Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Su Jingyao struggled to break free from the man's embrace, as if a light butterfly had landed on him.

Her figure was slightly unsteady, swaying as she walked step by step toward the bedchamber.

Jun Zechen's deep eyes were fixed on her back. He took a few quick steps forward, stretched out his broad arms, and easily picked her up in his arms.

"Let go, I want to get down, I don't want you to carry me!"

Su Jingyao kept pushing him with her small hands, and her slender legs kept kicking wildly, as if she was venting her dissatisfaction.

Jun Zechen's large hands held her tightly, as if they were made of iron.

"Yaoyao, be good. I was wrong today and made you sad."

After Jun Zechen entered the bedroom, he placed the person on the bed and then ordered someone to bring in a hangover soup.

Su Jingyao sat on the bed angrily, hugging her knees tightly with her arms, glaring at him fiercely with her beautiful eyes.

Jun Zechen sighed softly as he looked at her like this.

Instead of feeling angry, she felt even more affection.

He lifted her onto his lap and patiently coaxed her, his deep voice constantly ringing in Su Jingyao's ears.

She remained silent throughout.

Although she was acting today, she had indeed drunk quite a bit of alcohol, and her head was a little dizzy at the moment.

When you get too immersed in a role, it feels like you're actually angry.

Miaoyun brought over the hangover soup, and Jun Zechen took it and whispered in her ear to coax her to drink it.

"I won't drink it."

Seeing that he insisted on making her drink the soup that smelled terrible, Su Jingyao started to writhe and struggle against him again.

She won't drink it.

Jun Zechen knew she was a little drunk, and he was helpless to stop her from acting so unruly.

"Be good and drink the hangover soup. Do you want to have a headache tomorrow, Yao Yao?"

Su Jingyao was getting increasingly annoyed by him. The hangover soup in the harem was made with ginger, licorice, and sandalwood powder, and the taste was really not very good.

"It tastes awful, I don't want to drink it."

She swung her hand sharply, knocking over the bowl the man was bringing to her lips.

The bowl rolled off the footstool by the bed with a clatter, rolling all the way to the floor, spilling the water into the soft carpet.

Su Jingyao and Jun Zechen both seemed a little stunned by this sudden situation.

Su Jingyao looked somewhat bewildered.

Jun Zechen stared straight at her with his dark, inky eyes. No one had ever dared to be so presumptuous towards him before.

A wave of panic washed over Su Jingyao, and the commotion sobered her up considerably.

The moment the medicine bowl fell to the ground, Miaoyun's whole body trembled violently, and then she knelt down with lightning speed.

Head bowed, as if trying to shrink himself into a ball to minimize his presence.

His Majesty might not treat his own master badly, but he would show no mercy to her.

At this point, it's best to minimize your presence.

Su Jingyao blinked her thick eyelashes gently, feeling the man pinching her waist painfully.

The expression on her face instantly turned extremely aggrieved, looking just like a wounded fawn.

Jun Zechen looked at her quietly for a while, without feeling much anger.

He, the emperor, is he really going to argue with a drunken young woman?

Then, he said slowly, "Miaoyun, bring another bowl of hangover soup."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Miaoyun replied hastily, then quickly withdrew.

When Miaoyun brought over the hangover soup again, Jun Zechen took it, his voice carrying a hint of coercion.

"Will you drink it yourself, Yao Yao, or will I feed it to you?"

After regaining some of her senses, Su Jingyao silently took the medicine bowl from his hands.

With her small face tightly furrowed, she drank the hangover soup in the bowl in one gulp, as if facing death.

After she finished drinking, she handed the medicine bowl to Miaoyun.

Jun Zechen breathed a slight sigh of relief when he saw that she obediently drank the hangover soup.

"Are you hungry? Would you like some food? You usually like to eat flower cakes, I'll have someone make some right away."

Su Jingyao gently shook her head. "I'm sleepy."

After saying that, Su Jingyao slowly got off his lap, shrank into the quilt, turned her back to him, and covered herself up completely.

Jun Zechen called Fu Quan in to help him wash up before gently lifting a corner of the blanket and lying down.

Then, he reached out and pulled her into his arms, hugging her from behind.

"Are you asleep?"

Jun Zechen's voice was deep and gentle. Although he asked in such a soft voice, he knew in his heart that she was not asleep.

Su Jingyao was indeed not asleep. Her bright eyes were open. After hearing his question, she gently shook her head but did not speak.

"It's my fault for making Yao Yao sad today."

He didn't even know how many times he'd said "I'm not good" tonight, but he didn't know how else to comfort her.

Su Jingyao was not swayed by his words, but closed her eyes.

Seeing her like this, Jun Zechen didn't know what to say for a moment.

He broke his promise to her, and it was indeed because of Ling Yue.

Although he had promised Ling Yue that he wouldn't touch other women, his mindset at the time was simply because he extremely disliked the pretentious and affected women in the capital.

