Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

"Miaoxia, come and do my makeup with something light."

Su Jingyao tilted her head slightly, blinked her eyes, and spoke softly before adding something else.

"Also, find that light blue feather brocade wide-sleeved fitted dress that His Majesty sent me before."

Upon hearing this, Miaoxia showed a look of surprise on her face, her eyes filled with doubt.

He couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, are you going to the Qianqing Palace to see His Majesty?"

"Um."

Su Jingyao gave a soft "hmm," then frowned, putting on an extremely aggrieved expression, with tears glistening in her eyes, looking utterly pitiful.

"I've been investigating the case all day, it's been so exhausting, and yet I've ended up getting splashed with dirty water myself. I'm so miserable, I naturally have to seek comfort from His Majesty."

Miaoxia looked at her mistress's expression and chuckled inwardly, knowing that her mistress was putting on an act again.

But she still cooperated and said, "Yes, my lady has had it so hard. I really feel sorry for her."

"I will definitely give you a clear, innocent, and pitiful makeup look, especially your eyes. I will carefully apply them according to the method you taught me before."

Su Jingyao's lips curled up slightly, revealing a sly smile.

Miaoxia is getting cuter and cuter.

She then sat down at the dressing table, gently placed her hand on the table, and tilted her head slightly to signal Miaoxia to begin dressing her.

After carefully dressing up, Su Jingyao sat gracefully in the sedan chair and headed to the Qianqing Palace.

Upon arriving at the gate of Qianqing Palace, the eunuch's face immediately lit up with a bright smile as he saw Consort Chunshu. He hurried forward, bowing extremely low.

He said respectfully, "This servant greets Consort Chunshu. His Majesty has instructed that if you arrive, you may simply enter."

With a smile on her lips, Su Jingyao nodded slightly, then lifted her skirt and slowly walked into the hall.

At this moment, Jun Zechen was sitting upright at his desk, his expression focused and serious, his vermilion pen occasionally making annotations on the memorial.

Su Jingyao stood not far away, took a deep breath, tried hard to hold back the tears in her eyes, and then slowly wiped the smile off her face.

A poignant sadness gradually appeared on her delicate face.

She moved gracefully and slowly toward Jun Zechen, bowing slightly when she reached him.

The voice was so soft it seemed to drift away on the wind, carrying a hazy sense of grievance.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

"Get up. Yao Yao came to Qianqing Palace so willingly today?"

Jun Zechen didn't notice the unusual tone in her voice. He paused writing with his cinnabar brush, a faint smile playing on his lips, and asked jokingly.

Su Jingyao lowered her head slightly and didn't say anything, making her look exceptionally endearing.

Jun Zechen then noticed that her mood seemed a little off, so he put down the memorial in his hand and began to carefully examine her.

Today, she wore a light blue dress, looking as ethereal and graceful as a fairy descending to earth.

Her hair was simply half-tied up, with the long hair hanging down and tied in the middle with a hair ribbon of the same color, adding a touch of softness.

Her eyelashes drooped slightly and trembled gently, as if she had been wronged.

"Come here, what's wrong?"

Jun Zechen asked softly, his tone tinged with concern.

Su Jingyao slowly walked up to him, her lips pressed tightly together, as if she was trying her best to hold back her tears.

Jun Zechen turned to the side and looked up at her, his brows furrowing tightly. Then he reached out and put his arm around her waist, gently pulling her into his embrace.

After Su Jingyao sat on his lap, she gently rested her head on the crook of his neck, still without saying a word, just holding him tightly, as if he were her only support.

"Since you've come to see me, why don't you say a word? Is there anyone in the harem who can make my Yao Yao suffer?"

Jun Zechen held the delicate woman in his arms, and her helpless dependence stirred up a feeling of pity and heartache in his heart.

"I no longer wish to investigate the case..."

Su Jingyao's voice was very soft, and at this moment it was clearly tinged with sobs. It was so soft and sweet that it made people's hearts melt.

"Fine, I won't investigate then. I'll go talk to the Empress Dowager. Why did you make her cry while investigating a case?"

Jun Zechen gently stroked her waist, his voice tender.

"Did you find anything today?"

"Your Majesty, I can't even manage the people in my own palace. It was all Ping'er in my palace who poisoned the Consort. It's my fault. I am now a suspect myself and have no right to investigate the case."

Su Jingyao's voice was full of grievance and self-blame, and her slightly trembling tone made people feel particularly sorry for her.

Jun Zechen's brows furrowed immediately. How could he be involved with Yao Yao?

"Anshun, bring me today's case records of Consort Chunshu. I want to take a look." His eyes darkened instantly, and his expression became extremely serious. He turned to Anshun, who was standing beside him, and gave the order.

He then lowered his head slightly and said softly, "What are you afraid of? Don't I know you well enough? You were willing to risk your life to save the Imperial Concubine while you were pregnant. Would you really poison her?"

As he spoke, his gaze was fixed intently on Su Jingyao, filled with a hint of doting affection.

"Moreover, the day the Imperial Concubine was poisoned was also Yao Yao's birthday. I believe Yao Yao would not do such a thing."

Jun Zechen's eyes showed even more doting affection, as if Su Jingyao were the most precious treasure in his palm.

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao's aggrieved face revealed a look of joy.

"I am very happy that Your Majesty trusts me."

"Yesterday, I carefully examined the timeline of the disappearance of Consort An's dowry items, and Consort An has been completely cleared of suspicion."

She frowned slightly, a hint of distress in her expression, and continued, "However, I am now implicated, and I don't know how to proceed with the investigation..."

She bit her lower lip lightly, "Even if we investigate further, I fear that Your Highness will think I am being unfair."

