Chapter 32

“Tell me. Who ordered you to do it?”

Her voice was cold, sending a chill down Ruo’er’s spine.

Ruo’er started shaking, feeling as if she had fallen into an icy pit.

“Master, I don’t know! I swear, I don’t know anything!” she cried, knocking her head against the floor, tears streaming down her pale face.

Su Jingyao frowned, growing impatient.

“Doctor Jin, if she’s so skilled at embroidery, then let’s take her hands away.”

Her voice was emotionless.

Ruo’er’s eyes widened in horror.

Wasn’t Su Jingyao supposed to be kind and gentle? How could she say something so cruel?

Seeing Su Jingyao’s indifferent expression, Ruo’er realized—this was real.

Dr. Jin immediately took out a bottle of medicine and made Ruo’er drink it.

Her body weakened instantly, unable to move.

Then, he applied a special ointment to her fingernails and, without hesitation, removed one of them.

Ruo’er didn’t feel pain due to the medicine, but she watched in horror as her fingernail was pulled off.

Tears filled her eyes. She wanted to scream, but no sound came out.

Su Jingyao lifted her hand slightly. “Stop.”

Then, she looked at Ruo’er coldly.

“Are you ready to talk now?”

Ruo’er bit her lip. She was too scared to speak—whether she confessed or not, she would be doomed.

Su Jingyao smirked. “Still stubborn? Continue.”

Ruo’er’s entire body trembled. She stared at Dr. Jin like he was a demon.

With all her strength, she finally spoke.

“Master… you have no right to torture me! If the Crown Prince finds out how cruel you are, he will surely despise you!”

She glared at Su Jingyao with hatred.

Su Jingyao chuckled softly.

“Oh? You think so? Then let’s try something new. If you still refuse to talk, I will remove all your nails, gouge out your eyes, and cut off your tongue. Do you want to test me?”

She smiled sweetly, but to Ruo’er, it was the most terrifying sight in the world.

Her voice was gentle, yet full of chilling threats.

Ruo’er’s eyes widened in sheer terror.

Her face turned deathly pale, cold sweat covering her forehead.

Her lips trembled as she realized… there was no escape.

Li Jing remained indifferent to Ru’er’s fear. He calmly and methodically applied the softening ointment to the rest of her fingernails.

Ru’er watched in horror as another fingernail slowly detached from her finger.

At that moment, she could no longer contain her terror. She would rather die than endure such torture.

Consort Su was a demon—she was truly a demon!

“I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!”

Ru’er used all her strength to speak, her voice trembling.

“It… it was the Crown Princess.”

Su Jingyao let out a light scoff, her tone filled with disdain and mockery.

“Li Jing, continue.”

Ru’er’s eyes widened in shock. No, no, please no! She screamed in her heart.

“It was—it was Concubine An!” Her voice broke into sobs.

At that moment, Miao Yue walked in.

She appeared completely calm, without a trace of panic. Holding a brocade box steadily in both hands, she approached.

“Master, I found the Crown Princess’s gold hairpin in Ru’er’s room.”

She presented the box without hesitation.

Upon hearing this, Su Jingyao slowly raised her right hand and gently stroked her slightly rounded belly, deep in thought.

Could it be that An Jinyan was trying to use her to frame Ling Yue? A sharp glint of malice flickered in Su Jingyao’s downcast eyes.

She was seeking death.

Then, Su Jingyao lifted her head and looked at Li Jing. He immediately understood her unspoken command. In a flash, he appeared beside Ru’er and struck her unconscious.

“If they dare to scheme against me, how can I not return the favor?”

“Eliminate Ru’er. Doctor Jin, I’ll trouble you with this.” Su Jingyao’s voice was cold and resolute.

She never showed mercy to those who betrayed her.

If Ru’er confessed, she would grant her a swift death. If she didn’t, she would make her suffer a painful one.

Li Jing knew exactly what to do.

He quickly carried out the task, ensuring Ru’er was silenced. Then, he carefully reattached her fingernails, making sure there was no visible sign of tampering.

“Place the handkerchief we got from Concubine An’s place on Ru’er.” Su Jingyao turned to Miao Yun and instructed calmly.

She was planning to strike during the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet—killing two birds with one stone.

A faint smile curled at her lips. Though beautiful and gentle, her expression carried a chilling menace.

Then, Su Jingyao slightly frowned and asked, “How can I still wear that palace dress?”

If she didn’t want to alert anyone, she needed to wear it to the banquet.

Li Jing thought for a moment before answering, “Palm charcoal and blood charcoal counteract motherwort. These can neutralize its effects.”

“I will grind them into powder and mix them with fragrance to mask the smell. If applied to your inner clothing, it will block the herb’s effects on your body.”

“Alright, prepare it,” Su Jingyao nodded lightly.

By the time everything was ready, it was nearly time for the banquet.

She sat gracefully on the couch, her posture elegant and composed, showing no sign of worry or nervousness.

Li Jing bowed and left. Just as he stepped out of the palace, Prince Jun Zechen arrived, dressed in a black and gold robe.

His posture was straight and steady, exuding an air of authority.

Li Jing quickly lowered his head and greeted him respectfully, his voice calm and unshaken.

“Your Highness.”

“Mm, rise.”

Jun Zechen didn’t spare Li Jing a glance and walked straight into the palace.

Li Jing stood up slowly and turned his head to look inside.

He saw Jun Zechen enter and immediately pull Su Jingyao into his arms.

Su Jingyao’s face showed a hint of shyness, while Jun Zechen’s expression was full of affection.

