Grandma Su heaved a sigh. "It would be best if you can live a good life. In principle, we shouldn't have decided your life and sent you into the palace. With your looks, talent, and good reputation, you would surely be able to find a husband who loves you."
"Grandma, it's my duty as a member of the Su family to do something for the family." Although Si Junlin felt uncomfortable hearing this, he still had to speak from Su Wan'er's perspective.
Grandma Su looked at Si Junlin's serious face and couldn't help sighing. "I know you've always been the most sensible child in the Su family... Well, it makes us happy that you can get along well with the emperor."
At this moment, the eldest sister - in - law spoke up. "Yes, third sister. It would be great if you could give birth to a prince. After all, the emperor has so many concubines. It's more practical to have a child."
Si Junlin fell silent. He wasn't hearing this for the first time. When he was young, he had already known this truth deeply.
However, Su Wan'er never seemed to have any intention of competing for the emperor's favor. Why was that?
"Eldest daughter - in - law, don't say such things to Wan'er." Grandma Su interrupted her as soon as she finished speaking.
Under Si Junlin's confused gaze, Grandma Su said to him, "Wan'er, our Su family has received the emperor's grace for three generations. If the emperor is willing for you to give birth to a prince, that's naturally good. If not, don't force it. Your duty in the palace is to assist the emperor in managing the harem. Do you understand?"
Si Junlin lowered his eyes slightly. "Yes, Wan'er understands." He finally understood why Su Wan'er didn't compete for favor. It turned out to be Grandma Su's advice.
He didn't say anything but just listened to Grandma Su's endless teachings.
Grandma Su originally wanted to keep them for lunch, but Si Junlin declined.
They had been away from the palace for a whole morning. Firstly, they had memorials to deal with. Secondly, for their safety, Si Junlin decided to take Su Wan'er back to the palace.
On the way, Su Wan'er thanked Si Junlin again. "Thank you for letting me come back to see Grandma and the others. If there's anything you need my help with in the future, I'll do my best for you, Your Majesty."
Si Junlin reached out his hand unhappily and pressed Su Wan'er against the carriage. "Su Wan'er, I've told you many times, haven't I? We are husband and wife. Don't be so formal. Are you deliberately trying to anger me or do you want me to show you in practice that we are truly husband and wife?"
Su Wan'er coughed lightly. "I just haven't adapted yet. You should give me some time to get used to it, right?"
"This is the last warning. If you do it again, don't blame me for not reminding you." Si Junlin looked down at Su Wan'er threateningly.
Su Wan'er nodded repeatedly. She couldn't provoke Si Junlin at this moment. Otherwise, who knew what unpredictable things might happen?
Seeing that Su Wan'er had softened, Si Junlin released his hold on her and then sat back on his seat. "Actually, I should apologize to you for today's matter. I should have let you spend more time with your family, but because I have government affairs to deal with, I had to take you back early."
"It's okay, it's okay. Even if you didn't say it, I would. I don't want to stay up late." A look of fear immediately appeared on Su Wan'er's face.
Si Junlin couldn't help laughing when he saw Su Wan'er's expression.
Su Wan'er glared at Si Junlin fiercely, but he just couldn't stop laughing.
However, after they returned to the palace, they couldn't deal with the memorials immediately because Si Junlin was invited by the empress dowager.
Su Wan'er asked Si Junlin worriedly, "Do you want me to go with you?"
Si Junlin's heart skipped a beat when he saw Su Wan'er's concerned eyes. He had never seen anyone care about him so purely. However, he still shook his head regarding Su Wan'er's offer to accompany him. "No need. She's my mother after all. I have some ways to deal with my mother. You can deal with some simple government affairs first. After so long, you should be able to handle some simple memorials, right?"
Su Wan'er looked at the memorials behind her and finally nodded. "I'll try." Come to think of it, she couldn't rely on Si Junlin for everything. There would always be times when Si Junlin was inconvenient. Although she hadn't learned any imperial strategies, she could still deal with some memorials. Moreover, she had been dealing with such affairs with Si Junlin for some time.
Si Junlin left with the maids, while Su Wan'er stayed in the imperial study to deal with the almost always mountain - like pile of memorials.
Si Junlin followed the palace maid to the empress dowager's bedroom.
"Su Wan'er, you're really so overbearing. You even managed to persuade the emperor to go back to the Su Mansion with you. What's your intention?" The empress dowager stared at Si Junlin with cold eyes.
Si Junlin thought he should explain it clearly to the empress dowager.
"Mother, I think you may have misunderstood. This time going back to the Su Mansion was suggested by the emperor. He thought that I hadn't been back home to visit for many years and considering the hard work of my father and brother who had been guarding the border for many years, he took me back to the Su Mansion so that I could see my family." Si Junlin explained.
However, the empress dowager didn't believe him. "You're really glib. Do you think you can get away with everything by using the emperor as a shield?"
Si Junlin didn't say a word. This kind of thing could be easily found out by inquiring in the palace.
Seeing Si Junlin's unresponsive expression, the empress dowager continued, "Su Wan'er, as the queen, you should think more about the emperor. Don't always follow your own will..."
Si Junlin could only say "Yes".
After giving a long lecture, the empress dowager finally changed the topic to the matter of serving the emperor. "I heard that you've been luring the emperor to your chamber recently. As the queen, you can't act like this. You should occasionally let the emperor visit other concubines' chambers. This will help the emperor have more heirs."
Si Junlin said helplessly, "Yes, mother. I'll try to talk to the emperor, but what the emperor decides is beyond my control."
"As long as you talk to the emperor." The empress dowager didn't know where she got the rumor from, but she firmly believed that "Su Wan'er was luring the emperor and not letting go".
When Si Junlin left, there was a thoughtful look on his face.
The little maid beside him whispered to him when she saw that there was no one around. "My lady, when I went to get your new palace dress made this year yesterday, I saw Lady Xi coming from the direction of the empress dowager's palace."