Chapter 35 Taking the Golden Book

Kunning Palace.

"Your son pays homage to your mother."

Jun Zechen walked forward slowly. He had an upright posture, like a proudly erect pine or cypress tree, and his every move revealed his royal demeanor.

The queen sat upright on the phoenix chair, calmly stretched out her hand, and gracefully picked up the teacup.

She blew gently on the hot air on the surface of the cup, and the rising steam swirled in front of her. Then, she tilted her head slightly and slowly put the tea into her mouth, savoring it carefully.

Her expression was calm and composed, and her eyes revealed a kind of composure and wisdom that came from the accumulation of years.

"How come the Crown Prince has time to come to my Kunning Palace today?"

The queen's voice was calm and majestic, like a spring flowing through the mountains, clear yet carrying an irresistible power.

Jun Zechen frowned slightly, revealing a hint of worry and anxiety.

When he came out of Xiyan Palace this morning, he was shocked to hear An Shun telling his mother about the punishment of Ling Yue.

"Mother, I personally asked my father to issue an imperial decree to confer the title of Crown Princess. By taking away her Golden Book of Crown Princess, isn't that denying her status?"

"Prince!"

The queen's voice became stern and her expression instantly became serious.

"The Crown Princess has not been pregnant for two years, but because you like it, I did not make it difficult for the Crown Princess."

The Queen's voice was crisp and powerful, and every word was like a heavy hammer hitting Jun Zechen's heart.

"Not only is she unable to bear you an heir, but now she almost caused your second child to miscarry. Imperial Doctor Li said that it would be difficult for Tang Fengyi to keep this baby alive. It would depend on luck if she could keep it alive for six or seven months."

If Tang Fengyi's pregnancy could last until July, the Empress would sacrifice the mother for the child, as the royal heir was the most important thing.

"Mother, I know the Crown Princess. She would never harm my child."

Jun Zechen's voice was firm and powerful. He raised his head slightly and looked directly into the Queen's eyes.

He understood Ling Yue's character. She might be careless or she might mean well but end up doing something bad.

But the heart is always good.

The Queen's gaze lingered on the Prince, her eyes were filled with disappointment and helplessness, like a deep pool of water, containing endless thoughts.

During the decades of ups and downs in the harem, she had seen too many women who were good at disguising themselves. She was no stranger to those faces that appeared gentle and kind on the surface, but were cruel and ruthless behind the scenes.

But now, she didn't expect that her own son was just like his father and was so easily bewitched by a woman.

She raised her head slightly, with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"As the crown prince, do you think you can convince me with just one word of trust?"

"I have a clear distinction between reward and punishment, and I have solid evidence to punish the Crown Princess. She took medicine from the Imperial Hospital and secretly gave the abortion-preserving herbs to Tang Fengyi, and she even boasted in front of me that she had no knowledge of it."

The Queen's speech speed gradually increased, and each word seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth, with no less fierceness in her words.

Her fingers tightly gripped the armrests, her joints turning slightly white from the effort, revealing her inner anger and dissatisfaction with the Crown Princess.

"Even if she didn't do it on purpose, she not only committed the crime of concealing the truth, but also the fault of negligence. As the Crown Princess, she has such a lack of moral character and no management ability. What's wrong with me accepting her golden book?"

The Queen's voice became more and more severe, like a burst of thunder exploding in Jun Zechen's ears.

Jun Zechen looked solemn.

He knew that Ling Yue was indeed lacking in management feedback.

After all, she had never received an orthodox education from a noble family, nor had she learned how to manage the affairs of the royal family.

Now that many women have entered the East Palace, she needs time to learn and adapt, rather than being deprived of her rights directly.

Jun Zechen took a deep breath, slowly raised his head, looked directly into the Queen's eyes, with a hint of pleading in his voice.

"Mother, the Crown Princess did not do well enough, but I knew very well when I married her that the Crown Princess was not good at managing the affairs of the backyard."

