Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Night fell slowly, as dark as ink. Su Jingyao hadn't slept for long before Miaoxia gently woke her up.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes. There was a grand bonfire party that night, and as the Imperial Noble Consort, she had to accompany Jun Zechen to attend.

Today's competition unfolded almost exactly as Su Jingyao had predicted. The Ye family members won first place in every team they faced, and Jun Zechen generously rewarded them.

After the banquet, Jun Zechen followed Su Jingyao back to her tent.

In the bathtub, Su Jingyao's cascading hair was neatly tied up, making her look relaxed as she leaned lazily against Jun Zechen.

Jun Zechen also looked extremely lazy, leaning against the edge of the bathtub, one hand casually outstretched, the other hand wrapped around her slender waist, gently caressing it.

"After returning with Yao Yao today, while you were asleep, I investigated the reason why Consort Lin's horse went mad today."

Jun Zechen's eyes were deep and dark, and his voice was also indifferent, as if it were not rippled at all.

"I heard that you punished Consort Lin today. Was it Consort Lin who did it?" Su Jingyao raised her head slightly and asked softly.

"No, it was Consort Ling who made it," Jun Zechen replied succinctly.

Su Jingyao frowned and slowly turned her head to meet Jun Zechen's gaze.

"Why would Consort Ling do such a thing, only to injure herself to save me?"

"Yesterday, Consort Lin used a similar method to frame Consort Ling, but I originally thought that I should let the matter drop and let it go. However, Consort Ling has now plotted to take revenge."

Jun Zechen's expression remained unchanged as he spoke.

Su Jingyao's eyes held a hint of disapproval of Jun Zechen's actions.

"Your Majesty, since you knew yesterday that Consort Lin had framed Consort Ling, why did you turn a blind eye?"

Her brows furrowed slightly, her tone hesitant, and she also seemed somewhat dissatisfied.

"If His Majesty had handled the matter fairly back then, Consort Ling would not have done such a thing today."

When Jun Zechen heard her question, he found it somewhat amusing. She was clearly the victim today, yet she was still thinking about Consort Ling. How foolish!

"I have use for Consort Lin, so Yao Yao doesn't need to take her to heart."

When Jun Zechen said this, his facial expression didn't change much, but his words exuded an exceptionally cold aura.

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao's eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in them, before she said with a touch of coquettishness, "Your Majesty, aren't you afraid I'll become arrogant and presumptuous by saying such things to your concubine?"

"You were always my beloved."

Jun Zechen's gaze became intense and possessive, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Su Jingyao lowered her head shyly, her cheeks flushed slightly, after being touched by his passionate words. She didn't say anything more and turned back to lean against him.

Jun Zechen's hand unconsciously caressed the woman's smooth, alabaster skin in his arms, while his mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts.

He has now begun dispatching imperial envoys to various cities in order to find the Ye family's private army. If he wants to make the Ye family lower their guard during this period, then the Ye family's daughters need to be favored more.

Then, elevate Ye's daughter to the same rank as Consort Lin, and let Consort Lin know about Consort Ye's scheme to secretly make her use contraception. In this way, the two can check and balance each other.

Yao Yao has a pure heart and has never used her intelligence to deal with the women in the harem. She usually focuses most of her attention on managing the harem and taking care of Xingxing.

He worried that these vicious women might secretly harm Yao Yao in places he wasn't looking for.

Didn't my father's concubine poison my mother in the past, attempting to usurp her position?

Moreover, Consort Shu had poisoned Yao Yao in an attempt to harm her eldest son.

Now, even Consort Shu is only fit to practice Buddhism in a temple with her hair still intact, yet she still dares to dream of following Prince Cheng to his fiefdom to enjoy a life of luxury.

As Jun Zechen thought of this, a hint of darkness unconsciously crept into his eyes.

Su Jingyao leaned against the man's chest behind her, feeling his steady and powerful heartbeat. Her eyes were slightly lowered as she fell into deep thought.

Now that Jun Zechen is telling her these things, she is almost certain that Consort Lin is a target that Jun Zechen deliberately set up in the harem.

Su Jingyao was naturally satisfied with this.

Consort Lin was not just a target for the other concubines; in Su Jingyao's case, she was primarily a target for the Empress Dowager and the court officials.

Su Jingyao doesn't care about these concubines at all. If she wants to become empress, the support of the empress dowager and the court officials is the most crucial thing.

She didn't want to become like Consort Ling in the original book, who had only a hollow reputation, was disliked by the Empress Dowager, and was criticized by the court officials.

In the end, she had nothing but the title of empress.

So, did Ling Yue win or lose?

Moreover, Ling Yue has never had a son. If Su Jingyao remembers correctly, after Jun Zechen's son ascended the throne, there were two empress dowagers: one was the Empress Dowager Mother, and the other was the Holy Mother Empress Dowager.

She stopped watching after that, because she could almost guess Ling Yue's ultimate fate.

Jun Zechen did indeed fulfill his promise to Ling Yue, making her the empress. However, such an ending inevitably left the onlookers feeling regretful.

but……

Why did Jun Zechen choose Consort Lin (Lin Miaoyin) as his so-called "new favorite" between Consort Lin (Ye Yaqin) and Consort Ye (Lin Miaoyin)?

As the emperor, Jun Zechen's arrangements for the harem often reflected the checks and balances of the court. The last time she saw her brother, she was only concerned with asking him about the current situation of the Su family.

It seems she still needs to learn more about court politics, at least to understand the current situation in the court.

