Chapter 62

Su Jingyao lazily half-lay on the couch, resting her head on one hand while casually holding the list of selected candidates in the other.

She sighed softly. Being the emperor was truly good.

Beauty fades over time, but the emperor’s women are always beautiful.

Miaoyun stood obediently beside her.

“Master, I heard that there are several outstanding candidates among this year’s selections,” Miaoyun said.

Su Jingyao’s eyes slowly moved to the list in her hand. There would always be excellent women, but the real challenge was dealing with men.

However, these women were her competition for the empress position. To win, she needed to know her enemies well.

“Ye Yaqin, daughter of the Grand Marshal. She has the highest status among the candidates this year. What does she look like? What is her personality like?”

Su Jingyao pointed at Ye Yaqin’s name and asked.

The Grand Marshal was the highest-ranking military official in the kingdom, holding immense power.

In the imperial harem, family background was very important. Those from lower backgrounds could only rise in rank if they gained the emperor’s favor or gave birth to a royal heir.

But those with high status were usually promoted during festivals or major court ceremonies because of their noble lineage.

Miaoyun thought for a moment before answering.

“There are a few bold and outspoken candidates this year. But Miss Ye, despite being the Grand Marshal’s daughter, is actually very gentle and quiet.”

“She performed well in the selection process and is skilled in playing the guqin.”

“As for her appearance, I haven’t seen her in person, but I heard she is among the most beautiful candidates.”

“I also heard that the most beautiful one this year is Chu Yinxue, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel. She is seventeen years old, very tall and stunning, with a bold personality,” Miaoyun continued.

Su Jingyao nodded slightly, deep in thought.

“The Minister of Personnel works under my father, right? If Chu Yinxue enters the palace, I should write home and ask how my father and the Minister of Personnel get along,” she said, tapping her finger lightly on the edge of the couch, her eyes filled with caution.

The name Ye Yaqin seemed familiar. Could she be a side character from the original story?

Su Jingyao couldn’t quite remember.

Well, no need to fear those who come, and those who fear won’t come.

Tomorrow was the final palace selection. Jun Zechen, the Empress Dowager, the Noble Consort, and herself would all be present.

However, she and the Noble Consort were only there to observe. The real decision-makers were Jun Zechen and the Empress Dowager.

Thinking of this, Su Jingyao’s eyes narrowed slightly. After the selection, the number of women in the harem would increase, which meant her chances of becoming empress would also grow.

After all, with more women in the palace, things would easily become chaotic without an empress to manage them.

The Empress Dowager would never allow the empress position to remain empty for long.

To become empress, she needed the Empress Dowager’s support. But she also needed the right opportunity.

Having a child now wasn’t a reliable plan. The new candidates had just entered the palace, and no matter how confident she was, she wouldn’t naively believe that Jun Zechen would remain completely indifferent to all the new beauties.

Besides, for both Jun Zechen and the Empress Dowager, any woman could give birth to a child, but the empress position required more than just motherhood to secure.

Otherwise, Jun Zechen wouldn’t have considered letting Ling Yue adopt a child.

What mattered to the Empress Dowager was whether someone had the ability to be empress.

After the selection tomorrow, the candidates would return home for a brief visit before officially entering the palace five days later.

Then, in just half a month, it would be the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet.

Palace banquets were always managed by the Bureau of Rites, which was under the Noble Consort’s control.

Since that was the case, Su Jingyao wouldn’t allow the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet to pass by too smoothly.

Based on her guess, the emperor’s seat beside Jun Zechen would not remain empty for more than a year—perhaps even less. The Empress Dowager and the ministers would soon start pressuring Jun Zechen to appoint an empress.

During this time, Su Jingyao had to make sure that the Noble Consort made as many mistakes as possible until she completely lost the power to manage the imperial harem and had no chance of becoming the empress.

Thinking of this, a sharp glint flashed in Su Jingyao’s eyes. These young women entering the palace soon shouldn’t be too obedient—it would be best if they caused some trouble.

When Jun Zechen stepped into Zhaochun Palace, the first thing he saw was Su Jingyao sitting there, lost in thought.

Even after he walked right up to her, she still didn’t react.

Jun Zechen smirked slightly and reached out to pinch her soft, fair cheek. With a teasing tone, he asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Su Jingyao frowned slightly and pouted.

“Your Majesty, don’t pinch my face.”

Even as she spoke, she didn’t forget palace etiquette. She quickly stood up from the couch and gracefully bowed.

“Greetings to Your Majesty.”

Jun Zechen chuckled, helped her up, and then casually reclined on the couch. Su Jingyao was about to sit beside him when he glanced at her and said,

“Stand over there.”

“Today, Yaoyao seems different. Let me take a good look at you.”

Su Jingyao raised an eyebrow in surprise but obediently took a few steps back so Jun Zechen could see her more clearly.

She didn’t expect him to notice anything different about her.

Amused, she even spun around playfully and asked in a sweet voice, “Your Majesty, what is different about me today?”

“This dress is quite unique, and your hairstyle looks very nice today,” Jun Zechen said.

Su Jingyao’s dress was specially designed and made by the Bureau of Attire.

She had chosen to wear it today on purpose—to remind Jun Zechen of something.

The dress had a delicately embroidered cloud pattern on the collar, adorned with smooth pearls. The sleeves were wide and flowing, with intricate floral embroidery at the cuffs and long golden tassels that swayed as she moved.

The skirt was layered and elegant, with fine silver thread outlining its edges.

Around her waist, she wore a golden belt with gemstone tassels, accentuating her slender figure and graceful curves.

