Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

"Is it confirmed? Tang Fengyi is indeed pregnant?"

Su Jingyao lay half-reclined on the couch, lazily stretched her arms, and asked in a flat tone.

Her fair skin glowed faintly in the sunlight, and her delicate face held a subtle smile that was hard to decipher.

"Yes, the Crown Princess recently went to the Imperial Hospital and obtained several batches of medicinal herbs to help her conceive, but upon closer inspection, some of these herbs are actually for preventing miscarriage."

Li Jing stood respectfully to the side with his head bowed.

"Your Majesty, I suspect that the Crown Princess is covering for Consort Tang, who is probably pregnant."

Su Jingyao nodded. She had already guessed it, but Li Jing made her even more certain.

He then said, "In another half month, it will be the Crown Prince's birthday. His Majesty's health is deteriorating, and the Crown Prince is spending more and more time dealing with state affairs, returning to the Eastern Palace much later each day."

"This year's Crown Prince's birthday celebration will not be a grand affair. The Empress's idea is to hold a family banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. I wonder what surprise the Crown Princess has prepared for His Highness."

Su Jingyao's lips curled into a sly smile.

Her slender fingers gently brushed against the strands of hair on her chest, the hair swirling between her fingers.

"The Crown Princess must have a scheme to keep Tang Fengyi's pregnancy a secret."

A thoughtful look flashed in Li Jing's eyes.

"In my humble opinion, the Crown Princess might deal with Consort An at the Crown Prince's birthday banquet."

Su Jingyao nodded in agreement. Since the Crown Princess's Qiluan Palace didn't have any of her people, it would be difficult to find out her plans. So, they could only rely on Consort An.

She then stopped worrying about it and asked another question.

"How exactly is His Majesty's health? Is there any information on the exact time?" Su Jingyao asked rather cryptically.

Li Jing understood what she meant. "Your Majesty's medical records are being closely guarded by Physician Qin, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, and I cannot see them."

There was a hint of regret in his voice.

"However, as a newcomer, I have previously accompanied Imperial Physician Qin in examining Your Majesty. Although I only assisted and did not take Your Majesty's pulse, judging from your complexion, it is not very good. I wonder if you can make it to next spring."

Su Jingyao frowned in thought, her slender, fair fingers gently tapping the armrest of the couch, producing a crisp sound.

He muttered to himself, "The Crown Prince's birthday is in half a month, and I'm seven months pregnant. In another two months, the baby will be born, which will be around the New Year. The timing is about right."

She gave birth to the child before Jun Zechen ascended the throne, then completed her postpartum confinement, and prevented Jun Zechen from going to Ling Yue's place on the first night of his coronation.

Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

Su Jingyao changed into a loose palace dress early on. The dress was as light and elegant as the clouds in the sky, and it gently hugged her figure.

She slowly sat down on the couch, her posture dignified and elegant.

She picked up a book of poems, and the pages turned gently in her hands, making a soft rustling sound.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her thick, long eyelashes casting a faint shadow under her eyelids, her expression serene.

Su Jingyao calmly instructed, "Miaoyun, send someone to invite Imperial Physician Jin. We'll head to the Hall of Supreme Harmony and have him come and take my pulse."

Su Jingyao knew that today was anything but simple. Although it was a struggle between the Crown Princess and Consort An, who could guarantee that she wouldn't be involved?

When Li Jing arrived, he saw Su Jingyao sitting on the couch, holding a book of poems and reading it intently.

Her skin was as white as snow, glowing softly in the sunlight. Even without makeup, she was still stunningly beautiful.

Her hair, as smooth as silk, fell over her shoulders, swaying slightly with her movements, adding to her charm.

Li Jing dared not look at her again. A sense of panic welled up in his heart. He quickly bowed and respectfully greeted her.

"Your humble servant greets the concubine."

Get up.

Su Jingyao slowly raised her head, her gaze falling on Li Jing.

