Chapter 97: Court Affairs
Today is already the fourth day of the Spring Hunt. The guards and sons of the nobles who are participating in the Spring Hunt are all in high spirits, as they are about to have a fierce horseback archery competition.
This is an individual battle. Jun Zechen will also participate in it, but will not participate in the ranking. He will select the top three and also reward the top twenty.
The sons of noble families who were fortunate enough to take part in the Spring Hunt all looked forward to receiving the favor of His Majesty.
If you can get the upper hand in this spring hunt, maybe you can rise to the top in one step.
Su Jingyao had no interest in this, so she stayed in the bank most of the time, and occasionally walked around the bank.
However, the concubines who followed him liked to join in the fun and watched Jun Zechen's heroic figure from the women's seats.
At the beginning of the You hour, a series of competitions including archery finally came to an end. Su Jingxuan actually got a very good ranking and successfully squeezed into the top ten.
Jun Zechen was also very happy for Yaoyao. Her brother was indeed capable, but he had never noticed Su Jingxuan's ability in riding before.
Jun Zechen generously rewarded Su Jingxuan in front of everyone, and even asked Su Jingxuan to visit the Royal Concubine.
This move made many people jealous. The imperial concubine was really pampered and well-fed. The Su family raised a good daughter.
When Su Jingxuan arrived at the Imperial Concubine's tent, Miaoyun led him in respectfully with a smile on her face, while Miaoxia stood quietly outside the tent, not leaving for a moment.
"Your humble servant pays his respects to the Royal Concubine." After Su Jingxuan came in, he bowed respectfully.
Su Jingyao raised her eyes and looked at Su Jingxuan who walked in, and a smile appeared on her face involuntarily.
Today, her brother is wearing a neat riding suit and looks very heroic. Both her brother and she have inherited more of their mother's appearance.
Therefore, my brother's appearance is more like a handsome man with elegant manners. Now wearing this riding suit, he looks like the handsome and extraordinary man described in the picture book.
"Brother, get up and come sit here."
Su Jingyao was also aware of her current status. Even if her father and mother came, they would have to salute her, so she no longer tried to stop her brother from doing so.
After all, she is now a member of the royal family first, and a member of the Su family second.
Su Jingxuan walked over as instructed and sat down slowly.
"Is it because my sister wanted to see me today or is it because His Majesty gave her a surprise?"
Su Jingxuan joked with a smile that His Majesty really doted on his sister, which could be seen from her status as Imperial Consort and the fact that His Majesty went to great lengths to send fish to her just to please her.
And...the most important thing is that His Majesty's attitude towards the Su family has changed greatly.
Su Jingxuan sometimes had to chat with his father with a smile, jokingly saying that his sister's beauty trap was the most successful scheme his father had ever used against His Majesty.
"Of course it's my sister who wants to see you." Su Jingyao said coquettishly, with a hint of playfulness in her look.
Then, her expression turned slightly serious.
"elder brother."
She raised her eyes slightly and said slowly: "Among the harem now, Concubine Lin is considered His Majesty's new favorite, but..."
As she spoke, she frowned slightly, as if she was carefully considering her words.
"This favor seems to be a bit watery. Concubine Ye, who has a distinguished family background, is ranked below Concubine Lin."
"Brother, what do you think of His Majesty's actions?"
Although Su Jingyao has her own power, her father knows the affairs of the court best, and it is impossible for her to inquire too much about the court affairs and leave any handle on her.
Su Jingxuan's eyes were a little vague, as if he was lost in his memories.
"I never told my sister before."
"When His Majesty was still the crown prince, he suppressed the Su family. But after his sister married into the East Palace for a while and became pregnant with the royal heir, His Majesty's attitude towards the Su family seemed to have changed a lot."
Hearing this, Su Jingyao's eyes widened slightly, revealing a hint of surprise and disbelief.
She had never heard her father say this.
So if she hadn't married into the Eastern Palace and changed the original owner's ending, in the original novel, would Jun Zechen have wanted to eliminate the Su family?
Thinking of this, a dark color suddenly appeared in Su Jingyao's eyes, shrouding her eyes like a dark cloud.
"only……"
Su Jingxuan was afraid that his sister might be unhappy with His Majesty, so he explained.
"Your Majesty is very ambitious. He wants to expand his territory, but the people of the kingdom are living and working in peace and contentment. The court is mostly conservative. It will be very difficult to get them to agree with your Majesty to initiate a war."
The reason why Your Majesty is dealing with the Su family is because the Su family is the biggest supporter of the conservatives. In fact, it is more than just a supporter, but can be regarded as the leader of the conservatives.
Therefore, Su Jingxuan was not dissatisfied with His Majesty. He supported His Majesty's decision to expand the territory and even quarreled with his father because of it. But he could also understand his father. Those conservative ministers surrounded his father and it would not be easy to give them up in a short time.
Ever since His Majesty's attitude towards the Su family changed because of his sister, he has almost made his cards clear to the Su family.
If the Su family insists on going against Your Majesty, Dad's position as Minister of the Chancellery will be replaced, but Your Majesty will only grant the Su family a nominal title for the sake of my sister.
Since His Majesty has said so, Dad naturally knows what to do. Even though he knows it is difficult, he has already stopped associating with many ministers in the court.
The court is now in turmoil. Your Majesty has just ascended the throne and is full of ambition. The chess game he has set is also expanding step by step. The Su family can only protect themselves.
