Chapter 77 Testing Him

Jun Zechen was originally sitting in Yu's study handling government affairs when the palace maid sent by Concubine Lin came hurriedly to report that Concubine Chun Shu had intercepted Concubine Lin in Yu Garden.

Jun Zechen knew that Yaoyao had always been gentle and would never embarrass the concubines for no reason, so he did not intend to pay too much attention to her.

However, when Concubine Lin's maid saw that her master had not arrived at the Qianqing Palace for a long time, she hurriedly asked An Shun to go in and report. Jun Zechen then thought about going over to take a look in person.

As soon as he walked outside the pavilion, without informing anyone, he clearly heard what Concubine Lin said.

However, Jun Zechen did not pay much attention to what Concubine Lin said. Instead, his eyes were fixed on Su Jingyao.

The indifferent look on her face at this moment was something he had never seen before. It was as if she was covered with a thin layer of frost, revealing a sense of coldness and alienation.

Jun Zechen walked slowly into the pavilion. Su Jingyao raised her eyes and saw him, raising her eyebrows slightly.

Are you here to support your new pet?

It came really quickly.

When Su Jingyao saw him coming, her expression not only did not change, but became even colder.

She only spoke slowly: "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

Jun Zechen walked up to her and helped her up, saying softly, "Sit down. You are not feeling well, so there is no need to be polite."

At this moment, Concubine Lin, who was kneeling on the ground, saw the emperor whom she had been thinking about finally arrive, and her eyes were instantly filled with grievance.

There were still traces of undried tears on her pretty face.

She said tenderly, "I pay my respects to His Majesty."

Jun Zechen frowned slightly and looked at her, asking with a hint of inquiry: "What's wrong?"

Miaoyun, who was standing by, immediately responded, "Your Majesty, today when Concubine Lin passed by the master in a sedan chair, she did not get off the sedan chair to greet him. It was Miaoxia who saw this and stopped Concubine Lin, so Concubine Lin came over to greet the master."

Then she added, "When Concubine Lin performed the ceremony, I wonder if she didn't learn the etiquette well. The master asked me to teach Concubine Lin the rules."

Concubine Lin did not refute, but just looked at Jun Zechen with a wronged and innocent look on her face.

She said softly, "It is all my fault today. I did not notice the Concubine Chun Shu in the pavilion, and I did not kneel down to pay respect to her when I was paying respect. I am willing to accept any punishment from her."

At this time, there were conspicuous red marks on Concubine Lin's forehead due to kowtowing, and she looked so submissive, as if Concubine Chun Shu was making trouble for no reason.

After all, she really didn't need to kneel and kowtow to Concubine Chun Shu today. Although it was right for Concubine Chun Shu to kneel and kowtow as she was a high-ranking concubine, there was absolutely no reason to punish her for it.

After hearing this, Su Jingyao sighed in her heart, thinking that this was a good move of retreating to advance.

But since Concubine Lin wanted to be punished, how could she not be satisfied?

"In that case, I will send a nanny to Liushuang Pavilion every day to teach Concubine Lin etiquette." Su Jingyao said slowly and unhurriedly.

Jun Zechen looked at her, who was so aggressive and different from before, and felt a little confused.

What's wrong with her?

Are you deliberately making things difficult for Concubine Lin?

Or...is she jealous?

Jun Zechen lowered his head and took a sip of the scented tea that Miaoyun had just poured for him. His eyes were so deep that it was hard to guess what he was thinking at the moment.

Concubine Lin looked at His Majesty who remained indifferent, and her heart sank suddenly.

Could it be that Your Majesty is so fond of Concubine Chun Shu that he allows her to use her power to oppress others?

Concubine Lin had no other choice at this moment. She could only grit her teeth and accept it, uttering a few words with difficulty: "Yes, thank you, Madam."

After Concubine Lin agreed, Su Jingyao stood up and said coldly to Jun Zechen: "Your Majesty, I have been out for a long time today and I feel a little tired now. I will go back to Zhaochun Palace now."

When Jun Zechen heard that she was leaving, he immediately prepared to get up and leave.

When Concubine Lin saw this, she suddenly became a little flustered. Is His Majesty going to Zhaochun Palace?

But I was supposed to go to the Qianqing Palace to accompany the emperor today!

Then she hurriedly called out softly, "Your Majesty..."

While shouting, she looked at Jun Zechen closely with affectionate and innocent eyes, and there seemed to be a flickering light in her eyes.

Jun Zechen simply glanced at her calmly, and then instructed An Shun, "Send someone to escort Concubine Lin back to Liushuang Pavilion."

Concubine Lin gritted her teeth and left the pavilion. Today she had failed to gain anything while losing the rice.

After Su Jingyao saw Concubine Lin leave, she was about to turn around and leave, but Jun Zechen suddenly reached out and held her hand.

With a little effort, Su Jingyao sat on his lap unsteadily.

A hint of panic suddenly appeared on Su Jingyao's indifferent face, and then she quickly looked around the pavilion.

He said anxiously, "Your Majesty! This is outside."

"All those outside the pavilion are from your palace and mine, it's okay."

Jun Zechen said this nonchalantly, his expression calm and composed.

His broad hands held her slender waist tightly like an iron clamp, and his deep and magnetic voice echoed above her head.

"Did Concubine Lin make you angry?"

"I punished Concubine Lin. Your Majesty, are you distressed?"