Her long, dark hair was styled into a high bun, decorated with a dazzling golden hairpin featuring intricate carvings. Small pearl flowers adorned the sides, adding a soft and feminine touch.

She also wore a delicate beaded crown, with strands of pearls cascading across her forehead, enhancing her beauty.

Her makeup was meticulously done, especially her eyes. Jun Zechen stared into them for a long moment.

“Come here,” he said softly.

Su Jingyao stepped closer and even leaned in slightly, playfully blinking at him.

To match her dress, she had emphasized her eyes with dark eyeliner, extending the ends slightly to give them a striking look.

When she smiled, she looked charming and alluring. When she didn’t, she had a cold, noble elegance.

“Why are you dressed like this today?” Jun Zechen asked curiously.

“Your Majesty has the final selection for palace candidates tomorrow. You’ll be meeting so many young ladies—shouldn’t I dress up, too? Today is just a test. Do you like it?”

Su Jingyao pouted slightly, acting playful.

“In this world, who could compare to my Yaoyao?”

Jun Zechen smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

“You only say sweet words to please me,” Su Jingyao teased.

She continued, “This dress was specially made by the Bureau of Attire. Under my elder sister, the Noble Consort’s management, the bureau has done a wonderful job. I really like it.”

“In a few days, it will be the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. I will ask them to make another dress for me.”

Leaning against Jun Zechen, Su Jingyao played with the jade pendant on his waist, her fingers moving lazily.

Hearing her mention the Bureau of Attire, Jun Zechen’s thoughts drifted.

“In twenty days, it will be Mother’s birthday. Her dress will also be made by the Bureau of Attire. The Noble Consort should start selecting the design and begin the preparations soon,” he said, frowning slightly with concern.

Ling Yue had never handled such matters before. He was worried she might make mistakes.

Although the female officials in the Bureau of Attire would follow palace rules, if Ling Yue didn’t consult the Empress Dowager beforehand and simply let the officials proceed as usual, his mother might not be pleased.

Thinking of this, Jun Zechen sighed inwardly. He would have to send someone to remind the Noble Consort.

When Su Jingyao heard Jun Zechen mention the Empress Dowager’s birthday dress, a thoughtful look flashed in her eyes.

“Your Majesty, both the Bureau of Attire and the Bureau of Rites are managed by my elder sister, the Noble Consort. The Bureau of Rites is responsible for organizing palace banquets,” she said.

“If my elder sister not only prepares a dress that pleases the Empress Dowager but also successfully hosts the birthday banquet, she will surely gain the Empress Dowager’s favor. That would change how the Empress Dowager sees her.”

Jun Zechen held her close, his hand gently stroking her waist.

Hearing her speak so earnestly on Ling Yue’s behalf, he suddenly felt a strange sense of disbelief.

“On your last birthday, I wasn’t there because I was with the Noble Consort. Aren’t you angry with her?” he asked, his voice calm but with a hint of curiosity.

Su Jingyao leaned against him and couldn’t see his expression, but she could sense the underlying question in his tone.

Her eyelashes lowered, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

Then, with a playful pout, she lightly tapped his chest with her small hand.

“Why would I be mad at the Noble Consort? If I should be angry at anyone, it should be Your Majesty!”

As she spoke, she playfully wriggled in his embrace.

“Your Majesty only broke the promise that one day, but I still felt so sad that my heart hurt a lot. So, I also feel sorry for my sister. I am selfish and want to take some of Your Majesty’s love that belongs to my sister, so I want to make it up to her in other ways.”

“I may not be very smart, but I know that the Empress Dowager is not happy with my sister. If my sister does well at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, the Empress Dowager might change her mind about her.”

Jun Zechen’s eyes became even deeper, as if holding a meaning that no one else could understand.

He didn’t tell Yaoyao that Ping’er was actually a spy placed in her palace by the Noble Consort. He also didn’t tell her that the Noble Consort had pretended to be poisoned that day, just to stop him from going out with her.

If she knew all this, would she still care so much about Ling Yue?

He wanted to protect her kind and innocent heart. He didn’t want her to see the dark and ugly side of people.

“Yaoyao, do you know that if the Empress Dowager changes her mind about the Noble Consort, she might become the Empress?” Jun Zechen spoke without any emotion.

“I know. Didn’t Your Majesty always keep the Empress position for my sister?”

“Your Majesty once told me that my sister was your first wife, so the Empress position should belong to her.”

Su Jingyao turned to look at him, full of confusion. Because of her makeup, her dark and bright eyes looked especially clear, like a pool of fresh water, pure and deep.

Jun Zechen’s face remained calm, but inside, he hesitated.

Yes, when he became Emperor, he always thought that the Empress position should be Ling Yue’s.

But now… he wasn’t so sure anymore.

Jun Zechen stared into her eyes. He even wanted to ask her—did she not want to be his Empress?

Su Jingyao saw that he didn’t say anything, so she continued, “So I ask Your Majesty to send experienced people to help my sister.”

She looked worried.

“After tomorrow’s palace selection, in five days, the new ladies will enter the palace. There will be more people, and that means more problems could happen.”

“Also, the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet is the first big banquet in the palace since Your Majesty became Emperor. It must be done very well.”

“My sister doesn’t have much experience. What if she makes a mistake?”

Jun Zechen watched her speak so seriously about helping Ling Yue, and his thoughts became complicated.

Should he tell her that the Noble Consort she saw as a sister was no longer the same person?

“Alright, I will send someone to help the Noble Consort.”

Hearing the answer she wanted, Su Jingyao leaned against him again.

Where Jun Zechen couldn’t see, a small smile slowly appeared on her lips.

She would make sure that the people Jun Zechen sent would see with their own eyes how incapable Ling Yue was.