keep his promise.

Before Ling Yue becomes increasingly paranoid and makes a serious mistake, he needs to find a time to confront her.

If Ling Yue is willing to leave the palace, Jun Zechen can give her gold and silver and set her free, so that she can roam freely in the vast sky and sea.

If she still clings to power, Jun Zechen will not protect her. In his previous life, if he hadn't withstood the pressure from his mother and the court officials, Ling Yue would never have been able to ascend to the position of Empress.

Even if she tries to please her mother in this lifetime, what about the court officials? She has no children, and for that alone, she is not worthy of being the empress.

In his previous life, Jun Zechen was young and impetuous, arrogant and unwilling to tolerate anyone's opposition. In addition, he valued Ling Yue's promise and thus elevated her to the position of Empress.

-

After Su Jingyao injured her knee, Jun Zechen immediately exempted her from paying her respects.

As for Qingzhi's plot to harm the concubine and frame the Crown Princess, since Qingzhi did not have any concrete evidence to identify the Crown Princess, and Jun Zechen discovered other tokens related to Consort Shu, Jun Zechen was furious and directly gave Qingzhi a white silk ribbon, ordering her to hang herself.

As for Consort Shu, let the Empress Dowager handle her.

After settling this matter, Jun Zechen entered Kunning Palace to pay his respects to the Empress.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Jun Zechen bowed slightly, his expression respectful.

"Greetings? The Crown Prince was quite imposing the other day, carrying his concubine away from Kunning Palace. I thought he never cared about the health of his mother, the Empress Dowager."

The Empress spoke sarcastically, her face full of displeasure and a hint of anger.

"Mother, I was wrong that day. I was just concerned about the concubine's health and acted rashly in a moment of panic, which is why I lost my composure."

Jun Zechen quickly lowered his head and admitted his mistake, his attitude sincere.

"What brings the Crown Prince here today?"

The Empress tilted her head slightly and asked indifferently.

"Your Majesty, I suspect that Qingzhi is working for Consort Shu. Perhaps Your Majesty will need to help resolve this matter."

Jun Zechen raised his head and looked at the Empress.

Upon hearing the name Consort Shu, the Empress's brows furrowed instantly, her face turning grave.

"Consort Shu?"

"Yes, Qingzhi has more than one of Consort Shu's keepsakes. I suspect that Consort Shu instructed Qingzhi to give the concubine contraceptives in order to prevent me from having an heir."

Jun Zechen calmly stated Consort Shu's purpose.

The empress was furious and slammed her hand on the table beside her, making a loud "bang".

"She's so bold!"

A sharp, cold glint flashed in the Empress's eyes.

Consort Shu is truly persistent. Now that His Majesty's health is deteriorating and he no longer enters the harem, she has lost his favor and wants to ensure that the Crown Prince has no heir in order to win over the court officials and support Prince Duan.

They don't even consider whether Prince Duan has the ability!

The Empress grew angrier the more she thought about it. What she cared about most was the Crown Prince's offspring, which had always been a source of worry for her. In ordinary families, someone his age would probably already have both a son and a daughter.

Yet he, the crown prince, had not a single child!

"Your Majesty is furious. Consort Shu and Prince Duan are no match for you. Now that the harem is under Your Majesty's control, Consort Shu will be dealt with by Your Majesty."

Jun Zechen's face was filled with confidence, his gaze steady and resolute.

He had been reborn, after all, and he remembered almost everything clearly: who in the court he could rely on, and what would happen.

In addition, his father's health is deteriorating, and he is handling most of the government affairs.

He had almost complete control over the imperial court, except for a few stubborn powerful families.

However, once he ascends the throne, he will resolve the issue sooner or later. Jun Zechen was only angry that Consort Shu had hurt Su Jingyao.

If it weren't for Consort Shu's poisoning, she might have already conceived his child. There would have been no reason for the Empress Dowager to be displeased. His eldest son would have been eagerly awaited by everyone, from the Emperor and Empress Dowager to the court officials and the common people.

And she will gain glory for it.

Looking at the Crown Prince, who seemed to be growing more mature and resolute, the Empress felt somewhat dazed. The Crown Prince's aura and majesty were sometimes even stronger than those of His Majesty when he was in his prime.

How come she remembers her son not being like this a few months ago?

The Empress had some doubts, but she did not show them. Perhaps it was because His Majesty's health had been deteriorating recently, and the Crown Prince had gained more experience in court and was more mature in handling matters.

"Yes, Mother trusts you too. I'll leave Consort Shu to Mother."

The Empress nodded slightly, her expression softening.

Suddenly, the conversation shifted.

"But what exactly is going on between you and the concubine?"

There was some dissatisfaction in her eyes.

"I went to great lengths to organize this imperial concubine selection for you, and you personally chose seven women. Is the Crown Prince planning to keep them as mere decorations in the Eastern Palace?"

The Queen's voice rose a few decibels, and her expression became serious.

"Your Majesty, I have my own plans. You need not worry."

Jun Zechen raised his head, not wanting to say more, but his tone was full of the intention not to let the Empress interfere.

If Jun Zechen had not been reborn, he would indeed be more obedient to his mother at this time. However, having been emperor for decades, almost no one dared to contradict his will, and his words became somewhat forceful.

No one knows a son better than his mother. Judging from the Crown Prince's tone, the Empress did not say that he would not favor other women, which meant that he would still favor them in the future.

"Is the Crown Prince delaying his favor with other women because he's waiting for his concubine to conceive your eldest son?"

The Empress looked at him suspiciously, her eyes seeming to see right through him.

Jun Zechen didn't speak, but just pursed his lips slightly, as if he had tacitly agreed.

"Nonsense! How can you guarantee that the concubine is carrying a son? Besides, we don't know when the concubine will be able to conceive, and your father, the Emperor, is already..."

The Empress hesitated, looking worried.

It wasn't explicitly stated, but Jun Zechen understood that his mother felt his father wouldn't live much longer, which was indeed the case.

"If you had children before you took that position, you would be more convincing to the court officials."

The Empress spoke earnestly.

"Mother, I am confident in my ability to handle matters of the court. This empire will be mine sooner or later. As for the women in the harem, who I favor depends entirely on my mood and has nothing to do with anyone else."

Jun Zechen patiently expressed his attitude to his mother. In his previous life, when Ling Yue was the only person in the Eastern Palace, he was able to ascend the throne. Could it be that he has regressed in this life?

"Mother, please don't punish the concubines anymore."

The Empress was stunned for a moment. Could her son really say such a thing?

"Go back to your Eastern Palace, as you please."

The Empress waved her hand helplessly, rubbed her temples, and looked exhausted.