Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Yichun Palace.

Chu Meiren (Chu Yinxue) held her head high, her chin slightly raised, with an arrogant and haughty expression.

Her delicate features were full of arrogance, as if the whole world revolved around her.

As an elder of the Eastern Palace, Lady Shangguan (Shangguan Yi) was only a concubine after His Majesty ascended the throne. She came from an ordinary family, had no favor, and her rank was also ordinary. What right did she have to argue and quarrel with him here?

"Consort Chu, the flower room delivered several pots of flowers today, and you've already taken most of them. I just ordered a maid to bring the crabapple blossoms into the palace, but you immediately ordered her to take them to the Jade Hall Palace. What is the reason for this?"

Lady Shangguan frowned, her eyes filled with grievance.

She had never been favored by the Emperor when she was in the Eastern Palace. After the Emperor ascended the throne, she only thought about living a peaceful and secluded life in a corner.

However, ever since Consort Chu entered Yichun Palace, no matter what good things the Imperial Household Department distributed to Yichun Palace, Consort Chu would forcefully snatch them away.

Today, it was because Chu Meiren went too far that she could no longer tolerate it and started arguing with her.

But Chu Mei came from a good family and was on good terms with Lin Ronghua, so she really didn't know what to do.

Finally, remembering Consort Chunshu's good reputation in the Eastern Palace, he secretly sent his personal maid, Yanhua, to Zhaochun Palace to invite someone.

Lin Ronghua (Lin Miaoyin), who was standing nearby, came to see Chu Meiren today because they had arranged to have tea at the Imperial Garden.

Although Lin Ronghua knew that Consort Chu was jealous of her promotion, there was only one Emperor, and which woman in the harem wouldn't be jealous?

As Consort Chunshu said, Consort Chu is not His Majesty's type, so she can get along well with Consort Chu.

At least Consort Chu won't steal His Majesty's favor.

"Lady Shangguan, the flower shop also sent some crabapple blossoms to my Liushuang Pavilion today. Shall I have the palace servants bring them over and give them to you?"

Lin Ronghua smiled and offered her suggestion in a soft voice.

Upon hearing this, Chu Meiren's face immediately showed disgust. She frowned and pursed her lips.

"Lady Shangguan should really consider whether she can afford Lin Ronghua's possessions."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Meiren's face immediately showed a humiliated expression. She tightly gripped the handkerchief in her hand, and her knuckles turned slightly white.

Even if Lin Ronghua were to send it to her, she would absolutely not accept it; her condescending tone sounded so hypocritical.

"Keep Lin Ronghua's flowers for herself. I cannot afford them. Although I am only a Beauty, among the concubines, I have only ever received gifts from the Noble Consort and the Pure Consort. As for Lin Ronghua..."

Shangguan Meiren's anger grew stronger because of their sarcastic words, and she couldn't help but retort.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ronghua was slightly taken aback, and a look of astonishment flashed across her face. She clearly hadn't expected to be ridiculed.

Chu Meiren frowned, a hint of anger flashing in her eyes, and she raised her hand to shove Shangguan Meiren.

He shouted angrily, "Who do you think you are, daring to speak like that!"

Caught off guard by the sudden push, Shangguan Meiren staggered several times, her body swaying as she nearly fell.

After regaining her footing, her face was filled with indignation, and she glared angrily, saying, "You...you've gone too far! Now that Consort Chunshu is in charge of the Palace Affairs Department, I will definitely make Consort Chunshu uphold justice!"

Just then, Su Jingyao stepped into Yichun Palace and happened to hear Consort Shangguan's words.

"What matter requires my intervention to uphold justice?"

The voice drifted over from afar, and one could hear it before seeing the person.

Upon hearing this voice, both Lin Ronghua and Consort Chu felt their hearts skip a beat. They truly hadn't expected Consort Chunshu to suddenly appear in Yichun Palace.

Shangguan Meiren immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Consort Chunshu would certainly not let such an arrogant and domineering person as Consort Chu go unpunished.

