In the evening, the light in the East Palace study gradually became softer.
Jun Zechen sat upright in the first seat, his figure looking particularly tall and straight in the dim candlelight.
Jun Zechen had just finished dealing with the memorial sent by Emperor Jingsheng. He raised his head slightly, with a hint of fatigue in his eyes.
Then he asked casually, "What has the concubine been doing these days?"
An Shun stood respectfully aside, lowering his head and replying, "Your Highness, the concubines have been summoned to Kunning Palace by the Empress these past few days, and have been waiting there for two hours."
As the chief eunuch beside the crown prince, nothing in the Eastern Palace could escape his surveillance.
But Anshun was a little surprised. He raised his eyes slightly and glanced at Jun Zechen secretly. Doesn’t His Highness usually only care about the Crown Princess?
Jun Zechen tapped the table lightly with his fingers, as if he was thinking about something.
"Do you know why the Queen Mother summoned her?"
Anshun hesitated for a moment, then answered cautiously, "It's probably about the issue of His Highness's offspring. Concubine Su..."
Having said this, Anshun's voice involuntarily lowered and became a little hesitant.
Jun Zechen frowned slightly, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.
He asked, "What happened to her?"
"The Empress would have Concubine Su copy the palace rules and regulations and female rules every day. She would not return to the East Palace until almost dinner time."
The Queen did this for the Crown Prince to see, so naturally she did not hide anything. It was no surprise that Anshun knew about this.
Jun Zechen's eyes darkened. He didn't expect that his mother had been making things difficult for Su Jingyao.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I acknowledge my guilt."
Anshun felt inexpressibly miserable. Except for the Crown Princess's affairs, which required him to proactively report them, he would only answer questions from His Highness when asked about them.
After a brief silence, Jun Zechen slowly stood up and said in a deep voice, "Go to Xiyan Palace."
"Yes, Your Highness." Anshun responded quickly.
Xiyan Palace.
Su Jingyao leaned delicately on the soft couch. Nanny Li carefully took the ointment, gently applied it on her wrist, and pressed it lightly.
"Master, your wrists are starting to swell up today. How can you continue copying every day? Please go and tell His Royal Highness the Crown Prince about this."
Nanny Li looked at her with a look of heartache, her brows furrowed, her eyes full of worry.
Su Jingyao was just about to say a few words to comfort Nanny Li. After all, Nanny Li had been by her side for many years, so how could she not know the love she felt for her?
Unexpectedly...the wind chimes by the window suddenly rang.
There was a hint of something strange in her eyes for a moment, and then a helpless look appeared on her face.
Su Jingyao frowned slightly, her red lips parted as she spoke slowly, "The Empress has always wanted me to consummate my marriage with His Highness. She presented the opportunity before me last time, but I refused. It's only natural that the Empress has been angry these past few days."
"If I copy the palace rules, I can calm the Empress down, or even stop her from pressuring Your Highness. So what's the harm?"
Her voice was as gentle as the gurgling of a stream, yet it carried a subtle hint of bitterness.
Su Jingyao lowered her head slightly, her thick eyelashes trembled gently like a small fan, her eyes were a little dim, as if shrouded in a layer of mist.
"Besides, His Highness is unwilling to consummate the marriage with me. He only has the Crown Princess in his heart. His Highness is busy with state affairs every day, and why should I make him more irritable when he returns to the backyard?"
Su Jingyao sighed softly, and there was a hint of sadness in her eyes like autumn water, as if there were thousands of sorrows lingering in them.
But she was not someone who would lose heart. After a brief pause, she raised her face and smiled slightly, "Nothing in the world can ever be as we wish, but I just hope to live up to my conscience."
The corners of her mouth rose slightly, revealing a relieved smile, as bright and moving as a flower blooming in spring.
"What a shameless person."
Just then, Jun Zechen strode in with a gloomy face.
He had been standing outside the hall for quite a while and heard the conversation between the master and servant clearly.
Su Jingyao naturally knew that he was outside the door, otherwise why would she act so hard?
At this moment, her delicate body trembled violently, and an extremely surprised expression appeared on her face. Like a frightened deer, she quickly got down from the couch, took light lotus steps, walked slowly to Jun Zechen, and bowed gracefully.
"I pay my respects to Your Highness."
"Get up, all of you step back." Jun Zechen's voice was as cold as ice.
"Yes, Your Highness."
After all the palace servants had quietly left, Jun Zechen walked to the soft couch and sat down. His movements were calm and leisurely, as if this was his territory.
Then he said softly, "Sit down."
"Yes, Your Highness." Su Jingyao slowly walked to the other side of the couch and sat down.
"Mother has punished you to copy books these past few days, why didn't you tell me?"
Jun Zechen asked casually while stroking the ring on his hand. His eyes seemed casual, but they faintly revealed a hint of oppression.
"It's just a small matter. I dare not bother Your Highness."
Su Jingyao's face was as calm as water, and her voice was soft and gentle, as if the matter was really insignificant. However, a barely perceptible sadness flashed across her slightly lowered eyes.
Seeing that she didn't care about him at all, Jun Zechen felt a nameless fire in his heart.
He suddenly stretched out his hand, as fast as lightning, grabbed Su Jingyao's right arm and raised it high in front of him.
His actions were domineering and unresistible.
Upon closer inspection, it was found that her fair and delicate wrist was slightly swollen, like a flaw on a crystal clear jade, which made people feel distressed.
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