He spoke slowly and firmly, and every word was filled with his protection for Ling Yue.

"Now the Queen Mother should teach her patiently instead of being so decisive in depriving her of her rights as the Crown Princess."

The queen spoke slowly, and every word she spoke was heavy.

"The Crown Prince is willing to give the Crown Princess the opportunity to learn and grow, but the price is that I don't know whether your second child can be born smoothly."

"Does the Crown Prince really not mind such a price? Will the Crown Prince be satisfied only if the child in Concubine Su's belly becomes the sacrifice for the Crown Princess's growth?"

The Queen's voice became increasingly severe, and every word was like a sharp knife, piercing Jun Zechen's heart.

People are like this. Unless they encounter something that really hurts their hearts, they always think positively.

But if it really happens, you will regret it endlessly.

At this time, the prince was blinded by the tenderness of the princess and could not see the reality before him.

As an outsider, the Queen naturally had a clear mind and would not allow her grandson to make any mistake.

When Jun Zechen heard the Queen's words, his heart trembled violently.

I wanted to say something, but the words were stuck in my throat and I couldn't utter a single word.

The Queen Mother's reasons were sufficient and he could not refute them.

Yaoyao is due to give birth in two months, so no more accidents can happen.

When Ling Yue possessed the Golden Book, she had great power as the Crown Princess. Not only could she deploy the people in the Eastern Palace, she could even interfere in some matters of the Imperial Household Department.

But she is simple-minded and careless, and can be easily taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives.

Thinking of this, Jun Zechen pursed his lips even more and stopped talking.

"After I dealt with the Crown Princess's matter last night, I sent someone to investigate the issue of the concubine's dress being stained with motherwort."

The queen spoke slowly, her voice carrying a hint of fatigue and solemnity.

"I discovered that the maid Ru'er not only had the Crown Princess's golden brooch, but also An Liangdi's handkerchief."

"There are many doubts about what happened last night. I have to guess that the target last night was not just Tang Fengyi. The biggest target might be your concubine."

The queen's tone became more serious, and her face was full of worry.

"Doctor Li was called to the Hall of Supreme Harmony because of Tang Fengyi. If Concubine Su had not taken good care of her baby during pregnancy, she might have met with an accident last night..."

Having said this, the queen paused and did not continue speaking, but her eyes said it all.

Jun Zechen remained silent, with no expression on his face.

He couldn't refute everything his mother said.

He knew very well in his heart that Ling Yue was indeed not suitable to be the Crown Princess.

But it was he who married her in the first place, and now his mother's severe punishment of Ling Yue made him feel even more guilty towards Ling Yue.

Maybe the Queen Mother was right.

Liking someone doesn't necessarily mean they are suitable. By marrying her, he might actually be harming her.

There was a trace of pain on Jun Zechen's face. He lowered his head slightly, clenched his fists, and felt guilty.

He sighed in his heart, with a look of helplessness on his face.

Since it was his fault, Ling Yue shouldn't be solely responsible for it.

"Mother, I will send someone to teach the Crown Princess carefully. Please keep the golden book for me. When the Crown Princess has grown up, please give it to her again."

Jun Zechen said slowly, "As for the incident of the concubine's dress being stained with motherwort yesterday, I will send someone to investigate it thoroughly and will not miss any clues."

There was a sharp gleam in Jun Zechen's eyes.

"Prince, you are my son. I don't like the Crown Princess. First, she cannot give birth to an heir for you. Second, she will make you feel exhausted both physically and mentally."

The Queen's voice was filled with dissatisfaction with the Crown Princess and heartache for her son.

Jun Zechen frowned slightly, with a puzzled look on his face.

What does this mean, mother?

The queen sighed softly.

"Now that your father is seriously ill, you need to make all the decisions and review all the memorials. You spend more than six hours dealing with state affairs out of twelve hours a day. Do you still have to worry about these trivial matters between women when you return to the East Palace?"

