Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Jun Zechen kept hearing the words his mother had said to him back then.

"Does the Crown Prince only feel satisfied if Consort Su's unborn child becomes a sacrifice in the Crown Princess's rise to power?!"

He closed his eyes, but the words kept echoing in his mind, refusing to leave.

Jun Zechen suppressed his anger and, after a long while, slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the kneeling, weeping concubine with sharp eyes.

There was not a shred of sympathy.

He sat back down in his chair, his voice calm and even, as if his anger had been completely suppressed.

"Your Highness, I've told you before that my heart has changed. It's my fault. Don't direct your resentment at Consort Chun Shu."

"I don't know if you tampered with Consort Chunshu's palace attire, but as one of the four consorts, Consort Chunshu's palace attire should have been the responsibility of either Minister Chen or Minister Li, or at least one of the four departments of the Imperial Clothing Bureau."

He paused, his eyes growing even colder.

"If it weren't for your instruction, would the Imperial Clothing Bureau have treated Consort Chunshu's palace attire with such disdain? They even went so far as to replace the brocade quilt that Consort Chunshu herself sent to the Imperial Clothing Bureau?"

There are some things he didn't point out, not because he didn't know them, but because he wanted to turn a blind eye.

But Ling Yue is going too far!

"Whether Consort Chunshu's embroidery pattern was poisoned by you, I can no longer be sure. We must wait for Anshun to find out."

Jun Zechen's voice fell like a thunderbolt.

The imperial concubine was struck hard by his words. She raised her head, her face filled with despair.

He no longer believed her...

"Yes, it's all Your Majesty's fault. I should hate you, but you are the emperor. How can I hate you?"

"I can't hit you, I can't scold you, I can only watch helplessly as you dote on Consort Chun Shu more and more! Watching you two become happier and happier, is that it?"

Her voice rose higher and higher, finally bordering on hysteria: "Isn't His Majesty being too cruel to me!"

Jun Zechen looked at her expressionlessly, but a hint of anger burned in his eyes.

"My lord, I am the emperor. Did you really not consider this issue when you married me?"

He spoke slowly, his tone as cold as a sharp sword, "Now that things have come to this, has it been me who has changed, or is the you I know not the real you?"

His eyes were devoid of any emotion, filled only with endless indifference and disappointment.

The imperial concubine was completely devastated by these words. She covered her face, wept silently, and collapsed to the ground.

The hall was deathly silent, with only the faint sobs of the Imperial Concubine echoing through the air, making the already heavy atmosphere even more oppressive.

An insurmountable chasm has formed between them; will they even have a future together...?

The imperial concubine lowered her head, her eyes dull and lifeless.

Is the woman Jun Zechen knows not the real her?

She knew he was the crown prince, and before marrying him, she had thought he would have many women. But Jun Zechen made her a promise, and she thought she was his true love, so she gave him her heart.

Perhaps she did love the taste of power, but she also truly loved this man.

Back then, he was the high and mighty Crown Prince of the Kingdom, and a spirited young general. Which woman wouldn't be moved by him?

She grew up in the Ling family, always having to be mindful of others' feelings. Her father was rarely home, and she only had her mother's love.

After her mother passed away, she was even more neglected.

After arriving in the border region, she kept company with horses or did odd jobs in small towns, where she made some generous friends.

She became more lively and carefree, but deep down, she longed for love from others.

She fell in love with Jun Zechen at first sight back then, and deliberately got close to him. He fell in love with her at that time.

He even showered her with unprecedented affection; how could she not fall for him?

Now that he has changed his mind, how can she accept it?

She knew that Consort Chunshu was not wrong; Consort Chunshu was kind-hearted.

Whether it was Consort Chun Shu who saved her in the past or the fact that she lost her child because of her, Consort Chun Shu's kindness made her feel incredibly despicable, and she even despised herself.

But must she just passively accept the fact that her husband has fallen in love with someone else?

Is it wrong for her to want to win back her husband's favor?

