Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

After regaining control of the Ye family's military power, Jun Zechen began training troops in various cities of the Jun Kingdom, even personally going to military camps to train them. He was preparing to personally lead an expedition; he wanted to be an emperor on horseback for the rest of his life.

Because deep down, Jun Zechen didn't want to face the current imperial palace.

The second year of Chongwu.

Jun Zechen led his army to attack Canglang with great momentum. Relying on his memories from his previous life, he swept through the enemy lines and, after half a year, finally reached the Canglang Imperial City.

Just like in his previous life, he saved his cousin Qi Wanyin.

Jun Zechen didn't have a deep impression of this cousin. He casually sent someone to escort her back to the capital, and then continued to lead his army south to attack Yuehui and Lingyu. After that, he headed west and threatened Yuelin Kingdom.

Jun Zechen's personal campaign this time took longer than in his previous life. In his previous life, he only personally attacked the most difficult Canglang, while he assigned trusted generals to lead the troops to other small countries.

However, in this lifetime, he spent three years personally recovering all the neighboring countries of Junguo and changing Junguo into the Great Jun Dynasty.

During these three years, the Empress Dowager and the court officials pleaded with him to return to court more than once, but Jun Zechen seemed to be addicted to the killing on the battlefield.

The pervasive bloodshed and brutal killings allowed him to temporarily forget his inner pain.

However, wars always come to an end eventually.

In the third year of Chongwu, Jun Zechen led his troops in triumph.

The people eagerly awaited the arrival of Jun Zechen at the city gate. Jun Zechen, clad in armor, gleamed with a cold light under the sunlight.

His face was cold and stern, like an iceberg, making people dare not approach him easily. The murderous aura emanating from his body was even more chilling. He sat high on his warhorse, his posture upright, like a war god descending, majestic and awe-inspiring.

Upon returning to the palace, the Empress Dowager and her consorts were already waiting to greet His Majesty.

At the main gate of the palace, a red carpet was laid out, banners fluttered, the palace guards were neatly arranged, and drums and music resounded, creating an extremely magnificent and grand scene.

The palace maids and eunuchs stood with their heads bowed, respectful and solemn.

In these three years, Tang Suxi gave birth to the second prince and was promoted to Consort Noble by the Empress Dowager. Lin Miaoyin gave birth to the third prince and was promoted to Imperial Noble Consort by the Empress Dowager, with the power to assist in managing the six palaces.

Looking at His Majesty, whom she hadn't seen for three years, Lin Miaoyin's eyes inexplicably welled up with tears, and she felt deeply moved.

His Majesty has never met her third prince. Three years have passed. Shouldn't His Majesty have forgotten about the Empress by now?

Lin Miaoyin's eyes were full of tenderness, her gaze as gentle as water. She looked at Jun Zechen with a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth, trying to show her most beautiful side.

The moment Jun Zechen dismounted, all the court officials and guards, as if they had been trained in advance, knelt down in unison and shouted.

"Your Majesty is divinely mighty, personally leading the army in triumph, defeating the enemy a thousand miles away, and displaying the might of our nation, unparalleled throughout history! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

The sound was like a great bell, resounding through the sky and deafening.

As the courtiers paid their respects, Jun Zechen walked toward the Empress Dowager.

His armor added to his imposing presence.

The six concubines were both nervous and expectant. After three years apart, His Majesty had become even more majestic and handsome.

He had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and a resolute face, but the intense, ruthless aura emanating from him inspired awe in others.

They also bowed in greeting, their voices soft yet unified: "Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

Jun Zechen frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Rise."

Approaching the Empress Dowager, Jun Zechen respectfully bowed and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Although the Empress Dowager was dissatisfied with the Emperor's three-year campaign without regard for his safety, she still felt relieved when she saw her long-lost son return safely.

"It's good that you're back."

Three-year-old Crown Prince Jun Yihuan stood quietly beside the Empress Dowager, his small face tense, his expression revealing a coldness beyond his years, his dark eyes staring straight at his father, the Emperor.

Something doesn't feel right.

On the day Jun Yihuan was born, he was secretly rejoicing that he was fortunate enough to be the Empress's son again in this life.

However, he was still an infant and unable to speak, but he learned the devastating news of his mother's death from his aunt Miaoyun, who was taking care of him.

