Chapter 117: Rejected

"I have already punished Ling Yue, what else does Yaoyao want?" Jun Zechen frowned slightly and blurted out the words.

The moment Su Jingyao heard these words, she was stunned for a moment as if she was petrified.

Then she looked a little aggrieved, and her originally rosy lips were tightly pursed, as if she was trying hard to restrain something.

When Jun Zechen saw her like this, he suddenly felt a strong sense of regret and a sudden feeling of remorse filled his heart.

What on earth is he talking about...

"That's not what I meant, I..."

Su Jingyao regained her composure, calm as water, and interrupted him in a cold tone.

"It is I who am making trouble. I am in a bad mood. Your Majesty, please go back."

When Jun Zechen heard her ruthlessly driving people away, the anger in his heart started to rise like a ignited flame.

"Queen, do you know how many times you have chased me like this? Do you know that I have never been so humble to anyone?"

The reason I chased you away before was just to make you feel bad and make you love me more, it was just a small fight. This time I chased you away because I wanted to completely break your majesty as an emperor.

Su Jingyao's expression did not show any sign of being moved by his words.

Jun Zechen looked at Su Jingyao with a deep and sharp gaze, then his throat moved and he said solemnly: "Come here, I'll pretend you never said that."

When Su Jingyao heard his words, she suddenly remembered that on her birthday, Jun Zechen had a quarrel with her because he broke his promise. At that time, Jun Zechen also said something similar.

"Yaoyao, are you coming here or going back to Zhaochun Palace?" The voice was full of dominance and naked threat. She remembered it clearly.

But today, she naturally would not obey him anymore. She wanted to know where Jun Zechen's bottom line was towards her.

Su Jingyao resolutely turned around and entered the bedroom. Then she gently pushed the door and closed it.

The movement seemed gentle, but it seemed to carry a sense of determination.

Jun Zechen's face became increasingly ugly, as if covered with dark clouds.

He stared at the closed door, motionless.

Jun Zechen stood at the door for a quarter of an hour. Seeing that the people inside really ignored him, he gritted his teeth and flicked his sleeves, which drew an arc in the air.

He strode out of Kunning Palace with a heart full of anger.

Don't let her regret it!

Su Jingyao in the bedroom felt that Jun Zechen had left, and her originally tense body relaxed instantly.

There was a casual and fearless look on his face, and a hint of laziness flashed in his eyes. He walked slowly to her rocking chair and sat on it, leaning back slightly and lying down comfortably.

Her eyes became a little dazed and she fell into deep thought.

Now, Ling Yue has been successfully suppressed by her, and as the empress, she holds the power of the entire harem in her hands. In the court, her father is also highly valued by His Majesty.

At least now, relying on my identity, I have some confidence and capital to make trouble with Jun Zechen.

However, at this moment, facing Jun Zechen's feelings for her, she also felt a little confused.

Only emotions with ups and downs can last forever.

Although the thorn of Ling Yue has been removed from Jun Zechen's heart, she and Jun Zechen still have several decades of life to spend together.

How could she guarantee that Jun Zechen's feelings for her would not become dull over the past few decades?

This is also the sorrow of the women in the harem. Su Jingyao must rack her brains and find ways to win Jun Zechen's love, but Jun Zechen does not need to put in any extra effort.

He was the emperor who was high above everyone else, and there was always a steady stream of new women entering the palace.

Even if those women could not truly enter his heart, they would invisibly erode Su Jingyao's position in Jun Zechen's heart.

Su Jingyao has never really been involved in marriage in modern times, and she has no idea how couples should get along with each other.

But she clearly understood that if she kept giving in in this relationship, the final outcome would probably not be much better than Ling Yue.

She must at least make sure that Jun Zechen's feelings for her will not change before Xingxing ascends the throne.

But during these long decades, Su Jingyao didn't want to keep pretending. She liked power, liked a luxurious life, wanted to do whatever she wanted, and didn't want to put herself in a difficult position.

Jun Zechen likes her gentleness and kindness, and her strength and clarity. If she gradually breaks these beautiful images in Jun Zechen's mind, will Jun Zechen really be unable to accept it?

If you want power, you must first plan your heart. If she wants to become the empress dowager, she cannot achieve it by relying on Jun Zechen's current superficial love.

She needs Jun Zechen's unforgettable love.

Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Jun Zechen sat at the table with a gloomy face. He stood straight, motionless like a sculpture.

Anshun and Fuquan on the side lowered their heads. They turned their heads quietly and looked at each other.

Fuquan looked at Anshun silently, "What's wrong with His Majesty?"

An Shun had a helpless look on his face and shook his head gently. Who else could make His Majesty so angry except the Queen?

Although Jun Zechen's eyes were on the memorial in front of him, his thoughts had actually drifted far away. His mind was frantically recalling the empress's extremely cold face just now.

Ling Yue had already been banished to the cold palace by him. Just now, Ling Yue pushed her, and he was worried that she would be hurt, so he slapped Ling Yue reflexively.

Isn't this enough to show that there is no place for Ling Yue in his heart?

She's the only one he cares about!

Ling Yue and the Ling family had long been separated. Her only relative was her father who lived far away in the frontier. When Jun Zechen went to war, General Ling worked under him. He was an honest and decent man.

Therefore, even though Jun Zechen knew that Ling Yue had done so many wrong things, he did not involve Ling Yue's family.

