Traveling through another world to stir the emperor's heart

After Jun Lingyuan and Feng Qingyue finished their meal, they walked slowly towards the imperial study side by side.

Entering the imperial study, Jun Lingyuan first had Feng Qingyue sit down on a soft couch nearby while he walked over to the dragon throne behind a desk piled high with memorials. Feng Qingyue's expression grew increasingly solemn upon seeing Jun Lingyuan seated on the throne. The mountain of memorials from various regions on the table weighed heavily on Jun Lingyuan's heart, and at that moment, his mind was still preoccupied with the assassination attempt.

Just as Jun Lingyuan was lost in thought, the secret guard Qian Yi appeared like a silent shadow at the door of the imperial study. He was startled at first, but when he saw Feng Qingyue was there, he signaled Jun Lingyuan with his eyes, asking if he could report to the mistress in person. Jun Lingyuan glanced at Feng Qingyue, his eyes filled with trust and comfort, and said to Qian Yi, "It's okay. She's one of us, you can tell her."

After getting permission, Qianyi knelt on one knee and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the assassin's case has been investigated."

Jun Lingyuan's eyes glared, he sat up straight, leaned forward slightly, and asked in a low voice, "Who did this?"

Qian Yi raised his head and answered with a firm gaze, "Your Majesty, it was the Prime Minister and his faction who ordered this. The Prime Minister secretly trained a group of assassins, and these assassins were well-trained. They intended to assassinate the Emperor and then support the eldest prince to ascend the throne in order to control the government."

When Jun Lingyuan heard that the assassins were ordered by the Prime Minister's faction, the anger in his eyes lingered for a long time. He sat on the dragon throne, silent for a long time. Feng Qingyue sat quietly beside him, not disturbing him.

After a while, Jun Lingyuan gestured for Qian Yi to leave. He slowly raised his head and looked at Feng Qingyue, his eyes filled with fatigue and vicissitudes. As if he had made up his mind, he began to recount his past: "Qingyue, today I also want to tell you about my life story. Ling Ye and I are not the Queen Mother's biological children. My mother died when I was young. My brother and I were like rootless duckweed, raised by the Queen Mother, who was then the Empress."

Feng Qingyue was startled. She gently stood up, walked over to Jun Lingyuan, and held his hand, offering him some silent comfort. Jun Lingyuan, sensing Feng Qingyue's concern, tightened his grip slightly and continued, "The Queen Mother herself has two daughters and a son, so naturally, she is devoted to her own children. My father, however, was extremely fond of my mother, which fueled jealousy and resentment among the then-Queen, now the Queen Mother. My father also named me Crown Prince, making my brother and I thorns in the eyes of the Queen Mother and the Prime Minister."

Jun Lingyuan's voice held a hint of self-mockery. He smiled wryly and said, "Although I was young at the time, I could vaguely sense the Queen Mother's dislike for me. The Prime Minister, that old fox, naturally understood the Queen Mother's intentions and had been plotting with the Queen from the beginning. They all felt that my existence as the Crown Prince was a huge threat. Once I ascended the throne, my eldest brother, Jun Linghao, would have no chance at all, and their dream of controlling the court would be shattered."

Feng Qingyue frowned and said, "Your Majesty, you and your brother must have suffered a lot over the years."

Jun Lingyuan nodded. "Ling Ye and I have indeed been walking on thin ice these past few years. I have to constantly guard against the Queen Mother's plots in the palace, and the Prime Minister has been trying to trip me up at court. I know they all want me to fall from the throne, or even disappear quietly. But how can I possibly do as they wish? I must not only survive, but also secure the throne and protect my kingdom."

After listening to Jun Lingyuan's story, Feng Qingyue's face flickered with emotion. She lowered her head slightly and remained silent for a minute. During this minute, the images Jun Lingyuan had described kept replaying in her mind: losing his mother at a young age, living under someone else's roof, being loathed by the Empress Dowager, and being schemed against by the Prime Minister—all of this was truly tragic. She couldn't help but sigh, realizing that being an emperor also had so many frustrations and hardships.

