Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

After the sacrificial ceremony ended today, Su Jingyao leisurely returned to her tent and lazily leaned back on the couch to rest.

She didn't join the other concubines in their revelry or go horseback riding at the horse farm all afternoon.

She was acutely aware of her own mediocre horsemanship and didn't want to accidentally bump into a concubine while riding, causing any unnecessary trouble.

She had just finished listening to Miaoyun's vivid and extremely lively explanation of the dispute between Consort Ling and Consort Lin at the horse farm.

It's really fun.

"Your Majesty, I don't know what Consort Lin (Lin Miaoyin) said that made Consort Ling so angry that she lashed the whip directly onto Consort Lin's horse, and His Majesty happened to see it."

Miaoyun spoke while laughing.

"Well, let them fight it out. Consort Ling can't outmaneuver Consort Lin and Consort Ye (Ye Yaqin). I really hope they can do this a few more times."

Su Jingyao had a nonchalant smile on her face.

Jun Zechen was already extremely disgusted by the scheming of the women in the harem, but she would let him feel what a truly warm and cozy haven was like here.

This is the penultimate step in winning someone's heart.

As for Consort Ling and Consort Lin, Su Jingyao didn't pay much attention to them; listening to them was just a good way to pass the time.

Then, she casually asked, "Whom did His Majesty favor today?"

As a Noble Consort, it was perfectly reasonable for Jun Zechen to stay in her tent on the first day.

However, if the court officials stayed at her place for the spring hunt, they would inevitably have some complaints, and Su Jingyao would not allow Jun Zechen to come to her tent every day.

"His Majesty went to Consort Ye's place after dinner," Miaoyun said, pouting slightly.

Su Jingyao nodded slightly.

Jun Zechen knew that it would be best for him to find other women; she didn't want to advise him to spread his affections evenly, because that would only make him angry.

However, although Consort Lin's actions today suppressed Consort Ling, they also benefited Consort Ye.

After all, if she hadn't been startled while riding her horse today, given Jun Zechen's "favor" towards her, she should have been the one to serve him in bed today.

However, it's also possible that many members of Ye Jieyu's family have come to the spring hunt, and the competition in the next few days will likely see the Ye family members shine.

It's not impossible that Jun Zechen might favor Consort Ye first to save face for the Ye family.

The night grew deeper and deeper, like thick ink, and soon it was almost the end of the Xu hour (7-9 PM).

Su Jingyao was just about to put down her book and go to bed.

After all, we'll be riding horses tomorrow, which is very tiring, so we need to rest and recharge today.

Suddenly, Miaoyun walked in with a slightly unusual expression and went straight to the bedside.

Su Jingyao looked at her with a puzzled expression and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

"My lord, Eunuch Fuquan is waiting outside the tent. He said His Majesty has invited you to bathe together in the hot springs behind the mountain," Miaoyun said cautiously, her head bowed.

Miaoyun was also very puzzled. Didn't His Majesty go to Consort Ye's tent? Why did he suddenly go to the hot springs in the back mountain?

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao frowned.

Is he sick?

It's one thing to summon Ye Jieyu to a hot spring late at night, but why did you have to invite her there?

Could it be that he's planning to serve two women in one night?

As she pondered this, Su Jingyao's expression darkened, and she said in a flat tone, "Tell Fuquan that I have already gone to sleep."

She won't go.

"Yes, Master," Miaoyun replied, then turned and left.

After going outside, Miaoyun looked at Fuquan with a troubled expression and said anxiously, "Eunuch Fuquan, I thought Master was still reading, but when I went in, Master had already gone to sleep."

"As you know, His Majesty usually doesn't dare to wake you when he goes to court in the morning, so how could I dare to disturb you while you are sleeping?"

Upon hearing this, Fuquan frowned, looking conflicted. This…

It's indeed not good to disturb the Imperial Noble Consort once she's asleep. If he angers her because of this, he'll be the one who suffers in the end.

Fuquan could only return to His Majesty with a bitter face, preparing to report back truthfully in detail.

Hot springs in the back mountains.

Jun Zechen's expression was indifferent as he slowly stretched out his arm and lazily rested it against the hot spring wall.

His eyes were deep and cold, his thoughts churning as he pondered the current state of affairs in the court.

During his time as Crown Prince, in order to solidify his position, he originally intended to bring down the cunning and treacherous Minister Su.

So that his own people could replace him and smoothly take over.

But who would have thought that later the Empress Dowager would request an imperial decree to appoint Yao Yao as her Crown Prince's concubine.

At first, he never thought that a concubine would have any impact on his decisions in the court.

However, as time went by, his heart gradually and unconsciously drifted towards Yao Yao.

After that, the old fox Su also began to curry favor with him. In addition, Jun Zechen thought that Yao Yao had a powerful family background, which would give her more confidence in the harem, not to mention the presence of the eldest prince.

Therefore, Jun Zechen has now completely given up the idea of ​​harming the Su family.

Seeing how favored the Su family's daughter was in the harem, the Ye family naturally sent their own daughter to the imperial concubine selection this year.

Jun Zechen had already secretly cultivated his own army when he went on expeditions during his time as crown prince, in addition to the army that the late emperor had entrusted to him after his death.

He now firmly controls one-third of the army of the kingdom.

Another third of the army is stationed on the border year-round, after all, the kingdom has a vast territory and faces threats from foreign enemies in all directions.

The remaining third was under the command of the twelve central military agencies.

In theory, the emperor held supreme military control over the twelve guards.

However, the Jun state implemented the Fubing system, in which the Fubing soldiers farmed during peacetime, trained during the off-season, and went to war during wartime. The command of the Fubing soldiers was decentralized to some extent, and the local Zhechongfu (military command) had a certain degree of autonomy.

