Chapter 275 Equality

The seventh year of Chongwu.

Su Jingyao has already firmly grasped the harem in her own hands. Not only does she hold power, she also has Jun Zechen's unreserved love.

Su Jingyao's doubts about Jun Zechen were like a fog that never diminished.

In her opinion, she should have been treading on thin ice to please the emperor, but now it seemed like the opposite was happening.

In the past few years, she has been carefully testing Jun Zechen's bottom line step by step, but she found that Jun Zechen seemed to have no bottom line towards her.

......

After Su Jingyao summoned several female officials to discuss palace affairs in Kunning Palace today, she walked towards Qianqing Palace.

In Yu's study.

As soon as Su Jingyao came in, she waved her hand lightly and casually, with a calm attitude.

Upon seeing this, the serving palace maids immediately understood what was meant and retreated respectfully.

She walked straight up to Jun Zechen and saw that he was frowning, his eyes focused and serious, as if he had encountered an extremely difficult problem.

She rarely saw him like this. In the past, he was always confident and calm, as if all problems could be easily solved.

"Your Majesty, have you encountered a problem that cannot be solved?"

Su Jingyao tilted her head slightly and asked softly, with concern in her eyes.

Jun Zechen put down the memorial in his hand, a gentle smile instantly appeared on his face, and he stretched out his hands and held the person on his lap.

"It's not a problem, it just takes some time."

"I believe in Your Majesty. You are capable of anything."

Su Jingyao said in a coquettish voice, with the corners of her mouth raised.

"Flatterer." Jun Zechen chuckled and scratched her nose.

Su Jingyao laughed and raised her eyebrows with a lively look in her eyes. As long as he likes to listen, that's fine.

Jun Zechen picked up the memorial that had just been placed on the table and opened it. "Would you like to have a look, Jiaojiao?"

Su Jingyao was startled and turned to look at Jun Zechen with some disbelief in her eyes.

Is he serious? Let her read the memorial?

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten that the harem cannot interfere in government affairs?"

"It's okay since there are only two of us here."

Jun Zechen looked relaxed, as if he didn't care.

Su Jingyao's courage has indeed grown due to Jun Zechen's help over the past two years.

She used to think that Jun Zechen's kindness to her was not real, maybe he was flattering her or wanted to use the Su family to do something.

But later on, after careful consideration, Jun Zechen was in power and it was really unnecessary.

I could only suppress the doubts in my heart, and my courage grew day by day.

If Jun Zechen had really been lying to her, and Su Jingyao felt that she had made a profit, how valuable was she that an emperor would compromise in front of her without any bottom line?

Su Jingyao leaned on Jun Zechen, no longer hesitating, her eyes falling on the memorial.

After seeing the content, her expression froze for a moment and her brows wrinkled unconsciously.

"There's a drought in the Northwest? And it's so severe!"

"Yes, what do you think, Jiaojiao?"

When such a natural disaster occurs, we naturally need to find a way to provide disaster relief. It is easy to say that when one side is in trouble, all sides will come to its aid, but it is not that simple.

In modern times, disaster relief is full of twists and turns, and there are people who take advantage of national disasters to make a fortune, not to mention in ancient times.

"Of course we need to provide disaster relief, but it's far to the northwest, so I'm afraid it will be difficult."

Jun Zechen put the memorial down and reached out to pick up a scroll next to him. Su Jingyao helped him open the scroll.

"This is the latest map of the empire drawn by the Military Affairs Department. The empire is now vast, and each place has different customs and practices. Even though we have a lot of historical experience in disaster relief, it is not easy to implement it in reality."

Jun Zechen moved his finger on the map with a serious expression.

"The northwest is a poor place with low food production and natural disasters. It is also far away from Kyoto. I have to wait ten days or half a month to know the situation there."

"Even if the surrounding cities that can provide disaster relief have surplus food, they are unwilling to do things that have no benefits. The emperor is far away. Even if I issue an order to provide disaster relief, if they pretend to obey but secretly disobey, it will be difficult for me to control them."

"So Your Majesty needs to send a trusted official to the disaster area to supervise it personally? Your Majesty is worried about who can take on this important task?"

Su Jingyao focused her eyes and analyzed carefully.

"Gorgeous and smart." Jun Zechen's lips curled up slightly, his eyes full of admiration.

In the previous life, the people sent were from the Ye family, but this time we have to rethink the candidates.

“.......”

Afterwards, Jun Zechen narrowed his eyes slightly, with a focused look, and began to analyze the situation in the court in detail to Su Jingyao.