"This humble concubine greets Your Highness, the Pure and Virtuous Consort. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

The three fell silent instantly, and when they saw Su Jingyao walk in, they quickly bowed.

"Get up," Su Jingyao said calmly.

When she came out, she was followed by a large group of palace maids and eunuchs. As soon as the eunuchs arrived at Yichun Palace, they quickly brought over a grand chair and gently placed it behind Su Jingyao.

After Su Jingyao sat down, her face was as calm as water, and her eyes revealed a hint of indifference.

"What are you three doing?" The tone carried an undeniable air of authority, as if it could intimidate anyone.

Before Shangguan Meiren could speak, Chu Meiren spoke first.

"Your Majesty, you must stand up for me! Consort Shangguan, relying on her status as an elder of the Eastern Palace, dared to speak so disrespectfully to Consort Lin."

As Chu Meiren spoke, a wronged expression appeared on her face.

"Although Lin Ronghua has only been in the palace for a short time, her rank is still higher than that of Consort Shangguan. How could Consort Shangguan be so disregarding palace rules?"

Upon hearing Chu Meiren's words, Shangguan Meiren's eyes widened in astonishment.

She never expected that Lady Chu would be so eloquent!

Is this the adaptability of women from aristocratic families? They can even turn black into white.

She bit her lip, hesitant to speak, her face full of anger.

Su Jingyao turned her gaze to Lin Ronghua.

"Lin Ronghua, is what Consort Chu said true?"

Lin Ronghua frowned slightly, her delicate eyebrows furrowing, a hint of hesitation flashing across her face. At this moment, she was already on the same side as Chu Meiren.

After thinking for a moment, he nodded slightly.

"Your Majesty, it was Consort Chu and Consort Lin who first made sarcastic remarks about me. I did not disrespect them. Moreover, Consort Chu has been fighting with me for food lately. A consort's rank only allows for three meat dishes, but Consort Chu always takes them all. The flowers delivered from the flower room today were also..."

As Shangguan Meiren spoke, the grievances in her heart grew stronger. Her eyes gradually reddened, tears welled up in them, and her voice began to choke.

"Beauty Chu, is what Beauty Shangguan said true?" Su Jingyao asked calmly.

"Your Majesty, it was the Imperial Kitchen that brought the food to my Jade Hall Palace. This has nothing to do with me. If Consort Shangguan is so concerned, why didn't she tell me sooner? I would have given it to her."

Chu Meiren had an innocent expression on her face and spoke calmly.

"The same goes for the flowers delivered by the flower shop; they didn't specify who they were for."

Chu Meiren was not flustered at all. She and Shangguan Meiren were of equal rank, and what Shangguan Meiren was talking about was nothing more than trivial matters.

However, Lady Shangguan's behavior towards Lin Ronghua did indeed seem disrespectful to her.

Although Consort Chu was also jealous of Consort Lin's favor, it was always necessary to stick together in the harem. Since His Majesty did not like her appearance, as long as Consort Lin was favored, His Majesty would not forget her if she befriended Consort Lin.

Su Jingyao remained calm, merely glancing at the three of them before slowly saying, "Finished?"

None of the three expected Consort Chunshu to have such an attitude, and they were all somewhat bewildered for a moment.

What does Consort Chunshu mean by saying this?

Su Jingyao continued unhurriedly, "Do the three of you still want to change your testimonies?"

Her fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair, the rhythm steady, with a hint of nonchalance.

All three shook their heads with a hint of confusion, and Lin Ronghua felt a little uneasy.

Seeing that they didn't react, Su Jingyao began to give instructions.

"Miaoyun, bring all the palace servants of Yichun Palace into the side hall one by one for interrogation. During this time, Xilu, keep a close watch on everyone and do not allow anyone to whisper or collude."

"Any question asked by Miaoyun should be answered by the majority; if there is any deviation, the person should be sent to the Department of Cautious Punishment."

"Yes, Master," Xilu and Miaoyun replied in unison.

Consort Chu and Lin Ronghua looked astonished; they never expected Consort Chun Shu to make such a fuss over nothing.

