The next day, after Su Wan'er returned from the court session, she stared at Si Junlin with a speechless look on her face.
"What's wrong?" Hearing the sound of her return, Si Junlin glanced out of the door. When he saw her obviously unhappy expression, he asked curiously.
Su Wan'er waved the attendants away. After the room was empty, she said to Si Junlin, "When did you recall my eldest brother who was stationed at the border?"
Si Junlin was slightly taken aback. Then he remembered that a month ago, in celebration of a small victory at the border, he had allowed a male member of the Su family to return home for a short reunion with his family.
Si Junlin coughed lightly and then told Su Wan'er the reason for the matter. "That's exactly what happened. I should have told you in advance, but there were so many things going on that I forgot. However, the banquet should be well - prepared by now. There shouldn't be any problems, right?" He couldn't figure out what difficulties Su Wan'er had encountered.
Su Wan'er gulped down a mouthful of water and then said angrily, "You're supposed to bring your favorite concubine to that banquet. Who do you think I should take?"
Si Junlin glared at her fiercely. "Do you think it's appropriate for you to bring other concubines to the banquet prepared for your eldest brother?"
"Moreover..." Si Junlin narrowed his eyes. "We've swapped identities now. Without my cooperation, people who are familiar with us will definitely notice the difference, especially your eldest brother. He is familiar with both me and you. In front of someone like him, only if we cooperate with each other can we avoid revealing any flaws."
"Fine. The banquet is tonight. Get ready." She was quite eager to see what expression this man would have when he was dressed up.
Si Junlin saw the slightly evil look in her eyes, and a look of resistance flashed in his eyes.
As a man, simply applying a light layer of pink powder was the maximum he could tolerate. Just thinking about how he would have to be dressed up in a flowery and gaudy way at the banquet made him resist from the bottom of his heart.
But after all, it was a banquet, and it was a celebration banquet for the victory in the distant battle. He was even the younger sister of the protagonist of the banquet. If he didn't dress up grandly, people would surely criticize the body he was in.
He cared about his reputation, and naturally he also cared about the reputation of the people around him, especially his empress. He would never allow any flaws.
After a day of hesitation, at Su Wan'er's pitiful plea, he finally sat in front of the dressing mirror and let the maids dress him up.
When the maid said that the dressing was done and he opened his eyes, he was shocked by the person in the mirror.
Su Wan'er was really beautiful when she was dressed up. She was already beautiful with light makeup before, but now after being dressed up grandly, it was absolutely no exaggeration to describe her as stunningly beautiful.
With such a beautiful appearance, not only the Plum Concubine, but even all the concubines in the harem combined couldn't compare to her.
It seemed that he had been misled by his prejudice against the Su family in the past, and only now did he discover Su Wan'er's beauty.
Although it had been almost a month, he still felt awkward when walking with delicate steps.
Su Wan'er had been waiting outside for a long time. When she saw Si Junlin come out, she reached out her hand from the imperial carriage and said to Si Junlin, "Get in, Empress."
Si Junlin really didn't want to let Su Wan'er down in front of everyone. After all, embarrassing Su Wan'er would also embarrass himself.
After getting into the imperial carriage, the two of them headed towards the banquet venue.
Su Wan'er didn't say a word along the way. Si Junlin looked at the abnormal Su Wan'er and finally couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Su Wan'er said nervously, "Do you think my brother will recognize that we've swapped bodies?"
Si Junlin reached out and held her hand. "Well, I'll talk to your eldest brother then. You just need to act like the emperor well."
Su Wan'er nodded, but there were still many indescribable emotions in her heart.
She hadn't seen her brother for so many years, and she didn't know how he was. After entering the palace, she couldn't get much news, and she didn't know how her grandfather and the others were...
Finally, the imperial carriage stopped in front of the banquet hall. From afar, Su Wan'er saw her eldest brother, Su Linshan, dressed in a dark blue robe.
The excited look in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
Si Junlin saw the suddenly excited look in Su Wan'er's eyes and felt a pang of jealousy in his heart. She wasn't that excited when she saw him.
Thinking like this, he reached out his hand and pinched Su Wan'er hard on her lower back...
"Ouch! What are you doing?" Su Wan'er turned to look at Si Junlin. She was looking at her eldest brother and thought that he had become thinner than the last time she saw him. When her eyes couldn't help showing a look of concern, she was abruptly interrupted by Si Junlin.
"Mind your image." Si Junlin saw the angry Su Wan'er in an instant and felt even more jealous.
Only then did Su Wan'er remember that she was no longer in her own body. It was really a bit... terrifying for the emperor to show such an expression to his subject.
She coughed lightly and regained her imperial demeanor. "I know."
The two got off the imperial carriage. The ministers waiting in the courtyard all knelt down and saluted. "Long live the emperor! Long live the empress!"
Walking to the main seat, Su Wan'er, acting like an emperor, said to the kneeling people below, "All my dear ministers, rise."
Everyone got up and took their seats.
Si Junlin whispered in Su Wan'er's ear, "Now, repeat after me."
Su Wan'er nodded silently.
Si Junlin: "General Su."
"General Su." Su Wan'er repeated after him. "How is the security at the border recently?"
Su Linshan replied to her, "Your Majesty, although there have been a few small battles at the border recently, our army has repelled the enemy one by one. The troops at the border are strong and powerful. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
Su Wan'er continued to repeat Si Junlin's words to Su Linshan. "The Su family is truly worthy of being the descendants of the old General Su. With you guarding the border, I can govern the country more at ease..."
The following were all polite words. Su Wan'er had no choice but to repeat Si Junlin's words. After saying them, she felt extremely uncomfortable.
Finally, the polite greetings were over, and the banquet began. Singing and dancing girls came up to perform, and the maids served delicious food.
Su Wan'er didn't care about any of these. She just wanted to talk to her brother.
But... it was impossible before the soul - swap, and it was even more impossible after the soul - swap.
Su Wan'er's staring made Si Junlin beside her feel uncomfortable. He coughed lightly to remind Su Wan'er to mind her image.
Just then, Su Linshan made a gesture in Su Wan'er's direction, signaling her to go out.