But in order to protect another woman, he admitted his mistake and made her hate him.

How could she hate him?

The imperial concubine's mind was racing, and the tears in her eyes had long since dried.

After a long while, she raised her head, her eyes firm and calm.

"Your Majesty, you have changed, and so have I," she said, her tone completely flat.

"I was jealous of Consort Chunshu's palace attire, which led my subordinates to neglect it, resulting in such a serious flaw. I am willing to accept any punishment from Your Majesty."

She said this with a calm expression, as if she had already prepared for the worst.

Now Jun Zechen has completely lost trust in her. It was all because she was too foolish that others found an opportunity to harm Consort Chunshu and then turn their attention to her.

This elaborate scheme, with its intricate details, is the work of someone.

Could it still be Consort An?

No, not necessarily. Now that thirty-five new women have entered the harem, if they want to gain the Emperor's favor, the ones they most want to get rid of are her and Consort Chunshu.

Because after the new concubines entered the palace, Jun Zechen spent most of his time in Zhaochun Palace and Yikun Palace, and only Lin Ronghua, Ye Ronghua and Consort Chu were actually summoned to his bedchamber.

Consort Chunshu suffered a miscarriage, and Jun Zechen will surely punish her severely today. She has nowhere to hide and can only retreat to advance.

Today, she has been rejected by His Majesty, and Consort Chunshu is unable to serve him for a short time due to a miscarriage. The new concubines will benefit from this.

The Imperial Concubine felt increasingly ridiculous. She had been blinded by jealousy and was foolish without realizing it. Now, whatever punishment Jun Zechen gave her, she could only accept it.

Jun Zechen's eyes were calm and expressionless as he finally made his final decision.

"Demoted to the rank of Consort, stripped of her power to assist in the management of the six palaces, and confined to Yikun Palace for two months. During this period, she is to kneel in the Buddhist hall of Yikun Palace for two hours every day to pray for my unborn heir."

He paused, his eyes growing even colder.

"If I find out that you were behind the poison on Consort Chunshu's palace dress and the palace maid who fell from the platform today, then you will be sent to the Cold Palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Ling Fei accepted the decision without hesitation, her voice calm and firm.

So what if we can't accept it?

He is now an emperor above all others, not Ling Yue's husband.

"Step down," Jun Zechen said coldly.

After bowing, the imperial concubine turned and left, her eyes filled with sorrow.

After Consort Ling left slowly, Jun Zechen returned to his bedchamber.

When he pushed open the door, he saw the person on the bed lying on their side, with their eyes wide open, motionless.

How did she wake up?

Jun Zechen was startled and quickly walked to the bedside and sat down.

"Why is Yao Yao awake?"

His voice was gentle and soothing, as if he were afraid of disturbing her.

Su Jingyao slowly sat up and leaned on his shoulder.

Her face was turned toward the headboard, her eyes were indifferent, but her tone of voice was extremely weak.

"Your Majesty, I heard everything. Your Majesty punished Consort Ling because of me."

Jun Zechen frowned, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.

"Does Yao Yao think my punishment was too lenient?"

Su Jingyao didn't speak, but just shook her head sullenly.

Jun Zechen helped her up from his shoulder and saw that her eyelashes were lowered and she looked somewhat disappointed.

His heart tightened, and he quickly reassured her, "Yaoyao is not satisfied? I can..."

Before he could finish speaking, Su Jingyao looked up and covered his mouth with her small hand.

After crying, she looked at him with her large, slightly bloodshot eyes, then gently shook her head.

Jun Zechen frowned, somewhat puzzled.

Su Jingyao lowered her hand and asked softly, "Is Your Majesty sad?"

Jun Zechen was taken aback, wondering why she would ask such a question.

How could he not be heartbroken after losing his child?

He was grieving the loss of his child, and felt even more heartache for her.

"I am not just sad, I am heartbroken."

His voice was low and hoarse, his eyes deep, filled with intense sorrow.

