Su Wan'er looked at his anxious expression and couldn't help finding it rather amusing. "Your Majesty, we've swapped bodies for so long, yet you still can't trust me."
"I..." Si Junlin was momentarily at a loss for words. He didn't know what to say. When he rushed into the Hall of Diligent Governance earlier, he had indeed suspected Su Wan'er...
Su Wan'er slowly rose from her seat and walked up to Si Junlin, a hint of mockery on her face. "I was just thinking whether we could get along like an ordinary couple. Now I realize I was wrong. You're the high - and - mighty emperor. How could you ever be like an ordinary husband?"
"It's not like that..." Si Junlin tried to explain.
But Su Wan'er wouldn't let him. "Don't explain. I know how to get along with you now. You can rest assured. I'll abide by my duties and will never have any inappropriate thoughts."
"As for the Queen Mother, you can rest easy. I didn't anger her. I just told her some obvious truths. As for her current state, she's probably pondering over what I said." A mocking smile played on Su Wan'er's lips. Then she returned to the desk and made a gesture of invitation.
"Your Majesty, please."
At this moment, Su Wan'er regained her dignified and elegant demeanor, looking every bit the epitome of grace in every movement.
In the past, when Si Junlin saw women with such poise, he would always show appreciation. But now, looking at Su Wan'er's actions, he inexplicably felt irritated.
Su Wan'er didn't care about his thoughts. The words of the Queen Mother, the late emperor, and Si Junlin's accusing words when he burst in had cooled her heart.
Si Junlin sighed, knowing it wasn't the right time to explain. He could only do as Su Wan'er said for the time being.
After they had been reviewing memorials for a while, Si Junlin looked at Su Wan'er, who was concentrating on the task. After hesitating for a long time, he finally said, "I was indeed a bit impulsive just now, but it was because I care too much. I've never suspected you, at least not since we swapped identities."
"Okay, fine." Su Wan'er replied rather perfunctorily.
Although he got the answer he hoped for, Si Junlin found that his heart felt even more uncomfortable after that.
This woman really had a way with him. In this world, she was probably the only one who dared to treat him like this.
However, compared with those dignified and elegant ladies from noble families, he actually preferred the free - spirited Su Wan'er.
He thought he must be crazy...
He was about to say something else when suddenly the palace door was rudely flung open. "Brother Emperor, why do you close the door so tightly in broad daylight? Could it be that you're doing something shady in here?"
Behind him, Fang Xi was trying to hold him back by the waist, but it seemed he couldn't stop him.
Su Wan'er and Si Junlin's faces immediately darkened. To an outsider, their position looked like the Queen was sitting behind the imperial desk, and the Emperor was standing beside it, helping the Queen review memorials... It looked extremely strange.
Judging from Si Chengjing's expression, he was clearly shocked.
Su Wan'er waved her hand, signaling Fang Xi to leave.
Fang Xi responded and retreated.
Su Wan'er then coughed lightly and asked Si Chengjing, "Chengjing, why are you here again?" It had been more than a month since she last saw Si Chengjing. She had thought that since he hadn't come to the palace for so long, he might have turned over a new leaf.
What Su Wan'er didn't know was that Si Chengjing had changed a lot. At least, he no longer went to places like the polo field and other gambling dens.
He came to the palace this time because he had heard about the Rong family's matter and wanted to come and help Su Wan'er. Who would have thought that as soon as he came in, he saw such a scene.
"Bro, Brother Emperor, you, you two, what is this..." He stammered, his fingers trembling.
Su Wan'er didn't know how to explain for a moment. It was Si Junlin who spoke up. "Your Majesty, the painting you asked your humble servant to prepare is ready. Please take a look."
As he said that, he somehow produced a painting out of nowhere and handed it to Su Wan'er.
Although Su Wan'er was extremely surprised at how Si Junlin managed to produce the painting, it wasn't the time to ask questions. She could only continue along with his words. "I didn't expect that as a woman from a military family, the Queen could paint such a wonderful picture. It seems I underestimated you."
Si Junlin bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, you flatter me. This is just a trifling skill and far from the level of the court painters."
After acting in tandem with Su Wan'er, Si Junlin turned his gaze to his younger brother. "Brother, I didn't expect you to come at this time. I was so focused on painting the topic given by His Majesty that I neglected you. I'm really sorry."
Si Chengjing certainly couldn't blame Si Junlin. "An elder brother is like a father, and an elder sister - in - law is like a mother." Although this Queen wasn't favored by his elder brother and the Queen Mother, no matter what, she was his elder brother's lawfully wedded wife. In other words, she was now his "mother". How could he, or rather, how dare he blame the Queen?
In response to Si Junlin's apology, he could only wave his hand politely. "Your Majesty, you're being too polite. You were working on the task given by Brother Emperor. If I were to blame you, wouldn't I be blaming Brother Emperor as well? I don't have the guts."
Su Wan'er coughed a few times to draw their attention back to herself. Then she continued to ask Si Chengjing, "Prince Luo, what on earth made you rush into the palace to see me today?"
Only then did Si Chengjing remember his purpose for coming to the palace. He coughed lightly and looked at Si Junlin with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
His meaning was obvious. Didn't his elder brother always be wary of the Queen? Was it really okay for the Queen to hear such an important matter?
Su Wan'er glanced at Si Junlin and then said to Si Chengjing, "The Queen is the mother of the nation. It's okay for her to hear matters related to the country."
Seeing that his elder brother had said so, he could only tell the truth. "I've heard recently that Brother Emperor is worried about the flood in the South River. I've managed to find a person who is good at feng shui through many connections. If Brother Emperor needs, I can invite him here to share your worries."
Su Wan'er looked at him in surprise and then turned to Si Junlin. "What does the Queen think?"