Transmigrating into a book, seducing him to rise to power

Jun Zechen hurried back to Zhaochun Palace, looking anxious.

As soon as he arrived at the palace gate, the young palace maid guarding the door was startled and hurriedly bowed, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty, but my mistress is not inside the palace."

Before he could finish speaking, Jun Zechen had already walked straight into the bedchamber like the wind.

Although his face remained calm, he was afraid that she would start to overthink things because Lei Ming would wake up and not see him.

Upon entering the bedchamber, Jun Zechen lifted the bed curtains, and instantly his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with doubt.

Where is Yao Yao?

Jun Zechen stepped out of the bedchamber, his face slightly somber, and asked with a hint of authority in his voice, "Where is your master?"

"Your Majesty, the mistress has gone to the Minde Palace," the palace maid replied tremblingly.

Minde Hall is the sleeping quarters of the eldest prince.

Jun Zechen's brows remained furrowed as he walked toward the Minde Palace.

Inside the Minde Hall, only a single, faint candlelight flickered.

Su Jingyao lay on her side, gently holding Xingxing in her arms; Xingxing was already fast asleep.

However, Jun Zechen could clearly see the delicate shadows cast by her slightly trembling eyelashes in the candlelight; Yao Yao was not asleep.

Did you come to Minde Hall because of the thunder?

Jun Zechen walked over quickly but with extreme caution, as if afraid of making the slightest sound.

After walking to the bedside, he sat down, slowly bent down, and gradually approached Su Jingyao's ear.

His voice was very low but full of concern, "Yaoyao, why did you come to Xingxing's palace? Shall I take you back?"

A hint of coldness flashed in Su Jingyao's eyes, and a fleeting wave of disgust crossed her beautiful face.

Su Jingyao also lowered her voice to a very low level, "Your Majesty, I will stay with Xingxing tonight. You may return."

"Is Yao Yao angry with me?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not. It's just that there was thunder and lightning tonight, and I was afraid that Xingxing would be frightened awake, so I stayed with her."

Su Jingyao's voice was calm and even, her face expressionless as she spoke.

Upon hearing her words, Jun Zechen's mouth opened slightly, as if he wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin.

After a moment of silence, he lay down on his side, stretched out his arms, and gently pulled the mother and child into his embrace, his actions full of care and love.

Su Jingyao's back was pressed against his chest, with a hint of resistance.

She wanted to get away from him, but she was afraid that making too much movement would wake up Xingxing, who was sleeping in her arms, so she could only endure the discomfort.

That scoundrel actually hugged her after leaving Yikun Palace!

"Yaoyao is also afraid of thunder, so I want to stay with her so she won't be afraid." Jun Zechen's voice was deliberately lowered and had a magnetic quality.

He had just finished speaking when a deafening clap of thunder suddenly rang out outside.

Almost instinctively, Su Jingyao reflexively reached out and covered Xingxing's ears.

At the same time, Jun Zechen's large hand quickly covered her ears.

He tightened his grip on them slightly, as if to hold them close in his arms and shield them from all fear and anxiety.

Su Jingyao moved Xingxing to the side with extremely gentle movements, and gently pulled up a corner of the quilt with her fingers, covering Xingxing with the quilt little by little.

Then, she slowly turned around, her eyes revealing a stubbornness and resentment.

"Your Majesty, I dislike you."

Su Jingyao spoke softly, and as she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, shimmering faintly in the darkness.

Even in the pitch-black night, Jun Zechen could clearly see the tears in his eyes.

He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his heart, as if he had been pierced by a sharp needle.

He hated seeing her cry; it always broke his heart.

Jun Zechen glanced at Xingxing, who was still fast asleep; it wasn't a suitable place to talk.

He then got up, picked Su Jingyao up from the bed, walked out of Minde Hall, and returned to the main bedroom of Zhaochun Palace.

After Su Jingyao was placed on the bed, she stood against the wall with a cold expression, her back to Jun Zechen, not wanting to see him or let him see her expression.

A look of helplessness appeared on Jun Zechen's face.

He knew she was unhappy at the moment, so he could only patiently coax her, and tender words of love came out one after another.

However, no matter what Jun Zechen said to her, Su Jingyao remained unmoved, like a wooden sculpture, without any reaction.

Finally, he could only ask helplessly, "How can Yao Yao stop being angry?"

He had no choice but to forcefully reach out and slowly turn her body around.