Therefore, the Grand Commander of the Ye family wielded considerable power in local military affairs, and the Ye family members were widely distributed throughout various cities of the kingdom.

If Jun Zechen hadn't been so powerful and hadn't maintained such strict control over local military affairs, the Ye family would probably have easily gained control of a large number of troops and local military and political power.

However, although Jun Zechen was very confident in himself, he could not be completely certain that the Ye family had not secretly trained an army.

After ascending the throne, Jun Zechen had always longed to completely consolidate imperial power and achieve a high degree of centralization of imperial authority.

The country is now very prosperous, and the people live in peace and contentment, but he is by no means an emperor who is content with maintaining the status quo.

After consolidating imperial power, he wanted to vigorously develop the military and train an even stronger army.

The king's iron cavalry will invade every other land he can see, and bring all the land under the king's imperial rule.

The Minister of State Affairs (尚书令) oversees all six ministries and has immense power to coordinate and manage the administrative affairs of the monarchy and the state, including the appointment and evaluation of officials, and the decision-making and implementation of various government policies.

Officials in various cities are almost all appointed by the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and even the Ye family would never easily break ties with the Su family.

Therefore, if he wants to achieve centralized imperial power, he must take back at least one of the Su and Ye families; he must either target the Su family or the Ye family.

But from a selfish standpoint, the only target for this attack is the Ye family.

A fierce glint flashed in Jun Zechen's eyes, and a resolute look quickly spread across them.

If the Ye family were more obedient, he wouldn't need to be so ruthless; but if the Ye family's desires were too great...

When Fuquan arrived at the hot spring in the back mountain, he saw His Majesty leaning quietly against the hot spring wall, resting with his eyes closed.

He carefully walked behind His Majesty, not daring to utter a sound.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Consort has already gone to sleep," Fuquan said in a low voice.

Jun Zechen's expression remained calm and undisturbed, yet a hint of helplessness lingered in his heart.

Little liar.

Having soaked for almost half an hour, Jun Zechen stood up from the hot spring, water droplets sliding down his agile body.

Fuquan hurriedly brought over a robe and respectfully draped it over His Majesty. Then he knelt at Jun Zechen's feet and helped him put on his dragon boots.

After returning to his tent, Jun Zechen tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.

The little liar, on the other hand, was sleeping soundly.

Jun Zechen suddenly rolled out of bed, startling Fu Quan, who was serving him, awakening him from his unexpected action. "Your Majesty?"

Jun Zechen didn't speak, his expression was cold and stern.

Fortunately, Yao Yao's tent was right next to him. Jun Zechen moved as fast as a ghost, like a blur, and entered Su Jingyao's tent in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, Su Jingyao was completely immersed in her dream and had no awareness of anything.

Jun Zechen moved with exceptional gentleness, tiptoeing onto the bed and then slowly pulling her into his arms. Su Jingyao remained sound asleep and was not awakened.

Xiangling, who came out to fetch water for her master, carefully walked through the darkness carrying the bucket.

Suddenly, her gaze caught a glimpse of a man's figure flashing through the night and quickly entering the Imperial Noble Consort's tent.

Xiang Ling's eyes widened in surprise. Was that His Majesty?

But didn't His Majesty summon the master tonight?

Why did they go to the Imperial Noble Consort's tent again?

Xiang Ling, filled with doubt, hurried back to her tent.

"Your Majesty, I think I just saw His Majesty go to the Imperial Noble Consort's residence." Xiang Ling's voice was tinged with nervousness and surprise.

Consort Ye was initially happy, since His Majesty had summoned her, not Consort Lin, for his favor today.

Her face still held a gentle smile, but upon hearing Xiang Ling's words, the smile instantly froze on her face, and then she became tense.

A hint of jealousy flashed in his eyes.

Since she entered the palace, His Majesty has never allowed any new concubine to stay overnight in the palace, nor has he allowed any concubine to stay overnight in the Qianqing Palace.

But why is the Imperial Noble Consort so different from everyone else?!

It was precisely because of His Majesty's different treatment of the Imperial Noble Consort that Consort Ye dared not act rashly.

Now that Consort Lin is favored again and even overshadows her, Consort Ye is becoming increasingly anxious. She can only hope to conceive a royal heir as soon as possible.

Ye Jieyu slowly touched her belly, hoping that the child would arrive soon.

Immediately, a ruthless glint flashed in her eyes. It didn't matter how favored Consort Lin was; she was just a noble lady from Jincheng, how could she compare to the number of people in the harem that Consort Lin had?

After all, the Ye family had produced many high-ranking concubines in the Jun Kingdom, and she already had some manpower in the harem after she entered the palace.

Consort Lin had been given contraceptive drugs without her knowledge.

Today she also heard about the dispute between Consort Ling and Consort Lin, and she never expected that His Majesty's favor towards Consort Lin would surpass that towards Consort Ling.

Before entering the palace, the Ye family had already inquired about the fact that His Majesty had remained chaste for Consort Ling for two years when he was the Crown Prince.

Since His Majesty has taken a liking to Consort Lin, he probably won't treat the Imperial Noble Consort the same way he treated Consort Ling before, showing exclusive favor to only one person.

His Majesty's different treatment of the Imperial Noble Consort is a good opportunity to take advantage of...

A subtle, calculating glint flashed in Ye Jieyu's eyes.

Consort Lin is currently infatuated with His Majesty's favor. If Consort Lin were to witness firsthand His Majesty's exceptionally different affection for the Imperial Noble Consort, she would likely confront the Imperial Noble Consort herself without even having to do anything.

At that time, she only needs to sit back and reap the benefits.