He tapped his finger on the map, gave an in-depth analysis of the current topography and culture of the dynasty, and explained in detail how he implemented policies according to local conditions.

Su Jingyao listened quietly and seriously.

In fact, she had never thought about getting involved in court affairs in the feudal dynasty before, because Su Jingyao knew that her abilities were limited. She never thought that she could compare with those princes who had received imperial education since childhood. Even Xingxing, who was only seven years old now, might have a clearer understanding of the court than her.

As the daughter of the Su family, Su Jingyao naturally had many opportunities to learn. However, her father would still deliberately avoid talking about state affairs in front of her and her mother, so she could only learn about the situation in the court from occasional letters from her father and brother.

She also has a very clear understanding of herself. If she forces herself into a field that she is not familiar with, Su Jingyao does not have enough confidence to succeed.

But now...is Jun Zechen teaching her?

She is a very ambitious person, and if the opportunity is so obvious to her, she will not refuse it.

So at this moment, Su Jingyao listened very carefully.

The ninth year of Chongwu.

Jun Zechen's study now has a new owner without him noticing.

Su Jingyao would often bring the affairs of the harem to the Qianqing Palace to handle, and would only return to the Kunning Palace when meeting with female officials.

There are not many concubines in the harem, and Su Jingyao has carefully trained a number of capable female officials, so handling harem affairs is relatively easy. It only takes about an hour to check on them every day.

Most of the time, she would stay in Yu's study, sitting next to Jun Zechen, listening attentively to him talking about the factions and families in the court, as well as the implicit expressions of some officials when they made memorials.

For example, some memorials seemed to be flattering a certain senior official, but in fact they were complaining to Jun Zechen; some memorials seemed to be seeking the welfare of the people, but in fact they were hiding private interests.

Last night, Jun Zechen tormented Su Jingyao until late at night. After she fell asleep in the bedroom of the Qianqing Palace, she woke up slowly at the end of the day.

After getting up, she was wearing a comfortable silk waist-length dress that was as smooth as flowing water. Her long hair was not tied up, but fell naturally behind her like black satin.

She walked through a small door and went straight to Yu's study.

Su Jingyao, who had just woken up, was still a little dazed, with hazy eyes and unsteady steps. She walked directly to Jun Zechen and sat down.

Without saying a word, she hugged his waist, rested her head gently on Jun Zechen's shoulder, and called softly, "Husband."

The voice is somewhat naive and dependent.

Jun Zechen naturally put his left hand around her waist, his movements skillful and gentle.

He had waited for four years to be called husband.

"It's almost lunch time. Jiaojiao, if you don't wake up, I will come and help you get up myself. Why didn't Miaoxia do your makeup for you?" Jun Zechen teased.

"If your waist is too lazy, you can't wear a belt; if your head is too lazy, you can't wear a crown. Is that not okay?"

Su Jingyao winked playfully, raising the corners of her mouth to reveal a lovely smile.

"She is still so relaxed and at ease, unlike me, who has to get up early in the morning and not only has to attend court, but also has piles of memorials waiting for me after court."

Jun Zechen sighed slightly and pretended to be in hardship.

“The more capable, the more work.”

Su Jingyao smiled coquettishly, her eyes full of cunning.

Jun Zechen pinched the soft flesh on her waist with a hint of joking.

"I have taught Jiaojiao for such a long time, Jiaojiao, do you want to show me the results too?"

Su Jingyao was originally leaning on his shoulder, but upon hearing those words, her eyes instantly brightened and her mind became much clearer.

What does he mean?

Su Jingyao was filled with doubts and speculations.

"How would you like to see it, Your Majesty?" Su Jingyao asked tentatively.

Jun Zechen chuckled and handed the brush in his right hand to Su Jingyao, "Can you give me your approval?"

When Su Jingyao saw the brush in front of her, she blinked and was stunned, unable to react for a while.

but......

Su Jingyao's heart suddenly started beating uncontrollably, as if it was about to jump out of her chest.

She didn't know whether it was because of Jun Zechen's unbridled indulgence of her, or because she might be able to obtain true rights like the Wu and Lu families, and not be a vassal of others.

The thought made her breathing quicken.

She was originally leaning on Jun Zechen, and then slowly stood up. Even though she was extremely shocked in her heart, she looked as if she didn't care, and calmly took the brush.

"Then let your husband see the results of your teaching."

Su Jingyao picked up a memorial, read its contents intently, and fell into deep thought.

