Chapter 58

Jun Zechen frowned slightly, his expression serious as he explained.

“Qin’er and Ping’er from Pure and Virtuous Consort’s palace secretly met last night and did some unspeakable things. I have already sent both of them to the Shenxing Bureau for interrogation.”

Hearing this, Ling Yue’s heart filled with panic.

Ping’er from Zhaochun Palace was actually a spy she had planted there.

It was Ping’er who had leaked the information that His Majesty planned to take Pure and Virtuous Consort out of the palace on her birthday.

Ling Yue had originally planned to poison herself—this way, she could stop Jun Zechen and Pure and Virtuous Consort from leaving the palace. If Pure and Virtuous Consort blamed Jun Zechen for breaking his promise, it could create distance between them. At the same time, she could frame An Zhaorong for the poisoning.

After all, An Zhaorong had harmed her multiple times before. Did she really have to keep tolerating it without fighting back?

She was only retaliating. She was only protecting herself.

But now, His Majesty had captured both Ping’er and Qin’er and sent them to the Shenxing Bureau. If those two revealed anything during the interrogation, then she…

No! That must not happen!

Ling Yue forced a smile, but it was obviously strained.

“Since Ping’er is from Pure and Virtuous Consort’s palace, and it is also Pure and Virtuous Consort who is investigating my poisoning, isn’t that unfair?”

Jun Zechen had not expected Ling Yue to suspect Yaoyao. Had she forgotten that Yaoyao had once saved her?

His eyes darkened, filled with disappointment.

“Pure and Virtuous Consort came today to report this matter. I will have Anshun take over the investigation. Noble Consort, you do not need to worry.”

“Yes, I understand, Your Majesty.”

Ling Yue let out a sigh of relief. This case was originally being investigated by His Majesty himself, and everyone in the palace knew how much he cared for her.

At first, His Majesty had wanted to punish An Zhaorong directly to stand up for her, but the Empress Dowager insisted that Pure and Virtuous Consort handle the investigation instead.

Why should a case involving a Noble Consort be investigated by someone ranked lower than her?

What’s more, after two days of investigation, Pure and Virtuous Consort had not only cleared An Zhaorong of suspicion but had also sent Ling Yue’s own servant to the Shenxing Bureau!

Now that she knew Anshun was taking over the case, she felt a little more at ease and prepared to leave.

However, when she glanced at Su Jingyao quietly sitting beside His Majesty, an intense wave of jealousy surged in her heart.

“Your Majesty, it’s almost time for the evening meal, and the attendants from the Service Bureau should be arriving soon. Since I am now managing the bureau, I checked the records and noticed that Your Majesty hasn’t chosen a consort in quite some time.”

Ling Yue clenched her teeth, forcing herself to remain composed. Using her management of the Service Bureau as an excuse, she was trying to persuade Jun Zechen to select a concubine for the night, ensuring fairness among them all.

She didn’t want him spending all his time with Pure and Virtuous Consort.

Since the night Jun Zechen ascended the throne, she had realized his heart was completely devoted to Pure and Virtuous Consort. Because of that, Ling Yue had never been able to look at Su Jingyao with indifference.

She would rather have Jun Zechen favor concubines he didn’t truly love than see him constantly by Su Jingyao’s side.

A fleeting, unreadable emotion crossed Jun Zechen’s eyes—Ling Yue was actually asking him to choose a consort?

“I will stay in Qianqing Palace tonight. Anshun, tell the Service Bureau not to send anyone.”

Anshun immediately responded, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Since Your Majesty is staying in Qianqing Palace for official business, why not let Pure and Virtuous Consort return to the palace with me? It would be good to have some company.”

Hearing Ling Yue mention her, Su Jingyao was slightly surprised and glanced at the Noble Consort.

Then, she turned to look at Jun Zechen, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, eyes filled with grievance.

Before Su Jingyao could say anything, Jun Zechen frowned and spoke.

“Noble Consort, you may return to your palace. I need Pure and Virtuous Consort to stay and grind ink for me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I take my leave.”

Ling Yue lowered her eyes, concealing the jealousy burning within them.

She bowed and slowly walked toward the door, her footsteps heavy.

After stepping out of the hall, she hesitated, unwilling to accept defeat, and turned back for one last look.

What she saw made her entire body freeze.

Jun Zechen was holding Su Jingyao affectionately in his arms, both of them laughing and playing together.

The scene was so intimate, so full of joy.

Ling Yue bit her lip so hard that it nearly bled. She glared fiercely at them before quickly turning away, her steps stiff as she left.

That night, Su Jingyao stayed at Qianqing Palace once again. And just like the previous night, nothing truly happened between them.

Su Jingyao didn’t fully understand love. She had never loved a man before.

But whether in modern times or in ancient times, she had always been an exceptional learner.

She wasn’t a mind reader; she couldn’t tell exactly how much Jun Zechen liked her.

However, in modern times, she had seen many explanations of what it meant to like someone and what it meant to love someone.

Liking is a moment of excitement, but love is a piercing pain.

Liking is being reckless and bold, but love is cautious and restrained.

Liking is something you can let go of easily, but love is something you cannot bear to part with.

Liking is a battle between equals, but love is surrendering willingly.

Liking is admiring someone’s strengths, but love is accepting their flaws.

She might not understand love, but she knew how to make Jun Zechen fit into these descriptions.

At the very least, Jun Zechen had felt pain for her, had held himself back for her, and was becoming more and more unwilling to see her suffer even a little.

