Wearing a book, hooking him up

Su Jingyao came to Kunning Palace and, under the guidance of the palace maid, stepped into the main hall of Kunning Palace.

At this time, the queen was sitting upright on the phoenix chair in the first seat with a solemn posture.

Ling Yue sat below her and chatted with her, with a flattering smile on her face, and took a sip from her teacup from time to time.

"I pay my respects to the Empress and the Crown Princess."

Su Jingyao bowed slightly, her voice clear but respectful.

The queen's gaze slowly fell on Su Jingyao. When she first met her, she seemed to be dressed quite low-key and reserved, but when she saw her today, she was completely different.

She was indeed favored by the prince, her figure swayed gracefully, her eyes showed confidence and pride, and she carried herself with an overbearing attitude.

The silks and satins she wore, the pearls and jewels on her hair, and the bracelets on her wrists were either precious tributes from foreign countries or carefully presented tributes from other cities. The queen was quite familiar with all of these.

After all, Your Majesty used to reward favored concubines with these things. Now that the Crown Prince has taken charge of state affairs, Your Majesty has handed all of these over to the Crown Prince.

"Stand up, concubine, please sit down too."

The queen raised her hand slightly with a cold expression.

"Thank you, Queen."

Su Jingyao stood up and sat opposite Ling Yue.

"I asked you to come here today because I am concerned about your health. I heard that you were poisoned and had a headache. Are you feeling better now?"

The Queen's voice was steady.

"Your Highness, I am much better now. My headache has healed after Doctor Li helped me to relieve the effects of the medicine."

Su Jingyao answered with a look of gratitude on her face, as if she didn't expect the queen to care about her so much.

"I remember the day when Concubine had a headache, it was the day when His Highness went to Lin Liangyuan's place. That night Concubine invited the Crown Prince to your Shuining Palace?"

The queen's voice was calm, but there seemed to be a hint of hostility in her tone, and her eyes became fierce.

"Your Highness, I didn't do this. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is still investigating, and I can't come to a conclusion."

Su Jingyao frowned slightly, her eyes full of grievance.

"If that's the case, then let's wait for the Crown Prince to investigate. However, as the Queen, I still want to remind you that as the Crown Prince's wife or concubine, the most taboo thing is to be jealous and fight for the Crown Prince's favor."

The Queen's tone was serious.

"Yes, I will remember the Queen's teachings."

Su Jingyao quickly lowered her head with a submissive look.

"I also heard that on the day you had a headache, Doctor Li found out that someone had given you contraceptive drugs?"

"Yes, I don't know who envied me, but I have suffered such a disaster. I cannot give birth to children for Your Highness. I am unlucky."

Su Jingyao lowered her eyes, sadness revealed in them, and her expression was somewhat pitiful.

"I heard that the Crown Prince is also investigating this matter. However, this matter is of great importance, and I will also start to find out the truth. I take matters that are detrimental to the Crown Prince's offspring very seriously."

When the queen spoke later, her voice became slightly heavier and her eyes became meaningful.

Su Jingyao instantly understood the Queen's hidden meaning. What the Queen valued most was Jun Zechen's offspring, but Jun Zechen promised her not to favor other women in the short term. The Queen asked her to come here today, probably to find out about this matter.

But the queen didn't say it clearly, so Su Jingyao could only pretend not to know.

"Yes, I will take good care of my body and try to give birth to a child for Your Highness as soon as possible."

Su Jingyao had a respectful smile on her face.

The queen lowered her eyes, picked up the teacup, and took a sip slowly.

Is the concubine planning to get away with it casually?

The queen snorted in her heart, and a hint of displeasure flashed across her face.

"I feel that it is not appropriate for the concubine to take care of the crown prince while she is recuperating. What do you think, Crown Princess?"

The queen raised her head and looked at Ling Yue.

Hearing this, Ling Yue raised the corners of her mouth and smiled.

"A concubine should take good care of her body. She is not suitable to take care of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Moreover, many sisters have entered the East Palace now. They are in good health. If they take good care of the Crown Prince, they will surely be pregnant with His Royal Highness's children soon."

After saying that, Ling Yue provocatively shifted his gaze to Su Jingyao, his eyes full of gloating.

"What do you think, Concubine?"

The queen turned her head and looked at Su Jingyao gently, but beneath her gentle appearance was a majesty that could not be refused.

There was a heavy sense of oppression in the hall, making it hard to breathe.

"Empress, Crown Princess, there is nothing wrong with my body. I am just being treated by Imperial Doctor Li to remove the contraceptive drug residues in my body. Imperial Doctor Li has never said that I cannot serve Your Highness."

Su Jingyao raised her eyes with an earnest look.

"If the Empress and the Crown Princess feel that I should not serve Your Highness, I will tell Your Highness the truth."