Imprisoning Ling Yue in the cold palace was also done in the hope that Ling Yue could spend her whole life repenting for her mistakes.

Does Yaoyao want him to kill Ling Yue?

But Ling Yue was his first wife after all. If he really killed her, it would be Yaoyao herself who would be criticized by the world.

Jun Zechen's mind was full of thoughts. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that this woman was becoming more and more greedy.

In the past, I said nice things and it was enough as long as I got his favor, but what about now?

In the past, even if he was angry and put on airs, she would be tactful and give him some space, but what about now?

He was actually driven out directly!

The more he thought about it, the more Jun Zechen's heart sank.

"All right." Jun Zechen suddenly shouted in a deep voice with a gloomy expression.

An Shun's heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty."

"Tell me, among all the harems, who do I love the most?"

Jun Zechen once again asked this confusing question.

Fuquan, who was standing by, couldn't help but twitch his lips when he heard this. He clearly remembered that the last time His Majesty asked this question, it was him he was asking, and he had said it was the Imperial Concubine, now the commoner Ling.

He was damned at that time, and he was lucky that His Majesty did not punish him.

When An Shun heard this question, he was obviously stunned for a moment, but he quickly recovered and answered without hesitation: "Of course it's the Queen."

No one in the Manchu harem could compare to the Empress's favor. An Shun was someone who had actually been by His Majesty's side and had seen with his own eyes how His Majesty and the Empress interacted with each other.

Not to mention the rare treasures and toys that were sent to the Empress every now and then, just the unique gentleness of His Majesty and the way he would make people happy from time to time were things he had never seen in any other concubine except the Empress.

After hearing An Shun's answer, Jun Zechen nodded with satisfaction, and the expression on his face eased slightly.

Then Jun Zechen frowned again, it seemed that the problem was still with Ling Yue.

"An Shun, Ling Yue murdered the eldest and third princes, framed the empress, imprisoned her in the cold palace, and punished her to kneel at the door of the cold palace for two hours every day to repent for her sins."

Jun Zechen finished his words expressionlessly, paused, and then continued to instruct: "The third prince will be raised by Concubine Xian (An Jinyan)."

Although he hated Concubine Xian in his heart, he could see that Yaoyao had promoted Concubine Xian many times, so he thought Concubine Xian must be hers.

In that case, if the Third Prince is given to Concubine Xian to raise, she should be happier, right?

"Yes, Your Majesty." An Shun replied respectfully.

"Go tell the Queen the news." Jun Zechen ordered.

"Wait, the Queen likes painting. I remember that the Grand Master sent me a few days ago a pair of exquisitely made study tools made in Huzhou. I sent them to the Queen. I also sent all the ten pieces of Shu brocade that Shuzhou offered as tribute this year to the Queen. I asked the people of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to expand the pond in Kunning Palace, and asked the people of Yulong City to transport some butterfly carp..."

Jun Zechen racked his brains to think of all the gifts he could think of, and then kept talking.

The corners of An Shun's mouth twitched uncontrollably. His Majesty was so angry just now, but now he is trying every means to coax the Queen.

"Okay, that's all. Anshun, you go to Kunning Palace in person and deliver the things. Also, be sure to tell the Queen that I have punished the commoner Ling and handed the third prince over to Concubine Xian to raise."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I'll go right away." An Shun replied, then hurried out.

After An Shun went out, Jun Zechen put his mind back on the memorials and began to deal with today's memorials with full concentration.

Time passed by minute by minute, and after more than half an hour, Anshun walked into Yu's study.

"Your Majesty, your servant is here to see you." An Shun bowed respectfully.

When Jun Zechen heard An Shun's voice, he stopped writing, raised his head and looked down at An Shun.

"Stand up, the Queen, when she saw the gift I sent, did she say anything? How did she look?"

"Your Majesty, the Queen is very happy and smiles very gently. She also asked me to convey her gratitude to Your Majesty." An Shun's face looked a little abnormal and slightly pale.

How could he tell whether the Empress was happy or unhappy?

When An Shun went to Kunning Palace to deliver something, the empress was sitting quietly on the phoenix chair. She looked so noble and indifferent that he didn't dare to look at her for too long.

After all, the Empress in front of His Majesty and the Empress he saw from time to time were like two different people.

When the Queen saw the things sent by His Majesty, she just smiled slightly and said thank you lightly.

But he couldn't just tell His Majesty this directly. Anyway, the Empress was smiling, so he just assumed that the Empress was happy.

When Jun Zechen heard this, a flash of surprise flashed across his eyes, "Really?"

Before An Shun could respond, Jun Zechen immediately said, "I think it's almost time for dinner. Let's go to the Queen's place for dinner tonight."

Having said that, he stood up and strode out.

An Shun followed His Majesty nervously, it was all over.

When Jun Zechen arrived at the gate of Kunning Palace, he looked at the tightly closed door and his face suddenly became gloomy, as if water could drip out of it.

He turned his head suddenly and glared at An Shun fiercely, his eyes seemed to want to eat someone, "Is this what you call the Queen's happiness?"

An Shun was also frightened and broke out in a cold sweat. When he came out of Kunning Palace, the door was not locked.

An Shun knelt down with a thump and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I presumptuously guessed your Majesty's mood. I am guilty."

Jun Zechen stared closely at the three big characters "Kunning Palace" on the gate, his eyes as sharp as two swords.

After a long while, he turned around and said through gritted teeth: "Go back to the Palace of Heavenly Purity."