Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Another month passed, and time flowed by until Su Jingyao's due date finally arrived.

When she gave birth this time, the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten, and dawn was breaking. Jun Zechen was still attending the morning court session.

Whether it was the experienced Granny Lin or Miaoyun and Miaoxia, everyone's face was filled with tension.

Although they knew in their hearts that their mistress had been taken care of meticulously during her pregnancy, and that every aspect of her life had been extremely thoughtful, childbirth was always a dangerous affair, like walking through the gates of hell, so they had no choice but to be careful.

Su Jingyao lay in the delivery room, with Lin Mama looking solemn and staying by her side the whole time, her forehead covered with fine beads of sweat.

Miaoyun originally planned to invite both Physician Jin and Physician Li to the hospital, in case anything unexpected happened during the delivery.

However, when Miaoyun went to invite him, she found that Physician Li had an upset stomach and was suffering from severe abdominal pain, making it inconvenient for him to come.

Even Physician Li himself hadn't expected the Empress to suddenly go into labor so early in the morning. The situation was so sudden that he could only send Physician Jin to take care of her.

Miaoyun knew that Physician Jin was highly skilled and loyal to his master, so she trusted him completely.

When Physician Jin and Granny Lin were both in the delivery room with their mistress, Miaoyun finally felt a little relieved and went to the front court to invite His Majesty.

The Emperor's delivery is estimated to be some time away, and His Majesty should have already left court by now.

Just as he returned to the Qianqing Palace after court and was about to have breakfast, Miaoyun rushed over.

"Your Majesty, the princess has begun labor," Miaoyun said urgently.

Jun Zechen was stunned when he heard this. Although he already knew that she was going to give birth in the next few days, he still felt a sudden tightness in his heart when he heard this news.

Jun Zechen quickly got up and strode towards Kunning Palace.

When he arrived, the Empress's muffled groans of pain could already be heard coming from the delivery room.

Outside the delivery room, the seven imperial concubines had been waiting for a long time.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects," the concubines said in unison.

Lin Miaoyin and Tang Suxi were both pregnant, but since they were giving birth in the harem, they had to come even though they were pregnant.

However, the palace servants in Kunning Palace were quite sensible, bringing stools for the two pregnant ladies, while the other concubines could only stand aside and wait for the Empress to give birth.

"Get up, everyone."

Jun Zechen's voice remained as calm as ever, and his face showed no sign of panic. However, the worry hidden in his heart could not be hidden from himself after all.

Ye Yaqin's gaze was complex and deep as she stared intently at the delivery room, her eyes revealing an almost imperceptible excitement and anticipation.

Perhaps after today, the position of Empress will be vacant.

When Ye Yaqin received her father's letter, she was filled with sorrow, wondering how to devise a flawless plan to eliminate the Empress.

But fate might really be on her side, because there was a palace maid in Kunning Palace who was an enemy of the Su family.

One day, she happened to encounter the palace maid burning paper money to mourn her family in the grove, her expression filled with sorrow and resentment.

Ye Yaqin originally only intended to use the little palace maid's violation of palace rules to accuse the Empress, but she unexpectedly received a pleasant surprise.

Since this palace maid hated the Empress and the Su family to the bone, and was even willing to pay with her life to kill the Empress.

In that case, there would be no way to prove anything, and Ye Yaqin left no clues except for a packet of medicine for the palace maid. With the Empress dead, there would be no way to trace her back to Ye Yaqin.

Ye Yaqin's gaze fell on His Majesty's imposing back. Now that the Empress is dead, will His Majesty be able to treat all the concubines in the harem fairly?

Jun Zechen frowned, standing outside the delivery room like a statue, appearing calm on the surface but inwardly anxious.

"Why is the Empress's voice so soft?" Jun Zechen couldn't help but ask.

If Su Jingyao screamed loudly, he felt sorry for her pain, but if she stopped making a sound, Jun Zechen worried that something might have happened to her.

Anshun, who was standing nearby, quickly bowed and replied, "Perhaps she needs to conserve some energy. The midwife told Her Majesty not to make a loud noise. Your Majesty, please do not worry."

Lin Miaoyin's eyes dimmed slightly.

Although Her Majesty's face remained calm, she was always observant.

His Majesty unconsciously rotated the fingers on his left thumb ring, and his brows furrowed from time to time, all silently expressing his concern for the Empress.

She lowered her head slightly, gently stroking her still-flat stomach, a bittersweet feeling welling up inside her.

When I give birth, will His Majesty be as anxious for me as he is for the Empress now?

Tang Suxi's belly is already showing; she's four months pregnant.

She was the lowest-ranking of all the imperial concubines, and only by relying on her children could she hope to rise in rank.

Therefore, she was extremely careful after becoming pregnant. It would be great if she received the Emperor's favor, but if not, as long as she had a child, she could still survive in the harem.

Actually, entering the harem was much more comfortable for her than staying at home.

Tang Suxi lowered her head, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

The other concubines also had their own thoughts; some had wandering eyes, while others pursed their lips, seemingly lost in thought.

Time seemed to stand still, passing slowly and heavily, second by second.

Su Jingyao's delivery went relatively smoothly. An hour later, the baby's clear and loud cry finally rang out.

Jun Zechen's tense nerves suddenly relaxed. He subconsciously looked up at the sky, where a bright red sun was rising, shining brilliantly.

Granny Lin happily carried the prince out.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations! Her Majesty the Empress has given birth to the First Prince!"

Lin Mama's face shone with excitement and joy, her smile almost overflowing.

"Good, good, good! The birth of the eldest son coincides with the rising sun, a truly auspicious sign from heaven. My son will surely have a bright future, his wisdom will shine like the sun, and his benevolence will be as warm as the sun."

