Chapter 55

Su Jingyao accompanied Jun Zechen for dinner, then played a game of chess with him.

As bedtime approached, she gracefully stood up and softly said, “Your Majesty, it’s getting late. I will return to Zhaochun Palace now. Please excuse me.”

She turned slightly, ready to leave.

Jun Zechen immediately grabbed her small hand and said slowly, “Stay in Qianqing Palace tonight?”

A flash of doubt and grievance appeared in Su Jingyao’s eyes, shimmering as if filled with tears.

“Your Majesty promised to find me a butterfly koi, but you haven’t found it yet.”

Her meaning was clear—no koi, no sleeping together.

Jun Zechen tightened his grip slightly and gently pulled her closer. Su Jingyao lost her balance and stumbled into the space between his legs.

Seated steadily, Jun Zechen raised his head slightly while Su Jingyao looked down at him from above.

“I promised not to get on Zhaochun Palace’s bed without finding the koi, but I never said anything about Qianqing Palace’s bed.”

His eyes carried a hint of amusement, and a slight smirk played at his lips.

Su Jingyao was stunned, biting her lip.

“Your Majesty, you’re being unfair! You know that’s not what I meant.”

Jun Zechen ignored her protest. He stood up, firmly holding her hand, and led her toward the sleeping quarters of Qianqing Palace.

Su Jingyao struggled slightly, trying to free herself. She called out anxiously, “Your Majesty!”

But to Jun Zechen, her resistance was nothing.

Glaring at his tall back, she felt frustrated.

Of course, an emperor wouldn’t always be patient in coaxing a woman. His tenderness wouldn’t last long.

In the end, dominance and authority were his true nature.

Su Jingyao followed him into the sleeping chamber of Qianqing Palace. It was her first time stepping inside.

The emperor’s bed stood out—it was massive. Instead of the usual golden-yellow bedding, it was covered in deep black fabric, embroidered with golden five-clawed dragons that shimmered under the candlelight.

“Get on,” Jun Zechen said flatly.

Su Jingyao was irritated by his abrupt command.

She sneered, “I don’t like sleeping on a bed that other concubines have used. Why don’t you change it?”

Jun Zechen remained calm.

“No other woman has entered my sleeping chamber. You’re the first. Even if I summon other concubines in the future, they will only stay in the side chambers.”

Su Jingyao raised an eyebrow, half-believing him. Still, she reluctantly stepped onto the bed.

The moment she did, she curled up into a corner like a startled kitten, putting herself in full defense mode.

Jun Zechen found her reaction amusing.

Most women in the palace dreamed of sharing a bed with him, yet she was acting like she wanted to escape.

Removing his imperial robe, Jun Zechen lay down beside her, dressed in only his undergarments.

“Will you sleep in your dress?” he asked.

Of course, Su Jingyao didn’t want to. It was uncomfortable. But she was afraid he wouldn’t control himself.

Since she didn’t respond, Jun Zechen reached out to pull her closer and started untying her sash.

“I’ll do it myself!” she shouted quickly.

Seeing her resistance, Jun Zechen let go, sighing in resignation.

After removing her dress, Su Jingyao was left in her undergarments, her beautiful face filled with wariness.

She watched him cautiously, retreating to the farthest corner of the bed.

Jun Zechen’s dark eyes locked onto her as he spoke slowly, “If I truly wanted you, do you think you could escape?”

His voice softened. “Come here. I just want to hold you.”

Su Jingyao hesitated. Could she trust such words from a man?

Doubt was written all over her face.

Jun Zechen couldn’t help but laugh in frustration.

In an instant, he moved and pinned her beneath him.

Bracing his arms on either side of her, his deep eyes stared into hers.

“Do you think I’m getting too patient with you?” he asked, his voice laced with irritation.

Su Jingyao lowered her lashes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Without a word, she slowly started to remove her undergarments.

“What are you doing?” Jun Zechen stopped her, frowning.

“Isn’t this what Your Majesty wants?” she asked, her tone defiant.

Jun Zechen’s frown deepened. “Must you speak to me like this?”

“You say you love me, Your Majesty. But what exactly do you love about me? Do you love that I’m kind, gentle, and always trying to please you?”

Her voice was soft, almost trembling, with a hint of tears.

“I only envy the Noble Consort…”

“What do you envy about her?”

Jun Zechen’s face became serious, his eyebrows tightly furrowed. He wanted to know what she was thinking.

“I envy the Noble Consort. No matter how she acts or throws tantrums, Your Majesty always spoils her.”

Her voice was small and trembling, filled with grievance.

“I envy that the Noble Consort will always be Your Majesty’s favorite.”

Jun Zechen let out a soft sigh. He moved off her, lay down beside her, and pulled her tightly into his arms.

His deep voice sounded beside her ear, “Yaoyao is my favorite.”