Su Jingxuan shook his head and sighed.
"If Your Majesty wants to compete with the conservatives in the court, you must at least take back the military power."
Your Majesty is not the type to be willing to be constrained by others.
Su Jingyao frowned and asked, "The Ye family?"
Su Jingxuan nodded.
"Then why didn't Your Majesty promote Concubine Ye? Wouldn't it make the Ye family more wary of Your Majesty by ignoring Concubine Ye now?" Su Jingyao looked puzzled, her brows furrowed even tighter, and there was confusion in her eyes.
"Dad said that His Majesty has secretly sent many envoys and ministers to various cities. I think during this period of time, Concubine Ye may be favored." Su Jingxuan said with a serious expression.
"During the past few days of spring hunting, the Ye family has also been very 'glorious'."
When Su Jingxuan said this, he looked at Su Jingyao deeply, and there seemed to be a different deep meaning in his eyes.
Su Jingyao naturally understood that Jun Zechen was starting to flatter him. He had only been on the throne for about half a year, but he had already made such a big move. Wasn't he afraid of backlash from the court officials?
Forget it, he is the male lead, so he always has some halo around him.
Afterwards, Su Jingyao continued to chat with her brother for a long time. When her brother left, she asked Miaoyun to give her brother the prepared gift. After all, the most important thing cannot be forgotten.
The time of spring hunting passed by in a flash like the sand in an hourglass.
After returning to the palace, Su Jingyao felt a lot more relaxed.
There have been no worrisome problems with Concubine Chu's pregnancy so far, and Concubine Shen was relatively well-behaved in the palace during those days of the Spring Hunt.
After Jun Zechen returned to the palace, just as Su Jingyao had talked about with her brother before, he began to favor Ye Jieyu frequently.
Now in the harem, Concubine Ye and Concubine Lin are equally favored.
"Master." Miaoyun frowned slightly, with a hint of doubt in her eyes.
"I don't know what's wrong with Concubine Lin recently. She always targets Concubine Ye and does a lot of small things in secret. If it's just because Concubine Ye is favored, it doesn't seem to be like this."
"It's okay." Su Jingyao waved her hand lightly with a calm expression.
"Let them fight."
Although Su Jingyao didn't know why the two of them were fighting so fiercely, it was obvious that this was the result that Jun Zechen wanted.
Maybe Jun Zechen is also behind this.
"Yesterday, His Majesty promoted Xu Baolin to the rank of Talented Lady." Miaoyun continued.
"Xu Baolin?" A hint of doubt flashed across Su Jingya's face. She seemed to have no impression of this person.
"Cai Ren Xu is the one who was in the peach forest last time." Miao Yun explained.
Su Jingyao then nodded, not really caring.
If these women in the harem don't have some scheming, how can they stand out among so many women?
Miaoyun saw that her master didn't care about these things, so she didn't say anything more.
"Master, Doctor Jin is here." Miaoxue walked in and reported.
"Let him in."
Su Jingyao lay lazily on the couch, with one hand casually resting on the edge of the couch. She looked extremely relaxed and her posture seemed extremely casual.
Li Jing walked in slowly carrying a medicine box, then bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness, I am your humble servant."
"Get up." Su Jingyao said lazily without even raising her eyelids.
Li Jing stood up and walked to Su Jingyao's side and sat down.
He stretched out a hand, placed three fingers on Su Jingyao's wrist very naturally, and began to take her pulse carefully.
"Your Majesty, you are in good health and there is nothing wrong with you." Li Jing said calmly.
After a short pause, Li Jing continued calmly, "It's just that someone put contraceptive drugs in the tonic you took recently."
When Su Jingyao heard this, her brows suddenly wrinkled. Doctor Li had always been in charge of her medicine.
"Who is it?" There was a hint of anger in her voice.
"Yes... Your Majesty."
Su Jingyao raised her eyebrows slightly. Could it be that Jun Zechen was still wary of the Su family?
A hint of darkness flashed across her eyes, and there was a hint of dissatisfaction and confusion in her expression.
Li Jing looked at the suspicion in her eyes towards His Majesty, and secretly did not want to defend His Majesty.
But after hesitating for a moment, he slowly said, "Your Majesty may be worried about your health. You gave birth to the eldest prince not long ago, and you had a 'miscarriage' some time ago. It is normal for His Majesty not to want you to get pregnant."
After a pause, he continued, "The contraceptive medicine that Doctor Li prepared for you will not harm your body, don't worry, Your Majesty."
Su Jingyao nodded thoughtfully.
After she ascended to the position of Imperial Consort, she became much more relaxed and every move of the concubines in the harem was under her strict surveillance.
The position of queen is definitely in her pocket.
As long as she can manage all the affairs of the harem in the next year and let Jun Zechen's harem give birth to one or two princes, by next year at the latest, she will be able to ascend to the throne of empress with the support of the empress dowager and Jun Zechen's expectations.
However, an idea suddenly occurred to her now.
It seems that it would be a good idea to stimulate Jun Zechen. Maybe this would allow Jun Zechen to hand over the position of queen to him in advance.
Thinking of this, Su Jingyao unconsciously smiled slightly.
A man's heart must be hurt, so that he can be trained step by step to become the person she likes.
After all, she will be with him for most of her life, and Su Jingyao doesn't want to let herself down.
Her early compromise was to make the man give in step by step without any bottom line in the later stage.
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