"Yes, Your Majesty. My younger sister did enter the palace today," Si Junlin said in a flat tone. This was not the right time to show strong emotions. Otherwise, the Empress Dowager would find more excuses to fault her.
Even though Si Junlin had spoken like this, the Empress Dowager, who disliked the Queen's actions, still darkened her face the moment Si Junlin finished speaking. "Queen, do you know that once a woman enters the harem, she belongs to the harem? Without a special imperial summons, she is not allowed to meet her family. Even I, since entering the palace, have had no contact with my family and have never seen a single family member."
"How could I, as the Queen, not know? But this time I received my family member because of a special imperial summons," Si Junlin argued firmly, showing no fear of the charges the Empress Dowager was trying to lay on her.
The Empress Dowager frowned and asked Si Junlin, "Since you said it was a special imperial summons, then tell me what exactly it was."
Si Junlin glanced at Su Wan'er, signaling her to speak up. This was a scene for three people. She couldn't be the only one acting here.
Su Wan'er nodded behind the Empress Dowager and said to her, "Mother, this was indeed a special imperial summons issued by me."
She returned to her seat and continued, "Mother once told me about the forces behind Concubine Mei. I think the family you're most wary of should be the Rong Family, who is in charge of the Water Conservancy Department, right?"
The Empress Dowager frowned and finally nodded. "Yes. The Rong Family is in charge of most of our country's water - conservancy projects. If they were to back out, the ongoing projects would be affected."
Speaking of this, the Empress Dowager was puzzled. She turned to look at Su Wan'er. "Lin'er, are these two things related?"
Su Wan'er nodded. "Naturally."
"Miss Su entered the palace today to tell us that we've found a replacement. If the Rong Family goes on strike, this replacement will take over their work."
"You've thought it through," the Empress Dowager said calmly. It was hard to tell whether she was satisfied or not.
Su Wan'er never waited for trouble to come. Since the Empress Dowager hadn't shown her attitude, she continued, "I know that Father and the previous head of the Rong Family were close friends. But new talents emerge in every generation. The Rong Family has enjoyed imperial grace for three generations. It's time to inject some fresh blood, isn't it?"
"Have you ever thought that if the Rong Family joins forces with other families to stage a rebellion, do you have a counter - measure?" the Empress Dowager asked Su Wan'er.
Su Wan'er nodded. "Naturally. Families join forces only for the sake of interests. If we can really offer them enough benefits, even if they unite, they'll be like loose sand and not to be feared."
But the Empress Dowager was still worried. "I'm afraid that human greed knows no bounds. If you can't satisfy their desires then, what will you do?"
Su Wan'er fell silent. Si Junlin knew this was not within Su Wan'er's knowledge. He spoke up himself. "If we can't satisfy everyone's desires, we can first satisfy one person's or the desires of a certain family's descendants. As long as one person is willing to cooperate with us, we can break them one by one."
After hearing his words, the Empress Dowager's attention immediately shifted to him.
The Empress Dowager hadn't forgotten the Queen who had interfered in politics in the harem back then and almost caused the throne to change hands.
The Su Family held military power. Compared to the Rong Family in the Water Conservancy Department, they were even more dangerous. Now that the Queen, as a member of the Su Family, knew these principles of being a monarch... This made the sense of crisis in the Empress Dowager's heart even stronger.
Seeing the Empress Dowager's expression turn sour, Su Wan'er knew that the Empress Dowager was now wary of Si Junlin because of her words just now.
She didn't want to be on the Empress Dowager's radar after she returned to her own body. Who knew if Si Junlin would still protect her like today without the connection between their bodies?
So, to avoid future troubles and to survive better in the harem, Su Wan'er decided to dispel the Empress Dowager's concerns.
"Queen, why did you write down the content of our conversation? I've never seen you remember things so clearly on normal days," Su Wan'er said to Si Junlin in a half - joking tone.
Si Junlin knew how serious an impact her words just now could have on Su Wan'er. So, after Su Wan'er said that, she naturally followed up, "Isn't it because the matter we discussed that day was exactly related to our Su Family? Naturally, I remember it clearly."
Seeing the natural interaction between the two, the solemn look in the Empress Dowager's eyes faded a little.
However, it only faded a little and didn't disappear completely.
Su Wan'er couldn't help but sigh. It seemed that it would be a long and arduous task to gain the Empress Dowager's trust.
After chatting in the Empress Dowager's palace for a while, Su Wan'er and Si Junlin left.
On the palace path, Si Junlin couldn't help but say to Su Wan'er, "I owe you for today's matter. I will surely repay you one day."
Su Wan'er was slightly stunned and didn't quite understand what Si Junlin meant.
Si Junlin didn't intend to explain either. Some things were better kept in mind and didn't need to be made public.
Three days later, several memorials requesting to build the South River Dam were sent in again. Each one said that the flood season of the South River was approaching.
Su Wan'er still hadn't received any news from the Su Family. On this day, after finishing dealing with the memorials, she decided to go incognito.
After learning of her plan, Si Junlin came straight to her and said, "I'll go with you this time."
Su Wan'er was taken aback for a moment and then smiled. "Are you worried that I'll cause you trouble again this time?"
"No. I just want to know who this person is. It's been so long, and they still haven't arrived in the capital," Si Junlin said. He was becoming more and more curious and dissatisfied with this person from the Heavenly Craftsmen's Guild.
He always thought that this person was too useless, which was why they were sent out to handle things by the guild.
Su Wan'er let out a disdainful sound. She knew it...
Finally, they returned to their respective palaces, changed into the clothes of ordinary people, and then left the palace quietly with a few attendants.
Naturally, their first stop was the Su Family. But to their surprise, the people of the Su Family also hadn't received any news.
Su Wan'er had no choice but to take Si Junlin for a stroll on the street. In Si Chengjing's words, it was to experience the hardships of the common people.
Si Junlin didn't mind. It was a rare chance to be free, and it was good for the two of them to take a walk.