However, he was still an emperor. Making him surrender completely? That would be difficult—except in certain situations…

As for accepting her flaws? Even harder. If he ever discovered her true, ruthless nature—if she killed someone and he handed her the knife—it would be a long and challenging road ahead.

After all, Jun Zechen had always favored innocent, gentle women. If she suddenly turned into a cunning black-hearted lotus, could he handle it?

Would he be so furious that he’d die on the spot?

Today was already the third day of investigating the Noble Consort’s poisoning, the final deadline set by the Empress Dowager.

But Su Jingyao was completely at ease. She had already accomplished what the Empress Dowager wanted.

She had cleared An Zhaorong’s name and stopped Jun Zechen from acting recklessly.

As for whether Jun Zechen was satisfied or not—well, he had taken on this case himself. However it turned out, he would have to accept it.

Qianqing Palace.

Anshun stood respectfully in the center of the hall, his head slightly lowered, his expression serious and cautious.

He began reporting to Jun Zechen, who sat on his imposing dragon throne.

“Your Majesty, this servant has completed the investigation. The poison was indeed administered by Qin’er, and Guo’er was framed.”

“The poison traces were found on Qin’er’s clothing, and the imperial physicians have confirmed this.”

“The reason this servant did not investigate Qin’er initially was because the Noble Consort interfered.”

As he spoke, Anshun kept his gaze steady and his tone calm.

“However, Qin’er insists that everything was orchestrated by Ping’er. She even claims that last night, Ping’er buried the poison under a tree root.”

“But after a thorough investigation, there is no evidence that anyone buried poison there last night.”

“From this, I suspect Qin’er is deliberately trying to shift the blame onto Pure and Virtuous Consort.”

While saying this, Anshun carefully glanced up, discreetly observing His Majesty’s expression.

Jun Zechen’s dark eyes remained fixed ahead, his face unreadable.

One hand rested on the armrest, while the other slowly turned the jade ring on his finger.

After a moment, he simply said two words—

“Continue.”

Anshun quickly continued, “After that, I used some special methods to interrogate Ping’er. She said she only passed on information from Zhaochun Palace to Qin’er.”

“She claimed she never touched the poison and didn’t even know what it was.”

Anshun paused for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts.

Then he added, “Ping’er also said that she once told Qin’er about Your Majesty’s plan to take Pure and Virtuous Consort out of the palace on her birthday.”

“Your Majesty knows my interrogation methods. Ping’er was telling the truth.”

At these words, Jun Zechen’s eyes flashed with a cold, piercing light. A chilling aura instantly filled the hall.

“Smash!”

A sharp sound echoed as Jun Zechen swept a teacup off the table, sending porcelain shards flying.

Anshun shuddered and immediately knelt, his voice trembling, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”

“Qin’er belongs to the Noble Consort?”

Jun Zechen narrowed his eyes slightly, his deep voice suppressing the rage that was about to erupt.

“Qin’er claimed she was serving An Zhaorong…”

Anshun braced himself and replied, though his expression showed hesitation.

Even he didn’t believe Qin’er was truly An Zhaorong’s person. After all, the information Qin’er gathered from Zhaochun Palace had reached the Noble Consort.

Not to mention, the Noble Consort had been covering up Qin’er’s actions all along.

It was obvious—she had spies in Zhaochun Palace and was trying to use this poisoning case to kill three birds with one stone.

She wanted to stop His Majesty from taking Pure and Virtuous Consort out of the palace, frame An Zhaorong and Pure and Virtuous Consort, and win back His Majesty’s favor.

Jun Zechen, of course, didn’t believe Qin’er was working for An Zhaorong.

In fact, he had suspected from the start that this was all a scheme by Ling Yue.

If she only wanted to take revenge on An Zhaorong, he might have let it go.

An Zhaorong was always scheming. Since entering the Eastern Palace, she had never been content. If this was a chance to punish her, so be it.

But he hadn’t expected Ling Yue to be so bold.

What had Yaoyao ever done to deserve this?

When Yaoyao first entered the Eastern Palace, she deliberately kept her distance from him for Ling Yue’s sake.

Later, she had treated Ling Yue as a true sister, even risking her life to save her.

And now, just for the sake of fighting for favor, because of uncontrollable jealousy, Ling Yue had resorted to such cruel tricks?

“Execute Qin’er and Ping’er. Cane them before their deaths.”

“The Noble Consort’s maid, Juxiang, recommended disloyal servants to her mistress. Slap her thirty times.”

“Tomorrow, carry out all punishments outside Yikun Palace. Let the Noble Consort watch.”

Jun Zechen’s voice was cold and emotionless, sending chills through everyone present.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Anshun immediately responded. But deep inside, he was shocked.

Qin’er and Ping’er certainly deserved death. His Majesty hadn’t openly punished the Noble Consort, but by ordering the execution at Yikun Palace, he was making it clear to everyone—this poisoning case was a scheme orchestrated by the Noble Consort herself.

How could she show her face after this?

Jun Zechen sighed inwardly.

He had indulged Ling Yue too many times. No matter what she did, even when his mother wanted to punish her, he had always shielded her.

And now, was this why she had become so reckless?

He didn’t mind women in the harem having the ability to protect themselves. He didn’t even care if they schemed.

Because he didn’t care about them.

But Yaoyao and Ling Yue’s innocence had once been rare and precious to him. He had wanted to protect it.

And now…?