Chapter 268 Playing Cards

"Have you seen enough?"

Su Jingyao raised the corners of her mouth and asked with a smile, but there was a hint of ridicule in her smile.

Bai Yingyue's expression suddenly became extremely complicated. She dodged for a moment, then refocused on Su Jingyao.

"You...are His Majesty's new favorite?"

There was a hint of uncertainty and nervousness in her voice.

"I'm his old love."

Su Jingyao raised her eyebrows, her tone full of teasing.

Bai Yingyue's eyes widened instantly, and she was completely stunned. She couldn't think straight for a moment, and her thoughts seemed to be in chaos.

Su Jingyao couldn't help but chuckle when she saw her like this. She was quite cute.

Did Jun Zechen find a replacement after her death?

"How about you ask everyone around to leave and let us have a private conversation?"

Su Jingyao asked lazily while eating.

Bai Yingyue seemed to be under a spell and obeyed her words for some unknown reason.

Soon, the maids left the Moon-Watching Pavilion, leaving only the two of them in the space.

"If the news I received is correct, your Majesty's former love was the late queen, and the late queen died five years ago."

Bai Yingyue took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

"Just kidding. Since you know that the late queen was your majesty's ex-lover, do you also know that you look a bit like the late queen?"

Su Jingyao turned sideways and leaned forward slightly, and the two looked into each other's eyes.

"I know, but I don't care." Bai Yingyue bit her lip, her eyes firm.

"When did you enter the harem?"

Su Jingyao sat back down and asked casually.

"One year ago."

"Have you ever been favored by His Majesty?"

Bai Yingyue pursed her lips, her face turned pale, and she said nothing.

Seeing her like this, Su Jingyao knew that Jun Zechen did not lie to her.

"Are you disappointed?" Su Jingyao asked.

"No."

Bai Yingyue answered this question very quickly, with a clear and decisive voice.

"You are quite insightful."

Su Jingyao nodded slightly, with a hint of appreciation. A woman who is not obsessed with love is more attractive.

"Since you have asked me so many questions, can I ask you something?"

Bai Yingyue raised her chin slightly, with a tentative look in her eyes.

Since becoming the head of a palace, she had long been accustomed to calling herself "this palace" in a condescending manner. However, facing this mysterious and very unique woman in front of her, she could not put on that arrogant attitude no matter what.

Su Jingyao picked up the teacup slowly, blew away the hot air from the rim of the cup, and then took a sip gracefully.

"You asked." Her voice was calm and gentle.

"What is your relationship with His Majesty?"

Bai Yingyue also picked up the teacup, concealing her inner nervousness and took a sip.

"He forced me to have a relationship with him." Su Jingyao said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Bai Yingyue was so shocked that she almost spit out the tea in her mouth.

She opened her eyes wide, looking at Su Jingyao in disbelief, and blinked her eyelashes rapidly at Su Jingyao several times. She was completely stunned and didn't react to the meaning of her words for a long time.

Your Majesty, is such a cold and distant man, would there ever be a day when he would force himself on a woman?

This was beyond her imagination.

"What about the late queen?" Bai Yingyue finally calmed down and asked again.

"Perhaps he is fond of new things and dislikes old ones, or perhaps his deep love for the late queen is all an illusion."

Su Jingyao remained calm and continued talking nonsense in a serious manner.

Bai Yingyue's doubts grew deeper and deeper, her brows furrowed tightly, and she fell into deep thought.

Su Jingyao glanced at Bai Fei beside her. Wasn't the substitute Jun Zechen found a little too simple?

"I am very happy to have a beautiful lady accompany me for lunch today. I wonder if Queen Bai is willing to spend the afternoon with me?"

Su Jingyao raised the corners of her mouth.

It was really boring that Jun Zechen didn't let her go out.

Bai Yingyue was already full of curiosity about her, and after thinking for a moment, she nodded in agreement.

Afterwards, Su Jingyao walked briskly with Bai Yingyue towards Jun Zechen's room.

Bai Yingyue stood at the door, her feet seemed to be stuck, she hesitated and dared not move forward.

Su Jingyao saw that no one followed her in, so she turned around and looked at her in confusion, "What's wrong?" There was a questioning look in her eyes.

"Your Majesty never lets us into his chambers."

Bai Yingyue looked a little nervous.

"It doesn't matter. This room is mine now. I'll let you in. Let's play cards this afternoon."

Su Jingyao waved her hands nonchalantly.

She traveled around the empire in the past five years, saw a lot of new things, and learned a lot of fun games.

Bai Yingyue hesitated for a long time, bit her lower lip lightly, and finally gritted her teeth and walked into the room.

When Su Jingyao wanted to make people relax, she spoke in an interesting and humorous tone, and teased the beauty playfully from time to time, which quickly made Bai Yingyue let down her guard, and the relationship between the two quickly became familiar.

At this time, the two took off their shoes and sat cross-legged on the bed, with a pile of silver and jewelry beside them.

After Bai Yingyue became a favored concubine, she naturally had no shortage of money, but Su Jingyao was suddenly captured by Jun Zechen and was penniless. The silver she had next to her was all the money she had just won from playing cards.

"eat!"

Bai Yingyue had a serious look on her face, staring closely at the cards in her hand. The moment Su Jingyao dropped her cards, she raised her eyebrows and smiled, her smile full of pride.