"You're not going to pay any attention to me anymore? Is this what they mean by 'spoiled and arrogant'?" Jun Zechen's voice was deep and carried a hint of authority.

"Um?"

Jun Zechen pressed his forehead against hers, his eyes deep and unfathomable as he met her gaze, seemingly trying to see into her heart.

"Where has His Majesty gone?"

Su Jingyao pursed her lips, looked at him stubbornly, and her eyes held a hint of questioning.

Jun Zechen's eyes flickered for a moment, his brows furrowed slightly, unsure how to answer.

If I tell her the truth that I went to Yikun Palace, will she overthink things and get even angrier?

Seeing that he didn't answer for the time being, Su Jingyao sneered inwardly.

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have spied on Your Majesty's whereabouts. Please just pretend I didn't ask."

"Your Majesty, please don't say that I am arrogant because of your favor. Without favor, how can I be spoiled? If Your Majesty has a favorite sister in the harem, you can go to her openly. Why do you have to go to her while I am asleep?"

Su Jingyao's words carried a hint of resentment and bitterness.

Jun Zechen was stunned.

What is she saying?

Her favorite person was right in front of her, but she insisted that she loved someone else.

Jun Zechen gritted his teeth and almost squeezed out the words: "Consort Ling is ill. I went to see her. Because it was a bit late, I thought you were already asleep, so I decided to stay at Yikun Palace for the night."

"After hearing the thunder, I thought Yao Yao would be scared, so I rushed over," Jun Zechen explained earnestly.

Su Jingyao didn't show any expression, but she wasn't buying his act at all.

He's rushing from one event to another, he's so busy.

Before, when she was fast asleep, he could do whatever he wanted. If he wanted to hold her while she slept, he would simply pull her into his arms in a domineering manner, whether it was during a nap or at night.

Ha, what nonsense men spout. Only a fool would believe that.

"It's getting late. I'm very tired today. Your Majesty has court to attend tomorrow. Please rest."

Su Jingyao's voice was calm and even. After she finished speaking, she turned her back to Jun Zechen and went to sleep without hesitation.

As Jun Zechen watched her retreating figure, it was as if he could see her silently expressing her dissatisfaction and resistance towards him.

She gets angry whether he tells her or not. Never before has a woman made him feel so tormented and caught in such a dilemma.

Jun Zechen lay on the outside, staring at Su Jingyao with a probing look in his eyes, as if trying to see through her every thought.

He pursed his lips, his thin lips forming a straight line.

I can't sleep at all.

If any other woman dared to treat him like that, he would have left long ago. He was an emperor; who had he ever fooled?

Even if it were Consort Ling, when had he ever been so humble and coaxing towards her before?

Time ticked by, and the silent palace seemed shrouded in a thin mist because of the oppressive aura emanating from him, making it feel particularly gloomy.

Su Jingyao wasn't asleep either. She knew very well that she had to carefully manage the degree to which she could give a cold shoulder to an unpredictable emperor.

Sometimes a little playfulness can be fun, but if not handled properly, it can completely push a man away.

She certainly couldn't fall asleep right then and there.

Jun Zechen hasn't said anything yet, nor has he left in anger. It seems he's still holding back.

The rain tonight seems endless, falling incessantly, with occasional bursts of thunder.

Every time thunder rumbled, Su Jingyao's body would tremble slightly involuntarily, making her appear somewhat pitiful and helpless.

Jun Zechen knew she wasn't asleep. Seeing her curled up with her back to him, he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless.

With a sudden, forceful outstretched motion, he pulled Su Jingyao into his arms.

She struggled slightly at first, but quickly stopped paying attention to him and just kept her eyes closed.

Jun Zechen's voice echoed in the silent palace, but it was no longer gentle.

"Yaoyao's temper is getting worse and worse. Haven't I spoiled you enough? Who in the harem dares to give me such attitude?"

Su Jingyao opened her eyes at his words, met his gaze, and looked at him with a hint of grievance.

"I didn't show any displeasure. I was just unhappy. Your Majesty has never cared about my feelings. Your Majesty only cares about whether your dignity has been violated. I dare not offend Your Majesty. I just wanted to sleep to calm myself down, but Your Majesty said that I was throwing a tantrum."

Her voice carried a hint of sorrow, and the more she spoke, the more pitiful she felt. Towards the end, she even choked up, and her words were heartbreaking.

Although she said that, she was indeed throwing a tantrum. When women argue, they naturally try to shift the blame, always blaming the man.

Jun Zechen's face showed a hint of heartache, and his heart was filled with bitterness.