At that moment, he was filled with shock and disbelief.

How could my father, who loved my mother so much, and my mother, who was so intelligent, have died so tragically?

But before he could grow up and investigate the truth, his father resolutely went to war.

This world seems to have many similarities to his past life, yet it also has many completely different aspects.

Today, Jun Yihuan looked at his tall and aloof father, who resembled but was not quite the same as his father in his previous life.

In his previous life, his father was only outwardly cold, but now his father exudes a chilling aura that seems to want to kill.

Jun Zechen felt Jun Yihuan's focused gaze, and his indifferent eyes slowly moved down. The moment he saw Jun Yihuan's face, he was instantly frozen in place, staring at him intently, unable to look away.

Those eyebrows, those expressions—how could they be so much like her?

Jun Zechen couldn't help but reach out his hand.

Jun Yihuan stared intently at his father with his big eyes, his little face still tense. Although he was somewhat unwilling, he still walked towards his father and placed his little hand on Jun Zechen's big hand.

My father was utterly useless; he failed to protect my mother in this lifetime.

The Empress Dowager and her son displayed different emotions, with a loving smile on their faces.

"Your Majesty, this is the eldest prince. He has been intelligent since childhood and has your demeanor. Yi Huan, call him Father."

The Empress Dowager's voice was gentle and kind.

Besides spending a lot of time in Kunning Palace, another place Jun Yihuan frequented throughout his life was Cining Palace. After his mother died, his grandmother doted on him and would call him to Cining Palace every few days to play with him and tell him stories.

Therefore, Jun Yihuan couldn't refuse his grandmother's request, so he pursed his lips and said in a clear voice, "Father."

Jun Zechen's facial features softened considerably as he picked up the child.

Jun Yihuan, who was small at the time, sat obediently in Jun Zechen's arms, looking very well-behaved.

Meanwhile, the Third Prince, who was following the Imperial Concubine (Lin Miaoyin), suddenly started making a fuss.

He wriggled his little body, waving his chubby little hands, and cried out, "Mother, I want Father to hold me too!"

The voice carried the willfulness and urgency of a child.

Lately, the Third Prince has been hearing his mother constantly mentioning that his father, the Emperor, is coming back.

Although the eldest prince was born to the Empress Yuan, his mother was a Noble Consort who held power in the palace.

In the palace, everyone flattered and fawned over him, and he could bully his second brother at will. But his eldest brother was the only one who not only had his grandmother backing him up, but was now being held by his father himself.

The third prince was very dissatisfied.

Lin Miaoyin was startled at first and subconsciously glanced at His Majesty. She saw that His Majesty's gaze remained fixed on the First Prince and did not shift his attention to them. He seemed to have ignored the Third Prince's shouts.

A strong sense of loss welled up inside her, her face paled slightly, and a look of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

His Majesty still cares most about the eldest prince born to the Empress.

But she quickly regained her composure, forced a smile, picked up the third prince, and gently comforted him.

The courtiers embraced the eldest prince as soon as His Majesty returned, a truly unusual and special treatment.

They looked at each other, wondering what was going on in their hearts, but dared not show it on their faces.

Jun Zechen, however, paid no attention to the opinions of others and carried Jun Yihuan back to Qianqing Palace.

He put Jun Yihuan down, and the two of them stood facing each other quietly.

After a long while, the two spoke almost simultaneously.

"Aren't you afraid of me?"

Jun Zechen narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing the small figure in front of him.

"Where is my mother?"

Jun Yihuan stared intently at his father, his little face tense, his eyes filled with doubt.

Upon hearing his question, Jun Zechen's lips instantly tightened into a straight line, and his expression became serious.

"Your mother has passed away, and I have avenged her."

His voice was low and suppressed. Even after three years, when he said to her that she had passed away, his heart still ached.

Jun Yihuan lowered his eyelashes, his handsome eyebrows furrowing together.

Is his mother really dead?

Seeing that Jun Yihuan was not afraid of him at all, Jun Zechen felt not angry at all, but instead felt that he was becoming more and more like an old friend.

She wasn't afraid of him either; ever since she entered the Eastern Palace, she had been very bold.

"You are already three years old. Starting tomorrow, I will send someone to teach you your lessons, and I will test you every three days," Jun Zechen said seriously.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand. I shall take my leave."