The queen narrowed her eyes, somewhat annoyed.

As expected of the daughter of Minister Su, she is eloquent and clever, yet she dares to threaten her?

"Concubine, I am not stopping you from serving the Crown Prince, but you are unable to get pregnant now. However, I and His Majesty are both looking forward to the Crown Prince's offspring, and many new people have entered the Eastern Palace."

"You have monopolized the crown prince. If I pursue this, I will punish you according to palace rules."

The Queen's voice grew stern.

"My Queen, I have never thought of monopolizing Your Highness."

Su Jingyao quickly shook her head, her eyes filled with panic.

"So what you mean is that the prince is only willing to go to you, and he doesn't like any other woman in the East Palace?"

The Queen's voice became heavier.

"If that's the case, then you are seducing your master." The queen shouted angrily.

Su Jingyao frowned and her face turned pale instantly. She quickly got up from the chair and knelt in the hall.

"Please forgive me, Queen, I didn't do that."

Su Jingyao lowered her head, feeling helpless and aggrieved.

This is the ancient imperial palace. The fault lies with the women.

"I called you here today and have two requests of you. You must take good care of your health, refuse the Crown Prince's favor, and actively persuade the Crown Prince to favor a new person."

"This is how the noble lady of the Su family is cultivated. What do you think, concubine?"

The Queen leaned forward slightly, her eyes sharp and her voice slightly threatening.

If Su Jingyao dared to refuse, the daughter of the Su family would be labeled as a seducer or a jealous person because of her.

Ling Yue sat aside, with the corners of his mouth raised, his eyes full of pride and ridicule.

Looking at Su Jingyao at this moment, I just felt a sense of pleasure in my heart.

In her previous life, she was also favored by Jun Zechen, but because the queen was dissatisfied with her, Jun Zechen did nothing for her.

Su Jingyao has been unscrupulous in this life because of Jun Zechen's favor. Without the queen's support, perhaps the outcome would be no different from her previous life.

Su Jingyao knelt on the ground with her back straight, like a pine tree standing proudly against the snow and frost.

She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, hiding the emotions in her eyes, and Miaoxia also knelt down with her.

"Empress, my most important duty after I married Your Highness is to serve You. It would be against my husband's teachings to refuse Your Highness, but I will do my best to persuade Your Highness to treat me equally."

Su Jingyao raised her head, her eyes were firm, her voice was neither humble nor arrogant, and her expression was stubborn and unyielding.

The Queen sneered.

She doesn't know her son yet? If the prince could be persuaded, the queen wouldn't have left the East Palace vacant for almost two years, with only a princess consort.

Su Jingyao said that she would persuade the prince to treat everyone equally, but in reality the prince still looked for her every day.

Then her purpose of asking Su Jingyao to come here today would naturally not be achieved.

But the queen had plenty of patience.

"Since the concubine can't figure it out, then kneel in Kunning Palace until she figures it out."

The Queen leaned back in her chair again, her expression cold.

"My requirements are not strict." The queen's voice came slowly.

Su Jingyao pursed her lips, clenched her teeth, and said nothing.

Time passed minute by minute, and the Queen and the Crown Princess chatted from time to time with relaxed smiles on their faces, as if Su Jingyao's presence had no effect on them.

After kneeling for a quarter of an hour, Su Jingyao felt a sharp discomfort in her knees.

Her skin was delicate to begin with, and her knees were probably bruised by now.

Miaoxia, who was kneeling behind, had a worried look on her face. She stared at her master with eyes full of heartache.

Ling Yue glanced at Su Jingyao from time to time. Seeing that her brows were tightly furrowed and her face was getting paler, she couldn't help but lower her head and curl the corners of her mouth in contempt.

After about a quarter of an hour, Miaoxia felt that the time was about right and suddenly asked the queen for help.

"Empress, it's time for the master to take medicine today. Doctor Li has ordered the master to take medicine on time and in the right amount every day. This is the only way to recover as quickly as possible. Please allow the master to return to the East Palace."

There was urgency and pleading in Miaoxia's voice.

"Miaoxia, shut up and stop talking nonsense."

Su Jingyao turned her head and glared at Miaoxia, her eyes full of warning.

Then he looked up at the queen weakly, his pale face showing only persistence.

"Empress, I do not want to disobey Your Highness, nor do I want to disobey you. I kneel here today just to satisfy both. Thank you, Empress, for your help."

After saying that, Su Jingyao folded her hands on the ground, bent down, and gently knocked her head on her hands. Her movements were meticulous and followed the very standard palace kneeling etiquette.

When Jun Zechen came in, he saw Su Jingyao performing a very standard yet heartbreaking kneeling ceremony.

The Queen Mother sat high on the phoenix chair with an expressionless face. Ling Yue sat beside her, with an expression of gloating that he did not hide at all.