He simply doesn't like to get involved with people he doesn't like.

Later he realized that women were just tools for him to continue the royal bloodline, so it was okay to favor them.

He doesn't care how many women he has, or whether they are jealous or envious.

But her heartbroken appearance just now made him not want to mention any other women in front of her, including Ling Yue.

She will be unhappy.

Jun Zechen gently sniffed her hair, lost in thought.

This was the first time he had ever felt so lost, not knowing how to explain or how to comfort her.

Time ticked by, and the candlelight in the bedchamber had burned down to half its original intensity.

Jun Zechen still held her tightly from behind, even though the two of them were pressed so closely together at that moment.

But he felt that the distance between the two of them was incredibly vast, as if separated by a cold barrier.

He knew she hadn't fallen asleep; the light and shadow on the wall clearly showed that her eyelashes were still trembling slightly.

It was almost midnight, and in the utterly silent bedchamber, Jun Zechen's deep voice slowly rose.

"Is Yao Yao still unable to sleep?"

"Is it almost midnight?" Su Jingyao's voice sounded calm and distant.

"Um."

Jun Zechen responded softly, somewhat surprised that she had actually spoken.

You're not angry anymore?

Su Jingyao slowly turned around, her calm eyes meeting Jun Zechen's gaze directly.

"Your Majesty's birthday has passed. Please go to Yikun Palace. There is no need for Your Majesty to force yourself to accompany me."

Su Jingyao spoke with a blank expression and an unusually calm tone.

Upon hearing her words, Jun Zechen's expression instantly turned cold, as if covered with a layer of frost.

Do you know what you're saying?

His voice was icy cold, carrying a chill like shards of ice, seemingly capable of freezing a person instantly.

"Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine have always known that you and the Imperial Concubine are a harmonious couple. Yesterday was my birthday, and I hoped that I could have Your Majesty yesterday. It was my wishful thinking, and I know I was wrong."

"Your Majesty need not come to Zhaochun Palace just because of a promise you made to me."

Su Jingyao's voice remained calm, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her.

"Now that Your Majesty has arrived, I do not wish for you to be a man of your word. My birthday has passed, Your Majesty should return to Yikun Palace."

"Your Majesty does not wish to go against your own conscience because of me."

She paused, then continued, "I will no longer have any expectations. I overstepped my bounds yesterday, Your Majesty, please forgive me."

After saying that, Su Jingyao gently got out of bed.

Jun Zechen frowned deeply; her string of words was like a sharp blade, piercing straight into his heart.

It caused him immense heartache and anger.

Is that really what she thinks of him?!

He was thinking about her even in Yikun Palace, and couldn't wait to come to Zhaochun Palace to be with her, not because of any so-called promise!

And what does it mean that she no longer has any expectations?

Jun Zechen was overwhelmed with emotion by her words, and his chest even began to heave violently.

His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and the air pressure around him was frighteningly low.

Su Jingyao took an outer garment from the clothes rack, slowly draped it over her shoulders, and then bowed slightly, performing a standard curtsy.

"Your Majesty, if you feel it is too late tonight and do not wish to go to Yikun Palace to disturb the Imperial Concubine's rest, then the bedchamber will be reserved for you."

"I am in a very bad mood today and I am afraid that I may have offended you by accident, so I will go to sleep in the side hall. I will take my leave now."

After saying that, she didn't wait for Jun Zechen's reply, and completely ignored his increasingly dark complexion, which was as black as the bottom of a pot.

He turned and walked outside.

Jun Zechen's gaze instantly turned icy cold, like two beams of cold light, and he coldly shouted, "Come back! Did I say you could leave?"

Upon hearing his words, Su Jingyao had no choice but to stop in her tracks, for who could blame her but the emperor?

Who would dare disobey his orders?

Su Jingyao's hands were tightly clasped together in front of her, her knuckles turning white.

She never turned around, and the two remained frozen in place, a tense atmosphere hanging in the air.

Jun Zechen strode off the bed with a gloomy face, each step carrying an imposing aura.

He quickly walked up to her, then picked her up without saying a word, his movements somewhat rough.

"Release me!"

Jun Zechen's strength was far beyond her ability to resist; he simply threw her back onto the soft bed.

He stood by the bed, looking down at her coldly, his eyes filled with authority and indifference.

"Yes, I was wrong today, but I am truly worried about the Imperial Concubine's poisoning. I also fear that someone in the harem might plot against her."

"I fear that, like the previous times, the Imperial Concubine will be framed and powerless to fight back, so I am anxious to find out the truth today, which is why I did not accompany you out of the palace."

"It is indeed because of the Imperial Concubine that I arrived late tonight."

He paused, then continued, "She is my first wife, and you are the one I love. I never want to hurt either of you."

Originally, as the emperor, he did not want to say these words aloud, but if he didn't say them, this woman would think that way about him.

