"Uh... Hehe..." Good my foot! We had an argument yesterday, and what's more, he deliberately punished Brother Jingtian. Of course, Su Wan'er just thought about these complaining words. In front of her grandmother, she was willing to let her think that she was doing well.
"Report to the old madam. General Gu has come to pay his respects," the young servant outside announced as usual.
"Eh—" Even Qingcao was surprised. Gu Jingtian was here?
"Grandmother, why does Brother Jingtian come to pay his respects to you?" Su Wan'er watched as her grandmother seemed to take it for granted and was about to get up and go outside.
"You silly girl. He's been coming to pay his respects with you since childhood. Does he stop just because he's been made a general and returned to the capital?" Madam Su pulled her hand and went out together.
"Wan'er?" The moment Gu Jingtian saw her, he even forgot to pay his respects and hurriedly rushed to Madam Su's side.
"You haven't seen each other for a long time. One's been on the battlefield, and the other's been in the palace. Since you've met here today, why not have a meal together and catch up," Madam Su said, very happy to see their reunion.
"Sure," Gu Jingtian's eyes never left Su Wan'er since he entered. And Qingcao, standing beside them, naturally only had eyes for him.
Recalling Gu Jingtian's questions last night, all of which were about Su Wan'er, Qingcao felt a slight pang of melancholy. She knew that General Gu had liked her young mistress since childhood. But later, the young mistress had married into the palace and become the queen. Didn't that mean General Gu had little hope? Yet he still only had her in his heart and eyes.
"Wan'er, see me off," Gu Jingtian could only speak properly because of Madam Su's presence, so he'd been looking for a chance to be alone with Su Wan'er.
"Okay," Su Wan'er felt very at ease in her own home, as if she'd returned to her childhood.
The two walked out to the corridor. Su Wan'er noticed that Gu Jingtian seemed to have something on his mind.
"Brother Jingtian, do you have something to say to Wan'er?" Su Wan'er had always been straightforward.
"I... It's nothing much. It just feels like decades have passed in the blink of an eye. Dressed like this, I almost couldn't recognize the little female general from childhood," Gu Jingtian deliberately slowed down, wishing this path between the two mansions could be longer.
"..." Su Wan'er's heart stirred. Yes, back then, she'd been determined to become a real female general when she grew up. Her father had never looked down on her just because she was a girl, so she'd been well-versed in military strategies. But now... she'd never had a chance to use them.
"Just now, grandmother said at the dinner table that you're in harmony with the emperor in the palace. I'm relieved. Maybe Wan'er is just a blessed person who should enjoy a peaceful life in this prosperous era in the capital," Gu Jingtian couldn't quite describe his feelings. He was regretful but also happy for Wan'er. As long as she was well, it didn't matter whether she became a female general or not.
"What kind of blessing is this! It's just like my brothers. You're all fighting on the battlefield for the Jin Kingdom, and I'm in the palace... assisting the emperor. Naturally, I'm also doing my part as a member of the Su family," Su Wan'er said self - deprecatingly.
"Wan'er! You think like this? Is it... Is it that Si Junlin has treated you badly? Did he use you as a threat against the Su family?"
Gu Jingtian immediately turned around excitedly and looked into her eyes. These words had been weighing on his mind for so long. He always wanted to know clearly if Wan'er didn't actually want to marry Si Junlin. If he'd achieved something earlier and proposed to the Su family... would Wan'er have agreed to him?
"Uh... Brother Jingtian, the emperor..." Su Wan'er felt a bit uncomfortable seeing Brother Jingtian, who was usually so steady, suddenly become so excited.
"The emperor... will never treat me badly. After all, I'm the queen and a daughter of the Su family. As for the threat, we both know it well. It's not as awkward as it was at the beginning." Naturally, at first, she'd been quite uncomfortable knowing that Si Junlin had married her as a bargaining chip. But after they'd switched roles a few times, she'd found that this kind of thing... well... could actually be understood.
"Wan'er... It's all my fault. If I could have..." Just as Gu Jingtian was hesitating whether to express his feelings, he suddenly saw a figure enter through the main gate.
"I didn't expect the Su Mansion to be so bustling even without the two generals," Si Junlin, in casual clothes, walked into the Su Mansion leisurely. With the token, the people in the Su Mansion naturally guessed he was a royal relative and didn't stop him.
"Your servant pays respects to the emperor," Su Wan'er didn't know what had brought Si Junlin here, but she quickly bowed, showing the etiquette she'd finally learned after a long time in the palace.
"Get up quickly. Why are your hands so cold?" To Su Wan'er's surprise, Si Junlin actually helped her up with his own hands. And even more surprisingly...
"It's cold in the early morning. I've told you to dress warmly," this gentle and soft - spoken tone, which might seem normal for a harmonious couple to others, was almost too much for Su Wan'er to bear.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," she quickly withdrew her little hand and wondered what Si Junlin was up to this time.
"Sister Wan'er is a martial artist and doesn't like to dress too thickly. Please forgive her, Your Majesty," Gu Jingtian seemed to have changed his usual respectful attitude towards Si Junlin after hearing Su Wan'er's words about doing her part for the Su family. Seeing Si Junlin feigning favor and holding Wan'er's hand made him even angrier.
"Oh? Does General Gu know the queen better than I do?" Si Junlin deliberately emphasized the word "queen." As soon as he entered, he'd seen this scene. He'd thought she'd only stay one night and had planned to come in the morning to clear up last night's misunderstanding. But he'd never expected to see Gu Jingtian here.
"I dare not, Your Majesty. It's just because of our childhood friendship," Gu Jingtian replied neither over - deferentially nor arrogantly.
"Right. I remembered that the queen came to plead for you yesterday, saying that I shouldn't have punished you. What does General Gu think?" It seemed the punishment hadn't been enough. Punish him more, and he'd know to stay away from his woman!
"Perhaps the queen has shown me too much kindness. I think the punishment was quite appropriate. With a great enemy approaching, I truly deserved it," in the military, positions were earned through battles. He, Gu Jingtian, had a clear conscience and wasn't afraid of this small punishment order.
"Really, Wan'er. You were kind enough to plead for him, but it seems General Gu doesn't appreciate your kindness," Si Junlin said.