He said this very seriously. Out of all the women in the palace, she was the one he cared for the most.

Su Jingyao buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled.

“Can I believe you?”

Deep inside, she actually did believe him, even though Jun Zechen himself might not fully understand his own heart.

As an outsider in the relationship between Jun Zechen and Ling Yue, Su Jingyao could clearly see that he didn’t love Ling Yue much. He only felt guilty toward her.

It was just the lingering memories of his youth and the promises he once made.

“Yes, Yaoyao is my favorite. I only feel guilt toward the Noble Consort.”

As Jun Zechen spoke, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He had finally admitted to himself that his feelings for Ling Yue had changed. A sense of relief showed on his face.

His previously tense expression softened.

He didn’t love Ling Yue. In fact, looking back, his feelings for her were never real love.

Because the emotions he had felt for the woman in his arms—his heart racing, his pain, his sadness, his helplessness, his joy, his anticipation—he had never felt those for Ling Yue.

Hearing his firm answer, Su Jingyao finally relaxed, slowly letting down her guard.

The corners of her lips curved into a small smile, and she reached out to gently hug his waist.

It was enough that he had admitted it. She would remove every trace of guilt in his heart, one by one.

“Sleep now. Tonight, I just want to hold Yaoyao while I sleep. If you don’t want to, I won’t force you.”

Jun Zechen’s voice was deep and gentle, as if it could soothe all worries.

Su Jingyao rested her head on his broad chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. She was getting closer and closer to her goal.

This man’s heart was the most important piece in the palace power struggles. Only by truly winning his heart could she remain standing strong in the palace.

Since there was nothing else to do, and she wasn’t sleepy yet, she decided to test how Jun Zechen really felt about the Noble Consort’s poisoning.

Su Jingyao slowly closed her eyes, parted her red lips, and softly asked,

“Your Majesty, why did you and the Empress Dowager ask me to investigate the poisoning of the Noble Consort?”

Jun Zechen paused for a moment, then replied, “I originally wanted to convict An Zhaorong directly, but the Empress Dowager was not satisfied with my decision. Since she wants you to investigate, then you can do it.”

A flicker of thought flashed in Jun Zechen’s eyes.

In the palace, the only person who resented Ling Yue was An Zhaorong, and the evidence pointed toward her.

He had wanted to use this as a reason to get rid of An Zhaorong, but his mother stopped him.

To Jun Zechen, the more they investigated, the worse it would be for Ling Yue. That was why he didn’t want to continue.

The longer it took, the more chances the real culprit had to erase the evidence or even frame someone else. In the end, it might just be a servant taking the blame.

But since his mother wanted Yaoyao to investigate, he had no choice but to agree.

Su Jingyao frowned slightly, her voice filled with doubt.

“Did Your Majesty want to convict An Zhaorong just for the Noble Consort?”

“I read the evidence Your Majesty gathered. Although An Zhaorong is suspicious, there is no direct proof that she did it.”

“She came to see me before, too. She is just a pitiful woman who admires Your Majesty.”

“Maybe she was jealous of the Noble Consort before, but poisoning her? That would ruin her family. Would she really do such a thing?”

Jun Zechen gently stroked her soft hair.

“Yaoyao, before you entered the palace, you hadn’t seen the kind of fights that happen inside. Even after entering the Eastern Palace, my inner court only had you and the Noble Consort. Both of you have pure hearts, so you don’t understand the dark side of the harem.”

Thinking about his father’s palace, Jun Zechen felt disgusted. His eyes darkened.

“An Zhaorong has a scheming mind. You should stay away from her.”

“Alright, I will listen to Your Majesty. But since the Empress Dowager trusts me, I will make sure to investigate carefully. I will find out who really hurt the Noble Consort,” Su Jingyao said firmly.

“You don’t have to work too hard on this,” Jun Zechen said calmly.

Su Jingyao slightly frowned.

Jun Zechen should be very concerned about Ling Yue’s poisoning. Why did his attitude seem different now?

Had he realized that Ling Yue poisoned herself to gain sympathy?

If they continued investigating, maybe he was afraid of discovering a truth he couldn’t accept.

After all, he had always believed that his gentle and innocent wife would never harm herself just to gain his attention.

If he had realized the truth but didn’t want to face it, then quickly convicting An Zhaorong would make sense. If that was the case, Ling Yue’s plan had worked.

Su Jingyao scoffed in her heart.

Ling Yue’s trick was common, but it was effective.

She had only hurt herself, so even if Jun Zechen found out the truth, would he hate her or just feel more guilty toward her?

Based on what Su Jingyao knew about Jun Zechen, he would probably just feel more guilty.

Heh. Then don’t blame me for throwing dirt on Ling Yue’s name.

She didn’t hurt anyone else, but what if she framed someone else and made an innocent person take the blame?