After a while, Feng Qingyue raised her head and said in an encouraging tone, "Your Majesty, your experience is indeed sympathetic. But Your Majesty is now the Son of Heaven, and all the sufferings of the past have become stepping stones to your rise to power. Your Majesty, do not be overly sad. As long as Your Majesty continues to rule the world with justice, those who once sought to harm Your Majesty will surely fail."

Jun Lingyuan was slightly startled. He looked at Feng Qingyue, expecting a more tender response. But hearing her businesslike words of comfort, though somewhat disappointed, he also understood that Feng Qingyue's personality was naturally carefree and perhaps less adept at expressing delicate emotions. He nodded gently and said, "Qingyue is quite right. I will certainly not let the past hold me back."

Feng Qingyue saw Jun Lingyuan's response and continued, "Your Majesty, look at the memorials on this table. Although they are piled like a mountain, they are also the place where Your Majesty can display his ability to govern the country. Those treacherous villains are trying to interfere with Your Majesty through assassination and other means. Your Majesty must be more courageous and let them know that Your Majesty's majesty is inviolable."

Jun Lingyuan took a deep breath, his eyes gradually becoming firm: "My beloved concubine is right, I will not let them succeed."

Feng Qingyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the change in Jun Lingyuan's expression. She felt that she had fulfilled her responsibility to comfort him. As for whether Jun Lingyuan was really completely relieved, she didn't care too much.

On the second day, the atmosphere in the court was somewhat dull and depressing.

A minister stepped forward and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I believe that Prime Minister Lin's daughter, Lin Xi'er, is gentle and virtuous, with outstanding talent and beauty. She is the perfect choice to be the mother of the country. The matter of appointing her as empress should not be delayed any further. Your Majesty, please make a decision as soon as possible."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the officials in the court whispered to each other, and then echoed in unison.

Jun Lingyuan sat upright on the dragon throne, gazing sternly at the officials in the court, chuckling inwardly. He knew full well that many of these officials were acting under the Prime Minister's orders to put such concerted pressure on him in the court.

Jun Lingyuan's face was as sullen as water. Though seemingly calm, his mind was actually rapidly weighing the pros and cons. After a long moment, he slowly spoke, "I have made up my mind. I will allow Lin Xier to stay in the palace for a while to allow us to get used to each other. I need to determine if she is truly worthy of the position of Empress."

When the officials heard this, they were a little surprised, but since Jun Lingyuan had already expressed his opinion, they could not say anything more. They could only lower their heads and stop talking.

The Prime Minister stood in the court, his lips curling up imperceptibly, revealing a triumphant smile. He secretly thought that once his daughter entered the palace, with her charm, she would surely win Jun Lingyuan's favor. Then, the entire harem and court would be under his control, and his plan would have successfully moved forward one step.

Jun Lingyuan, however, had other plans in mind. He knew this was a power struggle and must proceed with caution. He planned to use Lin Xier's time in the palace to have the secret guards intensify their surveillance of the Prime Minister's residence and gather more evidence of the Prime Minister's crimes. When the time was right, he would completely eliminate the Prime Minister's faction, ensuring they would never regain power.

Lin Xier was overjoyed when she learned at the Prime Minister's residence that she would be able to enter the palace. In her boudoir, she busily prepared her makeup, selecting the most exquisite attire, her heart filled with beautiful visions of what it would be like to enter the palace. She felt that once she entered, she would have a chance to win Jun Lingyuan's favor, and becoming empress was just around the corner. She could already see herself in the glorious sight of herself, crowned with a phoenix crown and a glorious robe, ruling the country.

Feng Qingyue was flipping through an ancient book in her own quarters when she heard the news of Lin Xier's arrival in the palace. She simply raised her eyes, without a trace of emotion. She knew she would return home eventually, and the palace was merely a temporary residence. Who entered the palace, who became empress, had nothing to do with her. She calmly continued to flip through the ancient book in her hands, as if this incident were a falling leaf, unable to disturb the tranquility of her heart.