She put down the book in her hand and got up from the couch.

"Today, when I go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, I will be taking Miaoyun and Miaoxia with me. Please come closer and check if there is anything unclean on the three of us."

When Miaoyun and Miaoxia heard their master's instructions, they finally understood why their master had dressed up more than an hour in advance and had Physician Jin come over. So that's why.

They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with affirmation of their master's thoughtful consideration.

"Yes, Concubine."

Li Jing got up and first briefly circled around Miao Yun and Miao Xia, but found nothing unusual.

He then circled around Su Jingyao once more, his expression focused and serious.

"Did the concubine use any spices today?"

Miaoxia was in charge of Su Jingyao's makeup and styling, and she answered as soon as Li Jing asked.

"Imperial Physician Jin, the mistress has never used spices. She usually only uses flower essential oils for skincare."

Li Jing frowned slightly, lost in thought, his brows furrowed tightly, and shallow lines appeared on his forehead.

Seeing this, Su Jingyao felt a pang of doubt. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is something wrong?"

Her eyes were fixed on Li Jing, not missing a single expression on his face.

"Ligusticum chuanxiong, safflower, salvia miltiorrhiza, and motherwort are common herbs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and pregnant women should never touch them."

"Ligusticum striatum has a strong and distinctive aroma, safflower also has a distinctive aroma, salvia miltiorrhiza has a strong medicinal smell, while motherwort has a faint grassy smell."

"The concubine has the scent of motherwort on her body. She uses ointments and essential oils for skincare all year round, so she naturally has a faint fragrance. The scent of motherwort is masked by this fragrance, and if you don't smell carefully, even a speck of dust won't be able to detect it."

Moreover, this grassy scent is difficult to detect unless one is very familiar with the smell of motherwort.

"Could you find out what on me is contaminated with motherwort?" Her voice carried a hint of coldness.

"Your Majesty, I suggest that the concubine change out of her palace attire."

Li Jing's eyes revealed concern. The palace was full of scheming, and she would experience even more in the future. And this was only in the Eastern Palace.

Miaoxia was startled. She was in charge of her mistress's clothes. Her face turned pale instantly, and she quickly stepped forward.

"Your Highness, let me help you into your bedchamber. Please change out of your palace attire quickly. Luckily, you just changed into it."

There was a hint of anxiety in her voice.

If the master were to wear this palace attire to His Highness's birthday banquet, it would surely harm the imperial heir within a few hours!

Su Jingyao nodded slightly and walked into the bedroom without saying a word.

Su Jingyao went into the bedroom and changed into her usual dress.

Miaoxia had just received this palace dress from the Imperial Household Department a few days ago. She was pregnant and couldn't wear her previous palace dresses anymore.

After Su Jingyao changed her clothes and went out, Li Jing circled around her again and smelled her. "Consort, there is indeed no scent of motherwort now."

"Miaoxia, take the palace dress to Physician Jin for a look," Su Jingyao instructed.

Miaoxia pushed the palace dress hanging on the clothes rack out of the bedroom, and Li Jing stepped forward to examine it carefully.

His brows furrowed slightly, and his expression became very serious.

"My lady, this palace dress does indeed smell of motherwort; it seems to have been added with the needle and thread?"

Li Jing spoke slowly, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

Su Jingyao slowly paced around the palace dress, her gaze carefully examining every detail, not letting go of any suspicious aspect.

At first glance, this palace dress appears to have no problems whatsoever.

If it's a problem with the needle and thread, then the silk thread used to sew this palace dress was soaked in motherwort juice when it was presented by the Imperial Household Department.

Su Jingyao pondered to herself, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Miaoxia also stepped forward, getting closer to the palace dress, and carefully examined the intricate and exquisite embroidery patterns on it.

Her eyes were fixed on the embroidery pattern, not blinking, as if afraid of missing any detail.

Suddenly, her brows furrowed, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.

