Chapter 62: Thinking about Ling Yue

Su Jingyao was half-lying on the couch lazily, with one hand gently supporting her head and the other hand casually holding the list of beauties.

With a slight sigh, it’s good to be an emperor.

Beautiful faces will eventually fade, but the emperor's women will always be as beautiful as flowers.

Miaoyun stood aside obediently.

"Master, I heard that there are quite a few outstanding ladies among the selected girls this year."

Su Jingyao's gaze slowly fell on the list in her hand. There are endless excellent women to be solved. What really needs to be solved are men.

But these women are all her competitors for the throne of Queen. Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you win every battle.

"Ye Yaqin, daughter of the Grand Commander, the most prestigious contestant in this pageant. How does she look and what is her personality like?"

Su Jingyao pointed at Ye Yaqin's name and asked.

The Grand Commander is equivalent to the head of the military generals in the monarchy and has great power.

After all, family background is indeed very important in the harem. Those with low family background can only be promoted if they are extremely favored by the emperor or give birth to a prince.

Those with high family backgrounds will usually be promoted to the sixth palace during festivals or when they are granted the title of Sixth Palace due to their status.

Miaoyun heard her master's question and thought about it.

"There are quite a few girls with outspoken personalities among the girls selected this time, but Miss Ye, although she is the daughter of a Grand Commander and has a noble status, is very gentle and calm."

"She performed well in this talent show and is good at playing the guqin."

"As for her appearance, I haven't seen her in person, but I heard that she is one of the best among the concubines."

"I heard that the most beautiful girl among the beauties this time is Chu Yinxue, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel. She is seventeen years old, very beautiful and tall, with an outgoing personality." Miaoyun continued.

Su Jingyao nodded slightly, as if thinking about something.

"The Minister of Personnel is Daddy's subordinate, right? If Chu Yinxue enters the palace, I will have to send a letter home to ask about the relationship between the Minister of Personnel and Daddy."

As she spoke, her fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the couch, and her eyes revealed a hint of caution.

The name Ye Yaqin seems a little familiar. Could she be the supporting female character in the original book?

Su Jingyao couldn't quite remember.

Forget it, those who come are not afraid, and those who are afraid do not come.

Tomorrow is the palace selection, and Jun Zechen, the Queen Mother, the Royal Concubine and she will all participate.

But she and the Royal Concubine were just there to watch, and the ones who really had the right to choose were Jun Zechen and the Queen Mother.

Thinking of this, Su Jingyao narrowed her eyes slightly. After the selection, the number of women in the harem increased, and her chance of becoming queen became even greater.

After all, once there are too many women and there is no queen to manage them, mistakes and chaos are always likely to occur.

The Queen Mother would certainly not let Jun Zechen's position as Queen remain vacant for long.

If she wanted to become the empress, the support of the empress dowager was the most important thing, but in the end, there had to be a suitable opportunity.

It was obviously unreliable to have a baby at this moment, not to mention that Xiu Nu had just entered the palace, even if she had full confidence in herself.

She was not so naive as to think that Jun Zechen could remain completely unmoved in the face of so many beauties entering the palace.

Moreover, for the Queen Mother and Jun Zechen, anyone can give birth to a child, but the position of Queen cannot be secured simply by giving birth to a child.

Otherwise, Jun Zechen would not have thought of letting Ling Yue adopt a child.

What the Queen Mother values ​​is whether one has the ability to become Queen.

After the palace selection is over tomorrow, the beauties will "return home", that is, return home, and enter the palace again after five days.

After that, in half a month it was the Queen Mother's birthday banquet. All palace banquets were organized by the Shangyi Bureau, which was managed by the Imperial Concubine.

In this case, she would not let the Queen Mother's birthday party go by so peacefully.

According to her speculation, Jun Zechen's position as queen would remain vacant for a year at most, or even less than a year, before the empress dowager and the ministers would begin urging Jun Zechen to take the throne.

During this time, she had to make the Imperial Concubine make as many mistakes as possible until she completely lost the power to manage the six palaces and had no chance of becoming the Empress.