Jun Yihuan's voice still had a childish quality, but his dissatisfaction with his current father was growing stronger.

Upon receiving news of his mother's death from his father, the Emperor, Jun Yihuan drooped his head like a wilted eggplant and left the Qianqing Palace.

-

Jun Zechen returned to court for three days, and during those three days he did not step into the inner palace once.

The Empress Dowager is deeply worried about the Emperor's current state, and she is probably the only one who can persuade him now.

She arrived at the Qianqing Palace, her expression full of helplessness.

"Has the emperor not yet let go of the empress?"

The Empress Dowager's voice broke the silence in the hall.

Anshun had been by Jun Zechen's side for three years and knew very well that the word "Empress" was His Majesty's Achilles' heel and no one was allowed to mention it. Only the Empress Dowager and the First Prince could say a word about it in front of His Majesty.

Jun Zechen paused upon hearing the Empress Dowager's question.

Has he not let go? Sometimes he feels like he can stop thinking about her. Has he let go? But why does his heart still feel empty whenever he thinks of her, as if a piece is missing?

Seeing that the emperor remained silent, the Empress Dowager could only continue to persuade him earnestly.

"Your Majesty, I know you are deeply grieving over the Empress's death, but it has been three whole years. I, your court officials, and the people have given you three years to come to terms with this and to let go of the Empress."

"You only have three princes in your harem now. Do you really intend to abstain from sex for the rest of your life as the Empress?"

Abstinence?

Jun Zechen smiled bitterly to himself. He was filled with guilt. He knew she was jealous, but he still chose to follow ancestral rules and take in those concubines.

If she had been alone in the backyard, would she have survived her tragic death?

He once thought he could protect her and achieve the best of both worlds: fulfilling his promise to his father and making her his noble empress, so that they could stay together for life.

But in the end, he was too greedy.

He lost her forever.

"Mother, I have just returned to court and am overwhelmed by a mountain of memorials. I have no such thoughts whatsoever."

"I am your mother, how could I not know what you are thinking?"

The Empress Dowager's eyes revealed a sharp insight that seemed to see through everything.

"Now that you're back, I'll begin preparing for the talent show that's been put on hold for you," the Empress Dowager said firmly.

Jun Zechen's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of impatience instantly appearing between his brows.

"Mother spent her whole life in the harem. Didn't she ever get tired of it? If my harem only had the Empress, she wouldn't have died in the first place."

"You are the emperor, how can you have such thoughts? Just because you're tired of the harem, does that mean it can disappear?"

The Empress Dowager raised her voice and her expression became serious.

"And what about your court? It's even more sinister and unpredictable than the harem. Why don't you abolish your court?"

Jun Zechen raised his head and looked directly at the Empress Dowager.

"The imperial court is your tool for governing the country, and the harem is your tool for ensuring the continuation of the imperial line and the perpetuation of the dynasty. As the emperor, don't you understand this?"

The only thing the Empress Dowager failed to teach the Emperor well was how to handle romantic relationships.

An emperor should not be moved by love.

If there is only one woman in the harem, how can the emperor ensure that his relatives will not interfere in politics? If there are fewer princes, what if someone plots to harm one of them? If the emperor has no successor, does he have to hand over the throne to someone else?

Jun Zechen understood these principles in his previous life, so his rationality always triumphed over his emotions. The struggles in the harem and the struggles in the court were unavoidable.

It was also because of his rationality that his empress died three years ago.

"In the Empress Dowager's heart, I should also be a tool devoid of any emotion, shouldn't I?" Jun Zechen asked calmly.

Everyone wanted him to be a perfect emperor.

"I never thought that way. I only hope that you can be like your father, the emperor, and like women, but not love them. Once the emperor falls in love, he will face a choice, and you will be the one who suffers."

A hint of pity flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes.

It's pointless to say anything more now.

These are the truths that the Empress Dowager only realized ten years after she became Empress. At that time, she began to consider everything from the Emperor's perspective, no longer fixated on right and wrong, but weighing the pros and cons, and her heart was no longer filled with romantic feelings.

She and the late emperor were husband and wife, and also comrades-in-arms.

The emperor is not a god and cannot predict the future, so he needs to strategize and balance the court. The court and the harem have always been inseparable.

Jun Zechen silently turned the ring on his finger, his dark eyes lowered, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.