Chapter 54

Qianqing Palace.

Last night, when Jun Zechen went to Zhaochun Palace, he overheard the palace maids whispering.

Hearing those rumors, he frowned and immediately ordered Fu Quan to report any gossip about Pure and Gentle Consort to him.

As the blood-red sunset slowly descended, Fu Quan estimated that the Emperor had almost finished reviewing his official documents.

He entered the imperial study quietly, his expression cautious, and his footsteps light.

He was ready to report the latest palace rumors to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, I greet you,” Fu Quan bowed respectfully, speaking in a hushed tone.

“Your Majesty, there have been some rumors about Pure and Gentle Consort lately.”

As he spoke, he carefully observed the Emperor’s expression, afraid of angering him.

Jun Zechen’s dark eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion.

“What rumors?” His voice was calm but carried an undeniable pressure.

“Since the first night of Your Majesty’s reign, the palace has been saying that Your Majesty favors the Noble Consort the most.

“They say that even when Pure and Gentle Consort personally came to Qianqing Palace that night, Your Majesty still left her behind and went to Yikun Palace instead.”

Fu Quan’s voice trembled slightly, and sweat formed on his forehead.

The palace servants were bold—how could they dare to say such things?

But the imperial harem had always been full of gossip. It had been the same under the previous emperor. Discussions about which consort was favored, who received rewards, and who fell out of favor were common.

Usually, those in power ignored these rumors. If they punished people too harshly, the gossip would only spread more wildly.

Today, Fu Quan had caught a gossiping servant and given them a minor punishment as a warning to others.

Jun Zechen’s expression darkened, his face covered in a cold, unreadable aura.

He frowned slightly and then asked, “Fu Quan, between the Noble Consort and the Pure and Gentle Consort, who do you think I favor more?”

His tone remained light, but there was an underlying meaning that Fu Quan could not grasp.

His heart pounded—wasn’t this a trick question?

Where was Anshun?

Anshun had served the Emperor for so many years—he should be the one answering this!

Fu Quan nervously wiped his forehead, then cautiously lifted his gaze.

“Your Majesty… it is the Noble Consort?”

Fu Quan actually didn’t know much about the past between the two consorts when they were in the Eastern Palace.

But after Your Majesty’s coronation…

The Noble Consort had once offended the late Emperor and had no children for three years. Many ministers had demanded her removal.

Yet, Your Majesty still made her the Noble Consort, the highest-ranking woman in the harem.

Meanwhile, the Pure and Gentle Consort had a noble background and had given birth to the eldest prince. Logically, she should have been made Empress.

But Your Majesty left the Empress position empty and placed the Pure and Gentle Consort beneath the Noble Consort.

That alone sent a clear message—Your Majesty was saving the Empress position for the Noble Consort.

And on the first night of his reign, he left Pure and Gentle Consort and went to Yikun Palace.

Based on this, it seemed that the Emperor truly cared more for the Noble Consort.

Jun Zechen’s icy gaze landed on Fu Quan like a sharp blade.

Fu Quan felt a shiver run down his spine, his body trembling. His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees with a loud thud.

“Your Majesty, please forgive me! I should not have tried to guess Your Majesty’s thoughts. I deserve to die!”

Jun Zechen pressed his lips into a firm line, his face unreadable.

So, the entire palace believed he favored the Noble Consort the most.

No wonder she believed it too.

That was why she was so heartbroken last night and said those things.

Jun Zechen tapped his fingers against the desk, one tap after another, lost in deep thought.

He had broken his promise to Ling Yue. That guilt had always weighed on him, making him want to make it up to her.

Last night, he knew Ling Yue had deliberately tried to keep him there, and he let her because he understood her.

He had once placed Ling Yue so high above others that now, she couldn’t accept the fall.

But…

His indulgence toward Ling Yue last night had deeply hurt Yaoyao.

In politics, Jun Zechen was always decisive. He had never been so hesitant before.

But with these two women, he didn’t want to hurt either of them.

He was the Emperor—he shouldn’t dwell on romantic entanglements.

He could give Yaoyao his love and give Ling Yue her status. There was no conflict between the two.

Jun Zechen’s deep gaze fell on Fu Quan.

“Summon Pure and Gentle Consort.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Fu Quan quickly responded.

He immediately ordered a eunuch to rush to Zhaochun Palace.

When Su Jingyao arrived at Qianqing Palace, Fu Quan, who had looked serious moments ago, immediately put on a warm smile and led her into the warm chamber.

At that moment, Jun Zechen was reclining on a couch, lazily propping his head up with one hand while flipping through an old book with the other.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” Su Jingyao said with a graceful bow, her voice as sweet as a bird’s song.

Hearing her voice, Jun Zechen put down the book.

He reached out his arm and pulled Su Jingyao directly into his embrace.

A trace of resistance flashed across Su Jingyao’s face.

She had been seriously investigating a case in Zhaochun Palace, only to be suddenly summoned by this man. He was wasting her precious time! And she was still upset from before. Su Jingyao pursed her red lips, reluctantly sitting in front of Jun Zechen.