After a moment, she began to write and review, her writing moving fluently and confidently.

After she finished writing, she showed the memorial to Jun Zechen with a somewhat boastful look in her eyes, "How is it?"

Jun Zechen took the memorial, looked at it carefully, a satisfied smile appeared on his face, and his eyes were full of praise.

"Very good. I am lucky to have Jiaojiao to share my worries."

From that day on, Su Jingyao would hide Jun Zechen from time to time to review memorials.

The ministers in the court were very smart and soon discovered that the handwriting on the memorial was wrong.

Memorials to His Majesty came in like snowflakes, all of them were harsh and expressed concerns and doubts about His Majesty's favor for the Queen.

However, all these memorials were ruthlessly rejected by Jun Zechen.

But power is a very tempting thing. Many ministers have seen the unique and unshakable position of the Queen in His Majesty's heart.

Some ministers were dissatisfied, but some...

He actually started contacting her privately, with different thoughts in mind.

Some were demoted for corruption, and they fawned and begged, hoping that the Queen would let His Majesty off lightly.

Some have never been promoted by His Majesty and want to enter the center of power through the Queen to show their ambitions.

Su Jingyao always had a faint smile on her face when it came to these ministers who came to join her, and she never refused anyone.

Loyal ministers have their own ways of using their power, and treacherous ministers have their own ways of using their power. This is what Jun Zechen taught her.

As a result, Su Jingyao developed her own power in the court.

The twelfth year of Chongwu.

Jun Zechen looked solemn, standing tall in the court, gazing sternly at all the civil and military officials.

An Shun stood aside and read aloud:

"I have inherited the will of heaven and have ruled the four seas. The Empress Su is virtuous, wise and intelligent. She has assisted me in governing the country and has made great contributions to the country.

Today you are revered as the Queen of Heaven, the mother of the world. You rule the universe with me, and benefit all living things.

I appreciate that.”

As soon as this summons was issued, the ministers standing on Su Jingyao's side in the court were excited. They knelt down without hesitation and congratulated in unison.

Many old ministers had frowns and gloomy faces and wanted to stop it, but Empress Su had the strong support of the Su family behind her, and the unreserved favor of His Majesty, so they could only grit their teeth and do nothing.

Jun Zechen held Su Jingyao's hand and sat on the dragon chair and phoenix chair, which symbolized power.

There was a pearl curtain in front of Su Jingyao's phoenix chair, preventing the ministers from peeking at the Queen's face.

Su Jingyao lowered her head slightly and was able to look down through the gate to see the vast world outside.

Her chest heaved violently, and an indescribable feeling of pride suddenly surged in her heart.

Did Wu Zetian feel the same way when she stepped from being a woman in the harem to serving as the imperial court master with Li Zhi?

Su Jingyao tightly grasped the phoenix head on the handle of the phoenix chair with her left hand, and the touch made her heart tremble.

So this is what it feels like to be at the pinnacle of power, as if you can hold the whole world in your hands.

Su Jingyao actually didn't understand why Jun Zechen would do this for her.

Jun Zechen was a wise ruler. After he became emperor, he expanded the territory, reformed politics, and made outstanding achievements.

Su Jingyao has learned a lot about modern history and knows that Li Zhi also made great contributions. However, after he promoted his own empress to the throne, no one in the world would remember Li Zhi's contributions. Even when the Tang Dynasty, governed by Li Zhi, achieved the most extensive territory, how many people knew about it? People only knew that Li Zhi was Wu Zetian's second husband.

So Su Jingyao doesn't understand Jun Zechen. Isn't he afraid that the prosperous world he created will be destroyed in her hands? Isn't he afraid that his doting on her will make future generations forget all his achievements?

Facing Jun Zechen like this, Su Jingyao felt that her always cold heart was being warmed a little bit.

She was afraid that she would fall in love with him, and she was also afraid that she would be betrayed by him after falling in love.

After Su Jingyao's first court session, Jun Zechen took her back to the Qianqing Palace.

Seeing that she didn't seem to relax yet and was even stiff, Jun Zechen asked, "Are you happy?"

Su Jingyao's heart still seemed to be filled with excitement.

She had never thought that she would enter the court as a woman in this feudal society, but Jun Zechen brought everything she dared not hope for to her.

She suddenly faced Jun Zechen, stood on tiptoe, put her hands around Jun Zechen's neck, and smiled brightly, "Very!"

Jun Zechen also smiled, hugged her waist tightly and held her in his arms.

Jiaojiao, is this the equality you want?