She was just unhappy; she wasn't making a fuss. I should be understanding and not question her like that.

He did indeed go to Yikun Palace while she was asleep today, so it's understandable that she's angry.

She lost her child because of Consort Ling. Even though Consort Ling was not the mastermind, she found it difficult to forgive her. Yao Yao had said this to her before.

However, his visit to Consort Ling was only because he didn't want her to always resort to self-harm to achieve her goals.

Once is never enough, and he went there today to warn her.

Ling Fei has changed a lot, even to the point of disgusting him, but he still hopes that she can live a good life instead of losing herself and doing more and more wrong things.

Jun Zechen sighed softly.

"I was wrong."

Jun Zechen's face was full of guilt, and his eyes revealed deep self-reproach.

"Yaoyao, you don't need to care about Consort Ling anymore. You are the most important person in my heart. Don't be unhappy anymore."

As he spoke, he reached out and gently stroked Su Jingyao's cheek, his eyes filled with heartache, "You are the one I cherish the most."

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and she finally felt somewhat satisfied.

As the emperor, Jun Zechen is high above her, so she can't expect too much from him. However, he must know how to admit his mistakes and what he does that will make her angry. She doesn't want to discipline him again and again.

But that's not enough.

Su Jingyao continued, choking back tears, "Your Majesty is lying. On my birthday, Your Majesty chose to accompany Consort Ling. Yesterday, on the Flower Festival, Your Majesty also left me to visit Consort Ling. In Your Majesty's heart, I have never been as good as Consort Ling."

Her eyes were red, and tears welled up as if they were about to fall at any moment. Her voice was filled with deep grievance.

"Your Majesty, I never expected your favor, but you always say things that make me misunderstand. From now on, I will not believe or expect anything, so I will not be disappointed, and I will no longer be angry with you or give you a hard time because of disappointment."

As Su Jingyao spoke, she sobbed softly, her shoulders trembling slightly, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings.

As Jun Zechen listened to her accusations, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper, his face filled with entanglement and confusion.

I always felt that what she said was wrong, but upon closer reflection, it seemed to be true.

However, his visit to Consort Ling was not because he liked her. The first time was because he didn't want Consort Ling to be harmed, but this time it was simply because he wanted to clarify some things with her.

"It's all my fault."

His face was full of frustration.

"I didn't know Yao Yao would be so heartbroken. It won't happen again. Trust me, okay?" His tone was sincere.

"In about half a month, it will be the spring hunt. I will take some of the concubines from the harem with me. By then, Consort Ling will have been released from confinement. If Yao Yao doesn't like her, then let Consort Ling stay in the palace."

As Jun Zechen spoke, he gazed tenderly at Su Jingyao, his eyes filled with concern and love.

Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed quickly in Su Jingyao's lowered eyes.

That won't do.

The spring hunt was the first time she had gone out with Jun Zechen in front of the court officials and concubines since becoming the Imperial Noble Consort. Everyone had to witness her glory and prestige.

Then, Su Jingyao said somewhat sullenly, "Your Majesty, as a high-ranking concubine, Consort Ling should have gone with Your Majesty. I was only recently promoted to Imperial Noble Consort by Your Majesty, but the court officials think that I am jealous of Your Majesty's first wife and are suppressing Consort Ling in the harem."

Su Jingyao's face showed a hint of grievance, and she lowered her head slightly as she spoke.

Then she said softly, "Your Majesty, please let Consort Ling go. I don't mind."

"I will let you choose the list for the spring hunt. Yao Yao can send whoever she wants, or not send whoever she doesn't want."

Jun Zechen's tone remained gentle as he reached out and stroked Su Jingyao's hair, his eyes filled with doting affection.

"This spring hunt will be held at Chunshou Pass outside the Imperial City. I will lead my court officials and soldiers there, and I will bring Yao Yao along to hunt."

"But I can't ride a horse."

Su Jingyao bit her lip lightly, slowly raised her head, and looked at Jun Zechen with clear eyes, a look of distress on her face.

Her slightly furrowed brows, like crescent moons, made her look even more adorable and charming.

Jun Zechen couldn't help but chuckle. He looked at her with doting eyes, "With me here, what's there to be afraid of? Whatever Yao Yao wants to hunt, I will hunt it for her."

Su Jingyao raised her eyebrows slightly, then rubbed against Jun Zechen gently like a docile kitten.

Jun Zechen hugged her even tighter, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Coaxing her was the most difficult thing he had ever done.