Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

These past few days, Fuquan has been staying by His Majesty's side because Anshun is leading a team to investigate Consort Chunshu's affairs.

Today, Jun Zechen is sitting on the dragon throne in the Imperial Study, reviewing memorials.

Fuquan bowed slightly and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, Anshun has a matter to report concerning Consort Chunshu."

Jun Zechen paused, his hand holding the pen still. "Let him in."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Fuquan replied, then turned and left.

A moment later, An Shun entered respectfully and bowed before the table, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty."

"Get up." Jun Zechen waved his hand.

After An Shun stood up, he began to report: "Your Majesty, I interrogated Li Shangfu in the Shenxing Division. She said that Consort Ling instructed her to only pay attention to the Empress Dowager's palace attire and not to care too much about the palace attire of Consort Chunshu, Consort An, and other concubines."

He paused, carefully observing His Majesty's reaction.

Jun Zechen frowned, his face somewhat gloomy.

Out of jealousy, Ling Yue personally instructed her subordinates not to care about the concubines' palace attire. He originally thought that Ling Yue was just indifferent, but he never expected that she was doing it on purpose.

Anshun couldn't discern anything amiss in His Majesty's expression, and continued speaking.

"Afterwards, Li Shangfu handed over the palace dress of Consort Chunshu to the palace maids Cuizhu and Cuilan of Yaxiuxuan. The two of them, along with three other embroiderers, Jingxin, Jinglin, and Jingxi, made the palace dress for Consort Chunshu together."

Jun Zechen was even more annoyed when he heard this.

Even if Ling Yue is extremely jealous of someone, she should still fulfill her duties. How can one of the four consorts be treated so disrespectfully by the Bureau of Imperial Clothing? Where are the palace rules? Where is the dignity of those in power?

Seeing that Jun Zechen's expression was somewhat unfriendly, An Shun dared not say more, but paused and continued to report.

"Your Majesty, the palace maid found drowned in the well was Jingxin. The other four must have known beforehand that Consort Chunshu's palace dress was poisoned. When I interrogated them at the Shenxing Division, they all said that they had seen the dead Jingxin touch the embroidered palace dress alone."

"However, we cannot rule out the possibility that, since Jingxin is dead, they poured all the dirty water on her."

Anshun sighed as he spoke.

"However, this servant investigated Jingxin's background. Jingxin comes from an ordinary family and has simple interpersonal relationships. She really doesn't seem like the kind of person who would poison a palace concubine."

His words silenced the entire hall.

The more Jun Zechen listened, the more agitated he became.

Although he was in a position of power, holding the life and death of everyone in his hands.

However, as an emperor, he maintained the stability of the world and also wanted to provide a relatively fair environment for the people.

However, the power struggles in the imperial harem often involve many innocent people, and because of their powerful family backgrounds and status, the palace maids are as insignificant as ants to the imperial concubines.

Jun Zechen is a typical example of "the magistrate is allowed to set fires, but the common people are not allowed to light lamps".

He could kill at will, but he could not tolerate the viciousness and cruelty of the concubines in the harem.

"If Jing Xin has nothing to do with this incident, then comfort her family properly," Jun Zechen said calmly.

Then, somewhat impatiently, he continued, "Regarding the details, once you've investigated them thoroughly, just present all the events and details. What brings you here today?"

"Your Majesty, I have come today because all the evidence I have recently gathered points to Shen Ronghua," An Shun said, though his tone was hesitant.

The reason he wanted to lay the groundwork was simply to let His Majesty know what had happened, because even An Shun himself couldn't convince himself that Shen Ronghua would do such things.

As an elder of the Eastern Palace, Shen Ronghua really had no need to do such a thing after a new concubine entered the palace.

Now that Consort Ling is under house arrest and Consort Chun has miscarried, the new consort is the obvious beneficiary, since His Majesty had never favored the elders of the Eastern Palace before the new consort entered the palace.

Jun Zechen had naturally thought of this as well. He looked sharply at An Shun, signaling him to continue.

An Shun, fearing the slightest oversight, continued, "Your Majesty, the juice on Consort Chunshu's palace dress is the juice of amaryllis. Amaryllis is rare, and even the imperial physicians have never paid attention to it, nor did they know that the juice of amaryllis is poisonous."

"Shen Ronghua's maid, Yinrong, was previously injured by the sap of amaryllis, so she knew that the sap of amaryllis was poisonous."

He paused, then continued, "Besides this reason, Shen Ronghua and Lin Ronghua of Jincheng were once close friends. This is something I only discovered after investigating Shen Ronghua, because Lin Ronghua did not have any public interaction with Shen Ronghua after entering the palace."

"This servant originally intended to continue investigating Lin Ronghua, but if Lin Ronghua is secretly in contact with Shen Ronghua, then this servant needs to interrogate Shen Ronghua before continuing the investigation..."

Anshun seemed a bit conflicted at this point.

After all, Shen Ronghua was a concubine. If there was an empress in the harem, then the empress could conduct the investigation legitimately.

However, even though he was a eunuch who served the emperor closely, he still had to ask the emperor for permission if he wanted to interrogate the concubines.

He looked up at His Majesty, whose brows were furrowed and whose face was gloomy.

"Your Majesty, does this servant need to...?" Anshun asked cautiously.

"Interrogate Shen Ronghua!"

