Chapter 241 Take Her Away

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 dignified attitude.

Ling Yue was sitting below her, chatting and joking with her, with a flattering smile on his face, and taking a sip from his 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 in a low-key and reserved manner, but when she saw her today, she was completely different.

She was indeed favored by the prince. She had a swaying figure, confidence and pride in her eyes, and an overbearing attitude.

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

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

"Stand up, and please sit down too, Concubine."

The queen raised her hand slightly with a cold expression.

"Thank you, Queen."

Su Jingyao stood up and sat opposite Ling Yue.

"I called you 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 Majesty, I am much better now. My headache has healed now 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 had not expected the queen to care about her so much.

"I remember the day when the concubine had a headache, it was the day when the prince went to Lin Liangyuan's place. That night, the concubine invited the prince to your Shuining Palace?"

The Queen's voice was calm, but her tone seemed to carry a hint of hostility, and her eyes became fierce.

"Your Majesty, I did not do this. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is still investigating, and I cannot come to a conclusion."

Su Jingyao frowned slightly, her eyes full of grievance.

"If that's the case, then wait for the Crown Prince to investigate. However, as the Empress, 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 spoke in a serious tone.

"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 this misfortune. I cannot give birth to a child 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, but 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."

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

Su Jingyao immediately 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 did not 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, took a sip slowly and leisurely.

Is the concubine planning to get away with it?

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

"I feel that it is inappropriate 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.

Ling Yue smiled when he heard that.

"The concubine should take good care of her body. She is not suitable to take care of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Moreover, there are many sisters entering the East Palace now. They are in good health. If they take good care of the Crown Prince, they will surely be able to bear His Royal Highness' children soon."

After saying that, Ling Yue moved her gaze to Su Jingyao provocatively, her eyes full of happiness and joy.

"What do you think, Concubine?"

The queen turned around 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.

"Your Majesty, Crown Princess, there is nothing wrong with my health. I am just cleaning up the contraceptive drug residues in my body under the care of Imperial Doctor Li. Imperial Doctor Li has never said that I cannot serve Your Highness."

Su Jingyao raised her eyes, her gaze was earnest.

"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 dares to threaten her?

"My concubine, I am not stopping you from serving the Crown Prince, but you are unable to conceive. However, I and His Majesty are both looking forward to the Crown Prince's offspring, and the Eastern Palace has welcomed many new people."

"You have monopolized the crown prince. If I were to investigate, I would be justified in punishing you according to palace rules."

The Queen's voice grew stern.

"Your Majesty, I have never thought of monopolizing Your Highness."

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

"So what you mean is that the prince only wants 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 in an instant. She quickly got up from the chair and knelt in the hall.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I didn't do that."

Su Jingyao lowered her head, feeling helpless and aggrieved.

This is the ancient imperial palace. No, it’s all women.

"I called you here today to make two requests of you. You must take good care of your body, refuse the Crown Prince's favor, and actively persuade the Crown Prince to favor the newcomer."

"This is how the Su family's noble daughter's upbringing is reflected. What do you think, Concubine?"

The queen leaned forward slightly, her eyes were sharp and her voice was threatening.

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

Ling Yue sat aside, with a smile on his face and eyes full of pride and mockery.

Looking at Su Jingyao at this moment, I just felt a sense of satisfaction 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 doing whatever she wants all her life, relying on Jun Zechen's favor. Without the queen's support, the outcome might be the same as in her previous life.

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

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

"Your Majesty, my most important duty after marrying Your Highness is to serve You. It would be against my husband's teachings for me to refuse Your Highness, but I will do my best to persuade Your Highness to treat everyone 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 almost vacant for two years, with only one princess consort.

Su Jingyao said that she would persuade the prince to treat everyone equally, but in reality the prince still came to see 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 I will 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 existence had no effect on them at all.

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 must have been bruised by now.

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

Ling Yue glanced at Su Jingyao from time to time, and seeing that her brows were tightly wrinkled and her face was becoming paler, he could not help but lower his head and curl the corners of his mouth in contempt.

About a quarter of an hour later, Miaoxia felt that the time was about right, so she suddenly asked the empress for a favor.

"Your Majesty, it's time for the master to take medicine today. Doctor Li has instructed 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, Your Majesty, let the master return to the East Palace."

Miaoxia's voice was filled with anxiety and pleading.

"Miaoxia, shut up and stop talking nonsense."

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

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

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

Finally, Su Jingyao folded her hands on the ground, bent her waist and gently knocked her head on her hands. Her movements were meticulous and it was a very standard court kneeling etiquette.

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

The Queen Mother sat high up on the phoenix chair, expressionless, while Ling Yue sat beside her, with an undisguised look of schadenfreude on her face.

Jun Zechen's expression instantly turned extremely ugly.

"It's really lively here today, mother."

Jun Zechen's voice was low and suppressed, revealing deep dissatisfaction, and he strode to Su Jingyao's side.

Then he bowed to the Queen, "Your son pays respects to the Queen Mother."

Ling Yue stood up nervously and said, "I pay my respects to Your Highness."

"What did my concubine do wrong to deserve being punished by my mother 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 Concubine to drink the medicine. I went to Shui Ning Palace to check on her but didn't see her. Then I realized that my mother had sent her to Kun Ning Palace."

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

"My queen is tolerant and generous. The concubine has only been in the palace for a short time. If there are any impoliteness, I hope your mother will understand. She is not in good health, so please don't kneel for too long."

Su Jingyao followed Jun Zechen's strength and stood up, but after kneeling for two quarters of an hour, not only did her knees hurt terribly, but her legs were also numb. She was shaking and about to fall, 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 stuck together in an instant.

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

Ling Yue was frightened by this look and trembled all over. The color on his face faded a little and his eyes became a little flustered.

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

At first she looked down on Ling Yue, but he insisted on marrying her. Now he acts like he is crazy about his concubine. Doesn't he have the calm and composed demeanor that a prince should have?

After all, Ling Yue was the Crown Princess he married into a formal marriage!

"Your Highness, the concubine does not understand 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 Empress' personal guidance today."

Su Jingyao forced a smile on her face after she finished speaking, but as soon as she finished speaking, her legs went limp 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.

He just wanted to leave, so he picked the man up without saying a word.

"Mother, it's time for the concubine to take 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.

Even before the queen could react, he strode out with Su Jingyao in his arms.

"Prince!"

This is the first time the Queen has seen the Prince being so rude to her!

When Ling Yue saw Jun Zechen disobeying the Queen and taking 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 of her voice 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.

Were you severely scolded by your mother? Are you sad?

Jun Zechen speculated secretly in his heart.

"Why don't you speak?" Jun Zechen asked softly.

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

"Your Highness, as the eldest 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 feel inferior to her husband. I am not magnanimous enough."

"Last time, Your Highness said that I would not go to other sisters' places until I was pregnant. I will just pretend that I didn't hear that. Please go ahead, Your Highness."

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

Jun Zechen stopped walking for a moment, 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 was her husband, and she didn't need to give him up to anyone else.

"Not anymore."

Jun Zechen's voice was not loud, but it was filled with great determination.

Su Jingyao's heart was shaken violently, and the tears she had been holding back almost burst out. She tightened her hands around his neck, as if she was grabbing 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 remove Ling Yue from the position of Crown Princess yourself.