Su Jingyao did not respond to his question directly, but asked back with a bit of stubbornness and questioning.

"Why am I angry? Yaoyao is in charge of the Palace Administration Department. If a concubine is disrespectful to you, she will be punished."

Jun Zechen's tone was indifferent, like a calm lake without a ripple. His deep eyes held an elusive look.

Lin Jieyu, he is useful.

However, Jun Zechen found it quite novel to see her like this at this moment.

During the time when he doted on Concubine Lin, he summoned her to accompany him every few days and gave her many gifts. Rumors spread throughout the palace that Concubine Lin was his new favorite.

However, every time he went to Zhaochun Palace, the woman in his arms always looked calm, as if she knew nothing.

He really thought she didn't care at all.

Thinking of this, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but raise up an imperceptible arc.

Su Jingyao was almost accustomed to his casual words, as if he would support her no matter what she did.

Who knows what he is really thinking.

"I want to go back."

Su Jingyao frowned slightly, twisted her body slightly while sitting on his legs, and struggled a little to get off, but she couldn't break free from the strong restraints.

"Are you jealous?" Jun Zechen's voice contained a hint of teasing.

"I dare not."

Although Su Jingyao said that she was confident in herself, a man's heart was as unpredictable as a needle in the sea.

She was not jealous, she was just worried that her boss would change his mind, which would affect her path to promotion.

If he really fell in love with Concubine Lin, she would definitely kill her. A hint of viciousness quietly revealed in Su Jingyao's eyes.

She would never let anyone interfere with her dream of becoming the empress dowager.

After all, if she had not become the empress and the queen mother, she would have become another nameless soul in this imperial city.

Jun Zechen sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness and doting.

He tilted his head slightly, looking at Su Jingyao with gentle and focused eyes.

"Yaoyao believes in me. No one can shake Yaoyao's position in my heart."

Su Jingyao's eyes flickered slightly.

Today's situation was not only Concubine Lin testing her, but it was also Su Jingyao testing Jun Zechen against her.

Since Jun Zechen said so, it seems that Concubine Lin is just a chess piece of Jun Zechen.

But she didn't understand why Jun Zechen doted on Concubine Lin so much?

He dotes on her so openly, is he setting Concubine Lin as a target?

Afterwards, Su Jingyao bent down, snuggled over, and gently rested her head on Jun Zechen's broad shoulder, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness and laziness.

"I can never escape your majesty's sweet words."

Jun Zechen nodded slightly and kissed her smooth forehead softly, his movements were extremely gentle.

Sweet words come from his heart.

Moreover, he is the one who cannot escape the sweet words, so much so that what he is doing now even he himself finds incredible.

Jun Zechen's eyes became as deep as the ocean, looking straight into the distance, as if he was thinking about something.

At the beginning, Ling Yue gave the new concubine a very low position, so that now there are very few concubines with high positions.

He also could not ignore palace rules and promote concubines at will.

Now Yaoyao has the highest position and is very favored, with the eldest prince by her side. It was not until the day of the Queen Mother's birthday banquet that Jun Zechen suddenly realized that now everyone's attention in the harem seemed to be focused on Yaoyao.

That's why he wanted to bring up a new concubine to divert the attention of all the concubines from Yaoyao.

And this new concubine was Concubine Lin.

The fact that Concubine Lin was able to escape unscathed from the Queen Mother's birthday banquet at least showed that she was not a stupid person. In addition, her family background was neither high nor low, making her just suitable to be a favored concubine.

Originally, he had considered Ye Ronghua, but her family background was too high and she was not suitable.

However...

A hint of ruthlessness suddenly flashed across Jun Zechen's deep eyes.

Since Concubine Lin has become the favored concubine, it is absolutely impossible for her to have children.

Jun Zechen gently and tenderly held her in his arms and whispered to her intimately.

The two of them whispered flirtatious words that were private only between them and could not be told to outsiders.

He looked at her face intently and coaxed her patiently until he saw her finally smile, a smile that no longer showed any concern for Concubine Lin. Only then did he slowly feel relieved.

"Let's go. I'll go back to Zhaochun Palace with you." Jun Zechen said softly.

Afterwards, he naturally took her slender little hand and walked steadily towards the sedan chair.

His chariot was surrounded by gray and white silk, which completely concealed the inside. People outside could not see what was going on inside.

After the two of them sat in the chariot together, Jun Zechen held her in his arms, as if he wanted to rub her into his body.

"The Flower Festival will be here in a few days. Concubine Ling has now lost her power to assist in managing the six palaces, and my mother has handed over all matters of the six palaces to you. This year's Flower Festival only requires a family dinner. Yaoyao will have to work hard during this period."

Jun Zechen spoke softly, his tone gentle and compassionate.

"After the banquet, I will take you out of the palace."

When Su Jingyao heard the word "leave the palace", she raised her head and looked at him, with a gleam in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, will you break your promise this time?" Su Jingyao asked coquettishly, pouting her lips with a hint of dissatisfaction on her face.

Jun Zechen looked at her like this and thought she was so adorable. He lifted her delicate chin, leaned over and kissed her tenderly.

The kiss between the two was passionate and lingering. Su Jingyao had felt a man's domineering kiss before, but as a woman, she really preferred Jun Zechen's gentle and delicate kiss.

More comfortable.

After Jun Zechen let her go, there was a hint of lust in his eyes, "I will give Yaoyao a gift during the Flower Festival."