When Jun Zechen heard that Consort An had been completely cleared of suspicion, his brows furrowed instantly.

He originally didn't want to suspect Ling Yue, but...

If Ling Yue framed Consort An, he would just turn a blind eye.

Could it be that she wants to drag Yao Yao down with her?

Thinking of this, Jun Zechen's dark eyes became even more unfathomable, like an endless abyss, staring straight ahead, making it impossible for anyone to fathom his thoughts at this moment.

A short while later, Anshun presented the records he had obtained from the Palace Attendant.

Jun Zechen reached out, took the record, and began to read it carefully.

Qin'er was probably the palace maid who had access to the Consort's meals that day. She had arranged to meet Ping'er from Zhaochun Palace that evening and was also found to have buried ebony powder.

They actually said that Yao Yao and Ping'er conspired to frame her, a palace maid.

Jun Zechen's eyes darkened instantly, and his face turned somewhat gloomy.

Seeing that he had looked at them for a while, Su Jingyao pursed her lips slightly and said softly, "Your Majesty, I have already taken Ping'er and Qin'er to the Imperial Prison for interrogation. If I were to intervene at this time, it would be unfair. I would rather let the female officials of the Imperial Prison conduct the interrogation."

After saying that, her eyes showed a hint of worry and unease.

"These two palace maids might suffer a bit once they enter the Imperial Prison."

"It's alright. These two palace maids have impure intentions. Whatever they did in secret, they must be severely punished. Yao Yao did a good job."

Jun Zechen's voice was calm, but his words conveyed his approval of her handling of the matter.

Just then, Fuquan walked in.

He bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine requests an audience."

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao immediately said, "Your Majesty, then this concubine will return first."

After saying that, she got off Jun Zechen's lap and made a move to leave.

"Why leave? Since you're here, stay in Qianqing Palace tonight and grind ink for me."

Jun Zechen's tone was unquestionable.

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao gave him a playful glare, her eyes full of reproach.

"Yes, Your Majesty only knows how to order me around."

She walked to the side of the table, stretched out her delicate hand, and began to grind ink for him.

Su Jingyao's eyelashes drooped slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.

She guessed that Ling Yue would be anxious because Qin'er was imprisoned in the Shenxing Division, but she didn't expect him to come directly to Qianqing Palace so quickly.

However, it's understandable, since Ling Yue herself poisoned him, and Qin'er was an accomplice.

She was naturally afraid that Qin'er would be interrogated in the Censorate and something would be revealed.

It's likely that the Imperial Concubine prevented Anshun from investigating Qin'er that day.

When the Imperial Concubine entered, she immediately saw Jun Zechen sitting on the dragon throne, and Consort Chunshu grinding ink beside him.

The atmosphere between the two seemed to be one of mutual affection and tenderness.

The imperial concubine held her hands in front of her, her thumbs tightly clenched into her palms, and the veins on the back of her hands bulged slightly.

A flicker of pain and resentment crossed her face; she still couldn't accept that her husband had changed his mind and fallen in love with someone else.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Ling Yue bowed slightly in greeting.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to the Noble Consort." Su Jingyao also bowed to Ling Yue, her movements elegant and graceful.

"Rise, Your Highness. What brings you here?" Jun Zechen asked calmly, his expression indifferent.

"Your Majesty, I have come today to request that you release my maid, Qin'er, from the Censorate."

Ling Yue raised her head and met Jun Zechen's gaze, her eyes filled with a hint of pleading, her eyes slightly reddening, as if she were about to shed tears at any moment.

Upon hearing this, Jun Zechen frowned and glanced at the woman beside him.

She lowered her head further, her thick, fan-like eyelashes fluttering gently, like a barrier that completely blocked out all the emotions in her eyes.

However, with just one glance, he knew that Yao Yao must be heartbroken.

"Your Highness, I personally ordered Qin'er to be imprisoned and interrogated in the Imperial Prison."

Jun Zechen spoke calmly and in a steady tone.

Upon hearing this, Ling Yue's eyes widened in shock, and she stared at him in disbelief.

Then he turned his gaze to Su Jingyao, who was standing silently to the side.

Is he really going to such lengths to protect Consort Chunshu?

Consort Chunshu was clearly abusing her power for personal gain, and had her palace maid sent to the Department of Cautious Punishment without any reason.

She was the one who was poisoned; she was the victim. So why was her palace maid imprisoned? What is the logic behind this?

Even with her head down, Su Jingyao could almost feel Ling Yue's anger.

Since she wanted to provoke Ling Yue, she naturally wouldn't tell her the reason why Qin'er was imprisoned, much less that Ping'er had also been imprisoned in the Shenxing Division.

Ling Yue tried her best to suppress the anger and uncontrollable jealousy in her heart.

Her eyes reddened, tears welled up, and her voice was filled with grievance as she cried out, "Your Majesty, I have been poisoned. I do not ask you to punish anyone, but why did you imprison my maid in the Imperial Prison?"

"I suspect that you, the palace maid, are the real culprit who poisoned you, so I'm taking you to the Imperial Prison for interrogation. This is for your own good."

Jun Zechen stared at her with calm, unwavering eyes. A flicker of panic flashed in Ling Yue's eyes, but it vanished as quickly as a shooting star.

Jun Zechen continued unhurriedly, "Perhaps this Qin'er is a spy planted in your palace by another palace. If she stays in your palace, wouldn't you be in danger every day?"

Ling Yue breathed a slight sigh of relief when she heard that Jun Zechen had not suspected her.

She then asked impatiently, "Your Majesty, may I know what evidence Your Majesty has to confirm that Qin'er is related to my poisoning?"

Her eyes were filled with urgency as she stared intently at Jun Zechen.