Li Jing’s gaze darkened, a bitter feeling rising in his heart, but he quickly turned and left.

Su Jingyao relaxed in Jun Zechen’s strong embrace, leaning against him with ease.

Though she wore no makeup, her flawless, radiant skin seemed to glow, making the luxurious palace dress look even more stunning.

Jun Zechen couldn’t help but reach out and gently pinch her soft, smooth cheek—it felt as delicate as silk.

In the Eastern Palace, all the women wore heavy makeup in his presence, yet none of them ever stirred his interest.

But this woman in his arms, with her soft, warm body and gentle presence, filled his heart with an indescribable warmth.

Seeing him, Su Jingyao beamed brightly.

“Happy birthday, Your Highness.”

Her voice was clear and sweet, overflowing with warmth.

“Did you prepare a gift for me?”

Jun Zechen wasn’t satisfied with just her birthday wish—he raised an eyebrow slightly, looking forward to her answer.

“Of course. Miao Yun, bring my painting.” Su Jingyao playfully pouted, looking charmingly annoyed.

Miao Yun quickly retrieved the painting that Su Jingyao had prepared in advance and respectfully handed it to Jun Zechen.

Jun Zechen took the scroll as Su Jingyao continued, “Today is Your Highness’s birthday. I know you will spend the evening with my sister, so I am giving you your gift now.”

Hearing her say she already knew he wouldn’t stay with her tonight made Jun Zechen feel oddly stifled inside.

However, his expression remained calm, betraying none of his emotions.

He slowly unrolled the painting, and his eyes lit up.

It was a portrait of him holding Su Jingyao in his arms while she was pregnant.

Jun Zechen had never realized how gentle he looked when holding her.

In the painting, he had lost his usual cold and stern demeanor. His eyes were filled with love and tenderness, while the woman in his embrace radiated maternal warmth, gently caressing her belly.

It was a warm and happy family of three.

Su Jingyao saw that he was staring at the painting without speaking. She felt a little shy and lowered her head slightly, not daring to look at him.

She asked softly, “Your Highness, do you like it?” Her voice carried a hint of nervousness and expectation.

Jun Zechen came back to his senses from the painting and looked at her deeply with his dark eyes. “I like it very much,” he said in a low and gentle voice.

Just as he was about to carefully put the painting away, his eyes unintentionally landed on the lower right corner of the artwork.

There, he saw a few lines of delicate handwriting:

To my husband:

May you uphold the righteousness of heaven and earth, stand with the dignity of the world.
May you shine with the brilliance of the stars, and display the grace of a true leader.
With a heart for the nation, striving for prosperity and peace, may your ambitions soar high and your grand plans succeed.
Step by step, rise above all, command authority, and shine brightly forever.

After reading these words, Jun Zechen felt his heart tremble. A deep and indescribable emotion surged within him.

Her blessings matched his own aspirations.

He would one day rule the world. His will would command everything. His power would be unquestionable. His orders would be obeyed without hesitation. His empire would be unstoppable.

He would expand his territory, make all bow before him, achieve immortal greatness, and become a legendary emperor.

From the moment he became the Crown Prince, his goal had never changed.

Su Jingyao had known Jun Zechen for a long time. Although she had never seen him in action at court, through their interactions, she could tell he was a proud and confident man—arrogant yet determined.

She understood him, supported him, and gave him her blessings.

Jun Zechen unconsciously tightened his grip on Su Jingyao’s hand, as if he wanted to hold her close forever and never let go.

But because she was pregnant, he didn’t dare to use too much strength.

Su Jingyao’s face flushed like a sunset. She lowered her head shyly.

She whispered, “Your Highness is my sister’s husband. I shouldn’t call you that… I just had a little selfish thought. Please don’t…”

Her voice was soft, like flowing water, carrying a trace of nervousness and anticipation.

But Jun Zechen didn’t give her a chance to finish. He turned her face toward him, leaned down, and kissed her lips precisely.

The kiss was both gentle and passionate. The words she spoke always made his heart ache, and he just wanted to silence them with his lips.

He was her husband—this was an undeniable fact!

She didn’t need to be so careful and cautious!

After a while, Su Jingyao gently pushed him away.

“Your Highness, it’s getting late.”

Her watery eyes looked like two clear springs, her cheeks slightly flushed, making her look delicate and lovely.

If it weren’t for the timing, Jun Zechen really wanted to hold her tightly and kiss her endlessly.

Instead, he dropped a soft kiss on her palm before letting go of her hand.

Looking at her with eyes full of affection, he finally revealed his true purpose.

“The Taihe Hall is far from the Eastern Palace. You are heavily pregnant now, so I will take you there with me.”

Su Jingyao showed a trace of confusion and slightly furrowed her delicate eyebrows.

“Your Highness won’t go with my sister?”

“It was the Crown Princess’s suggestion. She has become much more understanding lately. And you are already seven months pregnant—I can’t stop worrying about you.”

Jun Zechen explained patiently, his tone showing his approval of Ling Yue’s recent behavior.

Hearing this, Su Jingyao gently nodded, her doubts fading.

Jun Zechen gently wrapped his arm around her waist and led her out of the palace hall.

They boarded a grand sedan carried by sixteen men. As it moved slowly toward Taihe Hall, Su Jingyao leaned against him with a warm smile.

But in her heart, she was looking forward to tonight’s drama.

I’m sorry, my dear Crown Prince.

Your birthday tonight will not be peaceful. And you definitely won’t be spending the night with your Crown Princess.