Thinking of this, Su Jingyao's eyes suddenly flashed with ruthlessness. These sisters who are about to enter the palace should not be so well-behaved. It would be best if they could make as much noise as possible.

When Jun Zechen stepped into Zhaochun Palace, he saw her sitting there in a daze.

He had already walked up to her, but still no reaction.

Jun Zechen raised his lips slightly, stretched out his hand and gently pinched her fair and tender face, and asked jokingly, "What are you thinking about?"

Su Jingyao couldn't help but frown, with a hint of anger.

"Your Majesty, please don't pinch my face."

After saying this, she did not forget the etiquette, she stood up from the couch, bowed gracefully and performed a formal ceremony.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

After Jun Zechen helped her up with a smile, he half-lay on the couch casually, and Su Jingyao was ready to sit down next to him.

Jun Zechen glanced at her and said, "Stand over there."

"Yaoyao seems a little different today. I'll take a good look."

Su Jingyao showed a look of surprise. She raised her eyebrows slightly, then obediently took a few steps back so that Jun Zechen could take a closer look.

I didn't expect that this straight guy could actually see what's different about her?

Afterwards, Su Jingyao deliberately turned around and asked in a coquettish voice, "Your Majesty, what is different about me today?"

"The style of this dress is very unique, and the bun you combed today is also very beautiful."

The pattern of the skirt that Su Jingyao wore today was the one she took to the Fashion Bureau and had it specially made for her.

The reason why I have to wear it today is naturally to remind Jun Zechen something.

The neckline of the palace dress is embroidered with delicate Ruyi cloud patterns and inlaid with round pearls.

The sleeves are wide and flowing, with intricate floral embroidery at the cuffs and long golden tassels that sway gracefully as she moves.

The hem of the gown is layered, with the edges outlined with delicate lines of silver thread.

She wore a golden belt inlaid with gemstone tassels around her waist, which further highlighted her slender waist and graceful figure.

Her black and shiny hair was tied up high, with a dazzling hollow carved gold hairpin inserted in the bun. There were also a few small and exquisite pearl flowers on one side of the bun, adding a touch of softness.

She wore a tassel crown in the middle, and the beautiful tassels on her forehead made her look even more beautiful.

She had put on careful makeup today, especially her eyes. Jun Zechen stared at her eyes for a long time.

"Come here." Jun Zechen said softly.

Su Jingyao obediently walked up to him, even moving closer to him, and winked at him playfully.

In order to match the dress, she deliberately made her eyes look more lively. She covered her entire eyes with eyeliner and even pulled a little more eyeliner back at the end of her eyes, making her look particularly different.

When she smiles, she is charming; when she doesn't smile, she looks cool, elegant and noble.

"Why are you dressed like this today?" Jun Zechen asked curiously.

"Your Majesty will be selecting concubines tomorrow. You will meet so many sisters. Shouldn't I dress up nicely? Today is just a trial. Do you think I look good?"

Su Jingyao pouted slightly and said coquettishly with a hint of playfulness.

"Is there any woman in the world who can compare to Yaoyao?"

Jun Zechen smiled as he gently held her waist, and then with a slight push, he brought her into his arms.

"Your Majesty only knows how to say nice things to please me."

Su Jingyao joked and said, "I had the imperial dress I'm wearing made by the Shangfu Bureau. The Shangfu Bureau did a great job under the care of Sister Guifei. I like it very much."

"The Queen Mother's birthday banquet will be held soon. I will ask the clothing bureau to make another one for me."

Su Jingyao leaned against him obediently, her small hand slowly playing with the jade pendant on his waist.

When Jun Zechen heard her mention the Fashion Bureau, his thoughts seemed to be aroused.

"In the twenty days, it will be the Queen Mother's birthday. The palace dress that the Queen Mother will wear on that day will also be made by the Shangfu Bureau. The Imperial Concubine should also choose the style for the Queen Mother in advance and start making it."

Jun Zechen frowned slightly, feeling a little worried.

Ling Yue had never dealt with these things before and was really afraid that something might go wrong.

Although the female officials of the Shangfu Bureau would arrange everything properly, they all acted in accordance with the palace rules and ancestral regulations.

