"Your... Your Majesty, this concubine pays homage to the Emperor!" Su Wan'er had originally come to demand an explanation regarding that fishy mutton soup. But when she saw Si Jingcheng there, out of consideration for giving Si Junlin some face, she quickly bowed.
"Ah, Sister - in - law, why are you so angry? Have you already found out?" Si Jingcheng had met Su Wan'er a few times before and was quite familiar with her. He also feared her superb martial arts. Seeing her so angry at the moment, he felt that something was amiss.
Su Wan'er had planned to send him away so that she could settle the score with Si Junlin. Hearing this, she immediately sensed something was wrong.
"Yes, I know everything. You'd better confess honestly. Did you teach your elder brother these tricks?!" Goodness, no wonder within just a few days, Si Junlin had changed from an other - worldly emperor to a... scoundrel who knew women so well!
"Ah? No way. I'm wronged, Your Highness." Si Jingcheng was extremely afraid of Su Wan'er's fists. He wasn't afraid of Si Junlin because the emperor usually doted on him, but his sister - in - law who knew martial arts was his Achilles' heel.
"Your Highness, if you confess honestly, your sister - in - law will spare you today. Otherwise..." Su Wan'er deliberately showed a murderous look in her eyes, letting him weigh the consequences.
"Wan'er, it has nothing to do with him." Si Junlin knew that he was afraid of Su Wan'er, but he didn't expect him to be so scared.
"Go back today. I'll... I'll test your studies another day." Si Junlin pretended to be a kind elder brother.
But Su Wan'er had already seen through the ruse. "Are you going to say it or not?!"
Si Jingcheng shivered in fear, recalling the cold - shining sword in Su Wan'er's hand that day and her excellent sword - playing skills. "Sister - in - law, you are discerning and impartial. You are truly mighty. It really has nothing to do with me. It was all the elder brother's idea."
"Si Jingcheng, you have nothing to do here. Leave this instant." Si Junlin couldn't sit still any longer and wished he could kick him out.
"Your Majesty, what are you afraid of? If you don't want people to know, don't do it." Su Wan'er still threatened Si Jingcheng with her eyes.
"It was the elder brother. He... he just said that he wanted to drug you so that you..." Si Jingcheng couldn't stand the intimidation anymore.
"Drug me? What kind of drug?" Did Si Junlin want to poison her? It couldn't be. She hadn't offended him.
"The drug to make you completely devoted to him." After saying that, Si Jingcheng took the opportunity to run away like a flash. Anyway, he had really walked into a den of tigers today. He had to offend either his elder brother or his sister - in - law. To avoid being beaten to a pulp, he was willing to accept it even if his elder brother confiscated all his silver for the second half of the year.
"What?!" Su Wan'er widened her eyes. Completely devoted?! Even if she guessed, she could figure out what it meant when this word came out of Si Jingcheng's mouth. Si Junlin! You despicable scoundrel! No wonder, no wonder he had made that mutton soup for her to boost fertility today! Ah---
"Wan'er, you don't really believe this kid's words, do you?" Si Junlin forced a smile, still holding a glimmer of hope that Su Wan'er didn't understand.
"Your Majesty, would you please accompany me to the Ci Ning Palace?" Su Wan'er said with a cold face.
"Hmm? Mother is probably resting now. What do you want to go there for?" Si Junlin couldn't figure out her intention.
"This matter can't be delayed. This concubine wants to ask the Empress Dowager. This morning, she taught this concubine to be well - behaved and abide by the rules. I wonder if there is a rule in the royal law that allows the Emperor to drug the Queen?" Su Wan'er's chest heaved with anger. "This concubine is afraid that even a saint can't be well - behaved and abide by the rules. It's better for the Empress Dowager to depose this concubine earlier and make way for a truly virtuous person."
"Wan'er, it wasn't my intention." Si Junlin didn't know how to make up for it. He seemed to have caused a big trouble, and all the efforts he had made in recent days might be in vain.
"You know that Jingcheng has always been glib. How can his words be taken seriously? Besides, I don't even know what he's talking about." Si Junlin followed closely behind Su Wan'er to explain, but she still strode towards the Ci Ning Palace.
At this moment, she was really angry. It wasn't an excuse for her to ask the Empress Dowager to depose her. She hadn't even thought about it. She just felt disappointed and furious.
"Your Majesty, don't say anything more. This concubine is afraid that she can't be the Queen anymore. It's better to break off the relationship from now on, so that Your Majesty doesn't have to go to so much trouble and put in so much effort."
"Su Wan'er, stop for me!" Si Junlin grabbed her.
"You want to break off the relationship with me?" Finally, she had said what was on her mind, right? Finally, she had found an excuse, right? Why bother? Why did she have to find such an excuse? Hadn't Su Wan'er been thinking about this for days? Hadn't she been thinking about how to leave him properly so that she could fight side by side with her Brother Jingtian?
"Otherwise? Should I wait for Your Majesty to drug me?" Su Wan'er shook him off. She was afraid that if she was a moment late, she would be completely devoted to him as Si Jingcheng had said. How could he even come up with such a method?!
"You don't even think about it! I'm the Son of Heaven. If I don't let you go, you won't be able to leave this palace even a single step." Si Junlin's eyes were red with anxiety. He grabbed her and kissed her.
She was originally his Queen, his wife, married through proper ceremonies! Righteously! Why should he always worry about her leaving?
"Your... Your Majesty," Fang Xi rushed over in a hurry. Seeing this scene, he quickly covered his eyes and turned around.
Si Junlin let go of the struggling Su Wan'er and looked at Fang Xi angrily: "You'd better have something important to say!"
"Important, very important. Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has summoned you and the Queen!" Fang Xi still kept his head down when he turned around.
"Mother? Do you know what it's about?"
"I don't know, Your Majesty. The Empress Dowager has issued an imperial edict. You and the Queen must go there immediately."
"Got it. Lead the way." Su Wan'er had already guessed a bit. In this situation, she was afraid that the Empress Dowager had found out something.
"Wan'er, if you're tired, go back to the palace and rest first. I'll go and reply to Mother alone." Si Junlin seemed to have guessed something too.
"Don't bother, Your Majesty. I'm afraid I can't be absent today." Su Wan'er tried to calm down her mood after being force - kissed. How dare he! Just think of it as being bitten by a dog.
The Ci Ning Palace was brightly lit at the moment, and the number of night - duty palace servants had more than doubled. They were all holding lanterns and waiting.
"The Emperor has arrived—The Queen has arrived--" Fang Xi announced. Su Wan'er tried to sort out her thoughts.
At this moment, she couldn't lose her composure. Even if Qing Cao wasn't here, she had to follow the plan. As long as the Empress Dowager was angry enough later, there was a possibility that she would be deposed.