Chapter 23

Su Jingyao lowered her head slightly, her eyes welling up with tears as she looked at Jun Zechen with a pitiful expression. He sat there with a hint of coldness on his face.

“Today, An Liangdi came to Xiyan Palace,” she said softly.

Jun Zechen remained indifferent, still lounging lazily in his seat.

He casually played with Su Jingyao’s soft, fair hand, as if he hadn’t even heard her words.

He stayed silent.

Seeing that he didn’t react, Su Jingyao had no choice but to continue speaking.

“An Liangdi asked me to persuade Your Highness… Would you—”

Before she could finish, Jun Zechen suddenly lifted his head.

His gaze turned sharp and cold, shooting directly at her. This little woman was getting bolder—daring to say such things?

His expression became stern, his presence chilling, making the air around them feel heavy.

Su Jingyao shivered under his icy stare and immediately shut her mouth.

Her whole body trembled slightly. She bit her delicate lips, unsure of what to say.

Her helpless and innocent look could easily make anyone feel sorry for her.

She cautiously met his eyes, full of confusion, as if she didn’t understand what she had done wrong.

“Has my side consort forgotten her place?”

Jun Zechen deliberately emphasized the words “side consort,” his tone filled with displeasure and sarcasm.

He couldn’t believe it.

This woman, who claimed to miss him just moments ago, was now here persuading him to favor another woman?

When a new concubine entered the palace, she also said she wanted to be with him—only to later send him away to comfort Ling Yue instead.

Since she insisted, he had simply followed her wishes.

“Your Highness…” she called out weakly.

But Jun Zechen coldly pulled his hand away and said, “I’m tired from handling state affairs today. You may leave.”

With that, he closed his eyes to rest, completely ignoring her.

Su Jingyao’s eyes quickly filled with mist, like a delicate veil covering her sorrow.

Suddenly, a tear slipped from the corner of her eye and landed right on the back of Jun Zechen’s hand.

His eyes snapped open.

A faint frown appeared on his face, showing a hint of irritation.

“Why are you crying?” he asked in a low voice.

She was the one who said the wrong thing, yet now she looked like she was the one being bullied.

“I just… felt that An Liangdi reminded me of myself when I first entered the Eastern Palace,” Su Jingyao whispered, her voice trembling with helplessness.

“She came to my Xiyan Palace today and talked to me for a long time. She looked so sad, and I just couldn’t bear it…”

Her voice carried a trace of grievance and resignation.

She looked as fragile as a flower trembling in the wind—delicate and heartbreaking.

Jun Zechen watched her quietly and sighed deeply in his heart.

An Liangdi was clearly an ambitious woman. What was there to pity?

But because of Su Jingyao’s own past, she sympathized with An Liangdi, believing they shared the same struggles.

At this moment, Jun Zechen wished this little woman wasn’t so kind.

How had Su Shangshu, that cunning old fox, raised his daughter to be so pure and harmless?

Jun Zechen reached out and gently pulled her onto his lap, wrapping an arm around her slender waist.

Su Jingyao obediently wrapped her arms around his neck. Her small body felt as light as a feather as she nestled into his embrace like a little rabbit seeking comfort. Her red eyes and nose made her look pitiful, making it impossible not to feel sorry for her.

“The new concubines were chosen by the Empress Dowager,” Jun Zechen said. “For the sake of the royal bloodline, I will give them attention.”

“I only spent a few days comforting the Crown Princess at Qi Luan Palace, and these new ones are already getting restless?”

His voice carried a trace of irritation.

“And yet, you’re the only little fool who would come to me and ask me to favor others.”

Su Jingyao’s soft voice whispered, “I didn’t just come here for them… I truly missed Your Highness.”

Her sweet, gentle voice caressed his ears like a warm spring breeze, making Jun Zechen’s body stiffen. A tingling sensation spread through him.

Her delicate tone was enough to make anyone want to tease her, as if she were purposely tugging at his heartstrings.

His gaze darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes.

His hand around her waist started moving slightly, his touch filled with an eagerness he didn’t even notice.

She was still a delicate girl, easily frightened. In the past, she had stubbornly held back her tears no matter what he said.

Now, the moment his voice turned even slightly cold, her tears would fall like broken pearls, as if her sorrow came from the depths of her heart.

“Stay in Yude Palace tonight?”

His fiery gaze burned into her, full of possessiveness and longing, almost overwhelming.

Su Jingyao lowered her head slightly, her cheeks blooming into a rosy pink, as delicate as a freshly opened peach blossom.

Her pink-painted nails matched her flushed cheeks, making her look even more soft and lovely—like a fragile flower in need of protection.

Jun Zechen’s desire surged as he looked at her. He wanted to devour her whole.