Jun Zechen's voice was loud and proud, full of the joy and pride of becoming a father for the first time.

Hearing the Emperor's praise of his eldest son, the concubines behind him, though jealous, dared not show it and instead offered their congratulations in unison: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Empress, on the birth of your eldest son!"

Afterwards, all the palace servants in Kunning Palace knelt down and shouted in unison, "Congratulations to Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress on the birth of your eldest son!"

The sounds were clear and resonant, echoing throughout the hall.

Jun Zechen no longer suppressed his expression, his face beaming with a smile, as he prepared to enter the delivery room to see his empress.

Childbirth is so painful, and she's always been delicate; she must be in a lot of pain right now.

"Oh no! Oh no!"

Suddenly, Miaoyun stumbled out of the delivery room in a panic, her face ashen and her voice filled with extreme terror.

Granny Lin frowned, her smile vanished instantly, and she said sternly, "On such a joyous day, what inappropriate thing could you say!"

Miao Yun's legs went weak, and she collapsed to her knees, her voice trembling uncontrollably: "Your Majesty, my mistress... she's been poisoned!"

Upon hearing this, Jun Zechen's heart skipped a beat, as if he had been struck hard by a heavy hammer.

He pushed everyone aside and hurried inside like the wind.

Su Jingyao, lying on the bed, had a deathly pale face, and her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

At this moment, Physician Jin was taking her pulse with a solemn expression, his brows furrowed.

"What happened?!"

Jun Zechen's voice trembled, filled with uncontrollable anger and fear.

Imperial Physician Jin lowered his head and replied in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, a palace maid in Kunning Palace poisoned the Empress's tea after she gave birth. The poison was extremely potent, causing the Empress to experience heart palpitations immediately after childbirth."

"Your Majesty, I do not know what the poison is for the time being. I can only give you an antidote to suppress your palpitations, but the poison continues to spread throughout your body. Your Majesty..."

"Anshun, go and fetch Physician Hu!"

Jun Zechen roared, veins bulging on his forehead.

Physician Hu is an expert in using and detoxifying poisons, and at this moment, we can only hope that he can save the Empress's life.

Su Jingyao now only has a faint trace of consciousness left. She struggles to open her eyes, which have lost their former luster and are now dull and lifeless.

Her hand trembled as she reached out to Jun Zechen.

Jun Zechen strode towards her, tightly grasped her limp hand, and his voice was filled with endless panic.

"Jiaojiao, don't be afraid, I won't let you die, you won't die!"

Su Jingyao shook her head weakly, every movement seeming so difficult.

"Your Majesty, promise me you will love Xingxing and protect him."

Her voice was as faint as a whisper, like a candle flickering in the wind, as if it might be extinguished at any moment.

"I will not allow it! Jiaojiao is his mother. You will live, and you can protect him as he grows up."

Suddenly, large tears welled up in Su Jingyao's eyes and slid down her cheeks: "Please, promise me, okay? Protect him, love him."

Her eyes were filled with pleading.

Jun Zechen couldn't bear to see her continue to be so heartbroken. His lips trembled as he forced out a single "okay" through gritted teeth.

"Your Majesty, I do not understand the power struggles in the court. I only hope that Your Majesty can spare the Su family from being wiped out, for the sake of me and Xingxing."

Su Jingyao had to catch her breath after every word she spoke.

"Xingxing needs someone to take care of him. I will feel at ease if my four personal maids and Granny Lin take care of him."

Her gaze remained fixed on Jun Zechen's face, and the earnestness in her eyes was heartbreaking.

Jun Zechen didn't want to hear her words, which sounded like her last words, but her voice was so gentle, and her eyes were full of deep pleading.

Jun Zechen could only mechanically nod in agreement when she spoke.

"Your Majesty, if I die, please do not implicate innocent people. When Xingxing was born, I only wished to pray for her, not to commit murder."

Su Jingyao's breath was growing weaker and weaker, and her grip on Jun Zechen's hand began to loosen slowly.

A short while later, Su Jingyao slowly closed her eyes, and her hand fell limply to the ground.

Jun Zechen hurriedly grabbed her hand again, his voice trembling with despair.

Can't believe it.

"Jiaojiao? Jiaojiao, don't scare me."

"Where is the imperial physician?!" Jun Zechen's roar was almost hoarse.

Physician Hu, who had just arrived at the door, trembled violently upon hearing His Majesty's roar.

He entered cautiously, saying, "Your Majesty, this humble subject greets you."

"Come quickly and see the Empress."

Jun Zechen didn't dare to check Su Jingyao's breathing at this moment. He refused to accept the cruel reality and wouldn't allow such a thing to happen.

But when Physician Hu walked up to the Empress and felt her already cold pulse, his entire body seemed to be struck by lightning, and he collapsed to his knees.

"Your Majesty, the Empress has passed away."

Physician Hu's voice trembled, and his head was buried deep in the ground.

His pulse had stopped, and even with his powerful detoxification abilities, there was nothing he could do to save him.

Jun Zechen was furious and kicked Physician Hu hard in the shoulder, causing Physician Hu to fall to the ground.

"Incompetent doctor! If the Empress dies, everyone in this delivery room today will be buried with her!"

Jun Zechen's voice was filled with anger and sorrow.

Everyone in the delivery room was like a frightened bird, crying out, "Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please forgive us!"

Cries for mercy rose and fell.

Miaoyun and the other three, along with Granny Lin, stared at their master's motionless body, their expressions dazed and their minds blank.

How could this happen?

They've arranged everything so carefully, so where did things go wrong?!