"Like? Your Majesty doesn't like me at all!"

Su Jingyao's voice suddenly became tearful, trembling as if it contained endless grievances.

Jun Zechen experienced all sorts of different kinds of "heartache" today.

Upon entering Zhaochun Palace, I saw her drinking alone and heard her silent accusations, realizing that I was the reason she couldn't sleep all night.

He felt a heartache as if being gnawed at by a million ants, an unbearable pain.

After that, she treated him coldly, and he could only suppress his heartache and patiently try to coax her.

At this moment, she so confidently denied him and his feelings for her, which made him so angry and heartbroken that he almost suffocated.

"Haven't I been good enough to you? After I ascended the throne, I bestowed upon you a title and made you a Consort Shu, putting you on almost equal footing with the Noble Consort."

"Your Zhaochun Palace was specially commissioned by me and meticulously prepared by the Imperial Household Department. The silks, brocades, and jewelry you like are all of the finest quality. Among all these things in the palace, you are always the first person I think of."

This woman had a greater influence on him than Ling Yue, and he devoted more time and effort to her than anyone else.

She had been pampered since childhood and lived a very luxurious life. The things he presented to her were either tributes or treasures from various cities.

But she actually said he didn't like her.

"Your birthday was yesterday, and I have carefully considered this matter before sending you something from the storeroom that you would like."

"But I don't like it!"

"The things Your Majesty sends are readily available to Your Majesty. Like me, Your Majesty has been accustomed to treasures since childhood. No matter how exquisite or magnificent the things Your Majesty bestows, they bring me neither surprise nor joy."

Jun Zechen's face was tense; this was the first time someone had so openly disliked his reward.

His deep eyes stared intently at her, like an icy pool.

Su Jingyao met his gaze without flinching.

She then lowered her head, not wanting to continue discussing the gift, and asked softly.

"Your Majesty, do you know why I haven't slept?"

Jun Zechen pursed his lips and remained silent.

"Your Majesty, I have been waiting for your birthday wishes..."

Jun Zechen's pupils contracted sharply.

She was so heartbroken that he was so focused on comforting her that he completely forgot to tell her about her birthday.

Tears welled up in Su Jingyao's eyes and fell onto the blanket like beads from a broken string.

When Jun Zechen saw her crying, his heart clenched and he hurriedly bent down.

His slender fingers gently brushed away the tears that clung to her face like pearls.

His eyes were full of tenderness as he said softly, "It's my fault. Yao Yao, tell me, whatever you want, I will grant it to you."

Su Jingyao's long eyelashes, still wet with tears, trembled slightly.

She wants to be empress, will he grant her that wish?

However, she wouldn't take the position of Empress willingly; she wanted him to offer it to her willingly.

She hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Anything is fine?"

Hearing her say that, Jun Zechen felt a little relieved.

He'll give her whatever she wants, and he'll stop throwing tantrums and getting upset.

He nodded. "Yes, whatever Yao Yao wants, I can give her."

Su Jingyao stared at him intently, her eyes resolute.

"If His Majesty does not come looking for you, His Majesty shall not be allowed to go to bed in Zhaochun Palace."

Jun Zechen looked helpless, but her gaze left him no choice but to agree.

He could only nod and reply, "Okay."

Su Jingyao calmed herself down.

"Your Majesty, I love butterfly koi. I've heard that these fish are all white, with long, numerous fins that flow gracefully like butterfly wings, and their scales display iridescent colors in the sunlight. They are very beautiful."

"I've seen it in the 'Tales of Strange Beasts' in my father's study, and I'd like to keep it in the palace. What do you think, Your Majesty, if you could find one for me?"

When Su Jingyao first happened to see an introduction to butterfly koi in the book, she was filled with curiosity.

They spent a lot of money to have people search for it, but they couldn't find it.

Her curiosity stemmed from the fact that butterfly koi are now artificially bred, and there are no wild butterfly koi at all.

Top-quality butterfly koi are beautiful and elegant, making them a highly prized ornamental fish.

She really likes it.

Moreover, butterfly carp have extremely high requirements for their ecological environment. Even if you find one, bringing it back to the capital alive would probably not be an easy task.

Since Jun Zechen stood her up on her birthday, how could she not give him a good beating?

Does he think women are so easy to coax?

Jun Zechen frowned slightly; he had never even heard of the butterfly koi.

But it doesn't matter. As long as this thing exists, how could he not find it?

His eyes were firm, and he said decisively, "Fine, whatever Yao Yao wants, I will bring it to you."

"Then Your Majesty should return to the Qianqing Palace," Su Jingyao said calmly.

Butterfly Carp is nowhere to be seen, so naturally she can't let him into her bed.

Playing hard to get, maintaining a push-and-pull relationship, is what makes people so agonizing.

Things that are too easily obtained are rarely cherished.

Jun Zechen was stunned for a moment. Wasn't she no longer angry?