If Ling Yue had not consulted his mother in advance and just let the female official do what was required, Jun Zechen was really worried that his mother would be dissatisfied.

Thinking of this, Jun Zechen sighed inwardly and decided to send someone to inform the noble concubine.

When Su Jingyao heard Jun Zechen mention the palace dress for the Queen Mother's birthday, a deep meaning suddenly flashed in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, the Department of Clothing and the Department of Ceremonials are both managed by my sister. The Department of Ceremonials is responsible for planning and organizing palace banquets."

"If you can not only give the Queen Mother a dress that pleases her, but also host a good birthday banquet for her, you will surely please her and change her mind about you."

Jun Zechen hugged her and rubbed her waist with his big hands.

Hearing her words, which were spoken with all her heart for Ling Yue's sake, a feeling of unreality suddenly welled up in my heart.

"Last time on Yaoyao's birthday, I was upset because the Imperial Concubine did not accompany Yaoyao. Wasn't Yaoyao angry with the Imperial Concubine?"

Su Jingyao leaned on him, unable to see his expression clearly, but Jun Zechen's voice was faint, with a hint of temptation.

Su Jingyao's eyelashes drooped, and a hint of coldness flashed across her eyes.

Then she raised her little hand coquettishly and tapped Jun Zechen's chest lightly.

"Why should I be angry with the concubine? If I am angry, it is with you, Your Majesty!"

As she spoke, she twisted her body slightly.

"Your Majesty broke your promise that day, and I was so distressed that I felt sorry for you, so I felt sorry for you, too. I was selfish and wanted to take away your Majesty's love that belonged to you, so I also wanted to compensate you in other ways."

"Although I am not very smart, I know that the Queen Mother is not happy with you. If you perform well at the Queen Mother's birthday party, the Queen Mother will definitely change her mind about you."

Jun Zechen's eyes became increasingly profound, and there always seemed to be a deep meaning in them that was difficult for others to understand.

He did not tell Yaoyao that Ping'er was the imperial concubine's spy in her palace, nor did he tell her that it was the imperial concubine who deliberately poisoned herself to prevent him from accompanying her out of the palace.

If she knew all this, would she still care so wholeheartedly about Ling Yue?

He wanted to protect her innocent heart and didn't want her to see the fickleness and ugliness of human hearts.

"Yaoyao, do you know that if the Queen Mother changes her mind about the Royal Concubine, the Royal Concubine might be crowned as the Empress?" Jun Zechen had no expression on his face and spoke in a flat voice.

"I know, didn't His Majesty always reserve the position of Queen for my sister?"

"Your Majesty has also told me that my sister is your first wife, so the position of empress originally belonged to my sister."

Su Jingyao turned around and looked at him with confusion. Because of her makeup, her dark and bright eyes were particularly eye-catching, like a clear spring, crystal clear.

Jun Zechen remained expressionless, but there was a hint of doubt in his heart.

Yes, when he ascended the throne, he always wanted to reserve the position of queen for Ling Yue.

But now, he seems not so sure...

Jun Zechen looked into her eyes and even wanted to ask her in his heart, doesn't she want to be his queen?

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Su Jingyao continued, "So I beg Your Majesty to send someone with rich experience to help Sister Guifei."

She looked worried.

"After the palace selection tomorrow, the concubines will also enter the palace in five days. If there are too many people in the palace, it will be easy for something to go wrong."

"Besides, the Queen Mother's birthday banquet is the first large-scale banquet held by the Imperial Palace since Your Majesty ascended the throne, so it must be well prepared."

"I don't have much experience. What if something goes wrong?"

Jun Zechen looked at her as she was seriously considering Ling Yue, and his mind was filled with complicated thoughts.

Should he tell her that the noble concubine whom she had always regarded as a sister has changed?

"Okay, I will send someone to help your Highness."

After hearing the satisfactory answer, Su Jingyao continued to lean on him.

Where Jun Zechen couldn't see, a smile slowly appeared at the corner of her mouth.

She will let the people sent by Jun Zechen witness Ling Yue's incompetence with their own eyes.