"Master, the embroidery on these pieces seems different," Miaoxia said with a hint of doubt in her voice.

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao stepped forward, gently stroking the patterns on the surface of her skin with a solemn expression.

It appears that someone has covered the original stitches with new needle and thread and re-embroidered it.

If that's the case, then there's a traitor in her Xiyan Palace!

A hint of coldness flashed in Su Jingyao's eyes, but her face remained calm.

He sat back on the couch, rested the soft pillow under his waist, and lay half-reclined, his body slightly leaning back, looking somewhat languid.

"Miaoxia, bring in any palace maids who are skilled at embroidery. I'd like to know who would do something like this right under my nose."

Her eyes were sharp when she spoke, making people hesitant to approach her.

Miaoxia thought for a moment, and realized that the only people in Xiyan Palace with good embroidery skills were Ru'er and Meng'er.

She brought the two of them in.

"This servant greets the concubine."

Ru'er and Meng'er bowed, their voices filled with respect and nervousness.

"Get up. I called you in because Miaoxia said you are good at embroidery. I wanted to embroider a purse for His Highness myself, but unfortunately I am pregnant and it is inconvenient. Today I wanted to see your embroidery skills."

Su Jingyao's voice was calm and gentle as she continued, "Whichever of you two embroiders better will embroider a purse for His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Miaoxia, take two embroidered handkerchiefs and have the two of them embroider a cloud. Let's take a look at their skills."

After giving the instructions, Su Jingyao's gaze fell on Ru'er and Meng'er, her eyes filled with kind expectation.

Upon hearing this, Ru'er and Meng'er showed surprise on their faces, and a hint of joy flashed in their eyes.

This is a purse embroidered for His Highness the Crown Prince. If His Highness likes it, he will receive many rewards, and may even get to show off in front of him!

The two were secretly delighted and filled with anticipation for this rare opportunity.

The two women took the embroidery pattern prepared by Miaoxia, their hands trembling slightly, and began to carefully sew stitch by stitch.

They were completely absorbed, their fingers moving nimbly as if weaving a beautiful dream.

Fifteen minutes later, Miaoxia took the embroidery pattern from the two of them, carefully examined their stitches, and scrutinized the way the knot was tied at the end.

"Ru'er, your embroidery is quite good. You can stay. Meng'er, you still need to practice your needlework skills. You can leave now," Miaoxia said, her voice carrying a hint of authority.

Meng'er pursed her lips, a hint of disappointment and resentment in her eyes, and gently bit her lip.

She sighed inwardly, lamenting that her embroidery skills had been inferior to Ru'er's, and that such a good opportunity had been lost.

She slowly bowed and then silently withdrew from the hall.

Ru'er's lips curled up slightly, a smile playing on her lips, her heart filled with pride and joy.

She actually got to embroider a purse for His Highness the Crown Prince! Such an opportunity was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for her!

This could greatly enhance her status among the palace maids in the Eastern Palace.

When Su Jingyao saw that Miaoxia had kept Ru'er, she understood everything.

This palace maid named Ru'er must have tied her knots in the same way as the embroidery on her palace dress. Although the embroidery patterns on palace dresses are all copied from the original embroidery patterns, each person's knotting method may be different.

It just so happens that Ru'er and Meng'er are wearing matching knots; Ru'er's knotting style matches the one on her palace dress.

While Ru'er was still immersed in her joy, Su Jingyao's indifferent gaze suddenly turned sharp, sweeping towards her like a sharp sword.

"Did you embroider the new embroidery on this palace dress?"

As he spoke, he pointed to the palace attire beside him.

Ru'er shuddered, her body instantly stiffening as if she had been frozen in place.

But she quickly suppressed her nervousness, knelt down, and said, "My lady, this servant doesn't know what you're talking about?"

She lowered her head, making it impossible to see her expression.

Su Jingyao only needed that one moment of physical reaction to confirm her guess.

Clearly, the mouse was not mistaken.