Without hesitation, he reached out to lift her chin, ready to kiss her.

But Su Jingyao, as if expecting this, quickly raised her hand and placed it against his lips.

His scorching kiss landed on her palm instead, its heat almost burning her skin.

Jun Zechen’s dark gaze locked onto her, his brow slightly raised, as if silently questioning her.

“You won’t let me kiss you?”

Su Jingyao blinked her long, dark lashes and innocently said, “I put on lip balm today… I can’t kiss.”

Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a hint of shyness and playfulness that melted into his heart.

Jun Zechen’s eyes burned as he stared at her glossy lips.

He usually disliked kissing lips coated in lip balm, but at this moment, even knowing she had applied it, he still couldn’t resist the urge.

Holding her delicate hand, he brought it to his lips, his eyes smoldering with desire.

Like a hungry wolf, he looked at her as he pressed a kiss to her fingertip.

Then he looked up at her again.

Su Jingyao’s blush deepened—this cunning man was teasing her.

The warmth of his lips sent a shiver down her spine, an unfamiliar sensation spreading through her body like tiny sparks of electricity.

She instinctively wanted to pull her fingers back.

Her glistening eyes shone like stars, filled with a mix of confusion and anticipation. She softly called, “Your Highness…”

Her voice was filled with emotions she herself didn’t understand, a delicate mix of longing and uncertainty.

Again and again, she whispered his name, her voice as light as a feather, stroking his heart.

She leaned weakly into his embrace.

…

More than half an hour later, Jun Zechen held her close, resting his head against her smooth, delicate shoulder.

His large hand, as if enchanted, caressed her slender waist with endless affection and attachment.

He didn’t know what she was made of—she looked so petite, yet her whole body was unbelievably soft.

Her skin was fair and tender, as if it would bruise at the lightest touch.

Su Jingyao closed her eyes slightly, resting.

After a while, she murmured in a soft, spoiled voice, “I want a bath.” Her entire body felt sore.

Jun Zechen’s gaze darkened.

He turned her face toward him and gave her a deep kiss before lifting her in his arms and carrying her to the bath.

Before long, the bathroom was filled with the sound of her soft, delicate cries and his heavy breathing.

After Su Jingyao had gone to persuade Jun Zechen that day, he indeed started giving attention to the new concubines.

However, the first one he favored was not An Jinyan—it was Bai Mengli.

Su Jingyao understood why.

An Jinyan had been too eager, going straight to Xiyan Palace to ask for favor.

Her impatience had displeased Jun Zechen, making him see her as someone who couldn’t stay in her place.

With such a poor first impression, there was no way she would be the first to share his bed.

For the past ten days, Prince Jun Zechen had summoned and favored all five new concubines one by one. It was even said that several vases had already been replaced in Qiluan Palace because of this.

Su Jingyao slightly raised her eyebrows, a faint, mocking smile appearing on her lips.

“Master, the Crown Princess is making such a fuss over His Highness favoring the new concubines. The entire Eastern Palace knows about it. Isn’t she afraid that the Empress will give her trouble?”

Miaoyun found the Crown Princess’s actions puzzling.

“This is already her holding back,” Su Jingyao chuckled softly.

In her memory, in the novel, when Jun Zechen favored his concubines, Ling Yue had directly stormed into Qianqing Palace and had a huge argument with him, relying on their long-standing relationship.

Now, she was just smashing a few vases in her palace.

“Have our spies in Xiyan Palace found out anything?” Su Jingyao asked gently.

“Master, our people have now become personal maidservants in Xiyan Palace and even have the chance to serve in Xiyan Palace’s inner chambers. According to reports, Concubine An is planning something for the Crown Princess’s birthday banquet in five days.”

Miaoyun quickly replied, “Ever since Concubine An was favored by His Highness, she has become even more arrogant. She suppressed Tang Fengyi completely after she was only summoned once.”

“But the Crown Princess is not one to be underestimated. His Highness still has more affection for her. If she requests, he will most likely go to Qiluan Palace.”

“Moreover, whenever His Highness heads toward the inner palace, she always finds a way to intercept him since her palace is closer to Yude Palace.”

Miaoyun detailed Concubine An’s schemes one by one.

“None of that matters. What’s important is finding out what Concubine An is planning for the Crown Princess’s birthday banquet.”

Su Jingyao wasn’t impressed by An Jinyan’s tactics.

Perhaps she was still too young and inexperienced in palace struggles. It was understandable that her methods were somewhat immature.

But the more An Jinyan tried to compete for favor, the more Jun Zechen would see her as nothing more than a tool for bearing children.

She would never win his heart.

A meaningful smile appeared on Su Jingyao’s lips as her fair fingers gently touched her belly.

Perhaps, she could give them an unexpected surprise at the birthday banquet.