"Your Majesty, there's an imperial messenger here." Just as Qingcao was about to help her prepare for bed, she suddenly heard someone reporting from outside.
"An imperial edict? At this hour? What could it be about?" Could it be that Si Junlin had issued some kind of punishment and was going to confine her again?
"Your Majesty the Empress, this is an edict specially ordered by the Emperor to be announced throughout the harem." The imperial messenger came forward and kowtowed first. Su Wan'er was already fed up with all the red tape in the palace and immediately told him to get up.
"...Today, a fourth - rank deputy general of the Southern Army squandered the military funds from the national treasury during a routine troop review. He shall be fined one year's salary as a warning. Moreover, everyone in the court and the harem should bear in mind that the present situation is different from the past. The front - line troops are in urgent need of food and supplies. I hope everyone will practice thrift and self - restraint..." The imperial messenger spoke in a standard eunuch's voice. Su Wan'er almost told him to disappear on the spot.
Impatiently listening to the content, it was probably about a fourth - rank general who had squandered the military funds, and Si Junlin had fined him. But was it really necessary to announce this in the harem? Su Wan'er disdainfully dismissed the eunuch and was about to go to sleep.
"Your Majesty... What shall we do?" Qingcao, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke up.
"Hmm? What do you mean? Just be more thrifty from now on, won't we?" She wasn't someone who was particular about luxury anyway.
"No, it's not that... Oh, what this servant means is," Qingcao was so anxious that she was pacing back and forth. "Isn't the Southern Army the one General Su is currently fighting with in the southern border?"
When Qingcao mentioned this, Su Wan'er suddenly had an epiphany. "That deputy general... Isn't he... Brother Jingtian?!"
"Yes, it's exactly General Gu." Qingcao was twisting her handkerchief beside her.
"The fine... isn't a big deal, but the Emperor actually used this as an example and announced it to the whole court and the harem. Isn't this making everyone in the world know that Brother Jingtian squandered the military funds?"
Why did Si Junlin suddenly pick on this? Su Wan'er thought carefully. Could it be that he was jealous of Brother Jingtian's talent and promise? It made sense. Her eldest brother was just a forward - line junior general at this age, while Brother Jingtian was already her eldest brother's deputy.
"Your Majesty, this won't do... General Gu just took office last year. If such a big thing happens to him now, what will happen to his reputation in the army?" Qingcao was afraid that Su Wan'er wouldn't take this matter seriously.
"I know, I know... Don't panic. It's just that Si Junlin is afraid that Brother Jingtian might not be loyal. I'll go talk to him right away." Su Wan'er immediately got up.
Just like in the past, the Su family had won many battles on the front - line and was loyal to the court, but Si Junlin still guarded against the Su family. She had seen too many such things...
"Your Majesty, now?" Usually at this time, if the Emperor had summoned a concubine to accompany him, other concubines were not allowed to go. Moreover, the Emperor might already be asleep.
"Yes, now." Su Wan'er quickly got up, grabbed a cloak at random and was about to leave. Qingcao followed behind and quickly ordered a sedan chair.
"By the way, where is Si Junlin tonight?" Su Wan'er instinctively thought she should go straight to the imperial study, but today... Right, she had chased Si Junlin away at noon.
"This servant heard that the Emperor originally planned to stay alone in the imperial study and didn't even turn over the name tags. But then Concubine Ling went to send a bowl of ginseng soup, and then she didn't come out." According to the rules, the Emperor's whereabouts should be reported to the Empress, but Su Wan'er always thought this was boring, so the reports were usually dismissed by Qingcao.
"Oh, then now... He should be in the Hall of Mental Cultivation." Since there was a beauty by his side, Si Junlin probably wouldn't be in the mood to review memorials.
Contrary to what Su Wan'er thought, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was empty at this moment, while the imperial study was quite lively.
As soon as Concubine Ling heard that the Emperor didn't turn over any name tags tonight, she quickly brought a bowl of "personally" cooked ginseng soup. But her delicate makeup seemed to have taken more effort than the soup.
However, after she put down the soup, Si Junlin ignored her completely. He just lowered his head to read the memorials and occasionally glanced outside.
Concubine Ling was initially overjoyed. The Emperor rarely saw her on weekdays. It was already good enough that he allowed her to come in and put down the things. He didn't even mention sending her back.
But this joy was gradually replaced by panic. Si Junlin neither told her to go back nor asked her to grind ink or fan him. Instead, he would occasionally look up at the door and then glance at her. She wasn't a favored concubine in the first place, and now the atmosphere made her extremely scared. Did she say something wrong or do something wrong?
"Your... Your Majesty, does Your Majesty need this concubine to grind ink?" Concubine Ling couldn't bear it anymore and asked in a panic.
"No need." Si Junlin replied without even raising his head.
"Yes..." The Emperor's mind was truly unfathomable. Concubine Ling gently wiped the fine sweat on her forehead.
After another half - incense time, Concubine Ling felt that her feet were sore. Since she was in front of Si Junlin, she naturally stood upright. She also wanted to look graceful, so just standing there had already exhausted her.
"Your Majesty... This concubine sees that Your Majesty has been tired all day. How about this concubine giving Your Majesty a massage..." Although it was strange for her to stay in the imperial study this time, it was a rare opportunity for Concubine Ling. Since she rarely saw the Emperor in a year, and now the Emperor was right in front of her, why be reserved?
"No need." Si Junlin frowned slightly and replied with just two words again.
"..." Concubine Ling's face darkened. "Yes..."
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Si Junlin turned to look at her. "Tell me, why do you want to grind ink for me?" Why does everyone who stands beside me always want to grind ink or massage my shoulders? Why doesn't that woman Su Wan'er act like this?
"Ah... Your Majesty... This concubine... Your Majesty, please forgive this concubine. This concubine just wanted to relieve Your Majesty's fatigue. There was no other intention." Was the Emperor suspecting that she wanted to peek at the memorials? Concubine Ling was so scared that she quickly defended herself.
"This concubine whole - heartedly admires Your Majesty. I've missed Your Majesty so much after not seeing you for so long. Your Majesty must believe this concubine."
"Admiration?" Really?
Si Junlin ignored her and started reading the memorials again.
"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived." The eunuch's announcement from outside broke the silence in the hall and somewhat alleviated the panic and confusion in Concubine Ling's heart.
"Let her in." Si Junlin immediately sat up straight and tidied his collar.
While Concubine Ling was thinking that the arrival of the Empress would surely ruin her good deed, unexpectedly, when Si Junlin saw Su Wan'er come in, he pretended to ignore her and instead talked to Concubine Ling. "My love, it's so kind of you to come and send ginseng soup to me so late."