She was finally going to win.

When Jun Zechen returned to the room, he heard the cheerful voices of the two women. His brows couldn't help but frowned, and he walked in with a bit of displeasure.

On the bed, Bai Yingyue and Su Jingyao were playing cards enthusiastically and didn't notice his arrival at all.

It was almost time for dinner, and the flickering light caused by Jun Zechen's entry caught Bai Yingyue's attention.

She looked up and saw His Majesty looking at her with a cold face, his eyes seemed to be able to spit out ice chips.

She was so frightened that she trembled all over and the cards in her hand fell to the ground with a "bang".

She looked at her hand mixed with other cards with some regret. She finally won once...

But the look in his Majesty's eyes when he looked down at her was truly terrifying. To Bai Yingyue, his Majesty had not been a gentleman in recent years, but rather an executioner who even the Queen Mother could not persuade. It was normal for him to kill people when he was not satisfied.

She unconsciously moved behind Su Jingyao, seeking shelter like a frightened little rabbit.

When Su Jingyao saw him coming back, she just glanced at him indifferently and ignored him. She turned to Bai Yingyue and said, "You go back first. I'll play with you tomorrow."

Her tone was casual and relaxed.

Bai Yingyue quickly put on her shoes, walked in front of Jun Zechen, bowed respectfully, and then hurried out like a gust of wind.

Su Jingyao counted the silver she won as if nothing had happened, with such concentration that it seemed as if the silver was the most precious treasure in the world.

She fiddled with it gently with her slender fingers and muttered something.

There is always an inexplicable sense of comfort when you win money playing cards.

After counting, she methodically gathered the cards on the bed with practiced movements, and then placed them neatly on the bedside cabinet.

Seeing that she was not prepared to speak, Jun Zechen could only ask questions himself helplessly.

"How did you two get together?"

"I had lunch at the Moon Viewing Pavilion today and we happened to meet. You wouldn't let me go out, so I found someone to keep me company during the long afternoon."

Su Jingyao didn't even raise her head and spoke in a calm tone, saying that it was just a trivial matter.

Jun Zechen found her yesterday and was so excited that he actually forgot that there was Bai Yingyue in the yard.

She...didn't realize that Bai Yingyue was similar to her?

It's still her who doesn't care at all.

Jun Zechen felt conflicted. He walked to the bed and sat down, leaning forward slightly.

"Does Jiaojiao think she looks like a person?" he asked tentatively.

Su Jingyao suddenly put her face in front of Jun Zechen, so fast that Jun Zechen had no time to react.

"Like me?"

There was sarcasm in her eyes and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised.

"Jun Zechen, since you have already found a replacement, why do you want me to come back?"

Su Jingyao's voice rose a few notches.

When Jun Zechen heard her calling his full name, his heart moved inexplicably, and the feeling was as if being gently brushed by a soft feather.

Not only did he not feel offended, but his body shuddered. Did she care about him too?

"I haven't touched her."

"Yes, you didn't touch her. You were just a man simply admiring a woman."

Su Jingyao sneered, her face full of disdain.

"Bai Yingyue was chosen after I rejected my mother's offer to select beauties for me. My mother asked the court officials to present beauties from all over the world, and she specifically selected a few women who looked like you and sent them to the palace."

Jun Zechen's gaze became distant.

"And the reason why my mother is looking for someone who looks like you is because she feels that I have been obsessed with the deceased queen for the past few years and have no regrets about it."

There was bitterness in his voice.

Su Jingyao chuckled, her laughter was crisp but also a little chilly.

"So you mean it's my fault?"

"Of course not. The reason why I agreed to let Bai Yingyue enter the harem is that I don't want you to continue to force others in."

"Pampering Bai Yingyue will not arouse suspicion. Everyone knows that I pamper her only because she is similar to the empress. She has a low family background. Even if she is a favored concubine, she can't make any waves. She can also control Lin Miaoyin."

Jun Zechen explained it clearly to her.

"Lin Miaoyin? What's wrong with her?" Su Jingyao raised her eyebrows slightly, with a curious look on her face.

When she left the palace, Jun Zechen didn't seem to be dissatisfied with Lin Miaoyin.

Is Lin Miaoyin's true colors beginning to show?

"She has managed the harem properly over the past few years, but perhaps because she has the third prince, she has become too ambitious and actually wants to become the queen."

Jun Zechen's face darkened, and a hint of disgust flashed in his eyes.

"My queen can only be delicate and charming."

"So I picked up Bai Yingyue and gave Lin Miaoyin something to do, so that she wouldn't be bored and would not think about evil ways."

For Jun Zechen, even if he dealt with Lin Miaoyin, he would still have to promote another concubine to manage the harem in the future. With power, people will become more arrogant, and it would be unnecessary to repeat this cycle over and over again.

Then he suddenly hugged Su Jingyao onto his lap, his movements were domineering yet somewhat gentle.

His head rested gently on her neck, his warm breath spraying on her skin.

"Jiaojiao, if you have anything else to ask me, I will tell you everything I know. I dare not hide anything from you."

His hot breath fell on Su Jingyao's sensitive nerves, making her shiver. She always felt like Jun Zechen was deliberately seducing her.

Covered in a gentle and affectionate skin, let her fall into the vortex.