She wondered if she would have another chance to see her brother before returning to the palace from the spring hunt. Su Jingyao's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a thoughtful look flashed in her eyes.

Su Jingyao sighed softly, as if carrying a trace of sorrow.

"What's wrong?" Jun Zechen asked softly.

A hint of tenderness flashed in Su Jingyao's eyes as she said softly, "Your Majesty, I knew that my brother would be coming to the spring hunt, so I specially prepared gifts for my mother, father, and brother. I was thinking of asking Your Majesty to give the gifts to my brother so that he could take them home."

As she spoke, she frowned slightly, seemingly with some regret.

"Last time, Your Majesty allowed my brother to visit me, and I was so happy that I forgot all about it. So I have to trouble Your Majesty again."

"After the archery tomorrow, could Your Majesty please help me deliver the gift to my brother?"

"Since this is a gift you personally prepared for your family, it should naturally be handed to your brother by you. I will have your brother come to see you tomorrow," Jun Zechen said indifferently.

Su Jingyao's face showed a hint of hesitation.

"But I just saw my brother two days ago. If I see him again tomorrow, I'm afraid it wouldn't be good."

Jun Zechen smiled nonchalantly.

"My Imperial Noble Consort simply wants to see her family. Is such a small matter beyond my ability to make a decision? Yao Yao, there's no need to worry."

"Your Majesty is so kind."

Su Jingyao's eyes sparkled with deep affection. Then she turned her head, cupped the man's face in her hands, and kissed him.

Jun Zechen was slightly taken aback at first, then his eyes burned with passion. He reached out and cupped her head, deepening the kiss.

It's just a chance to see family; as long as she's happy.

The two embraced tightly, like mandarin ducks with their necks intertwined, reluctant to part, as if time itself had stood still.

After a long while, Jun Zechen released her, and Su Jingyao leaned softly against him, her chest heaving, her breathing still a little disordered, her lips slightly parted, breathing softly.

After a long while, she spoke slowly, "Your Majesty, Consort Ling and Consort Lin have a grudge against each other. I'm afraid they'll cause even more trouble after we return to the palace. Moreover, Consort Shen is also at odds with Consort Ling."

She tilted her head slightly, a hint of worry in her eyes, and then said, "Although I have never forgiven Consort Ling for making me lose my child, I also know that Consort Ling is kind and pure-hearted, and I'm afraid she can't win against Consort Lin and Consort Shen."

Her tone carried a clear hint of worry, and her brows furrowed slightly.

She asked the question because she wanted to know how Jun Zechen really viewed Ling Yue.

Upon hearing her words, a complex look flashed across Jun Zechen's eyes.

Was Consort Ling kind and pure?

If she were kind, she wouldn't have treated Yao Yao's palace attire carelessly, causing Yao Yao to lose her child, even though Yao Yao was her savior.

If she were truly pure, she wouldn't be so eager for quick success and instant benefits, only wanting to please the Empress Dowager and ascend to the position of Empress.

Consort Ling wanted everything; she desired his favor and the position of Empress, which is why she was willing to lower herself to stay.

But she never considered why he would offer all of this so readily, was it because of a previous promise?

He no longer likes Consort Ling. Is it his fault or Consort Ling's fault?

Jun Zechen didn't want to think about this question. He was the emperor, and all his actions, whether thunder or rain, were acts of imperial favor.

Even though Consort Ling no longer has the power to assist in managing the harem, she is still one of only two consorts in the palace. She must learn to protect herself.

Jun Zechen's voice was very calm, so calm that it was almost impossible to detect any emotion.

In this palace, everyone is struggling to survive, whether they are servants or masters.

Jun Zechen used to think that a heart could be divided in two, but now, that dividing line has veered off course.

Just as Consort Ling said today, if it weren't for Yao Yao, why would he have bothered to investigate so thoroughly?

Jun Zechen's ruthlessness towards those he didn't care about was unimaginable; otherwise, he wouldn't have ascended the throne by stepping over the corpses of his two elder brothers.

After ascending the throne, his other brothers were completely under his control and could only fawn over him.

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao turned around, her long, slender legs encircling his lean, powerful waist like serpents, and her jade-like hands wrapping around his neck like vines.

Her eyes were full of pitiful expression, and her voice trembled slightly.

"But I am also afraid. I am afraid that I will not be able to protect myself, and even more afraid that I will not be able to protect the stars."

Upon hearing this, Jun Zechen frowned. He tightened his arms around her, holding her even more tightly. The woman's soft, cotton-like body pressed against the man's hard, stone-like skin, seemingly conveying a strong sense of security instantly.

"I will naturally protect Yao Yao." His voice was deep and firm.

He used to think of her as delicate and helpless as a dodder vine, inspiring feelings of pity and protectiveness.

Later, he discovered that although she appeared weak, she was incredibly strong inside, and this strength only made him want to protect her even more.

After ascending the throne, her mother entrusted her with managing the harem, where she once again demonstrated the outstanding talents of a noblewoman, showing him her independent and self-reliant side.

No matter what kind of person she was, he wanted to protect her wholeheartedly, longed to elevate her to a high position, and would never allow anyone to bully her.

Even Ling Yue is absolutely unacceptable...

Su Jingyao snuggled gently against him, like an incredibly docile kitten.

Unfortunately, she only believed in herself.

After soaking for a while, Jun Zechen carried her back to bed. Both of them were exhausted today, and their bodies felt much more relaxed and comfortable after the bath.

Before long, they all drifted off to sleep, their steady breathing mingling and gently echoing in the quiet space.