Jun Zechen interrupted him, his voice icy and chilling, "I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly!"

If this case is not thoroughly investigated and severely punished, Yao Yao, being simple-minded and never guarding against others, is now enjoying the emperor's favor in the harem and having the eldest prince. Many concubines in the harem are probably envious and jealous of her.

Who knows what schemes he'll employ next? Even an emperor like him sometimes finds himself powerless when faced with these women.

He still devoted most of his energy to the court and couldn't possibly devote too much attention to the small world of the harem.

However, Jun Zechen naturally understood Anshun's meaning. Now that the Empress Dowager had handed over the Palace Administration Office to Consort Chunshu, such a thing happening in the harem should have been investigated by Yaoyao. But since Yaoyao was the victim this time, Jun Zechen took all the blame upon himself.

However, Anshun's interrogation of the concubines was inappropriate, and he then said...

"I will have Jin Hua, who serves the Empress Dowager, investigate with you, and Jin Hua will interrogate the concubines."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

-

Zhaochun Palace.

"Your Majesty, these past few days, apart from visiting you at Zhaochun Palace during the day, His Majesty has been staying at Qianqing Palace every night and has not summoned any of the concubines."

When Miaoyun said this, she was fairly satisfied with His Majesty's behavior.

After all, the master has just suffered a miscarriage and is unable to serve the emperor. If His Majesty were to summon a new concubine, that would be going too far.

Su Jingyao placed the amaryllis delivered by the flower shop into a vase and slowly arranged it.

She turned her head, her eyes sparkling, and looked at Miaoyun with a half-smile: "Miaoyun, do you think His Majesty did a good job?"

"His Majesty has now demoted Consort Ling's rank, so you are now the most important person in the harem. Even though many new ladies have entered the harem, His Majesty has not cared. I can feel His Majesty's concern for you."

Su Jingyao chuckled lightly, her eyes full of mockery: "Miaoyun is indeed composed in handling matters, but she doesn't understand people's hearts. If you reach a certain age and I release you from the palace, will Miaoyun be deceived by men?"

As she spoke, she muttered to herself, "Well, in the future, I will personally assess your situation and bestow upon you a marriage. I will be your strongest support."

Su Jingyao did not believe in men's enduring love, especially in this feudal ancient era, where men were entitled to have multiple wives and concubines.

If Miaoyun marries in the future, with her power, she will give Miaoyun a perfect marriage. Even if Miaoyun's future husband doesn't like her anymore, that man will have no choice but to suffer in silence.

"My lord, I will stay with you for the rest of my life! I will not marry anyone else."

Upon hearing this, Miaoyun became anxious and shook her head repeatedly.

Seeing this, Su Jingyao simply smiled and shook her head, saying nothing more. When the time comes, people's thoughts will always change, and she didn't need to force it now.

"Does Your Highness think His Majesty is not good?" Miaoyun continued to ask.

Su Jingyao shook her head.

"Your Majesty is well."

As a feudal emperor, he treated her quite well.

However, the emperor's "goodness" is too ethereal and unrealistic, and Jun Zechen's kindness to her is all something she has calculated. She doesn't believe it, nor does she dare to believe it.

Miaoyun became more and more puzzled as she listened.

Since Your Majesty also thinks His Majesty is very good, why doesn't Your Majesty care whether His Majesty favors other concubines?

As a palace maid, Miaoyun would be happy for her master if the emperor did not favor other concubines.

If His Majesty favors other concubines, she will feel disappointed in her master and even think that His Majesty is heartless and cold-hearted.

Although Miaoyun was puzzled, she wouldn't press for an answer; her master would speak when he wanted to.

Then she continued, "Your Majesty, Anshun has now found Shen Ronghua and should be able to contact Lin Ronghua soon. But the red rosary on your palace dress shouldn't be Lin Ronghua's. I wonder what Ye Ronghua did to distance herself from the situation so completely."

"Miaoyun, how can you be sure Lin Ronghua isn't the mastermind?"

Su Jingyao narrowed her eyes, a meaningful smile appearing on her lips.

"It will be difficult for Your Majesty to investigate the matter of my palace attire, because I played a part in it, and I also had Imperial Physician Jin erase some traces."

"There were other concubines secretly manipulating things. These women were also very clever. They were all outmaneuvering each other. Everyone was a mastermind, but no one actually carried out the plan." She said this in a calm and composed tone.

Miaoyun asked, puzzled, "Then how come His Majesty couldn't find out?"

"Why should His Majesty find out?" Su Jingyao asked in return.

"Your Majesty miscarried because of the red rouge on your palace dress! If Your Majesty hadn't miscarried, this child would have been His Majesty's first son after his ascension to the throne. Even if she were a princess, she would be of immeasurable nobility."

Miaoyun felt a pang of pain every time she thought about her mistress losing her child. She lowered her head, her eyes slightly moist.

Su Jingyao didn't tell anyone about this; the fewer people who knew, the better, except for Li Jing.

I felt a little helpless.

"Miaoyun, I will deal with these people one by one. You can't get fat in one bite. After all, I contributed to this palace attire incident. The more thoroughly Your Majesty investigates, the more disadvantageous it will be for me."

Of course, this was just to comfort Miaoyun.

She was a victim to begin with. No matter how much they investigated, those newcomers would only fight amongst themselves, and Jun Zechen would never be able to trace it back to her.