"You should focus on the 108 cities of your kingdom, on the people of the world, and on the government affairs of the previous dynasty."

"I have never caused your father any trouble or worry about the affairs of the harem. As the queen, I believe that I have been magnanimous, decisive, and virtuous." The queen's eyes were full of determination.

"But what about your princess?"

The Queen shook her head and stopped discussing the Crown Princess with the Crown Prince. She turned to talk about Su Jingyao.

"I will investigate the matter of the concubine thoroughly. The Crown Prince does not need to interfere. Your Crown Princess is so useless. As your mother, I will naturally help you manage the backyard."

The Queen's tone was firm and left no room for doubt.

Jun Zechen knew that his mother was always powerful and it was difficult to change her decision.

What's more, everything the Queen Mother said was for his own good, so how could he refuse?

However, he will continue to let An Shun investigate Yaoyao's matter.

"Mother, I will also investigate the matter of the concubine. No matter who hurt her or my prince, I will not let them go."

Jun Zechen's voice was firm and powerful, and his eyes were full of determination.

The queen shook her head helplessly. She really didn't want her son to spend too much energy fighting in the backyard.

But she also knew that the prince, like his father when he was young, always had too many unrealistic expectations of love.

She never doubted her son's outstanding ability in government affairs, but she still had a one-sided view of women's disguises and tricks.

He only knew that the women in his father's harem were as vicious as snakes and scorpions.

Forget it. Perhaps when he ascends the throne and experiences more, he will truly understand that a woman's heart is not black and white, but complex and changeable.

"If the prince is willing to investigate, then go ahead. I will not let the person behind the scenes go." The queen's voice carried a hint of fatigue and determination.

"Yes, I will take my leave."

Jun Zechen bowed slightly, saluted, then slowly turned and left, his back revealing a hint of fatigue and helplessness.

After he left Kunning Palace, he felt extremely depressed, as if a huge rock was pressing heavily on his heart.

There was also a look of worry between his brows, hanging over him like a thick cloud.

He didn't know how to comfort Ling Yue.

When he thought of Ling Yue's sad and grief-stricken expression, he didn't know what to do.

He also had to find out the truth about Yaoyao's palace decoration, and there were piles of memorials piling up in Yu's study, waiting for him to deal with.

In order to deal with these tedious matters, he even had to move the time of meeting with court officials from the afternoon to the evening.

Although he had many worries in his heart, Jun Zechen had become accustomed to keeping his composure in front of others during the years since he became the crown prince.

Don't let anyone see his vulnerability.

In the eyes of others, he is always a majestic prince, a high and mighty, inviolable being.

Jun Zechen walked slowly towards the Qiluan Palace.

Ling Yue looked extremely exhausted at this time. He sat powerlessly on the couch with a dull look in his eyes, like a pool of stagnant water, without a trace of life.

The once bright eyes have now turned dim, filled with loss and helplessness.

She never imagined that her mother would be so decisive in taking away her golden book. This move was like a bolt from the blue to her.

Directly denying her status and rights as the Crown Princess!

Does Aze know about this?

Or maybe Aze also agreed with his mother's approach...

These thoughts kept flashing through her mind, making her even more confused.

"Master, His Highness is here." Meixiang said softly, with a barely perceptible joy in her voice.

She knew that her master was feeling sad at the moment, and now that His Highness was here, perhaps her master would feel better.

When Ling Yue heard that the prince was coming, his heart trembled and he quickly got up from the couch.

Without even bothering to tidy up his slightly messy clothes, he hurried forward.

When Jun Zechen entered the hall, she rushed forward and hugged the prince's waist tightly.

There was a sobbing tone in the voice, full of endless grievances and complaints.

"Aze, I really didn't harm Tang Fengyi's child. Tang Fengyi is pregnant with your child. I won't do such a thing. Aze, can you believe me?"

Her voice trembled and tears burst out like a flood, soaking the prince's clothes.