Jun Zechen's face suddenly became extremely ugly.

"It's really lively here today, Queen Mother."

Jun Zechen's voice was low and suppressed, revealing a strong sense of dissatisfaction, and he strode to the side of Su Jingyao.

Then he bowed to the queen and said, "Your son pays respects to your mother."

Ling Yue stood up nervously, "I pay my respects to His Highness."

"What crime did my concubine commit that my mother punished her by forcing her to kneel before her?"

The Queen did not answer, but asked calmly: "Why did the Crown Prince come to Kunning Palace today? Did the concubine send someone to invite you?"

"It was time for the concubine to drink the medicine. I went to Shui Ning Palace to check on her, but I didn't see her. Then I learned that my mother had sent her to Kunning Palace."

As Jun Zechen spoke, he bent down and gently helped Su Jingyao up.

"My queen is very tolerant and generous. I have only been in the palace for a short time. If there are any improprieties, I hope you will understand. She is not in good health, so please do not kneel for too long."

Su Jingyao stood up with Jun Zechen's force, but after kneeling for two quarters of an hour, not only did her knees hurt badly, but her legs were also numb. She was completely shaky and could not stand at all.

Seeing this, Jun Zechen quickly stretched out his arms and put them around her waist, and the two of them instantly stuck together.

Then he moved his cold gaze to Ling Yue, like countless ice knives, chilling her.

Ling Yue was frightened by this look and his whole body trembled. The color on his face faded a little in an instant and his eyes became a little flustered.

The Queen's face turned pale with anger at Jun Zechen's attitude of openly favoring his concubine over his wife.

When she looked down on Ling Yue at the beginning, he insisted on marrying her. Now he acts like he is crazy about his concubine. Is there any trace of the calmness and composure that a prince should have?

After all, Ling Yue was the Crown Princess whom he married in a formal ceremony!

"Your Highness, the concubine does not know the rules of the palace. I will teach her personally. I believe she will benefit a lot, right, concubine?"

The queen suppressed her anger and her voice was cold.

"Yes, it is my honor to have the Queen's personal guidance today."

After Su Jingyao finished speaking, she forced a smile on her face. But just as she finished speaking, her legs went weak again, her body shook involuntarily, her head seemed a little dizzy, and the scene in front of her eyes became a little blurry.

Seeing her like this, Jun Zechen frowned and was filled with worry.

I don’t know what the queen mother said to her to make her so weak.

After thinking about it, he picked the person up without saying anything.

"Mother, it's time for the concubine to drink medicine. I will take her back to the East Palace first, and then bring her to pay respects to you in a few days."

Jun Zechen's tone left no room for doubt.

Before the Queen could even react, he strode out with Su Jingyao in his arms.

"Prince!"

This was the first time the Queen had seen the Prince being so rude to her!

When Ling Yue saw Jun Zechen disobeying the Queen and carrying Su Jingyao away, her face turned blue and then white, and then white and then blue again.

"Mother, I will return to the East Palace first and will not disturb your rest."

Ling Yue tried hard to keep her voice steady, but the slightly trembling ending still revealed her anger and helplessness at the moment.

Jun Zechen walked hurriedly out of Kunning Palace, but Su Jingyao just leaned her head quietly on Jun Zechen's shoulder, as if she had lost all her life and said nothing.

Being scolded badly by the queen mother? Are you sad?

Jun Zechen speculated secretly in his heart.

"Why aren't you talking?" Jun Zechen asked softly.

Su Jingyao shook her head and was silent for a long time before she spoke in a low voice.

"Your Highness, as the legitimate daughter of the Su family, I have my own pride."

"Kneeling in the hall today, I don't like the way the Crown Princess looks at me with contempt, making me feel so humble."

"I regard Your Highness as my husband, and I don't like the Queen asking me to do something that would make me a husband. I am not magnanimous enough."

"Last time, Your Highness said that I would not go to other sisters' places before I conceived a child. I will just pretend that I didn't hear that. Please go ahead, Your Highness."

Su Jingyao's voice was choked, her eyes were red, and her originally bright eyes now seemed to be covered with a layer of gray mist.

Jun Zechen stopped walking instantly, and his hand around her tightened unconsciously.

She is the eldest daughter of the Su family and the most noble lady in the capital. She should not kneel there and accept the contempt and insults of others. No woman can look down on her.

He is her husband, and she doesn't need to give him up to anyone else.

"I will not do it again."

Jun Zechen's voice was not loud, but it was full of determination.

Su Jingyao's heart was shocked, and the tears she had been holding back almost burst out. She tightened her hands around his neck, as if she was holding on to the only support in the world.

Jun Zechen, can you really bear to see me inferior to Ling Yue?

Su Jingyao doesn't want to have blood on her hands, so Jun Zechen, you'd better personally pull Ling Yue down from the position of Crown Princess.