Even though the man’s hand was tightly gripping her waist, she stubbornly refused to lean into his embrace.

In her mind, they needed to keep some distance and boundaries.

Jun Zechen slightly propped himself up and rested his chin gently on her shoulder, speaking softly, “Still angry?”

“Has Your Majesty done anything to make me stop being angry?”

Su Jingyao’s delicate face remained cold, her voice indifferent.

Jun Zechen had never seen her act so stubborn before. She looked like a cold winter plum blossom—proud and distant.

“I forgot to wish you a happy birthday yesterday. That was my mistake. I’ve already sent people to find the butterfly koi fish you like. Besides that, I have another gift for you.”

Jun Zechen’s deep, magnetic voice whispered into her ear, intentionally lowering his tone to sound even more enticing.

Su Jingyao frowned slightly and pushed him away with her slender fingers.

“If Your Majesty wishes to give a gift, then do so. But please don’t stay so close to me.”

Jun Zechen smirked at her words but didn’t argue.

Instead, he suddenly bit her soft earlobe lightly and commanded, “Don’t push me away.”

Before she could react, he pulled her firmly into his embrace.

With his right hand, he picked up a brush and began writing on a small table beside the bed.

His strokes flowed smoothly, bold and powerful.

But Su Jingyao remained stubborn, refusing to even glance at what he was writing.

Even after he finished, she didn’t look.

“You really won’t even take a look?” Jun Zechen’s voice carried a mix of helplessness and indulgence.

He knew she was being stubborn, so he reached out and gently lifted her chin, forcing her gaze toward the paper.

To My Beloved:

May you be blessed with the fortune of the palace, embodying grace and beauty.
May you hold noble status, displaying elegance and charm.
With wisdom in your heart, may your life remain peaceful and bright, like a flower in bloom, like a painting of prosperity.
With deep blessings, may you soar like a phoenix, as if descended from the heavens.

Every time Jun Zechen recalled the birthday blessing she once wrote for him, his heart would warm with deep emotion.

So this time, he had carefully written a heartfelt blessing for her in return.

He expected her to be happy.

But when he looked at her, he didn’t see joy.

Instead, he saw her eyes turn red, shimmering with unshed tears.

His heart tightened, suddenly feeling uneasy.

“You don’t like it?” he asked gently.

“Is this blessing truly meant for me?”

Su Jingyao’s voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of sorrow.

“There’s no one else here except you,” Jun Zechen replied softly, his tone full of tenderness.

“Then does Your Majesty know what ‘beloved’ means?”

Her teary eyes glared at him, filled with both grievance and frustration.

“To love and cherish you—that’s why I call you my beloved. If I don’t call you that, then who else should I call so?”

Jun Zechen lowered his head slightly, his deep voice resonating in the quiet room.

Su Jingyao, of course, understood the meaning of “beloved.” That was precisely why she felt even more upset.

Love from an emperor was given too easily, yet women always longed to hear sweet words.

When a ruler wanted to coax someone, his words were impossible to resist.

To love you, to cherish you, that’s why I call you my beloved.

Beautiful words. But could she, unlike Ling Yue, truly believe them?

A moment of affection meant nothing.

Su Jingyao stood up from the bed and gracefully bowed.

“I thank Your Majesty for your kindness. Your blessing is truly touching.”

“However, the Empress Dowager has specifically ordered me to investigate the case of the poisoned Noble Consort. I must return to Zhaochun Palace to handle this matter. If Your Majesty has no other orders, I shall take my leave.”

Her tone was calm and distant.

Without looking at Jun Zechen’s face, she already knew he wouldn’t be pleased.

She understood she shouldn’t push him too far today—this was merely a test of his limits.

She kept her posture lowered, waiting for his response.

But Jun Zechen remained silent.

The air grew heavy with tension.

Her body began to tremble slightly, and she slowly lifted her gaze toward him.

Jun Zechen’s face was unreadable, his cold eyes locked onto her.

How much longer was she going to act this way?

Their gazes met, and Su Jingyao’s heart sank.

This was the emperor.

The gentleness and indulgence from last night were only temporary—mere illusions created by his guilt.

Now that they were back in Qianqing Palace, Jun Zechen was once again the untouchable ruler.

Su Jingyao stared at his calm expression, understanding that she had no power to continue this game.

After all, even her father, the Prime Minister of the court, was merely a servant to him.

How could she ever expect to stand on equal ground with him?

In the harem, all women were like lambs. And he was the master of it all. She and Jun Zechen could never truly be equals.

So, he couldn’t blame her for scheming against his heart. Jun Zechen said calmly, “Will Yaoyao come here, or return to Zhaochun Palace?” As he spoke, he patted the bed.

Su Jingyao bit her lip gently and stepped forward.

Seeing her approach, Jun Zechen pulled her tightly into his embrace once again.

Then, he whispered in her ear, “Whatever Yaoyao wants, just tell me. I will give it to you.”

Su Jingyao’s eyelashes lowered slightly, trembling.

She didn’t believe him.