Su Jingyao wrapped her arms around his neck, her cheek pressed against his neck, her words gently brushing against his skin.

"Your Majesty, I wanted to ask if you were saddened by punishing Consort Ling?"

Her voice was soft, with a slight sob in it.

"Your Majesty...does not want to regret this."

"Your Majesty knows that you have always regarded Consort Ling as your first wife, and that you want Consort Ling to gain the Empress Dowager's approval. Therefore, I do not want any problems to arise at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet hosted by Consort Ling because of me."

Su Jingyao raised her head, her eyes slightly red, her gaze filled with sadness.

"However, I lost my child because of this, and I can no longer forgive Consort Ling."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost choked with sobs.

"Your Majesty, I don't know what to do, sob sob..."

Jun Zechen was taken aback.

It turns out that the reason she kept protecting Ling Yue was because she thought he cared about Ling Yue.

He had previously thought that she cared so much about Ling Yue because he had neglected her at the time, while Ling Yue had shown her care when they were in the Eastern Palace.

How could he be so foolish as to not see through her thoughts?

She clearly cared most about his feelings.

Why is she so foolish, always revealing her true feelings so openly?

Jun Zechen stroked her back, his gaze fixed on the distance with a complex expression.

"Yaoyao, you are the one I care about most. How many times do I have to tell you, don't hurt yourself because of Consort Ling anymore." His voice was deep and firm.

"I punished Consort Ling because she made a mistake. Yao Yao doesn't need to forgive Consort Ling either, because the mistake was hers."

Jun Zechen pulled her into his arms, gently embracing her small body.

Su Jingyao nodded, buried her face in his arms, and finally burst into tears.

Her shoulders shrugged, as if venting all the grievances and pain in her heart.

Jun Zechen held her quietly, letting her cry in his arms.

He knew she had just lost her child and needed this opportunity to vent.

Su Jingyao's tears flowed freely like a burst dam. She had been crying for a very long time. Her once bright eyes were now red and swollen from crying, like two ripe peaches.

With Jun Zechen's gentle touch and patient comforting, she gradually stopped crying, though she would still sob occasionally.

After calming down, Su Jingyao spoke softly.

"Your Majesty, I know that the child in my womb has not yet been born. According to the rules, imperial heirs who have not lived past their first birthday cannot be listed in the Imperial Register, but..."

"But he is my child. How can I pretend he never existed? I will remember him forever."

Su Jingyao sobbed as she spoke, her eyes filled with pain and reluctance. Her hands gripped Jun Zechen's clothes tightly, as if they were her only support.

"So, to give me something to remember you by, Your Majesty, would you please give this child a nickname? I would like to copy the Rebirth Mantra for him, hoping that he will be happy in his next life and not encounter an irresponsible mother like me."

Su Jingyao raised her head, her face streaked with tears, and looked at Jun Zechen with pleading in her eyes.

Jun Zechen frowned slightly, looking at her like this, his heart filled with tenderness.

He then firmly stated, "This child is my first son after I ascended the throne. Even if he had not been born, he would still be my second prince. I will bestow a name upon him and have him recorded in the imperial register."

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao was stunned, her expression blank, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"His Majesty?"

"This is against the rules, and besides, I don't even know whether the child in my womb is a boy or a girl."

Su Jingyao came to her senses, her face full of astonishment and confusion.

"It doesn't matter. If I say he is my second prince, and my first son after I ascended the throne, then he is."

Jun Zechen spoke firmly, his eyes revealing an undeniable authority.

She had only given birth a few months ago, and now she has suffered a miscarriage. Doctor Li said that she cannot get pregnant for at least a year, otherwise it will be bad for her health.

He had secretly ordered Physician Li to add contraceptives to her daily health-preserving soups.

However, Jun Zechen was worried that she would overthink it, so he didn't plan to tell her about it.

After all, the emperor's first son after ascending the throne always gives people a certain illusion. Since Yao Yao can't give birth to the first son, there's no need to let the other concubines have those unrealistic fantasies.