Jun Zechen's eyes were a mixture of struggle and helplessness, and his complex expression seemed to contain endless thoughts.

He believed her, but...

"I believe you, but my mother took back your golden book for other reasons besides the damage to Tang Fengyi's heir."

The prince's voice was a little low, and he paused for a moment before continuing.

"Yue'er, you need to learn how to manage your income. I will hire a few nurses to teach you. When you have changed, your mother will see it and will naturally give you the golden book again."

When Ling Yue heard Aze say that he believed in her, she felt an indescribable joy in her heart, a joy that came from being trusted.

But why can't Aze get her golden book back?

Without the Golden Book, is she still the Crown Princess?

This thought kept circling in her mind, making her feel extremely lost and confused.

Ling Yue suddenly pushed Jun Zecheng away, her eyes filled with anger and grievance, and the tears that were about to burst out were swirling in her eye sockets, as if they would pour out at any time.

"Aze, I didn't do anything wrong, why did my mother take away my golden book? If the golden book is taken away, am I still your crown princess?"

Ling Yue's voice was full of resentment and resentment.

"Since Aze believes in me, why don't you let the Queen Mother return the Golden Book?"

Ling Yue's voice became more and more agitated, and his emotions seemed to be on the verge of collapse.

"Aze, do you still remember your promise to me?!"

Ling Yue shouted these words with almost all his strength, his voice filled with grief and anger.

Her body trembled with excitement and her screams at the top of her lungs were heartbreaking.

All that she had been through recently had left her physically and mentally exhausted.

Her husband was drifting away from her, and she had to suppress her panic and try to please him.

He was so concerned about Concubine Su yesterday, but he turned a blind eye to her kneeling on the ground and about to be punished by the Empress, and left without looking back, which made her heart sink to the bottom.

Today he said he believed her, but he made her accept the punishment of the Queen taking away her golden book.

Why is he so cruel now!

Jun Zecheng's face darkened. It was because of the promise he made to her before that he felt so conflicted and guilty now!

But she couldn't understand his difficulties at all. Was he just her husband?

"Yes, I didn't keep my promise to you, but Yue'er, we are not an ordinary couple. The affairs of the harem are your responsibility as the Crown Princess, just like the whole world is my responsibility."

Jun Zechen's voice was low and hoarse, his dark and deep eyes stared at Ling Yue who was in despair and grief, his eyes were filled with complex emotions.

But Ling Yue still looked distraught and ignored the prince's words.

She seemed to have lost all hope and was immersed in the abyss of pain, unable to extricate herself.

Jun Zechen took a deep breath.

"It was I who trapped a free bird like you in the deep palace. If you regret it, I can let you go."

Ling Yue's eyes suddenly widened, and she looked at Jun Zechen in astonishment.

Let her go?

Is he going to divorce her?

Tears of joy burst out like a flood, and her body trembled slightly.

Then she hugged the man in front of her tightly again.

"Aze, don't you want me anymore?"

"You said I would be your wife for life, you can't break your promise, wuwu..."

The sorrowful cry is heartbreaking.

"Yue'er, being an orphan's wife is a difficult path."

It was much more difficult than Jun Zechen had imagined. He used to think that he could provide for Ling Yue, but he found that he was so powerless.

Now not only is he powerless, he feels his heart is also changing. He doesn't know why he still likes Ling Yue.

In the past, I always felt relaxed and comfortable with Ling Yue, which could help him forget the worries in the court.

But what about now?

"Aze, I'm not afraid. I will grow up. I will study hard with Nanny. I will become a qualified Crown Princess and a daughter-in-law recognized by my mother."

Ling Yue said anxiously, her eyes filled with anxiety and determination.

She held Jun Zechen's clothes tightly, as if she was afraid that he would leave her.

Jun Zechen sighed in his heart, and his big hand slowly touched Ling Yue's back, but his eyes were full of unclear emotions.