Si Junlin let out a helpless sigh. "Fine, you're in the right this time." Since he didn't want her to take action, he had to divert her attention.
Su Wan'er glanced at him and then handed him a pastry. "Your Majesty, would you like a bite?"
Si Junlin looked at the pastries on the plate. Thinking that tonight's operation would be extremely long, he waved his hand. "Forget it. If I eat your pastry, you won't have any for the second half of the night."
Su Wan'er let out a dismissive snort. With a flick of her wrist, she popped the pastry into her mouth.
Qingcao let out a helpless sigh. The emperor was really such a spoilsport. These were pastries personally made by the empress...
"Empress, may this humble maid have a taste of the pastries you made?" Qingcao asked Su Wan'er in order to make Si Junlin realize what he had missed.
Su Wan'er was slightly taken aback. Generally, Qingcao wouldn't ask her for pastries because her cooking skills were much better.
However, since Qingcao rarely wanted to try them, Su Wan'er naturally agreed. "Go ahead. I made enough for three people anyway."
Qingcao thanked her and picked up a pastry, popping it into her mouth and munching away.
Si Junlin heard what Su Wan'er said, and his heart was slightly touched. He thought Su Wan'er had only made enough for one person. After all, they had never traveled alone together before, and he didn't know much about her habits.
But since he had already said what he said, it would be a bit embarrassing to reach out for a pastry now. He could only stiffen his neck and look at the post - house opposite.
Just as he was concentrating on looking at the post - house opposite, a hand holding a wine cup was stretched out in front of him. "Your Majesty, you've been sitting here for so long. Aren't you thirsty? I have some warm wine here. It can warm you up nicely."
Si Junlin turned his head to look at the owner of the hand.
Su Wan'er held the cup out to him again. "What? Your Majesty won't give me the honor?"
"No. Since you're so sincere in inviting me to drink, I'll reluctantly have a sip." Si Junlin found an excuse for himself.
Su Wan'er didn't really care. She placed the cup in his hand and then turned to drink on her own.
Seeing that Si Junlin had finished his wine, when she took a pastry for herself, she casually handed another one to him. "If you drink wine without eating pastries, you'll easily get drunk. I know my own body well, and your body can't carry me if I get drunk. Here, have some."
Si Junlin didn't refuse this time. Since Su Wan'er had given him an excuse, how could he let down her kindness? Moreover, these were dishes personally made by her.
Qingcao smiled and tactfully took a few steps back, not disturbing the interaction between her mistress and the emperor.
While it was as warm as spring on their side, on the other side, the real hunt was just beginning.
The people originally in the post - house were already sound asleep at this time. The entire post - house was completely taken over by the "Southern Border Envoys".
When the controlled people arrived at the post - house, the gates were already wide open, and the "Southern Border Envoys" were standing both inside and outside.
"Ghost Lady, it seems you have quite a few tricks up your sleeve." Chang Ke gave a look of approval to the Ghost Lady standing beside him.
The Ghost Lady let out a soft chuckle, stroking the bracelet on her hand and curving her lips into a smile. "This is just the beginning. The real show is yet to come."
Each time the controlled people gathered, the control of the mother - gu worm would increase. Once the mother - gu worm was fully mature, these people would become real puppets and completely lose the possibility of recovery.
As the controlled people got closer, in an instant, a loud oriole's cry rang out in the night sky.
Normally, the cry of a nightingale in the night wasn't out of place, but for some reason, perhaps due to a guilty conscience, after hearing the nightingale's cry, the controlled people all lost control and fell to the ground.
After seeing this, Su Wan'er suddenly put down her wine cup.
"What's wrong?" Si Junlin looked at her sudden movement, feeling a bit confused.
"Your Majesty, do you remember the Battle of Changning back then?" Su Wan'er suddenly said.
Si Junlin frowned and thought for a long time. Finally, a look of sudden realization flashed in his eyes. "This is..."
"If I'm not wrong, this person should be a leftover member from that battle." Su Wan'er remembered this incident vividly. Because of that battle, she almost lost her elder brother and grandfather. It was a permanent nightmare for her.
Today's scene made her think of that incident again. At that time, if it weren't for the nightingale's cry, she didn't even dare to think what would have happened to her.
Feeling her body tremble, Si Junlin's heart softened. He reached out and hugged her. "Don't be afraid. That's all in the past. Now your grandfather, your elder brother, your family, and you are all safe and sound."
He knew that in that battle, Su Wan'er dressed up as a man and went to war with her family. Although their Jin Kingdom won in the end, that battle could only be described as a Pyrrhic victory.
He knew it wasn't an easy thing, but he didn't expect this incident to cause such a strong psychological trauma to her.
But thinking about it, Su Wan'er was only eleven years old at that time and it was her first time on the battlefield. How could she not be afraid?
He was her husband now, and he didn't mind being a warm shoulder for her to lean on.
At first, when Su Wan'er was hugged by him, she was startled, and her body stiffened uncomfortably. But after Si Junlin held her firmly to keep her from moving, Su Wan'er hesitated for a moment and finally gave up resisting, enjoying the emperor's tenderness at this moment.
"Right." After her heart had calmed down a bit, Su Wan'er didn't forget the main matter. "Your Majesty, if you send out people tonight, how many nightingales can you catch?"
"Do you want to use these nightingales to deal with the controlled people?" Si Junlin understood her meaning.
"Yeah." Su Wan'er simply replied with one word.
Si Junlin took out a whistle and blew it. Then he held her hand. "Let's switch bodies back for a while."
Su Wan'er didn't resist and let him hold her hand as they switched bodies.
Not long after, a black shadow that blended with the night fell on the roof like a floating flake.
The black - clothed man bowed respectfully to Si Junlin, who was nestled on Su Wan'er's lap. "This subordinate pays respects to Your Majesty."
Si Junlin sat up from Su Wan'er's lap and said to the leader of the secret guards who had rushed over in a hurry. "Ghost Shadow, pass on the order. Give each Illusion Guard an oriole flute. If they encounter an attack from a gu worm, they can blow the oriole flute."