Moreover, their actions were so swift and decisive that they didn't give them any chance to object.

Chu Meiren became increasingly flustered. Apart from those who served her closely and were relatively loyal, what would the other palace servants in Yichun Palace say?

Moreover, with Consort Chunshu's sudden interrogation and the fact that they hadn't coordinated their statements beforehand, they were likely to give the least accurate answer and be sent directly to the Department of Cautious Punishment.

Even the palace maids who served her closely might not be willing to lie.

After all, apart from Jingxiang, the others were all assigned by the Imperial Household Department after entering the harem.

Thinking about it this way, it seems that the safest thing for the palace servants to do to protect themselves is to tell the truth.

But... she really did bully Shangguan Meiren...

Chu Meiren clenched her teeth tightly. She had thought that Consort Chunshu was a gentle and kind beauty, but she never expected her to be so impartial and strict in handling official business.

The happiest person at this moment was Consort Shangguan. Fortunately, she invited Consort Chunshu. If it had been Consort Gui, she would have just interrogated a few palace maids.

However, most of the palace maids were greedy for money, and many of them had already been bribed by Consort Chu.

But if Consort Chunshu were to act in this way, would those palace servants who had received money still be willing to gamble with their lives?

Su Jingyao sat leisurely in the chair, and a palace maid poured her a cup of tea with great care. Lin Ronghua and Consort Chu stood to one side with worried expressions, while Consort Shangguan stood calmly on the other side.

Fifteen minutes later, Miaoyun's interrogation ended.

"My lord, a concubine's rank should be three meat dishes and three vegetable dishes, but Concubine Chu's meals these past few days have been five meat dishes and four vegetable dishes, while Concubine Shangguan's are one meat dish and two vegetable dishes. The Imperial Household Department has allocated five ounces each of yellow and black tea to each of the concubines, but Concubine Shangguan has received even less, and there's more..."

Miaoyun then recounted many more minor details.

The more Chu Meiren listened, the more terrified she became. How could a palace maid ask such detailed and nuanced questions!

"My lord, although some palace servants do not know the answers to certain questions, overall, I have obtained the answers to the questions I asked."

"Shangguan Meiren did not show any disrespect to Lin Ronghua or Chu Meiren; on the contrary, it was Chu Meiren who pushed Shangguan Meiren."

After Miaoyun finished speaking, Su Jingyao's gaze fell on Chu Meiren and Lin Ronghua.

"Consort Chu will give half of her monthly allowance to Consort Shangguan for three consecutive months, and will also copy the palace rules twenty times and send them to Zhaochun Palace in five days."

"Lin Ronghua has slandered a lower-ranking official. She shall copy the palace rules ten times and be sent to Zhaochun Palace in three days."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Lin Ronghua, with tears in her eyes, silently accepted her punishment, feeling extremely wronged.

Consort Chu gritted her teeth, but was powerless to refute, and could only reluctantly reply, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Only Lady Shangguan was in a particularly good mood.

"This humble servant thanks Your Highness for handling the matter impartially."

Then Su Jingyao stood up, preparing to leave. After taking a few steps, she turned around and continued speaking.

"Any palace servants whose results do not match the final outcome will be sent to the Censorate for an hour before being returned."

Jingxiang, who was standing next to Chu Meiren, turned pale with fright and looked at Chu Meiren with a look of terror on her face, as if she were begging for help.

Consort Chu hurriedly cried out, "Your Majesty, please forgive her! Jingxiang is my personal maid, she only..."

For a moment, Chu Meiren was at a loss for words to defend herself.

His eloquence from just moments before vanished completely, and he panicked.

"Consort Chu, I detest filth the most. Everything will be done according to the rules. I have already confirmed with the three of you before the interrogation and also told the palace servants what the punishment will be."

"The final outcome is a matter of personal choice, and I will not interfere. Since I am in charge of the Palace Administration Department, I will naturally act impartially and ensure that orders are obeyed."

After saying that, Su Jingyao turned and left gracefully.